From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: HDI
Mains level: Read the attached story
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India ranks 132 out of 191 countries in the Human Development Index (HDI) 2021, after registering a decline in its score over two consecutive years for the first time in three decades.
What is Human Development Index (HDI)?
The HDI combines indicators of life expectancy, education or access to knowledge and income or standard of living, and captures the level and changes to the quality of life.
The index initially launched as an alternative measure to the gross domestic product, is the making of two acclaimed economists from Pakistan and India, namely Mahbub ul Haq and Amartya Sen.
It stresses the centrality of human deveÂlopÂment in the growth process and was first rolled out by the United Nations Development Programme in 1990.
Dimensions of the Human Development Index – HDI
The idea that progress should be conceived as a process of enlarging peopleâs choices and enhancing their capabilities is the central premise of the HDI.
Since its launch, the HDI has been an important marker of attempts to broaden measures of progress.
The HDI considers three main dimensions to evaluate the development of a country:
Long and healthy life
Education
Standard of living
Limitations of HDI
HDR has been always disputable and has caught the public-eye, whenever it was published. It has many reasons.
One of them is that the concept of human development is much deeper and richer than what can be caught in any index or set of indicators. Another argument is that its concept has not changed since 1990 when it was also defined in the first.
(1) An incomplete indicator
Human development is incomplete without human freedom and that while the need for qualities judgement is clear; there is no simple quantitative measure available yet to capture the many aspects of human freedom.
HDI also does not specifically reflect quality of life factors, such as empowerment movements or overall feelings of security or happiness.
(2) Limited idea of development
The HDI is not reflecting the human development idea accurately.
It is an index restricted to the socio-economic sphere of life; the political and civil spheres are in the most part kept separate.
Hence there is a sub-estimation of inequality among countries, which means that this dimension is not being taken into consideration appropriately.
(3) A vague concept
Concerning data quality and the exact construction of the index HDI is conceptually weak and empirically unsound.
This strong critic comes from the idea that both components of HDI are problematic. The GNP in developing countries suffers from incomplete coverage, measurement errors and biases.
The definition and measurement of literacy are different among countries and also, this data has not been available since 1970 in a significant number of countries.
(4) Data quality issues
The HDI, as a combination of only four relatively simple indicators, doesnât only raise a questions what other indicators should be included, but also how to ensure quality and comparable input data.
It is logical that the UNDP try to collect their data from international organizations concentrating in collecting data in specific fields.
Quality and trustworthiness of those data is disputable, especially when we get the information from UN non-democratic members, as for example Cuba or China.
(5) A tool for mere comparison
The concept of HDI was set up mainly for relative comparison of countries in one particular time.
HDI is much better when distinguishing between countries with low and middle human development, instead of countries at the top of the ranking.
Therefore, the original notion was not to set up an absolute ranking, but letâs quite free hands in comparison of the results.
(6) Development has to be greener
The human development approach has not adequately incorporated environmental conditions which may threaten long-term achievements on human development. The most pervasive failure was on environmental sustainability.
However, for the first time in 2020, the UNDP introduced a new metric to reflect the impact caused by each countryâs per-capita carbon emissions and its material footprint.
This is Planetary Pressures-adjusted HDI or PHDI. It measured the amount of fossil fuels, metals and other resources used to make the goods and services it consumes.
(7) Wealth can never equate welfare
Higher national wealth does not indicate welfare. GNI may not necessarily increase economic welfare; it depends on how it is spent.
For example, if a country spends more on military spending â this is reflected in higher GNI, but welfare could actually be lower.
Significance of HDI
It is one of the few multidimensional indices as it includes indicators such as literacy rate, enrollment ratio, life expectancy rate, infant mortality rate, etc.
It acts as a true yardstick to measure development in real sense.
Unlike per capital income, which only indicates that a rise in per capital income implies economic development; HDI considers many other vital social indicators and helps in measuring a nationâs well-being.
It helps as a differentiating factor to distinguish and classify different nations on the basis of their HDI ranks.
Way forward
Both sustainable development and poverty eradication are both long-term and urgent endeavours, requiring not only the gradual and substantial redirection of country policies but a rapid response to pressing problems.
Ideally, sustainable development could provide an overarching framework within which all sub-goals (eg poverty eradication, social equality, ecosystem maintenance, climate compatibility) are framed.
It is not a subset of development; it is development (in a modern world of resource limits).
Environmental issues are not one factor among many but the meta-context within which poverty and other goals are sought.
Investing more in public research could lead to technological solutions to poverty and sustainability problems becoming more rapidly and openly available.
Over the years, there has been a raging debate over the need for children to have their mother tongue as the medium of instruction in schools.
While educationists have emphasised the importance of learning in the mother tongue to enhance a childâs learning and overcome glaring inequities, there has been an equally steady demand for English-medium schools in several States.
Historic context to this debate
Orientalist: Orientalists were the group of people who wanted to give education to Indian people in the Indian language. The emphasis was on the knowledge of the East. They wanted Indians to learn about Indian philosophy, science, and literature. In the Initial stage, company officials favoured oriental learning.
Anglicist: Anglicists were those people who supported the teaching of modern western education to Indian people in the English language. People who favoured Anglicists were Thomas Babington, Macaulay, Jamesâs mill, Charles wood, Charles Trevelyan, and Elphinstone. The Anglicists were supported by the most advanced Indians like Raja Ram Mohan Roy.
Why mother tongue is important?
Suitability to child: There is an almost-complete consensus among educationists, linguistic experts and psychologists that the mother tongue, or the language of the region where the child lives, is the only appropriate language of learning for the child.
Incomprehension: A child can be taught any number of languages, particularly later in life, but the medium of learning should be the mother tongue. As a number of classrooms today are stalked by the curse of incomprehension.
Pressure of English language: There are a growing number of schools, mostly private, that teach in English. Government schools too in States like Tamil Nadu, unable to bear the pressure from parents and to stop students from migrating to private schools, are switching to English medium.
Development in every way: The mother tongue, home language or the first language educationally means the language which the child is using to connect to the world, to people, to nature, to the environment, and to make sense of everything thatâs going on. This is the language which helps the child to build, grow and develop in every way.
Inability to learn: English medium education is a profound tragedy in Indian education today. Millions are languishing because of their inability to learn in English not English as a language but as a medium through which they acquire any knowledge of any subject.
Why English Should Be the Medium of Instruction in Schools, Colleges?
Connectivity with The Rest of the World: To communicate and be on par with the world, the first language that stands common is English. With English, a student can remain on par with what is happening across the globe. Lack of English knowledge or alone mother tongue does not allow children to progress with the rest of the world.
Technologies Can Be Used Only With English Instruction: Most of the modern technologies are invented, reinvented and modernized in foreign shores. The inventors keep the English language for the instruction manual of the technological gadget so that the gadget can be used worldwide.
Higher Education Emphasizes on The English language: The main focus of teaching medium in higher secondary as well as in graduation and post-graduation colleges in India. There is no doubt that lecturers also teach in Hindi or other regional languages. However, question design comes in both English and regional language. But most of the classes are taught in English.
How multilingual approach helps
Firstly, multilingualism gives equal status to all languages and thereâs enough work, history and research on this.
Second, children come from different backgrounds, and in some cases, they are first-generation learners with not much support at home.
The multilingual approach thus, is much more flexible, closer to the child, and inclusive. It is democratic, and it accepts that the teacher is not coming from a place of authority and is only correcting spellings and pronunciations.
