Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: How will iCAL work?
Mains level: How are local bodies audited in India?
Why in the news?
On July 18, CAG Girish Chandra Murmu inaugurated the International Centre for Audit of Local Governance (iCAL) in Rajkot, marking India’s first institute to set global standards for auditing local governance.
How will iCAL work?
- iCAL will serve as a platform for policymakers, administrators, and auditors connected with local governments to enhance collaboration and share best practices.
- Objective: It aims to improve the independence and effectiveness of local government auditors through training, leadership development, and capacity-building initiatives.
- Significance: iCAL will act as a think tank for addressing governance issues at the grassroots level through interactive workshops, knowledge-sharing sessions, and peer exchanges.
How are local bodies audited in India?
- India has a three-tier system consisting of the Union government, state governments, and local bodies (both urban and rural).
- Local bodies like Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) are audited by various entities:
- State-level offices like the Examiner of Local Fund Accounts (ELFA)/Director of Local Fund Accounts (DLFA) audit the utilisation of state funds by local bodies.
- CAG conducts audits of all funds at the central and state levels, including those of local bodies. The CAG also advises and supports ELFA/DLFA.
Why was a need felt for it?
- Increased Funding and Need for Proper Auditing: With significant funds flowing to local bodies, there is a pressing need for improved auditing practices to ensure proper utilisation and financial management.
- Global Practices and Collaboration: There is a need to promote global good practices and institutionalised collaboration among supreme audit institutions (SAIs) to enhance local government audit practices and share best practices.
- Addressing Inefficiencies: Concerns have been raised about inefficiencies in local body financial management and reporting, as highlighted by the Reserve Bank of India’s 2022 report. iCAL aims to address these inefficiencies through better auditing practices and capacity building.
Way forward:
- Expand Capacity Building and Training Programs: Enhance iCAL’s focus on training and capacity-building for auditors and local government officials.
- Foster International Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing: Strengthen partnerships with global audit institutions and engage in knowledge exchange initiatives.
Mains PYQ:
Q In the absence of well – educated and organised local-level government systems, Panchayats and Samitis have remained mainly political institutions and not effective instruments of governance. Critically Discuss. (UPSC IAS/2015)
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Indemnity-based Insurance Products and Parametric insurance
Mains level: Limitation of Parametric insurance
Why in the news?
In 2023, natural disaster losses hit $280 billion, with only $100 billion insured, highlighting a need for innovative insurance solutions amid rising extreme weather events.
Present Method of Disaster Risk Reduction
- Indemnity-based Insurance Products: Indemnity-based insurance products require a physical assessment of damage after a disaster to determine the payout amount. For example Health Insurance, Motor Insurance and Travel Insurance.
Challenges:
- Verification Issues: When large-scale calamities strike, especially in economically disadvantaged areas, it is difficult to verify losses due to the lack of records and widespread destruction.
- Delays in Payouts: The need for physical assessment can cause delays in providing financial assistance to the affected individuals and communities.
- Insurance Gap: There is a significant gap in insurance coverage between developed and developing economies, leaving many vulnerable populations without adequate protection.
Changing course and the associated limitations:
- Parametric insurance: Payments are made based on predefined parameters of weather events (e.g., rainfall exceeding 100 mm per day for two consecutive days, specific flood levels, wind speed).The payouts are made without the need for physical assessment of losses, enabling quicker disbursements.
Examples:
- Disaster-prone Island Countries: Many have adopted parametric insurance for climate adaptation, moving away from risk retention models. For example, Fiji launched its first parametric insurance product in 2021
- Morocco received $275 million in parametric insurance after a 6.8 magnitude earthquake, arranged with the help of the World Bank.
- India has initiated crop insurance (e.g., Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and the Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme).
Associated Limitations
- Current Focus: Primarily used for low-frequency, high-impact disasters like earthquakes, cyclones, and hurricanes.
- Data and Infrastructure Requirements: There is challenges related to developing and maintaining the necessary infrastructure for data collection and monitoring can be challenging, especially in developing regions.
- Affordability and Accessibility issues: It demands high premiums can still be a barrier for economically disadvantaged communities.
