Drishti IAS Presents...

P olity & G overnance (March 2023 — March 2024)

Drishti IAS, 641, Mukherjee Nagar, Drishti IAS, 21 Drishti IAS, Tashkent Marg, Drishti IAS, Tonk Road,
Opp. Signature View Apartment, Pusa Road, Karol Bagh Civil Lines, Prayagraj, Vasundhra Colony,
New Delhi New Delhi - 05 Uttar Pradesh Jaipur, Rajasthan
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Contact: Inquiry (English): 8010440440, Inquiry (Hindi): 8750187501
 Contents
z Centre Notifies Rules for CAA Implementation....................................................................................................... 1
z Revamped Pharmaceuticals Technology Upgradation Assistance Scheme and UCPMP 2024................................ 2
z Election Commission of India.................................................................................................................................. 3
z Subsidy Extension for PMUY . ................................................................................................................................. 4
z Reforming India’s Undertrial Bail System................................................................................................................ 4
z Dispute over the Shanan Hydropower Project........................................................................................................ 6
z Holistic Progress Card.............................................................................................................................................. 7
z FIR and General Diary.............................................................................................................................................. 7
z PM-JANMAN Housing for PVTGs............................................................................................................................. 9
z Amendments to the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020...................................................................... 12
z Amul a Pillar of India’s Dairy Sector...................................................................................................................... 12
z Parliamentary Privileges and Related Cases.......................................................................................................... 13
z India’s Cooperative Sector..................................................................................................................................... 14
z Rajya Sabha Elections ........................................................................................................................................... 15
z Karnataka’s Temple Tax Amendment Bill ............................................................................................................. 16
z Repealing of Assam Muslim Marriage Act............................................................................................................. 17
z NITI Aayog GROW Report and Portal.................................................................................................................... 17
z High-Level Committee Report on Simultaneous Elections.................................................................................... 20
z Green Elections in India......................................................................................................................................... 21
z Using AI in Elections.............................................................................................................................................. 21
z Model Code of Conduct . ...................................................................................................................................... 22
z Banning Cotton Candy .......................................................................................................................................... 23
z Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2024........................................................................................................................ 24
z Delhi Excise Policy Case......................................................................................................................................... 26
z Criminal Case Management System and Sankalan App........................................................................................ 27
z New Electric Vehicle Policy 2024........................................................................................................................... 28
z S. R. Bommai v. Union of India Case 1994............................................................................................................. 29
z Merging Cantonments with the State Municipalities............................................................................................ 30
z UNNATI 2024......................................................................................................................................................... 32
z PM-SURAJ and NAMASTE Scheme........................................................................................................................ 33
z Credit Assistance Program for Jan AushadhiKendras............................................................................................ 34
z NITI for States Platform......................................................................................................................................... 35
z APAAR: One Nation One Student ID Card............................................................................................................. 35
z Smart Gram Panchayat.......................................................................................................................................... 36
z Nazool Land........................................................................................................................................................... 37
z Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Bill, 2024.................................................................... 37
z Constitution (J&K) ST Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024........................................................................................... 38
z Mera Gaon, Meri DharoharProgramme................................................................................................................ 39
z Scheme Approved in Budget 2024-25................................................................................................................... 40
z Uttarakhand’s UCC Draft Report........................................................................................................................... 41
z UGC’s Draft Guidelines on De-reservation............................................................................................................ 41
z Digital Public Infrastructure................................................................................................................................... 42
z Maratha Reservation Bill....................................................................................................................................... 43
z Electronic Voting Machine . .................................................................................................................................. 44
z SC’s Use of Article 142 in Chandigarh Mayoral Election........................................................................................ 45
z National Commission for Scheduled Castes.......................................................................................................... 45
z Using Green Hydrogen in the Steel Sector ........................................................................................................... 46
z Supreme Court Invalidates Electoral Bonds Scheme............................................................................................. 47
z Shimla Development Plan 2041 . .......................................................................................................................... 49
z Reforming Organ Transplantation......................................................................................................................... 49
z Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhuyday Yojana............................................................................................... 50
z Outlook of OTT in 2024......................................................................................................................................... 51
z PRITHvi VIgyan Scheme......................................................................................................................................... 51
z Kochi-Lakshadweep Islands Submarine Optical Fiber Connection Project............................................................ 52
z Bharatmala Phase-1: Deadline Extended.............................................................................................................. 53
z Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra Adds Beneficiaries to PM-Kisan................................................................................. 54
z ASI Survey Report on Gyanvapi Mosque............................................................................................................... 55
z Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana........................................................................................................................ 55
z VAIBHAV Fellowship.............................................................................................................................................. 56
z Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar................................................................................................................. 57
z Social Audit Advisory Body.................................................................................................................................... 57
z Govt Jobs for Acquitted Individuals in Criminal Cases........................................................................................... 58
z NHAI Introduces ‘One Vehicle, One FASTag’ Initiative.......................................................................................... 58
z All India Conference of Director Generals of Police ............................................................................................. 59
z Swachh Survekshan Awards 2023......................................................................................................................... 59
z The CEC and Other ECs (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023............................... 60
z Truth and Reconciliation Commission................................................................................................................... 61
z AMRIT Technology . .............................................................................................................................................. 61
z Global River Cities Alliance: NMCG........................................................................................................................ 62
z PM-JANMAN Scheme............................................................................................................................................ 63
z Gram Manchitra and mActionSoft . ...................................................................................................................... 63
z Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Bill and J&K Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill 2023....................................... 64
z New Regulation of AICTE....................................................................................................................................... 65
z World Soil Day 2023.............................................................................................................................................. 65
z Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955................................................................................................................. 66
z India Infrastructure Report 2023........................................................................................................................... 66
z CCPA Issues Guidelines Safeguarding Against Dark Patterns................................................................................ 67
z Free of Cost Digital Tools to Marginalized Communities....................................................................................... 68
z Fourth Phase Roll-Out of GIAN Scheme................................................................................................................ 68
z Peace Agreement Between Government of India and UNLF................................................................................ 69
z Fast Track Special Courts....................................................................................................................................... 69
z Decoding Good Governance.................................................................................................................................. 70
z FAME India Phase-II Scheme................................................................................................................................. 70
z Artificial Intelligence Mission................................................................................................................................ 71
z Three New Sub-schemes under RAMP.................................................................................................................. 72
z Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme...................................................................................................... 73
z Advocates Amendment Bill, 2023......................................................................................................................... 73
z Unorganised Labour Initiatives and Migrant Workers Children Welfare.............................................................. 74
z Extension of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana...................................................................................... 74
z Universal Basic Income.......................................................................................................................................... 75
z Annual Survey of India’s City-Systems 2023.......................................................................................................... 75
z Centre Exempts CERT-In from Ambit of RTI Act.................................................................................................... 76
z Special Category Status......................................................................................................................................... 77
z Government’s Push for Data Ownership .............................................................................................................. 77
z Accredited Social Health Activists......................................................................................................................... 78
z Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal Dispute......................................................................................................................... 79
z World Habitat Day 2023 and India’s Urban Landscape......................................................................................... 79
z Krishna Water Dispute........................................................................................................................................... 80
z Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban.............................................................................................................................. 80
z Atal Bhujal Yojana and Ground Water Management............................................................................................ 80
z The 5T Initiative of Odisha..................................................................................................................................... 81
z Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana............................................................................................................... 82
z Vidya Samiksha Kendras........................................................................................................................................ 82
z Himachal Pradesh Contemplates Legalizing Cannabis Cultivation........................................................................ 83
z New Education Policy in West Bengal................................................................................................................... 83
z Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana (ABRY)......................................................................................................... 84
z Women’s Reservation Bill 2023............................................................................................................................. 84
z Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana .................................................................................................................................... 85
z SHREYAS Scheme................................................................................................................................................... 86
z PM Vishwakarma Scheme..................................................................................................................................... 87
z Skill India Digital.................................................................................................................................................... 88
z OBC Reservation in Local Bodies .......................................................................................................................... 88
z Mission Amrit Sarovar........................................................................................................................................... 88
z PM-DevINE and NESIDS Schemes.......................................................................................................................... 89
z Vishwakarma Yojana and Lakhpati Didi Scheme................................................................................................... 90
z Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Samagam and ULLAS Initiative ....................................................................................... 90
z Overhauling IPC, CrPC, Evidence Act..................................................................................................................... 91
z Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan......................................................................................................... 92
z Enhancing Water Resources Management and Conservation in India................................................................. 93
z CAG Report on National Social Assistance Programme . ...................................................................................... 94
z Nurturing India’s Cotton Sector............................................................................................................................. 95
z Dam Safety and Water Resource Management in India....................................................................................... 96
z Amrit Bharat Stations Scheme............................................................................................................................... 96
z Digital India RISC-V (DIR-V) Program..................................................................................................................... 97
z BharatNet Project.................................................................................................................................................. 98
z River Devika Rejuvenation Project........................................................................................................................ 98
z Finger Minutiae Record - Finger Image Record (FMR-FIR) Modality..................................................................... 99
z Vivad se Vishwas – II............................................................................................................................................ 100
z The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023............................................... 100
z WHO Report on Tobacco Control........................................................................................................................ 102
z Inclusion of Communities in Jammu and Kashmir’s Scheduled Tribes List.......................................................... 102
z Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2023................................................................................. 103
z Schemes For Farmers’ Welfare . ......................................................................................................................... 104
z Government Brings GSTN under PMLA Ambit . ................................................................................................. 105
z The Places of Worship Act, 1991 ....................................................................................................................... 106
z India Mobile Congress 2023 .............................................................................................................................. 106
z Scheme for Expansion and Modernization of Fire Services in States ................................................................ 106
z Report on Panchayat Development Index . ........................................................................................................ 107
z National Research Foundation .......................................................................................................................... 107
z Gramodyog Vikas Yojana and Village Industries . .............................................................................................. 108
z Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023 ............................................................................................ 108
z Welfare Schemes for the Minority Communities ............................................................................................... 109
z Rajasthan Platform-Based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Bill, 2023 .................................................. 110
z PM-KUSUM ........................................................................................................................................................ 111
z India Energy Security Scenarios 2047 V3.0 . ....................................................................................................... 112
z Roadmap of Solar Energy for Universal Energy Access ...................................................................................... 112
z Rajasthan Minimum Guaranteed Income Bill, 2023 . ......................................................................................... 113
z Overview of Indian Nursing Colleges .................................................................................................................. 114
z World Youth Skills Day: Namda Art, AI for India 2.0 . ......................................................................................... 114
z Ensuring Child Welfare and Support: Mission Vatsalya Scheme ........................................................................ 115
z Tax Devolution..................................................................................................................................................... 116
z The 22nd Law Commission on Section 124A of the IPC...................................................................................... 117
z Governor’s Role in State Legislature .................................................................................................................. 118
z Article 299 of the Constitution: Government Contracts . ................................................................................... 119
z Adverse Possession ............................................................................................................................................ 120
z Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System for NRIs.................................................................................... 121
z First Sustainability Report of NHAI .................................................................................................................... 121
z Mission on Advanced and High-Impact Research ............................................................................................. 122
z India’s Energy Transition Through States ........................................................................................................... 123
z The Hiroshima AI Process for Global AI Governance . ........................................................................................ 124
z G20 India Presidency: 3rd HWG Meeting ........................................................................................................... 125
z Mekedatu Project................................................................................................................................................ 126
z Jal Jeevan Mission .............................................................................................................................................. 127
z PM SVANidhi Scheme ......................................................................................................................................... 128
z Unified Registration Portal for GOBARdhan Launched ...................................................................................... 129
z Critical Minerals for India ................................................................................................................................... 131
z Government e-Marketplace ............................................................................................................................... 132
z CSR Guidelines for Empowering Ports ................................................................................................................ 132
z ART Regulations: Impact on Cost and Conception Opportunities ...................................................................... 133
z Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment 2023-24 ............................................................................. 134
z Protecting India’s Forest Frontline ..................................................................................................................... 135
z WHO Issues Alert for Substandard Cough Syrups Produced in India ................................................................. 136
z Shorter Medical Course to Address Rural Doctor Shortage ............................................................................... 137
z UPI Payments: Empowering Users, Challenging Banks ...................................................................................... 138
z Face Authentication for PM-Kisan Scheme ........................................................................................................ 138
z Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana ......................................................................................................... 139
z ODOP Sampark Event in Nagaland ..................................................................................................................... 140
z Star Rating Registration Process for Coal Mines................................................................................................. 141
z GoI-UNSDCF 2023-2027 . .................................................................................................................................... 142
z Alarming Rise of Non-Communicable Diseases in India ..................................................................................... 143
z Information Technology Amendment Rules, 2023 . ........................................................................................... 144
z Insurance Claims under PMJDY .......................................................................................................................... 145
z National Security Act 1980 ................................................................................................................................. 145
z Logistics Performance Index 2023 ..................................................................................................................... 146
z UDAN 5.0 Scheme .............................................................................................................................................. 146
z Settlement of Border Dispute between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh ............................................................ 146
z Sangathan se Samriddhi: DAY-NRLM . ................................................................................................................ 147
z Digital Health Summit 2023 . .............................................................................................................................. 147
z Central Government Health Scheme . ................................................................................................................ 148
z Ranganath Report and Quota forDalit Converts................................................................................................. 148
z Agnipath Scheme and Doctrine of Promissory Estoppel..................................................................................... 149
z National Electricity Plan for 2022-27................................................................................................................... 150
z Guillotine in Indian Legislative............................................................................................................................. 150
z PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme...................................................................... 151
z 30th Anniversary of the 73rd and 74th Amendments......................................................................................... 151
z Court Martial....................................................................................................................................................... 152
z Armed Forces and Adultery................................................................................................................................. 152
z Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana............................................................................................................................ 153
z Special Category Status....................................................................................................................................... 154
z Ladakh’s Demand of Sixth Schedule.................................................................................................................... 154
z National Green Hydrogen Mission...................................................................................................................... 155
z BIND Scheme....................................................................................................................................................... 156
z National Exit Test................................................................................................................................................. 156
z SMART Program for Ayurveda............................................................................................................................. 156
z PARAKH............................................................................................................................................................... 157
z New Chairperson of Lokpal................................................................................................................................. 157
z Para Archer Sheetal Devi Named ECI National PwD Icon.................................................................................... 159
z Centre Amends IT Rules for Interception Record Destruction............................................................................ 159
z Empowering the Sikh Community....................................................................................................................... 159
z PB-SHABD............................................................................................................................................................ 160
z Mahatari Vandana Yojana................................................................................................................................... 160
z Stalled Negotiations on Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project.............................................................................. 160
z Dak Karmayogi Project ....................................................................................................................................... 161
z Chakshu and the Digital Intelligence Platform.................................................................................................... 161
z Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Launched for North East............................................................................... 161
z Mission Utkarsh Against Anaemia ...................................................................................................................... 162
www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 1
€Citizenship in India is listed in the Union List under
Centre Notifies Rules for CAA the Constitution and thus is under the exclusive
Implementation jurisdiction of Parliament.
€ The Constitution of India, on 26th January, 1950,
established categories of people eligible for Indian
Why in News?
citizenship.
Recently, the Indian government notified the rules z It also granted Parliament the authority to
for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019,paving regulate additional aspects of citizenship, such
the way for its implementation after over 4 years since as granting and renunciation.
its passage by Parliament in December 2019.
€ Under this authority, Parliament enacted the
¾ The CAA, 2019 is an Indian legislation that provides Citizenship Act, 1955.
a path to Indian citizenship for migrants belonging to
¾ The Act specifies that citizenship may be acquired
six religious minorities: Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain,
in India through five methods: by birth in India,
Parsi, and Christian from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and
by descent, through registration, by naturalisation
Afghanistan.
(extended residence in India), and by incorporation
What is the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019? of territory into India.
¾ Citizenship in India: Citizenship is the legal status and € Children born in India to ambassadors are not
relationship between an individual and a state that eligible for Indian citizenship based solely on their
entails specific rights and duties. birth in the country.

¾ About: The Citizenship Act, 1955 was amended in €It exempts the members of the six communities
2019 to grant citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, from any criminal case under Foreigners Act, 1946
Jain, Parsi, or Christian migrants from Pakistan, and Passport Act, 1920 which specify punishment
Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. for entering the country illegally and staying on
expired visas and permits.
€ Under the amendment, migrants who entered India
¾ Relaxations: Under the Citizenship Act, 1935, one of
on 31st December 2014, and had suffered “religious the requirements for citizenship by naturalization is
persecution or fear or religious persecution” in that the applicant must have resided in India during
their country of origin would be made eligible for the last 12 months, as well as for 11 of the previous
accelerated citizenship. 14 years.

Note:
2 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

The 2019 amendment relaxes the second

€ 2024. The code aims to ensure responsible marketing
requirement from 11 years to 6 years as a specific practices and curb misleading promotional activities.
condition for applicants belonging to these six
religions, and the aforementioned three countries. What are the Key Highlights of the RPTUAS?
¾ Exemptions: CAA will not apply to regions mentioned ¾ Objective:
under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, € The Department of Pharmaceuticals through
which include Tribal Areas in the States of Assam,
RPTUAS aims to contribute to the growth of the
Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.
pharmaceutical industry and ensure compliance
€ Additionally, areas covered by the Inner Line Permit
with global manufacturing standards.
system (ILP) are also exempt from the CAA.
¾ Key Features:
z The concept of Inner Line separates the tribal-
majority hills of the Northeast from the plains € Broadened Eligibility Criteria:
areas. To enter and stay in these areas, an Inner z Expanded eligibility beyond Micro, Small, and
Line Permit (ILP) is needed. Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to include any
z Currently, Inner Line Permit regulates visit of all pharmaceutical manufacturing unit with a
persons, including Indian citizens, to Arunachal turnover of less than Rs 500 crores.
Pradesh, Mizoram, and Nagaland. ¾ Preference remains for MSMEs, supporting smaller
€ This exclusion is intended to protect the interests players in achieving high-quality manufacturing
of tribal and indigenous communities in the North- standards.
Eastern region, ensuring that individuals residing € Flexible Financing Options:
in these areas cannot seek citizenship under the
z Introduces subsidies on a reimbursement basis,
provisions of the CAA, 2019.
offering more flexibility than the traditional
Note: The Matua community of West Bengal (Hindu credit-linked approach.
refugees from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) , have
€ Comprehensive Support for Compliance:
welcomed the CAA rules. The notification coincides
with the birth anniversary of Harichand Thakur, a z Supports a wide range of technological
founder of the Matua sect, born in 1812 in present-day upgrades in line with revised Schedule-M
Bangladesh. and World Health Organization (WHO)-Good
Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standards,
including HVAC systems, testing laboratories,
Revamped Pharmaceuticals clean room facilities, etc.
Technology Upgradation € Dynamic Incentive Structure:
Assistance Scheme and z Offers incentives based on turnover, ranging
from 20%, 15%, and 10% of investment under
UCPMP 2024 eligible activities for turnovers less than Rs.
50.00 crore, Rs. 50.00 to less than Rs. 250.00
Why in News? crore, and Rs. 250.00 to less than Rs. 500.00
The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), Ministry crore, respectively.
of Chemicals and Fertilizers, announces the Revamped € State Government Scheme Integration:
Pharmaceuticals Technology Upgradation Assistance
z Allows integration with state government
Scheme (RPTUAS).
schemes to provide additional top-up assistance.
¾ It aims to upgrade the technological capabilities of
the pharmaceutical industry in alignment with global € Enhanced Verification Mechanism:
standards. z Implements a robust verification mechanism
¾ Additionally, the DoP released the Uniform Code through a Project Management Agency to ensure
for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) transparency and accountability.

Note:
www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 3
Pharmaceuticals Technology Upgradation and validation of equipment, and a computerised
Assistance (PTUAS) Scheme storage system for all drug products.
¾ PTUAS helps drug companies upgrade their facilities
to produce medicines that meet global standards. Election Commission of India
It was launched in July 2022.
¾ Incentives under the Scheme: Why in News?
€ Interest Subvention:
Recently, the Election Commissioner of India resigned
z Up to a maximum of 5% per annum (6% for from his post, just days ahead of the announcement of
units owned and managed by Scheduled the Lok Sabha elections.
Castes and Scheduled Tribes) of interest
subvention for the loan component eligible What is the Election Commission of India?
under the scheme, capped at Rs. 10 crore. ¾ About:
z This subsidy is applicable for a maximum € The Election Commission of India (ECI) is an
period of 3 years on the reduced balance for autonomous constitutional authority responsible for
loans sanctioned by scheduled commercial administering Union and State election processes
banks /financial institutions, both in the in India.
public and private sectors. z It was establishedin accordance with the
Constitution on 25th January 1950 (celebrated
What are the Revised Schedule M and WHO- as National Voters’ Day). The secretariat of the
GMP Standards? commission is in New Delhi.
¾ The Union Health Ministry’s notification in January € The body administers elections to the Lok Sabha,

2024 introduced revisions to Schedule M of the Rajya Sabha, and State Legislative Assemblies in
Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, focusing on robust India, and the offices of the President and Vice
quality control measures for pharmaceutical and President in the country.
biopharmaceutical products. z It is not concerned with the elections to

€ Schedule M prescribes Good Manufacturing panchayats and municipalitiesin the states.

Practices (GMP) for pharmaceutical products. For this, the Constitution of India provides for
z GMP was first incorporated in Schedule M of
a separate State Election Commission.
the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 in the ¾ Structure of ECI:
year 1988 and the last amendment was done € Originally the commission had only one election

in June 2005. commissioner but after the Election Commissioner

¾ With the amendment, the words ‘Good Manufacturing Amendment Act 1989, it was made a multi-
Practices’ (GMP) have been replaced with ‘Good member body.
Manufacturing Practices and Requirements of Premises, € The Election Commission shall consist of the Chief

Plant and Equipment for Pharmaceutical Products’. Election Commissioner (CEC) and such number
¾ The revised Schedule M emphasizes adherence to
of other election commissioners, if any, as the
GMP and incorporates requirements for premises, President may from time-to-time fix.
plant, and equipment. This ensures alignment with the € Presently, it consists of the CEC and two Election

World Health Organization (WHO) GMP Standards. Commissioners (ECs).

€ GMP is the mandatory standard that builds and z At the state level, the election commission is

brings quality into a product by way of control helped by the Chief Electoral Officer.
on materials, methods, machines, processes, ¾ Appointment & Tenure of Commissioners:
personnel, facility/environment, etc. € The President appoints CEC and Election
¾ The updated Schedule M introduces a pharmaceutical Commissioners as per the CEC and Other ECs
quality system (PQS), quality risk management (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term
(QRM), product quality review (PQR), qualification of Office) Act, 2023.

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4 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

They have a fixed tenure of six years, or up to the

€ (PMUY) to provide clean cooking fuel like LPG to
age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. rural and deprived households.
€ The salary and conditions of service of the CEC z This aimed to replace traditional cooking fuels
and ECs will be equivalent to that of the Cabinet like firewood and coal, which had negative
Secretary. impacts on the health of rural women and the
z Under the 1991 Act, it was equivalent to the environment.
salary of a Supreme Court Judge. € Under Ujjwala 2.0 (Phase-2 of PMUY), a special
¾ Removal: provision has been made for Migrant Families to
€ They can resign anytime or can also be removed avail of new connections using Self-Declaration
before the expiry of their term. instead of Proof of Address (PoA) and Ration
€ The CEC can be removed from office only through Card (RC).
a process of removal similar to that of a SC judge ¾ PMUY Benefits:
by Parliament, while ECs can only be removed on
€ Government provides Rs. 1600 for a 14.2kg cylinder
the recommendation of the CEC.
connection or Rs. 1150 for a 5kg cylinder.
Anoop Baranwal vs Union of India Case, 2023 € The PMUY provides a subsidy of Rs 300 per 14.2
¾ A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court (SC) kg cylinder of LPG to eligible beneficiaries. This
unanimously ruled that the appointment of the subsidy is available for up to 12 refills per year
Chief Election Commissioner and the Election and is credited directly to the beneficiaries’ bank
Commissioners shall be made by the President on accounts.
the advice of a Committee consisting of the Prime € PMUY beneficiaries receive the first LPG refill and
Minister, the Leader of the Opposition of the Lok stove (hotplate) free of cost from Oil Marketing
Sabha and Chief Justice of India (CJI). Companies (OMCs).
€ In case no leader of the Opposition is available,
the leader of the largest opposition Party in the
Lok Sabha in terms of numerical strength will Reforming India’s Undertrial
be a part of such committee.
Bail System
¾ The Parliament passed the Chief Election
Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners
(Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Why in News?
Office) Act, 2023, in response to the directive of The Supreme Court of India’s acknowledgement in
the Supreme Court in the Anoop Baranwal v Union the case of Satender Kumar Antil vs Central Bureau Of
of India case, 2023.
Investigation, 2022, highlights the inefficacy of India’s
bail system and its role in exacerbating the crisis of
Subsidy Extension for PMUY undertrial incarceration.
¾ This recognition underscores the pressing need for
Why in News? reforming bail laws to address systemic challenges
within the criminal justice system.
The Union Cabinet extended the subsidy of Rs 300
per 14.2-kg cylinder under thePradhan Mantri Ujjwala Note:
Yojana (PMUY) for up to 12 refills per year till the end ¾ The Fair Trial Programme (FTP) is a criminal justice
of 2024-25. initiative based at the National Law University
What is Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana in Delhi. The FTP’s goal is to ensure fair trials for
(PMUY)? undertrial prisoners.

¾ About: € The FTP trains and mentors young professionals,

such as lawyers and social workers, to collaborate
€ In May 2016, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural
Gas introduced the ‘Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana’ with the State Legal Services Authority.

Note:
www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 5
Police Custody And Judicial Custody Commencement At the time of After public
¾ Police custody means the accused is held by the arrest by a police prosecutor
police in a lock-up to prevent tampering with officer after satisfies the
evidence or influencing witnesses after an FIR is receiving a court that the
filed for a cognizable offence. complaint or custody of the
¾ Judicial Custody means an accused is in the custody filing an FIR accused is
of the concerned Magistrate. It is for serious necessary for
offences, where the court may detain the accused investigation
to prevent tampering with evidence or witnesses
M a x i m u m 24 hours 90 days for
after the police custody period ends.
Duration (extendable to o f f e n c e s
Aspect Police Custody Judicial Custody 15 days by the punishable with
appropriate l i f e
Custody Location Lock-up of a Jail under
police station or custody of Magistrate) imprisonment,
with investigating Magistrate death, or
agency imprisonment
A p p e a r a n c e Within 24 hours Until there is an for not less than
before Court before the order from the ten years; 60
c o n c e r n e d Court for bail days for other
Magistrate offences

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6 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

the time, and Col BC Batty, who represented

Dispute over the Shanan the British government and served as the Chief
Hydropower Project Engineer of Punjab.
Inter-State River Water Disputes:
Why in News? € Inter-State Water Dispute (ISWD) Act, 1956: In
Recently, the central government ordered that the case, a particular state or states approach the
status quo be maintained on the Shanan hydropower Centre for the constitution of the tribunal, the
project, over which Punjab and Himachal Pradesh have Central Government should try to resolve the
made competing claims. matter by consultation among the aggrieved
¾ Punjab has moved the Supreme Court over this issue. states. In case, if it does not work, then it may
constitute the tribunal.
¾ Historical Background:
€ During the British era in 1925, Punjab was granted a
z The Inter-State Water Dispute Act, 1956
lease for the 110-MW hydropower projectsituated was amended in 2002, to include the major
in Jogindernagar, Mandi district of Himachal recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission.
Pradesh on river Uhl, a tributary of the Beas River. z The amendments mandated a one-year
€ Lease Agreement: time frame to set up the water disputes
z The lease agreement was formalised between
tribunal and also a 3-year time frame to
Raja Joginder Bahadur, the ruler of Mandi at give a decision.

Note:
www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 7
What is NCF for School Education?
Holistic Progress Card
¾ About:
€ The National Curriculum Framework for School
Why in News?
Education (NCF-SE) is developed based on the vision
Recently, the National Council for Educational and of the NEP 2020, and to enable its implementation.
Research Training (NCERT) has introduced a new ‘Holistic
€ The formulation of NCF-SE will be undertaken by
Progress Card’ (HPC), which will measure, apart from
the NCERT. The NCFSE document shall henceforth
academic performance, a child’s progress in interpersonal
be revisited and updated once every 5-10 years,
relationships, self-reflection, creativity, and emotional
considering the frontline curriculum.
application in classrooms.
Note: The HPCs have been devised by Performance
Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for FIR and General Diary
Holistic Development (PARAKH), a standard-setting
body under the NCERT, for the foundational stage Why in News?
(Classes 1 and 2), preparatory stage (Classes 3 to 5)
The Supreme Court(SC) of India in the case Shailesh
and middle stage (Classes 6 to 8), as per suggestions
Kumar v. State of UP (now State of Uttarakhand) 2024
by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
has clarified the legal position regarding the registration
What is a Holistic Progress Card (HPC)? of First Information Reports (FIRs) and General Diary
entries by the police.
¾ About:
¾ The apex court has held that information disclosing
€ The HPC is a new approach to evaluating students’
the commission of a cognisable offenceneeds to
academic performance that moves away from
be recorded as an FIR in the designated FIR book,
traditional reliance on marks or grades.
rather than being documented in the General Diary
€ Instead, it adopts a comprehensive 360-degree
maintained by the Police under the Police Act, 1861.
evaluation system that takes into account various
¾ The court emphasised that a General Diary entry
aspects of a student’s development and learning
cannot precede the registration of an FIR unless a
experience.
preliminary inquiry is deemed necessary.
What is PARAKH?
What is an FIR?
¾ About:
¾ A first information report (FIR) is a written document
€ PARAKH has been launched as part of the
prepared by the police when they receive information
implementation of the National Education Policy
about the commission of a cognisable offence.
(NEP), 2020 that envisaged a standard-setting
body to advise school boards regarding new € A cognisable offence is one in which the police
assessment patterns and latest research, and can arrest a person without a warrant.
promote collaborations between them. € The term FIR is not defined in the Indian Penal
z It will act as a constituent unit of the NCERT. Code (IPC), Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC),
€ It will also be tasked with holding periodic learning 1973, or in any other law, but in police regulations
outcome tests like the National Achievement Survey or rules, information recorded under Section 154
(NAS) and State Achievement Surveys. of CrPC is known as First Information Report (FIR).
€ It will work on three major assessment areas: € That FIR registration is mandatory for cognizable
large-scale assessments, school-based assessment, offences under Section 154 of the CrPC. Additionally,
and examination reforms. it emphasised

Note:
8 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

€ Exceptions to the Rule of Registering an FIR: What is a General Diary?

The SC ruling in Lalita Kumari v.Government € A General Diary is a record of all the activities
of Uttar Pradesh & Others, (2014) held that FIR and incidents that take place in a police station
registration is mandatory for cognizable offences on a daily basis.
under Section 154 of the CrPC. Additionally, it z Section 44 of the Police Act, 1861 empowers
emphasised that in certain cases, a preliminary the State Government to prescribe the form of
inquiry may be necessary before registering an the General Diary and the manner in which it
FIR. These cases are: shall be maintained.
z Matrimonial/family disputes € The General Diary contains various details such
z Commercial offences as the:
z Arrival and departure of police officers
z Medical negligence cases
z Arrest of persons
z Corruption cases
z Seizure of property
z Cases where there is abnormal delay/laches in
z Receipt and disposal of complaints
initiating criminal prosecution, for example, over
z Any other information that the officer in charge
3 months delay in reporting the matter without of the police station may consider necessary
satisfactorily explaining the reasons for delay. to record.
z The preliminary inquiry must be completed € Supreme Court Rulings: In CBI v. Tapan Kumar
within 7 days. Singh (2003), the Supreme Court ruled that a
€ The Supreme Court has also held that if the General Diary Entry may be treated as FIR in an
appropriate case, where it discloses the commission
information given to the police does not disclose
of a cognisable offence.
the commission of a cognisable offence, then the
police are not bound to register an FIR. Note:
z In such cases, the police may enter the ¾ Case Diary is maintained by the investigating officer
information in the General Diary and inform for a specific case, while the General Diary records
the informant accordingly. all legal events within a police station’s jurisdiction.

Aspect General Diary Entry FIR

Record complaints and incidents for Register a cognisable offence for
Purpose
administrative purposes or future reference investigation
Nature of Offense Both cognisable and non-cognisable Only for cognizable offences
Documentation Internal police record For public record

Copies are not provided to the complainant Copies provided to the complainant,
Distribution
or Judicial Magistrate; sent to superior officers superior officers and Judicial Magistrate

Magistrate may inspect General Diary upon Magistrate receives copies of FIR for
Judicial Oversight
request oversight
Complainant's Signature
Not required Required
Required

Note:
www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 9
nearly 80% is only for the construction of houses
PM-JANMAN Housing for and roads.
PVTGs z An allocation of Rs 15,000 crore has been made
for the next three years under the Development
Why in News? Action Plan for the Scheduled Tribes (DAPST)
The housingcomponent of Pradhan Mantri Janjati to implement the housing component of PM-
Adivasi Nyay Maha Abhiyaan (PM-JANMAN), aimed at JANMAN.
providing housing for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal ¾ Vision:
Groups (PVTGs), faces significant challenges hindering
€ PM-JANMAN envisions improving the socio-
its smooth implementation.
economic status of PVTGs by bridging gaps in
What is PM-JANMAN? health, education, and livelihoods.
¾ About: z The focus is on enhancing basic infrastructure
€ PM-JANMAN, launched on 15th November 2023, in PVTG communities, habitations, and families,
on Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas,focuses on 11 critical aligning with existing schemes of nine Ministries/
interventions through 9 ministries to improve the Departments.
socio-economic welfare of PVTGs.
¾ Scope:
€ PM-JANMAN comprises Central Sector and Centrally
Sponsored Schemes to improve the socio-economic € The mission’s primary scope is to comprehensively
conditions of PVTGs. enhance the living conditions of PVTG by ensuring
€ The scheme has a total outlay of Rs 24,104 crore they have access to essential amenities and services.
to be spent over a three-year period, of which This includes:

Note:
10 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

¾ Foundational Features of PM-JANMAN: € Identification of Gaps:

€ Inter-Ministerial Convergence: z Through physical surveys conducted by state
z In a unique approach, 9 Ministries of the governments, gaps in each intervention area
Government of India collaborate under the are identified.
leadership of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. ¾ Data is updated on the PM Gati-shakti Portal,
¾ Each Ministry oversees the implementation of its enabling cross-verification by relevant Ministries
schemes while collectively ensuring comprehensive and State Departments to ensure accuracy and
coverage and welfare of the most vulnerable tribal completeness.
communities. € Provision of Funds:
€ Alignment of Schemes/Programs: z The source of funds for each of the 11
z Existing norms of schemes within concerned interventions is the DAPST grants allocated to
Ministries are modified to address the specific respective Ministries/Departments under their
needs of tribal communities. identified schemes covered by PM-JANMAN.
¾ Revised guidelines are issued to ensure that the ¾ Flexibility is provided under the DAPST mechanism to
objectives of PM-JANMAN are effectively integrated ensure dedicated funds availability for the successful
into ongoing programs. implementation of the mission.
€ Coverage of the Scheme: € Reward Mechanism:
z PM-JANMAN aims to reach 75 PVTGs residing z Performance evaluation is conducted through
in 18 states and 1 UT who continue to lag in the ranking of districts based on monthly
socio-economic indicators of educational, health incremental changes in performance indicators.
and livelihood. z The purpose is to foster a sense of competition
¾ The focus is on providing holistic support to tribal among district teams, with the top three districts
communities across various domains, including health, and Ministries recognised and rewarded for
education, and livelihoods. their outstanding performance.

Note:
www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 11
Note:
¾ The DAPST is a strategy for tribal development in India. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs and 41 other ministries
and departmentsallocate funds to tribal development projects under DAPST.
€ These projects include education, health, agriculture, irrigation, roads, housing, electrification, and employment.

Note:
12 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

in metropolitan areas, from 15 to 7 days in other

Amendments to the municipal areas, and from 30 to 15 days in rural
areas.
Electricity (Rights of
z However, in rural areas with hilly terrain,
Consumers) Rules, 2020 the time period for new connections or for
modifications in existing connections will
Why in News? remain thirty days.
Recently, the Ministry of Power has notified
amendments to the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Amul a Pillar of India’s Dairy
Rules, 2020, to accelerate the installation of Rooftop Solar
Projects and empower consumers – with provisions on Sector
connections in residential societies and solving complaints
on meter readings. Why in News?
The Prime Minister participated in the Golden Jubilee
What are the Major Amendments in Electricity celebration of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing
Rules, 2020? Federation (GCMMF) and highlighted the success of
¾ Easier and Faster installation of Rooftop Solar Systems: Anand Milk Union Limited (Amul) which comes from
€ Exemption has been given for the requirement
GCMMF.
of technical feasibility study, for systems up to a
What is the History of Amul?
capacity of 10 kW.
¾ Amul was established in 1946 as the Kaira District
€ For systems of capacity higher than 10 kW, the
Co-operative Milk Producers’ Union Limited in Anand,
timeline for completing the feasibility study has
Gujarat.
been reduced from 20 to 15 days.
¾ It was founded by Tribhuvandas Patel, with the support
z A technical feasibility study typically involves
of Morarji Desai and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
assessing factors such as site suitability, structural
¾ In 1950, Amul (Anand Milk Union Limited) was formed
integrity of the building, available sunlight
as a brand for the dairy products produced by the
exposure, electrical infrastructure compatibility,
cooperative.
and potential obstacles or challenges that may
affect the installation and operation of the ¾ Amul is managed by the GCMMF, which is jointly owned
solar panels. by more than 3.6 million milk producers in Gujarat.
¾ Amul pioneered the adoption of the Anand Pattern, an
€ It is mandated that the distribution system
economic organisational model designed to empower
strengthening necessary for rooftop solar PV
small producers through collective action.
systems up to 5 kW capacity will be done by the
€ This approach fosters integration among producers,
distribution company at its own cost.
enabling economies of scale while preserving
€ Further, the timeline for the distribution licensee
individual autonomy in decision-making.
to commission Rooftop Solar PV systems has been
¾ Amul’s success story garnered international attention,
reduced from 30 to 15 days.
becoming a case study in cooperative economics and
¾ Separate Connections for Electric Vehicle Charging rural development.
Stations:
¾ Amul played a pivotal role in India’s White Revolution,
€ Consumers can obtain separate electricity which aimed to increase milk production and make
connections for charging theirElectric Vehicles (EVs). India self-sufficient in milk.
z This aligns with India’s goal of reducing carbon € Amul spearheaded the White Revolution in India,
emissions and reaching Net Zero by the year starting with the introduction of milk powder
2070. manufacturing in 1955.
€ The time period for obtaining a new electricity ¾ Amul products are now exported to over 50 countries,
connection has been reduced from 7 to 3 days with a network of over 18,000 milk cooperative

Note:
www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 13
committees and over 36,000 farmers. Processing What was P V Narasimha Rao Case?
over 3.5 crore litres of milk daily, Amul also facilitates
¾ Case Background:
online payments exceeding Rs 200 crores to livestock
€ In the 1993 P V Narasimha Rao case, certain
breeders.
members (MPs) of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha
¾ Current Milk Production:
(JMM) were accused of accepting bribes in exchange
€ India is the highest milk producer i.e., ranks first for voting against a No-Confidence motion.
position in the world contributing twenty-four
€ This case highlighted allegations of corruption
percent of global milk production in the year
within the parliamentary system, raising concerns
2021-22. about the integrity of legislative processes and the
€ In the last 10 years, milk production increased by accountability of elected representatives.
almost 60% and per capita milk availability has
increased by about 40%. What are the Parliamentary Privileges?
z The top 5 milk-producing states are Rajasthan, ¾ About:
Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and € Parliamentary privileges are special rights,
Andhra Pradesh. immunities and exemptions enjoyed by the
€ The Indian dairy sector is growing by 6% per year members of the Parliament and their committees.
as compared to the global average of 2%. z These privileges are defined in Article 105of
€ India’s Export of Dairy products was 67,572.99 the Indian Constitution.
Metric Ton (MT) to the world worth USD 284.65 z Article 194 guarantees same privileges to the
Mn during the year 2022-23. Members of Legislative Assemblies of states.
€ Under these privileges, the members of Parliament
What are the Initiatives Related to the Dairy
are exempted from any civil liability (but not
Sector?
criminal liability) for any statement made or act
¾ Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund done in the course of their duties.
(AHIDF). € Parliament has not made any special law to
¾ National Programme for Dairy Development. exhaustively codify all the privileges. They are
¾ Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana rather based on five sources:
¾ Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) to Livestock Farmers z Constitutional provisions

¾ Rashtriya Gokul Mission z Various laws made by Parliament

¾ National Livestock Mission z Rules of both the Houses

z Parliamentary conventions

Parliamentary Privileges and z Judicial interpretations

¾ Privileges of Individual Member:

Related Cases € Freedom of Speech in Parliament (Article 105(1))

€ Immunity to a Member from any proceedings in

Why in News? any court in respect of anything said or any vote
Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) overturned a given by him in Parliament or any Committee
25-year-old majority opinion in the P V Narasimha Rao thereof [Article 105(2)].
v State (CBI/Spe) Case, 1998 also known as the JMM € Immunity to a person from proceedings in any
(Jharkhand Mukti Morcha) bribery case. The SC stated court in respect of the publication by or under
that the bribery is not protected by parliamentary the authority of either House of Parliament of any
privileges. report, paper, votes or proceedings (Article 105(2)).
¾ The previous ruling had stated that lawmakers € Prohibition on the Courts to inquire into the
who accepted bribes could not be prosecuted for validity of any proceedings in Parliament on the
corruption if they followed through with voting or ground of any alleged irregularity of procedure.
speaking in the House as agreed. [Article 122(1)].

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14 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

Freedom from arrest of Members in civil cases

€ lakh tonnes of storage capacity over the next 5 years,
during the continuance of the meeting of the with an investment of ₹1.25 lakh crore.
House or of a Committee thereof and forty days € This involves creating agricultural infrastructure at
before its commencement and forty days after the PACS level, including decentralisedgodowns,
its conclusion (Section 135A of the Code of Civil custom hiring centres, processing units, Fair Price
Procedure, 1908). Shops, etc., by integrating various existing schemes
¾ Collective Privilege of House: of the Government of India.
€ Right of the House to receive immediate intimation ¾ Expected Outcomes: Enabling farmers to store their
of the arrest, detention, conviction, imprisonment produce at PACS godowns, offering bridge finance
and release of a Member. for the next crop cycle or selling at MSP to avoid
€ Immunity from arrest and service of legal process distress sales.
within the precincts of the House without obtaining € Increased grain storage reduces post-harvest
the permission of the Chairman/ Speaker. losses, improving farmer earnings and ensuring
€ Protection of publication of the proceedings of a food security at the grassroots level, benefiting
secret sitting of the House. consumers.
€ The evidence tendered before a Parliamentary
What is the Status of the Cooperative Sector in
Committee and its report and proceedings cannot
be disclosed or published by anyone until these India?
have been laid on the Table of the House. ¾ About: Cooperatives are people-centred enterprises
€ Members or officers of the House cannot give owned, controlled and run by and for their members
evidence or produce in courts of law, documents to realise their common economic, social, and cultural
relating to the proceedings of the House without needs and aspirations.
the permission of the House. € India has one of the world’s largest cooperative
networks, with over 800,000 cooperatives spread
Note:
across various sectors like agriculture, credit, dairy,
¾ The Supreme Court in the State of Kerala Vs. K.
housing, and fisheries.
Ajith Case, 2021, observed, that “privileges and
immunities are not gateways to claim exemptions ¾ Evolution of Cooperative Sector in India:
from the general law of the land, particularly as € 97th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2011:

case of, the criminal law which governs the action Established the right to form cooperative societies
of every citizen.” as a fundamental right (Article 19).
¾ In July 2021, the Supreme Court rejected the Kerala z Introduced a new Directive Principle of State

government’s plea to withdraw criminal cases Policy on Cooperative Societies (Article 43-B).
against its MLAs who were charged in the assembly. z Added a new Part IX-B to the Constitution titled
“The Co-operative Societies” (Articles 243-ZH
India’s Cooperative Sector to 243-ZT).
z Empowered Parliament to enact laws governing
multi-state cooperative societies (MSCS) and
Why in News?
delegated authority to state legislatures for
Recently, the Indian Prime Minister inaugurated the other cooperative societies.
pilot project of World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan, which € Establishment of Union Ministry of Cooperation
is currently launched in 11 Primary Agricultural Credit (2021): Assumed responsibility for cooperative
Societies (PACS) across 11 states. affairs, previously overseen by the Ministry of
¾ It marks a significant development in the cooperative Agriculture.
sector. € Multi-State Co-operative Societies (Amendment)
What are the Features of the Grain Storage Plan? Act, 2022: It aims to enhance regulation for multi-
¾ About: The Grain Storage Plan aims to establish 700 state cooperative societies.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 15
z Introduces the Co-operative Election Authority ¾ Amendment to the Representation of the People
to oversee board elections in multi-state co- Act, 1951:
operative societies. € In order to rein in the MLAs from such cross-voting,

z Requires multi-state co-operative societies to an amendment to the Representation of the People

obtain government permission before redeeming Act, 1951was carried out in 2003.
their shareholding. z Section 59 of the Act was amended to provide

z Calls for the establishment of a Co-operative that the voting in elections to Rajya Sabha shall
Re h a b i l i tat i o n , Re co n st r u c t i o n , a n d be through an open ballot.
Development Fund, funded by profitable € The MLAs of political parties are required to

multi-state co-operative societies, to revive show their ballot paper to the authorised agent
struggling ones. of their Party.
€ Not showing the ballot paper to the authorised
z Permits state co-operative societies to merge
into existing multi-state co-operative societies, agent or showing it to anyone else will disqualify
subject to state laws. the vote.
€ Independent MLAs are barred from showing their
Note: The Supreme Court in the Bengal Secretariat ballots to anyone.
Cooperative Society vs Aloke Kumar case proposed to
empower the Parliament in respect of multi-state co- Note:
operative societies and the State Legislatures in case Shailesh Manubhai Parmar v Election Commission of
of state co-operative societies to make appropriate law. India Case, 2018:
¾ SC denied the None Of The Above (NOTA) option
to the electors in the Rajya Sabha election.
Rajya Sabha Elections ¾ The SC stated that making NOTA applicable in Rajya
Sabha elections is contrary to Article 80(4) of the
Why in News? constitution.
The Rajya Sabha electionsin the States of Uttar € Article 80(4) states that the representatives of each

Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka witnessedcross- state in the Council of States shall be elected by
voting by MLAs (Member of Legislative Assembly) the elected members of the legislative assembly
belonging to different parties. This has once again raised of the state in accordance with the system of
concerns about the sanctity of the election process. proportional representationby means of the
single transferable vote.
How are Rajya Sabha Elections Held? JMM bribery case, 1998:
¾ Background: ¾ The SC had to interpret the provisions of Article
105(2) of the Constitution, which provides immunity
€ As per Article 80 of the Constitution, representatives
to lawmakers for their speech and votes in Parliament
of each State to the Rajya Sabha are elected or any committee thereof.
indirectly by the elected members of theirLegislative
€ The Supreme Court, laid down in the JMM bribery
Assembly.
case judgment of 1998, that lawmakers who
€ The polls for Rajya Sabha will be required only if took bribes were immune from prosecution for
the number of candidates exceed the number corruption if they go ahead and vote or speak
of vacancies. in the House as agreed.
€ Till 1998, the outcome of Rajya Sabha elections ¾ In March 2024, a Seven-judge Bench overruled the
was usually a foregone conclusion, the parties judgment by a five-judge Bench in a 25-year-old
with a majority in the state assembly often had JMM bribery case, declaring that parliamentary
their candidates win unopposed due to a lack of privilege or immunity will not protect legislators who
competition. take bribes to vote or speak in Parliament or State
z However, the June 1998 Rajya Sabha elections in
Legislative Assemblies from criminal prosecution.
Maharashtra witnessedcross-voting that resulted € Privileges and immunities are not gateways to

in the loss of a Congress party candidate. claim exemptions from the general law of the land.

Note:
16 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

Does Anti-Defection Law Apply to Rajya Sabha ¾ The Bill was meant to amend multiple provisions
Elections? in the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and
Charitable Endowments Act (KHRI&CE), 1997.
¾ Tenth Schedule and “Anti-Defection” Law:
€ The Election Commission clarified in July 2017 that What are the Key Highlights of the Bill?
the provisions of the Tenth Schedule, including the ¾ Alteration of Taxation System:
anti-defection law, are not applicable to Rajya
€ The Bill, aimed to alter the taxation of Hindu
Sabha elections.
temples.
€ Therefore, political parties cannot issue any whip
€ It proposed diverting 10% of gross income from
to their members for Rajya Sabha elections, and
temples making over Rs 1 crore annually to a
members are not bound by party instructions in
common pool for temple maintenance.
these elections.
z Previously, the allocation was 10% of the net

What are SC’s Ruling Related to the Tenth income for temples earning over Rs 10 lakh
annually.
Schedule and Rajya Sabha Election?
z Net income is calculated based on the
¾ Kuldip Nayar vs. Union of India, 2006:
profits of the temple after accounting for its
€ The Supreme Court (SC) upheld the system of expenses,whereas gross income simply refers to
open ballot for Rajya Sabha elections. the total amount of money the temple makes.
€ It reasoned that if secrecy becomes a source for € The Bill also suggested allocating 5% of income
corruption, then transparency has the capacity from temples earning between Rs 10 lakh and Rs
to remove it. 1 crore to the common pool.
€ However, in the same case the court held that an € These changes would have generated an additional
elected MLA of a political party would not face Rs 60 crore from 87 temples with incomes over Rs
disqualification under the Tenth Schedule for 1 crore and 311 temples with income exceeding
voting against their party candidate. Rs 10 lakh.
€ He/she may at the most attract disciplinary action ¾ Utilisation of Common Fund:
from their political party. € The common fund may be utilised for purposes
¾ Ravi S. Naik and Sanjay Bandekar vs. Union of India, including religious studies and propagation, temple
1994: maintenance, and other charitable causes.
€ The SC held that voluntarily giving up membership € The common fund pool was created in 2011, by
under the Tenth Schedule is not synonymous with amending the 1997 Act.
only formally resigning from the party to which ¾ Composition of Committee of Management:
the member belongs.
€ The Bill suggested adding a member skilled in
€ The conduct of a member both inside and outside
Vishwakarma Hindu temple architecture and
the house can be looked into to infer if it qualifies sculpture to the “committee of management” of
as voluntarily giving up membership. temples and religious institutions.
z Under Section 25 of the KHRI& CE 1997 Act,

Karnataka’s Temple Tax temples and religious institutions are required to

form a “committee of management” consisting
Amendment Bill of nine people, including a priest, at least one
member of a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled
Why in News? Tribe, two women, and one member of the
The Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and locality of the institution.
Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was ¾ Rajya Dharmika Parishat:
passed by the State Legislative Assembly and then the € The Bill empowered the Rajya Dharmika Parishat
Council, it will now be sent to theGovernor for approval. to appoint committee chairpersons and handle

Note:
www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 17
religious disputes, temple statuses, and trustee ¾ Following the decision, Muslim marriage or divorce
appointments. Additionally, it mandated the registration can happen only through the Special
creation of district and state committees to oversee Marriage Act, 1954.
infrastructure projects for temples earning over
Rs 25 lakh annually. What is the Assam Muslim Marriage and
Temple Revenue Handling in Other States: Divorce Registration Act, 1935?
¾ Telangana’s Model: ¾ The Act is in line with the Muslim Personal Law,
€ Telangana follows a system akin to Karnataka’s, enacted in 1935. The Act lays down the process for
where a “Common Good Fund” is created under registration of Muslim marriages and divorces.
Section 70 of the Telangana Charitable and ¾ A 2010 amendment replaced the word ‘voluntary’ in
Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments the original Act with ‘compulsory’, making registration
Act, 1987. of Muslim marriages and divorces compulsory in the
state of Assam.
€ Temples earning more than Rs 50,000 annually
are mandated to contribute 1.5% of their income ¾ The Act authorises the state to grant licences to
to the state government. “any person, being a Muslim” to register marriages
and divorces, with Muslim registrars deemed to be
z These funds are utilized for temple
public servants.
maintenance, renovations, veda-pathasalas
¾ It lays down the process through which marriage and
(religious schools), and establishing new
temples. divorce applications can be made to the registrar, and
the process for their registration.
¾ Kerala’s System:
€ Kerala employs a distinct approach where
temples are predominantly managed by state- NITI Aayog GROW Report
run Devaswom (temple) Boards. and Portal
z The state has five autonomous Devswom
Boards overseeing over 3,000 temples, with
Why in News?
board members typically appointed by the
ruling government, often politicians. Recently, the Greening and Restoration of Wasteland
with Agroforestry (GROW) report and portal was
z Each Devswom Board operates with a budget
launched by NITI Aayog (National Institution for
allocated by the state government and
Transforming India).
isn’t obliged to disclose revenue figures.
Separate laws govern the administration What are the Key Highlights of the
and management of temples under each
GROW Report?
Devswom board, except for Travancore and
Cochin, which are governed by a shared ¾ GROW Report Objective:
Act(Travancore-Cochin Hindu Religious € The GROW report aims to facilitate restoration
Institutions Act, 1950). projects for achieving national commitments of
Land Degradation Neutrality and restoring 26
million hectares of degraded land by 2030, as
Repealing of Assam Muslim well as creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5
Marriage Act to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
¾ Extent of Wastelands in India:
Why in News? € The report highlights that India possesses
Recently, the Assam Government approved Assam approximately 55.76 million hectares of
Repealing Ordinance 2024, repealing the Assam Muslim wastelands, comprising 16.96% of the total
Marriage and Divorce Registration Act of 1935. geographical area (TGA) of the country.

Note:
18 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

€ These degraded lands have suffered from reduced productivity and biodiversity due to various natural and human-
induced factors. However, the report suggests greening and restoring these wastelands through agroforestry.