Conclusion
This myth must be broken that our education system is class and caste neutral. A powerful political movement will have to take place to make the language of learning a choice that is made democratically.
Mains question
Q. Should the mother tongue or English be the medium of instruction? Critically explain.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NA
Mains level: future preparedness for pandemics
Context
The outline of an essential global pandemic treaty.
Purpose of the treaty
A pandemic treaty under the umbrella of the World Health Organization would build coherence and avoid fragmentation of response.
Severity of this pandemic demands such treaty
COVID-19 would count as being among some of the most severe pandemics the world has seen in the last 100 years. An estimated 18 million people may have died from COVID-19, according various credible estimates, a scale of loss not seen since the Second World War.
Further, with over 120 million people pushed into extreme poverty, and a massive global recession, no single government or institution has been able to address this emergency singlehandedly.
This has given us a larger perspective of how nobody is safe until everybody is safe.
Catchy line for value addition
Nobody is safe until everybody is safe
There is widespread inequity in healthcare
Gross inequity in distribution: Health-care systems have been stretched beyond their capacity and gross health inequity has been observed in the distribution of vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics across the world.
Irreversible consequences: While high-income economies are still recovering from the aftereffects, the socioeconomic consequences of the novel coronavirus pandemic are irreversible in low and low middle-income countries.
The monopolies: Held by pharma majors such as Pfizer, BioNTech, and Moderna created at least nine new billionaires since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and made over $1,000 a second in profits, even as fewer of their vaccines reached people in low-income countries.
Skewed distribution: As of March 2022, only 3% of people in low-income countries had been vaccinated with at least one dose, compared to 60.18% in high-income countries. The international target to vaccinate 70% of the worldâs population against COVID-19 by mid-2022 was missed because poorer countries were at the âback of the queueâ when vaccines were rolled out.
Indiaâs lead role
Dynamic response: Indiaâs response to the COVID-19 pandemic and reinstating global equity by leveraging its own potential has set an example to legislators worldwide.
Vaccine diplomacy: India produces nearly 60% of the worldâs vaccines and is said to account for 60%-80% of the United Nationsâ annual vaccine procurement âvaccine diplomacyâ or âvaccine maitriâ with a commitment against health inequity.
We lead by example: India was unfettered in its resolve to continue the shipment of vaccines and other diagnostics even when it was experiencing a vaccine shortage for domestic use. There was only a brief period of weeks during the peak of the second wave in India when the vaccine mission was halted.
A classic example of global cooperation: As of 2021, India shipped 594.35 lakh doses of âMade-in-Indiaâ COVID-19 vaccines to 72 countries a classic example of global cooperation. Among these, 81.25 lakh doses were gifts, 339.67 lakh doses were commercially distributed and 173.43 lakh doses were delivered via the Covax programme under the aegis of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
Why the treaty is needed for?
Data sharing: A treaty should cover crucial aspects such as data sharing and genome sequencing of emerging viruses.
Rapid response mechanism: It should formally commit governments and parliaments to implement an early warning system and a properly funded rapid response mechanism.
Health investments: Further, it should mobilise nation states to agree on a set of common metrics that are related to health investments and a return on those investments. These investments should aim to reduce the public-private sector gap.
Conclusion
A global pandemic treaty will not only reduce socioeconomic inequalities across nation states but also enhance a global pandemic preparedness for future health emergencies. India must take the lead in this.
Mains question
Q. Nobody is safe until everybody is safe. What do you understand by this? Why there is need of global pandemic treaty?.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Single use plastics
Mains level: Need for plastic waste management
Since July 1, 2022, India has banned the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale, and use of single-use plastics (SUP) items with low utility and high littering potential.
What are single-use plastics?
Single-use plastics, often also referred to as disposable plastics, are commonly used for plastic packaging and include items intended to be used only once before they are thrown away or recycled.
These include, among other items, grocery bags, food packaging, bottles, straws, containers, cups and cutlery.
Why are single-use plastics harmful?
The purpose of single-use plastics is to use them once or for a short period of time before disposing of them. Plastic waste has drastic impacts on the environment and human health.
There is a greater likelihood of single-use plastic products ending up in the sea than reusable ones.
SUP ban in India
India has taken resolute steps to mitigate pollution caused by littered single-use plastics.
A number of items are banned, including earbuds with plastic sticks, balloon sticks, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice cream sticks, polystyrene (thermocol) for decorations, plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straws etc.
India has also banned plastic or PVC banners less than 100 micron, stirrers, etc.
What is the impact on the environment?
[A] Solid Waste generation
The disposal of plastics is one of the least recognized and most highly problematic areas of plasticâs ecological impact.
Ironically, one of plasticâs most desirable traits: its durability and resistance to decomposition, is also the source of one of its greatest liabilities when it comes to the disposal of plastics.
A very small amount of total plastic production (less than 10%) is effectively recycled; the remaining plastic is sent to landfills.
It is destined to remain entombed.
[B] Ecological Impact
(i) Groundwater and soil pollution
Plastic is a material made to last forever, and due to the same chemical composition, plastic cannot biodegrade; it breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces.
When buried in a landfill, plastic lies untreated for years.
In the process, toxic chemicals from plastics drain out and seep into groundwater, flowing downstream into lakes and rivers.
The seeping of plastic also causes soil pollution and have now started resulting in presence of micro plastics in soil.
(ii) Water Pollution
The increased presence of plastic on the ocean surface has resulted in more serious problems.
Since most of the plastic debris that reaches the ocean remains floating for years as it does not decompose quickly, it leads to the dropping of oxygen level in the water.
It has severely affected the survival of marine species.
When oceanic creatures and even birds consume plastic inadvertently, they choke on it which causes a steady decline in their population.
In addition to suffocation, ingestion, and other macro-particulate causes of death in larger birds, fish, and mammals.
[C] Health Hazards
Burning of plastic results into formation of a class of flame retardants called as Halogens.
Collectively, these harmful chemicals are known to cause the following severe health problems: cancer, neurological damage, endocrine disruption, birth defects and child developmental disorders etc.
Ban elsewhere
India is not the first country to ban single-use plastics.
Bangladesh became the first country to ban thin plastic bags in 2002; New Zealand banned plastic bags in July 2019.
China had issued a ban on plastic bags in 2020 with a phased implementation.
As of July 2019, 68 countries have plastic bag bans with varying degrees of enforcement.
What are the plastic waste management rules in India?
With effect from September 30, 2021 India has the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021.
It prohibited the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale, and use of plastic carry bags whose thickness is less than 75 microns.
From December 31, 2022, plastic carry bags whose thickness is less than 120 microns will be banned.
It means that the ban does not cover all plastic bags; however, it requires the manufacturers to produce plastic bags thicker than 75 microns which was earlier 50 microns.
As per the notification, the standard shall be increased to 120 microns in December this year.
What is the role of the manufacturer?
In addition, the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2022 on February 16, 2022.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is the responsibility of a producer for the environmentally sound management of the product until the end of its life.
The guidelines provide a framework to strengthen the circular economy of plastic packaging waste, promote the development of new alternatives to plastic packaging and provide the next steps for moving towards sustainable plastic packaging by businesses.
Various steps taken
The Indian government has taken steps to promote innovation and create an ecosystem for accelerated adoption and availability of alternatives across the country.
To ensure the effective enforcement of the ban, national and State-level control rooms will be established, as well as special enforcement teams for the purpose of checking the illegal sale and use of single-use plastics.
To prevent the movement of banned single-use plastic items between States and Union Territories, border checkpoints have been established.
