Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Mains level: Infrastructure issues related to Urban Local Bodies;
Why in the News?
The CAG found that urban local bodies in 18 states, serving 241 million people, face a 42% gap between income and spending, with just 29% used for development work.
What are the key findings of the report?
- Resource-Expenditure Gap: Urban local bodies (ULBs) in 18 states face a 42% gap between their income and expenditure, with only 29% of spending directed toward development work.
- Revenue Dependence: ULBs generate only 32% of their revenue independently, relying heavily on Union and state government funds; they collect just 56% of their property tax demand.
- Staff Shortages and Limited Recruitment Powers: ULBs operate with an average 37% staff vacancy rate, and 16 states provide them with limited or no recruitment autonomy.
- Incomplete Implementation of the 74th Amendment: While 17 out of 18 functions have been devolved on average, compliance remains weak. Critical areas like urban planning and fire services are the least devolved.
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What are the implications of the resource-expenditure gap?
- Reduced Development Expenditure: With only 29% of expenditure directed toward programmatic and development work, the quality and quantity of essential urban services such as sanitation, housing, and infrastructure suffer.
- Increased Dependence on Grants: Only 32% of urban local bodies’ (ULBs) revenue comes from their own sources, making them overly reliant on state and Union government transfers. This undermines their fiscal autonomy.
- Poor Service Delivery: Insufficient resources hinder the ability of ULBs to meet growing urban demands, exacerbating issues like inadequate housing, poor waste management, and insufficient public health services.
- Impact on Urban Planning: The resource crunch constrains investment in urban planning and critical services like fire safety, leading to unplanned growth and vulnerabilities.
How does the 37% staff vacancy rate impact government operations?
- Operational Inefficiency: Vacant positions lead to delays in service delivery, poor maintenance of urban infrastructure, and inefficiencies in governance.
- Overburdened Workforce: Existing staff must take on additional responsibilities, potentially leading to burnout and reduced productivity.
- Limited Capacity for Resource Mobilization: Staff shortages in tax collection departments result in only 56% of property tax demand being realised, reducing revenue potential.
- Weak Local Governance: Insufficient personnel to handle devolved functions hampers the implementation of policies and schemes meant for urban development.
What are the Urban Local bodies?
- The establishment and functioning of ULBs are governed by the 74th Amendment to the Constitution of India, enacted in 1992.
- This amendment provides a constitutional framework for urban self-governance and outlines the powers and responsibilities of ULBs, which include various functions related to public health, sanitation, urban planning, and infrastructure development.
- ULBs are categorized into three main types: Municipal Corporations (for large cities), Municipalities (for smaller towns), and Nagar Panchayats (for transitional areas).
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What measures can be taken to improve resource mobilisation and management? (Way forward)
- Enhancing Own Revenue Generation: ULBs should focus on improving their revenue generation capabilities, particularly in property tax collection where they currently realize only 56% of demand.
- Implementing technology-driven solutions like GIS for property assessments could enhance collection efficiency.
- Financial Management Training: Providing training for ULB officials on financial management could improve budgeting practices, ensuring that funds are allocated more effectively towards development projects.
- Strengthening Autonomy: Empowering ULBs with greater autonomy over recruitment and financial decisions would enable them to respond more effectively to local needs and improve service delivery.
- Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Encouraging partnerships with private entities can help leverage additional resources for urban development projects while sharing risks associated with large-scale investments.
- Community Engagement Initiatives: Involving citizens in budgetary processes can increase transparency and accountability, potentially leading to better resource allocation aligned with community priorities.
Mains PYQ:
Q Analyse the role of local bodies in providing good governance at local level and bring out the pros and cons merging the rural local bodies with the urban local bodies. (UPSC IAS/2024)
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Mains level: Climate Change;
Why in the News?
The first week of the COP29 summit in Baku ended without major progress, as stark divisions between developed and developing nations hindered agreements on climate finance, trade measures, and equitable climate responsibilities.
What is a COP meeting?
- Establishment and Early Meetings: The COP was established in 1995 following the adoption of the UNFCCC in 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. The first COP (COP1) took place in Berlin, Germany, where parties began to negotiate binding commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- This initial meeting set the stage for subsequent negotiations and agreements, including the Kyoto Protocol in 1997, which established legally binding targets for developed countries to reduce emissions.
- Evolving Focus and Agreements: Over the years, COP meetings have evolved to address not only mitigation strategies but also adaptation, finance, and technology transfer to developing countries.
- The landmark Paris Agreement was adopted at COP21 in 2015, establishing a global framework for climate action with commitments from all countries to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius.