¾ Agroforestry as a Solution: ¾ Policy Framework:

€ The report also underscores the potential benefits € The report emphasises India’s National Agroforestry
of converting underutilised areas, especially Policy of 2014, which aims to enhance productivity,
wastelands, for agroforestry. profitability, and sustainability through this agro
z Currently, agroforestry covers 8.65% of India’s ecological land use system.
total geographical area, totalling about 28.42 z This aligns with global commitments like the Paris
million hectares and about 6.18% and 4.91% of Agreement,Bonn Challenge, UN Sustainable
India’s land are highly and moderately suitable Development Goals,United Nations Convention
for agroforestry, respectively. on Combating Desertification (UNCCD),Green
z As per Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) India Mission and more.
Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana
are the top large-sized states for agroforestry
What is the GROW Portal?
suitability, while Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, ¾ The GROW portal is hosted on the Bhuvan platform,
and Nagaland ranked highest among the ensuring universal access to state and district-level
medium-sized states. data related to agroforestry suitability.
€ The report identifies the policy and institutional € Through the portal, users can access detailed maps
support required for scaling up agroforestry and assessments of agroforestry suitability across
interventions in wastelands. different regions of India.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 19
¾ The portal utilises thematic datasets derived from
remote sensing and Geographic Information System
(GIS)technology, offering comprehensive information
on factors influencing agroforestry suitability.
¾ One of the key features of the portal is the Agroforestry
Suitability Index (ASI), which provides a standardised
index for prioritising agroforestry interventions at
the national level.
¾ The portal offers insights into the current extent of
agroforestry in India, highlighting its geographical
spread and total coverage.

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20 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

z The government elected after the 2024

High-Level Committee Report polls would decide on the starting point for
on Simultaneous Elections implementing simultaneous elections, either
targeting 2029 or 2034 based on their preference.
Why in News? z To maintain synchronicity in case of premature
In a significant move towards electoral reform, the dissolution of Parliament or a state assembly,
High-level Committee on Simultaneous Elections, the committee recommended conducting
constituted under the chairmanship of Shri Ram Nath fresh elections only for the remaining term,
Kovind, former President of India, has proposed or the “unexpired term” until the next cycle of
simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha, state Assemblies, simultaneous polls.
and local bodies in India. ¾ This measure ensures that any hung House or no-
¾ The committee’s report, submitted to President Droupadi confidence motion does not affect the overall timeline
Murmu, outlines comprehensive recommendations for simultaneous elections.
and amendments to the Constitution to facilitate this ¾ Synchronisation of Local Body Elections:
monumental change.
¾ Parliament is advised to enact legislation, possibly
What are the Recommendations of the High- through the introduction of Article 324A, to ensure
level Committee on Simultaneous Elections? the synchronization of Municipalities and Panchayats
elections with General Elections.
¾ Transition to Simultaneous Elections:
¾ This legislation would determine the terms of local
€ Amendment to Article 82A:
bodies and align their election schedules with national
z The Committee suggests amending Article 82A
electoral timelines.
of the Constitution to empower the President
to designate an “Appointed Date” for the ¾ Electoral Roll Preparation and Management:
commencement of simultaneous elections to the € The Committee suggests amending Article 325 of
House of the People and Legislative Assemblies. the Constitution to enable theElection Commission
¾ State assemblies going to poll after this date would of India(ECI) to prepare a single electoral roll and
synchronize their terms with the Parliament, facilitating Elector’s Photo Identity Card (EPIC) applicable to
simultaneous elections. all tiers of government in consultation with State
€ Term Synchronization: Election Commissions.
z If the recommendations are accepted and z The electoral rolls for Lok Sabha are prepared
implemented after the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, and maintained by the ECI, while the electoral
the first simultaneous elections could potentially rolls for local bodies are prepared by the SEC.
be held in 2029. z The Committee emphasises the importance
¾ Alternatively, if targeting the 2034 polls, the appointed of harmonisation between the ECI and State
date would be identified after the 2029 Lok Sabha polls. Election Commissions (SECs) to prevent
z States with elections due between June 2024 duplication and safeguard voter rights.
and May 2029 would see their terms expire ¾ Logistical Arrangements and Expenditure Estimation:
alongside the 18th Lok Sabha, even if it results
€ The Committee calls for the ECI to submit detailed
in some state assemblies having terms of less
requirements and expenditure estimates for
than five years as a one-time measure.
simultaneous elections.
¾ States like West Bengal, Tamil Nadu (2026), Punjab,
Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh (2027), and Karnataka, € To ensure seamless logistical arrangements, the
Chhattisgarh, Telangana (2028) would synchronise Committee urges the ECI and SECs to develop
their election cycles. comprehensive plans and estimates.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 21
z These plans should encompass equipment needs, History of Simultaneous Elections in India
personnel deployment, and security measures.
¾ Simultaneous elections in India, where both the
¾ Impact on Governance and Development: Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies are
€ The Committee underscores the importance of elected together, were practised during the initial
certainty in governance for effective decision- years after independence in 1952, 1957, and 1962.
making and sustained development. € However, due to various factors such as political
€ It highlights the role of synchronized elections in instability, early dissolution of State Assemblies,
averting policy paralysis and fostering a conducive and the need for separate elections to address
regional issues, the practice of simultaneous
environment for progress.
elections gradually faded.
What are the Constitutional Provisions Regarding ¾ In 2019, only four States (Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal
the Simultaneous Elections? Pradesh, Odisha, and Sikkim) had their assembly
Constitutional Description elections, along with the Lok Sabha.
Provision
Article 83 Specifies the duration of the Lok Green Elections in India
Sabha (House of the People),
stating that it shall continue for Why in News?
five years from its first meeting
Recently, the Election Commission of India (ECI)
unless dissolved earlier.
voiced its concern over the environmental risks associated
Article 172 Pertains to the duration of State with the use of non-biodegradable materials in elections.
Legislative Assemblies, declaring ¾ It has been urging parties and candidates to avoid the
that a Legislative Assembly shall use of plastic/polythene for preparation of election
continue for five years from the material during an election campaign, since 1999.
date of its first meeting. What is Carbon Footprint?
Article 324 Empower the ECI to supervise, ¾ As per the World Health Organization (WHO),
direct, and control the preparation a carbon footprint quantifies the influence of
of electoral rolls and conduct of human activities on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
elections to the Parliament, State generated from burning fossil fuels, typically
Legislatures, and the offices of the measured in metric tons of CO2 emissions.
President and Vice-President. ¾ It is gauged in terms of annual CO2 emissions, a
Article 356 Allows for the imposition of the metric that may include additional greenhouse
President’s Rule in a State in case gasses such as methane, nitrous oxide, and other
CO2-equivalent gasses.
of failure of the constitutional
¾ It can be a broad measure or be applied to the
machinery, leading to direct rule
actions of an individual, a family, an event, an
by the President through the
organization, or even an entire nation.
Governor.
Representation of Provides the legal framework for
Using AI in Elections
People Act, 1951 conducting elections in India,
covering aspects such as electoral
Why in News?
rolls, qualifications for
As AI evolves towards mimicking human capabilities
membership, and election evolving from Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) to
conduct. Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), its impact on

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22 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

elections, exemplified by India’s upcoming polls, free and fair electionsto the Parliament and State
underscores the imperative of addressing its potential Legislatures.
influence. € The MCC is operational from the date on which
¾ AGI refers to the hypothetical ability of an AI to the election schedule is announced until the date
understand, learn, and apply knowledge in a manner of the result announcement.
similar to human intelligence across a wide range of € The government cannot announce any financial
tasks and domains. grants, promise construction of roads or other
¾ AGI aims to replicate the cognitive abilities of humans, facilities, and make any ad hoc appointments in
such as reasoning, problem-solving, perception, and government or public undertaking during the time
understanding natural language. the Code is in force.
¾ In 2021, the Bihar Election Commission tied up with ¾ Enforceability of MCC:
AI firm Staqu to use video analytics with optical € Though the MCC does not have any statutory
character recognition (OCR) to analyse CCTV footage backing, it has come to acquire strength in the past
from counting booths during the panchayat elections. decade because of its strict enforcement by the EC.
z The system enabled the Bihar Election z Certain provisions of the MCC may be enforced
Commission to achieve complete transparency by invoking corresponding provisions in other
and eliminate any chances of manipulation. statutes such as theIndian Penal Code (IPC)
What are India’s Initiatives Related to Artificial 1860,Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC)
Intelligence? 1973,and Representation of Peoples’s Act
(RPA) 1951.
¾ INDIAai.
¾ Evolution of MCC:
¾ Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI).
€ Kerala was the first state to adopt a code of conduct
¾ US India Artificial Intelligence Initiative.
for elections. In 1960, before the Assembly elections
¾ Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Youth. in the state, the administration prepared a draft
¾ Artificial Intelligence Research, Analytics and code covering important aspects of electioneering
Knowledge Assimilation Platform. such as processions, political rallies, and speeches.
¾ Artificial Intelligence Mission. € In 1974, the ECI released a formal MCC. It also
set up bureaucratic bodies at the district level to
Model Code of Conduct oversee its implementation. Before 1977, MCC
guided only political parties and candidates.
€ In 1979, the Election Commission learned of ruling
Why in News?
parties misusing power like monopolising public
Recently, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has
spaces and using public money for advertisement.
come into force with the announcement of voting dates
The Election Commission revised MCC to include
for the Lok Sabha elections 2024 by the Election
ruling political parties.
Commission of India (ECI), marking a significant aspect
€ The revised MCC had seven parts, with one for
of electoral governance.
the ruling parties’ behaviour after the election
What is MCC and its Evolution? announcement.
z Part I: General good behaviour for candidates
¾ About:
and parties.
€ The MCC is a consensus document. The political
z Parts II and III: Rules for public meetings and
parties have themselves agreed to keep their
conduct during elections in check and to work processions.
within the Code. z Parts IV and V: Guidelines for behaviour on

€ It helps the EC in keeping with the mandate it has

polling day and at polling booths.
been given under Article 324 of the Constitution, € The MCC has been revised on several occasions

which gives it the power to supervise and conduct since 1979, with the last time being in the year 2014.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 23
¾ Key Provisions of MCC:
€ General Conduct: Banning Cotton Candy
z No party or candidate shall include in any
activity that may aggravate existing differences Why in News?
or cause tension between different castes and Recently, Himachal Pradesh has instituted a one-year
communities, religious or linguistic. ban on the production, sale and storage of Cotton Candy
„ Similarly, Section 123(3) of the Representation or Candy floss after the presence of Rhodamine B, a
of the People Act, 1951, disallows the usage of potentially hazardous colouring agent.
religion, race, caste, community, or language ¾ The ban is on the heels of states like Karnataka, Tamil
to promote enmity or hatred among the Nadu and Goa, which have implemented similar
people and use of it as a political tool. restrictions on harmful colouring agents.
z Criticisms directed towards other political ¾ Consumption of snacks containing these artificial
parties should be restricted to an evaluation colours may pose long-term health risks, including
of their policies, historical performance, and Cancer.
initiatives, refraining from personal attacks.
€ Meetings and Processions: What is Rhodamine B?
z Parties must inform the local police authorities ¾ About:
of the venue and time of any meeting to € Rhodamine B is a colouring agent commonly
enable the police to make adequate security used in textile, paper, and leather industries. The
arrangements. colourant is low-cost and is sometimes used to
z If two or more candidates plan processions give vibrant hues to popular street food items such
along the same route, the political parties must as gobi manchurian and cotton candy.
establish contact in advance to ensure that the € The dye is not fit for consumption and may lead
processions do not clash. to acute toxicity. Exposure to the chemical may
z Carrying and burning effigiesrepresenting also damage the eye and cause irritation in the
members of other political parties is not allowed. respiratory tract.
€ Polling Day: z While the World Health Organisation, which
z Only voters and those with a valid pass from maintains a list of cancer-causing agents, says it
the EC are allowed to enter polling booths. cannot be classified as carcinogenic to humans,
z All authorised party workers at polling booths there are some studies on rats that have shown
should be given suitable badges or identity cards. carcinogenic effects.
„ Identity slips supplied by them to voters ¾ Usage in Food Products:
shall be on plain (white) paper and shall not € It is not commonly added to food products,
contain any symbol, name of the candidate Rhodamine B is usually reported from small
or the name of the party. roadside vendors in small cities.
„ The EC will appoint observers to whom any z This is because of a lack of understanding
candidates may report problems regarding about dyes that are permissible in food items.
the conduct of the election. Small vendors are not aware that this dye can
€ Party in Power: be harmful as its effects might not always be
z The MCC incorporated certain restrictions in felt immediately.
1979, regulating the conduct of the party in z It is usually “illegally” added to preparations
power. Ministers must not combine official visits such as gobi manchurian, potato wedges,
with election work or use official machinery butter chicken, pomegranate juice, ice creams
for the same. produced on a small scale, or cotton candies.

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24 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

¾ Legality:
€ Food Safety and Standards Authority of India Patents (Amendment)
(FSSAI) has specifically banned Rhodamine B from Rules, 2024
being used in food products.
€ Any use of this chemical in the preparation, Why in News?
processing, and distribution of food is punishable Recently, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
under the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006. has notified the Patents Amendment Rules, 2024 making
significant changes to Indian patent practice and
What is the Food Safety and Standards procedure.
Authority of India? What are the Key Changes Introduced Under
¾ About: Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2024?
€ FSSAI is an autonomous statutory body established ¾ Reduced timeline for filing a Request for Examination
under the Food Safety and Standards Act, of 2006. (RFE): The timeline for filing the RFE is now reduced
from 48 months to 31 months from the priority date.
z The Act of 2006,consolidates various laws
€ The reduced timeline for filing a Request for
related to food, such as the Prevention of Food
Examination (RFE) will accelerate the patent
Adulteration Act, 1954, the Fruit Products Order, examination process.
1955, the Meat Food Products Order, 1973, ¾ Simplified Submission of Form 3: Applicants can
and other acts that were previously handled simply file a single updated Form 3 after receiving
by different ministries and departments. the First Examination Report (FER).
¾ The Act also aims to establish a single reference point € The Patent office issues an examination report to

for all matters relating to food safety and standards, the applicant which is generally known as FER.
by moving from multi-level, multi-departmental ¾ Introduction of ‘Certificate of Inventorship’: To
control to a single line of command. recognise inventors’ contributions to patented
inventions.
€ FSSAI is responsible for protecting and promoting
€ As the Indian patent certificate does not identify
public health by regulating and supervising food
the inventors, this provision will allow inventors
safety and quality in India, operating under the to be identified for their inventions.
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. ¾ Frequency of filing statements: The frequency of
€ FSSAI has a headquarters in New Delhi and regional filing working patents was reduced from once in a
offices in eight zones across the country. financial year to once in every three financial years.
€ The Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of ¾ Amendments in Pre-grant and Post-grant Opposition
FSSAI, appointed by central government. The Procedures: The time frame for submission of
recommendations by an Opposition Board and the
Chairperson is in the rank of Secretary to the
response time for applicants have been adjusted.
Government of India.
€ A divisional application can be filed in respect of an
¾ Events and Campaigns: invention disclosed in the provisional or complete
€ World Food Safety Day. application or a further divisional application.
€ Eat Right India. € This amendment is in alignment with the recent
decision of the Delhi High Court in Syngenta Limited
z Eat Right Station.
v. Controller of Patents and Designs Case, 2023.
z Eat Right Mela. z In this the court clarified that divisional
€ State Food Safety Index. applications may be filed in respect of parent
€ RUCO (Repurpose Used Cooking Oil). applications where the complete or provisional
specification (and not necessarily the claims)
€ Food Safety Mitra.
of the parent application disclose a plurality
€ 100 Food Streets. of inventions.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 25
What is a Patent?
¾ About:
€ A Patent is a statutory right for an invention granted for a limited period to the patentee by the Government,
in exchange of full disclosure of his invention for excluding others, from making, using, selling, importing the
patented product or process for producing that product for those purposes without his consent.
€ The patent system in India is governed by the Patents Act, 1970 which was amended in 2003 and 2005.

€ The Patent Rules are regularly amended in consonance with the changing environment, the most recent
being Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2024.
¾ Term of a Patent:
€ The term of every patent granted is 20 years from the date of filing of the application.

€ However, for applications filed under the national phase of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), the accorded
term will be 20 years from the international filing date.
z PCT is an international treaty with more than 150 contracting states, making it possible to seek patent
protection for an invention simultaneously in each of a large number of countries by filing an international
patent application.
z Such an application may be filed by anyone who is a national or resident of a PCT contracting State, and
generally be filed with the national patent office of the contracting State with the International Bureau of
World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in Geneva.

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26 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

¾ CM Not Immune as President or Governor:

Delhi Excise Policy Case € President of India and Governors of states are the
only constitutional post holders who are immune
Why in News? from civil and criminal proceedings until his/her
Recently, a Magistrate Court in Delhi has sent the term ends, as per the law.
Chief Minister of Delhi to the Enforcement Directorate’s € Article 361 of the Constitution says that the
(ED’s) custody in connection with the Excise Policy Case. President of India and Governors of states are not
¾ The CM of Delhi is accused by the ED of being the answerable to any court of law for “any act done
“kingpin and key conspirator” of the Delhi excise scam. in discharge of their official duties”.
z The Administrator or Lt. Governor (LG) of a
What is the Delhi Excise Policy Case? Union Territory is not immune under Article
¾ About: 361, unlike the Governor and President who
€ The Delhi Excise PolicyCase refers to a case have immunity.
surrounding the formulation and implementation € But the immunitydoesn’t cover the Prime Ministers
of the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22. or Chief Ministers who are treated as equals in
€ This policy, which came into effect in November front of the Constitution that advocates the Right
2021, was subsequently scrapped in July 2022 to Equality before the law.
due to allegations of procedural lapses, corruption,
z Yet, they are not disqualified just by an arrest.
and financial losses to the exchequer.
¾ Legal Framework:
The New Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22, which sought
€ As per the law, a Chief Minister can only be
to ensure optimum revenue for the State government
disqualified or removed from office when he is
and confront the sale of spurious or bootlegged liquor
convicted in any case.
ran widespread allegations of "procedural lapses,". This
has forced the government to scrap it with effect from z In the case of Arvind Kejriwal, he has not been
August 1, 2022 Under the new policy, the number of convicted yet.
liquor vends in Delhi would have increased from around € The Representation of the People Act, 1951 has
630 to 850 — all privately owned and operated. One disqualification provisions for certain offences
person could hold more than one liquor retail licence but a conviction of anyone holding the office is
and the "heavily regulated" excise regime was to be mandatory.
eased for business. The revamped excise policy ran z The Chief Minister can lose the top job under
into controversy as private liquor vends were opening only two conditions - loss of majority support
up across the capital. Many of these vends were sealed
in the assembly or through a successful No-
by the MCD for various violations related to non-
Confidence Motion against the government
conforming areas where certain businesses such as
in power that the Chief Minister leads.
liquor retail are not allowed.

Can an Incumbent Chief Minister Govern the What is the ED?

State/UT Administration from Jail? ¾ About:
¾ Constitutional Morality and Good Governance: € The ED is a multi-disciplinary organisation mandated
with investigation of offences of money laundering
€ The Indian Constitution doesn’t explicitly address
and violations of foreign exchange laws.
the issue of whether a Chief Minister (CM) can run
the government from jail. z It functions under the Department of Revenue
€ However, judgments by various courts have
of the Ministry of Finance.
emphasised the importance of constitutional € As a premier financial investigation agency of the
morality, good governance, and public trust in Government of India, the ED functions in strict
holding public office. compliance with the Constitution and Laws of India.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 27
¾ Structure: investigation to trace the assets derived from
€ Headquarters: ED with its headquarters at New proceeds of crime, to provisionally attach the
Delhi, is headed by the Director of Enforcement. property and to ensure prosecution of the
z There are five regional offices at Mumbai,
offenders and confiscation of the property by
Chennai, Chandigarh, Kolkata and Delhi headed the Special court.
by Special Directors of Enforcement. € Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 (FEOA):
€ Recruitment: Recruitment of the officers is
With the increase in the number of cases relating
done directly and by drawing officers from other to economic offenders taking shelter in foreign
investigation agencies. countries, the Government of India introduced
the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 (FEOA)
z It comprises officers of IRS (Indian Revenue
and ED is entrusted with its enforcement.
Services), IPS (Indian Police Services) and IAS
z This law was enacted to deter economic
(Indian Administrative Services) such as Income
Tax officer, Excise officer, Customs officer, and offenders from evading the process of Indian
police. law by remaining outside the jurisdiction of
Indian courts.
€ Tenure: Two years, but directors’ tenure can be
z Under this law, the ED is mandated to attach the
extended from two to five years by giving three
annual extensions. properties of the fugitive economic offenders
who have escaped from India warranting
z The Delhi Special Police Establishment
arrest and provide for the confiscation of their
(DSPE) Act, 1946 (for ED) and the Central
properties to the Central Government.
Vigilance Commission (CVC) Act, 2003(for CV
Commissioners) have been amended to give
the government the power to keep the two Criminal Case Management
chiefs in their posts for one year after they have
completed their two-year terms.
System and Sankalan App
¾ Functions:
€ COFEPOSA: Under the Conservation of Foreign
Why in News?
Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities In a significant move to enhance India’s capability
Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA), Directorate is empowered incombating terrorism and organized crime, the Ministry
to sponsor cases of preventive detentionwith of Home Affairs inaugurated a digital Criminal Case
regard to contraventions of FEMA. Management System (CCMS) developed by the National
€ Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA):
Investigation Agency (NIA) in New Delhi.
It is a civil law enacted to consolidate and amend ¾ Alongside the CCMS, a mobile app ‘Sankalan’,a
the laws relating to facilitate external trade and compendium of New Criminal Laws by the National
payments and to promote the orderly development Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)was also launched.
and maintenance of foreign exchange market in
India. What is the Criminal Case Management System
z ED has been given the responsibility to conduct
(CCMS)?
investigation into suspected contraventions ¾ The CCMS is an innovative digital platform that
of foreign exchange laws and regulations, streamlines and enhances the management of
to adjudicate and impose penalties on those criminal cases, particularly those related to terrorism
adjudged to have contravened the law. and organised crime.
€ Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA): € The CCMS software aims to standardise investigations
Following the recommendations of the Financial and compile terror-related data across India.
Action Task Force (FATF) India enacted PMLA. ¾ CCMS serves as a user-friendly and customizable
z The ED has been entrusted with the responsibility browser-based software designed to facilitate
of executing the provisions of PMLA by conducting coordination among law enforcement agencies,

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28 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

improve the efficiency of investigations, and enhance € Coordinates with law enforcement agencies
justice delivery. nationally and internationally in matters of terrorism
¾ This system enables the integration, organisation, and and national security.
digitalisation of data generated during investigations, € Conducts capacity-building programs for law
providing a comprehensive tool for investigators, enforcement agencies and other stakeholders.
prosecutors, and other stakeholders involved in the
criminal justice process.
¾ CCMS fosters stronger cooperation between central
New Electric Vehicle
and state agencies, facilitating seamless information Policy 2024
sharing.
Why in News?
Sankalan App
¾ The Sankalan app has been designed to navigate In a significant development, the Government of India
through new criminal laws as a bridge between has greenlit a strategic policy aimed at positioning India
old and new criminal laws. as a prime manufacturing hub for electronic vehicles
(e-vehicles).
¾ This app will work as a comprehensive guide for all
stakeholders. The app will work in offline mode as ¾ This initiative is not only geared towards bolstering
well and its availability has been ensured in far-flung the nation’s technological prowess but also aligns
areas so that all stakeholders can have access to with the overarching goal of fortifying the ‘Make in
desired information around the clock. India’ campaign.

What is the National Investigation What is the Centre’s New Electric Vehicle
Policy?
Agency (NIA)?
¾ Highlights of the Policy:
¾ About:
€ Duty Reduction for EV Imports:
€ The NIA is a federal agencyestablished by the
z The policy slashes customs duty rate to 15%
Indian government to investigate and prosecute
(applicable to Completely Knocked Down - CKD
crimes related to terrorism, insurgency, and national
units) will be imposed on EVs with a minimum
security matters.
CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) value of USD
€ It was formed in 2009 following the Mumbai
35,000 or above for a total period of 5 years.
terrorist attacks, operating under the National
€ Import Cap and Investment Prerequisites:
Investigation Agency (NIA) Act, 2008, and falls
z While allowing reduced-duty imports, the
under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Home
Affairs. policy caps the number of imported EVs at
8,000 per year.
€ The NIA (Amendment) Act 2019 allows the NIA
z Manufacturers must invest a minimum of Rs 4,150
to investigate crimes committed outside India,
crore (∼USD 500 Mn) to avail duty concessions.
following international treaties and laws.
¾ There’s no ceiling on the maximum investment,
z The NIA can now investigate additional offences
incentivising substantial capital infusion into the sector.
such as human trafficking, cyber-terrorism, and
€ Manufacturing and Value Addition Requirements:
crimes under various acts.
z To promote local manufacturing, companies
€ At present NIA is functioning as the Central Counter
must set up operational facilities within 3
Terrorism Law Enforcement Agency in India.
years and achieve a minimum domestic value
¾ Headquarters: Delhi.
addition (DVA) of 25% within the same period,
¾ Functions: escalating to 50% within 5 years from the date
€ Collects, analyses, and disseminates intelligence of issuance of approval letter by the Ministry
related to terrorism and national security. of Heavy Industries.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 29
¾ DVA is a percentage share of value that represents ¾ Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for
the value an economy adds to goods and services Automobile and Auto Components.
produced for export. ¾ National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP).
€ Maximum Import Allowance:
z If the investment exceeds USD 800 Mn, up to S. R. Bommai v. Union of
40,000 EVs can be imported, not exceeding
8,000 per year. India Case 1994
¾ Companies can carry over any unused annual import
limits. Why in News?
€ Duty Limit: The S. R. Bommai v. Union of India case, decided by
z The total duty waived on imported EVs will be a nine-judge bench of the Supreme Court of India in
capped at the investment made or Rs 6484 1994, restricts the arbitrary dismissal of state governments
Cr (equal to incentive under the Production under Article 356. Celebrating its 30th anniversary, its
Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for Automobile impact persists in shaping India’s constitutional framework.
and Auto Components), whichever is lower.
What is the S. R. Bommai v. Union of India
€ Bank Guarantees: case?
z The bank guarantee will only be returned upon
¾ Background of S. R. Bommai v. Union of India:
achieving 50% DVA and making an investment
€ In 1985, the Janata Party won the Assembly elections
of at least Rs 4,150 crore or to the extent of
in Karnataka and formed the government with
duty foregone in 5 years, whichever is higher.
Chief Minister Ramakrishna Hegde. Hegde was
The EV market in India later replaced by SR Bommai in 1988.
z In September 1988 a legislator from the Janata
¾ The Indian EV market is witnessing rapid growth,
with EV sales surging by over 45% in 2024 despite Dal,defected from the party along with 19
regulatory changes. other members of the Legislative Assembly,
withdrawing support from the Bommai
¾ Total EV registrations surpassed 1.5 million units
government.
by the end of 2023, a significant increase from just
over 1 million in the previous year. € The state government was dismissed by using

¾ The growth in EV registrations has elevated

Article 356 due to majority loss from defections.
India’s overall EV market penetration to Bommai’s request to test the majority was denied
6.3%,indicatingsignificant progress in EV adoption. by the governor.
€ Bommai sought relief in the high court, which
¾ Indian automakers are making substantial investments
in electrification, encouraged by the government’s ruled against him, leading to an appeal to the
plan to eventually phase out subsidies. Supreme Court.
¾ Supreme Court Judgment:
What are the Other Initiatives Related to € A nine-judge bench of the Supreme Court

Electric Vehicles in India? emphasised that the Presidential Proclamation

under Article 356 must be exercised with caution, as
¾ Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme (EMPS) 2024:
advocated by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and recommended
¾ Phased Manufacturing Programme (PMP): by the Sarkaria Commission.
¾ National Mission on Transformative Mobility and € Both houses of Parliament must thoroughly analyse
Storage: the Presidential Proclamation as per Article 356(3).
¾ EV30@30 campaign: z If the proclamation is issued without the approval
¾ Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid and) of both houses, it lapses within two months,
Electric Vehicles (FAME) – I and II. and the state assembly resumes its function.

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30 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

€ The Supreme Court can subject the proclamation

Proper Use of Article 356 Improper Use of Article
to j u d i c i a l re v i e w a n d e nte r ta i n w r i t 356
petitionschallenging its legality if they raise
Hung Assembly: No party The Ministry resigns
arguable questions.
secures a majority after without exploring
€ Clarified that the President’s power to dismiss a elections. alternative ministry
state government is not absolute but subject to formation.
limitations. The majority party declines Governor imposes
z Recognised that while Article 356 does not to form a ministry, and no President’s Rule without
explicitly address the dissolution of the coalition ministry with a allowing majority test.
legislature, such powers can be inferred from it. majority is available.
z Noted that Article 174(2), allowing the Governor The Ministry resigns after The ruling party suffers
to dissolve the Legislative Assembly, and Article defeat in the assembly, and a significant defeat in the
356(1)(a), enabling the President to confer upon no party can form a new Lok Sabha elections.
ministry with a majority.
himself the powers of the Governor and the
state government, imply the power to dissolve Internal subversion or Internal disturbances not
the legislature. deliberate violation of the amount to subversion or
Constitution. breakdown.
Note:
The state government Allegations of
¾ The Sarkaria Commission advocated for notifying
disregards the maladministration or
the state before activating Article 356(1) under
constitutional direction of corruption without
certain instances.
the Central government. proper warning.
€ It stated that all other options should be first
considered to solve the problem and Article 365 Physical breakdown, Misuse for intraparty
should only be used if there is no other option endangering state security. issues or irrelevant
available that can be implemented to solve the purposes.
problem at hand. The state government is
not given prior
What is Article 356 of the Indian Constitution? warning,except in
emergencies.
¾ Background of Article 356:
€ Initial discussions in the Constituent Assembly
deliberated on whether India should adopt a Merging Cantonments with
federal or unitary system of government. the State Municipalities
z Two schools of thought emerged, with proponents
of federalism arguing for decentralised powers Why in News?
and others advocating for a more centralised Recently, the Centre has issued a notification to
unitary state. denotify civil areas of 10 cantonments (out of 58) in the
€ Dr. Ambedkar clarified that India operates under country. These areas will be merged with the Concerned
State Municipalities (Local Bodies).
both federal and unitary principles, with federalism
¾ The government plans to exclude certain areas of
prevailing under normal circumstances and unitary
the said cantonments and merge such areas with the
control during emergencies.
state’s local bodies.
z Despite warnings against misuse, subsequent
governments frequently employed Article 356 What are Cantonments?
for political reasons, resulting in its invocation ¾ Cantonments are areas primarily designated for housing
132 times. military personnel and supporting infrastructure.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 31
€ Originating from the French word “canton,” meaning providing a legal framework for their management,
“corner” or “district,” cantonments historically development, and regulation.
referred to temporary military encampments.
What is the Mechanism for Cantonment
€ However, over time, they have evolved into
semi-permanent settlements that provide
Administrations in India?
accommodation, offices, schools, and other ¾ Administrative Control:
facilities for military personnel and their families. € An inter-services organisation of the Ministry

¾ In India, the history of cantonments dates back to of Defencedirectly controls cantonment

administration.
the British East India Company period. The first
€ In terms of Entry 3 of the Union List (Schedule
cantonment was established in 1765 at Barrackpore,
VII) of the Constitution of India, Urban Self
near Calcutta, following the Battle of Plassey in 1757.
Governance of the Cantonments and the Housing
€ These areas were initially created to station military Accommodation therein is the subject matter of
troops but have expanded to include civilian the Union of India.
populations that provide support and logistic € There are approximately 62 Cantonments in
services to the military. the country that have been notified under the
¾ The Cantonments Act of 1924 in India formalised Cantonments Act, 1924 (succeeded by the
the governance and administration of cantonments, Cantonments Act, 2006).

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32 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

stations while restricting environmentally harmful

UNNATI 2024 sectors such as cement and plastic.
¾ Salient Features:
Why in News?
€ Scheme Period: Effective from the date of
The Union Cabinet has approved the Uttar Poorva Notification until 31.03.2034, with 8 years of
Transformative Industrialization Scheme (UNNATI), 2024 committed liabilities.
to foster industrial growth and employment generation
in thenortheastern region. z The scheme’s total cost is Rs. 10,037 crore,
covering a 10-year period with an additional 8
What is UNNATI 2024? years for committed liabilities.
¾ Objective: € Commencement of Production: All eligible Industrial
€ It is aimed at developing industries and generating Units to commence their production or operation
employment in the Northeast region. within 4 years from the grant of registration.
€ It focuses on attracting new investments, nurturing € Zone Classification: Districts are categorised
existing ones, and promoting industries like into Zone A (Industrially Advanced) and Zone B
renewable energy and Electric Vehicle charging (Industrially Backward) for incentives.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 33
€ Funds Allocation: 60% of Part A outlay earmarked
for 8 North Eastern states and 40% allocated on a PM-SURAJ and NAMASTE
First-In-First-Out (FIFO) basis. Scheme
¾ Incentives for Investors: The scheme offers various
incentives to investors for setting up new units or Why in News?
expanding existing ones, categorised based on GST The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
applicability, like: launched the ‘Pradhan Mantri SamajikUtthan and Rozgar
€ Capital Investment Incentive AdharitJankalyan’ (PM-SURAJ) national portal online
€ Central Capital Interest Subvention aimed at offering credit support to the marginalized
segments of society, with the Prime Minister as the Chief
€ Manufacturing & Services linked incentive (MSLI) Guest.
for new units linked to Net Payment of GST, with
upper limits based on zones. What is PM-SURAJ?
¾ Implementation Strategy: The Department for ¾ The ‘PM-SURAJ’ national portal aims to uplift the
Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) will most marginalized sections of society and provide
implement the scheme in collaboration with states, credit assistance to one lakh entrepreneurs from
overseen by national and state-level committees. disadvantaged communities.
€ It is implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice
and Empowerment and its departments.
¾ The portal serves as a one-stop point where people
from disadvantaged sections of society can apply
for and monitor the progress of all loan and credit
schemes already available to them.
¾ The credit support will be facilitated through banks,
Non-Banking Financial Companies Finance Institutions
(NBFC-MFIs), and other organizations, ensuring
accessibility across the country.
€ An NBFC MFI is a non-deposit taking NBFC with a
minimum Net Owned Funds (NOF) of Rs. 5 crore
(Rs. 2 crore for those registered in the North Eastern
Region of the country) and having at least 85%
of its net assets as “qualifying assets (intended
use or sale)”.

What is the NAMASTE Scheme?

What are the Other Government Initiatives Related ¾ About:
to the North Eastern Region? € The NAMASTE Scheme is a central Sector Scheme
¾ Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North formulated in 2022, by the Ministry of Social Justice
East Region (PM-DevINE) Scheme and Empowerment (MoSJE) and the Ministry of
¾ Advancing North East Portal Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
z It aims to ensure safety, dignity, and sustainable
¾ North East Special Infrastructure Development
livelihoods for urban sanitation workers.
Scheme (NESIDS)
€ The Self-Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation
¾ North East has been kept as a priority area under of Manual Scavengers (SRMS) has been renamed
RCS-UDAN (to make flying more affordable). as the NAMASTE.

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34 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

z The SRMS scheme was launched in 2007 to € Through this program, operators can access
help rehabilitate manual scavengers and their unsecured working capital loans and infrastructure
dependents. funding to establish and maintain their Jan
€ The NAMASTE scheme is to be implemented over AushadhiKendras.
4800 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) of the country, € The program seeks to empower small entrepreneurs,
during the next three years i.e. up to 2025-26. enhance the accessibility of affordable medicines,
z The National Safai Karamchari Financial and strengthen the healthcare ecosystem in India.
Development Corporation (NSKFDC) is the
implementing agency for NAMASTE. What are Jan AushadhiKendras?
¾ About:
What are India’s Other Credit Schemes to
Empower Marginalized Sections? € Jan AushadhiKendras (JAKs) is a government
initiative launched to provide affordable and quality
¾ Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) medicines to the public.
¾ Stand-Up India Scheme
z They operate under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya
¾ Ambedkar Social Innovation and Incubation Mission Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) scheme of
¾ Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry
¾ Special Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
¾ Rashtriya Garima Abhiyaan ¾ PMBJP Scheme:
€ The Jan Aushadhi Scheme, revamped as Pradhan
Credit Assistance Program for Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana (PMJAY) in September
2015, aimed to make quality medicines available
Jan AushadhiKendras at affordable prices, particularly for the poor and
disadvantaged.
Why in News? € In November 2016, the scheme underwent further
Recently, the Union Minister for Chemicals & enhancement and was renamed as PMBJP to
Fertilizers and Health & Family Welfare, inaugurated a strengthen its impact.
credit assistance program for Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAK) € PMBJP, focuses on providing generic drugs through
aiming to enhance accessibility to affordable medicines exclusive outlets known as Jan AushadhiKendras.
across India.
z These stores offer generic medicines at
¾ As a part of the program a memorandum of
significantly lower prices compared to branded
understanding (MoU) was signed between the Small
drugs, ensuring reduced out-of-pocket expenses
Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and
for healthcare.
the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau
of India (PMBI) to provide financial assistance and z Generic drugs provided by PMBJP stores are
support infrastructure development for JAKs. equivalent in quality and efficacy to expensive
branded drugs, promoting the rational use of
What is the Credit Assistance Program for Jan medications.
AushadhiKendras?
What are India’s Other Initiatives for
¾ The Government of India under this program
will provide credit/loan assistance to operators/ Affordable Healthcare?
entrepreneurs running Jan AushadhiKendras across ¾ Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
the country. ¾ National Health Mission (NHM).
¾ The credit assistance program utilizes both Goods
¾ Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana .
and Services Tax (GST) and India’s Digital Public
¾ Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK).
Infrastructure (DPI)to offer unsecured working capital
loans to small businesses. ¾ Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK).

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 35
¾ Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN).
¾ Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for
Treatment (AMRIT) Deendayal Outlets.

NITI for States Platform

Why in News?
Recently, the Union Minister of Electronics &
Information Technology inaugurated the ‘NITI for States’
platform, a digital initiative aimed at empowering states
and union territories (UTs) in their pursuit of national
development goals.
¾ The ‘Viksit Bharat Strategy Room’ at NITI Aayog was
also inaugurated.

What is NITI for States Platform?

¾ About: Developed by NITI Aayog, “the NITI for
States” platform serves as a repository of valuable
resources, aiming to integrate data across states,
centralising findings to inform future decisions by
state governments based on data-driven insights.
€ The platform incorporates real-time data updation
and monitoring, spanning 10 sectors and two
cross-cutting themes.
z Sectors include agriculture, education, energy,
health, livelihoods and skilling, manufacturing, APAAR: One Nation One
micro, small and medium enterprise, tourism,
Student ID Card
urban, water resources, and WASH (water,
sanitation, and hygiene).
Why in News?
z Cross-cutting themes encompassgender and
climate change. Recently, the National Conference on APAAR: One
Nation One Student ID Card was held in New Delhi.
What is the Viksit Bharat Strategy Room? ¾ Vital interconnection between APAAR IDs, the

¾ The Viksit Bharat Strategy Room is an interactive Academic Bank of Credit, and Digilocker, facilitating
streamlined operations, was also highlighted in the
space where users will be able to visualise data,
event.
trends, best practices and policies in an immersive
environment and make a holistic assessment of any What is APAAR?
problem statement.
¾ About: APAAR, an acronym for Automated Permanent
¾ It also allows users to interact through voice-enabled Academic Account Registry, is a specialised identification
AI, and connect to multiple stakeholders through system designed for all students in India, beginning
video conferencing. from an early age.
€ It is designed to become a plug-and-play model € It is introduced in accordance with the National
to enable replication at state, district and block Education Policy (NEP) of 2020and theNational
levels. Credit and Qualifications Framework (NCrF).

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36 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

€Registration for an APAAR ID is voluntary, not What is the Smart Gram Panchayat Project?
mandatory. ¾ The project aims to extend the PM-WANI (Prime
¾ Objective: It aims to streamline and enhance the Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface) Service
academic experience for students throughout India to Gram Panchayats in Begusarai, marking a paradigm
by assigning a unique and permanent 12-digit ID to shift in rural connectivity.
each student,consolidating their academic records € Begusarai leads the digital transformation in Bihar
into a single accessible platform. by equipping all Gram Panchayats with Wi-Fi
€ It is emphasised as not only a vital tool for tracking services under the PM-WANI Scheme.
the educational progress of 260 million students ¾ It is funded under the revamped Rashtriya Gram
in India but also as an aspirational and globally Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA), the project targets 455
recognized document for students. Gram Panchayats across 37 Blocks in Begusarai and
Rohtas Districts in Bihar. The Ministry of Panchayati
What is the Academic Bank of Credits and Raj implements it.
DigiLocker? ¾ Emphasis is placed on using technology to enhance
¾ Academic Bank of Credits: As per NEP 2020, the access to online services in critical sectors like health,
education, and skilling, improving the quality of life
Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) has been envisaged
in rural areas.
to facilitate the academic mobility of students with
€ Students, farmers, artisans, and Women Self-Help
the freedom to study across the education Institutions
Groups (SHGs) are among the beneficiaries of
in the country with an appropriate “credit transfer”
this initiative.
mechanism from one programme to another.
¾ Robust mechanisms for Operation & Maintenance
€ If the student changes schools, whether within
(O&M) will be instituted to sustain the project’s
the state or to another state, all their data in the
impact over time.
ABC gets transferred to her/his new school just
¾ The project aims to bridge the rural-urban divide,
by sharing the APAAR ID.
foster accountability, and efficiency in local self-
¾ DigiLocker: It is a cloud-based platform that allows governance, and empower communities through
users to store, issue, and verify documents and digital footprints.
certificates digitally.
Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA):
€ It is a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Electronics
& IT (MeitY) under Digital India programme. ¾ The RGSA is a scheme of the Ministry of Panchayati
Raj, launched in, 2018. Later it was revamped and the
€ The issued documents in DigiLocker system
Centrally Sponsored Scheme of RGSA was approved
are deemed to be at par with original physical for implementation from 2022-23 to 2025-26 for
documents as per Rule 9A of the Information capacity building of elected representatives (ERs)
Technology (Preservation and Retention of of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).
Information by Intermediaries providing Digital ¾ The primary objective of Revamped RGSA is to
Locker facilities) Rules, 2016. develop the governance capabilities of the Panchayats
to deliver on Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) which are covered within the purview of
Smart Gram Panchayat Panchayats.
¾ RGSA focuses on:
Why in News? € Strengthening Panchayat-SHG convergence and
Recently, the Union Minister of Rural Development training at various levels on e-Governance and
and Panchayati Raj inaugurated the ‘Smart Gram Localization of SDGs.
Panchayat: Revolution towards Digitization of Gram € Utilising emerging technologies for interactive
Panchayat’ Project at Paprour Gram Panchayat of capacity building and standardised training.
BegusaraiDistrict, Biharsignalling a significant leap Capacitating PRIs on digital literacy and leadership
towards digital empowerment in rural India. roles.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 37
What is PM-WANI? In almost all major cities of India, Nazool land
z
has been allotted to different entities for a
¾ About:
variety of different purposes.
€ PM-WANI, launched by the Department of Telecom
¾ Emergence of Nazool Land:
(DoT) in December 2020, promotes public WiFi
€ During British rule, kings and kingdoms which
hotspots for nationwide digital connectivity.
Any entity can set up hotspots, aligning with the opposed the British frequentlyrevolted against
National Digital Communications Policy, 2018 them, leading to several battles between them
and the British Army. Upon defeating these kings
(NDCP) aims for robust digital infrastructure in
in battle, the British would often take their land
rural areas.
away from them.
¾ Benefits:
€ After India got Independence, the British vacated
€ PM-WANI will boost broadband availability
these lands. But with kings and royals often lacking
and affordability in rural areas, fostering proper documentation to prove prior ownership,
entrepreneurship and digital inclusion. It these lands were marked as Nazool land — to
complements BharatNet initiatives. be owned by the respective state governments.
€ It can provide an affordable and convenient
option for internet access, as compared to mobile What is an Encroachment?
technologies like 5G, which require high investment ¾ About:
and subscription costs. € It is the unauthorised use or occupation of someone
else’s property. This can occur on abandoned or
Nazool Land unused spaces if the legal owner is not actively
involved in its upkeep. It is important for property
owners to be aware of the legal steps to take and
Why in News? their rights in such cases.
Recently, violence erupted in the Haldwani city of € Urban encroachment refers to theunauthorised
Nainital District, Uttarakhand after the city administration occupation or use of land or property within
conducted a Demolition Drive to remove Encroachment urban areas.
at the site of a mosque and madrasa, allegedly onNazool € This could include illegal construction, squatting,
Land. or any other form of occupation without proper
¾ As per the administration, the property where the two permission or legal rights.
structures are situated is registered as the Municipal z Land encroachment, as defined by Section
Council’s Nazool land. 441 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860, is
the act of unlawfully entering someone else’s
What is Nazool Land? property without permission to commit an
¾ About: offence, threaten possession of the property,
€ Nazool land is owned by the government but most
or stay on the land uninvited.
often not directly administered as state property.
z The state generally allots such land to any entity Water (Prevention and
on lease for a fixed period, generally between
15 and 99 years.
Control of Pollution)
€ In case the lease term is expiring, one can approach
Amendment Bill, 2024
the authority to renew the lease by submitting a
written application to the Revenue Department Why in News?
of the local development authority. The two houses of the Parliament recently approved
€ The government is free to either renew the lease the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution)
or cancel it — taking back Nazool land. Amendment Bill, 2024.

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38 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

What are the Major Provisions of the Water z It functions under the Ministry of Environment,
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and
Amendment Bill, 2024? coordinates with the State Pollution Control
Boards and other agencies.
¾ About:
€ The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution)
Act, 1974, has long been a cornerstone of India’s Constitution (J&K) ST Order
environmental legislation to ensure sustainable (Amendment) Bill, 2024
management of water resources.
€ The recent amendment seeks to address certain
Why in News?
shortcomings and adapt regulatory frameworks
to contemporary needs. Recently, the Lok Sabha has passed the Constitution
(Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order
z Amendments in the Water Act are also necessary
(Amendment) Bill, 2024, aiming to include specific ethnic
to make in line with the Air Act, as both laws
groups and tribes from Jammu and Kashmir into the list
contain similar provisions
of Scheduled Tribes.
¾ Major Amended Provisions:
¾ The Union government has also introduced the Jammu
€ Decriminalisation of Minor Offences: It focuses on
and Kashmir Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Bill,
decriminalising minor offences related to water
2024 to provide reservation to Other Backward
pollution, alleviating fears of imprisonment for
Classes (OBCs) in panchayats and Municipal Bodies
technical or procedural lapses.
of Jammu and Kashmir.
z The rationale is to ensure penalties align with
the severity of offences, promoting compliance What is the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir)
without overly burdening stakeholders. Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill,
€ Exemption for Certain Industrial Plants: The
2024?
amended bill empowers the central government
to exempt specific categories of industrial plants ¾ About:
from certain statutory restrictions, such as those € The bill particularly focuses on including four

outlined in Section 25 regarding the establishment ethnic groups in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs)
of new outlets and discharges. in Jammu and Kashmir.
€ The ethnic groups are Gadda Brahmin, Koli, Paddari
What are the Salient Features of Water Tribe, and Pahari Ethnic Group”.
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, € By extending Scheduled Tribe status to these
1974? communities, the bill intends to ensure their socio-
¾ About: It was enacted for the prevention and control economic and political empowerment.
of water pollution and maintaining or restoring the ¾ Significance:
wholesomeness of water. € The bill ensures that the reservations for these

€ The Central and State Pollution Control Boards existing communities such as Gujjars and Bakarwals
have been constituted under Section 3 and 4 of remain unaffected while providing new reservations
the Act respectively. for the newly listed STs.
€ The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), z Gujjars and Bakarwals are nomadic — they
a statutory organization, was constituted in migrate with their livestock to the higher
September, 1974 under the Water (Prevention reaches in the summer, and return before the
and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. onset of winter.
z Further, CPCB was entrusted with the powers € The bill is seen as a significant step towards inclusive
and functions under the Air (Prevention and development in Jammu and Kashmir, aligning with
Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. the government’s commitment to the holistic

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 39
development of all sections and communities € It aims to align the removal process with the
under the “Sabka Sath, Sabka Vishwas” (Together constitutional provisions, ensuring that the State
with All, Trust of All) mantra. Election Commissioner can only be removed
under circumstances similar to those of a Judge
Earlier Status of Paharis
of a High Court.
¾ The Paharis got 4% reservation in jobs and
educational institutions in 2019.
¾ Also in 2019, the Justice (retd) G D Sharma Mera Gaon, Meri
Commission was appointed to identify groups DharoharProgramme
that were socially, educationally, and economically
backward.
Why in News?
€ The Commission in its report recommended
ST status for Gadda Brahmins, Kolis, Paddari The Government of India has decided to map and
Tribe, and Pahari Ethnic Group. document all villages under the Mera Gaon, Meri
Dharohar (MGMD) Programme.
What are the Key Features of Jammu and ¾ The program seeks to compile comprehensive
Kashmir Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Bill, information detailing the life, history, and ethos of
2024? Indian villages and make it available to virtual and
real-time visitors.
¾ Amendment of Certain Provisions: The bill aims
¾ The Ministry of Culture is also implementing a Scheme
to amend certain provisions of the J&K Panchayati
Raj Act, 1989, the J&K Municipal Act, 2000, and the of Financial Assistance for the Promotion of Art and
J&K Municipal Corporation Act, 2000 to provide Culture consisting of 8 components through which
reservation to OBCs in Local Bodies (panchayats cultural organisations are given financial assistance
for the promotion of art and culture.
and municipalities) in the Union Territory of Jammu
and Kashmir.
What is the Mera Gaon, Meri Dharohar
¾ Alignment with Constitutional Provisions: The
(MGMD) Programme?
proposed amendments seek to bring consistency
in the laws with the provisions of the Constitution, ¾ The MGMD Programme is a national mission on
particularly Part IX and Part IXA, which relate to cultural mapping conducted in coordination with
Panchayats and Municipalities. Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA)
under the Ministry of Culture.
€ This includes providing reservation for backward
€ A web portal on MGMD has also been launched.
classes of citizens in Panchayats and Municipalities,
MGMD aims to compile comprehensive information
as empowered by Clause (6) of Articles 243D and
about Indian villages, covering aspects of life,
243T of the Constitution.
history, and ethos, accessible to both virtual and
¾ Superintendence of Elections: The bill addresses
real-time visitors.
inconsistencies regarding the superintendence,
¾ Under the MGMD, information is collected under
direction, and control of the preparation of electoral
seven broad categories:
rolls and the conduct of elections to Panchayats and
€ Arts and Crafts Village
Municipalities.
€ Ecologically Oriented Village
€ It ensures that the provisions regarding the
State Election Commission are in line with the € Scholastic Village linked with Textual and Scriptural

Constitution, specifically Articles 243K and 243ZA. Traditions of India

¾ Removal of State Election Commissioner: The bill € Epic Village linked with Ramayana, Mahabharata

seeks to rectify the variance between the provisions and/or Puranic legends and oral epics
of the J&K Panchayati Raj Act, 1989, and the € Historical Village linked with Local and National

Constitution concerning the removal of the State History

Election Commissioner. € Architectural Heritage Village

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40 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

€ Any other characteristic that may need highlighting distribution of sugar to AAY families through PDS
such as fishing village, horticulture village, (Public Distribution System) at the rate of One kg
shepherding village etc. per family per month.
¾ MGMD is a component of National Mission on Cultural z States have the responsibility to procure and
Mapping (NMCM), undertaken as a part of Azadi Ka distribute sugar.
Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM). ¾ Continuation of Scheme for Rebate of State and
¾ Under the MGMD cultural mapping of 6.5 lakh Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) for export of
villages is being carried out and more than 2 Lakh Apparel/Garments:
villages have already been mapped and uploaded € The Cabinet approved the continuation of a scheme
on the Mission portal that serves as the National granting a rebate on state and central taxes and
Cultural Work Place.
levies for the export of apparel and garments up
to 31st March 2026.
Scheme Approved in Budget € The continuation of this scheme for two more

2024-25 years is expected to provide a stable policy regime

for long-term trade planning, particularly in the
textiles sector.
Why in News?
z Other textile products not covered under the
Recently, the Union cabinet has approved a slew of RoSCTL are eligible to avail benefits under
key economic decisions, including extension of various RoDTEP along with other products.
schemes such as Extension of Subsidised Sugar Scheme ¾ Extension of Animal Husbandry Infrastructure
among others.
Development Fund (AHIDF):
What are the Key Schemes Approved by the € The Cabinet approved an extension of the AHIDF

Union Government? to be implemented under the Infrastructure

Development Fund (IDF) for another three years,
¾ Extension of Subsidised Sugar Scheme: up to 2025-26.
€ The Cabinet extended the scheme to distribute
€ The scheme aims to incentivize investments
subsidised sugar to Antyodya Anna Yojana (AAY)
in dairy processing, product diversification,
families for two more years till 31st March 2026.
meat processing, animal feed plants, and breed
€ The Scheme facilitatesaccess to sugar to the
multiplication farms.
poorest of the poor and adds energy to their diet
€ The AHIDF is a scheme aimed to promote and
so that their health improves.
incentivize investments in the animal husbandry
€ Under the Scheme, the Central Government gives
sector in India.
subsidies of Rs.18.50 per kg per month of sugar
z The Government of India will provide 3%
to AAY families of participating States.
interest subvention for 8 years with a two-year
z The approval is expected to extend benefits
moratorium for loans up to 90% from scheduled
of more than Rs.1850 crore during the period
banks and other financial institutions.
of the 15th Finance Commission (2020-21 to
2025-26). ¾ Marketing Margin for Supply of Domestic Gas to
€ The Government of India is already giving free
Fertiliser Units:
ration under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna € The Cabinet approved a formula for the

Yojna (PM-GKAY). determination of marketing margin on the supply

z Selling ‘Bharat Atta,’ ‘Bharat Dal,’ tomatoes, of domestic gas to Fertiliser (Urea) units from 1st
and onions at affordable and fair prices are May 2009 to 17th November 2015.
measures to ensure an adequate food supply € This approval is a structural reform. Marketing
for citizens, extending beyond the PM-GKAY Margin is charged by gas marketing companies
program. from consumers over and above the cost of gas
€ With this approval, the Government will continue for taking on the additional risk and cost associated
giving subsidies to participating States for the with marketing of gas.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 41
z Government had previously determined the What are the Key Highlights of Uttarakhand’s
marketing margin on supply of domestic gas UCC Draft Report?
to urea and LPG producers in 2015.
¾ The UCC aims to replace distinct personal laws of every
€ The approval will provide additional capital to the
religion, focusing on marriage, divorce, adoption, and
various Fertilizer (Urea) Units for the component
inheritance, guided by Article 44 of the Constitution.
of marketing margins paid by them on domestic
gas procured between 2009 to 2015. € Article 44 of the Indian Constitution is aDirective

€ In line with government vision of AatmaNirbhar Principle of State Policy (DPSP). It states that the
Bharat, this approval will incentivize manufacturers state should try to establish a uniform civil code
to increase investment. for all citizens throughout India.
z The increased investment will lead to self- € This code would be a single set of personal laws

sufficiency in fertilizers, and provide an element that would apply to all citizens, regardless of religion.
of certainty for future investments in the gas ¾ Some of the key proposals put forth by the committee
infrastructure sector. include the prohibition of polygamy,halal,iddat(a
mandatory period of waiting to be observed by women
Uttarakhand’s UCC following the dissolution of a Muslim marriage),
triple talaq, and child marriage, uniform age for
Draft Report girls’ marriage across all religions, and mandatory
registration of live-in relationships.
Why in News? ¾ The draft UCC aims to focus on gender equality by
Recently, the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) draft report treating men and women equally in matters such as
was approved by the Uttarakhand Cabinet and is likely inheritance and marriage.
to be tabled in the state assembly on 6th February 2024, € The Code is also likely to extend an equal property
as a bill for enactment. share to Muslim women against the existing 25%
¾ The UCC drafting committee was led by retired Supreme shareaccorded under Muslim personal laws.
Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai. € The minimum age for marriage for men and women
¾ The UCC is a proposed set of common laws for all is set to remain the same,18 years for women
residents of Uttarakhand, regardless of their religion, and 21 years for men.
caste, or gender. ¾ Scheduled tribes (STs) have been exempted from
Note: the purview of the bill. The tribal population in
¾ Article 162 of the Indian Constitution indicates
the state, which is around 3%, had been voicing its
that the executive power of a State extends to dissent against UCC in the wake of the special status
matters with respect to which the Legislature of accorded to them.
the State has power to make laws. In view of the
provisions of Entry 5 of the Concurrent List of the UGC’s Draft Guidelines on
Seventh Schedule, the constitution of a Committee
to introduce and implement Uniform Civil Code De-reservation
(UCC) per se cannot be challenged as ultra vires.
€ Entry 5 of the Concurrent List deals with Why in News?
“marriage and divorce; infants and minors; The University Grants Commission’s (UGC)draft
adoption; wills, intestacy, and succession; joint guidelines on implementing reservations in higher
family and partition; all matters in respect of which education have sparked significant debate, largely due
parties in judicial proceedings were immediately to the proposal of ‘de-reservation’ in certain exceptional
before the commencement of this Constitution cases.
subject to their personal law. ¾ In response, the Union government and the UGC
¾ This implies that the state government of Uttarakhand have clarified that faculty positions in universities
can enact UCC within its territory. reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled

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42 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

Tribes (STs),Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and € The Chairman is chosen from people who are not
Economically Weaker Section (EWS) candidates will officers of the Central Government or any State
not be opened to the general category. Government.
Note: ¾ Apart from providing grants to eligible universities
¾ De-reservation refers to the potential removal and colleges, the Commission also advises the Central
of reserved seats or quotas allocated to specific and State Governments on the measures that are
categories, such as SCs, STs, OBCs and EWS. necessary for the development of Higher Education.