In an effort to empower citizens to help curb the plastic menace, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has launched a grievance redressal application.
What are the challenges?
The ban will succeed only if all stakeholders participate enthusiastically and engage in effective engagement and concerted actions.
However, if we look back at our past, almost 25 Indian States previously banned plastic at the state level.
However, these bans had a very limited impact in reality because of the widespread use of these items.
Now the challenge is to see how the local level authorities will enforce the ban in accordance with the guidelines.
Banned items such as earbuds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, etc., are non-branded items and it is difficult to find out who the manufacturer is and who is accountable.
Way forward
The consumer needs to be informed about the ban through advertisements, newspaper or TV commercials, or on social media.
In order to find sustainable alternatives, companies need to invest in research and development.
The solution to the plastic pollution problem is not the responsibility of the government alone, but of industries, brands, manufacturers and most importantly consumers.
Finding alternatives to plastic seems a little difficult, however, greener alternatives to plastic may be considered a sustainable option.
For example, compostable and bio-degradable plastic, etc., may be considered as an option.
While the total ban on the use of plastic sounds a great idea, its feasibility seems difficult at this hour, especially in the absence of workable alternatives.
| Indian Society | : Communalism, Secularism, Regionalism
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Secularism in India
Mains level: Hijab Row
India believes in âpositive secularismâ based on tolerance of all religious faiths and not ânegative secularismâ followed in countries like France which holds that display of religion in public is offensive, said a student from Karnataka who has challenged the ban on wearing hijab to school.
What is Positive Secularism?
Secularism is most commonly defined as the separation of religion from civic affairs and the state.
It may be broadened to a similar position seeking to remove or to minimize the role of religion in any public sphere.
Positive secularism is where the state plays an enabler role in the exercise of fundamental rights and the religious freedoms of all communities.
What did the petitioner argue?
The petitioner replied that the Constitution itself says that all religions have to be treated with equal respect.
It said that the Supreme Court has also held in the Aruna Roy Judgment that there should be no discrimination on the ground of any religion.
It went on to say that the State should show âreasonable accommodationâ of Muslim studentsâ right to wear hijab to school as a part of her right to expression, religion and dignity.
Circumstances where hijab can be prohibited in school
The State can only restrict her right in three circumstances, the petition highlighted.
One, to protect public order, morality and health.
Two, to protect another fundamental right.
Three, if such a restriction is authorised by a law made to regulate or restrict any economic, financial, political or secular activity which may be associated with religious practice or to provide for social welfare and reform.
What was the judgment announced by Karnataka HC?
The HC held that wearing hijab is not an essential religious practice in Islam and is not, therefore, protected under by the right to freedom of religion guaranteed by Article 25 of the Constitution.
The court said it was a reasonable restriction that was constitutionally permissible.
The Bench also upheld the legality of the order prescribing guidelines for uniforms in schools and pre-university colleges under the provisions of the Karnataka Education Act, 1983.
The court said that school uniform will cease to be a uniform if hijab is also allowed.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Rule for Packaged Commodities
Mains level: Read the attached story
The Department of Consumer Affairs, Legal Metrology Division has notified a draft amendment to the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules 2011 making some compulsions.
Discrepancies over Packaged Commodities
The Division has observed that many manufacturers/packagers/importers do not clearly label necessary declarations or prime constituents on the front of packaged commodities.
It is common for consumers to assume that brandsâ claims are accurate, but such claims are usually misleading.
What are the mandatory provisions under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011?
It is mandatory under the Rules, to ensure a number of declarations, such as the:
Name and address of the manufacturer/packer/importer,
Country of origin,
Common or generic name of the commodity,
Net quantity,
Month and year of manufacture
Maximum Retail Price (MRP) and
Consumer care information.
As a consumer-oriented policy, all pre-packaged commodities should also be inspected.
Rule 9(1)(a) provides that the declaration on the package must be legible and prominent.
The consumersâ âright to be informedâ is violated when important declarations are not prominently displayed on the package.
What are the proposed amendments?
As many blended food and cosmetic products are sold on the market, the key constituents need to be mentioned on the product packaging.
Additionally, the front side of the package must contain the percentage of the composition of the unique selling proposition (USP).
Also, packages displaying key constituents must display a percentage of the content used to make the product.
The new amendments has suggested that at least two prime components should be declared on the packageâs front side along with the brand name.
Currently, manufacturers list the ingredients and nutritional information only on the back of the packaging.
This declaration must also include the percentage/quantity of the USPs of the product in the same font size as the declaration of the USPs. However, mechanical or electrical commodities are excluded from this sub-rule.
Back2Basics: Consumer Rights
Consumer right is an insight into what rights consumer holds when it comes to the seller who provides the goods.
In general, the consumer rights in India are listed below:
(1) Right to Safety
Means right to be protected against the marketing of goods and services, which are hazardous to life and property.
The purchased goods and services should not only meet their immediate needs, but also fulfil long term interests.
Before purchasing, consumers should insist on the quality of the products as well as on the guarantee of the products and services. They should preferably purchase quality marked products such as ISI, AGMARK, etc.
(2) Right to be Informed
Means right to be informed about the quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard and price of goods so as to protect the consumer against unfair trade practices.
Consumer should insist on getting all the information about the product or service before making a choice or a decision.
This will enable him to act wisely and responsibly and also enable him to desist from falling prey to high pressure selling techniques.
(3) Right to Choose
Means right to be assured, wherever possible of access to variety of goods and services at competitive price. In case of monopolies, it means right to be assured of satisfactory quality and service at a fair price.
It also includes right to basic goods and services. This is because unrestricted right of the minority to choose can mean a denial for the majority of its fair share.
(4) Right to be Heard
Means that consumerâs interests will receive due consideration at appropriate forums. It also includes right to be represented in various forums formed to consider the consumerâs welfare.
(5) Right to Seek redressal
Means right to seek redressal against unfair trade practices or unscrupulous exploitation of consumers. It also includes right to fair settlement of the genuine grievances of the consumer.
Consumers must make complaint for their genuine grievances. Many a times their complaint may be of small value but its impact on the society as a whole may be very large.
(6) Right to Consumer Education
Means the right to acquire the knowledge and skill to be an informed consumer throughout life.
Ignorance of consumers, particularly of rural consumers, is mainly responsible for their exploitation.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NA
Mains level: Food security
Context
Disruption of supply chains due to Ukraine war has implications for Indiaâs food security
What is supply chain in simple words?
A supply chain is the network of all the individuals, organizations, resources, activities and technology involved in the creation and sale of a product.
Is supply chain management related to agriculture?
Agribusiness, supply chain management (SCM) implies managing the relationships between the businesses responsible for the efficient production and supply of products from the farm level to the consumers to meet consumers’ requirements reliably in terms of quantity, quality and price.
What are two types of food chain?
Agriculture food supply chains for fresh agricultural products: (such as fresh vegetables, flowers, fruit). In general, these chains may comprise growers, auctions, wholesalers, importers and exporters, retailers and speciality shops and their input and service suppliers. Basically, all of these stages leave the intrinsic characteristics of the product grown or produced untouched. The main processes are the handling, conditioned storing, packing, transportation and especially trading of these goods.
Agriculture food supply chains for processed food products: (such as portioned meats, snacks, juices, desserts, canned food products). In these chains, agricultural products are used as raw materials for producing consumer products with higher added value. In most cases, conservation and conditioning processes extend the shelf-life of the products.