Case Study of Nagaland:
- Nagaland was the first state in India to buy parametric cover for extreme precipitation in 2021.
- Based on lessons learned, it improved the product by fixing an absolute annual premium, duration, and rate online, allowing bidders to compete over lower threshold limits and maximized payouts.
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What can be done to ensure effectiveness? (Way Forward)
- Precise Thresholds and Robust Monitoring: Establish clear, accurate parameters for insurance triggers and implement reliable monitoring systems to track these parameters effectively.
- Transparent Bidding and Experience Sharing: Follow a transparent bidding process for price discovery and facilitate the exchange of best practices and lessons learned between governments.
- Widespread Payout Systems and Household Premium Support: Develop comprehensive systems for distributing payouts and promote long-term premium payment by households, leveraging tools like Aadhaar-based payment dissemination.
Mains PYQ:
Q Describe various measures taken in India for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) before and after signing ‘Sendai Framework for DRR (2015-2030)’. How is this framework different from ‘Hyogo Framework for Action, 2005’? (UPSC IAS/2018)
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Green Revolution
Mains level: Present India’s Maize Production
Why in the news?
Over the past two decades, India’s maize production has more than tripled, emerging as a private sector-driven green revolution success story. Maize has transitioned from being primarily a feed crop to also serving as a fuel crop.
What was the Green Revolution?
- Began in 1968 with the introduction of high-yielding variety (HYV) seeds, especially for wheat and rice, developed by agronomist Norman Borlaug
- Institutions like CIMMYT (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center) and IARI (Indian Agricultural Research Institute), led by scientists like Norman Borlaug and M S Swaminathan, played a crucial role.
- The Green Revolution is credited to M.S. Swaminathan, known as the “Father of the Indian Green Revolution”, who introduced Borlaug’s wheat varieties and other technologies.
- The initiative focused on increasing agricultural productivity through advanced breeding techniques, fertilizers, and irrigation methods.
- Wheat production increased from 12 million tons in 1964-65 to 20 million tons in 1970-71.India became self-sufficient in food grain production and a major exporter
Present India’s Maize Production called as a Green Revolution in Maize
- Significant Production Increase: Over the last two decades, India’s maize production has surged from 11.5 million tonnes in 1999-2000 to over 35 million tonnes in 2023-24, showcasing a remarkable increase in both yield and output.
- Private Sector Leadership: This growth has been largely driven by the private sector, with more than 80% of the maize area planted with high-yielding hybrids developed by private seed companies, indicating a successful private sector-led green revolution.
- Diverse Utilization: Maize in India has evolved from being primarily a feed crop for poultry and livestock to also being a vital industrial crop used for starch and ethanol production, reflecting its expanded role in the economy.
On Starch and Ethanol Production
- Maize contains 68-72% starch, with significant industrial applications in textiles, paper, pharmaceuticals, food, and beverages.
- Maize is emerging as a key feedstock for ethanol production, especially for blending with petrol.
- IARI has developed a waxy maize hybrid with high amylopectin content, enhancing its suitability for ethanol production.
- The new Pusa Waxy Maize Hybrid-1 has 71-72% starch with 68-70% recoverable, increasing ethanol yield per tonne.
Can India adopt new strategies? (Way forward)
- India can adopt new strategies through innovative breeding techniques like the doubled haploid (DH) technology used by CIMMYT.
- The DH facility in Karnataka speeds up the development of genetically pure inbred lines, enhancing the efficiency of maize breeding.
- IARI’s waxy maize hybrid is ready for field trials and commercial release, potentially boosting ethanol production.
- Collaboration between public sector institutions and private seed companies can drive the adoption of high-yielding, disease-resistant maize varieties.
- Private sector-bred hybrids account for over 80% of India’s maize area, indicating strong potential for further growth and innovation in maize production.
Mains PYQ:
Q Explain various types of revolutions, that took place in Agriculture after Independence in India. How these revolutions have helped in poverty alleviation and food security in India? (UPSC IAS/2017)
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Paris Agreement
Mains level: Bilateral Ties between India and Japan related to climate change
Why in the news?
India is set to establish a Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) with Japan for carbon trading and emission-reduction credits.