What do the UGC Draft Guidelines Encompass? ¾ It functions from New Delhi as well as its six Regional
offices located in Bangalore, Bhopal, Guwahati,
¾ The UGC had tasked a committee, led by Dr H S Rana, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Pune.
the director of the Institute of Public Administration,
¾ It also regulates the recognition of fake universities,
to formulate new draft guidelines for implementing
reservations in higher education, considering the autonomous colleges, deemed to be universities and
changes and new government instructions since the distance education institutions.
2006 guidelines.
€ The aim was to clarify existing rules and incorporate Digital Public Infrastructure
updates from Department of Personnel and
Training (DoPT) circulars based on court orders.
Why in News?
¾ The draft encompasses various chapters covering
aspects like quotas in faculty posts, preparation of Recently, Nasscom and Arthur D. Little have jointly
reservation rosters, de-reservation, verification of released a report titled-Digital Public Infrastructure of
caste claims, and reservation in student admissions. India - Accelerating India’s Digital Inclusion, which stated
that India’s Digital Public Infrastructures (DPIs) are likely
¾ The chapter on de-reservation is at the centre of the
debate, as it suggests that reserved faculty positions to propel India towards a USD 1 trillion digital economy
could be dereserved in “exceptional cases” with by 2030.
adequate justification from the university concerned. What is a DPI?
€ The guidelines state that a vacancy reserved for SC/ ¾ About: DPI refers to blocks or platforms such as
ST or OBC candidates can be declared unreserved digital identification, payment infrastructure and
if enough candidates from these categories are data exchange solutions that help countries deliver
not available. essential services to their people, empowering
€ Proposals for de-reservation of Group A and Group citizens and improving lives by enabling digital
B level jobs must be submitted to the Education inclusion.
Ministry, while Group C and D level posts require
¾ DPI Ecosystem: DPIs mediate the flow of people,
approval from the university’s Executive Council.
money and information. These three sets become
What is the University Grants Commission? the foundation for developing an effective DPI
¾ The University Grants Commission (UGC) came into ecosystem:
existence on 28thDecember, 1953 and became a € First, the flow of people through a digital ID
statutory Organization of the Government of India System.
by an Act of Parliament in 1956, for the coordination, € Second, the flow of money through a real-time
determination and maintenance of standards of fast payment system.
teaching, examination and research in university
€ And third, the flow of personal information
education.
through a consent-based data sharing system to
¾ The UGC operates under the Ministry of Education,
the Central Government appoints a Chairman, a actualise the benefits of DPIs and to empower
Vice-Chairman, and ten other members to the UGC. the citizen with a real ability to control data.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 43
¾ IndiaStack: It is a set of APIs (Application ¾ Government Support and IT Ecosystem:
programming interface) that allows governments, € The success of DPIs is attributed to the relentless

businesses, startups and developers to utilisean support by the government and enabled by the
unique digital Infrastructure to solve India’s hard IT intellectual capital and startup ecosystem,
problems towards presence-less, paperless, and creating a favourable environment for innovation
cashless service delivery. and growth.
€ India, through India Stack, became the first ¾ Evolution and Superior User Experience:

country to develop all three foundational DPIs, € Existing digital entities are expected to evolve to

Digital identity (Aadhar),Real-time fast payment deliver superior user experiences, leveraging new
(UPI) and Account Aggregator built on the Data age technologies such as AI, Web 3, and others.
Empowerment Protection Architecture (DEPA). € Aadhaar is expected to continue to be a major

z DEPA creates a digital framework that allows contributor as its use cases expand to a broader
users to share their data on their own terms range of services, further solidifying its role within
India’s digital infrastructure.
through a third-party entity, who are known
as Consent Managers.
Maratha Reservation Bill
What are the Key Highlights of the Report?
¾ Economic Impact: Why in News?
€ DPIs are projected to play a significant role in
The Maharashtra Assembly recently passed the
propelling India towards a USD 1 trillion digital
Maharashtra State Reservation for Socially and
economy by 2030, helping the country to become
Educationally Backward Classes Bill 2024, setting aside
a USD 8 trillion economy.
10% reservation for the Maratha community in jobs and
€ DPIs are expected to enhance citizens’ efficiency
education under socially and educationally backward
and promote social as well as financial inclusion. categories.
¾ Scalability and Reach:
€ Mature DPIs like Aadhaar,UPI, and FASTag have What are the Highlights of the Maratha
already witnessed exponential adoption by 2022, Reservation Bill?
and they are anticipated to further scale up over ¾ The Maharashtra State Reservation for Socially and
the next 7-8 years, reaching even the remotest Educationally Backward Classes Bill 2024, drafted
segments of the population. based on a Maharashtra State Backward Class
€ Mature DPIs have already generated a significant Commission report.
economic value equivalent to 0.9% of India’s GDP € This report identified the Marathas as socially
(Gross Domestic Product).By 2030, this value and educationally backward, justifying the need
is projected to increase to ~2.9%-4.2% of GDP, for reservation.
considering both direct and indirect impacts. ¾ The Bill specifies the Maratha community as a Socially
z The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), and Educationally Backward Class under Article 342A
which aims to support India’s digital health (3) of the Indian Constitution. It provides reservation
infrastructure, will drive much of the increase for this class under Articles 15(4), 15(5), and 16(4)
in value. of the Constitution.
¾ Global Leadership: € Article 342A (3) states that every state or union

€ India is currently a global leader in developing DPIs, territory can prepare and maintain a list of socially
utilising them to implement widespread adoption and educationally backward classes (SEBCs).
of digital payments, data-sharing infrastructures, These lists can be different from the Central List.
and bolstering domestic businesses, spurred € Article 15(4) empowers the state to make special

entrepreneurship in the country. provisions for the advancement of any SEBCs of

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44 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

citizens or the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled ¾ Development: It has been devised and designed by
Tribes. the Technical Experts Committee (TEC) of the Election
€ Article 15(5) enables the state to make provision Commission in collaboration with two Public Sector
for the reservation of seats in admission to undertakings: Bharat Electronics Ltd, Bangalore (under
educational institutions for the backward classes, Ministry of Defence ) and Electronic Corporation of
the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, India Ltd, Hyderabad (under Department of Atomic
except for minority educational institutions. Energy).
€ Article 16(4) authorizes the state to make provision ¾ Functionality: It has two parts: a Control Unit and a
for the reservation of appointments or posts in Balloting Unit connected by a cable.
favour of any backward class of citizens which, in the € The Control Unit stays with the polling officer, while
opinion of the state, is not adequately represented the Balloting Unit is in the voting booth.
in the services under the state. € The voter has to simply press the blue button on
¾ The Bill ensures that the principle of creamy layer is the Ballot Unit against the candidate and symbol
applicable, restricting reservation to those Marathas of his choice and the vote is recorded.
who are not in the creamy layer category, thereby ¾ Key Features:
targeting the most marginalized within the community. € An EVM being used by ECI can record a maximum
¾ The commission’s report highlighted “exceptional of 2,000 votes.
circumstances and extraordinary situations” justifying € They do not require electricity. They run on an
reservations to the Maratha community above the ordinary battery assembled by
50% ceiling set by theSupreme Court (Indira Sawhney Bharat Electronics Limited/
judgement(1992). Electronics Corporation of India
€ Maharashtra currently has a reservation of 52%, Limited.
including various categories such as SC, ST, OBC, € The microchip used in EVMs is a one-time
Vimukt Jati, Nomadic Tribes, and others. With the programmable/masked chip, which can neither
addition of 10% reservation for the Marathas, the be read nor overwritten.
total reservation in the state will now reach 62%. z Furthermore, the EVMs are stand-alone machines
and there is no operating system used in these
Electronic Voting Machine machines.
What is VVPAT?
Why in News? ¾ About: Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT)
In recent years, there has been growing discussion is an independent system attached with the EVM
and analysis surrounding the integrity and dependability that allow the voters to verify that their votes are
of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) used during cast as intended.
elections in India. € It was introduced in the bye-election of the
Noksen Assembly Constituency of Nagaland
What is an Electronic Voting Machine? in 2013.
¾ About: EVM is a device used to record votes € In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, VVPATs were

electronically. They were first used in the Paravur used in all the constituencies.
Assembly Constituency of Keralain the year 1982. ¾ Functionality: When a vote is cast, a slip is printed
€ Since 1998, the Election Commission has increasingly containing the serial number, name and symbol
used EMVs instead of ballot boxes. of the candidate and remains exposed through a
€ In 2003, all state elections and by-elections were
transparent window for 7 seconds.
held using EVMs. € Thereafter, the printed slip automatically gets

z Encouraged by this, in 2004, the Commission

cut and falls in the sealed drop box of the VVPAT.
took a historic decision to use only EVMs for € The machines can be accessed by polling officers

the Lok Sabha elections. only.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 45
¾ Related Supreme Court Ruling: In a 2013 Subramanian zThis collective framework is known by the term
Swamy V/s ECI case, the Supreme Courtemphasised “judicial activism”. This concept has often led
the necessity of implementing VVPAT in elections to the Supreme Court overriding parliamentary
conducted through EVMs. legislation to deliver “complete justice”.
€ Presently, the M3 Model of ECI-EVM and VVPAT
¾ Intervening in Public Interest Matters:
are used. € The provision empowers the Supreme Court to
intervene in cases involving public interest, human
rights, constitutional values, or fundamental rights.
SC’s Use of Article 142 in € This reinforces the Court’s role as a guardian of
Chandigarh Mayoral Election the constitution and ensures protection against
violations or infringements.
Why in News? Judicial Activism Judicial Overreach
Recently, the Chandigarh mayoral election garnered Defined as the judiciary’s When the judiciary
attention as theSupreme Court of Indiainvoked Article active role in preserving exceeds its legal authority
142 of the Constitution to overturn the election results. the country’s legal and or jurisdiction and
constitutional system and interferes with legislative
Why did the Supreme Court invoke Article 142?
upholding citizens’ rights. or executive functions.
¾ The Supreme Court invoked Article 142 to ensure
justice and uphold the sanctity of the electoral Ensures laws comply with Undesirable in a
process in the Chandigarh mayoral election. constitutional provision. democracy as it breaches
the principle of separation
€ The election was marred by irregularities due to
of powers.
the illegal conduct of the presiding officer who
had announced the winner by invalidating eight Promotes social change Can undermine
votes cast in favour of his opponent, leading to an and protects vulnerable democracy.
incorrect declaration of the winner. groups.
Legitimacy of Judicial Generally considered
What is Article 142 of the Indian constitution?
Activism is often debated, illegitimate and harmful
¾ Empowering the Supreme Court: depending on specific to democratic functioning.
€ Article 142 empowers the Supreme Court to pass circumstances.
any decree or order necessary for doing complete
justice in any case or matter pending before it.
z These decrees or orders are enforceable across
National Commission for
India’s territory, making them significant tools Scheduled Castes
for judicial intervention.
¾ Transcending Legal Limitations: Why in News?
€ Article 142 allows the Supreme Court to go beyond
Recently, the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
the confines of existing laws or statutes to ensure
submitted the Annual Report 2022-23 of the National
justice for all parties involved.
Commission of Schedule Caste (NCSC) to the President
z It enables the Court to exercise functions beyond
of India.
adjudication, including executive and legislative
roles when required. ¾ The reports contain various recommendations on
the issues entrusted to the Commission regarding
€ Article 142 is supported by several other provisions,
including Article 32 (which ensures the right to the protection of Constitutional Safeguards of the
constitutional remedies), Article 141 (mandating Scheduled Castes (SCs) as enshrined in the Constitution
that all courts within India must abide by the of India.
Supreme Court’s decisions), and Article 136 (which ¾ As per the mandate given to the NCSC under Article
allows for the Special Leave Petition). 338 of the Constitution of India, it is the duty of the

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46 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

Commission to present to the President annually & at € To inquire into specific complaints concerning the
other times as the Commission may deem fit, report deprivation of rights and safeguards of the SCs;
upon the working of the Constitutional Safeguards € To participate and advise on the planning process
of the SCs. of socio-economic development of the SCs and to
evaluate the progress of their development under
What is the National Commission for Scheduled the Union or a state;
Castes (NCSCs)? € To present to the President, annually and at such
¾ About: other times as it may deem fit, reports upon the
€ The NCSC is a Constitutional Body established working of those safeguards;
with a view to provide safeguards against the € To make recommendations as to the measures
exploitation of Scheduled Castes and to promote that should be taken by the Union or a state for
and protect their social, educational, economic the effective implementation of those safeguards
and cultural interests. and other measures for the protection, welfare and
¾ History: socio-economic development of the SCs.
€ Special Officer: € Till 2018, the commission was also required to

z Initially, the constitution provided for the

discharge similar functions with regard to theother
appointment of a Special Officer under Article backward classes (OBCs). It was relieved from this
338. The special officer was designated as responsibility by the 102nd Amendment Act, 2018.
the Commissioner for Scheduled Castes and ¾ Power of NCSC:
Scheduled Tribes. € The Commission is vested with the power to

€ 65 Constitutional Amendment Act, 1990:

th regulate its own procedure.
z It amended Article 338 of the Constitution and z The Commission, while investigating any

replaced the one-member system with a multi- matter or inquiring into any complaint, has all
member National Commission for Scheduled the powers of a civil court trying a suit and in
Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes(ST). particular in respect of the following matters:
€ 89 Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003:
th ¾ summoning and enforcing the attendance of any
z Article 338 was amended, and the erstwhile
person and examining him on oath;
National Commission for SC and ST was replaced ¾ receiving evidence on affidavits; and
by two separate Commissions from the year ¾ requisitioning any public record from any court or office.
2004 which were: z The Central and state governments are required
¾ National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) to consult the Commission on all major policy
under Article 338. matters affecting the SCs.
¾ National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)
under Article 338A. Using Green Hydrogen in the
¾ Composition:
€ The NCSC comprises a Chairperson, a Vice-
Steel Sector
Chairperson, and three additional Members.
€ These positions are filled through the President’s Why in News?
appointment, indicated by a warrant under his Recently, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
hand and seal. has issued guidelines, named “Scheme Guidelines for
z Their conditions of service and tenure of office Implementation of Pilot Projects for use of Green
are also determined by the President. Hydrogen in the Steel Sector under the “National Green
¾ Functions: Hydrogen Mission”.
€ To investigate and monitor all matters relating to ¾ It aims to replace fossil fuels and fossil fuel-based
the constitutional and other legal safeguards for feedstock with Green Hydrogen and its derivatives.
the SCs and to evaluate their working; ¾ The Scheme will be implemented till FY 2029-30.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 47
What are the Key Highlights of the Guidelines? € Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga Project to promote
¾ Thrust Areas: the manufacturing of Green steel.
€ Three areas have been identified as thrust areas
€ Steel Scrap Recycling Policy, 2019:
for the pilot projects in the steel sector. These are: z Steel Scrap Recycling Policy, 2019 enhances the

z Use of Hydrogen in Direct Reduced Ironmaking

availability of domestically generated scrap to
process reduce the consumption of coal in steel making.
z Use of Hydrogen in Blast Furnace

z Substitution of fossil fuels with Green Hydrogen Supreme Court Invalidates

in a gradual manner.
€ The scheme will also support pilot projects involving
Electoral Bonds Scheme
any other innovative use of hydrogen for reducing
carbon emissions in Iron and Steel Production. Why in News?
¾ Blending Approach: In a landmark decision, a five-judge Constitution
€ Steel plants are encouraged to begin by blending Bench of the Supreme Court (SC) of India unanimously
a small percentage of green hydrogen in their struck down the Electoral Bond Scheme (EBS) and
processes and gradually increase the blending associated amendments as unconstitutional, sparking
proportion as cost economics improves and significant ramifications for political financing in India.
technology advances. ¾ The SC asserted that the EBS violated the fundamental
¾ Incorporation in New Plants: right to information guaranteed under Article 19(1)
€ Upcoming steel plants are expected to be capable (a) of the Constitution.
of operating with green hydrogen to participate
in future global low-carbon steel markets. What is the SC Ruling on the Electoral Bond
€ The scheme also supports greenfield projects Scheme?
aiming at 100% green steel. ¾ The SC declared the EBS and the amendments made
to theFinance Act, 2017, the Representation of the
What are the Efforts to Promote Green Steel People Act (RPA), 1951, the Income Tax Act, 1961,
Production? and the Companies Act, 2013, as unconstitutional.
¾ International Collaborations: € Before these amendments, political parties were
€ At the 28th Conference of Parties to the United subject to stringent requirements, including
Nations Framework Convention on Climate declaration of contributions above Rs 20,000 and
Change, India announced its partnership with a cap on corporate donations.
Sweden under the LEAD-IT initiative which had ¾ Restoration of Status Quo by SC:
a focus on industrial Decarbonisation, specially
€ The SC’s judgement reinstated the legal framework
the steel sector.
before the Finance Act, 2017, in several statutes
z Swedish company SSAB was the first globally to
crucial to political party funding.
produce steel through hydrogen back in 2018.
€ Representation of the People Act, 1951:
z Yet another Swedish company, H2-Green Steel,
z Section 29C mandated political parties to disclose
is also planning to roll out its first batch of green
steel using hydrogen by 2025. donations exceeding Rs 20,000, balancing the
right to information with donor privacy.
z Similar initiatives are being taken by Nippon
z Finance Act, 2017 Intervention:
Steel in Japan and other competitors in France
and Germany. ¾ Introduced an exception exempting donations via
¾ Government Schemes: Electoral Bonds from disclosure requirements.
€ Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) Scheme: z SC Verdict:

z PAT Scheme incentivizes the steel industry to ¾ Struck down the amendment, emphasising the
reduce energy consumption. importance of transparency and privacy balance.

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48 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

€ Companies Act, 2013: € Upheld in the Aadhaar Act ruling of 2018, the
z Section 182 restricted corporate donations, proportionality test ensures that state actions do
imposing a cap (7.5% of the average profits of not disproportionately infringe upon fundamental
the preceding three fiscal years) and disclosure rights while pursuing legitimate government
requirements. interests.
z Finance Act, 2017 Intervention: € Government’s Argument and State Interests:
¾ Removed the cap and disclosure obligations for z The government argued that curbing black
corporate donations. money and protecting donor anonymity are
z SC Verdict: legitimate state interests.
¾ Nullified the amendment, citing concerns about ¾ Donor anonymity was presented as essential for
unchecked corporate influence on elections. upholding the right to privacy of donors, a fundamental
€ Income-tax Act, 1961: right.
z Section 13A(b) mandated the maintenance z The government contended that the right
of records for contributions above Rs 20,000. to information doesn’t extend to seeking
z Finance Act, 2017 Intervention: information that is not in the state’s possession
¾ Exempted Electoral Bond contributions from record- or knowledge.
keeping requirements. € SC Stance:
z SC Verdict: z The Court dismissed donor anonymity as a
¾ Struck down the amendment, upholding voters’ right legitimate state aim, prioritising the voters’
to information. right to information under Article 19(1)(a) of
¾ Proportionality Test: the Constitution over anonymity.
€ The SC applied the proportionality test to ¾ It emphasised the crucial role of the right to information
examine whether the scheme violated the right in fostering participatory democracy and holding the
to information of the voters and the transparency government accountable.
of the electoral process. z SC applied the concept of the “double
€ The proportionality test serves as a crucial judicial proportionality” test. This approach involves
standard to evaluate the balance between state balancing competing fundamental rights here,
action and individual fundamental rights. the right to information and the right to privacy.
z The Constitution protects fundamental rights
¾ SC highlighted that the proportionality test applies
outlined in Part III, including the right to free
when rights clash with state action. But for balancing
speech (Article 19(1)). Any interference with
both rights, the court goes further, ensuring the state
these rights must comply with “reasonable
chooses the least restrictive methods for both rights
restrictions” specified in Article 19(2), assessed
and avoids disproportionate impacts.
through the proportionality test.
¾ Article 19(2) allows the government to impose ¾ SC highlighted the availability of less intrusive methods,
reasonable restrictions on freedom of speech and such as theelectoral trusts scheme, to achieve the
expression. state’s objectives effectively.
€ These restrictions can be in the interests of the ¾ Directions Issued:
sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of € The State Bank of India (SBI) has been ordered
the State, friendly relations with Foreign States, to immediately stop the issuance of any further
public order, decency or morality or in relation electoral bonds and furnish details of such bonds
to contempt of court, defamation or incitement purchased by political parties since 12th April 2019,
to an offence. to the Election Commission of India (ECI). Such
€ The proportionality test gained prominence in the details must include the date of purchase of each
K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India, 2017 ruling, bond, the name of the purchaser of the bond and
affirming privacy as a fundamental right. the denomination of the bond purchased.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 49
z The ECI shall subsequently publish all such ¾ The court acknowledged that the 2041 development
information shared by the SBI on its official plan appears to be balanced and sustainable, but it
website by 13th March 2024. emphasized that parties are still open to challenging
€ Electoral bonds within the validity period but not specific aspects of the plan on their merits.
encashed by political parties must be returned, with
What is AMRUT?
refunds issued to purchasers by the issuing bank.
¾ Launch: June 2015
¾ Concerned Ministry: Ministry of Housing and Urban
Shimla Development Affairs
Plan 2041 ¾ Purpose:
€ To ensure that every household has access to

Why in News? a tap with the assured supply of water and a

sewerage connection.
Recently, the Supreme Court has approved the Shimla
z The Priority zone of the Mission is water supply
Development Plan 2041 that is aimed at regulating
followed by sewerage.
construction activities in Himachal Pradesh’s capital city,
€ To increase the amenity value of cities by developing
terming it Sustainable.
greenery and well maintained open spaces (e.g.
What is the Shimla Development Plan 2041? parks).
€ To reduce pollution by switching to public transport
¾ About:
or constructing facilities for non-motorized transport
€ The draft Development Plan for the Shimla Planning (e.g. walking and cycling).
Area 2041 was published in February 2022.
The development plan has been prepared by
Reforming Organ
€
the Town and Country Planning Department of
Himachal Pradesh under the AMRUT (Atal Mission Transplantation
for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation)sub-
scheme of the Government of India. Why in News?
z The plan is GIS (Geographic Information System)-
Recently, the Delhi High Court has recommended an
based. It covers Shimla Municipal Corporation optimal timeframe of 6-8 weeks for completing organ
and its adjoining areas under the provisions transplant processes involving living donors.
of the Himachal Pradesh Town and Country
¾ High Court directed the government to establish
Planning Act, 1977.
specific timelines for all stages of organ donation
€ The plan states that “town planning does not come applications in accordance with The Transplantation
under the purview of NGT”. of Human Organs and Tissues (THOT ) Act, 1994,
and Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues
What is the Supreme Court’s Ruling? Rules, 2014 (THOT Rules).
¾ In January, 2024, the SC gave its approval to the
Shimla Development Plan 2041, setting aside the What Does the THOT Act, 1994 Say?
previous orders of the NGT, stating that it was beyond ¾ About:
the jurisdiction of the tribunal to direct the state € The law governs the transplantation of human
government on how to formulate the development organs and tissues in India, including the donation
plan. of organs after death.
¾ The court mentioned that the NGT cannot dictate € It lays down regulations governing healthcare
the state government’s formulation of the plan but providers and hospitals, and stipulates penalties
can scrutinize the plan on its merits. for violations.

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50 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

¾ Organ Donors and Recipients:

€ A transplant can be either from a pool of organs Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit
of deceased persons donated by their relatives or Jaati Abhuyday Yojana
from a living person who is known to the recipient.
€ In most cases, the Act allows living donations from Why in News?
close relatives such as parents, siblings, children,
Recently, the Ministry of Social Justice and
spouses, grandparents, and grandchildren.
Empowerment highlighted the Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit
¾ Donations From Distant Relatives and Foreigners: Jaati Abhuyday Yojana (PM-AJAY) is a comprehensive
€ Altruistic donations from distant relatives, in-laws, scheme amalgamating three Centrally Sponsored
or long-time friends are allowed after additional Schemes, including Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana
scrutiny to ensure there is no financial exchange. (PMAGY), Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes
€ Living donations from close relatives involving Sub Plan (SCA to SCSP), and Babu Jagjivan Ram
Indians or foreigners must be accompanied by Chhatrawas Yojana (BJRCY).
documents establishing their identities, family ¾ This initiative, launched in the fiscal year 2021-22,
trees, and pictures that prove the donor-recipient aims to uplift Scheduled Caste (SC) communities
relationship. by generating employment opportunities through
z Donors and recipients are also interviewed. skill development, income-generating schemes, and
¾ Donations from Unrelated Persons: various initiatives.
€ Donations from unrelated persons require What are the Key Highlights of the PM-AJAY?
documents and photographic evidence to prove
¾ Objectives:
their long-term association or friendship with the
€ Reduce poverty in the SC communities by the
recipient.
generation of additional employment opportunities
€ These are examined by an external committee
through skill development, income-generating
to prevent illegal dealings.
schemes and other initiatives.
¾ Fines and Punishments:
€ To increase literacy and encourage enrolment of
€ Offering to pay for organs or supplying them for SCs in schools and higher educational institutions
payment; initiating, negotiating, or advertising by providing adequate residential facilities in
such arrangements; looking for persons to supply quality institutions, in the aspirational districts/
organs; and abetting in preparing false documents SC majority blocks and elsewhere in India.
can attract a jail term up to 10 years and a fine ¾ Components of PM-AJAY:
up to Rs 1 crore.
€ Development of SC-Dominated Villages into an
¾ Formation of NOTTO: “AdarshGram”: This component was formerly known
€ National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization as Pradhan Mantri AdarshGram Yojana (PMAGY)
(NOTTO) is a National level organization set up and the objective of this component is to ensure
under Directorate General of Health Services, integrated development of SC-majority villages.
Ministry of Health and Family. z Provide adequate infrastructure for socio-
z This has been mandated as per the Transplantation economic development needs.
of Human Organs (Amendment) Act 2011. z Target improvement in identified socio-economic
z National Network division of NOTTO would indicators (Monitorable indicators).
function as apex centre for All India activities of ¾ The monitorable indicators are distributed across 10
coordination and networking for procurement domains. These domains encompass crucial aspects
and distribution of Organs and Tissues and such as Drinking water and Sanitation, Education,
registry of Organs and Tissues Donation and Health and Nutrition, Social Security, Rural Roads
Transplantation in the country. and Housing, Electricity and Clean fuel, Agricultural

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 51
Practices, Financial Inclusion, Digitization, and in India experienced significant disruptions and challenges
Livelihood and Skill Development. that shaped its trajectory.
€ ‘Grants-in-aid’ for District/State-level Projects:
What is Over-The-Top?
z This component was formerly known as Special
Central Assistance to Scheduled Caste Sub Plan. ¾ About:
z The scheme aims at the socio-economic € OTT stands for “Over-The-Top,” a term used to

development of SCs through grants for the describe content delivery over the internet directly
following types of projects: to viewers, bypassing traditional broadcast, cable,
z Comprehensive Livelihood Projects: Such
or satellite TV platforms.
projects which create an entire eco-system € The OTT market refers to the industry that provides

for producing sustainable income, or social streaming media services, delivering movies, TV
advancement to the SCs only shall be taken up. shows, music, and other content to users via the
The projects should preferably be a combination internet.
of two or more of the following: € Examples: Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime

¾ Skill Development: Skilling courses as per norms of the Video, Peacock, CuriosityStream, Pluto TV, and
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. so many more.
Related facilities and infrastructure for conducting Skill
Development Activities conducted by the Government. What was the State of OTT in 2023 and
Skill Development Institutions can also be funded. Outlook for 2024?
¾ Grants for Creation/Acquisition of Assets for ¾ In 2023, the OTT landscape saw disruptive moves
Beneficiaries/Households: No standalone individual with platforms offering premium content for free,
asset distribution is allowed under the scheme. If the impacting subscription revenue.
project involves acquiring or creating assets crucial ¾ Monetization challenges persisted, none reaching
for livelihoods, beneficiaries can receive financial break-even due to high content costs.
assistance for loans, up to Rs. 50,000 or 50% of the
¾ Freemium models emerged, curbing password sharing
asset cost, whichever is less, per beneficiary/household.
and integrating ads. Regulatory concerns lingered
¾ Infrastructure development: Development of but censorship wasn’t favored, fostering selective
infrastructure related to the project and also Hostels data sharing.
and residential schools.
¾ Looking to 2024, expect cost-efficient content strategies
z Special Provisions:
with a decline in experimental content. Mergers among
¾ Upto 15% of the total Grants exclusively on viable major players like Zee/Sony and potential collaborations
income-generating economic development schemes/ like RIL/Disney may restructure market dynamics,
programmes for SC Women. influencing bargaining power and content costs.
¾ Upto 30% of the total Grants utilized for infrastructure ¾ Pricing strategies will continue evolving, likely
development intensifying limitations on sharing and embedding ads.
¾ Atleast 10% of the total funds for skill development ¾ Regulatory compliance may tighten, emphasizing
¾ Promote SC Women Cooperatives engaged in the sensitivity toward religious or minority sentiments.
production and marketing of consumer goods and Increased transparency in viewership trends will aid
services. advertisers and creators.

Outlook of OTT in 2024 PRITHvi VIgyan Scheme

Why in News? Why in News?
The OTT market in India is currently battling the The Union Cabinet recently approved the
dilemma between growth and profitability in a price- comprehensive scheme “PRITHvi VIgyan (PRITHVI)” by
sensitive market. In 2023, the Over-The-Top (OTT) Market the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

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52 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

¾ This initiative spans five sub-schemes, aiming to € Development of modelling systems for understanding
enhance Earth System Sciences and provide crucial and predicting weather, ocean and climate hazards
services for societal, environmental, and economic and understanding the science of climate change.
well-being. € Exploration of polar and high seas regions of the
¾ The Cabinet also approved an agreement between Earth towards discovery of new phenomena and
the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and resources;
Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC) € Development of technology for exploration and
to jointly develop a “small satellite.” sustainable harnessing of oceanic resources for
Note: societal applications.
¾ India and Mauritius have a history of cooperation since € Translation of knowledge and insights from
the 1980s when ISRO established a ground station Earth systems science into services for societal,
in Mauritius for tracking and telemetry support for environmental and economic benefit.
ISRO’s launch vehicle and satellite missions.

What is the “PRITHvi VIgyan (PRITHVI)” Kochi-Lakshadweep Islands

Scheme? Submarine Optical Fiber
¾ About: Connection Project
€ It is an overarching scheme of the Ministry of Earth
Sciences (MoES) for the period from 2021 to 2026. Why in News?
€ It encompasses five ongoing sub-schemes, namely:
Recently, the Prime Minister of India inaugurated
z ACROSS: Atmosphere and Climate Research- the Kochi-Lakshadweep islands submarine optical fiber
Modelling Observing Systems & Services. connection (KLI-SOFC) project among various
z O-SMART: Ocean Services, Modelling developmental projects covering a wide range of sectors
Application, Resources and Technology. including technology, energy, water resources, healthcare
z PACER: Polar Science and Cryosphere Research. and education.
z SAGE: Seismology and Geosciences
What are the Key Facts About
¾ The scheme includes six activities, including
seismological monitoring and microzonation. SAGE the KLI-SOFC Project?
aims to strengthen earthquake monitoring and ¾ Background:
research on the Earth’s solid components. € Lakshadweep required digital connectivity,
z REACHOUT: Research, Education, Training and prompting a high-capacity submarine cable link
Outreach. due to limitations in satellite communication,
€ PRITHVI scheme comprehensively addresses marked by inadequate bandwidth to meet growing
the five components of Earth System Sciences: demand.
atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, cryosphere, ¾ KLI-SOFC Project:
and biosphere. € The KLI-SOFC project will lead to an increase in
z This holistic approach aims to enhance internet speed, unlocking new possibilities and
understanding and deliver reliable services for opportunities.
the country. € The project introduces Submarine Optic Fiber
¾ Objectives: Cable connectivity for the first time in Lakshadweep
€ To augment and sustain long-term observations since independence.
of the atmosphere, ocean, geosphere, cryosphere z Fiber optics, or optical fiber, refers to the
and solid earth to record the vital signs of the Earth technology that transmits information as light
System and change pulses along a glass or plastic fiber.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 53
€ The Department of Telecommunications (DOT) ¾ Solar Power Plant at Kavaratti:
funded by the Universal Services Obligation Fund
€ The first-ever battery-backed solar power project
(USOF), completed the project. Bharat Sanchar in Lakshadweep.
Nigam Limited (BSNL) was the Project Executing
¾ Primary Health Care Facility in Kalpeni:
Agency.
€ Foundation stone laid for the renovation of the
€ The KLI project extended submarine cable
primary health care facility in Kalpeni.
connectivity from the mainland (Kochi) to eleven
¾ Model Anganwadi Centres (Nand Ghars):
Lakshadweep Islands namely, Kavaratti, Agatti,
€ Five model Anganwadi centres (Nand Ghars) to
Amini, Kadmat, Chetlet, Kalpeni, Minicoy, Androth,
Kiltan, Bangaram and Bitra has been extended. be constructed in the islands of Androth, Chetlat,
Kadmat, Agatti, and Minicoy.

Bharatmala Phase-1:
Deadline Extended
Why in News?
Recently, the Government has extended the deadline
for completion of the flagship highway development
projectBharatmala Pariyojana Phase-Ito 2027-28.
¾ The move follows an over 100% increase in the
estimated cost of the mega project and reflects the
slowing of implementation, and financial constraints.

What is Bharatmala Pariyojana?

¾ About
€ Bharatmala Pariyojana is an umbrella programme
launched under the Ministry of Road Transport
and Highways.
€ The first-phase of Bharatmala was announced in
2017 and was to be completed by 2022.
Other Projects in Lakshadweep Islands
¾ Salient Features:
¾ Low-Temperature Thermal Desalination (LTTD)
€ Bharatmala focuses on enhanced effectiveness of
Plant at Kadmat: already built infrastructure, multi-modal integration,
€ Produces 1.5 lakh litres of clean drinking water bridging infrastructure gaps for seamless movement
every day. Functional Household Tap Connections and integrating National and Economic Corridors.
(FHTC) in Agatti and Minicoy Islands. There are six key features of the programme:
z Economic Corridors: Integrating the economic
z All households on the Agatti and Minicoy
corridors facilitates larger connectedness
islands now have functional household tap
between economically important production
connections.
and consumption centers.
z The LTTD is a process under which the warm z Inter-corridor and Feeder routes: This would
surface seawater is flash evaporated at low ensure first mile and last mile connectivity.
pressure and the vapour is condensed with z National Corridor Efficiency Improvement:
cold deep sea water. Through this, the greater actionable goal is to

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54 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

undertake lane expansion and decongestion of € Interaction with beneficiaries of government

existing National Corridors. schemes through their personal stories/ experience
z Border and International Connectivity Roads: sharing.
Better border road infrastructure would ensure € Enrolment of potential beneficiaries through details
greater maneuverability, while also boosting ascertained during the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra.
trade with neighboring countries.
What is PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana
z Coastal and Port Connectivity Roads: Port- (PM-Kisan)?
led economic development is further boosted
¾ About:
through connectivity to coastal areas, encouraging
€ It was launched to supplement financial needs
both tourism and industrial development.
of land holding farmers.
z Green-field Expressways: Expressways have
€ It has become operational from December, 2018.
higher traffic configuration and choke points
would benefit from green-field expressways. ¾ Financial Benefits:
€ Financial benefit of Rs 6000/- per year in
three equal installments, every four month is
Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra transferred into the bank accounts of farmers’
Adds Beneficiaries to families across the country through Direct Benefit
Transfer (DBT) mode.
PM-Kisan ¾ Scope of the Scheme:
€ The scheme was initially meant for Small and
Why in News? Marginal Farmers (SMFs) having landholding
Recently, the number of Pradhan Mantri Kisan upto 2 hectares but scope of the scheme was
Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme beneficiaries has extended to cover all landholding farmers.
declined by more than 20%, decreasing from a peak of ¾ Funding and Implementation:
10.47 crore in April-July 2022 to 8.12 crore. € It is a Central Sector Scheme with 100% funding
¾ The government’s proactive measures, particularly the from the Government of India.
“saturation drive”initiated under the Viksit Bharat € It is being implemented by the Ministry of
Sankalp Yatra, have added 34 lakh farmers back to Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
the list of beneficiaries.
¾ Objectives:
What is Vikasit Bharat Sankalp Yatra? € To supplement the financial needs of the Small
and Marginal Farmers in procuring various inputs
¾ About:
to ensure proper crop health and appropriate
€ It is a nationwide campaign to raise awareness
yields, commensurate with the anticipated farm
through outreach activities to achieve saturation income at the end of each crop cycle.
of schemes of Govt. of India across the country
€ To protect them from falling in the clutches of
covering all Gram Panchayats, Nagar Panchayats
moneylenders for meeting such expenses and
and Urban Local Bodies.
ensure their continuance in the farming activities.
€ The campaign is being taken up by adopting
¾ PM-KISAN Mobile App:
a whole of government approach with active
€ It was developed and designed by the National
involvement of various Ministries/Departments of
Government of India, State Governments, Central Informatics Centre in collaboration with
Govt. Organizations and Institutions. the Ministry of Electronics and Information
Technology.
¾ Objectives:
¾ Physical Verification Module:
€ Reach out to the vulnerable who are eligible under
€ A mandatory physical verification of 5% beneficiary
various schemes but have not availed benefit so far.
every year is being done as per the provisions
€ Dissemination of information and generating
laid down in the scheme.
awareness about schemes.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 55
€These are in fact inscriptions on the stone of a
ASI Survey Report on preexisting Hindu temple which have been reused
during the construction, repair of the existing
Gyanvapi Mosque structure.
€ The reuse of earlier inscriptions in the structure
Why in News? suggests that the earlier structures were destroyed
Recently, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and their parts were reused in the construction
surveyed the Gyanvapi mosque complex, where a total and repair of the existing structure.
of 55 stone sculptures were found, including the idols of ¾ Swastik and Trident Marks:
Hindu Deities. € There were marks found on the structure, including
¾ The ASI report suggests that a temple “appears to the swastika and the trident.
have been destroyed in the 17th century, during the z Swastika is known to be one the most ancient
reign of Aurangzeb, and part of it was modified and symbols in the world, and has been used in all
reused in the existing structure.” old civilisations.
z Trishula (trident -- the distinct weapon of Lord
What are the Key Highlights of the ASI Report? Shiva), symbol is commonly used as one of the
¾ Discovery of Broken Idols: principal symbols by Hindus, particularly by
€ The survey uncovered fragments of what appear Shaivites and also Shaktas.
to be statues of Hindu Deities, including those ¾ Coins and Sandstone Slab with Persian Inscription:
of Hanuman, Ganesha, and Nandi, within the € Objects such as coins, a sandstone slab inscribed

mosque complex. in Persian, and other artifacts were unearthed

€ Various sculptures and statues were found in during the survey.
varying states of damage, including those of Shiva € Inscriptions in Persian on stone slabs were found,

linga, Vishnu, Ganesha, Krishna, and Hanuman. providing an account of the demolition of the temple
¾ Yonipattas and Shiv Linga: during the reign of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb
in the 17th century.
€ Several yonipattas, the base of a shivling, were
discovered during the survey.
€ A shiv linga with its bottom part missing was also
found.

Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya

Yojana
Why in News?
Recently, the Indian Prime Minister launched the
¾ Indian Inscription: ‘Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana,’ a pioneering
€ 32 inscriptions written in the Devanagari, Grantha, government initiative aimed at installing rooftop solar
Telugu and Kannada scripts. power systems in one crore households across the nation.

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56 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

What are Rooftop Solar Panels? €The VAIBHAV Fellow would identify an Indian
Institution for collaboration and may spend up
¾ About: Rooftop solar panels are photovoltaic panels
to two months there in a year for a maximum
installed on the roof of a building that is connected
of 3 years.
to the main power supply unit.
z The VAIBHAV fellows are expected to collaborate
¾ Benefit: It reduces the consumption of grid-connected
with their Indian counterparts and help initiate
electricity and saves electricity costs for the consumer.
research activities in the host institution in the
€ Surplus solar power units generated from the
cutting-edge areas of Science and Technology.
rooftop solar plant can be exported to the grid as
¾ Incentives Offered:
per the metering provisions.
€ Fellowship would include fellowship grant (INR
€ The consumer can receive monetary benefits for
4,00,000 per month), international and domestic
the surplus exported power as per the prevailing
travel, accommodation and contingencies.
regulations
€ Host institutions receive research grants to support
¾ Related Government Initiatives: In 2014, the
the collaboration.
government launched the Rooftop Solar Programme
that aimed to achieve a cumulative installed capacity What is the Visiting Advanced Joint Research
of 40,000 megawatts (MW) or 40 gigawatts (GW)
Faculty Scheme?
by 2022.
€ However, this target could not be achieved. As
¾ About:
a result, the government extended the deadline € VAJRA (Visiting Advanced Joint Research) Faculty

from 2022 to 2026. Scheme is a dedicated program exclusively for

overseas scientists and academicians with emphasis
€ According to some reports, the Pradhan Mantri
on NRI and PIO/OCI to work as adjunct / visiting
Suryodaya Yojana seems to be an attempt to help
faculty for a specific period of time in Indian Public
reach the target of 40 GW rooftop solar capacity.
funded academic and research institutions.
z The Scheme recognizes the value of collaborative
VAIBHAV Fellowship research as a crucial element for information
sharing among researchers for updating and
Why in News? acquiring knowledge and skills, and also to draw
different perspectives to solve a shared problem.
The Department of Science and Technology (DST)
€ The area of research undertaken by the Faculty
recently unveiled the first cohort of fellows under the
Vaishvik Bhartiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV) scheme, a should be of interest to India including translation
strategic initiative aimed at fostering short-term of science to practice.
collaborations with Indian-origin scientists based abroad. z Faculty can also teach/mentor during the
period of stay.
¾ Vaibhav scheme finds similarities with the Visiting
Advanced Joint Research Faculty (Vajra) scheme z The Faculty will work for a minimum of 1

initiated in 2018. month and a maximum of 3 months a year in

an institution in India.
What is VAIBHAV Scheme? ¾ The Indian host institution may engage him/her for
¾ About: a longer duration even after the completion of the
assignment.
€ The Government has launched VAIBHAV fellowships
programme in 2023 to connect the Indian STEMM ¾ The part-time position for faculty will be initially
(Science, technology, engineering, mathematics, offered for 1 year and can be renewed every year.
and medicine) diaspora with Indian academic ¾ Incentives Offered:
and R&D institutions for collaborative research € The VAJRA Faculty will be provided an amount
work leading to sharing of knowledge, wisdom, of USD 15000 in the first month of engagement
and best practices in the frontier areas of science in a year and USD 10000 per month in the other
& technology. two months to cover their travel and honorarium.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 57
z While no separate support is provided for e.g. ¾ National Child Welfare Award (Institution) - since 1979.
accommodation, medical/personal insurance ¾ Rajiv Gandhi Manav Sewa Award - since 1994.
etc., the host institute may consider providing z Since 2017-18, these Awards were given under
additional support. the following categories:
z The payment to the faculty will be made in ¾ Bal Shakti Puraskar (Earlier known as National Child
Indian Rupees. Award).
¾ Bal Kalyan Puraskar [Individual & Institution] (Earlier
Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya known as National Child Welfare Award).
Bal Puraskar z From the year 2022 onwards, Bal Kalyan Puraskar
(both Individual and Institution) has been closed
and Bal Shakti Puraskar has been subsumed
Why in News? under Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar.
The President of India, recently honoured 19 children ¾ Eligibility:
with the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) € A child who is an Indian Citizen and is a resident
in various categories, acknowledging their outstanding of India.
contributions in Bravery, Science & Technology, Innovation,
€ A Child above the age of 5 years and not exceeding
Social Service, Sports, and Art and Culture.
18 years (as on 31st July of respective year).
What is Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar € The act/incident/achievement should have

(PMRBP)? been within 2 years of the last date of receipt of

application/nomination for the year of consideration.
¾ About:
¾ Number of Awardees:
€ The PMRBP is organized to celebrate the energy,
€ 25, however, any relaxation to this maximum
determination, ability, zeal and enthusiasm of
children. number may be permitted at the discretion of the
National Selection Committee.
€ The awards are conferred upon the children for
their excellence in seven categories, viz. Art &
Culture, Bravery, Environment, Innovation, Science Social Audit Advisory Body
& Technology, Social Service and Sports, which
deserve national recognition. Why in News?
€ Each awardee of PMRBP is given a medal, cash
Recently, the inaugural meeting of theSocial Audit
prize of Rs. 1 Lakh, a Certificate and a Citation.
Advisory Body (SAAB) took place at the Dr. Ambedkar
€ The selection of awardees was made by a Selection
International Centre in New Delhi.
Committee under the chairpersonship of the Union
¾ This pioneering advisory body aims to guide the
Minister for Women and Child Development.
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment in the
z The Awards are given by the President of India
institutionalisation of social audits across its diverse
in the week preceding Republic Day every year.
schemes.
¾ Background:
€ The Government of India has been conferring awards What is a Social Audit?
to children for their exceptional achievements. ¾ About:
€ The awards for child welfare were also conferred,
€ A social audit is a systematic, independent
to individuals as well as institutions. assessment of an organization’s or program’s
z These awards were given in the following social impact and ethical performance.
categories: € It evaluates how well their actions and policies align
¾ National Child Award for Exceptional Achievements with their stated values and goals, particularly
- since 1996. regarding their impact on communities, employees,
¾ National Child Welfare Award (Individual) - since 1979. and the environment.

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58 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

Howard Bowen proposed the term “social

z What is the Protection of Children From Sexual
audit” in his 1953 book Social Responsibilities Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012?
of the Businessman.
¾ About:
¾ Key Features of Social Audit: € The POCSO Act came into effect on 14th November
€ Fact finding not fault finding. 2012 which was enacted in consequence to India’s
€ Creating the space and platform for dialogue ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights
among various levels of stakeholders. of the Child in 1992.
€ The aim of this special law is to address offences
€ Timely grievance redressal.
of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children,
€ Strengthening the democratic process and
which were either not specifically defined or
institutions. adequately penalised.
€ Building people’s pressure for better implementation
€ The Act defines a child as any person below the
of programmes. age of 18 years. The Act provides punishment as
¾ Types of Social Audits: per the gravity of the offence.
€ Organisational: Assessing a company’s overall z The Act was further reviewed and amended in

social responsibility efforts. 2019 to Introduce more stringent punishment

€ Program-Specific: Focusing on a particular program’s
including the death penalty for Committing
sexual crimes on children, with a view to deter
impact and effectiveness.
the perpetrators & prevent such crimes against
€ Financial: Reviewing the social and environmental children.
implications of financial decisions. z The Government of India has also notified the
€ Stakeholder-Driven: Involving various stakeholders POCSO Rules, 2020.
in the auditing process.
What is the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force
(ITBPF)?
Govt Jobs for Acquitted ¾ Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force (ITBPF) is a Central
Armed Police Forcefunctioning under the Ministry
Individuals in Criminal Cases of Home Affairs, Government of India.
€ The ITBP was raised on 24th October 1962 during
Why in News? the India-China Warand is a border guarding police
Recently, The Punjab and Haryana High Court force specialising in high-altitude operations.
directed the Centre to reconsider the appointment of a € Presently,ITBPis deployed on border guarding

person from Haryana as a constable in the Indo-Tibetan duties from Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Jachep
Border Police (ITBP), given his acquittal in 2019 case under La in Arunachal Pradesh covering 3488 km of
the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) the Indo-China Border.
Act, 2012. € The Force is also deployed forAnti-Naxal
Operations and other internal security duties.
¾ Order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
cancelled the person’s appointment on grounds of
moral turpitude.
What is the Moral Turpitude? NHAI Introduces ‘One
¾ The term “moral turpitude,” as noted by the Vehicle, One FASTag’
Supreme Court in the case ofP. Mohanasundaram
vs. the President, 2013, lacks a specific definition.
Initiative
¾ It encompasses actions contrary to justice, honesty,
modesty, or good morals, suggesting a depraved Why in News?
and wicked character or disposition of the individual National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has
accused of such conduct. launched the ‘One Vehicle, One FASTag’ initiative that

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 59
aims to discourage user behavior of using single FASTag What is the National Electronic Toll Collection
for multiple vehicles or linking multiple FASTags to a Programme?
particular vehicle.
¾ The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)
¾ NHAI is also encouraging FASTag users to complete
has created the National Electronic Toll Collection
the ‘Know Your Customer’ (KYC) process of their
(NETC) program to fulfill India’s electronic tolling
latest FASTag by updating KYC as per RBI guidelines.
needs.
¾ FASTags with valid balance but with incomplete KYC
€ This program provides a nationwide, interoperable
will get deactivated/blacklisted by banks post 31st
toll payment solution, covering clearing house
January 2024.
services for settlement and dispute resolution.
What is FASTag? ¾ In the context of NETC, interoperability means
a standardized set of processes and technical
¾ About: FASTag is a device that employs Radio
specifications, allowing FASTag users to use their
Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for making
toll payments directly while the vehicle is in motion. tags for payment at any toll plaza, regardless of
the plaza’s operator.
€ NHAI launched two mobile Apps – MyFASTag
and FASTag Partner to facilitate the availability
of FASTags. All India Conference of
€ The tag is valid for 5 years from the date of issuance
and comes in seven different colour codes. Director Generals of Police
Why in News?
Recently, the Prime Minister of India attended the
58th All India Conference of Director Generals/Inspector
Generals of Police in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
¾ It was a three-day being held in hybrid mode with DGPs
(Director general of police), IGPs (Inspector-General
of Police) and Chiefs of Central Police Organisations.
¾ A wide range of policing and internal security issues
including Cyber Crime, Technology in Policing, Counter
Terrorism challenges, Left Wing Extremism, and Prison
¾ Benefits of FASTag: Reforms were discussed at the conference.
¾ Another key agenda of the conference is deliberations
€ For Road Users
on the road map for implementation of the new
z Near non-stop motion through toll plazas
Criminal Laws.
z Convenience for cashless payment of toll fee

z Less traffic congestion and reduced commute

times Swachh Survekshan
€ For Toll Operator Awards 2023
z Lower operating costs

z Better audit control through centralized user Why in News?

accounts
The President of India conferred Swachh Survekshan
z Improved capacity without being required to
Awards 2023 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi hosted
build more infrastructure by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
€ For Government
¾ Indore and Surat were jointly awarded the cleanest
z Savings on fuel and reduction of emissions from city title. Maharashtra secured the top position
idling and repeated stops at toll plazas. among states in the annual cleanliness rankings for
z Improves transparency of toll transactions urban areas.