Shelf-life constraints for raw materials, intermediates and finished products and changes in product quality level while progressing the supply chain (decay).
High volume, low variety (although the variety is increasing) production systems.
Importance of production planning and scheduling focusing on high capacity utilization.
Highly sophisticated capital-intensive machinery leading to the need to maintain capacity utilization.
Variable process yield in quantity and quality due to biological variations, seasonality, random factors connected with weather, pests and other biological hazards.
What should we do to ensure nutritional security?
Strengthening and shortening food supply chains: reinforcing regional food systems, food processing, agricultural resilience and sustainability in a climate-changing world will require prioritising research and investments along these lines.
Infrastructure: Lastly, infrastructure and institutions supporting producers, agripreneurs and agricultural micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in their production value chain are central to the transition.
Potential for crop diversification: Data compiled in the agro-climatic zones reports of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the erstwhile Planning Commission of India reveal enormous potential for crop diversification and precision for enhanced crop productivity based on soil type, climate (temperature and rainfall), and captive water resources.
Holistic policy approach: In the context of the intensifying economic, environmental and climate challenges and crisis, the need of the hour is a good theory of transition encompassing the spatial, social and scientific dimensions, supported by policy incentives and mechanisms for achieving a sustainable, resilient and food secure agriculture.
Agro-climatic approach: An agro-climatic approach to agricultural development is important for sustainability and better nutrition.
Way forward
Transparency: The Indian government could ensure more transparency on food stocks and regulate the private sector.
Set restriction on hoarding: For that, there is a need to set restrictions on the reserves that the private sector can hold, as they often tend to hoard food stocks to later sell at a profit.
Speculation should be regulated: This will help prevent the opaqueness of private sector reserves, which often fuels speculation by large international financial actors.
Positional limits: Internationally, positional limits could be set on speculators but that would require a multilateral accord, a topic which should be on the agenda at the next G-20 meeting.
Mains question
Q. What role supply chain play in nutritional security? Discuss the constraints in supply chain along with way forward.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: particulars of funding
Mains level: corporate governance
Context
The evolving role of CSR in funding NGOs
What is NGO?
A non-governmental organization is an organization that generally is formed independent from government. They are typically non-profit entities, and many of them are active in humanitarianism or the social sciences; they can also include clubs and associations that provide services to their members and others.
Corporate social responsibility CSR is a form of international private business self-regulation which aims to contribute to societal goals of a philanthropic, activist, or charitable nature by engaging in or supporting volunteering or ethically oriented practices.
Why NGOâs are important?
When COVID-19 spurred a nationwide lockdown in India in 2020, a grave need for localised social support emerged. Giving, both private and public, flowed to NGOs working towards combating pandemic-induced challenges such as loss of livelihood for vulnerable communities, food banks, and health and medical support.
CSR key fact
All companies with a net worth of Rs 500 crore or more, a turnover of Rs 1,000 crore or more, or net profit of Rs 5 crore or more, are required to spend 2 per cent of their average profits of the previous three years on CSR activities every year.
Issues with CSR funding to NGO
No organization development: CSR funders mostly contribute little or no money to organisational development and limit what they pay for indirect costs to a fixed rate often below 5%. 2020 primary research showed that NGOsâ indirect costs range from 5% to 55%, depending on their mission and operating model, much as a corporateâs sales and administration costs vary significantly by industry and product.
Regulatory framework: These practices are partly a consequence of CSR fundersâ focus on regulatory compliance amendments to the CSR law in 2021 include substantial financial penalties for noncompliance.
Errors on safety: Many CSRs make errors on safety with the unintended consequence of leaving an NGO with unpaid bills or worse still, drawing on its scarce core funding from other donors to pay for these essential costs.
How to improve CSR governance?
Increase transparency: Transparency is the ultimate trust-builder, and should be considered a guiding principle for any socially responsible company. This concept should apply to goals, ongoing initiatives, and ultimate progress or results.
Focus on equity: Equity is a vital lens through which to evaluate business practices and CSR strategy, at both a micro and macro level. Not only is ensuring that program furthers social and racial justice a cornerstone of the very essence of corporate responsibility, but study after study establishes that improved diversity and inclusion leads to better outcomes for everyone from increased innovation and competitiveness, to stronger ethics and team culture.
Deepen community connections: Deepening your organizationâs connection to those on the other side of your CSR projects will have far-reaching benefits. These could likely include developing a more impactful program, as you strengthen your understanding of the needs of the community served.
Encourage creativity: Creativity as a principle may feel out of place in a discussion of how to improve CSR. Yet itâs a concept increasingly invoked in philanthropic thought leadership, and for good reason.
Conclusion
The idea is to move beyond signing cheques to recognising that, ultimately, whatâs good for Indian society is also good for business.
Mains question
Q. why the role of CSR is becoming important in NGO funding? What are the issues with CSR? Discuss the way forward.
Prelims Only | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Indian Constitution - historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Kartavya Path
Mains level: Read the attached story
Rajpath and Central Vista Lawns in the national capital will now be known as âKartavya Pathâ, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) announces.
Updating to Kartavya Path
The entire stretch and the area from the Netaji statue under the Grand Canopy to the Rashtrapati Bhavan will be known as Kartavya Path.
Kartavya Path, which will be opened to the public at the end of the official function, will exhibit landscapes, lawns with walkways, added green spaces, refurbished canals, amenity blocks, improved signages and vending kiosks.
New pedestrian underpasses, improved parking spaces, new exhibition panels, and upgraded night lighting are some other features that will enhance the public experience.
It also includes a number of sustainability features like solid waste management, storm-water management, recycling of used water, rainwater harvesting, water conservation and energy-efficient lighting systems, among others.
Kingsway to Rajpath
Called Kingsway during British rule, the three-km stretch was built as a ceremonial boulevard by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker, the architects of New Delhi, more than a hundred years ago.
The capital of the Raj moved to New Delhi from Calcutta in 1911, and construction continued for several years thereafter.
Lutyens conceptualised the modern imperial city centred on a âceremonial axisâ, which was named Kingsway in honour of the then Emperor of India, George V.
He visited Delhi during the Durbar of 1911, where he formally proclaimed the decision to move the capital.
The nomenclature followed that of the Kingsway in London, an arterial road built in 1905, which was named in honour of King Edward VII, the father of George V.
Following Independence, the road was given its Hindi name, Rajpath, on which the Republic Day parades took place over the decades that followed.
Why sudden renaming?
During his address from the Red Fort on August 15, Modi had stressed on the abolition of symbols of colonialism.
The new name and look of Rajpath, as well as the installation of the 28-foot statue of Netaji under the Grand Canopy under which a statue of George V once stood, are meant to represent that spirit of the proud new India.
Significance of all recent event
The construction of the Central Vista Redevelopment Project began in February 2021, with the new Parliament building and redevelopment of the Central Vista Avenue in the first phase.
The aim is to build an iconic avenue that truly befits the New India, the government has said about the Rs 608 crore Central Vista Avenue project.
It symbolizes a shift from erstwhile Rajpath being an icon of power to Kartavya Path being an example of public ownership and empowerment.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: CoE-SURVEI
Mains level: Not Much
The Centre of Excellence on Satellite and Unmanned Remote Vehicle Initiative (CoE-SURVEI) has developed an Artificial Intelligence-based software which can automatically detect change on the ground, including unauthorised constructions and encroachments in a time series using satellite imagery.