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What is the status of climate finance commitments from developed countries?
- Unmet Financial Pledges: Developed countries have failed to fulfill the $100 billion annual climate finance goal set in 2009, leading to growing frustration among developing nations.
- Loans Dominate Finance: Nearly 70% of climate finance provided so far is in the form of loans, creating a debt burden for vulnerable economies.
- Demand for $1.3 Trillion Annually: The G-77/China bloc has called for a significant increase in climate finance to $1.3 trillion annually, with a focus on grants and concessional funding instead of debt-inducing mechanisms.
- Equity in Climate Finance: Developing nations demand accountability and emphasize that climate finance should address both mitigation and adaptation needs equitably.
How will the Mitigation Work Programme (MWP) support developing countries?
- Capacity Building: The MWP aims to enhance the capabilities of developing countries to implement Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) effectively.
- Technology Transfer: A robust technology implementation program with dedicated financial backing is proposed to ensure equitable access to climate technologies.
- Adaptation Finance: The MWP includes provisions for scaling up financial resources to assist countries in adapting to climate impacts, especially for those most vulnerable.
- Equity in Responsibility: The MWP aligns with the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” (CBDR), ensuring that mitigation efforts consider historical emissions and current capacities.
What measures will be taken to address unilateral trade actions impacting developing nations? (Way forward)
- Criticism of CBAM: Developing nations, including India and Bolivia, criticized the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which they view as a discriminatory trade barrier violating equity principles.
- Call for Equity: Developing nations argue that CBAM shifts the burden of climate action to economies with minimal historical emissions, impacting industrial growth and development.
- Opposition to External Regulations: India emphasized that mitigation measures must align with NDCs and national sovereignty, opposing attempts to impose external climate regulations.
- Collaboration Against Trade Barriers: The BASIC bloc, AOSIS, and the Arab Group are working together to resist measures like CBAM and push for trade policies that consider the needs of the Global South.
- Reforms in Multilateral Financial Systems: Countries like South Africa advocate for multilateral reforms to ensure fairer financial systems and debt relief for vulnerable economies.
Mains PYQ:
Q Describe the major outcomes of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). What are the commitments made by India in this conference? (UPSC IAS/2021)
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Oriental pied Hornbills
Why in the News?
The people of Mayong village in Assam have come together to protect a growing colony of oriental pied hornbills, which they view as symbols of peace and prosperity.
About Oriental-pied Hornbills
|
Details |
| Name |
Scientific Name: Anthracoceros albirostris
Common Names: Sunda Pied Hornbill, Malaysian Pied Hornbill
Size: 600-900 grams, 55-60 cm in length. |
| Habitat |
Found in South and Southeast Asia including India, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
Inhabits tropical moist forests, secondary forests, and mangroves. |
| Behavioural Features |
Diet: Omnivorous, mainly fruits (figs), insects, small reptiles.
Role: Seed dispersers, forest regeneration agents.
Nesting: Female seals in tree cavity, male feeds her. |
| Conservation Status |
IUCN Red List: Least Concern; CITES: Appendix II (conditional trade permitted).
Threats: Habitat loss, poaching, pet trade.
Conservation: Protected in reserves, community efforts for habitat preservation. |
PYQ:
[2016] In which of the following regions of India, are you most likely to come across the ‘Great Indian Hornbill’ in its natural habitat?
(a) Sand deserts of northwest India
(b) Higher Himalayas of Jammu and Kashmir
(c) Salt marshes of western Gujarat
(d) Western Ghats |
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination;
Why in the News?
Madhya Pradesh marked a significant milestone in public health by unveiling a commemorative postage stamp dedicated to the Sickle Cell Eradication – 2047 initiative.
What is the Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)?
- SCD is a genetic disorder where red blood cells take a crescent shape, impairing circulation and causing complications like anaemia, organ damage, pain episodes, and a shortened lifespan.
- It predominantly affects marginalized tribal populations.
- Symptoms: Common symptoms include chronic anaemia, painful episodes (sickle cell crisis), and delayed growth and puberty.
- Treatment: Treatments include blood transfusions, hydroxyurea to reduce pain episodes, and gene therapy or stem cell transplantation for long-term management.
- India’s Mission:
- Union Budget 2023-24 announced a mission to eradicate sickle cell anaemia by 2047, focusing on awareness and screening for individuals aged 0-40.
- Anaemia Mukt Bharat Strategy: It provides bi weekly iron Folic acid supplementation to all under five children through ASHA workers.
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What are the key facts about the Sickle Cell Eradication – 2047 Initiative?
|
Details |
| Aims and Objectives |
• Complete eradication of sickle cell anemia by 2047.