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60 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

What are the Major Highlights of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election
Swachh Survekshan Awards 2023? Commissioners (EC).
¾ The legislation aims to bring transparency to the
¾ About: Swachh Survekshan, conducted by the MoHUA
since 2016, is the world’s largest urban sanitation appointment process, responding to adirective from
and cleanliness survey. the Supreme Court of India.
€ It has been instrumental in fostering a spirit of
What are the Key Provisions of the Bill?
healthy competition among towns and cities to
improve their service delivery to citizens and ¾ The Bill replaces the Election Commission (Conditions
towards creating cleaner cities. of Service of Election Commissioners and Transaction
of Business) Act, 1991.
€ It has evolved, covering an increasing number of
cities each year. The 2023 round encompassed ¾ It addresses the appointment, salary, and removal
4,416 urban local bodies, 61 cantonments, and of the CEC and ECs.
88 Ganga towns. € Appointment Process:

¾ Ranking of Cities: Indore has retained its cleanest city z The CEC and ECs will be appointed by the
title for the 7th consecutive year. Surat, consistently President upon the recommendation of a
second behind Indore in recent years, claimed the Selection Committee.
top spot for the first time. ¾ The Selection Committee will consist of the Prime
€ This year marked the first instance of two cities Minister, a Union Cabinet Minister, and the Leader
sharing the top prize in the annual awards since of Opposition/leader of the largest opposition party
2016. in Lok Sabha.
€ Both cities achieved 100% door-to-door waste ¾ Recommendations of the Selection Committee will be
collection, 98% source segregation, and 100% valid even when there is a vacancy in this Committee.
remediation of dumpsites. z A Search Committee headed by the Cabinet
z Navi Mumbai secured the third cleanest city Secretary will propose a panel of names to the
position. Selection Committee.
¾ Key Parameters in Evaluation: The Swachh Survekshan ¾ Eligibility for the posts includes holding (or having
2023 rankings considered various factors, including: held) a post equivalent to the Secretary to the central
€ Door-to-door waste collection government.
€ Source segregation € Changes in Salary and Conditions:

€ Cleanliness of public areas z The salary and conditions of service of the

€ Clean water bodies CEC and ECs will be equivalent to that of the
€ Citizens’ feedback on city cleanliness Cabinet Secretary.
¾ Under the 1991 Act, it was equivalent to the salary
of a Supreme Court Judge.
The CEC and Other ECs € Removal Process:
(Appointment, Conditions z The Bill retains the constitutional provision

of Service and Term of (Article 324(5)) that allows the CEC to be

removed like a Supreme Court Judge, while ECs
Office) Bill, 2023 can only be removed on the recommendation
of the CEC.
Why in News? € Protection for CEC And ECs:

The Rajya Sabha recently approved the Chief Election z Bill safeguards CEC and ECs from legal proceedings
Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners related to actions taken during their tenure,
(Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) provided such actions were carried out in the
Bill, 2023, which outlines the procedures for appointing discharge of official duties.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 61
¾ The amendment aimed to shield these officials from 1995 with the aim of uncovering the truth of human
civil or criminal proceedings related to their official rights violations during the decades of apartheid.
functions. Article 370
¾ Article 370 in the Indian constitution gave special
Truth and Reconciliation status to Jammu and Kashmir, a region disputed
by India, Pakistan and China.
Commission
¾ It was drafted by N Gopalaswami Ayyangar, a
member of the Constituent Assembly of India,
Why in News?
and was added to the constitution as a ‘temporary
Recently, the Supreme Court unanimously upheld provision’ in 1949.
the abrogation of Article 370 by the Centre in 2019 and
¾ It allowed the state to have its own constitution, flag
also recommended setting up a Truth and Reconciliation
and autonomy over most matters except defense,
Commission (TRC) to look into alleged violations of human
foreign affairs and communications.
rights by both state and non-state actors in Jammu &
Kashmir. ¾ It was based on the terms of the Instrument of
Accession, which was signed by the ruler of Jammu
What is a Truth and Reconciliation and Kashmir, Hari Singh, in 1947 to join India after
Commission (TRC)? an invasion by Pakistan.
¾ About:
€ A Truth and Reconciliation Commission, also known AMRIT Technology
as a ‘truth and justice commission’ or simply, a
‘truth commission’, is an official mechanism to not
just acknowledge, but also reveal, wrongdoings Why in News?
by a government or sometimes non-state actors. Recently, theMinistry of Jal Shaktihas shed light on
¾ Objective: the progress of theJal Jeevan Missionand the Arsenic
¾ The truth commission is one that is focused on the and Metal Removal by Indian Technology (AMRIT).
past, rather than in ongoing events.
What is AMRIT Technology?
¾ It investigates a pattern of events that took place
over a period of time. ¾ The technology was developed by the Indian Institute
¾ The commission engages directly and broadly with of Technology (IIT) - Madras. It is designed for the
the affected population, gathering information on removal of arsenic and metal ions from water,
their experiences; addressing water quality issues.
¾ It is a temporary body, with the aim of concluding ¾ The technology utilizes nano-scale iron oxy-hydroxide,
with a final report. which selectively removes arsenic when water passes
¾ Commission is officially authorized or empowered through it.
by the state under review. ¾ AMRIT is applicable for both domestic and community-
Which Nations have Already Established TRC? level water purification.
¾ The two best known and most consequential ¾ The technology aligns with the broader goals of the
commissions are considered to be set up in South Jal Jeevan Mission, which aims to provide safe and
Africa, Australia and Canada. potable tap water to rural households in India.
¾ In India’s neighborhood, truth commissions have ¾ The technology has been recommended by the
been set up in Sri Lanka and Nepal. ‘Standing Committee’ of the Department of Drinking
¾ In South Africa, the first post-apartheid government Water and Sanitation for consideration in addressing
of President Nelson Mandela established a TRC in water and sanitation challenges.

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62 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

and floodplain issues, river-focused recreation,

Global River Cities Alliance: sustainable economies, and celebration of the River
NMCG culture and history.

What is River Cities Alliance (RCA)?

Why in News?
¾ About:
Recently, the National Mission for Clean Ganga € The RCA is a joint initiative of the Ministry of
(NMCG), has launched the Global River Cities Alliance Jal Shakti (MoJS)& the Ministry of Housing and
(GRCA) at COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Urban Affairs (MoHUA), with a vision to connect
¾ During the event the NMCG also signed a Memorandum river cities and focus on sustainable river centric
of Common Purpose (MoCP) with the Mississippi River development.
Cities and Towns Initiative (MRCTI), representing € The Alliance focuses on three broad themes-
124 cities/towns situated along the banks of the Networking, Capacity Building and Technical
Mississippi River, the United States. Support.
¾ The NMCG has signed the MoCP on behalf of the
€ Beginning with 30 member cities in November
River Cities Alliance (RCA).
2021, the Alliance has expanded to 110 river cities
across India and one international member city
What is the Global River Cities Alliance (GRCA)?
from Denmark.
¾ About:
¾ Objective:
€ The GRCA is an international coalition of cities
€ The RCA intends to facilitate knowledge exchange
and countries dedicated to the conservation,
(online) for Indian cities to learn new practices
sustainable management, and protection of river
and approaches for urban river management.
systems worldwide.
€ It will also be an opportunity for international cities
€ The alliance encompasses a diverse array of
to learn about experiences in Indian cities, which
countries and river cities, fostering partnerships
may be relevant to their contexts.
among key nations like India, Egypt, Netherlands,
Denmark, Ghana, Australia, Bhutan, Cambodia, What is the National Mission for
Japan, and others.
Clean Ganga (NMCG)?
€ GRCA’s membership extends to cover 275+
river-cities across 11 countries, demonstrating a ¾ About:
substantial global reach and influence. € On 12th August 2011, the NMCG was listed as a

¾ Objective: society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.

€ It acted as the implementation arm of the National
€ It will serve as a platform for collaboration,
knowledge exchange, and concerted efforts among Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) which was
various stakeholders, including governments, constituted under the provisions of the Environment
cities, financial institutions, and environmental (Protection) Act (EPA),1986.
organizations.. z NGRBA was dissolved in 2016 and replaced
by the National Council for Rejuvenation,
What is the Mississippi River Cities Protection, and Management of River Ganga.
and Towns Initiative (MRCTI)? ¾ Objective:
¾ The MRCTI was created in 2012 to provide an influential € The objective of the NMCG is to reduce pollution

voice for the Mississippi River, dramatically increasing and ensure the rejuvenation of the Ganga River.
demand for effective river protection, restoration, z Namami Gange is one of the Coveted Programmes
and management in Washington, DC. of NMCG to clean Ganga.
¾ It addresses matters of mutual concern, including € This can be achieved by promoting intersectoral
river water quality and habitat restoration, flooding coordination for comprehensive planning &

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 63
management and maintaining minimum ecological Who are Particularly Vulnerable
flow in the river, with the aim of ensuring Tribal Groups (PVTGs)?
water quality and environmentally sustainable
¾ In 1973, the Dhebar Commission established
development. Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) as a distinct category,
encompassing tribal communities characterized by
PM-JANMAN Scheme a declining or stagnant population, the use of pre-
agrarian technology, economic backwardness, and
low literacy.
Why in News? € These groups are identified as less developed
Recently, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs has brought among the tribal communities.
to light the ambitious Pradhan Mantri-Janjati Adivasi ¾ In 2006, the Government of India renamed the PTGs
Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) Scheme. Aimed at as PVTGs. They reside in remote and inaccessible
uplifting Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), areas, facing challenges due to poor infrastructure
this initiative carries the potential to address their unique and administrative support.
challenges and provide essential infrastructure for a ¾ There are 75 PVTG communities spread across 18
brighter future. States and Union Territories in India.
€ Odisha has the highest number of PVTGs (15),
What is the PM-JANMAN Scheme? followed by Andhra Pradesh (12), Bihar and
¾ About: Jharkhand (9), Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh
€ PM JANMAN is a government scheme that aims (7), Tamil Nadu (6), and Kerala and Gujarat (5 each).
€ The rest of the communities are spread across
to bring tribal communities into the mainstream.
Maharashtra, West Bengal, Karnataka, Uttarakhand,
€ The scheme (comprising Central Sector and Centrally
Rajasthan, Tripura, and Manipur.
Sponsored Schemes) will be implemented by the
€ All four tribal groups in the Andaman and one
Ministry of Tribal Affairs, in collaboration with the
in the Nicobar Islands are recognized as PVTGs.
State governments and the PVTG communities.
€ The scheme will concentrate on 11 critical
interventions overseen by 9 line Ministries, Gram Manchitra
ensuring the implementation of existing schemes and mActionSoft
in villages inhabited by PVTGs.
z It encompasses various sectors, including safe Why in News?
housing under thePM-AWAS Scheme,access
Recently, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj introduced
t o c l e a n d r i n k i n g w a t e r, i m p ro v e d
“Gram Manchitra,” a Geographic Information System
healthcare, education, nutrition, road and (GIS) app.
telecommunications connectivity, as well as
¾ Additionally, the Ministry launched “mActionSoft,” a
opportunities for sustainable livelihoods.
mobile-based solution for geo-tagging project assets.
€ The plan also includes the establishment of Van
Dhan Vikas Kendras for trading in forest produce, What is Gram Manchitra and mActionSoft?
off-grid solar power systems for 1 lakh households, ¾ Gram Manchitra:
and solar street lights. € About: The primary goal of Gram Manchitra is to
€ The scheme is expected to enhance the quality of encourage spatial planning initiatives by Gram
life and well-being of the PVTGs, by addressing their Panchayats, leveraging the capabilities of geo-
multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination spatial technology.
and exclusion, and by recognizing and valuing their z The app supports the Gram Panchayat
unique and valuable contribution to national and Development Plan (GPDP) by aiding decision-
global development. making.

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64 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

€Features: Jammu and Kashmir Assembly for people who have

z Unified GeoSpatial Platform: Gram Manchitra been displaced from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
provides a single and unified platform, facilitating
the visualisation of developmental projects and What is the Background?
activities at the Gram Panchayat level. ¾ Before the Revocation of Article 370, Jammu and
z Sector-Wise Planning: It enables Gram Kashmir had distinct rules for delimiting Lok Sabha
Panchayats to plan and execute developmental and Assembly seats.
works across different sectors, fostering a holistic ¾ Post the abrogation of Article 370 and the region’s
approach to rural development. transition into a Union Territory, a Delimitation
z Development Plan Tools: Tools include Commission was formed in March 2020.
project site identification, asset tracking, cost ¾ This commission was tasked not only with delimiting
estimation, and project impact assessment. J&K’s seats but also those of Assam, Manipur, Arunachal
¾ mActionSoft: Pradesh, and Nagaland, aiming to finish within a year.
€ About: mActionSoft is a mobile-based solution,
¾ Recently, the commission concluded its delimitation
plays a crucial role in capturing geo-tagged photos process, resulting in an increase in J&K’s legislative
with GPS coordinates for works with asset outputs. assembly seats from 107 to 114, facilitated by the
z Assets undergo geo-tagging at three stages: Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment)
before the commencement of work, during Bill, 2023.
the work, and upon completion.
z This establishes a comprehensive repository What are These Two Bills?
of information on various works related to ¾ What is the Jammu & Kashmir Reservation
natural resource management, water harvesting,
(Amendment) Bill, 2023:
sanitation, agriculture, and more.
€ It seeks to amend Section 2 of the Jammu and
€ Features:
Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004.
z Geo-Tagging: Panchayats geotag assets
z The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004
created under finance commission funds
provided reservation in jobs and admission in
with photographs, ensuring transparency and
accountability. professional institutions to Scheduled Castes
(SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and other socially
¾ The assets geo-tagged using mActionSoft seamlessly
and educationally backward classes.
integrate with Gram Manchitra, enriching the
visualisation of developmental works in Gram € The amendment Bill suggests a change in the
Panchayats. nomenclature of a section of people who were
earlier described as “weak and underprivileged
classes (social castes)” to “other backward classes’.
Jammu and Kashmir ¾ Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment)
Reservation Bill and J&K Bill, 2023:
Reorganisation € It seeks to amend the 2019 Act and provide
representation in the Legislative Assembly to
(Amendment) Bill 2023 the Kashmiri Migrants and displaced persons
from the PoK.
Why in News? € It seeks to nominate two members from the
Recently, the Lok Sabha has passed the Jammu and Kashmiri migrant community, with one nominee
Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and the being a woman and the power of the lieutenant
Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023. governor to nominate one person representing
¾ The Bill seeks to represent those who became refugees the displaced persons from Pakistan-occupied
in their own country and also reserves one seat in the Kashmir (PoK) to the Legislative Assembly.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 65
€ This bill proposes to increase the total number ¾ Professional Upgradation Initiatives:
of seats in the Jammu and Kashmir legislative € AICTE has identified and selected over 300 institutes
assembly from 107 to 114, of which 7 would be nationwide offering limited seats in diploma,
reserved for scheduled caste members and 9 seats engineering UG, and PG degrees for working
for legislators from scheduled tribes. professionals seeking educational upgrades.
z As per the Bill, 24 seats of the Assembly will € Relaxation in ranking criteria is provided for regions
remain vacant until the occupation in Pakistan- lacking suitable institutes.
occupied Kashmir ceases.
¾ Regional Language Emphasis:
z Therefore, the effective strength of the
€ AICTE has published academic textbooks, including
Assembly is 83, which the amendment seeks
engineering, in 13 regional languages, promoting
to increase to 90.
regional language education in technical fields.
¾ Polytechnic Autonomy and Industry Collaborations:
New Regulation of AICTE € AICTE is granting autonomy to polytechnic colleges
and encouraging collaborations with industries for
Why in News? degree issuance, focusing on employability and
Recently, the All India Council for Technical Education facilitating placements.
(AICTE) has announced new regulations for undergraduate
courses like Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) World Soil Day 2023
and Bachelor of Computer Application (BCA) starting from
2024-25.
Why in News?
What are the Key Highlights of the New Every year, the United Nations celebrates 5th
Regulations? December as World Soil Day.
¾ Regulation Expansion: ¾ In August 2023, a study by US and Australian researchers
€ Undergraduate (UG) courses in Computer
in Scientific Reports explored the connection between
Applications (BCA) and Management (BBA/ soil micronutrient levels and the nutritional well-being
BMS) will come under the umbrella of AICTE to of individuals in India.
ensure coordinated development in technical and
management education.
What is World Soil Day (WSD)?
€ Engineering colleges are now permitted to offer ¾ WSD is celebrated to commemorate the birthday
BBA and BCA programs, expanding their scope of the late King of Thailand Bhumibol Adulyadej for
beyond traditional engineering disciplines. his lifelong commitment to raising awareness of the
¾ Institutional Flexibility:
importance of sustainable soil management and
rehabilitation for food security, poverty alleviation
€ Well-performing institutions will be given provision
and more.
for Extension of Approval up to 3 years for well-
performing institutions. ¾ WSD was recommended by the International Union
of Soil Sciences (IUSS) in 2002.
€ Presently, every technical education institute has
to reapply for approval every year. ¾ The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has
¾ Career Advancement for Working Professionals:
supported the formal establishment of WSD as a global
awareness-raising platform under the leadership of
€ Flexible study timings are introduced for selected
the Kingdom of Thailand within the framework of the
institutes, allowing working professionals, such as
Global Soil Partnership.
diploma graduates, to pursue lateral entry into
engineering degrees. This accommodates their ¾ 5th December 2014 was designated as the first official
work commitments by allowing extended study WSD by the UN General Assembly (UNGA).
durations. ¾ Theme 2023: Soil and Water, a Source of Life.

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66 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

€ Persons who entered Assam after 25th March, 1971,

Section 6A of the were to be detected and deported in accordance
Citizenship Act, 1955 with the law.

Why in News? India Infrastructure

Recently, a Constitution Bench led by the Chief Justice Report 2023
of India is hearing a series of petitions challenging the
constitutionality of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act,
Why in News?
1955.
¾ The Constitution Bench clarifies its focus is limited Recently, the India Infrastructure Report (IIR) 2023
to examining the validity of Section 6A and not the on Urban Planning and Development was released, it
Assam National Register of Citizens (NRC). is a comprehensive document that covers various aspects
of infrastructure planning, finance and governance in the
What is Section 6A of the Citizenship country.
Act of 1955? ¾ The IIR 2023 has been a collaborative effort of the IDFC
¾ Background: Foundation, Infrastructure Development Corporation
(Karnataka) Ltd. (iDeCK) and the National Institute
€ Section 6A was enacted as part of the Citizenship
of Urban Affairs (NIUA).
(Amendment) Act, 1985, following the Assam
Accord of 1985. Note:
z The Assam Accord was a tripartite agreement ¾ IDFC Foundation is a non-profit organization
between the Central Government, the State that supports social infrastructure, research, and
Government of Assam, and the leaders of the advocacy in India
Assam Movement, which sought to end the € It publishes reports and papers that offer
influx of illegal migrants from Bangladesh. new insights and solutions for infrastructure
€ The Assam Accord, signed in 1985, introduced development.
Section 6A into the Citizenship Act, of 1955, ¾ iDeCK is a joint venture of the Government of
exclusively for Assam. Karnataka, IDFC Foundation and HDFC that works
z This provision addresses the issue of large- on sustainable infrastructure projects. It supports
scale migration preceding the1971 Bangladesh research and capacity building activities through
Liberation War. Notably, it mandates the IDFC Foundation and ICAP Trust.
detection and deportation of foreigners who
entered Assam after March 25, 1971, marking What are the Key Highlights of the
the creation of Bangladesh. India Infrastructure Report?
z The introduction of Section 6A reflects the
¾ Thematic Focus on Urban Challenges:
specific historical and demographic challenges
€ The IIR systematically addresses key themes that
faced by Assam during this critical period.
are central to India’s urban challenges.
¾ Provisions and implications:
z These include planning and governance, smart
€ Section 6A created a special provision for Assam
initiatives, public-private partnerships (PPPs)
by which persons of Indian origin who came from
and financing,housing and migration, public
Bangladesh before 1st January 1966, were deemed
service delivery, integrating infrastructure, and
to be citizens of India as of that date.
urban redevelopment.
€ Persons of Indian origin who came to Assam
¾ Critique of Planning Mechanism:
between 1st January 1966, and 25th March 1971,
and who were detected to be foreigners, were € Criticizes existing planning mechanisms, particularly

required to register themselves and were granted restrictions on building construction, for rendering
citizenship after 10 years of residence, subject to cities “unlivable” and contributing to the emergence
certain conditions. of slums.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 67
Highlights the role of poor planning as a major
z What are the Key Guidelines for Prevention
factor in urban challenges. and Regulation of Dark Patterns?
¾ Low Floor Space Indices (FSIs) and Urban Sprawl:
¾ The guidelines prohibit the use of dark patterns to
€ Underscores the impact of low floor space indices mislead or coerce users.
(FSIs) or floor area ratios (FARs) on high-density
¾ The guidelines also urge entities to retain users
development and urban sprawl (rapid expansion
and drive sales using ethical and consumer-centric
of cities and towns into undeveloped land).
approaches.
z A low Floor Space Index (FSI) means that a
¾ These guidelines regarding the dark patterns extend
smaller area of a plot will be developed. It’s a
their applicability to all platforms offering goods and
parameter used in urban planning to determine
services in India, encompassing advertisers and sellers.
the maximum allowable construction density
€ E-commerce players, websites, and apps are
on a plot of land.
subject to the regulatory framework established
€ Links low FSI to the creation of slums, with a
by these guidelines.
focus on planning errors leading to forced high
population density. ¾ The CCPA has outlined 13 types of dark patterns in
its notification. They are:
€ The report advocates for cities to adopt a
€ False Urgency: Creating a false sense of urgency
redevelopment policy, emphasizing the recovery
of land from private owners in exchange for higher or scarcity to induce immediate purchases.
floor space indices (FSIs) and improved road € Basket Sneaking: Inclusion of additional items

connectivity. at checkout without user consent, resulting in

€ Advocates for dynamic city building, stressing that
higher payments.
the carrying capacity needs to increase in tandem € Confirm Shaming: Using fear or shame to nudge

with the growth of cities. users into specific actions for commercial gains.
€ Forced Action: Compelling users to take actions
requiring additional purchases or sharing personal
CCPA Issues Guidelines information.
Safeguarding Against € Subscription Trap: Making cancellation complex,

Dark Patterns hiding options, or forcing payment details for free

subscriptions.
€ Interface Interference: Manipulating the user
Why in News?
interface to misdirect users from intended actions.
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), € Bait and Switch: Deceptively serving an alternate
India’s top consumer watchdog, has recently notified outcome than advertised based on user actions.
guidelines for prevention and regulation of Dark Patterns,
€ Drip Pricing: Concealing prices upfront, revealing
2023.
them post-confirmation, or preventing service use
¾ These guidelines, issued under theConsumer Protection
unless additional items are purchased.
Act, 2019, are designed to protect consumers from
€ Disguised Advertisement: Posing advertisements
deceptive practices employed by online platforms.
as other content to trick users into clicking.
What are Dark Patterns? € Nagging: Persistent interactions disrupting and
¾ Dark patterns, also known as deceptive patterns, annoying users for commercial gains.
refer to strategies employed by websites and apps € Trick Question: Deliberate use of confusing language
to make users perform actions they did not intend to misguide users.
to or discourage behaviors that are not advantageous € Saas Billing: Generating recurring payments in a
for the companies. software as a service (SaaS) model.
¾ These patterns often exploit cognitive biases and € Rogue Malwares: Using ransomware or scareware
employ tactics such as false urgency, forced actions, to mislead users into paying for fake malware
hidden costs etc. removal tools.

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68 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

to 200 PM e-VIDYA DTH TV Channels to enable

Free of Cost Digital Tools to all States to provide supplementary education
Marginalized Communities in various Indian languages for classes 1-12.
z CBSE Podcast- Shiksha Vani: The promotion of
the extensive utilization of radio, community
Why in News? radio, and the CBSE podcast “Shiksha Vani”is
Recently, the Minister of State for Education provided actively encouraged.
details in a written response in the Lok Sabha about the z Digitally Accessible Information System
measures taken by the Government to provide (DAISY): Special e-content for visually and
marginalized communities with digital tools at no cost. hearing impaired developed on DAISYand in
¾ The National Education Policy 2020 calls for sign language on NIOS website/ YouTube.
investment in digital infrastructure, online teaching z Virtual labs and Skilling e-labs: To promote

platformsand tools, virtual labs, digital repositories, crucial critical thinking skills and to give space
online assessments, technology and pedagogy for for creativity, it has been proposed to establish
online teaching-learning etc. 750 virtual labs and 75 Skilling e-labs by 2023.
„ The Virtual Labs are proposed for Science

What Government Initiatives Exist and Mathematics subjects for Classes 6th
for Providing Digital Tools to – 12th, and Skilling e-labs would provide a
simulated learning environment.
Marginalized Communities?
„ A vertical on Virtual Labs has been created
¾ PM e-Vidhya: on DIKSHA platform.
€ About: ¾ Samagra Shiksha:
z A comprehensive initiative called PM e-VIDYA € ICT and Digital initiatives component of centrally
was initiated as part of Atma Nirbhar Bharat sponsored scheme of Samagra Shikshacovers
Abhiyaan in 2020. Government and Aided schools having classes
z It unifies all efforts related to digital/online/ VI to XII.
on-air education to enable multi-mode access ¾ Sathee Portal:
to education. € To assist students preparing for competitive

z The PM eVidya initiative is available to all the exams across the country, a SATHEE portal has
been developed in collaboration with IIT Kanpur.
students across all the states free of cost.
€ Key Components of PM eVidya:
z Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing Fourth Phase Roll-Out of
(DIKSHA): DIKSHAis the nation’s digital GIAN Scheme
infrastructure for providing quality e-content
for school education in States/Union Territories Why in News?
and QR coded Energized Textbooks for all grades.
After an eight-year journey, including a brief pause
„ DIKSHA Portal and Mobile App: It has during COVID, the Ministry of Education is preparing to
beencreated by the Ministry of Education resume the fourth phase of the Global Initiative of
as a storehouse of a large number of eBooks Academic Networks (GIAN).
and e-Contents created by States/UTs and ¾ This initiative aims to bring in distinguished scholars
National level organizations. worldwide to teach at Indian universities.
z PM e-VIDYA DTH TV Channels: As per the Union ¾ The National Institute of Educational Planning and
Budgetannouncement for Financial Year 2022- Administration (NIEPA), after evaluating the scheme,
23, the 12 DTH Channels have been expanded recommended its continuation.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 69
What is the Global Initiative for ¾ It operates in all the valley areas of Manipur and
Academic Networks (GIAN) Scheme ? some villages in the Kuki-Zomi hill districts.
¾ GIAN is a flagship initiative by theMinistry of Education ¾ It is a banned group It mostly operates from camps
(MoE), Government of India designed to foster and training bases in Myanmar’s Sagaing Region,
collaboration and enhance the quality of education Chin State, and Rakhine State, with support from
and research in Indian academic institutions. the Myanmar military.
¾ Launched in 2015, the primary objective of the GIAN
scheme is to provide an opportunity for students
What are the Other Insurgent
and faculty to interact with the best academic and Groups of Manipur?
industry experts from all over the world. ¾ Several other Insurgent groups of Manipur are
¾ The eligibility criteria for joining the GIAN scheme Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), People’s Liberation
are as follows: Army (PLA), Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), People’s
€ Faculty members of Indian institutions of higher Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK), National
education. Socialist Council of Nagaland - Khaplang (NSCN-K).
€ Scientists and entrepreneurs from abroad. ¾ A trilateral Suspension of Operations (SoO)
¾ The courses offered under the GIAN scheme should agreementwas established in 2008 involving the
be relevant to the Indian context. Central government, the state of Manipur, and
€ The courses should be designed to provide exposure insurgent groups from the Kuki-Zomi region.
to the latest developments in the field.
What is the Suspension of
€ The courses should be designed to provide hands-
on training to the participants. Operations (SoO) Pact?
¾ The SoO agreement with Kuki was signed in 2008 as a
ceasefire agreement between the Indian government
Peace Agreement and various Kuki militant groups operating in the
Between Government northeastern states of Manipur and Nagaland.
of India and UNLF ¾ Under the agreement, the Kuki militant groups agreed
to stop carrying out violent activities and come to
designated camps to be monitored by security forces.
Why in the News?
¾ In return, the Indian government agreed to suspend
Recently, The Government of India and Government
its operations against the Kuki groups.
of Manipur signed a Peace Agreement with United
National Liberation Front (UNLF) , which is oldest valley- ¾ The Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) oversees the
based insurgent group of Manipur. effective implementation of the pact.
¾ Security forces, including state and central forces,
What is the United National cannot launch operations, nor can the underground
Liberation Front (UNLF)? groups.
¾ The UNLF was formed in 1964, and is distinct from the
insurgent groups active in the state’s Naga-dominated Fast Track Special Courts
and Kuki-Zomi dominated hills.
¾ The UNLF is one of the seven “Meitei Extremist
Why in News?
Organisations” banned by the Union government
under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967. Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved the
¾ The UNLF has been operating both within and outside continuation of Fast Track Special Court (FTSCs) for three
Indian Territory. more years till 2026.
¾ It is believed that the UNLF initially received training ¾ Initially commenced in October 2019 for one year, the
from the NSCN (IM), the largest insurgent group scheme was extended for an additional two years
among the Naga factions. until March 2023.

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What is a Fast Track Special Court (FTSCs)? What is Good Governance?

¾ About: ¾ About:
€ FTSCs are specialized courts established in India € Governance refers to the processes, systems, and

with the primary aim of expediting the trial process structures through which organizations, societies,
for cases related to sexual offenses, particularly or groups are directed, controlled, and managed.
those involving rape and violations under the z Good governance is defined as a set of values

Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act through which a public institution conduct
(POCSO Act). public affairs and manages public resources
in a way that respects human rights, the rule
€ The establishment of FTSCs was prompted by
of law, and the needs of society.
the government’s recognition of the alarming
€ The World Bankdefines good governance in terms of
frequency of Sexual Offensesand the prolonged
the traditions and institutions by which authority
duration of trials in regular courts, which resulted
in a country is exercised. This includes:
in delayed justice for victims.
z the process by which governments are selected,
¾ Establishment:
monitored and replaced
€ The Central Government enacted the Criminal z the capacity of the government to effectively
Law (Amendment) Act in 2018, which introduced formulate and implement sound policies
stricter punishments, including the death penalty
z the respect of citizens and the state for the
for rape offenders. institutions that govern economic and social
€ Subsequently, the FTSCs were set up to ensure interactions among them.
the swift dispensation of justice for such cases.
Centrally Sponsored Scheme:
¾
FAME India Phase-II Scheme
€ The scheme to establish FTSCs was formulated
in August 2019 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme
Why in News?
following directions from the Supreme Court of
India in a suo moto Writ Petition (Criminal). The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Industry
has recently put forth crucial recommendations regarding
¾ Ministry:
the extension and enhancement of the Faster Adoption
€ Implemented by the Department of Justice, and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in
Ministry of Law & Justice. India (FAME India) Scheme Phase-II.
¾ The committee suggests extending the FAME India
Decoding Good Governance Phase-II Scheme’s deadline by at least three more
years to facilitate the transition momentum to
electric mobility.
Why in News?
¾ The current deadline is March 31, 2024, with a budget
On 25th December, India commemorated Good allocation of Rs 10,000 crore.
Governance Day, coinciding with the birth anniversary
of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. What are the Committee Recommendations for
¾ This yearly event strives to enhance citizen awareness Improvement?
concerning accountability in governance and ¾ Restoration of Subsidy on Electric Two-Wheelers:
governmental procedures. € The committee suggests restoring the subsidy
¾ Three new features on the iGOT (integrated on electric two-wheelers, which was reduced in
government online training) Karmayogi platform: My June 2023.
iGOT, blended programmes, and curated programmes, z Government reduced the FAME-II subsidy for
were launched on this occasion. electric two-wheelers after June 1, 2023.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 71
„The initial 40% incentive on ex-factory price ¾ Phase I:
was cut to 15%. Reduction in subsidies € Started in 2015 and was completed on 31st March
negatively impacted electric two-wheeler 2019, with an outlay of Rs 895 crore.
sales. Budget constraints cited as a reason € The 1st phase of FAME The scheme had four focus
for subsidy reallocation. areas namely, technology development, demand
€ It also recommends projecting enhanced budget creation, pilot project, and charging infrastructure.
allocations, if required, to maintain the momentum € Achievements:
and pace of electric vehicle penetration. z In the 1st phase of the scheme, about 2.78
¾ Inclusion of Private Electric Four-Wheelers: lakh xEVs were supported with total demand
€ The ministry should increase the number of electric
incentives. In addition, 465 buses were
vehicles supported in the four-wheelers category sanctioned to various cities/states under this
and include private electric four-wheelers in the scheme.
FAME-II Scheme, with a cap based on the cost and ¾ FAME India Phase-II:
battery capacity of the vehicle. € The Ministry of Heavy Industries is implementing

¾ Supportive Government Frameworks: the scheme for five years, starting April 1, 2019,
with a total budget of Rs. 10,000 crore.
€ The committee emphasizes the need for supportive,
€ This phase mainly focuses on supporting the
transparent, and consistent government frameworks
electrification of public & shared transportation
at national, state, and local levels to make India
and aims to support through demand incentive
a global EV hub.
eBuses,e-3 Wheelers, e-4 Wheeler Passenger
z It also recommends focusing on establishing Cars and e-2 Wheelers.
dedicated manufacturing hubs and industrial z In addition, the creation of charging infrastructure
parks for batteries, cells, and EV auto is also supported under the Scheme.
components.
¾ Funding for BHEL and Charging Stations:
€ More funds should be allocated to Bharat Heavy
Artificial Intelligence Mission
Electricals Limited (BHEL) to facilitate popularizing
EV mobility. Why in News?
z BHEL provided Engineering, Procurement, and India is gearing up for a significantArtificial Intelligence
Construction (EPC) solutions for EV charging (AI)push with the recent announcement of the AI Mission
stations. These include solar-based charging by the Prime Minister at the Global Partnership for AI
stations and battery energy storage systems. Summit.
¾ The AI Mission is expected to boost India’s innovation
€ Additionally, public sector undertakings and
ecosystem and position it as a global leader in artificial
government institutions should participate in
intelligence by building computational capacity and
installing charging stations on their premises.
providing compute-as-a-service to startups.
What is the FAME India Scheme? Note:
¾ Computing capacity, or compute, is a general term
¾ Background:
that refers to the resources required for a program
€ FAME India is a part of the National Electric
to be successful. This includes processing power,
Mobility Mission Plan. memory, networking, and storage.
€ The scheme’s main objective is to encourage the
adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles by offering What are the Key Highlights of the AI Mission?
upfront incentives on purchase. ¾ Mission Objectives:
€ The scheme covers Hybrid and electrictechnologies € The primary objectives of the AI Mission include
like Mild Hybrid, Strong Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid establishing robust computing powers for AI
and battery Electric Vehicles. within India.

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72 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

The mission seeks to enhance services for startups

€
and entrepreneurs while fostering AI applications Three New Sub-schemes
in critical sectors such as agriculture, healthcare,
and education.
under RAMP
¾ Compute Capacity Goals:
€ The ambitious plan involves building a substantial
Why in News?
compute capacity, ranging between 10,000 to Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
30,000 Graphic Processing Units (GPUs). (MoMSME) has launched three sub-schemes under the
z A GPU is a chip or electronic circuit that can RAMP programme, aimed at bolstering the MSME sector
render graphics for display on an electronic in India.
device. GPUs are designed to accelerate
computer graphics and image processing. What are the Sub-schemes under RAMP
€ Additionally, an extra 1,000-2,000 GPUs are slated Programme?
through the PSU Centre for Development of
¾ MSME Green Investment and Financing for
Advanced Computing (C-DAC).
Transformation Scheme (MSME GIFT Scheme):
€ The government emphasizes a collaborative
€ This scheme intends to help MSMEs adopt green
approach with the private sector for capacity
building within the National Supercomputing technology with interest subvention and credit
Mission. guarantee support.
€ Implementing agency is SIDBI.
Note:
¾ C-DAC’s Rudra and Param systems are slated for ¾ MSE Scheme for Promotion and Investment in Circular
expansion with the addition of 1,000-2,000 GPUs. Economy (MSE SPICE Scheme):
€ Rudra is an indigenous server platform built by € It is the first ever scheme in the Government

the C-DAC which has two expansion slots for to supportcircular economy projects which will
graphic cards. be done through credit subsidy and will lead to
€ Param Utkarsh is a high-performance computing realizing the dream of the MSME sector towardszero
system setup at C-DAC that offers AI over emissions by 2070.
machine learning and deep learning frameworks, € Implementing agency is SIDBI.
computing and storage as a cloud service. ¾ MSE Scheme on Online Dispute Resolution for
¾ Incentive Structures: Delayed Payments:
€ The government is exploring varied incentive € It is a first-of-its-kind scheme to synergise legal
models, including capital expenditure subsidies, support with modern IT tools and Artificial
operational expense-based incentives, and a Intelligence to address the incidences of delayed
“usage” fee. payments for Micro and Small Enterprises.
¾ Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for Startups:
€ National Informatics Centre Services Inc. (NICSI)
€ The government plans to create a Digital Public
is the Implementing Agency.
Infrastructure (DPI) using the GPU assembly,
¾ Other Initiatives under Existing Schemes:
allowing startups to access computational capacity
at a reduced cost. € The Support for Commercialisation of IP Programme

¾ Focus on Datasets:
(MSME – SCIP Programme) will enable the
innovators in the MSME sector to commercialize
€ The introduction of theIndia Datasets platform is
highlighted, offering non-personal and anonymized their IPR.
datasets to startups and researchers. € In addition, the Zero Defect and Zero Effect (ZED)

€ The government contemplates issuing a directive to Scheme of the Ministry has now been made
major tech companies, including Facebook, Google, completely free for women led MSMEs. The
and Amazon, to share anonymized personal data government guarantees payment of 100 percent
with the India Datasets platform. financial support for the certification cost.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 73
z ‘Trees outside Forests’ means trees growing
Indian Forest and Wood outside recorded and notified forests, in farm
lands of an individual farmers or group of small
Certification Scheme farmers or plantation area on private land of
institutions and industries, etc. and include all
Why in News? trees on the hedges and bunds, trees in different
Recently, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and models of agroforestry, silvo-pastoralism, urban
Climate Change (MoEFCC) has launched the Indian Forest and rural forestry systems and block plantations.
& Wood Certification Scheme (IFWCS), offering voluntary
third-party certification designed to promote sustainable
forest management and agroforestry in the country.
Advocates Amendment
Bill, 2023
What is the Indian Forest &
Wood Certification Scheme (IFWCS)? Why in News?
¾ Objective: Recently, the Advocates Amendment Bill, 2023, was
€ IFWCS aims to offer an alternative to private passed in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Its purpose
foreign certification agencies that have been was to weed out ‘touts’from the legal system.
operating in India. It seeks to ensure greater ¾ The Bill repeals the Legal Practitioners Act, 1879 and
integrity, transparency, and credibility in certifying amended the Advocates Act, 1961, to reduce “the
sustainable forest management and wood-based number of superfluous enactments in the statute
products. book” and repeal all “obsolete laws”.
¾ Certification Scope:
€ The scheme covers three main areas for certification: What are the Key Highlights of
z Sustainable forest management. the Advocates Amendment Bill, 2023?
z Sustainable management of trees outside forests ¾ Touts:
(like plantations). € The Bill provides that every High Court, district
z Chain of custody, which guarantees the judge, sessions judge, district magistrate, and
traceability of forest products throughout revenue officer may frame and publish lists of touts.
their supply chain, ensuring ethical sourcing € Tout refers to a person who:
and handling. z Either proposes to procure or procures the
¾ Nodal Agencies: employment of a legal practitioner in a legal
€ The scheme will be overseen by the Indian Forest business in return of any payment.
and Wood Certification Council, which will act as z Frequents places such as the precincts of civil
a multistakeholder advisory body. or criminal courts, revenue-offices, or railway
€ Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal stations to procure such employment.
will act as the scheme operating agency and will be z The Court or judge may exclude from the
responsible for overall management of the Scheme. premises of the Court any person whose name
€ The National Accreditation Board for Certification is included in the list of touts.
Bodies under the Quality Council of Indiawill ¾ Preparation of lists:
accredit the certification bodies which will carry € The authorities empowered to frame and publish
out independent audits and assess adherence the list of touts may order subordinate courts to
of various entities on the standards prescribed hold an inquiry into the conduct of persons alleged
under the scheme. or suspected to be touts.
¾ Trees Outside Forests Standard: € Once such a person is proven to be a tout, his
€ A separate Trees Outside Forests Standard is now name may be included by the authority in the
introduced as a part of the Scheme. list of touts.

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74 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

No person will be included in such lists without

€ ¾ Health and Maternity Benefits:
getting an opportunity of showing cause against € The health and maternity benefits are insured
his inclusion. through Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan
¾ Penalty: Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) under deprivation and
€ Any person who acts as a tout while his name is occupation criteria.
included in the list of touts will be punished with € It provides health insurance coverage up to Rs.
imprisonment up to three months, a fine up to 5.00 lakhs per family for secondary and tertiary
Rs 500, or both. care-related hospitalization.
¾ Old Age Protection:
What is the Advocate Act, 1961?
€ To provide old age protection to unorganised
¾ The Advocates Act, 1961, was enacted to amend and sector workers, the Government of India launched
consolidate the law relating to legal practitioners and a pension scheme in 2019 namely Pradhan Mantri
to provide for the constitution of Bar Councils and Shram Yogi Maan-dhan Yojana (PM-SYM) to provide
an All-India Bar. a monthly pension of Rs. 3000/- after attaining the
¾ This Act repealed a majority of the Legal Practitioners age of 60 years to unorganized workers.
Act, 1879 but left behind provisions relating to its
extent, definitions, and powers to frame and publish
lists of touts. Extension of Pradhan Mantri
Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana
Unorganised Labour
Initiatives and Migrant Why in News?
Recently, the Indian Prime Minister has announced
Workers Children Welfare an extension of thePradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna
Yojana (PMGKAY) for an additional five years.
Why in News?
The Ministry of Labour & Employment recently What is PMGKAY?
highlighted measures designed to safeguard the interests ¾ The PMGKAY was first introduced in 2020 during the
of unorganised labour in a written response presented Covid-19 pandemic, and was designed toprovide 5kg
in the Rajya Sabha. free foodgrains to eligible ration card holders under
¾ Additionally, the ministry addressed welfare facilities the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA).
for the children of migrant workers. ¾ Initially set to expire in December 2022, the scheme
was extended till December 2023 and now, it has
What are the Highlighted Initiatives Related to been extended for an additional five years.
Unorganised Labour? ¾ Since its inception, the government has allocated
¾ Life and Disability Cover: 1,118 lakh metric tonnes of foodgrains from its central
€ Provided through Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti procurement pool at a cost of Rs 3.9 lakh crore.
Bima Yojana (PMJJBY)and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha
Bima Yojana (PMSBY). What is the National Food Security Act, 2013?
z PMJJBY: ¾ About:
„ Rs. 2.00 Lakh in case of death of insured, € NFSA 2013 marks a paradigm shift in the approach
due to any reason, at an annual premium to food security from welfare to rights based
of Rs. 436/-. approach.
z PMSBY: ¾ Beneficiaries:
„ Rs. 2.00 Lakh in case of accidental death € The Act legally entitled upto 75% of the rural
or total permanent disability and Rs. 1.00 population and 50% of the urban population to
lakh for partial permanent disability due to receive subsidized food grains under Targeted
accident at a premium of Rs. 20/- per annum. Public Distribution System.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 75
z About two thirds of the population therefore income in the form of an unconditional transfer
is covered under the Act to receive highly payment.
subsidized foodgrains. € The goals of a basic income system are to alleviate
€ It encompasses two categories of ration card poverty and replace other need-based social
holders: Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority programs that potentially require greater
Households (PHH). bureaucratic involvement.
z As a step towards women empowerment, € UBI is typically intended to reach all (or a very large
the eldest woman of the household of age 18 portion of the population) with no (or minimal)
years or above is mandated to be the head of conditions.
the household for the purpose of issuing ration
cards under the Act.
Annual Survey of India’s
Universal Basic Income City-Systems 2023
Why in News? Why in News?
Recently, the positive outcome Universal Basic The Annual Survey of India’s City-Systems (ASICS)
Income (UBI), can have on individuals and families has 2023, published by the Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship
been highlighted through the WorkFREE pilot project, and Democracy, a non-profit institution, highlights the
started in 2022 in Telangana. challenges and constraints faced by the Local Governments
What is a WorkFREE Pilot Project? in Indian Cities.
¾ About: What are the Key Highlights
€ The project is a collaborative effort between
of the ASICS Report?
the University of Bath, Montfort Social Institute,
Hyderabad and the India Network for Basic ¾ Eastern States have better Urban Legislations:
Income, with funding from the European € Eastern states, comprising Bihar, Chhattisgarh,
Research Council. Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal, have relatively
€ Under the pilot, an adult gets Rs 1,000 and a better urban legislations followed by southern
child Rs 500 a month for 18 months. states.
€ The pilot supports 1,250 residents in five slums ¾ Lack of Transparency:
in the Hyderabad. € Urban legislations are not available in the public

€ The WorkFREE pilot project is presented as a domain in accessible formats. Only 49% of states/
transformative initiative, highlighting the positive UTs have put out municipal legislations on websites
outcomes it has had on individuals and families. of respective state urban departments.
€ Some of the Residents in Telangana were ¾ Lack an Active Master Plan:
adversely affected by the relocation, and have € At least 39% of India’s capital cities lack an active
found financial stability through the UBI support. master plan.
They used the cash support to start a bangle ¾ Local Governments’ Limited Control over Finances:
business and significantly improve her income.
€ A majority ofLocal Governments in Indian cities
€ The residents also used the cash to buy food,
are financially dependent on their respective state
fuel, clothes and pay utility bills, which usually governments, limiting their financial autonomy.
account for a bulk of monthly expenditure.
€ Local governments in Indian cities have limited
control over key financial matters, including
What is Universal Basic Income (UBI)? taxation, borrowing, and budget approval, with the
¾ About: need for state government approval in most cases.
€ UBI is a social welfare proposal in which all the z Only Assam empowers its city governments to
beneficiaries regularly receive a guaranteed collect all key taxes. Except five States — Bihar,

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76 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

Jharkhand, Odisha, Meghalaya, and Rajasthan € Moreover, the information related to the allegations
— all the others have to get approval from the of human rights violations can only be provided
State before borrowing money. after the approval of the Central Information
¾ Asymmetry in City Categories.: Commission.
€ There are disparities in the level of influence ¾ The Centre can amend the Second Schedule through
and control over finances across different city a notification in the Official Gazette. However, every
categories, including megacities (>4 million (mn) such notification shall be laid before each House of
population), large cities (1-4 mn), medium cities Parliament.
(0.5 mn-1 mn), small cities (<0.5 mn). € Similar powers have been given to the state

€ Mayors in megacities are not directly elected and government under Sub-section 4 of Section 24
do not have a five-year tenure, whereas mayors in of the RTI Act.
smaller cities are directly elected but have limited ¾ Using those powers, the Centre has included CERT-In
authority over city finances. in the Second Schedule of the RTI Act, alongside 26
¾ Limited Power Over Staff Appointments: other intelligence and security organizations that are
€ Mayors and city councils have limited authority in
already exempted from the Act.
appointing and promoting staff, including senior € The list includes prominent intelligence and

management teams, leading to challenges in security organizations such as Intelligence

accountability and efficient administration. Bureau,Directorate of Revenue Intelligence,
Directorate of Enforcement, Narcotics Control
Bureau, and others.
Centre Exempts CERT-In
from Ambit of RTI Act What is CERT-In?
¾ About:
€ CERT-In is the national nodal agency responsible
Why in News?
for handling cyber security threats, such as hacking
The Centre, through the Department of Personnel
and phishing. It operates under the Ministry of
and Training (DoPT), has recently issued a notification Electronics and Information Technology.
exempting the Indian Computer Emergency Response
€ CERT-In has been operational since January 2004.
Team (CERT-In)from the purview of theRight to
Information Act, 2005. ¾ Functions of CERT-In:
€ According to the Information Technology Amendment
¾ CERT-In, will now operate outside the scope of the
RTI Act,2005 limiting public access to information Act 2008, CERT-In has been designated to serve
about its activities and functioning. as the national agency to perform the following
functions in the area of cyber security:
How was CERT-In Exempted? z Collection, analysis and dissemination of

¾ The Centre has used its powers given under Section information on cyber incidents.
24(2) of the RTI Act to exempt CERT-In from the z Forecast and alerts of cyber security incidents.

purview of the transparency law. z Emergency measures for handling cyber security

€ Section 24(2) of the RTI Act, 2005 allows the Central incidents.
Government to change the Schedule by adding or z Coordination of cyber incident response activities.

removing intelligence or security organizations z Issue guidelines, advisories, vulnerability notes

established by the Government. and whitepapers relating to information security
z However, the subsection does not apply to the practices, procedures, prevention, response
information pertaining to the allegations of and reporting of cyber incidents.
corruption and human rights violations, not z Such other functions relating to cyber security
to the cases where such allegations are made. as may be prescribed.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 77
Why is Bihar Demanding Special
Special Category Status Category Status (SCS)?
¾ Economic Disparities:
Why in News? € Bihar faces significant economic challenges,
Recently, the Bihar Cabinet has passed a resolution including a lack of industrial development and
seeking the grant of Special Category Status (SCS) to limited investment opportunities.
Bihar. € The bifurcation of the state resulted in the shifting
¾ The demand comes in the backdrop of the findings of industries to Jharkhand, exacerbating the
from the “Bihar Caste-based Survey, 2022”, which employment and economic growth issues in Bihar.
revealed that nearly one-third of Bihar’s population ¾ Natural Calamities:
continues to live in poverty. € The state grapples with natural calamities like
floods in the northern region and severe droughts
What is a Special Category Status?
in the southern part.
¾ About: € These recurring disasters disrupt agricultural
€ SCS is a classification given by the Centre to assist activities, affecting livelihoods and economic
development of states that face geographical and stability.
socio-economic disadvantages. ¾ Lack of Infrastructure:
€ The Constitution does not make a provision for
€ Infrastructure, especially in terms of irrigation
SCS and this classification was later done on the facilities and water supply, remains inadequate.
recommendations of the 5th Finance Commission
€ The absence of sufficient resources for irrigation
in 1969.
impacts agricultural productivity, a primary source
€ Status was first accorded to Jammu and Kashmir, of livelihood for a large portion of the population.
Assam and Nagaland in 1969.
¾ Poverty and Social Development:
€ SCS for plan assistance was granted in the past by
€ Bihar has a high poverty rate, with a significant
the National Development Council of the erstwhile number of families living below the poverty line.
Planning Commission.
€ With a per-capita GDP of around Rs 54,000, Bihar
€ Eleven States including Assam, Nagaland, Himachal
has consistently been one of the poorest States.
Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Tripura, BIhar is home to around 94 lakh poor families and
Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Uttarakhand and the granting of SCS will help the government get
Telangana have been accorded the special category about RS 2.5 lakh crore required to fund various
state status. welfare measures over the next five years.
z Telangana, the newest State of India, was
¾ Funding for Development:
accorded the status as it was carved out of
€ Seeking SCS is also a means to secure substantial
another state Andhra Pradesh.
financial assistance from the central government,
€ SCS is different from Special status which imparts
allowing Bihar to access funds required for
enhanced legislative and political rights, while SCS development projects and addressing long-standing
deals with only economic and financial aspects. socio-economic challenges.
z For instance, J&K used to have Special status
before Article 370was repealed.
¾ Parameters (Based on Gadgil Formula):
Government’s Push
€ Hilly Terrain; for Data Ownership
€ Low Population Density and/or Sizeable Share of
Tribal Population; Why in News?
€ Strategic Location along Borders with Neighbouring The Indian Government is reportedly considering
Countries; directing major tech giants like Facebook, Google, and
€ Economic and Infrastructure Backwardness; and Amazon to share anonymised personal data for a
€ Nonviable Nature of State finances. government-backed database.

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78 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

¾ This potential development, outlined in the upcoming ¾ The study exposes a significant research gap, with over
Digital India Bill, 2023 focused on data ownership and 50% of prior articles solely focusing on the health
could impact the landscape of artificial intelligence system’s perspective, overlooking ASHA workers’
(AI) models. individual struggles. It engaged 59 ASHA workers in
six focus groups, allowing them to openly discuss their
What is Anonymised Data? work-related stress, encompassing workload, gender,
¾ It is any data set that does not contain personally caste discrimination, and relationship dynamics.
identifiable information. It could include aggregated
information, such as the overall health data of a What are the Key Findings from the Study?
particular demography, weather and climate data of
¾ Caste Discrimination:
an area, and traffic data, among others.
€ Many ASHAs recounted instances where they
€ It is different from personal data, which is data that
relates to an identified or identifiable individual, were discriminated against based on their caste.
such as email, biometrics, etc. z ASHA workers were not allowed inside the

¾ Anonymised data can be used for various purposes, homes of residents belonging to a higher social
such as statistical analysis, market research, product caste. In some instances they were permitted
development, etc., without compromising the privacy entry but denied a seat on the chair.
of the individuals whose data was used. ¾ Gender-Based Disrespect:
€ ASHA workers experienced derogatory comments
What are the Key Highlights of
and discriminatory behaviour from community
the Digital India Bill?
members when seen in public with men who were
¾ The Digital India Bill, 2023 (if passed, will serve as the not their family members.
successor of the Information Technology Act of 2000)
z These incidents also extended to their interactions
is a crucial part of a comprehensive legal framework
with male relatives of patients or counselling
that includes various legislative measures.
male clients on reproductive health and family
¾ It is part of a comprehensive approach that includes
planning.
measures like the Digital Personal Data Protection
Act, 2023, the draft Indian Telecommunication Bill, ¾ Toxic Work Relationships:
2022, and a policy addressing the governance of € ASHA workers described their interactions with
non-personal data. supervisors, auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs),
¾ The bill aims to boost the AI ecosystem in India medical officers, and hospital staff as unhealthy,
by providing a robust foundation for data-driven bordering on toxic. Instances of insensitivity and
innovation and development. lack of support were common.
¾ This bill has been designed to establish comprehensive ¾ Domestic Conflicts:
oversight over India’s digital landscape, effectively € Balancing their work and domestic responsibilities
tackling contemporary challenges like cybercrime,
often led to conflicts at home, sometimes to the
data protection, deepfakes, competition among
extent of divorce threats.
internet platforms, online safety, and the negative
impact of artificial intelligence (AI). z Many ASHA workers had to grapple with the
pressure of fulfilling their familial duties while
performing their demanding jobs.
Accredited Social
Health Activists What is Accredited Social Health
Activists (ASHA)?
Why in News? ¾ About:
Recently, a study published in the journal Social € The ASHA program was launched in 2005-06 as

Science and Medicine has unveiled the hidden struggles part of the National Rural Health Mission, initially
faced byAccredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) in India. in rural areas.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 79
z It was later extended to urban settings with
the introduction of the National Urban Health
Mission in 2013.
€ The ASHA programme was introduced as a key
component of the community process intervention
and now it has emerged as the largest community
health worker programme in the world and is
considered a critical contribution to enabling
people’s participation in health.
z As of June 2022, there are over 10.52 Lakh
ASHAs in all states/UTs (except Goa).
¾ Role of ASHA:
€ ASHA is a community-level worker whose role
is to function as a health care facilitator, and a
service provider and to generate awareness on
health issues.
€ Besides delivering key services to maternal child
health and family planning, they also render
important services under the National Disease
Control Programme.
€ ASHA workers, all women, serve populations of
approximately 1,000 in rural areas and 2,000 in
urban settings, with room for local adjustments. World Habitat Day 2023 and
z Generally, there is “1 ASHA per 1000 population”. India’s Urban Landscape
However, this norm can be relaxed in tribal, hilly
and desert areas to “1 ASHA per habitation” Why in News?
depending upon the workload.
In 2023, World Habitat Day (WHD), was celebrated
on 2nd October. This annual global observance has come
Sutlej-Yamuna Link a long way focusing on the evolution of urban
development, sustainability, and the role of cities in
Canal Dispute economic growth.