CoE-SURVEI
The CoE-SURVEI, established by Directorate General Defence Estates at National Institute of Defence Estates Management, leverages the latest technologies in survey viz. satellite imagery, drone imagery and geo-spatial tools for effective land management and urban planning.
This change detection software has been developed by CoE-SURVEI in collaboration with knowledge partner Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Visakhapatnam.
Presently, the tool uses National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) Cartosat-3 imagery with trained software.
The changes are detected by analysing satellite imagery of different time periods.
Where is it used?
The application has been used by CoE in 62 Cantonments and a comparison has been done with the ground position in a recent period.
The software facilitates better control of unauthorised activities, ensures accountability of field staff and helps in reducing corrupt practices.
The CoE-SURVEI has also developed tools for vacant land analysis and 3D image analysis of hill cantonments
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Indian national army particuars
Mains level: Modern Indian history developments
Context
In the year of âAzadi Ka Amrit Mahotsavâ, the nation pays tribute to Subhas Bose on September 8 as his statue rises tall next to India Gate.
Crux of this article in simple words
The transfer of power to India took place on August 15, 1947. Had Bose and his Indian National Army (INA) succeeded, India would have attained freedom, not inherited it through a transfer of power.
Brief of historical account of his career
Bose was the ninth child in 14 and the sixth son to Janakinath Bose, a lawyer from the Kayasth caste.
He passed matriculation in 1913 from Cuttack and joined the Presidency College in Kolkata (then Calcutta).
The teachings of Swami Vivekananda and Ramakrishna Paramhansa led to a spiritual awakening in Bose at the young age of 15.
Subhash Chandra Bose reached Singapore on July 2, 1943, at the invitation of Rash Behari Bose. He took charge as the President of the Indian Independence League and took over as the leader for East Asia.
On October 23 1943, with the help of the Japanese Army, Netaji declared war on the United States and Britain.
He was fondly called Netaji and was arrested 11 times in his freedom struggle and died under mysterious circumstances in an air crash over Taipei.
His vision for INA march in India
Creating revolutionary conditions: Bose had hoped to capture Imphal. That would give the INA a large number of Indian soldiers. Once this was achieved, fighting in India would create revolutionary conditions.
Organization of INA divisions at border: When the fighting commenced, the INA had only one division stationed on Indiaâs borders. Another was on the move towards Burma. And the third was in the process of formation. All three divisions were expected to be in Burma by the time Imphal fell.
Rapid invasion from north east: Bose was confident of raising three more divisions from among the Indian troops that would fall to him after the capture of Imphal. With six divisions, the INA would be the single largest force in the region. The rapid advance into India would create the right conditions for the Indian army to switch sides along with the people of the Northeast.
âIt is our duty to pay for our liberty with our own blood.â
“No great change in history has ever been achieved by discussions”
Azad Hind Radio
This radio station was created to encourage countrymen to fight for freedom under the leadership of Subhas Chandra Bose.
The radio station used to broadcast news at weekly intervals in various languages like English, Hindi, Tamil, Punjabi, Urdu, etc.
The main aim for the formation of the Azad Hind Radio was to counter the broadcast of allied radio stations and to fill Indian nationals with pride and motivation to fight for freedom.
The Rani Jhansi Regiment
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was a firm believer of womenâs power and women were also greatly inspired by his words.
He had always wanted to form an only womenâs regiment and his dream came to fruition with the formation of the Rani Jhansi Regiment on 12th July 1943.
About 170 women cadets joined the force and their training camp was set in Singapore.
They were given ranks according to their educational background.
By November of 1943, this unit had more than 300 cadets as camps were also established in Rangoon and Bangkok.
The women cadets were given military and combat training, weapons training, and route marches. Some of them were also chosen for advanced training and some were also chosen for training as a nurse.
The Rani Jhansi Regiment mainly worked as care and relief givers.
The unit later disbanded after the fall of Rangoon and the withdrawal of the Azad Hind Government.
Conclusion
Bose maintained that the Congress leaders wanted freedom in their lifetime. He believed that no revolutionary leader had the right to expect that. A movement, a fight, had to be passed on. Expecting freedom in oneâs lifetime was bound to lead to compromises.
Mains question
Q. Netaji Subhas Bose was an exceptional leader who turned his vision into action. Critically analyse.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Climate reparation
Mains level: Read the attached story
Facing the worst flooding disaster in its history, Pakistan has begun demanding reparations, or compensation, from the rich countries that are mainly responsible for causing climate change.
Why in news?
On the face of it, Pakistanâs demand for reparations appears to be a long shot, but the principles being invoked are fairly well-established in environmental jurisprudence.
In fact, Pakistan is not alone in making this demand.
Almost the entire developing world has for years been insisting on setting up an international mechanism for financial reparation for loss and damage caused by climate disasters.
The issue has come up repeatedly at international negotiations for climate change, and on other platforms.
What is Climate Reparation?
At its heart, the demand for compensation for loss and damage from climate disasters is an extension of the universally acknowledged âPolluter Paysâ principle.
This makes the polluter liable for paying not just for the cost of remedial action, but also for compensating the victims of environmental damage caused by their actions.
Climate justice is based on the notion of not being punished for someone elseâs bad behaviour, but it does not sanction additional bad behaviour.
Who are responsible for climate change?
In the climate change framework, the burden of responsibility falls on those rich countries that have contributed most of the greenhouse gas emissions since 1850, generally considered to be the beginning of the industrial age.
The United States and the European Union, including the UK, account for over 50% of all emissions during this time.
If Russia, Canada, Japan, and Australia too are included, the combined contribution goes past 65%, or almost two-thirds of all emissions.
Historical responsibility is important because carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere for hundreds of years, and it is the cumulative accumulation of carbon dioxide that causes global warming.
What about developing countries?
A country like India, currently the third largest emitter, accounts for only 3% of historical emissions.
China, which is the worldâs biggest emitter for over 15 years now, has contributed about 11% to total emissions since 1850.
Why need climate reparations?
While the impact of climate change is global, it is much more severe on the poorer nations because of their geographical locations and weaker capacity to cope.
Countries that have had negligible contributions to historical emissions and have severe limitations of resources are the ones that face the most devastating impacts of climate change.
Institutional mechanism for Climate Reparations
(1) United Nations
The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the 1994 international agreement that lays down the broad principles of the global effort to fight climate change.
It explicitly acknowledges this differentiated responsibility of nations.
It makes it very clear that rich countries must provide both the finance and the technology to the developing nations to help them tackle climate change.
It is this mandate that later evolved into the $100 billion amount that the rich countries agreed to provide every year to the developing world.
While this promise is yet to be met, this $100 billion per year amount is not meant for loss and damage.
Climate disasters were not a regular occurrence in 1994, and as such the UNFCCC does not make a mention of loss and damage.
This particular demand emerged much later, and faced stiff resistance from the developed nations.
(2) Warsaw International Mechanism (WIM)
The WIM for Loss and Damages, set up in 2013, was the first formal acknowledgment of the need to compensate developing countries struck by climate disasters.
However, the progress on this front has been painfully slow.
No funding mechanism, or even a promise to provide funds, has come about.
Pushback from Developed Countries
It is not hard to understand why the developed countries are dead against compensation claims.
They are struggling to put together even the $100 billion per year flow that they had reluctantly agreed to provide.
Further, loss and damage claims can easily spiral into billions of dollars, or even more.
The report said that the United States alone is estimated to have âinflicted more than $1.9 trillion in damages to other countriesâ due to its emissions.
Issues with loss assessment
There are practical difficulties in estimating how much a country has actually suffered due to the actions of others.