Memorandum of Cooperation for Setting Up a Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM)
- Objective and Framework: India and Japan plan to sign a Memorandum of Cooperation to establish a Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) for sharing emission-reduction credits. The JCM will involve a structured allocation of carbon credits and maintain a registry to track these credits, with projects needing clearance from a Joint Committee.
- Implementation and Oversight: The mechanism will be governed under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement, adhering to relevant domestic laws and regulations of both countries. A Joint Committee will develop rules, manage project cycles, and oversee monitoring and issuance of credits.
Emission Cuts
- Credit Allocation: Credits issued under the JCM will contribute to both Japan’s and India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. The JCM will avoid double counting of credits and may authorize some credits for international mitigation purposes.
- Technology Transfer and Capacity Building: Japan will support technology transfer, finance, and capacity building to enhance the effectiveness of the JCM and facilitate the adoption of new technologies.
Significance of JCM:
- Increased Access to Clean Technologies: The JCM will facilitate the transfer of advanced decarbonizing technologies from Japan to India, such as renewable energy systems, energy-efficient appliances, and waste management solutions.
- Job Creation and Skill Development: The implementation of JCM projects will create new employment opportunities in sectors like renewable energy, energy efficiency, and waste management
Bilateral ties between India and Japan
- Strategic Partnership: The JCM will strengthen bilateral ties between India and Japan by fostering collaboration on low-carbon technologies and climate action, aimed at boosting job creation and investments in clean technologies.
- Clean Energy Partnership: It was launched in March 2022, the India-Japan Clean Energy Partnership (CEP) aims to enhance cooperation in sustainable energy transitions to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070.
- Investment Commitments: During the 14th India-Japan Annual Summit in March 2022, both nations agreed on a target of $42 billion (JPY 5 trillion) in public and private investment from Japan to India over the next five years
- Low Carbon Emission Strategies: A $600 million fund was established to focus on environmental sustainability and low carbon emission strategies. This initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance Japanese investments in India while addressing climate change.
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Way forward:
- Prioritize the adoption of cutting-edge decarbonizing technologies: Japan should prioritize the transfer of its most advanced low-carbon technologies to India, such as renewable energy systems, energy-efficient appliances, and carbon capture and storage solutions.
- Expand the scope of the JCM to include other areas of climate cooperation: While the initial focus of the JCM should be on emission reduction projects, India and Japan could explore expanding its scope to include other areas of climate cooperation, such as adaptation measures, climate finance, and capacity building.
Mains PYQ:
Q Clean energy is the order of the day.’ Describe briefly India’s changing policy towards climate change in various international fora in the context of geopolitics. (UPSC IAS/2022)
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Features of the RTE Act
Why in the News?
The Bombay High Court has cancelled the Maharashtra government’s new rule that allowed private schools within 1 kilometer of government or government-aided schools to avoid reserving 25% of their seats for students from weaker sections and disadvantaged groups.
Right to Education (RTE) Act: Overview
- The Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009 ensures free and compulsory education as fundamental right under Article 21A of the Indian Constitution.
- It mandates that every child has the right to full-time elementary education of satisfactory and equitable quality in a formal school that meets certain essential norms and standards.
- Key Provisions:
- The RTE Act provides for free and compulsory education for all children between 6 and 14 years.
- Schools must be available within a prescribed distance from the child’s residence to ensure accessibility.
- The Act ensures the provision of adequate teachers and the establishment of standards for their training and quality.
- Teacher Qualification: The teacher must pass the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET), which is administered by the respective government authority. The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) has established the minimum qualifications required for a person to be eligible for appointment as a teacher for classes I to VIII.
- The RTE Act does NOT apply to Minority institutions.
Section 12(1) (C) of the RTE Act:
- Section 12(1) (C) requires private unaided and specified category schools to reserve at least 25% seats for children from economically weaker sections and disadvantaged groups.
- This provision aims to promote social inclusion and ensure that children from all backgrounds have access to quality education.
- The government reimburses schools for the expenses incurred for admitting these children, based on per-child expenditure incurred by the state.
- Children from economically weaker sections and disadvantaged groups benefit from this Section as it provides them access to private schooling.