Why in News? What is World Habitat Day?

¾ About: The United Nations designated the first
Recently, the Supreme Court has ordered the Punjab
Monday of October of every year as World Habitat
Government to complete Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal,
Day to reflect on the state of our habitats, and on the
warning the Government to comply with its orders. basic right of all to adequate shelter.
¾ The court directed the Union Government to oversee € The Day is also intended to remind the world that
talks between Punjab and the Haryana governments we all have the power and the responsibility to
on this topic; the Haryana government has completed shape the future of our cities and towns.
construction of its half of the canal. ¾ Origin: The origin of World Habitat Day can be traced
¾ The Issue stems from a controversial 1981 water- back to Nairobi, Kenya, in 1986. The theme of the
sharing agreement drawn up when Haryana was first celebration was ‘Shelter is my Right,’ addressing
carved out of Punjab in 1966. the acute problem of inadequate shelter in cities.

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80 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

¾ Theme 2023: Resilient urban economies. Cities as What is Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban?
drivers of growth and recovery.
¾ About:
€ 2023 has been a particularly challenging year for
€ Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U) was
Urban Economies. The global economy growth
launched on 2nd October, 2014, by the Ministry of
itself is declining to about 2.5% and, apart from
Housing and Urban Affairs as a national campaign
the initial Covid-19 crisis in 2020 and the global
to promote cleanliness, sanitation, and proper
financial crisis in 2009, this is the weakest growth
waste management in urban areas.
experienced since 2001.
€ It aimed to make cities and towns across India
clean and free from open defecation.
Krishna Water Dispute ¾ Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 1.0:
€ The first phase of SBM-U focused on achieving
Why in News? the target of making urban India ODF by providing
The Union Cabinet has approved the issue of further access to toilets and promoting behavioral change.
Terms of Reference (ToR) to the existing Krishna Water € SBM-U 1.0 was successful in achieving the target
Disputes Tribunal-II (KWDT-II) under the ISRWD (Inter and 100% of urban India was declared ODF.
State River Water Disputes) Act, 1956 for its adjudication ¾ Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 (2021-2026):
between the States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh
€ SBM-U 2.0, announced in Budget 2021-22, is the
(AP).
continuation of SBM-U first phase.
What is the Krishna Water Disputes € The second phase of SBM-U aimed to go beyond

Tribunal-II (KWDT-II)? ODF to ODF+, and ODF++, and focus on making

urban India garbage-free.
¾ Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II was constituted by
€ It emphasized sustainable sanitation practices,
the Centre in April 2004 under Section 3 of the ISRWD
Act, 1956 to adjudicate and resolve water-sharing waste management, and the promotion of a
disputes related to the Krishna River. circular economy.
¾ It was constituted to address the allocation of Krishna
River waters among the riparian states of Maharashtra, Atal Bhujal Yojana and
Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
¾ KWDT-II made recommendations and allocations of
Ground Water Management
Krishna River waters based on the availability of water,
the demands of the states, and other relevant factors. Why in News?
It provided specific quantities of water to each state, Recently, the 5th meeting of the National Level
outlining the share they were entitled to receive. Steering Committee (NLSC) of Atal Bhujal Yojana (ATAL
JAL) was held to review the overall progress of the
Swachh Bharat scheme.
¾ The World Bank has been involved in the review of
Mission-Urban the program. The committee encouraged states to
integrate Water Security Plans (WSPs) into the Gram
Why in News? Panchayat Development Plans which will ensure the
As a prelude to Swachh Bharat Diwas, the annual sustainability of the scheme’s approach even after
Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) fortnight was also organized by the program’s completion.
Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban and Gramin between 15th
Sept to 2nd Oct 2023. What is Atal Bhujal Yojna?
¾ The fortnight aims to mobilize the participation of crores ¾ About:
of citizens across the country via various activities such € ATAL JAL is a Central Sector Scheme for facilitating
as Indian Swachhata League 2.0, SafaiMitra Suraksha sustainable ground water management with an
Shivir and mass cleanliness drives. outlay of Rs. 6000 crore.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 81
€ It is being implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti. Time, and Transformation, launched with the aim of
z The scheme is being funded by the Government improving governance and ensuring efficient delivery of
of India and the World Bank on a 50:50 basis. public services.
z The entire World Bank’s loan component and ¾ In sync with the 5T agenda, in October 2019, the
central assistance will be passed on to the Odisha government launched the ‘Mo Sarkar’ or ‘My
States as grants. Government’ initiative, which is also seen as a Niti
Aayog Like Model at the State Level.
¾ Objectives:
¾ In 2022, the Odisha Government Chief added another
€ It aims to improve the management of groundwater
T (Tour) to the 5T Initiative and gave them 6T-Mantra,
resources in select water stressed areas in identified
asking the Ministers to ‘Tour’ more and work towards
states viz. Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya
strengthening the grassroots further.
Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
€ ATAL JAL promotes panchayat led groundwater What is the 5T Initiative?
management and behavioural change with a ¾ Teamwork:
primary focus on demand-side management.
€ It emphasises the need for different departments
and agencies within the government to work
What is the Status of Groundwater
together as a cohesive team.
Depletion in India?
€ It promotes collaboration and coordination among
¾ Groundwater Depletion in India is a major concern various government entities to address the needs
because it is the primary source of drinking water. of the people effectively.
Some of the main causes of groundwater depletion ¾ Transparency:
in India include over-extraction of groundwater for € Transparency is a crucial element of the 5T initiative.
irrigation, Urbanisation, and Climate Change. It focuses on making government processes and
¾ India is the world’s largest user of groundwater, decisions more open and accountable to the public.
exceeding the use of the United States and China € This includes providing easy access to information,
combined according to recent UN report . reducing bureaucratic red tape, and promoting
¾ According to the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) ethical and accountable conduct within the
of India, approximately 70% of the total water used government.
in India is from groundwater sources. ¾ Technology:
€ However, the CGWB also estimates that around € It encourages the adoption of modern technology
25% of the country’s total groundwater extraction and digital solutions to streamline government
is unsustainable, meaning that it is being extracted operations, enhance service delivery, and make
at a faster rate than it can be replenished. processes more efficient.
¾ Overall, groundwater depletion in India is a serious ¾ Time:
problem that needs to be addressed through € The time aspect underscores the importance of
sustainable water management practices, such as delivering services in a timely manner. The 5T model
improved irrigation techniques and conservation efforts. aims to reduce delays and ensure that government
services are provided to citizens promptly.
Transformation:
The 5T Initiative of Odisha ¾
€ Ultimately, the 5T initiative seeks to bring about a
transformation in the functioning of government
Why in News? agencies and departments. It aims to make the
The 5T initiative in Odisha is a governance model government more responsive, citizen-centric, and
that stands for Teamwork, Transparency, Technology, results-oriented.

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82 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

€ Enhance the adoption of precision - irrigation

Pradhan Mantri Krishi and other water saving technologies (More crop
per drop).
Sinchayee Yojana
€ Enhance recharge of aquifers and introduce
sustainable water conservation practices.
Why in News? € Ensure the integrated development of rainfed areas
Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs using the watershed approach towards soil and
(CCEA) has approved the inclusion of the Jamrani Dam water conservation, regeneration of groundwater,
Multipurpose Project in Uttarakhand under the Pradhan arresting runoff, providing livelihood options and
Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana-Accelerated Irrigation other NRM activities.
Benefit Programme (PMKSY-AIBP). € Promote extension activities relating to water
¾ The Project involves the construction of a Dam near harvesting, water management and crop alignment
Jamrani village, across the River Gola, a tributary of for farmers and grass root level field functionaries.
the River Ram Ganga. The dam will serve as a source € Explore the feasibility of reusing treated municipal
of water for the existing Gola Barrage and is expected wastewater for peri - urban agriculture.
to generate 14 MW of hydropower.

What is Pradhan Mantri Krishi

Vidya Samiksha Kendras
Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)?
Why in News?
¾ About:
Under the National Digital Education Architecture
€ PMKSY was launched in 2015 with the goal of (NDEAR), the Ministry of Education is pushing the
enhancing access to water for farming, expanding the establishment of Vidya Samiksha Kendras (VSKs) across
cultivable area under assured irrigation, improving states.
water use efficiency, and promoting sustainable ¾ This initiative aligns with the National Education
water conservation practices. Policy, 2020.
€ It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (Core Scheme), ¾ Currently, at the Central level, a VSK centre is housed
where Centre- States share will be 75:25. in the Central Institute of Educational Technology
z In the case of the north-eastern region and hilly building in the National Council for Educational
states, the share will be 90:10. Research and Training (NCERT) campus .
€ In 2020, the Ministry of Jal Shakti launched a mobile
What is Vidya Samiksha Kendras (VSKs)?
application for Geo-Tagging of the components
of projects under PMKSY. ¾ About:
¾ Objectives: € VSK is aimed at leveraging data and technology
to bring a big leap in learning outcomes.
€ Achieve convergence of investments in irrigation
€ This will cover data of more than 15 Lakh schools,
at the field level (preparation of district level and,
if required, sub district level water use plans). 96 Lakh teachers and 26 Crore students and analyze
them meaningfully using big data analysis, Artificial
€ Enhance the physical access of water on the Intelligence (AI) and machine learning in order to
farm and expand cultivable area under assured enhance the overall monitoring of the education
irrigation (Har Khet ko pani). system and thereby improving learning outcomes.
€ Integration of water source, distribution and its ¾ Objectives:
efficient use, to make best use of water through € To monitor the real-time status of various projects/
appropriate technologies and practices. activities under the ambit of Samagra Shiksha.
€ Improve on - farm water use efficiency to reduce € To keep track of enrolled students including
wastage and increase availability both in duration learning outcomes, Dropouts, support required
and extent. by teachers and schools, etc.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 83
€ To monitor and track field level academic and raisin, in whatever form, whether crude or
non-academic activities at state level and also purified, obtained from the cannabis plant and
empower administrators and teachers in the field also includes concentrated preparation and
to take data driven decisions. resin known as hashish oil or liquid hashish.
€ To set up a centralized help desk for grievance
redressal mechanisms for stakeholders of the
School ecosystem.
€ To identify and analyse improvement areas for
decision making and implementation that needs
urgent attention.

Himachal Pradesh
Contemplates Legalizing
Cannabis Cultivation
Why in News?
The Himachal Pradesh government is exploring the
possibility of Legalizing Cannabis (Hemp) cultivation,
aligning with farmers’ longstanding demands to lift the
ban on cultivation.
¾ The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances z The Act defines ‘ganja’ as the flowering or
(NDPS) Act, 1985 permits states to make rules regarding fruiting tops of the cannabis plant but it clearly
cannabis cultivation for fiber, seeds, or horticultural excludes the seeds and leaves.
purposes, under Section 10 (a) (iii). z The Act illegalises any mixture with or without
any neutral material, of any of the two forms
What is Cannabis? of cannabis, charas and ganja, or any drink
¾ About: prepared from it.
€ According to the WHO (World Health Organization), z The legislature left seeds and leaves of the
cannabis is a generic term used to denote the cannabis plant out of the ambit of the Act,
several psychoactive preparations of the plant because the serrated leaves of the plant have
Cannabis sativa. negligible THC content.
z According to the WHO, cannabis is by far the
most widely cultivated, trafficked and abused
illicit drug in the world.
New Education Policy
z Most species of cannabis are dioecious plants in West Bengal
that can be identified as either male or female.
The unpollinated female plants are called hashish. Why in News?
€ The major psychoactive constituent in cannabis is
Recently, the West Bengal government has announced
Delta9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). its own State Education Policy for 2023, declining some
¾ Definition by NDPS Act, 1985: of the aspects of the NEP (National Education Policy)
€ According to the NDPS Act “cannabis plant” means 2020.
any plant of the genus cannabis. ¾ Many states such as Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil
z ‘Charas’ is the separated resin extracted from the Nadu have also declined to adopt the NEP 2020 in
cannabis plant. The NDPS Act covers separated its entirety.

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84 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

What are the Key Highlights of the

West Bengal Education Policy?
Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar
¾ Continuation of 5+4+2+2 Pattern: Yojana (ABRY)
€ The state will maintain the existing 5+4+2+2 pattern
for school education. Why in News?
€ This structure begins with one year of pre-primary The Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana (ABRY) has
education, followed by four years of primary surpassed its initial employment generation targets,
demonstrating its effectiveness in promoting job creation
education (up to class 4), four years of upper
and aiding the recovery efforts amidst the Covid-19
primary education (class V to VIII), two years of
pandemic.
secondary education, and finally, two years of
higher secondary education. What is Aatmanirbhar Bharat
z The NEP suggests transitioning to a 5+3+3+4 Rozgar Yojana (ABRY)?
school system, where Class 9-12 is considered ¾ About & Aim:
a continuum offering students subject choices, € The ABRY came into effect on October 1, 2020,
is declined by the state government. with the primary goal of stimulating the creation
¾ Three-Language Formula: of new job opportunities.
€ The policy recommends the introduction of a three- € It achieved this by offering financial assistance

language formula for students in classes V to VIII. to employers of enterprises registered with the
Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).
€ The first language, referred to as the “mother
€ The scheme specifically aimed to incentivise the
tongue,” will be the medium of instruction.
employment of individuals, including those who
z For example, in Nepali-medium schools, Nepali had lost their jobs due to the pandemic.
will be the medium of instruction,Santhali in
€ It covered both employee and employer
Santhali-medium school, and similarly for other contributions, equivalent to 24% of earnings, for
languages and mediums. businesses employing up to 1000 workers.
z The second language can be English or any € For larger firms with over 1000 employees, the
language other than the first language, depending scheme covered only the employee’s EPF payments,
on the student’s choice. equivalent to 12% of salaries.
z The third language can be any language chosen ¾ Achievements:
by the student, different from the first and € As of July 31, 2023, the ABRY exceeded its initial

second languages. employment generation target by enrolling

¾ Introduction of ‘Bangla’ as a Subject: approximately 7.58 million new employees.
¾ Significance:
€ Bangla will be introduced as a subject from Class I
€ The initiative has played a significant role in
to Class XII for students in schools with languages
reviving the job market, contributing to the
other than Bangla as the medium of instruction.
broader economic recovery during the pandemic.
€ However, it is not recommended as a first language.
Semester System at Higher Secondary Level:
¾
Women’s Reservation Bill
€ In higher secondary education (Class XI and XII),
it has introduced a semester system to facilitate 2023
a smoother transition from school to university.
z Semester examinations may include a Why in News?
combination of multiple-choice questions Recently, the Lok Sabha (LS) and Rajya Sabha (RS),
(MCQs) and descriptive questions. both passed Women’s Reservation Bill 2023 (128th

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 85
Constitutional Amendment Bill) or Nari Shakti Vandan ¾ Rotation of Seats:
Adhiniyam. € Seats reserved for women will be rotated after
¾ The bill reserves one-third of the seats in Lok Sabha, each delimitation, as determined by a law made
State legislative assemblies and the Delhi assembly. by Parliament.
This will also apply to the seats reserved for SCs
(Scheduled Castes) and STs (Scheduled Tribes) in
Lok Sabha and State Legislatures. Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana
What are the Key Features of the Bill? Why in News?
¾ Reservation for Women in Lower House: In a significant initiative to empower senior citizens
€ The Bill provided for inserting Article 330A to the and persons with disabilities across India, the Ministry
constitution, which borrows from the provisions of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India,
of Article 330, which provides for reservation of organized ‘Samajik Adhikarita Shivirs’ camps at 72
seats to SCs/STs in the Lok Sabha. locations simultaneously.
z The Bill provided that reserved seats for
¾ These camps aim to distribute various types of aid
women may be allotted by rotation to different
and assistive devices to over 12000 persons with
constituencies in states or Union Territories.
disabilities and senior citizens under the Rashtriya
€ In the seats reserved for SCs/STs, the Bill sought
Vayoshri Yojana.
to provide one-third of the seats to be reserved
for women on rotational basis. What is the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana?
¾ Reservation for Women in State Legislative Assemblies:
¾ About:
€ The Bill introduces Article 332A, which mandates
€ It was launched in 2017 by the Ministry of Social
the reservation of seats for women in every state
Legislative Assembly. Additionally, one-third of the Justice and Empowerment.
seats reserved for SCs and STs must be allocated € It is a central sector scheme funded from the
for women, and one-third of the total seats Senior Citizens’ Welfare Fund.
filled through direct elections to the Legislative € The Scheme is being implemented by the Artificial
Assemblies shall also be reserved for women. Limbs Manufacturing Corporation (ALIMCO), a PSU
¾ Reservation for Women in NCT of Delhi (New clause (Public Sector Undertaking) under the Ministry of
in 239AA): Social Justice and Empowerment.
€ Article 239AA to the constitution grants special ¾ Features:
status to the Union Territory of Delhi as national € The eligibility criteria for the scheme are: Senior
capital with regards to its administrative and Citizens, belonging to Below Poverty Line(BPL)
legislative functioning.
category and suffering from any of the age related
€ Article 239AA(2)(b) was amended by the bill
disability or infirmity.
accordingly to add that the laws framed by
€ The scheme works by distributing free of cost
parliament shall apply to the National Capital
devices, commensurate with the extent of disability
territory of Delhi.
or infirmity that is manifested among the eligible
¾ Commencement of Reservation (New article - 334A):
senior citizens.
€ The reservation will be effective after the census
z The devices supported under the scheme
conducted after the commencement of this Bill has
been published. Based on the census,delimitation are: Walking sticks, Elbow crutches, Walkers/
will be undertaken to reserve seats for women. Crutches, Hearing Aids, Wheelchair, Artificial
Dentures and Spectacles.
€ The reservation will be provided for a period of
15 years. However, it shall continue till such date € The scheme is expected to benefit over 5 lakh
as determined by a law made by Parliament. Senior Citizens across the country.

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86 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

„ Coverage: 266 higher education institutes,

SHREYAS Scheme including prestigious institutions like IIMs,
IITs, and NITs.
Why in News? „ Scholarship: Under the scheme, tuition fee,
The Scholarships for Higher Education for Young non-refundable charges, academic allowance
Achievers Scheme (SHREYAS) initiative has been a and other expenses are provided.
cornerstone in India’s efforts to empower students from „ Outcomes: From 2014-15 till 2022-23 21,988
Scheduled Castes (SC) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) beneficiaries have benefited through this.
by providing them access to quality education.
z National Overseas Scheme for SCs:
What is SHREYAS? „ Objective: Under the National Overseas
Scheme for SCs, financial assistance is
¾ About:
provided to the selected students from SCs;
€ SHREYAS is an umbrella scheme, under the Ministry
De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic
of Social Justice & Empowerment.
Tribes; landless agricultural labourers and
€ SHREYAS aims for the Educational Empowerment
traditional artisan categories, for pursuing
of OBC & Economically Backward Class (EBC)
masters and Ph.D. level courses abroad.
students by way of awarding fellowships (financial
assistance) in obtaining quality higher education „ Eligibility: A student with a total family income
and interest subsidy on educational loans for including the candidate should be less than
overseas studies. Rs. 8 lakhs per annum, who has more than
¾ Sub-Schemes: 60% marks in the qualifying examination,
is below 35 years of age and who secured
€ The umbrella scheme of “SHREYAS” comprises 4
central sector sub-schemes. admission in the top 500 QS ranking foreign
Institutes/ Universities.
z Free Coaching Scheme for SCs and OBCs:

„ Objective:
„ Scholarship: Total tuition fee, maintenance
and contingency allowance, visa fee, to
‹ Provide coaching of high quality to
and fro air passage etc. are provided to the
economically disadvantaged SCs and OBCs
for competitive exams and admission to awardees.
technical and professional institutions. „ Outcomes: From 2014-15 to 2022-23, 950
„ Income Ceiling: Family income under the
beneficiaries have benefited through this.
scheme is capped at 8 lakhs per annum. z National Fellowship for SC Students:
„ Slot Allocation: 3500 slots are allotted „ Aim: This fellowship supports SC students
annually. pursuing M.Phil/Ph.D. degrees in Sciences,
„ Gender Inclusivity:30% of slots are reserved Humanities, and Social Sciences in Indian
for females in both categories. Universities/Institutions/Colleges recognized
„ Allocation Ratio: The SC: OBC ratio is 70:30, by the University Grants Commission (UGC).
ensuring equitable access. „ Eligibility: Candidates who have qualified
„ Outcomes: From 2014-15 to 2022-23, 19,995 for the National Eligibility Test (NET-JRF) or
beneficiaries have benefited through this. Junior Research Fellows for Science stream
z Top-Class Education for SCs: qualifying UGC-Council of Scientific and
„ Objective: Recognize and promote quality Industrial Research (UGC-CSIR) Joint Test.
education among SC students, covering „ Allocation: The scheme provides for 2000
studies beyond the 12th class. new slots per year (500 for the science
„ Income Ceiling: The family income limit is stream and 1500 for the Humanities and
set at 8 lakhs per annum. Social Sciences).

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 87

PM Vishwakarma Scheme
Why in News?
Recently, the Prime Minister of India has launched the ‘Prime Minister (PM) Vishwakarma Scheme’ on the occasion
of Vishwakarma Jayanti.

What is the PM Vishwakarma Scheme?

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88 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

Note:
Skill India Digital ¾ In 2022, theSC permitted Madhya Pradesh to
provide reservation to OBC in Local Body Elections.
Why in News? ¾ In January 2022, following a plea by Maharashtra
Recently, the Union Minister for Skill Development govt SC recalled its 2021 order which stayed 27%
and Entrepreneurship, launched Skill India Digital (SID). reservation for OBC in local body elections.
¾ This comprehensive digital platform aspires to provide
every Indian with access to quality skill development, What are the Key Points about this Decision?
relevant opportunities, and entrepreneurial support. ¾ The decision followed recommendations of the
Justice K S Jhaveri Commission that was formed in
What is Skill India Digital? response to a Supreme Court (SC) directive in 2022
¾ About: to make suggestions for OBC reservation in local
€ Skill India Digital (SID) is envisioned as the Digital
bodies in Gujarat.
Public Infrastructure (DPI)for skilling, education, ¾ The expanded 27% OBC reservation will apply to
employment, and entrepreneurship in India. all levels of local bodies (municipal corporations,
€ It aims to bring together various skilling initiatives municipalities, gram panchayats, taluka panchayats,
and create a seamless ecosystem for skill and district panchayats).
development, aligning with the principles of the ¾ The increased OBC reservation, however, will not be
G20 framework for building DPIs. applicable in areas covered by the PESA Act 1996
¾ Core Features of SID: where the scheduled tribe (ST) population exceeds
€ Comprehensive Skill Development: SID extends 50%. In such regions, OBC candidates will receive a
industry-relevant skill courses, job opportunities, 10% reservation.
and entrepreneurship support, ensuring ¾ The existing quota for SCs (14%) and STs (7%) remains
comprehensive skill development. unchanged without any breach of the 50% reservation
€ Digital Transformation: With a focus on digital ceiling as mandated by the SC.
technology and Industry 4.0 skills, SID seeks to
make skill development more innovative, accessible,
and personalised.
Mission Amrit Sarovar
€ Information Gateway: SID serves as a central
information hub for all government skilling and Why in News?
entrepreneurship initiatives, facilitating easy Recently, the Ministry of Rural Development has
access for citizens seeking career advancement provided insights into the advancements made in the
and lifelong learning. implementation of Mission Amrit Sarovar, an initiative
€ Intersection of Skill India and Digital India: SID aimed at enhancing water security across various regions.
intersects with the government’s vision of Skill
India and Digital India, creating opportunities What is the Mission Amrit Sarovar?
for the youth. ¾ About:
€ On April 24, 2022, Mission Amrit Sarovar was

OBC Reservation launched as part of India’s “Azadi Ka Amrit

Mahotsav” celebrations for the75 th year of
in Local Bodies independence.
€ The mission aims to construct/rejuvenate at least
Why in News? 75 Amrit Sarovars in each district across India to
Recently, the state government of Gujarat hiked overcome the water crisis in rural areas.
reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) from € The target for these water bodies serves as a
the existing 10% to 27% in the panchayats and urban crucial step towards ensuring water sustainability
local bodies. at the local level.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 89
€Eight Central Ministries/Departments, including What are the Revised Guidelines
Dept. of Rural Development, Department of of the PM-DevINE Scheme?
land resources, Department of Drinking Water
and Sanitation, Department of Water resources, ¾ Project Oversight and Governance:
Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Ministry of Forest, € MDoNER will oversee project selection, approval,
Environment and Climate changes, Ministry of and monitoring in consultation with State
Railway, Ministry of Road, Transport & Highways, Governments, North Eastern Council (NEC), and
actively contribute to the mission’s execution. concerned Central Ministries, with implementation
€ Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space through NEC or Central Ministries/agencies.
Application and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N) has € The guidelines outline the process, including project
been engaged as Technical partner for the Mission. identification, selection, DPR preparation, sanction,
z BISAG-N is an autonomous scientific society fund release, monitoring, and completion.
registered under the Societies Registration
¾ Empowered Inter-Ministerial Committee (EIMC):
Act, of 1860. It comes under the Ministry of
Electronics and Information Technology. € Establishment of EIMC to oversee various functions
within PM-DevINE.
€ Geospatial data and technology play a pivotal role
in identifying and executing the construction and € Chaired by the Secretary of the MDoNER.
rejuvenation of Amrit Sarovar. ¾ State Level Empowered Committee (SLEC):
¾ Bridging Resource Gaps: € Creation of SLEC at the State level for project
€ Mission Amrit Sarovar leverages various existing review and approval.
schemes and financial grants to realize its objectives. € Composition of SLEC including Chief Secretary,
€ The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment relevant Secretaries, and representation from NEC.
Guarantee Act, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada ¾ Regarding Project Selection:
Yojana sub-schemes, and state-specific initiatives
€ North Eastern States must establish Gati Shakti
are channelled to mobilize resources for the
implementation mechanisms like Empowered
mission’s success.
Group of Secretaries, Network Planning Group,
and Technical Support Unit, along with notifying
PM-DevINE and a State Logistics Policy and updating Gati Shakti
NESIDS Schemes National Master Plan data layers, including land
revenue maps.
Why in News? z States not meeting these criteria won’t receive
new PM-DevINE project sanctions from 2023-
Recently, the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative
24 onwards.
for North Eastern Region (PM-DevINE), designed to
bolster North-East India’s development, has undergone What is PM-DevINE?
crucial revisions to align with the region’s needs and ¾ The Genesis of PM-DevINE:
aspirations. € The PM-DevINE scheme as a Central Sector
¾ These new guidelines govern all PM-DevINE projects scheme, was introduced as a part of the Union
effective from 12th October 2022 onwards. Budget 2022-23.
¾ Additionally, the Ministry of Development of the € The Cabinet granted approval for the PM-DevINE
North Eastern Region (MDoNER) releases new Scheme scheme on 12th October 2022. It has been granted
Guidelines for implementing Cabinet-approved North 100% Central funding, ensuring that resources are
East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme directly allocated to the development initiatives.
(NESIDS) during the 15th Finance Commission’s € It will be implemented by the Ministry of
balance period (2022-2026). Development of the Northeast Region.

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90 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

¾ Objectives of PM-DevINE: €Under this scheme, women will be provided skill

training so that they can earn over Rs 1 lakh per
€ Infrastructure Development: In line with the
year.
spirit of PM GatiShakti,PM-DevINE aims to fund
¾ Features:
infrastructure projects in a cohesive manner,
€ Drones will be provided to women SHGs for
ensuring seamless connectivity and accessibility
across the NER. agricultural activities.
z This initiative aims to leverage technology to
€ Supporting Social Development Projects:
Recognizing the unique needs and challenges transform the agricultural landscape while
empowering women in rural communities.
of the NER, the scheme endeavours to support
z Around 15,000 women’s SHGs will be given
social development projects that address critical
issues and improve the overall quality of life for training in operating and repairing drones.
the region’s inhabitants. „ This training will not only create new avenues

€ Empowering Youth and Women: PM-DevINE seeks for income generation but also equip women
with cutting-edge skills.
to create livelihood opportunities specifically
z Drones have the potential to revolutionize
targeting the youth and women of the NER,
enabling them to participate actively in the agriculture by enabling precision farming, crop
region’s development and progress. monitoring, and pest control.
€ Under the scheme, women will be trained in skills
¾ Ineligible Projects under PM-DEVINE:
like LED bulb making, plumbing, among others.
€ Projects providing long-term individual benefits
or “Direct Benefit Transfer” elements.
€ Projects for administrative buildings of government Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha
offices/agencies or institutional needs. Samagam and ULLAS
Sectors covered by other MDoNER schemes
€
and those specified in the Negative List by the
Initiative
Ministry of DoNER.
Why in News?
Recently, the Prime Minister (PM) of India inaugurated
Vishwakarma Yojana and Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Samagam a two-day event. The
Lakhpati Didi Scheme event is organized to mark the third anniversary of the
National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
¾ Additionally, the Union Minister of Education launched
Why in News?
the ULLAS: Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram mobile
In the recent Independence Day address, the Prime application.
Minister unveiled two significant initiatives aimed at
empowering artisans and women’s self-help groups What are the Key Highlights of
(SHGs) across India. Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Samagam?
¾ The two initiatives are: the Vishwakarma Yojana ¾ The PM released the first installment of funds under
and the provision of drones for women SHGs under the PM SHRI Scheme, supporting the establishment
Lakpati Didi Scheme. of schools that nurture engaged, productive, and
contributing citizens, in alignment with the NEP
What is the Lakhpati Didi Scheme? 2020 vision.
¾ About: The government’s goal is to create two crore ¾ The PM also released education and skill curriculum
“lakhpati didis” (prosperous sisters) in villages. This books translated into 12 Indian languages, enhancing
scheme aligns with the broader mission of poverty learning by allowing students to study in their mother
alleviation and economic empowerment. tongue.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 91
What is ULLAS: Nav Bharat ¾ The Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita Bill, 2023, which will
Saksharta Karyakram? replace the IPC, 1860
¾ About: ¾ The Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita Bill, 2023,
€ The ULLAS (Understanding Lifelong Learning
which will replace the CrPC, 1898
for All in Society) is a transformative initiative ¾ The Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023, which will replace
launched by the Indian government to promote the Evidence Act, 1872
lifelong learning and bridge the gaps in basic Note:
literacy and critical life skills among citizens aged
¾ Indian Penal Code (IPC) is the official criminal code
15 and above.
of India drafted in 1860 in the wake of the first law
€ The program aims to empower individuals with
commission established in 1834 under the Charter
essential knowledge and skills for personal and
national development. Act of 1833.
€ ULLAS User-Friendly Mobile Application serves
¾ Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) provides
as a digital gateway to diverse learning resources procedures for administering criminal law in India.
via the DIKSHA portal. It was enacted in 1973 and became effective on 1
¾ Key Features of ULLAS: Nav Bharat Saksharta April 1974.
Karyakram: ¾ The Indian Evidence Act, originally passed in India
€ Lifelong Learning Focus: by the Imperial Legislative Council in 1872, during
z Emphasizes continuous learning throughout life.
the British Raj, contains a set of rules and allied
z Fosters a culture of knowledge-sharing and
issues governing admissibility of evidence in the
personal development. Indian courts of law.
€ Digital and Financial Literacy:
What are the Main Features of
z Equip participants with digital literacy skills.
the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita Bill, 2023?
z Promotes financial awareness and empowerment.

€ Critical Life Skills:

¾ The bill defines terrorism and offenses such as
separatism, armed rebellion against the government,
z Impart important life skills such as legal literacy
and digital literacy. challenging the sovereignty of the country, which were
earlier mentioned under different provisions of law.
z Enhances citizenship and empowerment.
¾ It repeals the offense of sedition, which was widely
€ Incentives for Student Volunteers:
criticized as a colonial relic that curbed free speech
z Provides credits in school/university for student
and dissent.
volunteers.
¾ It prescribescapital punishment as the maximum
z Offers appreciation through certificates, letters,
sentence for mob lynching, which has been a menace
and felicitations.
in recent years.
¾ It proposes 10 years imprisonment for sexual
Overhauling IPC, intercourse with women on false promise of marriage,
CrPC, Evidence Act which is a common form of deception and exploitation.
¾ The bill introduces community service as a form of
Why in News? punishment for specific crimes, which can help in
reforming offenders and reducing overcrowding in
Recently, the Union Home Minister introduced three
bills in the Lok Sabhathat aim to repeal and replace the prisons.
Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Code of Criminal Procedure ¾ The bill fixes a maximum limit of 180 days to file a
(CrPC), and the Indian Evidence Act, which were enacted charge sheet, which can speed up the trial process
during the British rule in India. The bills are: and prevent indefinite delays.

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92 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

What are the Main Features of the Bhartiya etc., which can enhance accuracy and reliability of
Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita Bill, 2023? biological evidence.
¾ It recognises expert opinion as a form of evidence
¾ It promotes the use of technology for trials, appeals,
and recording depositions, allowing video-conferencing such as medical opinion, handwriting analysis etc.,
for proceedings. which can assist in establishing facts or circumstances
relevant to a case.
€ The bill makes video-recording of statement of
survivors of sexual violence compulsory, which ¾ It introduces the presumption of innocence as a
can help in preserving evidence and preventing fundamental principle of criminal justice system,
coercion or manipulation. which means that every person accused of an offence
is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty beyond
¾ The bill mandates that police must inform about the
reasonable doubt.
status of a complaint in 90 days, which can enhance
accountability and transparency.
¾ Section 41A of the CrPC will be renumbered as Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar
Section 35. This change includes an added safeguard,
stipulating that no arrest can be made without prior
Shiksha Abhiyan
approval from an officer at least at the rank of
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), especially Why in News?
for offenses punishable by less than 3 years or for 14 States and Union Territories are yet to sign a
individuals above 60 years. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry
¾ The bill requires that police consult the victim of Education, mandating the implementation of the
before withdrawing a case punishable by seven National Education Policy (NEP)to avail funds for the
years or more, which can ensure that justice is not next three years, under the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar
compromised or denied. Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA).
¾ It allows absconding criminals to be tried in-absentia
by court and sentenced too, which can deter fugitives What is the PM-USHA Scheme?
from escaping justice. ¾ About:
¾ It empowers magistrates to take cognizance of ¾ In the light of the National Education Policy , RUSA (
offenses based on electronic records such as emails, Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan) Scheme has
SMSs, WhatsApp messages etc., which can facilitate been launched as “Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha
evidence collection and verification. Abhiyan (PM- USHA)” in June 2023.
¾ Mercy petitions in death sentence cases to be filed z RUSA, as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched
within 30 days to the Governor and within 60 days in October 2013, aiming at providing strategic
to the President. funding to higher education institutions
€ No appeal shall lie against the President’s decision throughout the country.
in any court. ¾ It focuses on:
z Equity Access and inclusion in higher education
What are the Main Features of
Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023? z Developing Quality Teaching & Learning
processes,
¾ The bill defines electronic evidence as any information
z Accreditation of Non Accredited Institutions
generated or transmitted by any device or system that
is capable of being stored or retrieved by any means. and improving accreditation.
z ICT – based Digital Infrastructure.
¾ It lays down specific criteria for admissibility of
electronic evidence such as authenticity, integrity, z Enhancing Employability through

reliability etc., which can prevent misuse or tampering Multidisciplinary.

of digital data. ¾ Objective:
¾ It provides for special provisions for admissibility € To improve the overall quality of existing state
of DNA evidence such as consent, chain of custody higher educational institutions by ensuring their

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 93
conformity to prescribed norms and standards and What are India’s Initiatives Related
adoption of accreditation as a quality assurance to Water Resource Management?
framework.
¾ National Perspective Plan for Interlinking of Rivers:
€ Ensure governance, academic, and examination
€ Formulated to transfer water from surplus basins
reforms in the State higher educational institutions
to deficit areas in 1980.
and establish backward and forward linkages with
€ National Water Development Agency (NWDA)
school education on one hand and employment
identified 30 interlinking projects (16 under
market, on the other hand, to facilitate self-reliance
Peninsular Component and 14 under Himalayan
and thus creating an Atma-Nirbhar Bharat
Component) under Inter-linking of Rivers Project.
€ Create an enabling atmosphere in the higher
z However, river interlinking projects are largely
educational institutions to devote themselves to
dependent on consensus on water sharing
research and innovations.
between participating States.
¾ Key Features:
¾ National Aquifer Mapping and Management Program
€ MERU Transformation: It supports 35 accredited (NAQUIM):
state universities with Rs 100 crore each to facilitate € Implemented by Central Ground Water Board
multi-disciplinary education and research. (CGWB) under Ground Water Management and
€ Model Degree Colleges: The scheme provides Regulation (GWM&R) Scheme, acentral sector
provisions for establishing new model degree scheme.
colleges. € Maps aquifers (water-bearing formations),
€ Enhancing Universities: Grants are allocated to characterizes them, and develops Aquifer
strengthen universities. Management Plans.
€ Focus on Remote and Aspirational Areas: PM- € Aims for sustainable management of groundwater

USHA targets remote, Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) resources across the country.
affected regions, aspirational districts, and areas ¾ Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) - Har
with low Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER). Khet Ko Paani (HKKP) – Ground Water (GW):
€ Support for Gender Inclusion and Equity: The € Launched to enhance farm water access and
scheme aids state governments in promoting promote efficient irrigation.
gender inclusion and equity, as well as upgrading € Involves on-farm water use efficiency, sustainable
skills for better employability through Information conservation practices, and more.
and Communication Technology (ICT). € Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
is implementing the “Per Drop More Crop”
component of PMKSY.
Enhancing Water Resources
z The PMKSY- “Per Drop More Crop” mainly
Management and focuses on water use efficiency at the farm level
through micro irrigation (drip and sprinkler
Conservation in India irrigation system).
€ Operational since 2015-16, enhances water
Why in News? conservation at the farm level.
Recently, in a written reply in Lok Sabha, the Minister € Command Area Development & Water Management
of State for Jal Shakti, provided valuable insights into (CADWM) Programme has been brought under
India’s water resource management strategies and PMKSY – HKKP.
conservation efforts. z The main objective of taking up CAD works is to
¾ These initiatives, undertaken by the government, play enhance the utilization of irrigation potential
a crucial role in addressing the challenges of water created and improve agriculture production
scarcity and ensuring sustainable utilization of this on a sustainable basis through Participatory
precious natural resource. Irrigation Management (PIM).

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94 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

¾ Mission Amrit Sarovar: € Promotes economically viable and sustainable

€ Launched as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to crop cultivation practices.
conserve water bodies.
€ Aims to develop and rejuvenate 75 water bodies CAG Report on National
in each district.
¾ Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM):
Social Assistance Programme
€ Aims to provide potable tap water to every rural
household by 2024. Why in News?
€ Focus on tap water supply in water-scarce and A recent report on the performance audit of the
drought-prone areas. National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) from 2017-
€ Includes bulk water transfer and regional water 18 to 2020-21” by the Comptroller and Auditor General
supply schemes. of India (CAG)has revealed several irregularities and lapses
in the planning, financial management, implementation
¾ Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA):
and monitoring of the welfare scheme NSAP.
€ Conducted in water-stressed districts for water
conservation and management. What are the Key Highlights of the Report?
€ “Catch the Rain” campaignlaunched to cover all
¾ Misuse of Pension Funds for Publicity:
districts, rural and urban areas.
€ The Ministry of Rural Development(MoRD) diverted
€ Aims to capture rainwater where and when it falls.
funds allocated for NSAP, which are meant for
¾ Water Use Efficiency and Performance Evaluation disbursing pensions, towards publicity campaigns
Studies: for other ministry schemes.
€ Central Water Commission (CWC) promotes studies
€ The allocated funds for NSAP were intended for
for irrigation projects. pension disbursal and administrative expenses,
€ Focus on improving water use efficiency and with 3% set aside for the latter.
conservation practices. € Instances of diversion of funds were identified
¾ Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABY): both at the ministry and state/UTs levels.
€ Central sector scheme in water-stressed areas in € The MoRD initiated a publicity campaign in 2017
8,774 gram panchayats of 81 districts of seven through hoardings to promote various ministry
States namely Haryana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya programs.
Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. z Rs 39.15 lakh was approved for hoardings, and
€ Emphasizes community participation and demand- Rs 2.44 crore was approved for campaigns across
side interventions. multiple states.
¾ National Commission on Integrated Water Resources € The funds allocated for the campaign were intended
Development (NCIWRD): to be from theNational Rural Employment
€ Reports on projected water requirements for Guarantee Scheme but were sourced from -NSAP
different scenarios. schemes.
€ Provides insights for planning and management ¾ Advertisement Discrepancies:
of water resources. € The CAG found that the advertisement work orders
¾ National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA): did not include NSAP schemes but highlighted
€ Utilizes water-related data and technologies for schemes like Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana -
disaster alerts and management. Gramin (PMAY-G) and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya
€ Uses platforms like NavIC for timely dissemination Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY).
of alerts. ¾ States Implicated in Fund Diversion:
¾ “Sahi Fasal” Campaign: € Six states - Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Jammu &

€ Launched to encourage water-efficient crop choices Kashmir, Odisha, Goa, and Bihar - were found to
in water-stressed areas. have diverted funds meant for pension schemes.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 95
¾ Implications and Beneficiary Impact:
€ P l a n n e d I n fo r m a t i o n , Ed u c a t i o n , a n d Nurturing India’s
Communication (IEC) activities under NSAP were Cotton Sector
adversely affected due to fund diversion.
€ Funds amounting to Rs 2.83 crore, initially Why in News?
earmarked for NSAP IEC, were used for promoting
Recently, the Union Minister of State for the Ministry
other ministry schemes. of Textiles highlighted the significant strides taken to
empower cotton farmers and promote the cotton sector.
What is the National Social Assistance
Programme (NSAP)? What are the Indian Government Initiatives
¾ About: Related to the Development of
€ NSAP was launched on 15th August 1995 as a the Cotton Sector?
Centrally Sponsored Scheme. ¾ Cotton Development Programme Under National
€ NSAP represents a significant step towards the Food Security Mission (NFSM):
fulfilment of theDirective Principles in Articles € Implemented by the Department of Agriculture

41 and 42 of the Constitution of India. & Farmers Welfare in 15 major cotton-growing

states: Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana,
€ NSAP aims to provide support to aged persons,
Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha,
widows, disabled persons and bereaved families
Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Tripura,
on the death of the primary income producer, Uttar Pradesh & West Bengal from 2014-15.
belonging to below-poverty-line households.
€ Aims to enhance cotton production and productivity
¾ Components: in major cotton-growing states.
€ NSAP has Five Sub-Schemes: € Includes demonstrations, trials, distribution of

z Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension plant protection chemicals, and training.
Scheme (IGNOAPS): Under the scheme, BPL ¾ MSP Formula for Cotton:
personsaged 60 years or above are entitled to € Introduced a formula of 1.5 times the cost of
a monthly pension of Rs. 200/- up to 79 years production (A2+FL) forMinimum Support Price
of age and Rs.500/- thereafter. (MSP) calculation.
z Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme € Ensures economic interest of cotton farmers and

(IGNWPS): BPL widows aged 40-59 years are availability of cotton to the textile industry.
€ Increases MSP rates to support farmers’ income.
entitled to a monthly pension of Rs. 200/-.
€ For cotton season 2022-23, MSP of Fair Average
z Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension
Quality (FAQ) grade cotton had increased by
Scheme (IGNDPS): BPL persons aged 18-59
about 6% which has further been increased by
years with severe and multiple disabilities are 9% to 10% for ensuing cotton season 2023-24.
entitled to a monthly pension of Rs. 200/-.
¾ Cotton Corporation of India (CCI):
z National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS): Under € Appointed as a Central Nodal agency for MSP
the scheme a BPL household is entitled to a operations when Fair Average Quality grade seed
lump sum amount of money on the death of a cotton (kapas) fall below the MSP rates.
primary breadwinner aged between 18 and 64 € Safeguards farmers from distress sales.
years. The amount of assistance is Rs. 10,000/-. ¾ Branding and Traceability:
z Annapurna: Under the scheme, 10 kg of food € Launched Kasturi Cotton to promote Indian cotton
grains per month are provided free of cost to with a brand name.
those senior citizens who, though eligible, have € Aims to ensure quality, traceability, and branding
remained uncovered under NOAPS. of Indian cotton.

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96 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

¾ Large-Scale Demonstrations Project: Provides a strategic platform for ensuring

„

€ Sanctioned by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers uniform safety standards.

Welfare under NFSM. z National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA):

€ Focuses on best practices to enhance cotton „ Creation of the National Dam Safety Authority
productivity. as a regulatory body.
€ Focus on innovative technologies, such as High ‹ Tasks include implementing policies of
Density Planting System (HDPS) and the value the National Committee on Dam Safety.
chain approach. „ Offers technical assistance to State Dam
€ Sanctioning of a project titled “Targeting Safety Organisations (SDSO) and resolves
technologies to agro-ecological zones-large scale inter-state disputes.
demonstrations of best practices to enhance z State-level Dam Safety Measures:
cotton productivity.”
„ Empowerment of State Governments to
¾ Textile Advisory Group (TAG): establish State Committee on Dam Safety.
€ Constituted by the Ministry of Textiles to facilitate
„ Creation of State Dam Safety Organisations
coordination among stakeholders in the cotton responsible for enforcing dam safety
value chain. standards.
€ Addresses issues related to productivity, prices,
„ Renders crucial instructions to dam owners
branding, and more. regarding safety protocols and remedial
actions.
Dam Safety and Water ¾ National Hydrology Project (NHP):
€ National Hydrology Project (NHP) is designed
Resource Management with four major components: Water Resources
in India Monitoring System, Water Resources Information
System, Water Resources Operations and Planning
Why in News? System, and Institutional Capacity Enhancement.
€ The project aims to enhance water resource
Recently, the Minister of State for Jal Shakti has shed
management capabilities across the country.
light on India’s significant strides in the realm of dam
safety and water resource management. € Supports studies related to flood forecasting
undertaken by Implementing agencies.
What are the Highlighted Initiatives for Dam
Safety Water Resource Management in India? Amrit Bharat Stations Scheme
¾ Dam Safety Act, 2021: A Regulatory Framework:
€ Enactment of the Dam Safety Act, 2021, by the Why in News?
Union Government.
Recently, the Indian Prime Minister has laid the
€ Focuses on proper surveillance, inspection,
foundation stone for the Redevelopment of 508 railway
operation, and maintenance of specified dams. stations across India as a part of Amrit Bharat Stations
€ Aims to prevent dam failure-related disasters Scheme, spreading across 27 states and union territories.
and establish an institutional mechanism for safe ¾ The extensive redevelopment project, estimated to
functioning. cost more than RS 24,470 crores, aims to transform
€ Institutional Mechanism: railway stations into modern, well-equipped hubs.
z National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS):

„ Formation of the National Committee on

What is the Amrit Bharat Stations Scheme?
Dam Safety at the national level. ¾ About:
„ Responsible for evolving dam safety policies € The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme aims to redevelop
and recommending essential regulations. 1309 stations nationwide.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 97
€The redevelopment will provide modern passenger ¾ Navigating Complex Digital Realities:
amenities along with ensuring well-designed traffic € The program acknowledges the increasing demand
circulation, inter-modal integration, and signage for silicon chips in today’s digitized world.
for the guidance of passengers. € As emerging technologies like 5G and 6G reshape
€ The Scheme was launched in February 2023 by the digital landscape, DIR-V anticipates finding
the Ministry of Railways. applications in various areas such as cloud services,
¾ Station-wise Plans: Internet of Things (IoT), and sensors.
€ The station buildings’ designs will be inspired by ¾ Integral Role in High-Performance Computing:
local culture, heritage, and architecture. € DIR-V is positioned at the heart of India’s aspirations

z For instance, the Jaipur Railway Station will

for high-performance computing.
feature elements resembling the Hawa Mahal € Collaborations with organizations like the Center

and Amer Fort from Rajasthan. for Development of Advance Computing (C-DAC)
¾ Integrated Approach to Urban Development:
and public-private partnerships will ensure that
DIR-V plays a pivotal role in these ambitious goals.
€ The redevelopment is planned with a holistic
approach to urban development, treating the RISC-V:
stations as “City Centres.” ¾ The term RISC stands for “reduced instruction set
€ This approach aims to integrate both sides of the computer” which executes few computer instructions
city and create well-designed traffic circulation, whereas ‘V’ stands for the 5th generation.
inter-modal connectivity, and clear signage for ¾ It is an open-source hardware ISA (instruction set
passengers’ guidance. architecture) used for the development of custom
processors targeting a variety of end applications.
¾ It also enables designers to create thousands of
Digital India RISC-V potential custom processors, facilitating faster time
(DIR-V) Program to market. The commonality of the processor IP
also saves on software development time.
Why in News? ¾ RISC-V processors find versatile applications
in wearables, IoT, smartphones, automotive,
Recently, the Union Minister of Electronics & IT aerospace, and more, offering power efficiency,
addressed the Digital India RISC-V (DIR-V) Symposium performance customization, and security. They
organized by IIT Madras in Chennai. excel in space-constrained designs and complex
¾ The one-day symposium, organized by IIT Madras, computational tasks.
emphasized the government’s vision for DIR-V € The RISC was invented by Prof. David Patterson
which currently aims to build a robust ecosystem for around 1980 at the University of California,
RISC-V with effective public-private partnerships and Berkeley.
collaborations with premiere academic institutions.
Centre for Development of Advanced Computing
What is the Digital India RISC-V (C-DAC):
(DIR-V) Program? ¾ It is the leading R&D institution under the Ministry
of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY),
¾ About: specializing in IT, Electronics, and related areas.
€ The DIR-V Program is a forward-looking initiative
¾ Established in 1988 to counter the denial of
that aims to uplift India’s semiconductor ecosystem. supercomputer imports, C-DAC’s journey began with
€ Its primary goal is to promote indigenous innovation the development of India’s first Supercomputers
in the field of microprocessors, laying the foundation PARAM.
for self-reliance. ¾ C-DAC plays a pivotal role in India’s IT revolution by
€ The program emphasizes three key principles: continuously innovating and leveraging its expertise
innovation, functionality, and performance, to develop and deploy IT products and solutions
shaping its direction for the future. aligned with the nation’s policies and market needs.

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98 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

This partnership will work on a 50:50 revenue-

z
BharatNet Project sharing basis.
¾ Phases of the Project:
Why in News? € First Phase:

Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved Rs 1.39 z Provide more one lakh gram panchayats with

lakh crore for the Modernization of the BharatNet project. broadband connectivity by laying underground
Optic Fibre Cable (OFC) lines by December 2017.
What is BharatNet Project? € Second Phase:

¾ About: z Provide connectivity to all the gram panchayats in

€ National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) was

the country using an optimal mix of underground
fibre, fibre over power lines, radio and satellite
launched in October 2011 and was renamed as
media by March 2019.
Bharat Net Project in 2015.
€ Third Phase:
€ It is the world’s largest rural broadband connectivity
z From 2019 to 2023, a state-of-the-art, future-
programme using Optical Fiber. And also a flagship
mission implemented by Bharat Broadband proof network, including fibre between districts
and blocks, with ring topology to provide
Network Ltd. (BBNL).
redundancy would be created.
z BBNL is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) set up by
the Government of India under the Companies
Act, 1956. River Devika Rejuvenation
z It is being implemented by the Department Project
of Telecommunication under the Ministry of
Communications.
Why in News?
€ This project involves altering the execution strategy
Recently, Union Minister of State (Independent
and employing Village Level Entrepreneurs
Charge) Science & Technology sheds light on the progress
(Udyamis) to provide fiber connections to the
of the River Rejuvenation Project, Devika.
last mile, thereby accelerating the connectivity
¾ The Devika Rejuvenation Project is nearing completion
process over the next 2.5 years.
as of August 2023, with substantial progress achieved
€ It is financed by the Universal Service Obligation
in restoring the Devika River’s ecological and cultural
Fund (USOF). vitality.
z USOF ensures that there is universal non- ¾ This initiative, inspired by the Namami Ganga
discriminatory access to quality ICT (Information campaign,aims to safeguard the sacred Devika River’s
and Communications Technology) services at purity and health.
economically efficient prices to people in rural
and remote areas. What is the River Devika Rejuvenation Project?
z It was created under the Ministry of ¾ Comprehensive Waste Management:
Communications in 2002. € Focuses on Liquid Waste Management.
¾ Revamped Approach: € Establishes a network of pipes and manholes
€ Similar to private telecom companies like Airtel and connecting households.
Jio, the revamped BharatNet model will collaborate € The primary goal is to ensure the efficient disposal
with Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) for the of liquid waste, preventing pollution and maintaining
implementation of fiber connections. the river’s sanctity.
€ Under this approach, the government will bear ¾ Complementary Solid Waste Management:
the cost of extending the infrastructure to homes, € In addition to liquid waste, the project also

while the entrepreneurs will contribute to the encompasses the crucial aspect of Solid Waste
maintenance and operation of home connections. Management.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 99
z This entails the responsible collection, disposal, ¾ Cultural Significance:
and management of solid waste materials € The river holds religious significance as it is revered
generated by local communities. by Hindus as the sister of the river Ganga.
€ Proper solid waste management is essential € It is believed that Devika River is a manifestation of
for preventing environmental degradation and the Goddess Parwati herself to benefit the people
maintaining the overall health of the river and its of Mader Desha that covers areas between river
surroundings. Ravi and Chenab.
¾ Financial Allocation Breakdown:
€ The project receives investments exceeding Rs Finger Minutiae Record -
190 crores.
€ Allocation is shared between Central and Union Finger Image Record
Territory (UT) at a 90:10 ratio. (FMR-FIR) Modality
¾ Empowering Communities through PRIs:
€ Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) play a crucial Why in News?
role in ensuring the success of the project at the
Recently, the Unique Identification Authority of India
grassroots level.
(UIDAI) has rolled out an in-house Artificial Intelligence/
€ The involvement of PRIs enhances community Machine Learning (AI/ML) technology-based Finger
engagement, fosters ownership, and promotes Minutiae Record – Finger Image Record (FMR-FIR)
sustainable development practices. modality.
¾ This technology, specifically designed to enhance
What are the Key Facts about
Aadhaar-enabled Payment System (AePS) transactions,
the Devika River? aims to tackle fraudulent activities, including the
misuse of cloned fingerprints.