To begin with, it has to be established that the disaster was caused by climate change.
Then there are non-economic losses as well, including loss of lives, displacement and migration, health impacts, and damage to cultural heritage.
Then there is this other step about assessing how much of the losses are due to the event itself, and what could be attributed to misgovernance.
Conclusion
A lot of background work is going on to create the framework in which it would be possible to quantify the compensation due to an affected country.
What Pakistan has done, through its demands for reparations, is to call attention to this often neglected aspect.
| Polity | Mains Paper 2: Indian Constitution - historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: EWS Quota , 103rd Amendment
Mains level: Read the attached story
A five-judge Constitution Bench led by CJI U.U. Lalit are hearing petitions challenging the 10% quota for the economically weaker sections (EWS) and an Andhra Pradesh law that grants reservation to Muslims.
What is the news?
The five-judge Bench, led by CJI, is considering the validity of the 103rd Constitutional Amendment.
The said amendment provides the 10% reservation to economically weaker sections (EWS) of society in government jobs and educational institutions.
Economic reservation was introduced by amending Articles 15 and 16 and adding clauses empowering the State governments to provide reservation on the basis of economic backwardness.
EWS Quota: A backgrounder
The 10% reservation was introduced through the 103rd Constitution Amendment and enforced in January 2019.
It added Clause (6) to Article 15 to empower the Government to introduce special provisions for the EWS among citizens except those in the classes that already enjoy reservation.
It allows reservation in educational institutions, both public and private, whether aided or unaided, excluding those run by minority institutions, up to a maximum of 10%.
It also added Clause (6) to Article 16 to facilitate reservation in employment.
The new clauses make it clear that the EWS reservation will be in addition to the existing reservation.
Significance of the quota
The Constitution initially allowed special provisions only for the socially and educationally backward classes.
The Government introduced the concept of EWS for a new class of affirmative action program for those not covered by or eligible for the community-based quotas.
What are the courtâs questions about the criteria?
Reduction within general category: The EWS quota remains a controversy as its critics say it reduces the size of the open category, besides breaching the 50% limit on the total reservation.
Arbitrariness over income limit: The court has been intrigued by the income limit being fixed at âš8 lakh per year. It is the same figure for excluding the âcreamy layerâ from OBC reservation benefits.
Socio-economic backwardness: A crucial difference is that those in the general category, to whom the EWS quota is applicable, do not suffer from social or educational backwardness, unlike those classified as the OBC.
Metropolitan criteria: There are other questions as to whether any exercise was undertaken to derive the exceptions such as why the flat criterion does not differentiate between metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas.
OBC like criteria: The question the court has raised is that when the OBC category is socially and educationally backward and, therefore, has additional impediments to overcome.
Not based on relevant data: In line with the Supreme Courtâs known position that any reservation or norms for exclusion should be based on relevant data.
Breaches reservation cap: There is a cap of 50% on reservation as ruled in the Indira Sawhney Case. The principle of balancing equality ordains reservation.
What is the current status of the EWS quota?
The reservation for the EWS is being implemented by the Union Government for the second year now.
Recruitment test results show that the category has a lower cut-off mark than the OBC, a point that has upset the traditional beneficiaries of reservation based on caste.
The explanation is that only a small number of people are currently applying under the EWS category â one has to get an income certificate from the revenue authorities â and therefore the cut-off is low.
However, when the number picks up over time, the cut-off marks are expected to rise.
Practical issues with EWS Quota
The EWS quota will come in for judicial scrutiny soon. But itâs not only a matter for the judiciary, Indiaâs Parliament should revisit the law too.
Hasty legislation: This law was passed in haste. It was passed in both the houses within 48 hours, and got presidential approval the next day.
Minority appeasement: It is widely argued that the law was passed to appease a certain section of upper-caste society and to suppress the demands for minority reservations.
Morality put to question: Imagine! A constitutional amendment has been made with few hours of deliberation and without consultation of the targeted group. This is certainly against constitutional morality and propriety.
Substantial backing is missing: This amendment is based on a wrong or unverified premise. This is at best a wild guess or a supposition because the government has not produced any data to back this point.
Under-reservation of Backward Classes: The assertion is based on the fact that we have different data to prove the under-representation of SC, ST, OBCs. That implies that âupperâ castes are over-represented (with 100 minus reservation).
Rationale of 10%: There is one more problem in this regard. The SC and ST quota is based on their total population. But the rationale for the 10 per cent quota was never discussed.
Principle of Equality: Economic backwardness is quite a fluid identity. It has nothing to do with historic wrongdoings and liabilities caused to the Backward Classes.
Way forward
Preserving the merit: We cannot rule out the sorry state of economic backwardness hampering merit in our country.
Rational critera: There has to be collective wisdom to define and measure the economic weakness of certain sections of the society in order to shape the concept of economic justice.
Judicial guidance: Judicial interpretation will pave the wave forward for deciding the criterion for EWS Quota.
Targetted beneficiaries. The centre needs to resort to more rational criteria for deciding the targeted beneficiary of this reservation system. Caste Census data can be useful in this regard.
Income study: The per capita income or GDP or the difference in purchasing power in the rural and urban areas, should be taken into account while a single income limit was formulated for the whole country.
Conclusion
Reservation is a constitutional scheme to ensure the participation of backward classes shoulder to shoulder with all citizens in the nation-building process.
The EWS quota with above discussed ambiguities is the subversion of the constitutional scheme for reservation.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: SYL Canal
Mains level: Interstate water disputes
The Supreme Court drew an assurance from the State of Punjab that it will meet the Haryana counterpart within this month to discuss the construction of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal which has been languishing for two decades.
Why in news?
The observations came after the Centre complained that Punjab had ârefrainedâ from coming to the negotiating table to engage in talks with Haryana over the issue.
The construction of Punjabâs portion of the canal had led to militant attacks in the 1980s.
The issue had also been a political thorn for successive governments in Punjab, so much so that it led to the Stateâs unilateral enactment of the controversial Punjab Termination of Water Agreements Act of 2004.
This law was, however, struck down by a Constitution Bench in 2016, dashing the hopes of Punjabâs farmers to reclaim lands acquired for the SYL canal project.
About Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal
Satluj Yamuna Link Canal or SYL as it is popularly known, is an under-construction 214-kilometer long canal in India to connect the Sutlej and Yamuna rivers.
What is the SYL canal issue?
At the time of reorganization of Punjab in 1966, the issue of sharing of river waters between both the states emerged.
Punjab refused to share waters of Ravi and Beas with Haryana stating it was against the riparian principle.
Before the reorganization, in 1955, out of 15.85 MAF of Ravi and Beas, the Centre had allocated 8 MAF to Rajasthan, 7.20 MAF to undivided Punjab, 0.65MAF to Jammu and Kashmir.
Out of 7.20 MAF allocated, Punjab did not want to share any water with Haryana.
In March 1976, when the Punjab Reorganization Act was implemented, the Centre notified fresh allocations, providing 3.5 MAF To Haryana.
Inception of the canal project
Later, in 1981, the water flowing down Beas and Ravi was revised and pegged at 17.17 MAF, out of which 4.22 MAF was allocated to Punjab, 3.5 MAF to Haryana, and 8.6 MAF to Rajasthan.
Finally, to provide this allocated share of water to southern parts of Haryana, a canal linking the Sutlej with the Yamuna, cutting across the state, was planned.
Finally, the construction of 214-km SYL was started in April 1982, 122 km of which was to run through Punjab and the rest through Haryana.