- This section aims to contest education apartheid and bring parity and equality of opportunity for all children.
Details of the Exemption Rule in Maharashtra
- The notification stated that private unaided schools within one kilometer of a government or government-aided school would not need to reserve 25% of seats for socio-economically backward students.
- Students in these areas would first be considered for admission to nearby government or government-aided schools.
- The exemption also applied to future private schools established within a one-kilometer radius of government or government-aided schools.
- If no such schools existed in the vicinity, private schools would be identified for RTE admissions.
Similar Exemptions in Other States
- Maharashtra joined Karnataka and Kerala in implementing this regime to exempt private schools from RTE admissions.
- Karnataka introduced the rule in December 2018, referencing Kerala’s rules introduced in 2011.
- In Kerala, the fee concession is available to RTE quota students only if there are no government or aided schools within one kilometer for Class 1 students.
Reasons for Introducing Exemptions
- Karnataka’s Law Minister stated in 2018 that the primary intention of RTE is to provide education to all classes of students.
- Allowing parents to admit children to private schools despite nearby government schools resulted in a drop in enrollment ratios in government schools.
- Private schools and teachers’ organizations highlighted that state governments often failed to reimburse fees for students admitted through the RTE quota.
- Section 12(2) of the RTE Act binds state governments to reimburse expenses incurred by schools per child or the fee amount, whichever is less.
- In Maharashtra, the Maharashtra English School Trustees Association (MESTA) threatened to boycott RTE admissions last December due to pending reimbursements of Rs 1,800 crore.
PYQ:
[2022] The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 remains inadequate in promoting incentive-based systems for children’s education without generating awareness about the importance of schooling. Analyse.
[2018] Consider the following statements:
- As per the right to education (RTE) Act, to be eligible for appointment as a teacher in a state, a person would be required to possess the minimum qualification laid down by the concerned State council of Teacher education.
- As per the RTE Act, for teaching primary classes, a candidate is required to pass a Teacher Eligibility Test conducted in accordance with the National Council of Teacher Education guidelines.
- In India, more than 90 % of teacher education institutions are directly under the State Governments.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 3 only |
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Bhil Tribe
Why in the News?
A large number of people from the Bhil tribe recently gathered at a rally in Rajasthan’s Mangarh Dham to raise the demand for an independent ‘Bhil state’.
Background of the Bhil Pradesh Demand
- The idea of a tribal state, comprising parts of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra, has been discussed previously.
- The demand for a separate tribal state in western India was put forward by the Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) formed in 2017.
- The Bhil community has been demanding that 49 districts be carved out of the four states to establish Bhil Pradesh.
- The demand for Bhil Pradesh has been raised repeatedly since Independence.
Historical Context
- Bhil social reformer and spiritual leader Govind Guru first raised the demand for a separate state for tribals in 1913.
- The demand followed the Mangarh massacre, where hundreds of Bhil tribals were killed by British forces.
- The massacre took place six years before the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and is sometimes referred to as the “Adivasi Jallianwala”.
Reasons for the Demand
- Earlier, the tribal-majority regions were a single entity but were divided post-Independence.
- According to the 2011 census, tribals comprise almost 14% of Rajasthan’s population.
- Several Union governments have brought various laws and schemes for tribals but have been slow in implementation.
Example of Implementation Issues
- The Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, aimed to decentralize governance and empower gram sabhas in tribal areas.
- The Rajasthan government adopted the law in 1999, but its rules were only formulated in 2011.
- Many people, including local leaders, are still unaware of the law.
PYQ:
[2013] Consider the following pairs :
Tribe: State
1. Limboo Limbu : Sikkim
2. Karbi : Himachal
3. Dongaria Kondh : Odisha
4. Bonda : Tamil Nadu
Which of the above pairs are correctly matched?
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 4 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 |
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: MISA, Implications of Emergency
Why in the News?
- Prithipal Singh Randhawa, leader of the Punjab Students Union (PSU), was murdered in Ludhiana on July 18, 1979.
- At the time of his death, he was 27 years old and among the most prominent leaders of the student union movement in Punjab during the 1970s.
Who was Prithipal Singh Randhawa?
- Randhawa hailed from Hoshiarpur in Punjab and joined Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, in 1972.