What is Finger Minutiae Record

- Finger Image Record (FMR-FIR) Modality?
¾ About:
€ The FMR-FIR modality is an advanced AI/ML-based
technology developed by the UIDAI to bolster
security measures within the Aadhaar-enabled
Payment System (AePS).
¾ Key Features and Functionality:
€ Hybrid Authentication:
z FMR-FIR combines the analysis of two distinct
components – finger minutiae and finger image
– to establish the authenticity of fingerprint
biometrics during Aadhaar authentication.
¾ Origin: € Liveness Detection:
€ Devika River originates from the hilly Suddha z The modality’s primary function lies in assessing
Mahadev temple in the Udhampur district of the liveness of the captured fingerprint.
Jammu and Kashmir and flows down towards z It can differentiate between a genuine, “live”
western Punjab (now in Pakistan) where it merges finger and a cloned or fake fingerprint, thereby
with the Ravi River. preventing spoofing attempts.

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100 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

€ Real-time Verification: z Arbitral Award is an award that brings finality

z FMR-FIR operates in real-time, providing instant to the arbitral proceeding.
verification results during the authentication € Under the scheme, standardised terms will be
process. introduced, and graded settlement options will
€ Robust Fraud Prevention: be provided based on the level of pendency of
z By detecting and deterring the use of cloned the dispute.
fingerprints, the technology significantly reduces ¾ Objectives:
the risk of AePS frauds.
€ The Scheme aims to provide a platform for
What is AePS? resolving contractual disputes efficiently and
promptly, promoting ease of doing business with
¾ The AePS is a bank-led model that allows online
the government and encouraging fresh investments
interoperable financial transactions at Point of
in the country.
Sale (PoS) or micro-ATMs through the Business
Correspondent (BC) of any bank using the Aadhaar ¾ Implementation:
authentication. € It will be implemented through an online
¾ It was taken up by theNational Payments Corporation functionality on the Government e-Marketplace
of India (NPCI) - a joint initiative of theReserve Bank (GeM) portal.
of India (RBI)and the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA).
¾ The AePS is meant to provide easy and secure access The Mines and Minerals
to banking services for the poor and marginalized
sections of society, especially in rural and remote areas. (Development and
¾ It eliminates the need for OTPs, bank account details, Regulation) Amendment
and other financial information.
¾ Transactions can be carried out with only the bank Bill, 2023
name, Aadhaar number, and captured fingerprint
during Aadhaar enrollment. Why in News?
The Rajya Sabha has passed the Mines and Minerals
Vivad se Vishwas – II (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023
for making amendments to the Mines and Minerals
Why in News? (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Act, 1957.
Recently, the Ministry of Finance launched the
What is the Background?
scheme, “Vivad se Vishwas II to effectively settle the
pending contractual disputes of government and ¾ The MMDR Act, 1957 was amended in 2015 to
government undertakings. introduce auction-based mineral concession allocation
¾ The scheme was announced in the Union Budget for transparency, create District Mineral Foundation
2023-24 by the Union Finance Minister. (DMF) for the welfare of affected communities,
establish National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET)
What is the Vivad Se Vishwas-II Scheme? to promote exploration, and impose stricter penalties
¾ About: for illegal mining.
€ It is a voluntary settlement scheme to resolve ¾ The Act was further amended in 2016 and 2020
long-standing contractual disputes involving to address specific emergent issues and was last
government agencies. amended in 2021 to bring further reforms in the
€ It is designed specifically for disputes where the sector, such as, removing the distinction between
Arbitral Award is under challenge in a court. captive and merchant mines, etc.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 101
¾ However, the mineral sector required more reforms few geographical locations may lead to supply chain
particularly for increasing exploration and mining vulnerabilities and even disruption of supplies.
of Critical Mineralsthat are essential for economic ¾ Critical minerals have gained significance in view of
development and national security in the country.
India’s commitment towards energy transition and
¾ The lack of availability of the critical minerals or
achieving Net-Zero emission by 2070.
concentration of their extraction or processing in a
What are the Key Provisions under the Bill?
Key Provisions MMDR Act 1957 MMDR Amendment Bill
Private Sector to Mine Atomic The Act allows the only State agencies The Bill allows the private sector to
Minerals in the exploration of the atomic mine six out of 12 atomic minerals
minerals such as lithium, beryllium, such as lithium, beryllium, niobium,
niobium, titanium, tantalum and titanium, tantalum and zirconium.
zirconium. When it becomes an Act, Centre will
have powers to auction mining lease
and composite licence for critical
minerals such as gold, silver, copper,
zinc, lead, nickel etc..
Auction for Exploration Licence The exploration licence will be granted
by the state government through
competitive bidding.
The central government will prescribe
details such as manner of auction,
terms and conditions, and bidding
parameters for exploration licence
through rules.
Maximum Area in which Activities Under the Act, a prospecting licence The Bill allows activities under a single
are Permitted allows activities in an area up to 25 exploration licence in an area up to
square kilometres, and a single 1,000 square kilometres.
reconnaissance permit allows After the first three years, the licencee
activities in an area up to 5,000 square will be allowed to retain up to 25% of
kilometres. the originally authorised area.
Incentive for exploration Licence If the resources are proven after
exploration, the state government
must conduct an auction for mining
lease within six months of the
submission of the report by the
exploration licencee. The licencee will
receive a share in the auction value
of the mining lease for the mineral
prospected by them.

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102 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

€ Second-hand smoke is linked to almost 400,000

WHO Report on Tobacco deaths due to heart disease. Moreover, second-
Control hand smoke adversely affects children, leading to
severe asthma, respiratory tract infections, and
Why in News? sudden infant death syndrome.
z Around 51,000 deaths in children and adolescents
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently
released a comprehensive report on tobacco control under 20 years are attributed to exposure to
measures. The report evaluates the progress made second-hand smoke.
globally since the introduction of the MPOWER measures ¾ India’s Progress in Tobacco Control:
- a set of strategies developed by WHO to combat tobacco € India excels in implementing health warning
use and its detrimental effects on health. labels on tobacco products and providing tobacco
dependence treatment.
What are the Major Highlights of the Report?
€ About 85% of cigarette packs in India carry health
¾ Global Tobacco Control Progress:
warnings on both the front and back, placing the
€ Worldwide, there has been a decline in smoking
country among the top 10 in terms of warning
prevalence from 22.8% in 2007 to 17% in 2021,
label size.
resulting in 300 million fewer smokers today.
€ The WHO’s MPOWER measures have played a
€ India has also banned the sale of e-cigarettes and
vital role in tobacco control over the past 15 years, implemented smoking bans in healthcare facilities
protecting 5.6 billion people (71% of the global and educational institutions.
population) with at least one measure. € Bengaluru has seen significant progress in tobacco
€ The number of countries implementing at least control due to hundreds of enforcement drives, ‘No
one MPOWER measure has risen from 44 in 2008 Smoking’ sign displays, and extensive awareness
to 151 in 2022, and four countries - Brazil, Turkiye, campaigns about the hazards of smoking and
Netherlands, and Mauritius - have successfully second-hand smoke.
implemented all measures.
z The city’s efforts have led to a commendable
¾ Addressing the Challenges:
27% reduction in smoking in public places.
€ The report also sheds light on the challenges that
need to be addressed for more effective tobacco
control. Inclusion of Communities in
€ At least 44 countries still do not implement any
MPOWER measure, and 53 countries do not have
Jammu and Kashmir’s
a complete ban on smoking in healthcare facilities. Scheduled Tribes List
z Additionally, only half of the countries enforce
smoke-free workplaces and restaurants. Why in News?
€ WHO emphasizes the dangers of e-cigarettes,
noting that the tobacco industry’s aggressive The Indian government has introduced the
promotion of e-cigarettes as a safer alternative Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes
undermines progress. Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023, aiming to include four
z E-cigarettes pose risks to both users and those
communities in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list in Jammu
around them, especially in indoor environments. and Kashmir.
¾ Second-hand Smoking: ¾ The proposed inclusion of the “Gadda Brahmin,”
€ Of the estimated 8.7 million tobacco-related deaths “Koli,” “Paddari Tribe,” and “Pahari Ethnic Group”
annually, 1.3 million are non-smokers exposed has sparked apprehensions regarding the distribution
to second-hand smoke. of reservation benefits.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 103
What is the Process and Criteria
of Inclusion in the ST List ? Registration of Births
¾ Criteria for Inclusion in the Scheduled List: Determining and Deaths (Amendment)
whether a community qualifies as a Scheduled Tribe Bill, 2023
is based on several criteria, including:
€ Ethnological Traits: The community’s distinct and Why in News?
identifiable ethnological traits are considered to TheLok Sabha has recently approved the Registration
establish its tribal identity. of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which
€ Traditional Characteristics: Traditional practices, introduces a significant shift towards digital birth
customs, and way of life are examined to assess certificates.
the community’s adherence to tribal culture. ¾ These certificates are poised to serve as a comprehensive
document for a multitude of purposes, ranging from
€ Distinctive Culture: The presence of a unique and
educational admissions to government applications.
distinctive culture that sets the community apart
from other groups. What is the Registration of
€ Geographical Isolation: The community’s Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2023?
geographical isolation is taken into account to ¾ About:
assess its historic and continuous presence in € The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment)
specific regions. Bill, 2023 seeks to amend the Registration of Births
€ Backwardness: Socio-economic backwardness is and Deaths Act,1969.
considered to evaluate the level of disadvantage € The Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969

faced by the community. provides for the regulation and registration of

births and deaths. The registration of births and
z However, The Constitution of India does not
deaths falls under the Concurrent List, giving
define the criteria for recognition of STs. powers to both Parliament and state legislatures
¾ Process of Adding a Community to the ST List: to make laws on the subject.
€ The process initiates at the State or Union ¾ Key Features:
Territory level, where the concerned government € Digital Birth Certificates: The bill introduces the
or administration recommends the inclusion of a concept of digital birth certificates, intended to
specific community. serve as a comprehensive document for multiple
purposes, reducing the need for multiple
€ The proposal is sent to the Union Ministry of Tribal
documents to prove birth details.
Affairs for examination and further deliberations.
€ Aadhaar Details: The Bill proposes linking
€ After this, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, through Aadhaar details of parents and informants to
its own deliberations, examines the proposal, and birth certificates.
sends it to theRegistrar General of India (RGI). z Expands the scope of Aadhaar inclusion to
z Once approved by the RGI, the proposal is sent various reporting authorities, including medical
to the National Commission for Scheduled officers, jailors, and managers of institutions.
Tribes, following which the proposal is sent € Centralized Database: A centralized database

back to the Union government. will be established to manage birth and death
records, facilitating efficient service delivery and
€ The inclusion of any community in the Scheduled maintaining accurate and up-to-date information.
Tribes list takes effect only after the President z Apart from birth certificates, the centralized
assents to a Bill that amends the Constitution database will also update theNational Population
(Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950, following its Register (NPR), ration cards, and property
passage in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. registrations.

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104 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

z The Bill proposes to make it obligatory for States What are the Key Government
to register births and deaths on the Centre’s Schemes For Farmers Welfare?
Civil Registration System (CRS) portal, and to ¾ The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN):
share the data with the Registrar General of
€ The PM-KISAN Scheme aims to provide income
India which functions under the Union Home support to all landholding Farmers’ families across
Ministry. the country to enable them to take care of expenses
related to agriculture and allied activities as well
as domestic needs.
Schemes For
€ The Scheme provides a payment of Rs.6000/- per
Farmers’ Welfare year for the farmers’ families with cultivable land
holding, subject to certain exclusions.
Why in News? ¾ Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs):
€ The Government launched the Central Sector
Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers
Scheme (CSS) for “Formation and Promotion of
Welfare has informed Lok Sabha that a comprehensive 10,000 FPOs” in the year 2020.
range of Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes
€ Formation & promotion of FPOs are to be done
have been implemented for Farmers Welfare. through Implementing Agencies (IAs), which further
What are the Central Sector and Centrally engage Cluster Based Business Organizations
Sponsored Schemes? (CBBOs) to form & provide professional handholding
¾ Central Sector Scheme: support to FPOs for a period of 05 years including
preparation and execution of business plan for the
€ Central sector schemes are based on subjects
concerned FPOs.
from the union list, and they are formulated
¾ Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF):
by the centre.
€ Rs 1 lakh crore Agri Infra Fund was launched in
€ These schemes are designed, planned and July 2020 under Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.
comprletely funded by the central government. € The AIF is a medium - long term debt financing
z Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, Pradhan Mantri facility for investment in viable projects for post-
ujjwala Yojana, Khelo India Scheme are some harvest management infrastructure and community
examples of the Central sector schemes. farming assets through interest subvention and
credit guarantee support.
¾ Centrally Sponsored Scheme:
¾ National Mission on Edible Oil-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP):
€ Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) are schemes
€ It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, launched in
that are funded partially by both the Central
2021 to promote oil palm cultivation for making
and State Governments.
India Atma Nirbhar in edible oils with special
€ It is basically a channel which the central focus on North-Eastern States and A&N Islands.
government uses to help the states run their € The Mission will bring an additional area of 6.5 lakh
plans financially. ha under Oil Palm plantation with 3.28 lakh ha in
€ In these schemes, a certain percentage of the north-eastern states and 3.22 lakh ha in the rest
funding is provided by the states, although of India in next 5 years from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
most of it rests with the centre. ¾ National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM):
€ It is a Central Sector Scheme, launched in 2020 under
z The amount of state participation varies from
AtmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan for its implementation
state to state.
in the field for overall promotion and development
€ Their implementation rests on the Union of scientific beekeeping& to achieve the goal of
territories and the States. Sweet Revolution.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 105
zForty Recommendations of the Financial Action
Government Brings GSTN Task Force on Money Laundering, 1990
under PMLA Ambit z Political Declaration and Global Program of
Action adopted by theUnited Nations General
Assembly in 1990.
Why in News?
¾ About:
Recently, the government has issued a notification, € It is a criminal law enacted to prevent money
bringing the Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) laundering and to provide for the confiscation
under the ambit of thePrevention of Money Laundering of property derived from, or involved in, money-
Act, 2002 (PMLA). laundering and related matters.
¾ These changes have been made under Section 66 of the € It forms the core of the legal framework put in
PMLA, which provides for disclosure of information. place by India to combat Money Laundering.
€ The provisions of this act are applicable to all
What is Goods and Services Tax Network?
financial institutions, banks (IncludingRBI),mutual
¾ GSTN has developed an Indirect Taxation platform funds,insurance companies,and their financial
for GST in India. intermediaries.
¾ The platform helps taxpayers in preparing, filing ¾ Objectives:
returns, making payments, and complying with € Confiscate and seize proceeds of crime that are
indirect tax regulations. laundered, generated, or acquired through criminal
¾ It provides IT infrastructure and services to the activities.
Central and State Governments, taxpayers, and other € Establish a legal framework for the prevention of
stakeholders. money laundering and terrorist financing.
¾ GSTN is a not for profit, limited by shares, Government € Strengthen and improve the mechanism for
Company. It was incorporated in 2013 under Section investigation and prosecution of money laundering
25 of the Companies Act, 1956 (Now Section 8 of the offenses.
Companies Act, 2013). € Enhance international cooperation in the fight
€ The company is headed by a chairman who is against money laundering and related crimes.
appointed by the Government. ¾ Regulating Authorities:
¾ The Board of GSTN in its 49th Board Meeting held € Directorate of Enforcement (ED):
in June 2022 has approved the conversion of GSTN z The ED is responsible for enforcing the provisions
into Government Company and hence 100% of of the PMLA and investigating money laundering
the shareholding being held by Government (50% cases.
with Union Government and 50% jointly with State
€ Financial Intelligence Unit – India (FIU-IND):
Governments & UTs) in GSTN.
z Unit of the Indian Government’s Department

What is the Prevention of Money of Revenue.

z Gathers financial intelligence on money
Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002?
laundering offenses.
¾ Background:
z Operates under the PMLA, 2002.
€ The PMLA was enacted in response to India’s
z Sections 12 of PMLA require reporting entities to
global commitment (Vienna Convention) to combat maintain transaction records, furnish information
the menace ofmoney laundering. These include: on prescribed transactions to the Director of
z United Nations Convention Against Illicit FIU-IND, and verify the identity of clients and
Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic beneficial owners.
Substances 1988 z Collaborates with enforcement agencies and
z Basle Statement of Principles, 1989 foreign FIUs.

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106 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, including any legal

The Places of proceedings associated with it.
Worship Act, 1991 € Penalties (Section 6):
z Specifies penalties, including a maximum

Why in News? imprisonment term of three years and fines,

for violating the Act.
The Supreme Court of India has adjourned the case
€ Exclusion of Ayodhya Dispute:
regarding the validity of the Places of Worship Act of
z The Act is specifically criticized for excluding the
1991, allowing the Centre until October 31, 2023, to
land involved in the Ayodhya dispute.
clarify its stand on the matter.
z Opponents question its consistency and raise

What is the Places of Worship Act? concerns about the differential treatment of
religious sites.
¾ About:
€ It was enacted to freeze the status of religious
places of worship as they existed on August 15, India Mobile Congress 2023
1947, and prohibits the conversion of any place
of worship and ensures the maintenance of their Why in News?
religious character.
Recently, the 7th edition of India Mobile Congress
¾ Major Provisions of the Act: (IMC) 2023 was inaugurated by the Ministery for
€ Prohibition of Conversion (Section 3): Communications and Cellular Operators Association of
z Prevents the conversion of a place of worship, India (COAI).
whether in full or part, from one religious’ ¾ The theme of IMC 2023 is “Global Digital Innovation,”
denomination to another or within the same seeks to establish India as a leading technology
denomination. developer,telecom manufacturerand exporter.
€ Maintenance of Religious Character (Section 4(1)):
What is India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2023?
z Ensures that the religious identity of a place
of worship remains the same as it was on ¾ India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2023 is a prominent
August 15, 1947. annual event that showcases the latest advancements
€ Abatement of Pending Cases (Section 4(2)): and innovations in the mobile and digital technology
sector.
z Declares that any ongoing legal proceedings
¾ It serves as a platform for industry leaders, policymakers,
concerning the conversion of a place of worship’s
technology enthusiasts, and stakeholders to come
religious character before August 15, 1947,
together and discuss the future of the digital landscape.
will be terminated, and no new cases can be
initiated.
€ Exceptions to the Act (Section 5): Scheme for Expansion
z The Act does not apply to ancient and historical and Modernization of
monuments, archaeological sites, and remains
covered by theAncient Monuments and Fire Services in States
Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
z It also excludes cases that have already been Why in News?
settled or resolved and disputes that have been Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government
resolved by mutual agreement or conversions of India has launched a “Scheme for Expansion and
that occurred before the Act came into effect. Modernization of Fire Services in the States (SEMFSS)”
z The Act does not extend to the specific place under theNational Disaster Response Fund (NDRF)for
of worship known as Ram Janmabhoomi- strengthening fire services in the States.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 107
What is the Scheme for Expansion and It provides a holistic and evidence-based assessment
€

Modernization of Fire Services in the States? of the development status of panchayats,

highlighting their strengths and weaknesses.
¾ About:
¾ Objective:
€ The Scheme finds its origin from the recommendation
€ The PDI aims to promote the Localization of SDGs
of the Fifteenth Finance Commission (XV-FC) which
by creating awareness among panchayats and
allows an allocation of 12.5 % of each of the NDRF
stakeholders about their importance.
and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for the
€ It encourages panchayats to adopt best practices
Funding Window of Preparedness and Capacity
Building. and innovations to improve their performance in
achieving SDGs.
¾ Objective:
¾ Ranking and Categorization:
€ The objective of the scheme is to expand and
€ The PDI provides rankings for panchayats at different
modernize Fire Services in the States with a view
that activities for strengthening of fire services at levels, including district, block, and village, based
the State-level through preparedness and capacity- on their overall scores.
building components of the NDRF will be ensured. € Panchayats are categorized into four grades: D

¾ Fund Allocation:
(scores under 40%), C (40-60%), B (60-75%), A
(75-90%), and A+ (above 90%).
€ Out of the total NDRF corpus, an amount of Rs.
¾ Themes and Focus Areas:
5,000 Crore was earmarked for priority “Expanding
and Modernization of Fire Services”. € The PDI considers nine themes, including poverty-

€ The amount of Rs. 500 crores, out of the total

free and enhanced livelihood, healthy village,
outlay, has been kept for incentivizing the States child-friendly village, water-sufficient village, clean
on the basis of their legal and infrastructure- and green village, self-sufficient infrastructure,
socially just and secured villages, good governance,
based reforms.
and women-friendly village.
¾ Funding Pattern:
€ For seeking funds for the projects/proposals under What are the Key Highlights of
the Scheme, the concerned State Governments the Report on the PDI?
shall have to contribute 25% (except for the North-
¾ The pilot project was carried out in four districts of
Eastern and Himalayan (NEH) States which shall
Maharashtra, namely Pune, Sangli, Satara, and Solapur.
contribute 10%) of total cost of such projects /
¾ The data collected from the pilot project was used
proposals from their budgetary resources.
to compile the report of the Panchayat Development
Index Committee.
Report on Panchayat ¾ The pilot study showed that 70% of the panchayats
Development Index in the four districts of Maharashtra fall in Category
C, while 27% are in Category B.
¾ The report highlights the need for evidence-based
Why in News? planning, resources must be deployed where required
Recently, the Union Minister of State for Panchayati for overall development.
Raj released the Report on Panchayat Development Index
(PDI) at the National Workshop on Panchayat Development
Index in New Delhi.
National Research
Foundation
What is the Panchayat Development Index?
¾ About: Why in News?
€ The PDI is a composite index that measures the Recently, the Ministry of Science and Technology,
performance of panchayats in achieving the Government of India, has approved the introduction of
Localization of Sustainable Development Goals the National Research Foundation (NRF) Bill, 2023 in
(SDGs). Parliament.

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108 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

What are the Features of the NRF Bill 2023?

¾ Establishment of NRF:
Gramodyog Vikas Yojana
€ The bill, after approval in the Parliament, will and Village Industries
establish NRF, an apex body to provide high-level
strategic direction of scientific research in India as Why in News?
per recommendations of the National Education
Recently, the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi
Policy (NEP), at a total estimated cost of Rs. 50,000 distributed Honeybee-Boxes and Toolkits to 130
crores during five years (2023-28). recipients as part of the Gramodyog Vikas Yojana (GVY)
¾ Subsumption of SERB: program.
€ The bill will repeal the Science and Engineering ¾ The initiative was organised by the Khadi and Village
Research Board (SERB) established by an act of Industries Commission (KVIC).
Parliament in 2008 and subsume it into NRF which
has an expanded mandate and covers activities What is Gramodyog Vikas Yojana (GVY)?
over and above the activities of SERB. ¾ About:
¾ Administration and Governance: € It was launched in March 2020.
€ The Department of Science and Technology (DST) € It is one of the two components of the Khadi
will be the administrative Department of NRF which Gramodyog Vikas Yojana which is aCentral Sector
will be governed by a Governing Board consisting Scheme (CSS).
of eminent researchers and professionals across z The other component of Khadi Gramodyog
disciplines. Vikas Yojana is the Khadi Vikas Yojana (KVY)
€ The Prime Minister will be the ex-officio President which includes two new components such as
of the Board and the Union Minister of Science & Rozgar Yukt Gaon, Design House (DH)
Technology & Union Minister of Education will be ¾ Aim:
the ex-officio Vice-Presidents.
€ GVY aims to promote and develop the village
€ NRF’s functioning will be governed by an Executive
industries through common facilities, technological
Council chaired by the Principal Scientific Adviser modernization, training etc.
to the Government of India.
¾ Included Activities:
€ Agro-Based &Food Processing Industry (ABFPI)
What is the National Research Foundation?
€ Mineral-Based Industry (MBI)
¾ Objective:
€ Wellness & Cosmetics Industry (WCI)
€ To ensure that scientific research was conducted
€ Handmade Paper, Leather & Plastic Industry (HPLPI)
and funded equitably and greater participation
from the private sector was forthcoming. € Rural Engineering & New Technology Industry

€ It will focus on creating a policy framework and

(RENTI)
putting in place regulatory processes that can € Service Industry

encourage collaboration and increased spending

by the industry on R&D. Jan Vishwas (Amendment
€ The NRF aims to involve colleges and universities
in scientific research, as currently, less than 1% of Provisions) Bill, 2023
of the nearly 40,000 higher learning institutions
in India are engaged in research. Why in News?
€ The NRF plans to build research capacities in Recently, the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions)
universities by encouraging active researchers to Bill, 2023 was passed in Lok Sabha during the monsoon
take up NRF professorships, regardless of age, session and aims at giving a boost to Ease of Living and
and collaborate with existing faculty. Ease of Doing Business.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 109
What is the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of
Provisions) Bill, 2023? Welfare Schemes for the
¾ About: Minority Communities
€ The Bill proposes to amend 183 provisions in
42 Central Acts administered by 19 Ministries/ Why in News?
Departments, covering various domains such as Recently, the Ministry of Minority Affairs, shared
environment, agriculture, media, industry, trade, significant achievements and insights about the various
information technology, copyright, motor vehicles, schemes and initiatives implemented by the government
cinematography, food safety, etc. for the welfare and upliftment of minority communities
€ The main objective of the Bill is to decriminalize in India.
minor offences that do not involve any harm to
the public interest or national security and replace What are the Various Schemes for
them with civil penalties or administrative actions. the Welfare of Minority Communities in India?
¾ Background: ¾ Educational Empowerment Schemes:
€ The Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on 22nd € Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme:
December 2022 and referred to the Joint Committee z It is a centrally funded scholarship scheme for
of Parliament. students in all states, which is open every year.
¾ Need: z Aims to provide financial assistance to students
€ Rationalize criminal provisions to reduce undue from minority communities studying in classes
pressure on the justice system. 1 to 10.
€ Address technical and procedural defaults without z Helps in covering educational expenses and
imposing severe penalties. encouraging minority students to pursue
€ Establish a balanced approach between the severity education.
of offence and prescribed punishment. € Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme:

€ Boost the growth of businesses by eliminating z It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme and

barriers and promoting a conducive legal implemented through State Government and
environment. UT administration.
¾ Key Features of the Bill: z Providesscholarships to minority students

€ The Bill seeks to remove imprisonment clauses studying in classes 11 and 12 and pursuing
and/or fines in some provisions andconvert them undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
into penalties in some others. z Supports students in pursuing higher education

z The penalties will be determined by adjudicating

and enhancing their career prospects.
officers appointed by the respective Ministries/ € National Means Cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme

Departments. (NMMSS):
€ The Bill also introduces compounding of offences in z It is the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS)

some provisions, which means that the offenders which was launched in 2008.
can settle their cases by paying a certain amount z Focuses on providing financial assistance to
without going through a court trial. meritorious minority students with limited
€ The Bill provides for a periodic revision of fines and financial resources.
penalties every three years, with an increase of z Encourages academic excellence and ensures
10% of the minimum amount for various offences equal opportunities for deserving students.
in the specified Acts. € Education Loan Scheme by National Minorities

€ The Bill removes all offences and penalties under Development & Finance Corporation (NMDFC):
the Indian Post Office Act, of 1898, which is z NMDFC offers an Education Loan Scheme to
considered to be obsolete and irrelevant in the students belonging to minority communities,
present context. including the Jain community.

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110 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

z Concessional credit is provided for pursuing

technical and professional courses with a Rajasthan Platform-Based
maximum course duration of 5 years. Gig Workers (Registration
Educational loans of up to ₹20.00 lakh are
z
and Welfare) Bill, 2023
available for 5-year courses in India and ₹30.00
lakh for 5-year courses abroad.
Why in News?
¾ Employment and Economic Empowerment Schemes:
The Rajasthan Assembly recently passed a significant
€ Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PMVIKAS): Bill aimed at extending social security benefits to gig
z Aims to preserve and promote the rich cultural workers.
heritage of minority communities. ¾ This bill aims to address the lack of protection and
z Supports traditional crafts, art forms, and benefits for gig workers, who were previously classified
cultural practices to empower artisans and as “partners” rather than employees in companies
like Ola, Uber, Swiggy, Zomato, and Amazon.
craftsmen.
¾ Earlier, the Code on Social Security, 2020 mandated
€ NMDFC Scheme:
social security funds for gig workers, including life,
z Provides concessional loans to minorities disability, health benefits, and more.
to support their economic ventures and
entrepreneurship. What is the Rajasthan Platform-Based Gig
z Enables economic self-reliance and promotes Workers (Registration and Welfare) Bill, 2023?
sustainable livelihoods. ¾ About:
¾ Special Schemes: € The Rajasthan Platform-Based Gig Workers
(Registration and Welfare) Bill acknowledges the
€ Jiyo Parsi:
significant contributions of gig workers to the
z A unique scheme aimed at reversing the economy and aims to provide them with essential
population decline of the Parsi community protection and support.
in India. € The primary objective of this bill is to extend social

z Implements measures to encourage Parsi security and welfare benefits to gig workers
families to have more children and sustain operating in the state.
their community’s cultural legacy. ¾ Key Features:

€ Qaumi Waqf Board Taraqqiati Scheme (QWBTS) € Registration of Gig Workers:

and Shahari Waqf Sampatti Vikas Yojana (SWSVY): z The bill mandates the registration of all gig
workers with the state government to bring
z Focuses on the development and utilization
them under the ambit of labor regulations.
of waqf propertiesfor the welfare of minority
z The state government will maintain a
communities.
comprehensive database of all gig workers
z Enhances infrastructure and facilities in waqf operating in Rajasthan.
properties to serve the community better. z Each gig worker will be assigned a unique ID,
¾ Infrastructure Development Schemes: which will facilitate tracking their employment
€ Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK): history and entitlements.
€ Access to Social Security Schemes:
z Aims at creating better infrastructure in minority-
z Gig workers will be granted access to a range
concentrated areas.
of social security schemes.
z Provides improved amenities, healthcare z These schemes may include health insurance,
facilities, education centers, and skill accident coverage, and other welfare measures
development opportunities. to provide financial support during emergencies.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 111
¾ Grievance Redressal Mechanism: Who are Gig Workers?
€ The bill ensures that gig workers have the right ¾ A ‘gig worker’ is currently defined as someone who
to be heard and address any grievances they “earns from such activities outside of the traditional
may have. employer-employee relationship and who works on
€ This provision seeks to protect the rights of gig a contract” for various platforms or aggregators, such
workers and provide them with a platform to as Swiggy, Zomato, Ola, Uber, Urban Company, etc.
resolve work-related issues. ¾ Gig workers are different from regular employees, as
¾ Establishment of Platform-Based Gig Workers they have flexible work hours andmultiple sources
Welfare Board: of income.
€ This board will be responsible for overseeing the € They are paid on the basis of the tasks or services
welfare and rights of gig workers in the state. they complete, rather than on a monthly or hourly
€ Welfare Board — comprising State officials, five basis.
representatives each from gig workers and ¾ Gig workers provide various services, such as food
aggregators, and two others (“one from Civil delivery, ride-hailing, home services, e-commerce,
Society and another who evince interest in any content creation, graphic design, web development,
other field”). etc.
z At least one-third of the nominated members € They use their own devices, vehicles, and tools

should be women. to perform their work.

€ This representation aims to ensure that the ¾ Gig workers are estimated to be around 15 million
interests of both parties are considered when in India, according to a report by Boston Consulting
making decisions related to welfare and regulation. Group and Michael & Susan Dell Foundation. They
¾ Platform-Based Gig Workers Fund and Welfare Fee: are expected to grow to 90 million by 2028.
€ The bill introduces a “Platform-Based Gig Workers ¾ A Gig economy is a free market system in which
Fund and Welfare Fee” to finance the social security temporary positions are common and organizations
measures for gig workers. contract with independent workers for short-term
engagements.
€ The fund will be utilized to provide financial
support and welfare benefits to gig workers during
challenging times. PM-KUSUM
¾ Fee Levied on Aggregators:
€ Aggregators will be required to pay a fee for each Why in News?
transaction involving a platform-based gig worker. The Union Minister of New Renewable Energy
€ The specific percentage of the fee will be determined furnished the current status of thePradhan Mantri Kisan
by the state government to contribute to the Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM KUSUM)
welfare fund. scheme through a written response in Lok Sabha.
¾ Penalties for Non-Compliance:
€ The bill includes provisions for penalties in case What is PM-KUSUM?
of non-compliance by aggregators. ¾ About:
€ Aggregators failing to pay the welfare fee on time € The PM-KUSUM is a flagship scheme initiated by

will be charged an interest rate of 12% per annum the Indian government in 2019 with the primary
from the due date. objective of transforming theagricultural sectorby
€ The state government can impose fines of up to promoting the adoption of solar energy solutions.
Rs 5 lakh for the first contravention and up to € It operates on a demand-driven approach. Capacities

Rs 50 lakh for subsequent violations of the Act are allocated based on the demands received
by aggregators. from various states and union territories (UTs).

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112 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

Through various components and financial support,

€
Note:
PM-KUSUM envisions achieving a significant solar ¾ ICED is the country’s one-stop platform for near
power capacity addition of 30.8 GW by March real-time data on the energy sector, climate, and
31, 2026.
related economic datasets based on government
¾ Objectives of PM-KUSUM: published sources.
€ De-dieselisation of the Farm Sector: The scheme
aims to reduce the dependence on diesel for What are the Key Features and
irrigation by encouraging the use ofsolar-powered Functionality of IESS 2047 V3.0?
pumps and other renewable energy sources. ¾ Comprehensive Scope: This tool assesses the demand
z It also seeks to increase farmers’ income by and supply of energy in the country, considering
reducing irrigation costs through the use of policies related to alternative energy resources
solar pumps and enabling them to sell surplus likeGreen Hydrogen Mission, Renewable Purchase
solar power to the grid. Obligations,PM-KUSUM, Offshore wind strategy,
€ Water and Energy Security for Farmers: By providing among others.
access to solar pumps and promoting solar-based ¾ Environmental Impact Analysis: By analyzing emissions,
community irrigation projects, the scheme aims cost, land, and water requirements up to 2047, IESS
to enhance water and energy security for farmers. 2047 aims to steer India towards a sustainable and
€ Curbing Environmental Pollution: Through the net-zero energy future.
adoption of clean and renewable solar energy, the ¾ Open-Source and User-Friendly: The tool is open-
scheme aims to mitigate environmental pollution source, easily downloadable, and user-friendly,
caused by conventional energy sources. encouraging accessibility and engagement from
¾ Components: researchers, think tanks, and the public.
€ Component-A: Setting up of 10,000 MW of € IESS 2047 allows users to generate personalized
Decentralized Ground/Stilt Mounted Solar Power pathways, tailored to specific factors like industry,
Plants on barren/fallow/pasture/marshy/ cultivable services, agriculture, population, urbanization,
land of farmers. and end-use energy demand.
€ Component-B: Installation of 20 Lakh Stand-alone ¾ Reducing External Dependency: By providing reliable
Solar Pumps in off-grid areas. estimates of the country’s energy needs, IESS 2047
€ Component-C: Solarisation of 15 Lakh Grid helps reduce India’s reliance on external agencies.
Connected Agriculture Pumps through: Individual
Pump Solarisation and Feeder Level Solarisation.
Roadmap of Solar Energy for
India Energy Security Universal Energy Access
Scenarios 2047 V3.0 Why in News?
Recently, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
Why in News? (MNRE), in partnership with theInternational Solar
NITI Aayog unveiled the latest version of theIndia Alliance, unveiled the report on ‘Roadmap of Solar Energy
Energy Security Scenarios (IESS) 2047 V3.0, an open- for Universal Energy Access’ developed underIndia’s G20
source tool designed to evaluate the integrated impact presidency in 2023showcases howsolar energy can play
of variousgreen energy policies of the Government of a key role in achieving electricity access and providing
India. socio-economic benefits globally.
¾ The baseline for the tool has been set at 2020 and ¾ The roadmap is unveiled during the 4th G20 Energy
is continually calibrated up to 2022, ensuring the Transition Working Group held in Goa. It focuses
accuracy of its predictions. on achieving Universal Energy Access by 2030 and
¾ NITI Aayog also released the India Climate Energy highlighted the crucial role of solar mini grids in
Dashboard (ICED) 3.0. driving sustainable energy solutions.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 113
What are the Key Highlights of the Report? ¾ Importance:
€ Around 9% of the global population still lacks
¾ The roadmap emphasizes solar energy as a key solution
to achieve Universal Energy Access by 2030. access to electricity, with Sub-Saharan Africa and
rural areas being the most affected.
¾ It identifies around 59% (396 million people) of the
z Solar mini-grids can play a crucial role in
unelectrified population best suited for electrification
addressing this challenge by providing reliable
through solar-based mini-grids.
and affordable electricity to these communities.
¾ Approximately 30% of the unelectrified population
€ Moreover, over 1.9 billion people worldwide
(203 million people) can be electrified through grid lack access to clean cooking, and solar mini-grids
extensions, and the remaining 11% of the unelectrified can also power electric stoves or other cooking
population (77 million people) through Decentralized appliances, providing clean cooking solutions.
Renewable Energy solutions.
A total investment of around USD 192 billion is
¾
required to accomplish the electrification goals,
Rajasthan Minimum
distributed among solar-based mini-grids, solar-based Guaranteed Income Bill, 2023
decentralized renewable energy solutions, and grid
extensions. Why in News?
¾ Viability gap funding of around 50% (USD 48.5 billion) The Rajasthan Minimum Guaranteed Income Bill,
is needed to support mini-grid deployment. 2023, introduced by the Rajasthan government, aims to
¾ The roadmap underscores the importance of addressing provide additional income support to people in the state.
challenges related to policies, regulations, and The Bill seeks to help citizens cope with inflation and
financial risks for successful and sustainable scaling improve their financial stability.
up of solar energy solutions. ¾ The Bill has three broad categories: right to minimum
¾ It highlights the need for technical and financial guaranteed income, right to guaranteed employment,
expertise, skill development, and awareness creation and right to guaranteed social security pension.
in energy access-deficit regions to drive electrification
What is the Rajasthan Minimum
initiatives.
Guaranteed Income Bill, 2023?
¾ The report advocates for increased investments,
¾ Key Components of the Bill:
ecosystem development, and optimal resource
€ Right to Minimum Guaranteed Income:
utilization to accelerate universal energy access.
z The Bill guarantees a minimum income for every
¾ Integration of solar PV-based cooking solutions with
adult citizen for 125 days a year.
electrification initiatives is emphasized as a way to
z Each adult citizen will receive minimum income
enhance energy access in remote and underdeveloped
through the Indira Gandhi Shahri Rozgar
areas.
Guarantee Yojana in urban areas and the
What is Solar Mini-grids? Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment
Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in rural areas.
¾ About: „ The state will add 25 days of employment to
€ Solar mini-grids are small-scale electricity MGNREGA’s 100 days for rural areas.
generation and distribution systems that use € Right to Guaranteed Employment:
solar photovoltaic (PV) technology to generate z The government will pay minimum wages
electricity and store it in batteries. weekly or fortnightly after the completion of
€ They are typically designed to provide electricity work in urban and rural employment schemes.
to communities or areas that either need to be z A designated officer will ensure job sites are
connected to the main power grid or experience within five kilometers of the registered job
frequent power outages. card address.

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114 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

z If employment is not provided within 15 days of

application, the applicant will receive a weekly World Youth Skills Day:
unemployment allowance “and in any case not Namda Art, AI for India 2.0
later than a fortnight.”
€ Right to Guaranteed Social Security Pension: Why in News?
z The Bill ensures that people falling under
Recently, on the occasion of World Youth Skills Day
categories like old age, specially abled, widows, (15 July), the Skill India projectachieved a remarkable
th

and single women receive a pension. feat by successfully reviving the dying Namda Art of
„ The pension will see an annual increase of Jammu and Kashmir, by flagging off the first batch of
15% in two installments, starting from the Namda Art products for export to the UK.
financial year 2024-2025. ¾ On the same occasion, the Union Minister of Education
and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, launched
AI for India 2.0.
Overview of Indian
Nursing Colleges What is World Youth Skills Day?
¾ About:
Why in News? € Every year, the 15th of July is observed as World
Youth Skills Day.
Ministry of Health data reveals that 40% of districts
€ The day highlights the critical role of skills
in India lack any nursing colleges. Moreover, five States
development in preparing young people for the
in the south have 42% of the country’s nursing institutions,
labor market and fostering their active participation
while three States in the west have 17%.
in society.
€ Celebrates the strategic importance of equipping
What are the New Findings?
young people with skills for employment, decent
¾ India currently has close to 35 lakh nurses, but its work, and entrepreneurship.
nurse to population ratio is only 2.06:1000 against
¾ Background:
a global benchmark of 3:1000.
€ Designated by the United Nations General
¾ There has been a 36% growth in the number of Assembly in 2014.
institutions offering undergraduate nursing education
¾ World Youth Skills Day 2023 Theme:
since 2014-­15, resulting in a 40% growth in nursing
€ Skilling Teachers, Trainers, and Youth for a
seats.
Transformative Future.
€ But About 64% of the nursing workforce is currently
trained in just eight States. What is Namda Art?
¾ 42% of nursing institutions are concentrated in five ¾ Origin and Introduction:
southern States namely, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, € Namda Art began in the 16th century when Mughal
Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana. Emperor Akbar desired protective coverings for
€ 17% are in the western States of Rajasthan, Gujarat, his horses.
and Maharashtra. € It was introduced to Kashmir by Sufi saint Shah-

€ Only 2% of nursing colleges are in the northeastern e-Hamdan.

State. ¾ Creation and Materials:
¾ The growth of nursing colleges also lags far behind € Namda is a type of traditional Kashmiri felted

the 81% growth rate of medical colleges, with the carpet made using sheep wool.
number of undergraduate and postgraduate medical € The wool is compressed and matted together;
seats surging at 110% and 114%, respectively, since a process known as felting, giving it a distinct
2014­-15. texture.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 115
What is AI for India 2.0? zJuvenile justice program for children in need
of care and protection and children in conflict
¾ About:
with the law.
€ AI for India 2.0 is a free online training program
z Integrated program for street children.
focused on Artificial Intelligence.. The program is a
z Scheme for assistance to children’s homes.
continuation of AI for India 1.0, which was launched
on February 24, 2021. AI for India 1.0 was a one- € 2010: These schemes merged into the Integrated

day online event that provided a complimentary Child Protection Scheme.

course on Python programming language, a widely € 2017: Renamed as the Child Protection Services
used language in AI development. Scheme.
€ It is a Joint Collaboration between Skill India and € 2021-22: Reintroduced as Mission Vatsalya.

GUVI, an IIT Madras incubated startup. ¾ About:

€ Completion of the program results in recognition € Umbrella scheme for child protection services
and certification of acquired AI skills. in India.
¾ Aim: € Aims to secure a healthy and happy childhood for

€ Aims to future-proof India’s youth by offering AI every child in the country.

skill training. € Components of Mission Vatsalya include:

€ Equipping Indian youth with frontier AI skills. z Improving the functioning of statutory bodies.

€ Enhancing employability and fostering skill z Strengthening service delivery structures.

development. z Upscaling institutional care and services.

z Encouraging non-institutional community-

Ensuring Child Welfare and based care.

z Providing emergency outreach services.
Support: Mission Vatsalya z Training and capacity building.
Scheme ¾ Objectives:
€ Ensure opportunities for children to reach their

Why in News? full potential and flourish in all aspects.

Mission Vatsalya, launched by the Ministry of € Foster a sensitive, supportive, and synchronized

Women and Child Development, ensures children’s safety ecosystem for child development.
and security in India. € Assist states and union territories in implementing

¾ Child Welfare and Protection Committee (CW&PC) at the Juvenile Justice Act, of 2015.
village level will identify the children who are eligible € Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

for support likely to be in difficult circumstances,

orphans, street children etc. These children will be What are Child Welfare Committees?
facilitated under the sponsorship component of ¾ Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) are constituted
Mission Vatsalya Scheme. by state governments for each district or group of
¾ Sponsorship facilities will be provided based on the districts to protect and care for children in need.
recommendation of the Child Welfare Committee ¾ Each CWC consists of a Chairperson and four members,
(CWC) and approval from the Sponsorship and Foster including at least one woman and one expert on
Care Approval Committee (SFCAC). matters concerning children.
¾ The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children)
What is Mission Vatsalya? Act, 2015, mandates the establishment of at least
¾ Historical Perspective: one CWC in every district.
€ Pre-2009: Ministry of Women and Child Development ¾ CWCs perform functions and roles as defined in the
implemented three schemes: Juvenile Justice Act/Rules, subject to amendments.

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116 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

¾ CWC functions as a Bench of Magistrates and has „ The adjustment of 1% is to provide for the
the authority to dispose of cases related to the newly formed union territories of Jammu
care, protection, treatment, development, and and Kashmir, and Ladakh from the resources
rehabilitation of children. of the centre.
¾ Mission Vatsalya provides infrastructure and financial z Horizontal Devolution (Allocation Between

support to states/UTs for setting up and ensuring the the States):

effective functioning of CWCs. „ For horizontal devolution, it has suggested
1 2 . 5 % we i g hta ge to d e m o g ra p h i c
performance, 45% to income, 15% each
Tax Devolution to population and area, 10% to forest and
ecology and 2.5% to tax and fiscal efforts.
Why in News? z Revenue Deficit Grants to States:
Recently, the Union government has released the „ Revenue Deficit is defined as the difference
3rd Installment of Tax Devolution to state governments between revenue or current expenditure
amounting to Rs 1,18,280 crore in June 2023, as against and revenue receipts, that includes tax and
the normal monthly devolution of Rs 59,140 crore. non-tax.
¾ It will enable states to speed up capital spending, „ It has recommended post-devolution revenue
finance their development/ welfare related expenditure deficit grants amounting to about Rs. 3
and also to make available resources for priority trillion over the five-year period ending FY26.
projects/ schemes. z Performance Based Incentives and Grants to
¾ Uttar Pradesh received the highest (Rs 21,218 crore) States: These grants revolve around four main
followed by Bihar (Rs 11,897 crore), Madhya Pradesh, themes.
West Bengal and Rajasthan. „ The first is the social sector, where it has
focused on health and education.
What is Tax Devolution? „ Second is the rural economy, where it has
¾ About: focused on agriculture and the maintenance
€ Tax devolution refers to the distribution of tax of rural roads.
revenues between the central government and the „ The rural economy plays a significant role in
state governments. It is a constitutional mechanism the country as it encompasses two-thirds of
established to allocate the proceeds of certain the country’s population, 70% of the total
taxes among the Union and the states in a fair workforce and 46% of national income.
and equitable manner. z Third, governance and administrative reforms
€ Article 280(3)(a) of the Constitution of India under which it has recommended grants for
mandates that the Finance Commission (FC) has judiciary, statistics and aspirational districts
the responsibility to make recommendations and blocks.
regarding the division of the net proceeds of z Fourth, it has developed a performance-based
taxes between the Union and the states. incentive system for the power sector, which is
¾ Key Recommendations of 15th Finance Commission: not linked to grants but provides an important,
€ Share of States in Central Taxes (Vertical
additional borrowing window for States.
Devolution): € Grants to Local Governments:
z The share of states in the central taxes for the z Along with grants for municipal services and local

2021-26 period is recommended to be 41%, government bodies, it includes performance-

same as that for 2020-21. based grants for incubation of new cities and
„ This is less than the 42% share recommended
health grants to local governments.
by the 14th Finance Commission for 2015- „ In grants for Urban local bodies, basic grants

20 period. are proposed only for cities/towns having

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 117
a population of less than a million. For z Permission from the Central or State Government
Million-Plus cities, 100% of the grants are would be necessary based on the officer’s report.
performance-linked through the Million-Plus z It proposes incorporating a provision similar to
Cities Challenge Fund (MCF). Section 196 (3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure,
„ MCF amount is linked to the performance 1973, as a proviso to Section 154 of the same
of these cities in improving their air quality code for procedural safeguards against the use
and meeting the service level benchmarks of Section 124A.
for urban drinking water supply, sanitation z The Commission suggests amending Section
and solid waste management. 124A to specify that it penalizes individuals
“with a tendency to incite violence or cause
The 22nd Law Commission public disorder.”
Enhanced Punishment:
on Section 124A of the IPC €

z The report proposes an increase in the jail term

for sedition to a maximum of seven years or
Why in News? life imprisonment.
The 22nd Law Commission report recommends z Currently, the offense carries a term of up to
retaining Section 124A of the IPC, pertaining to sedition, three years or life imprisonment.
but proposes amendments and procedural safeguards
to prevent misuse. What is Sedition Law?
¾ Historical Background:
What are the Recommendations
€ Sedition laws were enacted in 17th century England
of the Law Commission?
when lawmakers believed that only good opinions
¾ Background: of the government should survive, as bad opinions
€ The Home Ministry requested the Law Commission were detrimental to the government and monarchy.
to examine the usage of Section 124A and propose € The law was originally drafted in 1837 by Thomas
amendments through a letter in 2016. Macaulay, the British historian-politician, but was
€ The Law Commission’s report highlights that the inexplicably omitted when the Indian Penal Code
existence of laws like the Unlawful Activities (IPC) was enacted in 1860.
(Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the National Security € Section 124A was inserted in 1870 by an amendment
Act (NSA) does not cover all aspects of the offence introduced by Sir James Stephen when it felt the
outlined in Section 124A. need for a specific section to deal with the offence.
¾ Recommendations:
€ Today the Sedition is a crime under Section 124A
€ Retaining Section 124A: of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
z The Commission argues that repealing Section ¾ Section 124A IPC:
124A solely based on other countries’ actions
€ It defines sedition as an offence committed when
would ignore the unique realities of India.
“any person by words, either spoken or written,
z It emphasizes that the colonial origins of a law or by signs, or by visible representation, or
do not automatically warrant its repeal. otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred
z The report suggests that the Indian legal system or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite
as a whole carries colonial influences. disaffection towards the government established
€ Amendments and Safeguards: by law in India”.
z The Commission recommends adding a € Disaffection includes disloyalty and all feelings
procedural safeguard to Section 124A, requiring of enmity. However, comments without exciting
a preliminary inquiry by a police officer of or attempting to excite hatred, contempt or
Inspector rank before registering an FIR for disaffection, will not constitute an offence under
sedition. this section.

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118 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

¾ Punishment for the Offence of Sedition: € Discretionary powers include:

€ It is a non-bailable offence. Punishment under z Appointment of a chief minister when no party

Section 124A ranges from imprisonment up to three has a clear majority in the state legislative
years to a life term, to which a fine may be added. assembly
€ A person charged under this law is barred from a z In times of no-confidence motions

government job. z In case off ailure of constitutional machinery

€ They have to live without their passport and must in the State(Article 356)
appear in court at all times as and when required. ¾ Article 200:
€ Article 200 of the Indian Constitution outlines the

Governor’s Role process for a Bill passed by the Legislative Assembly

of a State to be presented to the Governor for
in State Legislature assent, who may either assent, withhold assent or
reserve the Bill for consideration by the President.
Why in News? € The Governor may also return the Bill with a
message requesting reconsideration by the House
Issues have recently emerged in several Indian states
or Houses.
regarding the interaction between Chief Ministers
z In the case of Purushothaman Nambudiri v
andGovernorsconcerning the passing of bills. Chief
Ministers have expressed concerns that Governors have State of Kerala, the Supreme Court ruled that
a bill pending the Governor’s assent does not
delayed acting on bills presented for their assent.
lapse upon the dissolution of the House.
¾ This situation raises important questions about
z The Court inferred from the absence of a time
the functioning of a democracy and the potential
limit in Articles 200 and 201 that the framers
consequences of hindering the legislative process.
did not intend for bills awaiting the Governor’s
What are Constitutional Provisions assent to be at risk of lapsing.
Related to the Governor? ¾ The second provision of Article 200 grants the Governor
the discretion to refer a bill to the President if they
¾ Article 153 says that there shall be a Governor for believe its passage would infringe upon the powers
each State. One person can be appointed as Governor of the High Court. The procedure for presidential
for two or more States. assent is outlined in Article 201.
€ The Governor is appointed by the President by € In the Shamsher Singh case, the Court held
warrant under his hand and seal and holds office that the Governor’s power to reserve bills for
under the pleasure of the President (Article 155 the President’s consideration is an instance of
and 156). discretionary authority.
¾ Article 161 states that the governor has the power ¾ Article 201:
to grant pardons, reprieves, etc. € It states that when a Bill is reserved for the
€ The Supreme Court stated that the sovereign consideration of the President, the President may
power of a Governor to pardon a prisoner is assent to or withhold assent from the Bill.
actually exercised in consensus with the State € The President may also direct the Governor to
government and not the Governor on his own. return the Bill to the House or Houses of the
€ The advice of the government binds the Head of Legislature of the State for reconsideration.
the State. ¾ Article 361:
¾ Article 163 states that there is a council of ministers € Under Article 361 of the Constitution, the Governor
headed by the Chief Minister to aid and advise the (or President) has complete immunity from court
Governor in the exercise of his functions, except some proceedings for any act done in the exercise of
conditions for discretion. their powers.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 119
behalf of the government of India or any state
Article 299 of the government.
Constitution: Government ¾ Origin:
€ The government had been entering into contracts
Contracts even in the pre-independence era.
€ The Crown Proceedings Act of 1947 played a role
Why in News? in shaping Article 299.
The Supreme Court (SC) of India recently clarified z The Crown Proceedings Act specified that the
the legal provisions surrounding government contracts Crown could not be sued in court for a contract
made under the President’s name.
it entered.
¾ In a case involving Glock Asia-Pacific Limited and the
¾ Purpose and Object:
Centre, the court ruled that contracts entered into
€ Article 299 outlines the manner in which contracts
in the name of the President of India cannot grant
immunity from statutory prescriptions. made in the exercise of the executive power of the
¾ The ruling sheds light on the interpretation of Article
Union or a State shall be expressed and executed.
299 of the Constitution and its implications for € It aims to establish a specific procedure to

government contracts. safeguard public funds and prevent unauthorized

or illegitimate contracts.
What are Government Contracts? ¾ Expression and Execution:
¾ About: € According to Article 299(1), contracts must be
€ Government contracts are contracts undertaken expressed in writing and executed by a person
by the government for various purposes such as duly authorized by the President or the Governor
construction, management, maintenance, repairs, on their behalf.
manpower supply, IT-related projects, etc. ¾ Immunity of the President/Governor:
€ Government contracts involve the central
€ While Article 299(2) states that the President or
government or a state government, or a
the Governor cannot be personally held liable
government body as one party and a private
for contracts, it does not grant immunity to the
individual or entity as the other party.
government from the legal provisions of the contract.
€ Government contracts have to comply with certain
z The government (Union or states) in India can
formalities and safeguards as prescribed by Article
299 of the Constitution of India. be sued for torts (civil wrongs) committed by
its officials.
€ Government contracts are subject to public
scrutiny and accountability and are governed
What is the SC Court’s Ruling?
by the principles of fairness, transparency,
competitiveness, and non-discrimination. ¾ Case Background:
¾ Requirements for Government Contracts: € Glock Asia-Pacific Limited filed an application

€ The contract must be expressed to be made by against the Centre regarding the appointment of
the Governor or the President. an arbitrator in a tender-related dispute.
€ It must be executed in writing. z The government objected to the appointment of

€ The execution should be done by persons and in

a retired Delhi High Court judge as the arbitrator,
a manner directed or authorized by the Governor citing a tender condition that required an officer
or the President. from the Law Ministry to act as the arbitrator.
¾ Court’s Interpretation:
What is Article 299 of the Constitution? € The Supreme Court held that the arbitration clause,
¾ About: allowing a government officer to resolve the dispute
€ Article 299 of the Constitution deals with the as an arbitrator, conflicted with Section 12(5) of
manner and form of contracts made by or on the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.