Haryana has completed its side of the canal, but work in Punjab has been hanging fire for over three decades.
Why has the SYL canal come up again now?
The issue is back on centre stage after the Supreme Court directed the CMs of Punjab and Haryana to negotiate and settle the SYL canal issue.
The apex court asked for a meeting at the highest political level to be mediated by the Centre so that the states reach a consensus over the completion of the SYL canal.
The meeting remained inconclusive with the Centre expressing the view that the construction of the SYL canal should be completed. But Punjab CM refused categorically.
Punjabâs resentment with the project
The dispute is based on the bloody history around the SYL canal. The trouble-torn days of terrorism in Punjab started in the early 1980s when work on the SYL started.
Punjab feels it utilized its precious groundwater resources to grow the crop for the entire country and should not be forced to share its waters as it faces desertification.
It is feared that once the construction of the canal restarts, the youth may start feeling that the state has been discriminated against.
The Punjab CM fears Pakistan and secessionist organisations could exploit this and foment trouble in the state.
Water crisis in Punjab
Punjab is facing severe water crisis due to over-exploitation of its underground aquifers for the wheat/paddy monocycle.
According to the Central Underground Water Authorityâs report, its underground water is over-exploited to meet the agriculture requirements in about 79 per cent area of the state.
Out of 138 blocks, 109 are âover-exploitedâ, two are âcriticalâ five are âsemi-criticalâ and only 22 blocks are in âsafeâ category.
Punjab expects a new tribunal
The state wants a tribunal seeking a fresh time-bound assessment of the water availability.
The state has been saying that till date there has been no adjudication or scientific assessment of Punjab river waters.
Try this PYQ:
Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched? (CSP 2017)
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: PM Shri Schools
Mains level: Read the attached story
Prime Minister has announced that under the PM SHRI Scheme, as many as 14,500 schools will be âupgradedâ across India to showcase the components of the National Education Policy, 2020.
What is the PM SHRI scheme?
According to the Ministry of Education, the centrally sponsored scheme will be called PM SHRI Schools (PM Schools for Rising India).
Under it, as many as 14,500 schools across states and Union Territories will be redeveloped to reflect the key features of the NEP, 2020.
The plan was first discussed with the education ministers of states and UTs during a conference organised by the Ministry of Education in June at Gandhinagar in Gujarat.
While there are exemplary schools like Navodaya Vidyalayas, Kendriya Vidyalayas, the PM SHRI will act as âNEP labsâ.
What are the key features of NEP in school education?
The NEP envisages a curricular structure and teaching style divided into various stages â foundational, preparatory, middle and secondary.
The foundational years (pre-school and grades I, II) will involve play-based learning.
At the preparatory level (III-V), light textbooks are to be introduced along with some formal classroom teaching. Subject teachers are to be introduced at the middle level (VI-VIII).
The secondary stage (IX-XII) will be multidisciplinary in nature with no hard separation between arts and sciences or other disciplines.
What is a centrally sponsored scheme?
A centrally sponsored scheme is one where the cost of implementation is likely to split in the 60:40 ratio among the Union government and the states/Union Territories.
For instance, the mid-day meal scheme (PM Poshan) or the PM Awas Yojana are examples of centrally sponsored schemes.
In the case of the Northeastern states, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir and UTs without legislatures, the Centreâs contribution can go up to 90 per cent.
How will PM SHRI schools be different from Kendriya Vidyalayas or Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas?
Kendriya Vidyalayas or Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas come entirely under the Centreâs Ministry of Education. They are fully funded by the Union government under Central Sector Schemes.
While KVs largely cater to children of Union government employees posted in states and UTs, JNVs were set up to nurture talented students in rural parts of the country.
In contrast, PM SHRI schools will be an upgrade of existing schools run by the Centre, states, UTs and local bodies.
This essentially means that PM SHRI schools can either be KVs, JNVs, state government schools or even those run by municipal corporations.
Where will the PM SHRI schools come up?
The Centre has not yet released the list of schools that have been chosen for this purpose.
It has however announced that the PM SHRI schools will also âoffer mentorshipâ to other schools in their vicinity.
These schools will be equipped with modern infrastructure including labs, smart classrooms, libraries, sports equipment, art room etc.
It shall also be developed as green schools with water conservation, waste recycling, energy-efficient infrastructure and integration of organic lifestyle in curriculum.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: UNHRC
Mains level: Economic crisis in Sri Lanka
Linking Sri Lankaâs past on human rights record to its current economic crisis, the UN Human Rights Chief on said âimpunityâ for human rights abuses, economic crimes, and corruption was the underlying reason for the countryâs collapse.
UNHRC report on Sri Lanka
The UNHRC report warned that Sri Lankaâs failure to address human rights violations and war crimes committed in the past had put the country on a âdangerous pathâ.
It rose that this could lead to a ârecurrenceâ of policies and practices that gave rise to the earlier situation.
It flagged the accelerating militarization of civilian governmental functions, a reversal of important constitutional safeguards, political obstruction of accountability, intimidation of civil society, and the use of anti-terrorism laws.
The shrinking space for independent media and civil society and human rights organizations are also themes in the report.
The Resolution 30/1
The resolution 30/1 launched in 2015 deals with promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka.
It extended an opportunity to make good on its promises for justice and offered extensive support to accomplish that objective.
Sri Lankaâs intention
It is more than Sri Lanka has failed to â and doesnât intend to â take the necessary, decisive, and sustainable steps necessary to achieve domestic justice and reconciliation.
Sri Lanka has officially sought Indiaâs help to muster support against the resolution, which it has described as âunwanted interference by powerful countriesâ.
Where India comes in
The UNHRC is scheduled to hold an âinteractiveâ session on Sri Lanka where the report was to be discussed, and member countries were to make statements.
Country-specific resolutions against Sri Lanka have regularly come up at the UNHRC in the last decade.
New Delhi voted against Sri Lanka in 2012 and abstained in 2014. It was spared the dilemma in 2015 when Sri Lanka joined resolution 30/1.
With elections coming up in Tamil Nadu, and PM declaring on a recent visit that he was the first Indian leader to visit Jaffna, Sri Lanka has begun reading the tea leaves.
Whichever way it goes, the resolution is likely to resonate in India-Sri Lanka Relations and for India internally, in the run-up to the Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: manodarpan initiative
Mains level: mental health
Context
How to deal with mental wellness challenges in the uniformed forces
What is stress?
Stress is a feeling of emotional or physical tension. It can come from any event or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, or nervous. Stress is your body’s reaction to a challenge or demand.
What is mental wellness?
Mental wellness encompasses emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It influences cognition, perception, and behaviour. It also determines how an individual handles stress, interpersonal relationships, and decision-making.
Why is Mental Health Important?
Mental health is more important now than ever before; it impacts every area of our lives. The importance of good mental health ripples into everything we do, think, or say.
Stigma to seek help: The staggering figures are void of millions of others directly, or indirectly impacted by the challenge and those who face deep-rooted stigma, many times rendering them unable to seek help.
Lack of awareness: This growing challenge in dealing with mental health issues is further compounded by a lack of information and awareness, self-diagnosis, and stigma.
Psycho-social factors: Institutions like gender, race and ethnicity, are also responsible for mental health conditions.
Post-Treatment gap: There is a need for proper rehabilitation of the mentally ill persons post/her treatment which is currently not present.
Rise in Severity: Mental health problems tend to increase during economic downturns, therefore special attention is needed during times of economic distress.