• Awareness and screening in tribal communities.
• Accessible diagnosis and treatment, with tools like HPLC.
• Genetic counseling for prevention.
• Technology-driven monitoring via mobile app and National Sickle Cell Portal. |
| Features of the Program |
• Newborn screening and prenatal diagnostics at AIIMS Bhopal.
• Nationwide expansion to 17 states by 2047.
• Advanced testing with HPLC machines.
• Community engagement through support groups and education. |
| Implementation |
• Collaborations with institutions like AIIMS Bhopal, Sankalp India, and healthcare providers.
• Phased rollout starting with high-prevalence regions in Madhya Pradesh.
• Government funding for infrastructure and tech development.
• Digital technology for data collection and case management. |
PYQ:
[2023] Consider the following statements in the context of interventions being undertaken under the Anemia Mukt Bharat Strategy :
- It provides prophylactic calcium supplementation for pre-school children, adolescents and pregnant women.
- It runs a campaign for delayed cord clamping at the time of child-birth.
- It provides for periodic deworming to children and adolescents.
- It addresses non-nutritional causes of anaemia in endemic pockets with special focus on malaria, hemoglobinopathies and fluorosis.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four |
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: UNICORN Mast
Why in the News?
India and Japan have signed a Memorandum of Implementation (MoI) for the co-development and co-production of the UNICORN (Unified Complex Radio Antenna) mast for Indian Naval warships.
What is the UNICORN Mast?
- The UNICORN Mast is an advanced antenna system designed to enhance the stealth and operational capabilities of naval warships.
- It was developed through collaboration between three Japanese companies: NEC Corporation, Sampa Kogyo K.K., and The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
- It will be co-developed in India by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
- It consolidates multiple antennas, typically attached separately to a mast, into a single radar dome (radome).
- By reducing the cross-sectional visibility of the mast, UNICORN significantly minimizes the electronic signatures of warships, making them harder to detect.
- This technology is already in use on Mogami-class frigates in the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force.
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Objectives behind the Mission:
- Enhance Naval Stealth: Improve stealth by reducing electronic and radar signatures.
- Strengthen Defence Ties: Foster India-Japan collaboration in co-developing advanced defence systems.
- Increase Operational Efficiency: Improve radar and communication for better detection and readiness.
- Promote Indigenous Development: Support India’s self-reliance in defence tech with BEL involvement.
Significance of this Mission:
- Japan’s first defence tech export to India under the 2015 agreement.
- Equips Indian Navy warships with advanced stealth technology.
- Enhances regional maritime security and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.
- Promotes technology sharing and innovation in India’s defence sector, boosting indigenous production.
PYQ:
[2016] Which one of the following is the best description of ‘INS Astradharini’, that was in the news recently?
(a) Amphibious warfare ship
(b) Nuclear-powered submarine
(c) Torpedo launch and recovery vessel
(d) Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier |
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Features of Ayushman Vay Vandana Yojana
Why in the News?
Within just three weeks of its launch, over 10 lakh senior citizens have enrolled for the Ayushman Vay Vandana Yojana.
| Note: Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PM-VVY) is a pension scheme and insurance policy for senior citizens in India. One must not get confused with Ayushman-VVY. |
About Ayushman Vay Vandana Yojana:
|
Details |
| Features and Provisions |
• Cashless health coverage up to ₹5 lakh per year for senior citizens aged 70 and above.
• Beneficiaries receive an Ayushman Vay Vandana Card, which grants them access to free treatment in empaneled hospitals across India.
• Coverage includes medical consultations, treatments, pre- and post-hospitalization expenses, and complex procedures such as angioplasty. |
| Structural Mandate |
• Administered under the PM-JAY framework, ensuring structured implementation and integration with India’s health insurance network.
• Implemented across empaneled hospitals in both urban and rural areas, ensuring nationwide reach.
• Centralized digital system tracks treatments, patient details, and expenses for transparency and accountability.
• Specifically designed for senior citizens, addressing their unique healthcare needs. |
| Aims and Objectives |
• Universal healthcare for senior citizens, ensuring access to essential medical treatments without financial strain.
• Seeks to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure for elderly citizens and their families.
• Encourages preventive care and early medical intervention to address age-related health conditions. |
| Eligibility Criteria |
• Open to all Indian citizens aged 70 and above.
• There are NO income/ family size restrictions, making it accessible to all senior citizens, regardless of their economic status.
• Beneficiaries must be Indian citizens.
• Seniors need to register under PM-JAY to receive the AVV Card and avail of the benefits. |
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