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120 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

¾ Relevance of Article 299: €The concept aims to prevent long-standing doubts

€ The court emphasized that Article 299 only pertains over land ownership and to benefit society by
to the formalities of binding the government with allowing someone to make use of idle land left
contractual liability, not the substantive laws by the owner.
governing contractual liability. z It also provides protection to individuals who
have regarded the occupant as the rightful
What are the Other Judgements owner of the property.
Related to Article 299? ¾ Historical Development and Legal Framework:
¾ State of Bihar v Majeed (1954): € Historical Basis: The concept of “title by adverse
€ SC ruled that a Government Contract has to comply possession” dates back to the Hammurabi Code
with the provisions of Article 299 in addition to in 2000 BC.
the requirements of the Indian Contract Act, such
z Its development continued through statutes
as offer, acceptance, and consideration.
of limitation in England, with the Property
€ The contractual liability of the Central or State
Limitation Act of 1874 being a significant
Government is the same as that of any individual milestone.
under the ordinary law of contract, subject to the
€ Introduction to India: The law of limitation was
formalities prescribed by Article 299.
introduced in India through the “Act XIV of 1859”
¾ Mrs. Aliakutty Paul vs The State of Kerala and Ors
and underwent significant changes with the
(1995):
enactment of the Limitation Act in 1963.
€ A tender of the contract for construction of a bridge
¾ Major Provisions of the Limitation Act, 1963:
was accepted by the Executive Engineer, but he did
not sign it in the name of the Governor, it cannot € Burden of Proof: The 1963 Act shifted the burden

be said that there is a valid contract in conformity of proof of adverse possession to the claimant,
with Article 299 of the Constitution. thereby strengthening the position of the true
€ The decizsion explains the rationale and scope of owner.
Article 299 of the Constitution and emphasizes € Acquisition of Ownership: Under the Limitation
that its provisions are enacted for safeguarding Act, 1963, any person in possession of private land
the government against unauthorized contracts. for over 12 years or government land for over 30
years can become the owner of that property.
Adverse Possession z To claim adverse possession, the possession
must be open, continuous, and adverse to
the rights of the true owner for the required
Why in News?
statutory period.
The 22nd Law Commission’s recent report provides ¾ Main Ingredients of Adverse Possession:
a thorough examination of adverse possession and its
€ The Supreme Court, in the 2004 case of Karnataka
implications in property law and recommended that no
changes are necessary in the existing provisions under Board of Wakf v Government of India, outlined the
the Limitation Act of 1963. essential elements for proving adverse possession.
z Claimants must establish the date of possession,
¾ The concept of adverse possession stems from the
idea that land must not be left vacant but instead, the nature of possession, awareness of
be put to judicious use. possession by the true owner, the continuity
of possession, and that the possession was
What is Adverse Possession? open and undisturbed.
¾ About: z In the1981 ruling inKshitish Chandra Bose

€ Adverse possession refers to the acquisition of vs. Commissioner of Ranchi, the top court
property through hostile, continuous, uninterrupted, delineated the requirements of openness and
and peaceful possession. continuity.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 121
€Later in 2020, the EC wrote to the law ministry
Electronically Transmitted that it was technically and administratively ready
to implement this proposal.
Postal Ballot System for NRIs ¾ The EC has suggested that the ETPBS can be used for
NRIs with some modifications, such as allowing them
Why in News? to download their ballot papers online and return
Recently, the Chief Election Commissioner them by post or courier within a specified time limit.
emphasised the need to facilitate postal voting for Non- € The EC has also suggested that NRIs can be allowed

Resident Indians (NRIs). It highlights the Election to appoint a proxy voter in India, who can cast
Commission’s proposal for Electronically Transmitted their vote on their behalf after verifying their
Postal Ballots (ETPBs) for NRIs, which is currently awaiting identity and consent.
government approval. ¾ The EC has also proposed that NRIs can be given an
option to vote at designated polling stations set
¾ The initiative aims to allow over 1.34 crore overseas
up at Indian missions abroad, where they can use
Indians to participate in elections using a technology- electronic voting machines (EVMs) or paper ballots.
driven methodology.
¾ However, the proposal is still pending with the law
What is an Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot ministry and has faced opposition related to concerns
System? over the security and authenticity of the postal ballots.
¾ About:
€ The ETPBS is a system designed to facilitate First Sustainability
remote voting for individuals who are unable
to cast their votes in person at a polling station. Report of NHAI
z ETPBS combines the use of electronic
transmission and postal services to enable Why in News?
voters to receive and return their ballots The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)
electronically. has recently released its first Sustainability Report for
¾ For Service Voters: Under this system, postal ballots FY 2021-22. The report highlights NHAI’s governance
are sent electronically to registered service voters. structure, stakeholders, environment, and social
€ The service voter can then download the ETPB responsibility initiatives.
(along with a declaration form and covers), ¾ The Sustainability Report is prepared as per the Global
register their mandate on the ballot and send Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines and it will help
it to the returning officer of the constituency attract ‘Green Finance’ for Infrastructure financing.
via ordinary mail.
€ The post will include an attested declaration What are the Key Findings of the Report?
form (after being signed by the voter in the ¾ Digitization of Highway Network:
presence of an appointed senior officer who
€ NHAI has developed ‘Data Lake Tool’ for digitizing
will attest it).
the highway network in India, enabling NHAI to
€ The Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 was amended
manage the vast amount of data generated by its
in 2016 to allow service voters to use the ETPBS. infrastructure effectively.
¾ Reduced Emissions:
What was the Proposal Put Forward
€ NHAI has reduced direct emissions and fuel
by the EC Related to ETPB for NRIs?
consumption by 18.44% and 9.49%, respectively,
¾ The Election Commission (EC) had proposed an from FY 2019-20 till 2021-22.
amendment in Section 60 of the Representation of € GHG emissions from energy consumption,
the People Act, 1951, to extend the facility of ETPB operations, transport, and travel saw a decline of
to overseas electors in 2015. 9.7% in FY 2020-21 and 2% in FY 2021-22.

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122 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

¾ Use of Recycled Materials: ¾ The Mission is planned for an initial period of five
€ NHAI has been using recycled materials for years from 2023-24 to 2027-28 and will follow the
national highway construction, including fly-ash, technology life cycle approach of Idea to Product.
plastic waste, recycled asphalt (RAP), and recycled
What are the Key Details of
aggregates (RA).
the National Mission MAHIR?
¾ Wildlife Crossings:
€ More than 100 wildlife crossings were created ¾ Objectives of the Mission:
in three years across 20 states as a measure for € To identify emerging technologies and areas of
wildlife protection and conservation to reduce future relevance for the global power sector and
man-animal conflict. develop them indigenously.
¾ Plantation: € To provide a platform for collective brainstorming
and synergetic technology development among
€ NHAI has undertaken plantation drives to develop
power sector stakeholders.
eco-friendly national highways, planting around
2.74 crore saplings till 2021-22 to offset direct € To support pilot projects of indigenous technologies
developed by Indian start-ups and facilitate their
emissions from vehicles.
commercialization.
¾ Inclusive Workforce:
€ To leverage foreign alliances and partnerships
€ Women employment and employment of
for research and development of advanced
marginalized communities at NHAI have increased
technologies and technology transfer.
over the last three years.
€ To promote scientific and industrial R&D in the
€ There has been a steady increase in female power sector and create an innovative ecosystem.
hiringby 7.4% and total increase of 3% in overall
€ To position India among the leading countries in
work force in three financial years.
power system-related technologies and applications
What is Global Reporting Initiative? development.
¾ Funding:
¾ GRI is the independent, international organization
€ It will be funded by pooling resources from the
that helps businesses and other organizations take
Ministry of Power, Ministry of New & Renewable
responsibility for their impacts on environment.
Energy, and Central Public Sector Enterprises
¾ It enables all companies and organisations to report
under these ministries.
their economic, environmental, social and governance
€ Additional funding, if required, will be mobilized
performance.
from the Government of India’s budgetary resources.
¾ The GRI Secretariat is headquartered in Amsterdam,
¾ Areas Identified for Research under MAHIR:
the Netherlands.
€ Alternatives to Lithium-Ion storage batteries
€ Modifying electric cookers/pans to suit Indian
Mission on Advanced and cooking methods
High-Impact Research € Green hydrogen for mobility (High Efficiency Fuel
Cell)
Why in News? € Carbon capture
€ Geo-thermal energy
Recently, the Ministry of Power and the Ministry of
New and Renewable Energy have jointly launched a € Solid state refrigeration
National Mission named “Mission on Advanced and High- € Nano technology for EV battery
Impact Research (MAHIR)”. € Indigenous CRGO technology

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 123
have contributed significantly to renewable
India’s Energy Transition energy uptake at the national level.
Through States „ Similarly, PM KUSUM is an adoption
of successful State experiments on the
solarisation of agriculture at a national scale.
Why in News?
¾ Influencing National Policies:
India’s energy transition through states plays a crucial
€ Successful State-level experiments and innovative
role in achieving national targets and fulfilling global
approaches in renewable energy adoption serve as
climate commitments. The upcoming G20 forum presents influential models for the development of national
an opportunity for the country to propose a multiple policies and frameworks.
energy pathways approach to accommodate diverse
¾ Harnessing State Resources:
contexts.
€ Leveraging Localized Resources:
India has the goal of achieving 50% non-fossil
z Each state in India possesses a unique mix of
electricity generation capacity by 2030 and attaining
net-zero emissions by 2070, renewable energy resources, such as abundant
solar radiation, wind corridors, and biomass
India’s energy transition hinges on engaging states,
availability. States can harness these resources
as they play a vital role in the governance of energy
to promote renewable energy generation and
production and usage.
transition away from fossil fuels.
Why do States Matter? € Promoting Distributed Generation:

z States can encourage decentralized renewable

¾ Implementing National Targets:
energy solutions, such as rooftop solar
€ Tailoring Strategies to Local Contexts:
installations and community-based projects,
z The diversity of India’s states necessitates
to harness their localized resources effectively
a localized approach to energy transition, and promote community participation.
considering their unique contexts, resources,
¾ Importance of a State-level Framework:
and development trajectories.
€ Comprehensive Understanding:
€ Decentralized Implementation:
z A state-level framework provides a holistic
z While the central government sets national
understanding of each state’s energy transition
goals, states have the responsibility to implement plans, actions, and governance processes.
policies and action plans at the grassroots level.
z It enables better coordination, collaboration,
z Their active participation is vital for translating
and alignment between the central government
national aspirations into on-ground realities. and states.
¾ Addressing Legacy Issues:
€ Evidence-Based Policy Choices:
€ States play a pivotal role in addressing legacy
z The framework facilitates evidence-based
issues plaguing the electricity sector. This includes decision-making, ensuring that policies and
reducing high distribution losses, improving the interventions are based on robust analysis of
reliability of power supply, and enhancing service state-level preparedness, inter-linkages, and
quality, which are crucial for a smooth energy potential constraints. It promotes informed
transition. choices and efficient resource allocation.
¾ Pioneering Policy Innovations: € Inclusive Stakeholder Engagement:
€ Laboratories of Innovation:
z A state-level framework encourages the active
z States serve as laboratories for policy participation of stakeholders, including local
experimentation and innovation. communities, industry, and civil society.
„ For example, early initiatives by Gujarat and „ It promotes transparency, accountability,
Rajasthan on solar, and Maharashtra and and stakeholder ownership in the energy
Tamil Nadu on wind energy technologies, transition process.

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124 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

¾ One specific area that can be addressed is the

The Hiroshima AI Process for application of the “Fair Use” doctrine, which permits
Global AI Governance certain activities such as teaching, research, and
criticism without seeking permission from the
copyright owner.
Why in News?
€ However, whether using copyrighted material in
Recently, the annual G7 Summit held in Hiroshima,
machine learning qualifies as fair use is a subject
Japan, initiated the Hiroshima AI Process (HAP), which
of debate.
is likely to conclude by December 2023, signaling a
significant step towards regulating Artificial Intelligence ¾ By developing a common guideline for G7 countries,
(AI). the HAP can provide clarity on the permissible use of
¾ The G7 Leaders’ Communiqué recognized the copyrighted materials in machine learning datasets
importance of inclusive AI governance and set as fair use, with certain conditions. Additionally, it
forth a vision of trustworthy AI aligned with shared can distinguish between the use of copyrighted
democratic values. materials for machine learning specifically and other
AI-related uses.
What is the Hiroshima AI Process? ¾ Such efforts can significantly impact the global discourse
¾ About: and practices surrounding the intersection of AI and
€ The HAP aims to facilitate international discussions intellectual property rights.
on inclusive AI governance and interoperability to
How is Global AI currently Governed?
achieve a common vision and goal of trustworthy AI.
¾ India:
€ It recognizes the growing prominence of Generative
AI (GAI) across countries and sectors and emphasizes € NITI Aayog, has issued some guiding documents
the need to address the opportunities and on AI Issues such as the National Strategy for
challenges associated with it. Artificial Intelligence and the Responsible AI
¾ Working: for All report.
€ The HAP will operate in cooperation with € Emphasises social and economic inclusion,
international organizations such as the Organisation innovation, and trustworthiness.
for Economic Co-operation and Development ¾ US:
(OECD) and the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI).
€ The US released a Blueprint for an AI Bill of
¾ Objectives:
Rights (AIBoR) in 2022, outlining the harms of
€ The HAP aims to govern AI in a way that upholds
AI to economic and civil rights and lays down five
Democratic values, ensures fairness and
principles for mitigating these harms.
accountability, promotes transparency, and
prioritizes the safety of AI technologies. € The Blueprint, instead of a horizontal approach like
€ It seeks to establish procedures that encourage the EU, endorses a sectorally specific approach
openness, inclusivity, and fairness in AI-related to AI governance, with policy interventions for
discussions and decision-making processes. individual sectors such as health, labour, and
education, leaving it to sectoral federal agencies
How can the HAP Resolve the issue to come out with their plans.
of IPR in relation to GAI? ¾ China:
¾ Currently, there is ambiguity regarding the relationship € In 2022, China came out with some of the world’s
between AI and IPR (Intellectual Property Rights), first nationally binding regulations targeting
leading to conflicting interpretations and legal decisions
specific types of algorithms and AI.
in different jurisdictions.
€ It enacted a law to regulate recommendation
¾ The HAP can contribute by establishing clear rules
and principles regarding AI and IPR, helping the G7 algorithms with a focus on how they disseminate
countries reach a consensus on this matter. information.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 125
¾ EU: ¾ Accelerating vaccine research and development
(R&D) for emerging pathogens and strengthening
€ In May 2023, the European Parliament reached
pandemic preparedness efforts.
a Preliminary Agreement on a new draft of the
€ Establishing a Global Vaccine Research Collaborative
Artificial Intelligence Act, which aims to regulate
systems like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. to address gaps in vaccine development, enhance
coordination, and foster an enabling environment
€ The legislation was drafted in 2021 with the aim
for vaccine R&D.
of bringing transparency, trust, and accountability
to Al and creating a framework to mitigate risks € Emphasising equity in access to diagnostics, drugs,

to the safety, health, Fundamental Rights, and and vaccines during health emergencies.
democratic values of the EU. ¾ Mapping and integrating global initiatives for quick
decision making and planning during crises. Addressing
the challenges of zoonotic spillover of diseases
G20 India Presidency: transferring from animals to humans.
3rd HWG Meeting What are India’s Priorities for
G20 Presidency on Health?
Why in News? ¾ About:
The recent 3rd Health Working Group meeting at € India is recognized as the “Pharmacy of the World,”
Hyderabad, Telangana under the G20 India Presidency contributing a significant portion of the global
highlighted the ongoing threat of pandemics and the vaccine production.
urgent need for global collaboration in the health sector. € Genome Valley in Hyderabad alone contributes
¾ Several key proposals were put forth by India, close to 33% of the world’s vaccine production.
emphasising the importance of integrated surveillance Also, India’s Ayurveda and Yoga are significant
systems, medical countermeasures, digital health practices that develop a holistic well-being.
initiatives, and vaccineresearch and development ¾ Priorities:
at global level. € Digital Public Infrastructure: India aims to leverage
its experience in developing digital platforms
What are India’s Major Proposals for such as Aadhaar, CoWIN, and Aarogya Setu to
Global Collaboration in the Health sector? enhance access, affordability, and quality of
health services for all.
¾ India proposed a Global initiative on Digital Health, a
z India also intends to share its best practices
WHO-managed network to converge ongoing initiatives
in use of technology in the global health arena. and learnings with other G20 countries and
support them in building their own digital public
€ This initiative can enable bridging the digital
infrastructure for health.’
divide amongst nations and ensure that the fruits
€ Health Security: India plans to work with other
of technology are made available to every citizen
G20 countries to strengthen the global health
of the world.
security architecture and ensure preparedness
¾ Building consensus for an end-to-end Global Medical for future pandemics.
Countermeasure (MCM) ecosystem.
z India will also support the reform of the
€ Creation of an interim platform guided by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other
Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) process multilateral institutions to make them more
for the Global Medical Countermeasure (MCM) responsive, transparent, and accountable.
ecosystem. € Universal Health Coverage: India will promote
€ Advocating againstintellectual property the goal of achieving universal health coverage
rights barriers that hinder access to medical (UHC) by 2030, as envisaged by the Sustainable
countermeasures in times of crisis. Development Goals (SDGs).

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126 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

z India will also showcase its achievements in € Contributing to renewable energy production and
expanding health coverage through schemes reducing carbon emissions.
such as Ayushman Bharat Yojna and will € Regulating the flow of water to prevent floods and
encourage other G20 countries to adopt similar droughts, benefiting farmers and communities.
policies that can improve health outcomes and
¾ Current Status:
reduce poverty.
€ Karnataka has not obtained the consent of Tamil
Nadu, which is mandatory.
Mekedatu Project € The project is still in its preliminary stage and
has not obtained the necessary clearances and
Why in News? approvals from authorities such as theCentral Water
The Karnataka Assembly has unanimously adopted Commission (CWC), the Ministry of Environment,
a resolution requesting clearance for the Mekedatu Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), and
drinking water and balancing reservoir project. theNational Board for Wildlife (NBWL).
This resolution was in response to Tamil Nadu’s ¾ Opposition By Tamil Nadu:
opposition to the project.
€ Tamil Nadu argues that the Mekadatu dam would
significantly reduce the water flow downstream,
negatively impacting the state’s agricultural
activities and water supply.
€ The Cauvery River is a crucial water source for Tamil
Nadu, supporting its farming communities and
meeting the drinking water needs of its residents.
€ The state claims that the project violates the final
judgment of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal
(CWDT), which allocated a specific share of water
What is Mekedatu Project? to each riparian state, including Tamil Nadu.
¾ About:
What is the Cauvery River Dispute?
€ The Mekedatu project is a multipurpose project
involving the construction of a balancing reservoir ¾ River Cauvery (Kaveri):
near Kanakapura in Ramanagara district, Karnataka. € It is known as ‘Ponni’ in Tamil and it is the fourth
€ Mekedatu, meaning goat’s leap, is a deep gorge largest river in southern India.
situated at the confluence of the rivers Cauvery € It is a sacred river of southern India. It rises on
and its tributary Arkavathi. Brahmagiri Hill of the Western Ghatsin southwestern
€ Its primary objectives are to provide drinking water Karnataka state, flows in a southeasterly direction
to Bengaluru and neighboring areas, totaling 4.75 through the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu,
TMC, and generate 400 MW of power. and descends the Eastern Ghats in a series of
¾ Benefits of the Project: great falls and drains into Bay of Bengal through
€ Meeting the growing demand for drinking water Pondicherry.
in Bengaluru and its adjoining areas facing water ¾ Left Bank Tributary: Arkavathi, Hemavathi, Shimsa,
scarcity and dependence on groundwater. and Harangi.
€ Harnessing renewable energy by generating 400 ¾ Right Bank Tributary: Lakshmantirtha, Suvarnavati,
MW of hydroelectric power. Noyil, Bhavani, Kabini, and Amaravathi.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 127
Management Scheme’ in June 2018,
constituting the ‘Cauvery Water Management
Authority’ and the ‘Cauvery Water Regulation
Committee’.

Jal Jeevan Mission

Why in News?
Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) in
its study,highlighted the potential impact of the Jal Jeevan
Mission (JJM) including significant health and socio-
economic benefits.
¾ The Dispute:
€ Historical Background: What are the Key Highlights of the Study?
z As the river originates in Karnataka, flows through ¾ Averting Deaths from Diarrhoea:
Tamil Nadu with major tributaries coming from € JJM has the potential to avert close to 4 lakh
Kerala and drains into the Bay of Bengal through deaths from Diarrhoea. This highlights the life-
Pondicherry the dispute therefore involves 3 saving impact of providing piped potable water
states and one Union Territory. to all households in India.
z The genesis of the dispute is 150 years old and ¾ Avoidance of Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs):
dates back to the two agreements of arbitration € JJM can help avoid approximately 14 million DALYs
in 1892 and 1924 between the then Madras associated with diarrhoea and save around USD
presidency and Mysore. 101 billion and 66.6 million hours every day of
z It entailed the principle that the upper riparian time that would otherwise have been spent —
state must obtain consent of lower riparian predominantly by women — collecting water.
state for any construction activity viz. reservoir € A DALY represents the loss of the equivalent of
on the river Cauvery. one year of full health and are a way to account
z The Cauvery water dispute between Karnataka for the years of life lost due to premature mortality
and Tamil Nadu began in 1974 when Karnataka (YLLs) and the years lived with a disability (YLDs),
started diverting water without Tamil Nadu’s due to prevalent cases of a disease or a health
consent. condition, in a population.
„ After several years, the Cauvery Water ¾ Gender Equality:
Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) was established € The availability of piped water can contribute to
in 1990 to resolve the issue. It took 17 years gender equality by reducing the burden of water
for the CWDT to reach a final order in 2007, collection on women and providing them with
which outlined the sharing of Cauvery water more opportunities for education and employment.
among the four riparian states. In distress
years, water would be shared on a pro-rata What is the Jal Jeevan Mission?
basis. ¾ About:
„ In 2018, the Supreme Court declared the € Launched in 2019, it envisages supply of 55 litres of
Cauvery a national asset and largely upheld water per person per day to every rural household
the water-sharing arrangements determined through Functional Household Tap Connections
by the CWDT. (FHTC) by 2024.
„ It also directed the Centre to notify the € JJM looks to create a jan andolan for water, thereby

Cauvery Management Scheme. The central making it everyone’s priority.

government notified the ‘Cauvery Water € It comes under Jal Shakti Ministry.

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128 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

¾ Aims: ¾ A total of 46,54,302 loans had been disbursed. Out

€ The mission ensures functionality of existing of those loans, about 40% (18,50,987) have been
water supply systems and water connections, repaid so far.
water quality monitoring and testing as well as
sustainable agriculture. What are the Key Features of the
€ It also ensures conjunctive use of conserved water; PM-SVANidhi?
drinking water source augmentation, drinking ¾ About:
water supply system, grey water treatment and € It is a Central Sector Scheme i.e., fully funded by
its reuse. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs with the
¾ Features: following objectives:
€ JJM focuses on integrated demand and supply-side z To facilitate working capital loan;
management of water at the local level. z To incentivize regular repayment; and
€ Creation of local infrastructure for source
z To reward digital transactions
sustainability measures as mandatory elements,
€ Introduction of 3rd term loan of up to ₹50,000 in
like rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge
addition to 1st & 2nd loans of ₹10,000 and ₹20,000
and management of household wastewater for
respectively.
reuse, is undertaken in convergence with other
€ The loans would be without collateral.
government programmes/schemes.
€ The Mission is based on a community approach ¾ Lending Agencies:
to water and includes extensive Information, € Microfinance Institutions, Non-Banking Financial

Education and Communication as a key component Company, Self Help Groups have been allowed
of the mission. due to their ground level presence and proximity
¾ Implementation: to the urban poor including the street vendors.
€ Paani Samitis plan, implement, manage, operate ¾ Eligibility:
and maintain village water supply systems. € States/Union Territories (UTs):

z These consist of 10-15 members, with at least z The Scheme is available for beneficiaries
50% women members and other members belonging to only those States/UTs which have
fromSelf-Help Groups,Accredited Social and notified Rules and Scheme under Street Vendors
Health Workers,Anganwadi teachers, etc. (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of
€ The committees prepare a one-time village action Street Vending) Act, 2014.
plan, merging all available village resources. The plan z Beneficiaries from Meghalaya, which has its
is approved in aGram Sabha before implementation. own State Street Vendors Act may, however,
¾ Funding Pattern: participate.
€ The fund sharing pattern between the Centre and ¾ Street Vendors:
states is 90:10 for Himalayan and North-Eastern € The Scheme is available to all street vendors
States, 50:50 for other states, and 100% for Union engaged in vending in urban areas.
Territories.
z Earlier the Scheme was available to all street
vendors engaged in vending on or before March
PM SVANidhi Scheme 24, 2020.
¾ Benefits of Early Repayment:
Why in News? € Interest Subsidy:
Over 46.54 lakh small working capital loans have been z On timely/early repayment of the loan, an
disbursed to street vendors under the Prime Minister interest subsidy of 7% per annum will be credited
Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM-SVANidhi) in to the bank accounts of beneficiaries through
the three years since it was launched on June 1, 2020. direct benefit transfer on a six monthly basis.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 129
€ Credit Limits Extension: Who is a Street Vendor/hawker?
z The scheme provides for the rise of the credit
¾ Any person engaged in vending of articles, goods,
limit on timely/ early repayment of loans i.e. wares, food items or merchandise of daily use or
if a street vendor repays the installments on offering services to the public in a street, footpath,
time or earlier, he or she can develop his or her pavement etc., from a temporary built up structure
credit score that makes him/her eligible for a or by moving from place to place.
higher amount of term loan. ¾ The goods supplied by them include vegetables, fruits,
€ No-Penalty on Early Repayment: ready-to-eat street food, tea, pakodas, breads, eggs,
z There will be no penalty on early repayment textile, apparel, artisan products, books/ stationary
of loan. etc. and the services include barber shops, cobblers,
z Early repayment (or resettlement) is a clearance pan shops, laundry services etc.
of debt or loan before the scheduled time. ¾ Around 49.48 lakh street vendors have been
z Many banks and lenders charge penalties for identified in India.
repaying loans early. € Uttar Pradesh has the maximum at 8.49 lakh,
followed by Madhya Pradesh at 7.04 lakh.
€ E-governance:
€ Delhi has only 72,457 street vendors.
z Encourage Digital Transactions:
€ No street vendor has been identified in Sikkim.
„ The scheme incentivises digital transactions
by the street vendors through monthly cash
back. Unified Registration Portal
Transparency:
z
for GOBARdhan Launched
„ In line with the vision of leveraging technology
to ensure effective delivery and transparency,
Why in News?
a digital platform with web portal/ mobile
app is being developed to administer the Recently, the Unified Registration Portal for
scheme with end-to-end solution. GOBARdhan was launched as a part of the Government
of India’s initiative to convert waste to wealth and promote
‹ This platform will integrate the web portal/
a circular economy.
mobile app with UdyamiMitra portal of
SIDBI for credit management and PAiSA What are the Key Features of the Portal?
portal of MoHUA to administer interest
¾ About:
subsidy automatically.
€ The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation
€ Financial Inclusion:
(DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti, has developed
z It will help in integrating the vendors into the the portal to facilitate the setting up of Biogas/
formal financial system. Compressed Biogas (CBG) plants.
€ Focus on Capacity Building: ¾ Objectives and Scope:
z MoHUA in collaboration with State Governments € The portal acts as a one-stop repository for assessing
will launch a capacity building and financial investment and participation in the Biogas/CBG
literacy programme of all the stakeholders and sector at the pan India level.
Information, Education and Communication € It streamlines the process of setting up CBG/
(IEC) activities throughout the country Biogas plants
€ Role of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs): ¾ Enrollment:
z ULBs will play a pivotal role in the implementation € Any government, cooperative, or private entity
of the scheme by ensuring to target the intending to set up a Biogas/CBG/Bio CNG plant
beneficiary and reaching to them in an efficient in India can enroll in the portal and obtain a
manner. registration number.

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130 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

€ The registration number enables access to various ¾ Objective:

benefits and support from the Ministries and € To support villages safely manage their cattle waste,
Departments of the Government of India. agricultural waste and in long run all organic waste.
€ States are advised to prioritize the registration of € To support communities convert their cattle and
their CBG/Biogas plant operators on the portal organic waste to wealth using decentralized
to avail existing and upcoming support from the systems.
Union Government. € Promote environmental sanitation and curb
¾ Benefits: vector borne diseases through effective disposal
€ Stakeholder Participation: of waste in rural areas.
z The launch of the portal demonstrates € Convert organic waste, especially cattle waste to
biogas and fertilizer for use in rural areas.
cooperative federalism, with stakeholders
from central Ministries, line departments of ¾ Potential Benefits:
the Centre and States collaborating on its € Effective biodegradable waste management.
development and deployment. € Reduction of GHG emission.
z The Union Minister of Jal Shakti emphasizes € Reduction in import of crude oil.
the significant achievements in waste to wealth € Employment opportunity for the local community.
generation through more than 650 GOBARdhan € Boost to entrepreneurship.
plants and the unified registration portal. € Additional income for farmers/ local village
€ Ease of Doing Business: community from organic waste.
z The portal ensures ease of doing business and € Promotion of organic farming.
attracts greaterinvestment from private players ¾ Models of Scheme:
in the Biogas/CBG sector. € Individual Household:
€ Aligns with Climate Action Goals: z This model can be adopted by households which
z It aligns with India’s climate action goals, have three (3) or more cattles. The biogas and
promotes clean energy, rural employment, slurry generated from the plants are used for
improved health outcomes, and contributes cooking and as manure by the households.
to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) € Community:
and Govt. of India’s Mission LiFE. z The Biogas plants can be constructed for a
€ Strengthen Supply Chain: minimum number of households (5 to 10).
z The Union Government aims to strengthen The plants can be operated and managed by
the CBG/Biogas supply chain through biomass GP/SHGs.
aggregation, grid pipeline connectivity, organic z The gas generated will be supplied to households/
farming practices, research and development, restaurants / institutions and slurry can be
and continuous engagement with stakeholders. used by the community as organic manure in
agriculture or sold to farmers.
What is GOBARdhan Initiative? € Cluster:
¾ About: z In this model, individual Biogas plants are
€ Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan installed in number of households in a village/
(GOBARdhan) is a crucial umbrella initiative of group of villages.
the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India. „ The biogas generated is used by the households
€ In 2018, the government launched this scheme and the slurry is collected at a common place,
as a national priority project under the Swachh separated to solid and liquid parts and then
Bharat Mission Grameen-Phase II program. fortified and sold as biofertilizers.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 131
€ Commercial CBG:
z CBG plants can be set up by Entrepreneurs /
Cooperative Societies/ Gaushalas etc.
z The raw biogas produced is compressed and
can be used as vehicular fuel and / or sold to
industries.
z The slurry generated is converted into organic
manure /bio-fertilizerand can be sold to farmers.

Critical Minerals for India

Why in News?
The Ministry of Mines, Government of India recently ¾ Declaration of Critical Minerals:
unveiled the first-ever report on “Critical Minerals for € It is a dynamic process, and it can evolve over
India” prepared by an expert team constituted by the time as new technologies, market dynamics, and
Ministry of Mines. geopolitical considerations emerge.
¾ The report identifies and prioritizes minerals essential € Different countries may have their own unique
for various industrial sectors, aligning with India’s lists of critical minerals based on their specific
vision of achieving a robust and resilient mineral circumstances and priorities.
sector in line with the larger goal of attaining ’Net € The US has declared 50 minerals critical in light
Zero’ emissions. of their role in national security or economic
development.
What are Critical Minerals? € Japan has identified a set of 31 minerals as critical
¾ Minerals: for their economy.
€ Minerals are natural substances that are formed € The UK considers 18 minerals critical, EU (34)
by geological processes. They have a definite and Canada (31).
chemical composition and physical properties. ¾ Critical Minerals for India:
€ They are classified into metallic and non-metallic € Expert Committe under Ministry of Mines has
minerals based on their characteristics and uses. identified a set of 30 critical minerals for India.
€ Metallic minerals are those that contain metals € These are Antimony, Beryllium, Bismuth, Cobalt,
or metal compounds, such as iron, copper, gold, Copper, Gallium, Germanium, Graphite, Hafnium,
silver, etc. Indium, Lithium, Molybdenum, Niobium, Nickel,
PGE, Phosphorous, Potash, REE, Rhenium, Silicon,
€ Non-metallic minerals are those that do not contain
Strontium, Tantalum, Tellurium, Tin, Titanium,
metals, such as limestone, coal, mica, gypsum, etc. Tungsten, Vanadium, Zirconium, Selenium and
¾ Critical Minerals: Cadmium.
€ Critical minerals are those minerals that are € Creation of Centre of Excellence for Critical
essential for economic development and national Minerals (CECM) in the Ministry of Mines is also
security, the lack of availability of these minerals or recommended by the Committe.
concentration of extraction or processing in a few € CECM will periodically update the list of critical
geographical locations may lead to supply chain minerals for India and notify the critical mineral
vulnerabilities and even disruption of supplies. strategy from time to time.

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132 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

z This allows India Post to provide logistics service

Government e-Marketplace into the remotest parts of the country to sellers
and buyers transacting via GeM.
Why in News?
During the ‘Kreta-Vikreta Gaurav Samman Samaroh CSR Guidelines for
2023’ event held in New Delhi, significant growth in
procurement from the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) Empowering Ports
over the past three years, was highlighted.
Why in News?
What is GeM?
Recently, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways
¾ About: has launched ‘Sagar Samajik Sahayyog,’ its new guidelines
€ GeM facilitates online procurement of common use for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), aiming to
Goods & Services required by various Government empower ports to address local community issues in a
Departments / Organisations / PSUs. more cooperative and swift manner.
z The initiative was launched in August 2016,
by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, What are the Key Highlights of the Guidelines?
Government of India.
¾ CSR Funding:
z The current version of GeM, i.e., GeM 3.0 was
€ Ports in India will allocate a specific percentage
launched on January 26, 2018.
of their net annual profit towards CSR activities.
€ It provides the tools of e-bidding, reverse
The CSR budget for ports will be based on their
e-auction and demand aggregation to facilitate
respective turnover for the year, the division will
the government users, achieve the best value for
be as follows:
their money and aims to enhance transparency,
efficiency and speed in public procurement. z Ports with an annual turnover of less than Rs
100 crores will spend 3-5% on CSR.
Note: Public procurement refers to the process by
z Ports with a turnover between Rs 100 to 500
which governments and state-owned enterprises
purchase goods and services from the private sector. crores will spend 2-3%.
Public procurement amounts to 15-20% of a z Ports with a turnover exceeding Rs 500 crores
India’s GDPand therefore an efficiently run public will spend 0.5-2%.
procurement process is critical to our nation’s
z 2% of the total CSR expenses will be dedicated
economy.
to project monitoring by the ports to ensure
¾ Major Developments on GeM:
effective implementation and monitoring of
€ GeM Outlet Stores: GeM has launched outlet
the respective CSR projects.
stores for various categories of products such as
€ CSR Committee:
SARAS, Ajeevika, Tribes India, Startup Runway,
Khadi India, India Handloom, India Handicraft, z EachMajor Portwill establish a corporate social
Divyangjan etc. responsibility committee, headed by a deputy
€ GeM-CII MoU: GeM has signed a memorandum
chairperson of major port to plan and implement
of understanding (MoU) with Confederation of CSR initiatives.
Indian Industry (CII)to establish a GeM-CII Centre z The committee will consist of two other
of Excellence (CoE), which will provide training, members. CSR projects must be implemented
research and advocacy support to GeM. into the business plans of major ports, addressing
€ GeM, CSC and India Post: The integration of India’s social and environmental concerns related to
postal system India Post and Common Service their operations.
Center (CSC) with the GeM is operational across z A CSR plan will also need to be prepared for
the country. each financial year.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 133
€ Allocation and Focus Areas: Social Responsibility Policy to the Board of
z The CSR projects and programmes will focus on Directors and also monitor the same from
activities specified in Section 70 of theMajor time to time.
Port Authorities Act, 2021. ¾ Activities under CSR:
z According to Section 70 of the Act, the € Specified under Schedule VII of the Companies
organization may use its funds for providing social Act 2013, some major activities include:
benefits including development of infrastructure z Eradicating hunger, poverty and malnutrition
in areas of education, health, housing, skill and promotion of education, gender equality.
development, training and recreational activities z Fighting Acquired Immune Deficiency
for its own employees, customers etc. Syndrome(AIDS), Human Immunodeficiency
€ 20% of the CSR expenses must be earmarked for Virus, and other disorders
the Sainik Kalyan Board at the district level, the z Ensuring Environmental Sustainability
National Maritime Heritage Complex, and the
z Protection of National Heritage, Art and Culture
National Youth Development Fund.
including restoration of buildings and sites of
€ Additionally, 78% of the funds should be directed historical importance and works of art.
towards social and environmental welfare
z Measures for the benefit of armed forces
initiatives benefiting the community.
veterans, war widows and their dependents.
z These include projects related to drinking
z Training to promote rural sports, nationally
water, education, vocational training, non-
recognized sports, paralympic sports and
conventional and renewable energy sources for
Olympic sports
electricity, health and family welfare, livelihood
z Contribution to the PM’s National Relief Fund or
promotion forEconomically Weaker Sections
(EWS), community centers, and hostels. any other fund set up by the Central Government
for socio-economic development and relief.
€ 2 % of the total CSR expense is allocated for project
monitoring under the CSR programs by the ports.
ART Regulations: Impact
What is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)?
¾ About:
on Cost and Conception
€ The concept of CSR is the idea that companies Opportunities
should assess and take responsibility for their
effects on the environment and on social welfare, Why in News?
and to promote positive social and environmental
Recently, industry insiders have raised concerns about
change.
the restrictions imposed by the provisions of the Assisted
€ The four main types of corporate social responsibility Reproductive Technology (ART) Regulations Act, 2021
are: introduced by the Health Ministry.
z Environmental Responsibility ¾ These concerns pertain to the increased costs and
z Ethical Responsibility limited conception opportunities faced by couples
z Philanthropic Responsibility seeking ART treatments, despite the regulations
z Economic Responsibility aiming to enhance medical care and security for
donors and patients.
€ The Corporate Social Responsibility provisions within
Companies Act 2013 is applicable to companies
What is Assisted Reproductive Technology?
with an annual turnover of 1,000 crore and more,
or a net worth of Rs. 500 crore and more, or a net ¾ ART refers to medical procedures used to help
profit of Rs. 5 crore and more. individuals or couples conceive a child.
z The Act requires companies to set up a CSR ¾ It involves various techniques, such as in vitro
committee which shall recommend a Corporate fertilization (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection

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134 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

(ICSI), Gamete Donation, Intrauterine Insemination, ¾ Preventing Sex Selection: Clinics are prohibited from
Pre-implantation Genetic Testing, Surrogacy, Altruistic offering to provide a child of pre-determined sex,
Surrogacy. ensuring non-discriminatory practices.
¾ ART is often used by individuals or couples facing ¾ Offences: Offences include abandonment or
fertility challenges, including infertility, genetic exploitation of children born through ART, sale or trade
disorders, or reproductive system abnormalities. of embryos, and exploitation of the couple or donor.
¾ ART procedures typically involve the manipulation of € Punishment includes imprisonment of 8-12 years
sperm, eggs, or embryos in a laboratory setting before and a fine of Rs 10-20 lakhs.
transferring them to the woman’s uterus. € Clinics and banks are prohibited from advertising
or offering sex-selective ART.
What are the Main Features of the
z Offences carry imprisonment of 5-10 years
ART Regulations Act, 2021? and a fine of Rs 10-25 lakhs.
¾ Registration: Every ART clinic and bank must be
registered under the National Registry of Banks
and Clinics of India, maintaining a central database.
Special Assistance to
€ Registration is valid for five years and can be States for Capital
renewed for another five years. Investment 2023-24
€ Violations of the Act may result in cancellation or
suspension of registration.
Why in News?
¾ Conditions for Sperm & Egg Donation: Registered ART
The Department of Expenditure under the Finance
banks can screen, collect, and store semen from men
Ministry of India has approved capital investment
aged 21-55 years. Eggs can be stored from women
proposals of Rs. 56,415 crore for 16 states in the current
aged 23-35 years.
financial year 2023-24.
¾ Donor Limits: Oocyte donors must be ever-married
¾ These loans are granted under the central scheme
women with at least one living child of their own
known as “Special Assistance to States for Capital
(minimum three years of age).
Investment 2023-24”.
€ An oocyte donor can only donate once in her
¾ The 16 states include Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar,
lifetime, and a maximum of seven oocytes can
Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal
be retrieved.
Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram,
¾ Gamete Supply: An ART bank cannot supply gametes Odisha, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana,
from a single donor to more than one commissioning and West Bengal.
couple (couple seeking services).
¾ Parental Rights: Children born through ART are What is the Special Assistance to States
deemed the couple’s biological child, and the donor for Capital Investment 2023-24 Scheme?
has no parental rights. ¾ Background:
¾ Consent: Written informed consent is required from € The Scheme for financial assistance to States for
both the couple and the donor for ART procedures. capital investment/expenditure, first instituted by
¾ Regulation of ART Processes: The National and State the Ministry of Finance in 2020-21 in the wake of
Boards formed under the Surrogacy Act 2021 will Covid-19 Pandemic, has given a very timely boost
regulate ART services. to capital spending by the state.
¾ Insurance Coverage: Parties seeking ART services ¾ About:
must provide insurance coverage in favor of the € The scheme was announced in the Union Budget
oocyte donor, covering any loss, damage, or death 2023-24 in continuation of a similar push for capex
of the donor. from the last three years.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 135
€ Under the scheme, special assistance is being
provided to the state governments in the form of Protecting India’s
50-year interest free loan up to an overall sum of Forest Frontline
Rs. 1.3 lakh crore during the financial year 2023-24.
¾ Parts: Why in News?
€ The scheme has eight parts,Part-I being the largest Recently, poachers killed a forester in Odisha’s
with allocation of Rs. 1 lakh crore. This amount Simlipal tiger reserve, marking the second such death in
has been allocated amongst states in proportion a span of a few weeks when another forest guard was
to their share of central taxes and duties as per shot dead.
the award of the 15th Finance Commission. ¾ India’s frontline forest staff, including contract
laborers, guards, foresters, and rangers, have been
€ Other parts of the scheme are either linked to
engaged in a longstanding and uneven battle against
reforms or are for sector-specific projects.
poachers, illegal miners, tree-fellers, mass encroachers,
z Part-II provides incentives to states for scrapping and insurgents.
of old vehicles and setting up of automated
Who are the Forest Officers?
vehicle testing facilities;
¾ Forest officers are public servants employed by the
z Part-III and IV provide incentives to states for
Government for the administration and governance
reforms in urban planning and urban finance; of forests across the territory of India.
z Part-V provides funds for increasing the housing € All the States in India have formulated their own
stock for police personnel and their families legislation for governing forests in their territory,
within the police stations in urban areas. with the Indian Forest Act, 1927 as the base
z Part-VI of the scheme supports the vision of (forests being a concurrent list subject under
national integration, Make in India and One 7th Schedule).
District One Product by promoting cultural ¾ The three primary acts which bestow power upon
diversity and local products through Unity forest officers are:
Mall projects. € Indian Forest Act, 1927.
z Under Part-VII, Rs. 5,000 crore is provided as € The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
financial assistance to states for establishing € The Forest Conservation Act, 1980.
libraries with digital infrastructure at the ¾ Forest staff’s primary responsibility is to safeguard
Panchayat and Ward level, primarily benefiting valuable and limited resources such as endangered
children and adolescents. animals, trees, sand, boulders, minerals, and forest
¾ Objectives of the Scheme: land. As a result, they face a constant and relentless
onslaught.
€ The scheme is expected to have a higher multiplier
effect on the economy by stimulating demand
What are the Concerns Associated
and creating jobs.
with Foresters’ Safety?
€ The scheme also aims to enhance the pace of
¾ Conditional Armed Status of Forest Guards: Forest
projects in key sectors such as Jal Jeevan Mission and
guards are not always unarmed. Depending on the
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana by providing state, they may be equipped with various weapons.
funds for meeting the state share. However, due to uncertain law and order situations,
€ The scheme also seeks to encourage states especially in insurgency-affected regions, forest guards
to undertake reforms in urban planning and often face restrictions on carrying these weapons.
urban finance to improve the quality of life and € In the case of Simlipal, which falls within the red

governance in cities. corridor stretching from Chhattisgarh’s Indravati

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136 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

to Bihar’s Valmiki tiger reserves, forest staff had

discontinued carrying guns for the same reason. WHO Issues Alert for
¾ Limited Authority for Proactive Use of Weapons: Substandard Cough Syrups
Furthermore, forest officials do not possess the
authority to proactively use their weapons. Like any
Produced in India
other citizens, they are only entitled to exercise their
right of private defense as outlined in Sections 96 to Why in News?
106 of theIndian Penal Code (IPC). World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised
€ This means they can use force, including weapons, concerns over substandard cough syrups made in India,
linked to 300 child deaths, containing high levels of
only to protect themselves or others from imminent
diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol, posing health risks.
harm or danger.
¾ The organization has issued an alert for seven syrups
¾ Risks and Considerations of Carrying Firearms: produced in India, while the country’s Drugs Controller
Weapons can indeed pose a risk even in situations General has mandated testing of cough syrups by
without the presence of insurgents as there are specified labs before export.
certain challenges (potential accidents or misuse
of weapons) and considerations that arise when it What are Ethylene Glycol
comes to carrying and using firearms. and Diethylene Glycol?
¾ Wildlife-Human Conflict: Foresters often encounter ¾ Ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol are toxic alcohols
conflicts between wildlife and human populations. with a slightly sweet taste.
This includes instances of crop raiding by animals, ¾ Contamination of cough syrups with these glycols can
attacks on humans by wild animals, and encroachment occur, especially in products containing paracetamol.
of forest habitats by human settlements. € Paracetamol in cough syrups is good and safe for
children with infections. It is a pain killer which
¾ Lack of Manpower: Forest establishments in India
is good at reducing fever.
tend to prioritise cumbersome bureaucratic processes
¾ Diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol are adulterants
and administrative matters over the welfare and
that are sometimes illegally used as solvents in liquid
support of the frontline workforce.
drugs as an alternative to non-toxic solvents such as
€ This can be problematic as it creates a situation glycerine or propylene glycol to cut costs.
where there are too many vacant positions within € A fatal oral dose is around 1,000-1,500 milligrams
forest departments across the country. per kilogram of body weight.
€ As a result, there are insufficient numbers of € Toxicity can also occur with lower doses consumed
personnel on the ground to effectively protect over several days or weeks.
the forests and ensure their own safety. € Symptoms of contamination may not appear until

¾ Lack of Effective Defense: According to the International large amounts have been consumed.
Ranger Federation, a total of 31 forest field staff ¾ In addition to its use in antifreeze, ethylene glycol

members lost their lives while on duty in India in is used as an ingredient in hydraulic fluids, printing
inks, and paint solvents and diethylene glycol is used
2021. Out of these cases, only 8 were classified as
in the commercial preparation of antifreeze, brake
homicides and the rest were attributed to factors
fluid, cigarettes, and some dyes.
like forest fires, elephant/rhino attacks and motor
accidents. What are the Related Regulations in India?
€ In some instances, the casualties occurred not ¾ The Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 :
because they were unarmed, but because they € The Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules
did not know how to fire their weapons. 1945 have entrusted various responsibilities to

Note:
www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 137
central and state regulators for regulation of drugs ¾ Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation(CDSCO):
and cosmetics. € The CDSCO is the Central Drug Authority for
€ It provides the regulatory guidelines for issuing discharging functions assigned to the Central
licenses to manufacture Ayurvedic, Siddha, Unani Government under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
medicines.
¾ Major Functions:
€ It is mandatory for the manufacturers to adhere
€ Regulatory control over the import of drugs,
to the prescribed requirements for licensing of
manufacturing units & medicines including proof approval of new drugs and clinical trials.
of safety & effectiveness, compliance with the € Approval of certain licences as Central Licence
Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). Approving Authority.

Major Bodies Regulating Drugs and Pharmaceutical in India

Ministry of Health Ministry of Chemicals Ministry of Commerce Ministry of Science Ministry of
and Family Welfare and Fertilizers and Technology Environment
Directorate General of Department of Patent Office Department of E n v i r o n m e n t a l
Health Services Pharmaceuticals Biotechnology (DBT) clearance for
(DGHS)Indian Council manufacturing
of Medical Research
(ICMR)
Central Drugs N a t i o n a l Controller General of Council of Scientific
Standard Control P h a r m a c e u t i c a l Patent and Industrial
Organization Pricing Authority Research (CSIR)
(CDSCO)headed (NPPA); Drugs (Prices Laboratories
by Drug Controller Control) Order
General of India, (DPCO) 2013
DCGI (I) + Statutory
Committees +
Advisory Committees

What is the Proposed Shorter

Shorter Medical Course Medical Course for Rural Areas?
to Address Rural Doctor ¾ About:
Shortage € A shorter medical course proposed in India is a
three-year diploma course for medical practitioners
Why in News? who would serve in primary health centres (PHCs)
in rural areas. This course is different from the
Recently, the West Bengal Chief Minister proposed
regular MBBS course.
a Shorter Medical Course for medical practitioners who
would serve in primary health centers (PHCs) in rural € The shorter medical course focuses on providing
areas. first-level care in rural areas, while the regular
¾ This proposal aims to address the chronic shortage of
MBBS course covers all aspects of medical science
doctors in rural regions where a significant percentage and practice.
(around 65%)of the Indian population resides. z The shorter medical course may not train
¾ Similar initiatives have been implemented in other trainees adequately to deal with complex and
states, such as Chhattisgarh, which introduced a diverse conditions in rural areas, while the
three-year community health program producing regular MBBS course prepares doctors for any
Rural Medical Assistants (RMAs) to serve in villages. kind of situation.

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138 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

What is the Status of Doctors in Rural India as What is the National Payments Corporation of
per Rural Health Statistics Report 2021-22? India?
¾ The Rural Health Statistics report reveals an acute ¾ About:
shortage of specialist doctors at Community Health € It is an umbrella organisation for all retail
Centers (CHCs) in India. payments systems in India.
¾ Nearly 80% of the required specialists are unavailable.
€ It was set up with the guidance and support
¾ There is a shortfall of specialist doctors, including of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian
surgeons (83.2%), obstetricians and gynaecologists Banks’ Association (IBA).
(74.2%), physicians (79.1%) and paediatricians (81.6%).
¾ Objectives:
¾ The number of specialist doctors in CHCs has seen a
€ To consolidate and integrate the existing multiple
25% increase from 3,550 in 2005 to 4,485 in 2022.
¾ However, the growth in CHCs has resulted in an systems into a nation-wide uniform and standard
increased requirement for specialist doctors, creating business process for all retail payment systems.
a disparity. € To facilitate an affordable payment mechanism

¾ In addition to the shortage of specialist doctors, there to benefit the common man across the country
is also a lack of female health workers and auxiliary and propel financial inclusion.
nursing midwives in PHCs and sub-centers, with upto ¾ Recent developments in UPI ecosystem:
14.4% of these posts lying vacant. € New Rules:

z Introduction of interchange fee for Prepaid

UPI Payments: Empowering Payment Instruments (PPIs) wallet transactions
Users, Challenging Banks via UPI, applicable from April 2023. The fee
is up to 1.1% on merchants for Person to
Merchant transactions above ₹2,000 and
Why in News? will be shared between banks involved in
The rapid rise in United Payments Interface (UPI) the transaction.
transactions in India has led to the introduction of various z UPI AutoPay feature for recurring payments up
daily limits by banks and apps, creating a complex
to ₹5,000, enhancing customer convenience
landscape of limitations in terms of value and volume.
and merchant retention.
¾ The surge in UPI transactions has revealed the need
€ Collaboration:
for continuous development and improvement of
banking infrastructure and technological capabilities. z NPCI has partnered with several countries
such as Singapore, UAE, Bhutan and Japan
What are the Daily Limits on UPI Payments? to enable cross-border payments using UPI.
¾ The National Payments Corporation of India (NCPI) set
a limit of 20 transactions per day and ₹1 lakh per day
in 2021. However, banks and apps have implemented
Face Authentication for
their own limits, adding to the complexity. PM-Kisan Scheme
€ For instance, ICICI bank allows 10 transactions in
24 hours, while Bank of Baroda and HDFC Bank Why in News?
allow 20 transactions in the same period.
¾ Certain specific categories of transactions, such as
Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers
capital markets, collections, insurance, and forward Welfare, Government of India has rolled out Face
inward remittances, have a higher limit of ₹2 lakh. Authentication Feature in the PM-Kisan app to enhance
¾ For UPI-based ASBA (Application Supported by Blocked the efficiency and accessibility of welfare schemes.
Amount system) IPO and retail direct schemes,the ¾ The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)
limit for each transaction was increased to ₹5 lakh is also integrating with Bhashini to provide farmers
in December 2021. information in their native language.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 139
€ Bhashini is the government’s National Public ¾ Identification of Beneficiaries:
Digital Platform for languages to develop services € The entire responsibility of identification of
and products for citizens by leveraging the power beneficiary farmer families rests with the State /
of artificial intelligence and other emerging UT Governments.
technologies. ¾ Objective:
€ To supplement the financial needs of the Small
What are the Key Points of the Feature? and Marginal Farmers in procuring various inputs
¾ About: to ensure proper crop health and appropriate
€ The face authentication feature utilizes the iris data yields, commensurate with the anticipated farm
available with the Unique Identification Authority income at the end of each crop cycle.
of India (UIDAI), which maintains Aadhaar-related € To protect them from falling in the clutches of
information. moneylenders for meeting such expenses and
ensure their continuance in the farming activities.
z The Ministry collaborated with UIDAI to gain
¾ PM-KISAN Mobile App:
access to this feature, thereby ensuring accuracy
and reliability. € The PM-KISAN Mobile App developed and designed
by the National Informatics Centre in collaboration
¾ Benefits:
with the Ministry of Electronics and Information
€ Enhanced Accessibility: The face authentication Technology has been launched.
feature eliminates the need for physical biometric € The farmers can view the status of their application,
verification, enabling farmers to complete the e-KYC update or carry out corrections of their Aadhaar
process conveniently from their mobile phones. cards and also check the history of credits to their
€ Addressing Mobile-Aadhaar Linkage Issues: bank accounts.
By utilizing facial recognition, the scheme ¾ Achievements So Far:
accommodates farmers whose mobile numbers € Over 11 crore farmers across the country have
are not linked with their Aadhaar, ensuring a availed the PM-Kisan scheme, indicating its
smoother process for all eligible beneficiaries. widespread reach and impact.
€ Simplified Process for Elderly Farmers: The new € More than 3 crore women farmers have been
feature overcomes the challenges faced by elderly included in the scheme, highlighting its emphasis
farmers, eliminating the need for them to visit on gender inclusivity and women empowerment
designated centers for biometric authentication. in the agricultural sector.