- On October 5, 1972, students protested outside Regal Cinema in Moga district against black marketing of tickets.
- The police opened fire, killing four people, including student leaders Swarn Singh and Harjeet Singh.
- In response, Randhawa launched a mass movement, leading to the arrest of the responsible police officers.
- On October 26, 1974, he organized the massive Moga Sangram rally, addressing issues like student fee hikes and the United States’ imperial war in Vietnam.
- He was assassinated on July 18, 1979, after abduction.
- His rising popularity and anti-establishment stance led to his arrest and 19-month imprisonment under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) during the Emergency.
- His death led to massive protests in Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi.
Back2Basics: Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA): Overview
- The MISA was a controversial law enacted by the Indian government in 1971.
- It was primarily aimed at ensuring internal security and public order during times of political unrest and emergencies.
- MISA was heavily used during the Emergency period (1975-1977) declared by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Key Provisions:
- Preventive Detention: MISA allows for the preventive detention of individuals without trial for a maximum period of two years. This was intended to pre-emptively address threats to national security.
- Detention without Charges: Individuals could be detained without being charged with a specific offense, based on the suspicion of being a threat to national security or public order.
- No Right to Legal Representation: Detainees under MISA did not have the right to legal representation or a fair trial.
- Limited Judicial Review: The act severely restricted the scope of judicial review, making it difficult for courts to intervene in cases of detention under MISA.
Controversy and Criticism:
- Human Rights Violations: MISA was widely criticized for its draconian measures and violation of fundamental human rights, including the right to liberty, freedom of speech, and due process.
- Political Repression: The act was seen as a tool for political repression, used by the government to silence opposition and dissent.
- Abuse of Power: There were numerous instances of abuse of power under MISA, with individuals being detained on vague or politically motivated grounds.
Repeal:
- After the end of the Emergency in 1977, the newly elected Janata Party government repealed MISA in 1978 as part of its efforts to restore democratic norms and civil liberties.
- The legacy of MISA remains a stark reminder of the potential for misuse of power and the importance of safeguarding democratic principles and human rights.
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PYQ:
[2022] Which of the following is/are the exclusive power(s) of Lok Sabha?
- To ratify the declaration of Emergency
- To pass a motion of no-confidence against the Council of Ministers
- To impeach the President of India
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 3 only |
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Mashko Piro Tribe
Why in the News?
An NGO has released rare photographs of the Mashco Piro tribespeople, one of the world’s 100-odd uncontacted tribes.
Who are the Mashko Piro people?
- The Mashco Piro tribe, possibly numbering over 750, are nomadic hunter-gatherers.
- They live in the Amazon jungles of the Madre de Dios Region, near Peru’s border with Brazil and Bolivia.
- Almost all uncontacted tribes, including the Mashco Piro, live in the jungles of the Amazon and Southeast Asia.
- The Mashco-Piro speak a dialect of the Piro language.
- The tribe is highly reclusive and only occasionally contacts the Yine people, another native group.
Threats from the logging activities
- Logging companies has been allotted 53,000 hectares in the Madre de Dios forests to extract cedar and mahogany.
- The Mashco Piro have expressed their disapproval of the logging companies through the Yine people, reporting feelings of pressure and upset due to company assaults.
Historical Context:
- The Mashco Piro’s territory was invaded during Peru’s rubber boom in the 1880s, resulting in displacement, enslavement, and mass killings.
- Survivors moved further upstream on the Manu River and have lived in isolation since then.
Protective measures from the Government
- In 2002, the Peruvian government established the Madre de Dios Territorial Reserve to protect the Mashco Piro’s territory.
- However, large parts of their traditional lands lie outside the reserve and have been sold as logging concessions.
- The Peruvian government has forbidden all contact with the Mashco Piro to prevent the spread of diseases to which the tribe has no immunity.
- As logging companies encroach on their territories, the Mashco Piro have nowhere left to go.
PYQ:
[2016] Consider the following pairs:
Community sometimes in the affairs of mentioned in the news
- Kurd : Bangladesh
- Madhesi : Nepal
- Rohingya : Myanmar
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3
(d) 3 only |
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