What is PM-KISAN?
Pradhan Mantri Matsya
¾ About:
Sampada Yojana
€ Under the scheme, the Centre transfers an amount
of Rs 6,000 per year, in three equal installments,
Why in News?
directly into the bank accounts of all landholding
farmers irrespective of the size of their land holdings. As Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)
enters its 4th year of implementation, the Department
z It was launched in February 2019.
of Fisheries plans to expedite the pace of implementation
¾ Funding and Implementation: of the scheme.
€ It is aCentral Sector Scheme with 100% funding ¾ As part of this plan, the Department has scheduled
from the Government of India. a series of review meetings with states and Union
€ It is being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture Territories (UTs). The first review meeting recently
and Farmers Welfare. took place in the Northeastern Region (NER) of India.

Note:
140 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

What is PMSSY? € Double fishers’ and fish farmers’ incomes and

generate meaningful employment
€ Enhance the contribution of the fisheries sector to
agriculturalGross Value Added (GVA) and exports
€ Ensure social, physical and economic security for
fishers and fish farmers
€ Build a robust fisheries management and regulatory
framework

ODOP Sampark Event

¾ About: in Nagaland
€ It aims to bring about the Blue Revolution through
sustainable and responsible development of the Why in News?
fisheries sector in India. Recently, the Department for the Promotion of
€ PMMSY was introduced as part of the ‘Atma Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and Invest India, in
Nirbhar Bharat’ package with an investment of collaboration with the Department of Industries and
Rs. 20,050 crores, the highest-ever investment Commerce, Nagaland organised the ODOP Sampark Event
in this sector. in Nagaland.
¾ The event aimed to create awareness about the One
z The scheme is being implemented in all States
District One Product (ODOP)and PM Gati Shakti
and UTs for a period of 5 years from FY 2020-
(Logistics) initiatives.
21 to FY 2024-25.
€ In order to facilitate access to institutional credit, What are the Major Highlights of the Event?
fishermen are providedwith insurance coverage, ¾ Enhancing Market Access: One of the primary
financial assistance and a facility of Kisan Credit objectives of the event was to improve market access
Card (KCC) as well. for Indian products, particularly from Nagaland,
¾ Implementation: in foreign markets like the European Union (EU),
Switzerland, and others.
€ It is implemented as an umbrella scheme with
€ Infrastructure Development: To support the ODOP
two separate components namely:
products from Nagaland, various measures to
z Central Sector Scheme: The project cost will improve logistics facilities were highlighted such as:
be borne by the Central government.
z Leveraging Krishi UDAN schemefor better
z Centrally Sponsored Scheme: All the sub- transportation
components/activities will be implemented z Expanding railway connectivity
by the States/UTs, and the cost will be shared € The Union Budget 2023-24 has allocated INR
between the Centre and State. 5000 crores for the construction of Unity Malls
¾ Objectives: across the country, which will act as centralised
€ Harness the potential of the fisheries sector in a marketplaces for ODOP products.
sustainable, responsible, inclusive and equitable ¾ ODOP Exhibition: The event showcased various ODOP
manner products from Nagaland, including chili, fish, coffee,
and turmeric.
€ Enhance fish production and productivity through
expansion, intensification, diversification and What is the ODOP?
productive utilisation of land and water ¾ About:
€ Modernise and strengthen the value chain € It is an initiative to boost economic growth at
including post-harvest management and quality the district level by promoting and branding one
improvement product from each district of the country.

Note:
www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 141
z The idea is to leverage the local potential,
resources, skills, and culture of each district Star Rating Registration
and create a unique identity for them in the
Process for Coal Mines
domestic and international markets.
¾ Over 1000 products have been selected from all
Why in News?
761 districts in the country. The initiative covers a
wide range of sectors, including textiles, agriculture, Recently, the Ministry of Coal announced the
processed goods, pharmaceuticals, and industrial commencement of the Star Rating Registration process
items. of Coal and Lignite Mines for the financial year
¾ Also, multiple ODOP products were displayed at the 2022-23.
World Economic Forum in January 2023 in the Indian
Pavilion at Davos in Switzerland. What is the Process of Registration?
¾ Background: ¾ Parameters:
€ The concept of ODOP was first launched by the € The Star Rating policy aims to evaluate mines based
Uttar Pradesh government in January 2018. on various factors across seven key parameters
z The scheme was successful in reviving the namely,
traditional industries and crafts of the state, z Mining Operations
such as chikankari embroidery, brassware, z Environment-related parameters
pottery, carpets, leather goods, etc. z Adoption of Technologies
z Inspired by it, the central government adopted z Best Mining Practices
the concept and launched it as a national
z Economic performance
initiative.
z Rehabilitation & Resettlement
¾ Implementation:
z Worker-related Compliance and Safety & security.
€ The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI)
implements the scheme for the food processing ¾ Process:
sector. € Participating mines will undergo a self-evaluation
€ The Ministry of Textile inaugurated the ‘Lota Shop’ process, and the top 10% performing mines will be
at National Crafts Museum, New Delhi under the further validated through inspections conducted
Central Cottage Industries Corporation of India by a committee.
Limited (CCIC) to showcase and sell the products € While the remaining 90% of the mines will undergo
of ODOP scheme. an online review process, all participants can
€ The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) contribute to the evaluation by reviewing other
also aligned its Districts as an Export Hub initiative mines.
with ODOP to boost exports. € The evaluation will be conducted by the Coal
¾ One District One Product Awards: Controller’s Organization.
€ Recognizing the efforts of various stakeholders in € The ratings awarded range from Five Star to NO
promoting economic development and realising the Star, comprehensively evaluating each mine’s
vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, DPIIT has instituted achievements.
the One District One Product Awards. ¾ Aim:
z These awards will acknowledge the outstanding € It aims to foster competitiveness among mines
work done by States/UTs, Districts, and Indian and recognize their outstanding performance based
Missions Abroad. on compliance of statutory provisions, adoption
€ The awards will be launched on the Rashtriya of advanced mining technology and economic
Puraskar Portal. achievements.

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142 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

What is Coal? € Lignite (40 to 55% carbon content, high moisture

content and is found in Rajasthan, Lakhimpur
¾ About:
(Assam) and Tamil Nadu).
€ It is a type of fossil fuel found in the form of
€ Peat (less than 40% carbon content and it is in the
sedimentary rocks and is often known as ‘Black
first stage of transformation from organic matter
Gold’.
(wood) to coal).
€ It is a conventional source of energy and is
widely available. It is used as a domestic fuel, in
industries such as iron and steel, steam engines GoI-UNSDCF 2023-2027
and to generate electricity. Electricity from coal
is called thermal power. Why in News?
€ The leading coal producers of the world include Recently, NITI Aayog and the United Nations in India
China, US, Australia, Indonesia, India. signed the Government of India - United Nations
€ Indian coal has high ash content, which varies from Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (GoI-
35 to 45%, compared with that of coal in other UNSDCF) 2023-2027.
parts of the world, which is around 15% while it ¾ The United Nations General Assembly designates
has low sulphur content, about 0.5%. this framework as the principal planning and
implementation instrument for the UN Development
¾ Distribution of Coal in India:
System at country level.
€ Gondwana Coal Fields (250 million years old):
¾ The framework aligns with India’s national vision for
z Gondwana coal makes up to 98% of the total
development and aims to achieve the Sustainable
reserves and 99% of the production of coal
Development Goals (SDGs), emphasizing gender
in India. equality, youth empowerment, and human rights.
z Gondwana coal forms India’s metallurgical grade
as well as superior quality coal. What are the Key Points of the Framework?
z It is found in Damodar (Jharkhand-West Bengal), ¾ Strategic Pillars and Outcome Areas:
Mahanadi (Chhattisgarh-Odisha), Godavari € The GoI-UNSDCF 2023-2027 is built upon Four
(Maharashtra), and Narmada valleys. Strategic pillars derived from the 2030 Agenda:
€ Tertiary Coal Fields (15 – 60 million years old): z People, Prosperity, Planet, and Participation.
z Carbon content is very low but is rich in moisture € The four pillars encompass Six Outcome Areas:
and Sulphur. z Health and Wellbeing
z Tertiary coalfields are mainly confined to extra- z Nutrition and Food Security
peninsular regions z Quality Education
z Important areas include Assam, Meghalaya, z Economic Growth and Decent Work
Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and z Environment, Climate, WASH (Water, Sanitation,
Kashmir, Himalayan foothills of Darjeeling in West and Hygiene), and Resilience
Bengal, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Kerala. z Empowering People, Communities, and
¾ Classification: Institutions.
€ Anthracite (80 - 95% carbon content, found in ¾ Focus:
small quantities in J&K). € The GoI-UNSDCF places specific emphasis on
€ Bituminous (60 - 80% carbon content and is found SDG localisation and South-South Cooperation,
in Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh aligning with India’s leadership in implementing
and Madhya Pradesh). and accelerating the SDGs.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 143
z SDG localization is the process of transforming
the SDGs into reality at the local level, in line Alarming Rise of
with national frameworks and with communities’
Non-Communicable
priorities.
€ India aims to showcase its development models Diseases in India
globally and actively promotes South-South
cooperation. Why in News?
¾ Implementation and Monitoring: A recent study conducted by the Madras Diabetes
€ The implementation, monitoring, and reporting of Research Foundation in collaboration with the Indian
the GoI-UNSDCF 2023-2027 will be jointly led by Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Ministry of
the Government of India and the United Nations, Health and Family Welfare has shed light on the growing
India through a Joint Steering Committee. burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in India.
What are Sustainable Development Goals? ¾ The study marks the first comprehensive epidemiological
¾ The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also research paper to include participants from 31 states
known as the Global Goals, were adopted by the and Union Territories. By including data from a wide
United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action range of regions, the study provides valuable insights
to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that into the prevalence and impact of NCDs, such as
by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity. diabetes, in the country.
€ It is a set of 17 SDGs that recognize that action What Were the Key Findings of the Study?
in one area will affect outcomes in others and
¾ Findings:
that development must balance social, economic,
and environmental sustainability. € Goa, Puducherry, and Kerala have the highest
prevalence of diabetes, with rates approaching
€ Countries have committed to prioritizing progress
25-26.4%.
for those who are furthest behind.
€ Diabetes: India now has 101 million individuals
€ The SDGs are designed to end poverty, hunger,
with diabetes.
AIDS, and discrimination against women.
€ Prediabetes: The study identified 136 million
€ India in recent years has made significant efforts
people with prediabetes.
in achieving Goal 13th of the SDGs in particular.
€ High blood pressure: 315 million individuals were
z The goal calls for taking urgent action to
found to have hypertension.
combat climate change and its impacts.
€ Obesity: 254 million people were classified as
generally obese, while 351 million had abdominal
obesity.
€ Hypercholesterolemia: 213 million individuals
had fat accumulation in arteries, increasing the
risk of heart attacks and strokes.
€ High LDL Cholesterol: 185 million individuals had
elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
cholesterol.
z LDL is the “bad cholesterol” because too much
of it in blood can contribute to plaque buildup
in the arteries.
z Cholesterol travels through the blood on proteins
called “lipoproteins”.

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144 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

What are Information Technology

Information Technology Amendment Rules, 2023?
Amendment Rules, 2023 ¾ Obligatory for Intermediaries:
€ No platform can allow harmful unapproved online

Why in News? games and their advertisements.

€ They should not share false information about
Recently, the Bombay High Court has said the IT
the Indian government, as confirmed by a fact-
(Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) checking unit.
Amendment Rules, 2023 does not seem to offer protection
z An online intermediary – including social media
to fair criticism of the government through parody or
platforms like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter
satire. and internet service providers like Airtel, Jio
¾ The IT Rules derives the authority from the Information and Vodafone Idea – should make “reasonable
Technology Act, 2000, which gives legal recognition efforts” to not host content related to the
to electronic commerce in India. Central Government that is “identified as fake

Note:
 or misleading” by a “fact check unit” that may € Envisages channeling all Government benefits (from
be notified by the IT Ministry. Centre / State / Local Body) to the beneficiaries’
¾ Self-Regulatory Bodies: accounts and pushing the Direct Benefits Transfer
€ Platforms providing online gaming will have to (DBT) scheme of the Union Government.
register with a Self-Regulatory Body (SRB) that will € Mobile transactions through telecom operators
determine whether or not the game is “permissible.” and their established centers as Cash Out Points
€ The platform should ensure that online games do are also planned to be used for Financial Inclusion
not involve any gambling or betting elements. under the Scheme.
They should also comply with legal requirements,
standards, and safety precautions such as parental National Security Act 1980
controls.

Why in News?
Insurance Claims Recently, the Supreme Court heard a plea by an
under PMJDY accused for clubbing the FIRs against him in Bihar with
those in Tamil Nadu.
Why in News? ¾ The accused was allegedly spreading fake news about
laborer from Bihar getting attacked in Tamil Nadu,
¾ In the last two financial years, only 329 claims for
under the stringent National Security Act (NSA), 1980.
accident insurance cover provided to bank account
holders under the Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana What is the National Security Act, 1980?
(PMJDY) have been settled out of the 647 claims that
were filed. ¾ About:
¾ In FY 2021-22, 341 claims were received, of which 182
€ The NSA is a preventive detention law enacted in
were settled and 48 rejected and 306 claims were 1980 to maintain public order and national security.
received in FY 22-23, of which 147 were settled and € Preventive Detention involves the detainment
10 rejected but no information about the remaining (containment) of a person in order to keep him/
149 claims. her from committing future crimes and/or from
escaping future prosecution.
What is Pradhan Mantri z Article 22 (3) (b) of the Constitution allows
Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)? for preventive detention and restriction on
¾ About: personal liberty for reasons of state security
and public order.
€ PMJDY-National Mission for Financial Inclusion,
aims to ensure access to financial services, namely, z Article 22(4) states that no law providing
basic savings & deposit accounts,remittance, for preventive detention shall authorize the
credit, insurance, pension in an affordable manner. detention of a person for a longer period than
€ Under the scheme, a Basic Savings Bank Deposit
three months.
(BSBD) account can be opened in any bank branch ¾ Powers to the Government:
or Business Correspondent (Bank Mitra) outlet, € The NSA empowers the Centre or a State
by persons not having any other account. government to detain a person to prevent him
¾ Objective: from acting in any manner prejudicial to national
€ Ensure access to various financial services like security.
availability of basic savings bank account, access to € The government can also detain a person to
need based credit, remittances facility, insurance prevent him from disrupting public order or for
and pension to the excluded sections i.e., weaker maintenance of supplies and services essential
sections & low-income groups. to the community.
¾ Period of Confinement:
€ The maximum period for which one may be UDAN 5.0 Scheme
detained is 12 months.
¾ Establishment of National Security Council: Why in News?
€ The act also provides for the constitution of a Recently, the government has launched the fifth
National Security Council, which advises the Prime round of the Regional Connectivity Scheme –UDAN (UDAN
Minister on matters relating to national security. 5.0).
¾ Key Features of UDAN 5.0:
Logistics Performance € It focuses on Category-2 (20-80 seats) and

Index 2023 Category-3 (>80 seats) aircrafts.

€ There is no restriction on the distance between
the origin and the destination of the flight.
Why in News?
€ VGF to be provided will be capped at 600 km
India has climbed six places on the World Bank’s
stage length for both Priority and Non-Priority
Logistic Performance Index (LPI) 2023, now ranking 38th
areas; earlier capped at 500 km.
in the 139 countries index.
€ No predetermined routes would be offered; only
¾ This is a significant improvement from its previous
ranking of 44th in 2018 and 54th in 2014. Network and Individual Route Proposal proposed
by airlines will be considered.
¾ Earlier, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
€ The same route would not be awarded to a single
released theLogistics Ease Across Different States
(LEADS) Report 2022. airline more than once, whether in different
networks or in the same network.
What is LPI? € Exclusivity of operation provided to an airline will

¾ The LPI is an interactive benchmarking tool developed be withdrawn if the average quarterly Passenger
by the World Bank Group. Load Factor (PLF) is higher than 75% for four
€ It helps countries identify the challenges and
continuous quarters.
opportunities they face in their performance of z This has been done to prevent exploitation of
trade logistics and what they can do to improve the monopoly on a route.
their performance. € Airlines would be required to commence operations
¾ It measures the ease of establishing reliable supply within 4 months of the award of the route; earlier
chain connections and the structural factors that this deadline was 6 months.
make it possible.The LPI considers 6 parameters to € Novation process for routes from one operator
evaluate logistics performance, namely: to another has been simplified and incentivized.
€ Customs performance
z Novation - The process of substituting an existing
€ Infrastructure quality contract with a replacement contract, where
€ Ease of arranging shipments the contracting parties reach a consensus.
€ Logistics services quality

€ Consignment tracking and tracing

Settlement of Border
€ Timeliness of shipments

¾ The LPI was reported by the World Bank every two Dispute between Assam
years from 2010 to 2018 with a break in 2020 due and Arunachal Pradesh
to the COVID-19 pandemic and a restructuring of
the index methodology, eventually came out in 2023.
€ LPI 2023 allows for comparison across 139 countries
Why in News?
andfor the first time, LPI 2023 measures the speed Recently, the border dispute between Assam and
of trade with indicators derived from big datasets Arunachal Pradesh, which was going on since 1972 has
tracking shipments. been resolved permanently.
www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 147
¾ Assam and Arunachal Pradesh share an 804-km long z Experience sharing by SHG champions to motivate
boundary. left-out households to join SHGs
z Conducting Community Resource Person drives
What are the Major Highlights
z Opening SHG bank accounts, and creation of a
of the Agreement?
common database of SHGs promoted by other
¾ The agreement is expected to settle the dispute stakeholders.
relating to 123 villages covering over 700 kilometres
¾ Need for Such a Campaign:
of the border between the two states, taking into
account historical perspective, demographic profile, € India’s rural population accounts for 65% of its total
administrative convenience, proximity to the border, population, and it is crucial to accord women from
and aspirations of the residents. these areas all possible opportunities to enable
€ This will be final agreement neither of states will them to contribute significantly to making India
make any new claim in future relating to any area a 5 trillion dollar economy.
or village € When women in such a big number become part
¾ A detailed survey will be conducted by the Survey of of SHGs, it will automatically have a considerable
Indiain the presence of representatives from both effect on the country’s GDP (Gross Domestic
state governments to determine the boundaries Product).
after the agreement.

Digital Health Summit 2023

Sangathan se Samriddhi:
DAY-NRLM Why in News?
Recently, Digital Health Summit 2023 was organized
Why in News? by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in Goa.
Recently, the Ministry of Rural Development’s ¾ CII is a non-government, not-for-profit, industry-led
Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods and industry-managed organization.
Mission (DAY-NRLM) launched a national campaign called
“Sangathan Se Samridhhi– Leaving no Rural Woman What are the Major Highlights
Behind”, aiming to mobilize a significant number of women of Digital Health Summit 2023?
intoSelf Help Groups (SHGs).
€ It highlighted the importance of digital health
What is Sangathan Se Samridhhi Campaign? innovations and how they can empower exponential
medicine, including 3D printing, point-of-care
¾ About:
diagnostics, robots, bioinformatics, and genomics.
€ The campaign is a part of the Azadi Ka Amrit
Mahotsav Samaveshi Vikaas and aims to mobilize € It aims to create a digital public goods framework
10 crore women from eligible rural households to promote standards for interoperability, data
into SHGs. privacy, and data security.
€ It aims to mobilize disadvantaged rural communities € It emphasised the need for “citizen-centric”
who are unaware of the benefits of the DAY-NRLM digital health systems with equitable access to
program. high-quality treatments.
€ The campaign will be organized in all states and form z It also highlighted that health-tech is the most
more than 1.1 lakh SHGs through interventions like: significant aspect of the Fourth Industrial
z Organising general Body Meetings of Village Revolution and taking pre-emptive steps
Organizations remains the key.

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148 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

¾ Facilities Provided:
Central Government € Outpatient department (OPD) treatment at its
Health Scheme wellness centres, which includes the issuance of
medicines
Why in News? € Specialist consultation at polyclinics, government
hospitals, and CGHS enrolled hospitals with a
Recently, the Health Ministry announced that it has
referral from CGHS
revised the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS)
€ OPD and inpatient treatment at government and
package rates for all CGHS beneficiaries and simplified
enrolled hospitals with cashless treatment facilities
the referral process under CGHS for the benefit of its
for pensioners and identified beneficiaries in
employees by offering a video call facility.
impanelled hospitals and diagnostic centres
¾ The Central government has increased the CGHS
€ Reimbursement for treatment expenses incurred
rates of consultation fee for out-patient department
in government or private hospitals in case of an
(OPD)/in-patient department (IPD) to ₹350 from ₹150.
emergency
Similarly, ICU charges have been revised to ₹5,400.
€ Reimbursement for expenses incurred for the
What will be the Implications of purchase of hearing aids, artificial limbs, and
the Recent Changes Made in CGHS? appliances after obtaining permission
€ Maternity and child health services, family welfare,
¾ Healthcare Costs:
and medical consultation
€ The revision of CGHS package rates, including the
€ Dispensing of medicines in Ayurveda, Homeopathy,
increase in consultation fees, ICU charges, and
Unani, and Siddha system of medicines (AYUSH)
room rent, is likely to result in increased healthcare
costs for beneficiaries. While the revised rates are ¾ Achievements:
aimed at covering the rising costs of healthcare € Presently approximately 42 lakh beneficiaries are
services, the move may affect the affordability of covered by CGHS in 79 cities all over India and
healthcare for some. the endeavor is to include more cities to improve
¾ Access to Healthcare Services: the accessibility of the services.
€ The introduction of the video call referral process is
expected to improve access to healthcare services Ranganath Report and
under the CGHS, particularly for those who find it
difficult to visit the Wellness Centre in person. It
Quota forDalit Converts
is also anticipated that this simplified process will
enhance the efficiency of the CGHS by reducing Why in News?
delays and inconvenience for beneficiaries. Recently, the Supreme Court revisited a 2007 report
by the Justice Ranganath Mishra Commission for
What is CGHS? Religious and Linguistic Minorities, which recommended
¾ About: Scheduled Caste (SC) reservation for Dalit converts to
€ CGHS is a comprehensive healthcare scheme Christianity and Islam.
provided by the Central Government to its ¾ The Centre had discredited the report,but the apex
employees, pensioners, and their dependents. court believes it contains valuable information that
€ It was established in 1954 with the aim of providing could help determine if excluding Dalit converts from
quality healthcare services to government the SC category is unconstitutional according to the
employees and their families. Constitution Order of 1950.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 149
Note: of shortlisted candidates in the earlier recruitment
process to Army and Air Force which was cancelled
¾ Rejecting the Mishra report, the government had when Agnipath scheme was notified.
recently constituted a new Commission headed by
a former CJI K.G. Balakrishnan, giving it two years What is the Doctrine of Promissory Estoppel?
to prepare a report on the question of granting ¾ About:
SC status to “new persons who have historically € Promissory estoppel is a concept developed in
belonged to the Scheduled Castes but have converted contractual laws. It prevents a “promisor” from
to religions other than Hinduism, Buddhism and backing out of an agreement on the grounds that
Sikhism”. there is no “consideration.”
¾ For rejecting the report, the Centre has argued
€ The doctrine is invoked in court by a plaintiff (the
that “Dalits who converted to Christianity or Islam party moving court in a civil action) against the
to overcome the burdens of caste cannot claim defendant to ensure the execution of a contract
reservation benefits enjoyed by those who chose or seek compensation for failure to perform the
to stay back in the Hindu religious system”. contract.
¾ Related Case:
What are the Key Highlights of € In the Chhaganlal Keshavalal Mehta v. Patel
the Ranganath Report? Narandas Haribhai (1981) case, the Supreme
¾ The recommendation of Scheduled Caste reservation Court listed out a checklist for when the doctrine
for Dalit converts to Christianity and Islam was made can be applied.
in the 2007 report of the Justice Ranganath Mishra z Firstly, there must be a clear and unambiguous
Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities. promise.
¾ Dalit Christians and Muslims face discrimination not z Secondly, the plaintiff must have acted relying
only from upper-caste members of their own religion reasonably on that promise.
but also from the broader Hindu-dominated society. z Thirdly, the plaintiff must have suffered a loss.
¾ The exclusion of Dalit converts to Christianity and ¾ Current Stance of SC over Agnipath Petition:
Islam from the SC category violates the constitutional
€ The Supreme Court pointed out that “promissory
guarantee of equality and is against the basic tenets
estoppel is always subject to overarching public
of these religions, which reject caste discrimination.
interest”.
¾ The denial of SC status to Dalit converts to Christianity
z It also added that “this is not a contract matter
and Islam has led to their socio-economic and
where promissory estoppel in public law was
educational backwardness and has deprived them of
applied, it is a public employment” and that
access to reservations in education and employment
“the question of applying this principle will not
opportunities (as provided under article 16).
arise in this case”.

Agnipath Scheme What is the Agnipath Scheme?

and Doctrine of ¾ About:
€ It allows patriotic and motivated youth to serve
Promissory Estoppel in the Armed Forces for a period of four years.
z The youth joining the army will be called
Why in News? Agniveer.
The Supreme Court has recently dismissed petitions „ Under the new scheme, around 45,000 to
challenging the Delhi HC’s judgement that upheld the 50,000 soldiers will be recruited annually.
Agnipath scheme for recruitment to the armed forces. z However, after four years, only 25% of the batch
¾ An argument on Doctrine of Promissory Estoppel will be recruited back into their respective
was floated in the Supreme Court related to petitions services, for a period of 15 years.

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150 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

¾ Objectives: The CEA formulates short-term (5-year) and

€

€ It is expected to bring down the average age profile prospective plans (15-year) to assess the demand
of the Indian Armed Forces by about 4 to 5 years. for planning capacity addition and coordinate
z The scheme envisions that the average age in
the activities of various planning agencies for the
the forces is 32 years today,which will go down optimal utilization of resources.
to 26 in six to seven years. € The NEP provides a review of the last five years

¾ Eligibility Criteria: (2017-22), capacity addition requirements for

2022-27, and projections for the period 2027-2032.
€ It is only for personnel below officer ranks (those
who do not join the forces as commissioned officers). € The first NEP was notified in 2007, the Second Plan
in December 2013, and the third plan which covers
z Commissioned officers are the army’s highest
the detailed Plan for 2017-22 and the perspective
ranked officers. They hold an exclusive rank
Plan for 2022-27 was notified in 2018.
in the Indian armed forces. They often hold a
commission under the president’s sovereign ¾ New Draft:
power and are officially instructed to protect € It recognizes the need for additional coal-based
the country. capacity, ranging from 17 GW to nearly 28 GW, till
€ Aspirants between the ages of 17.5 years and 23 2031-32, over and above the 25 GW of coal-based
years will be eligible to apply. capacity that is currently under construction.
¾ Benefits for Agniveers: € The draft Plan also highlights the need for significant

€ Upon the completion of the 4-years of service, a

investments in battery storage, with an estimated
one-time ‘Seva Nidhi’ package of Rs 11.71 lakhs requirement of between 51 GW to 84 GW by
will be paid to the Agniveers that will include their 2031-32.
accrued interest thereon. € It projects an increase in the Plant Load Factor

z They will also get a Rs 48 lakh life insurance

(PLF) of coal-fired power plants from 55% up to
cover for the four years. 2026-27 to 62 % in 2031-32.
€ It also emphasizes the challenges posed by the
€ In case of death, the payout will be over Rs 1 crore,
including pay for the unserved tenure. increasing reliance on renewables, which will
require careful management and planning in the
z The government will help rehabilitate soldiers
years ahead
who leave the services after four years. They
will be provided with skill certificates and
bridge courses. Guillotine in
Indian Legislative
National Electricity
Plan for 2022-27 Why in News?
The ongoing stalemate in Parliamenthas led to
Why in News? speculation that the government may guillotinethe
The latest draft of the National Electricity Plan (NEP), demands for grants and pass the Finance Bill without
which covers the period 2022-27, marks a significant any discussion.
departure from its previous edition, which had focused ¾ This has led to confusion and questions about what
primarily on renewable energy. exactly guillotine means in legislative parlance.

What is the National Electricity Plan? What is Guillotine?

¾ About: ¾ The term guillotine originally referred to an apparatus
€ The NEP is a crucial document that guides the
designed for executions by beheading.
development of the power sector in India. It is € It was introduced in France during the French

formulated by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) Revolution to make capital punishment more
every five years under the Electricity Act, 2003. reliable and less painful.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 151
¾ In legislative parlance, guillotine means to bunch z Credit-linked capital subsidy of 35% of the
together and fast-track the passage of financial eligible project cost, with a maximum ceiling
business. It is a fairly common procedural exercise of Rs.10 lakh per unit.
in Lok Sabha during the Budget Session. € Support to Self-Help Groups (SHGs) for Seed Capital:
€ Once the guillotine is applied, any remaining z Seed capital up to Rs. 40,000/- per member
demands for grants are put to vote without of SHG engaged in food processing for working
further discussion. capital and purchase of small tools, subject to
€ This ensures that the budget is passed within the a maximum of Rs. 4 lakh per SHG.
allocated time, and the government can continue € Support for Common Infrastructure:
its work without any delay. z Credit-linked capital subsidy of 35%, with a
maximum of Rs. 3 crore, to support FPOs, SHGs,
PM Formalization of Cooperatives, and any Government agency for
setting up of common infrastructure.
Micro Food Processing € Capacity Building:
Enterprises Scheme z T h e s c h e m e e n v i s a g e s t ra i n i n g fo r
Entrepreneurship Development Skilling (EDP+),
a program modified to meet the requirements
Why in News?
of the food processing industry and product
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) specific skilling.
is implementing a centrally sponsored PM Formalisation € District Resource Persons (DRPs) have been
ofMicro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme (PMFME) appointed to provide handholding support to micro
Scheme for providing financial, technical, and business food processing enterprises for the compliance of
support to micro food processing enterprises in India. FSSAI and other statutory requirements.
¾ This scheme is a part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan
-Vocal for Local Initiative in the food processing sector.
30th Anniversary of the 73rd
What are the Features of the PMFME Scheme? and 74th Amendments
¾ About:
€ The PMFME scheme aims to enhance the Why in News?
competitiveness of new and existing individual The year 2023 marks the 30th anniversary of the 73rd
micro-enterprises in the unorganized segment and 74th Amendment to the Indian Constitution. But still
of the food processing industry and promote India’s local government requires many technical,
formalization of the sector. administrative and financial fixes.
€ The PMFME scheme is operational for a period of
five years from 2020-21 to 2024-25 with an outlay What are the 73rd and 74th
of Rs. 10,000 Crore. Constitutional Amendments?
¾ Focus Areas: ¾ 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act:
€ The scheme adopts the One District One Product € Panchayati Raj Institution was constitutionalized
(ODOP) approach to reap the benefit of scale in through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act,
terms of procurement of inputs, availing common 1992.
services and marketing of products. € This act has added a new Part-IX to the Constitution
€ Other Focus areas include Waste to wealth products, of India and consists of provisions from Articles
minor forest products andAspirational Districts. 243 to 243 O.
¾ Assistance Available under PMFME Scheme: € In addition, the act has also added a new 11th
€ Support to Individual/Group Category Micro Schedule to the Constitution and contains 29
Enterprises: functional items of the panchayats.

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152 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

¾ 74th Constitutional Amendment Act:

€ Urban local governments were constitutionalized Armed Forces and Adultery
through the 74th Amendment Act during the regime
of P.V. Narsimha Rao’s government in 1992. It Why in News?
came into force on 1st June 1993.
Recently, the Supreme Court has ruled that armed
€ It added Part IX -A and consists of provisions from
forces can take action against their officers for adulterous
Articles 243-P to 243-ZG. acts, while stating the decriminalization of adultery does
€ In addition, the act also added the 12th Schedule to not apply to Armed Forces.
the Constitution. It contains 18 functional items ¾ In September 2018 Joseph Shine Judgment, the SC
of Municipalities. struck down Section 497 of the IPC that criminalised
adultery, ruling that it was unconstitutional and
Court Martial violated women’s right to equality in treating them
as inferior to their husbands.
Why in News? What is the Recent Ruling?
An Army court has recommended life imprisonment ¾ The SC clarified that in the 2018 judgment, the SC
for a Captain involved in the staged killings of three men was concerned only with the validity of Section 497
at Amshipora in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district of the IPC and Section 198(2) of the CrPC dealing
in 2020. The sentence will be final after it is confirmed with adultery, and had “no occasion whatsoever to
by the Northern Army Commander. consider the effect” with respect to the Army, Navy
¾ The Captain was court-martialled after a Court of and Air Force Acts.
Inquiry (CoI) and subsequent summary of evidence ¾ Defence personnel of the three wings — the Army,
found that troops under his command had exceeded Navy and the Air Force were governed by special
their powers under the Armed Forces (Special legislation, the Army Act, the Navy Act and the Air
Powers) Act.
Force Act.
What is the Process of Court Martial? ¾ These special laws impose restrictions on the
fundamental rights of the personnel, who function
¾ When the Army wants an allegation against its personnel
in peculiar situation requiring utmost discipline.
investigated, it first sets up a CoI for the purpose.
¾ The three laws are protected by Article 33 of the
€ This stage is similar to the registering of a First
Constitution, which allow the government to modify
Information Report (FIR) by police.
the fundamental rights of the armed forces personnel
¾ A Court of Inquiry investigates the complaint but
¾ The Bench delivered the final Order in the case,
cannot award a punishment. The CoI records the
clarifying that the Joseph Shine Judgment did not
statements of witnesses, which is comparable to the
apply to members of the armed forces who are
examination of witnesses by a police officer under
accused of ‘conduct unbecoming’ and dismissed
Section 161 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
the application.
¾ Based on the findings of the CoI, a tentative charge
sheet is drawn up by the commanding officer of the What is the Significance?
accused officer.
¾ Abolishing adultery as a crime, might prevent
€ After this, the hearing of charges takes place members of the armed services from being found
(just like the initial summoning of an accused by guilty of adulterous activities. When jawans and
the magistrate in a case involving civilians). The officers are deployed to hostile environments, other
summary of evidence is then recorded. officers look after their families at base camp, and
¾ Once this process has been completed, a General Court the laws and regulations that specify consequences
Martial (GCM) is ordered; similar to the conduct of a for engaging in adulterous or promiscuous behavior
trial by a judicial court for civilian matters. aid in upholding discipline.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 153
¾ Armed services soldiers who commit adultery with of approximately 3 years (i.e., from 2015 to 2018).
a coworker’s wife may be cashiered from their jobs What are the Other Highlights of the Survey?
for acting unbecomingly. ¾ Out of 81 lakh loans given in the state of Rajasthan,
over 52 lakh were given to women entrepreneurs in
the last three financial years, which is 64% of all loans.
Pradhan Mantri Mudra
¾ The PMMY has been expanded over time:
Yojana € In 2016-17, the scheme was expanded to cover
activities related to agriculture, such as fishing,
Why in News? dairy, and food processing.
As per the sample survey conducted at the national € In 2017-18, loans for tractors and power tillers

level by Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE) to became eligible under PMMY, with a maximum
assess employment generation under Pradhan Mantri limit of Rs. 10 lakhs.
Mudra Yojana (PMMY), the scheme helped in generating € From 2018-19 onwards, loans for two-wheelers

1.12 crore net additional employmentduring a period for commercial use were included in PMMY.

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154 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

¾ Parameters (Based on Gadgil Formula):

Special Category Status € Hilly Terrain;

€ Low Population Density and/or Sizeable Share of

Why in News? Tribal Population;
Recently, Union Finance Minister made it clear that € Strategic Location along Borders with Neighbouring
the Centre will not consider demands for “special Countries;
category status” for any state as the 14th Finance € Economic and Infrastructure Backwardness; and
commission has clearly said no special status can be given. € Nonviable Nature of State finances.
¾ This comes as a blow to states like Odisha, Bihar,
Andhra Pradesh which have been pushing for it for
some years now. Ladakh’s Demand
of Sixth Schedule
What is Special Category Status (SCS)?
¾ About: Why in News?
€ SCS is a classification given by the Centre to assist
Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
development of states that face geographical and
constituted a high-powered committee for the Union
socio-economic disadvantages.
Territory of Ladakh to “ensure protection of land and
€ Constitution does not make a provision for SCS employment” for the people of Ladakh.
and this classification was later done on the
¾ According to a few members of the committee, the
recommendations of the Fifth Finance Commission
MHA’s order is vague and does not address their
in 1969.
demand for inclusion in the Sixth Schedule.
€ Status was first accorded to Jammu and Kashmir,
¾ In September 2019, the National Commission for
Assam and Nagaland in 1969. Scheduled Tribes recommended the inclusion of
€ SCS for plan assistance was granted in the past by Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule, noting that the
the National Development Council of the erstwhile new UT was predominantly tribal (more than 97%)
Planning Commission. andits distinct cultural heritage needed preservation.
€ Eleven States including Assam, Nagaland, Himachal
Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Tripura, Why was the Committee Formed?
Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Uttarakhand and ¾ Background:
Telangana have been accorded the special category € Civil society groups in Ladakh have been demanding
state status. protection of land, resources and employment
z Telangana, the newest State of India, was for the past three years after the special status of
accorded the status as it was carved out of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir under
another state Andhra Pradesh. Article 370 of the Constitution was revoked by
€ The 14th Finance Commission has done away with Parliament in 2019.
the ‘special category status’ for states, except for € The fear of big businesses and conglomerates
the Northeastern and three hill states. taking away land and jobs from the local people
z It suggested to fill the resource gap of such have contributed to this demand.
states through tax devolution by increasing ¾ Purpose:
it to 42% from 32%. € To discuss measures to protect the region’s unique
€ SCS is different from Special status which imparts culture and language taking into consideration its
enhanced legislative and political rights, while SCS geographical location and strategic importance.
deals with only economic and financial aspects. € To strategize inclusive development and discuss
z For instance, J&K used to have Special status issues related to the empowerment of the Ladakh
before Article 370 was repealed. Autonomous Hill District Councils of Leh and Kargil.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 155

National Green Hydrogen Mission

Why in News?
The Union Government has approved a Rs 19,744 crore National Green Hydrogen mission that aims to make
India a ‘global hub’ for using, producing and exporting green hydrogen.

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156 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

¾ Students who received their medical degrees from

BIND Scheme NMC approved medical institutions and overseas
students also will have to qualify the National Exit Test.
Why in News? ¾ To register for medical practice in India, they must
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved pass the NExT test.
the proposal of the Ministry of Information and ¾ This centralized common exam will be conducted by
Broadcasting regarding the Central Sector a body formed by the commission for this purpose.
Scheme“Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network € National Medical commission (Amendment)
Development” (BIND) Scheme with an outlay of Rs.2,539.61 Bill,2022, proposes an autonomous board, ‘Board
crore up to 2025-26. of Examinations in Medical Sciences’, which, when
comes to effect, will be responsible for holding
What is a BIND Scheme? the NExT exam.
¾ About: € Currently, the National Board of Examinations
€ It is a scheme for providing financial support in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) is responsible for
toPrasar Bharati for expenses related to expansion holding exams like NEET PG (National Eligibility
and upgradation of its broadcasting infrastructure, cum Entrance Test Postgraduate), Foreign Medical
content development and civil work related to the Graduate Examination (FMGE).
organization. ¾ NExT will take the place of tests like FMGE and NEET PG.
z Prasar Bharati, as the public broadcaster of ¾ The NExT will comprise two separate exams called
the country, is the most important vehicle of ‘Steps’.
information, education, entertainment and
Who is Eligible to Appear in the NExT?
engagement for the people especially in the
remote areas of the country through Doordarshan ¾ All the students who have completed the final MBBS
(DD) and All India Radio (AIR). course from a Commission-recognised medical college
would be eligible to appear in the exam.
z Prasar Bharati played a stellar role in
¾ There is no restriction in the number of attempts
communicating public health messages and
provided that the candidate passes both the steps
awareness to the public during the covid
within 10 years of joining MBBS.
pandemic.
¾ Just by clearing the NExT exam the foreign medical
graduates will get licentiate to become practicing
National Exit Test doctors.

Why in News?
SMART Program
Recently, the National Medical Commission (NMC)
issued the proposed draft regulations related to the
for Ayurveda
National Exit Test (NExT).
Why in News?
What is National Exit Test? Recently, the National Commission for Indian System
¾ The NExT is a medical licensing exam that is designed of Medicine (NCISM) and the Central Council for Research
to assess the competency of medical graduates. in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), the two prominent

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 157
institutions under the Ministry of Ayush, have launched assessment patterns and latest research, and
‘SMART’ program. promote collaborations between them.
¾ The SMART (Scope for Mainstreaming Ayurveda € It will act as a constituent unit of the NCERT.
Research in Teaching Professionals) program aims to € It will also be tasked with holding periodic learning
boost scientific research through Ayurveda colleges outcome tests like the National Achievement
and hospitals. Survey (NAS) and State Achievement Surveys.
€ It will work on three major assessment areas:
What is the SMART Program?
large-scale assessments, school-based assessment,
¾ It was observed that the research potential of the large and examination reforms.
community of Ayurveda teachers remains underutilized ¾ Objective:
mostly. Therefore, the ‘SMART’ program will have a
€ Uniform Norms & Guidelines: Setting norms,
deep long term rejuvenating impact on research in standards and guidelines for student assessment
the field of Ayurveda and it will be a great service and evaluation for all recognized school boards
to the nation. of India.
¾ It aims to identify, support and promote innovative € Enhance Assessment Pattern: It will encourage
research ideas in healthcare research areas including and help school boards to shift their assessment
Osteoarthritis, Iron Deficiency Anaemia, Chronic patterns towards meeting the skill requirements
Bronchitis, Dyslipidemia, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Obesity, of the 21st century.
Diabetes Mellitus, Psoriasis, Generalised Anxiety € Reduce Disparity in Evaluation: It will bring
Disorder, Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). uniformity across the state and central boards
¾ The program will motivate teachers for taking up which currently follow different standards of
projects in designated areas of healthcare research evaluation, leading to wide disparities in scores.
and create a large database. € Benchmark Assessment: The benchmark assessment
framework will seek to put an end to the emphasis
PARAKH on rote learning, as envisaged by the National
Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Why in News?
Recently, the National Council for Education Research New Chairperson of Lokpal
and Training (NCERT) has notified India’s first national
assessment regulator, PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Source: TH
Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Recently, former Supreme Court Justice Ajay
Development), which aims to set up assessment guidelines Manikrao Khanwilkar was appointed as the chairperson
for all boards. of Lokpal. This came nearly two years after the post was
vacant.
What is PARAKH?
¾ The chairperson and members of the Lokpal are
¾ About: appointed by the President after obtaining the
€ PARAKH has been launched as part of the recommendations of a Selection Committee having
implementation of the National Education Policy the Prime Minister as its chairperson.
(NEP)-2020 that envisaged a standard-setting ¾ Apart from a chairperson, the Lokpal can have eight
body to advise school boards regarding new members, four judicial and four non-judicial.

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 159
security agency,” granting the Centre broader
Para Archer Sheetal Devi powers to issue directives for the destruction of
Named ECI National digital evidence.
¾ Rule 23 of the law mandates that all records, including
PwD Icon electronic ones related to interception, monitoring,
or decryption of information, must be destroyed by
Recently, the Election Commission of India has
security agencies every six months, unless deemed
announced Para Archer and Arjuna Awardee, Sheetal
necessary for functional purposes.
Devi (winner of 2 gold and 1 silver medal in the Asian
Para Games 2022) as its National Person with Disabilities
(PwD) Icon. Empowering the
¾ Her name was announced at an Exhibition Cricket Sikh Community
Match between the Indian Deaf Cricket Association
Team and District Cricket Association team, held in
Source: PIB
Delhi.
¾ The match was organised to foster voter education In a move to empower the Sikh community, on the
occasion of Sikh New Year, the Union Minister of Minority
and inclusivity. On the occasion, the Commission
Affairs launched a comprehensive skill development,
launched a dedicated Voter’s Guide for PwDs and
leadership, and entrepreneurship promotion program.
Senior Citizen Electors.
¾ The program is part of the “Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas,
¾ The commission also highlighted key initiatives
Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas” initiative under the
undertaken for PwDs like optional home voting facility
Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS)
for PwDs with benchmarked disabilities, provision of
Scheme through the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management
free transportation on poll day, the appointment of
Committee (DSGMC), which is a Statutory Body
State and District PwD Icons, awareness campaigns,
established for the welfare of the Sikh community.
the Saksham ECI App, Braille enabled EPICs and EVMs.
€ It targets 10,000 youth and women for modern
skills training in employment-oriented job roles,
Centre Amends IT Rules promotes Sikh artisans, fosters women’s leadership
and entrepreneurship, and provides education for
for Interception Record school dropouts.
Destruction € The program aims to assist socio-economically
disadvantaged groups within the Sikh community
The government has amended the Information and promote communal and social harmony.
Technology (IT) rules to allow for the Home Secretary or
€ State-of-the-Art Gurmukhi Script learning centres
other bureaucrats in the Centre to issue directions to
will be established in Khalsa colleges under the
destroy digital records of interception or decrypt University of Delhi for preserving and promoting
information. the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the
¾ So far, the power lies with security agencies, such as Sikh community.
law enforcement bodies. z The Gurmukhi script was developed from the
¾ The amendment, outlined in a gazette notification Śāradā script, standardised and used by the
by the IT Ministry, involves a modification to Section second Sikh guru, Guru Angad.
23 of the Information Technology (Procedure z TheŚāradā script is part of the Brahmic family
and Safeguards for Interception, Monitoring, and of scripts.
Decryption of Information) Rules, 2009. ¾ The Ministry will provide infrastructure and ancillary
€ Specifically, the term “security agency” has been services, including developing Studios/Smart
replaced with “competent authority and the Classrooms under the PM Jan Vikas Karyakram.

Note:
160 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

Yojana,Lakhpati Didi, Jan Dhan Accounts,Mudra

PB-SHABD Loans, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Ujjwala.

Source: PIB
Stalled Negotiations
Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting
launched the Prasar Bharti - Shared Audio Visuals for on Pancheshwar
Broadcast and Dissemination (PB-SHABD), a news-sharing Multipurpose Project
service from Prasar Bharati, aimed at transforming news
dissemination in India.
Source: TH
¾ PB-SHABD will serve as a single-point source of
news content for smaller news organisations lacking Despite the recent signing of an agreement on long-
extensive networks. term power sharing between India and Nepal, progress
on the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project (PMP) remains
¾ SHABD service is offered free for the first year,
at a standstill.
providing news stories in major Indian languages
across fifty categories. ¾ The impasse surrounding the PMP, particularly
concerning the equitable distribution of benefits,
¾ The minister highlighted the revamped platforms for
poses a challenge to the advancement of relations
Doordarshan News and Akashvani News, and updated
between India and Nepal.
News on the Air mobile app, emphasising their role
in democratising access to news and fostering ¾ In January 2023, India and Nepal signed a bilateral
collaboration within the media industry. agreement for the export of 10,000 MW of power
in the next 10 years.
¾ Prasar Bharati is India’s largest public broadcasting
agency. It is a statutory autonomous body set up by ¾ Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project (PMP) is a bi-
the Prasar Bharati Act, 1997. national hydropower project to be developed on the
Mahakali River bordering India and Nepal.
€ The Prasar Bharati Corporation’s main objective is
to provide autonomy to Doordarshan and Akashvani € India and Nepal had signed a Treaty known as

to “educate and entertain the public. Mahakali Treaty in February, 1996. Implementation
of the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project is the
centrepiece of the Mahakali Treaty.
Mahatari Vandana Yojana
Source: TH
In a move towards women empowerment, the Prime
Minister recently launched the Mahatari Vandana Yojana
in Chhattisgarh.
¾ The scheme aims to ensure the economic empowerment
of women, provide them with financial security,
promote gender equality, and strengthen their decisive
role within families.
¾ All married women above the age of 21 as of 1st
January 2024, including widows, divorced, and deserted
women, are eligible to benefit from this scheme.
€ Eligible married women in Chhattisgarh will receive
financial aid of Rs 1000 per month through Direct
Benefit Transfer (DBT).
¾ Approximately 70 lakh women are expected to benefit
from the Mahatari Vandana Yojana in Chhattisgarh,
contributing to their socio-economic upliftment.
¾ The other initiatives aimed at enhancing women’s
well-being are the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana

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www.drishtiias.com/hindi PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance 161
platform, further streamlining the reporting
Dak Karmayogi Project process for users.
¾ The DIP is a secure and integrated platform created by
Source: PIB the DoT for curbing the misuse of telecom resources
The Department of Posts, Government of India, and data through intelligence sharing and information
marked a significant achievement with the release of a exchange among the stakeholders covering a wide
Special Cover marking the completion of the second Phase spectrum of telecom service providers, law enforcement
of Dak Karmayogi Project. agencies (LEAs), banks and financial institutions.
¾ The Dak Karmayogi is an e-learning platform to € It would be a non-public data-sharing resource
enhance the competencies of about 4 lakh Gramin for “Telecom Service Providers (TSPs), LEAs, banks
Dak Sevaks and Postal Department employees. and financial institutions, social media platforms,
identity document issuing authorities etc.
€ This portal has been developed ‘In-House’ under
the vision of Mission Karmayogi.
¾ The Meghdoot Awards are a national-level award Electronic Data Interchange
given by India Post to top-performing employees in (EDI) Launched for North East
the Department of Posts.
The awards were introduced in 1984 to recognize
€
Source: PIB
outstanding performance and encourage postal
employees ¾ Union Minister for Finance launched the Electronic
Data Interchange (EDI) at Land Customs Stations (LCS)
of the North East Region (NER) aiming to enhance
Chakshu and the Digital regional trade and foster economic growth by making
Intelligence Platform the movement of goods and customs clearances
more efficient.
¾ The implementation of Electronic Data Interchange
Source: TH
(EDI) is set to empower trade community members
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and stakeholders in customs clearance by reducing
introduced two initiatives, Chakshu and the Digital dwell time and costs in cross-border trade.
Intelligence Platform (DIP), to combat spam and fraud
€ The export basket at these LCSs consists primarily
calls through the Sanchar Saathi portal.
of minerals and agricultural produce, whereas
¾ Chakshu (meaning eyes) is accessible at sancharsaathi. the import basket includes processed food items,
gov.in/sfc, facilitating citizens to report suspicious cement, and plastic products.
communications. ¾ Digitizing these LCSs along the India-Bangladesh
€ The platform allows users to report various types and India-Myanmar borders, established from 1948
of fraud, including those related to bank accounts, onwards to boost trade and travel, complements the
payment wallets, SIM cards, gas and electricity Act East Policy, enhancing market linkages and regional
connections, KYC updates, impersonation, and development through secure, paperless transactions
sextortion. and online payments.
¾ The primary objective of Chakshu is to enable proactive € The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs
reporting of suspicious activities, contributing to the (CBIC)has successfully enabled Electronic Data
prevention and mitigation of telecom-related fraud Interchange (EDI) at various LCSs along the Indo-
and spam calls. Bangladesh and Indo-Myanmar borders, overcoming
€ Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is challenges posed by remote locations without
working on developing an app for the Chakshu Optical Fibre or Mobile Networks.

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162 PT SPRINT (2024) Polity & Governance www.drishtiias.com/hindi

€ Anaemia is a medical condition characterised by a

Mission Utkarsh deficiency of red blood cells or haemoglobin in the
blood, leading to reduced oxygen-carrying capacity
Against Anaemia
The Ministry of Ayush and the Ministry of Women
and Child Development have partnered to enhance the
nutrition of adolescent girls through Ayurveda
interventions as a part of Mission Utkarsh.
¾ Under Mission Utkarsh, 15 central ministries or
departments will work to elevate districts at the
bottom, to state and national averages.
€ In the first phase, the focus may be on improving
the anaemic status of adolescent girls (14-18 years)
in five aspirational districtsof five states namely
Assam (Dhubri), Chhattisgarh (Bastar), Jharkhand
(Paschimi Singhbhum), Maharashtra (Gadchiroli),
and Rajasthan (Dhaulpur).
¾ The objective is to combat anaemia and work towards
achieving an “Anaemia Mukt Bharat” (Anaemia
Free India).

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Key Points Details

Summary
Key Points Details

Summary