Ongoing challenges in mental wellness regime
There is a need to expand understanding of the full scope of what uniformed Services and other mental health experts can achieve.
Stigma regarding mental health both domestically and around the world remains strong.
There is a lack of trained personnel and healthcare and public health systems in many areas of the world.
Training needs are broad and reach beyond direct patient care, especially regarding cultural competence, crisis communication, and consultation.
There is a need for expanded support for the value of multi-professional and multi-organizational integration and collaboration.
Government Policy initiatives
National Mental Health Program (NMHP): To address the huge burden of mental disorders and shortage of qualified professionals in the field of mental health, the government has been implementing the NMHP since 1982.
Mental HealthCare Act 2017: It guarantees every affected person access to mental healthcare and treatment from services run or funded by the government.
Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2017: The Act acknowledges mental illness as a disability and seeks to enhance the Rights and Entitlements of the Disabled and provide an effective mechanism for ensuring their empowerment and inclusion in the society
Manodarpan Initiative: An initiative under Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan aims to provide psycho-social support to students for their mental health and well-being.
What needs to be done?
Open dialogue: The practice of open dialogue, a therapeutic practice that originated in Finland, runs through many programmes in the Guidance. This approach trains the therapist in de-escalation of distress and breaks power differentials that allow for free expression.
Increase investment: With emphasis on social care components such as work force participation, pensions and housing, increased investments in health and social care seem imperative.
Network of services: For those homeless and who opt not to enter mental health establishments, we can provide a network of services ranging from soup kitchens at vantage points to mobile mental health and social care clinics.
Conclusion
Persons with mental health conditions need a responsive care system that inspires hope and participation without which their lives are empty. We should endeavour to provide them with such a responsive care system.
Mains question
Q. Mental disorders are now among the top leading causes of health burden worldwide, with no evidence of global reduction since 1990. Examine.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NA
Mains level: environment impact of sand mining
Context
From flora and fauna to human residents, no one has been left untouched due to the wanton extraction of sand mining from Yamuna River.
What is sand?
Sand is a granular material made up of finely divided rock and mineral fragments. According to The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulations) Act of 1957, sand is classified as a “minor mineral”.
What is Sand mining?
Sand mining is the extraction of sand, mainly through an open pit but sometimes mined from beaches and inland dunes or dredged from ocean and river beds. Sand is often used in manufacturing, for example as an abrasive or in concrete.
Sand Mining overview
Least regulated: Sand and gravel are the second largest natural resources extracted and traded by volume after water, but among the least regulated.
Uneven distribution: Sand is created by slow geological processes, and its distribution is not even.
Desert sand: Available in plenty, is not suited for construction use because it is wind-smoothed, and therefore non-adherent.
Environmental impact: While 85% to 90% of global sand demand is met from quarries, and sand and gravel pits, the 10% to 15% extracted from rivers and sea shores is a severe concern due the environmental and social impacts.
Concerns of excessive mining
Deteriorating river banks: Their extraction often results in river and coastal erosion and threats to freshwater and marine fisheries and aquatic ecosystems, instability of river banks leading to increased flooding, and lowering of ground water levels.
Critical hotspot: The report notes that China and India head the list of critical hotspots for sand extraction impacts in rivers, lakes and on coastlines.
Broken replenishment: system exacerbates pressures on beaches already threatened by sea level rise and intensity of storm-waves induced by climate change, as well as coastal developments.
Aesthetic sense is reduced: There are also indirect consequences, like loss of local livelihoods an ironic example is that construction in tourist destinations can lead to depletion of natural sand in the area, thereby making those very places unattractive and safety risks for workers where the industry is not regulated.
No comprehensive assessment: Despite this, there is no comprehensive assessment available to evaluate the scale of sand mining in India.
Damage to the environment: Regional studies such as those by the Centre for Science and Environment of the Yamuna riverbed in Uttar Pradesh have observed that increasing demand for soil has severely affected soil formation and the soil holding ability of the land, leading to a loss in marine life, an increase in flood frequency, droughts, and also degradation of water quality.
Loss to exchequer: It is not just damage to the environment. Illegal mining causes copious losses to the state exchequer.
Innovative use of technology
State governments such as Gujarat have employed satellite imagery to monitor the volume of sand extraction and transportation from the riverbeds.
Where to mine and where to prohibit mining: District Survey Report for each district in the country, focusing on the river as a single ecological system. ISRO, remote sensing data, and ground truthing are all used.
Sustainable mining: It involves extracting only the amount of material that is deposited each year.
District authorities’ participation in the process: The District Collector chairs the District Environment Impact Assessment Authority (DEIAA). The District Collector will be assisted by the District Level Expert Appraisal Committee (DEAC), which is led by the Executive Engineer (Irrigation Department) and is tasked with granting environmental clearance for up to 5 hectares of mine lease area for minor minerals, primarily sand.
Conclusion
Protecting sand mineral requires investment in production and consumption measurement and also monitoring and planning tools. To this end, technology has to be used to provide a sustainable solution.
Mains questionÂ
Q. A growing global population increasingly living in cities has led to a spiralling rise in the extraction of sand and aggregates, with serious environmental, political and social consequences. Examine.
| Polity | Mains Paper 2: Indian Constitution - historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Article 22
Mains level: Issues with preventive detentions
Preventive detentions in 2021 saw a rise by over 23.7% compared with the year before, with over 1.1 lakh people being placed under preventive detention, according to statistics released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
What does NCRB report say on Preventive Detention?
Over 24,500 people placed under preventive detention were either in custody or still detained as of 2021-end â the highest since 2017 when the NCRB started recording this data.
Over 483 were detentions under the National Security Act, of which almost half (241) were either in custody or still detained as of 2021-end.
In 2017, the NCRBâs Crime in India report found that 67,084 persons had been detained as a preventive measure that year.
Of these, 48,815 were released between one and six months of their detention and 18,269 were either in custody or still in preventive detention as of the end of the year.
Various provisions invoked for Preventive Detention
Among other laws under which the NCRB has recorded data on preventive detentions are the:
Goonda Act (State and Central) (29,306),
Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988 (1,331), and
A category classified as âOther Detention Actsâ, under which most of the detentions were registered (79,514).
Since 2017, the highest number of persons to be placed under preventive detention has consistently been under the âOther Detention Actsâ category.
Concerns over the report
The number of persons placed under detention has been increasing since 2017 â to over 98,700 in 2018 and over 1.06 lakh in 2019 â before dipping to 89,405 in 2020 (due to lockdowns).
The number of persons placed under preventive detention has seen an increase in 2021.
What is Preventive Detention?
Preventive detention means detaining a person so that to prevent that person from commenting on any possible crime.
In other words, preventive detention is an action taken by the administration on the grounds of the suspicion that some wrong actions may be done by the person concerned which will be prejudicial to the state.
Preventive Detention in India
A police officer can arrest an individual without orders from a Magistrate and without any warrant if he gets any information that such an individual can commit any offense.
Preventive Detention Law, 1950: According to this law any person could be arrested and detained if his freedom would endanger the security of the country, foreign relations, public interests, or otherwise necessary for the country.
Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) 1968: Within the ambit of UAPA law the Indian State could declare any organization illegal and could imprison anyone for interrogation if the said organization or person critiqued/questioned Indian sovereignty territorially.
What is the difference between Preventive Detention and an Arrest?
An âarrestâ is done when a person is charged with a crime.
In the case of preventive detention, a person is detained as he/she is simply restricted from doing something that might deteriorate the law-and-order situation.
Article 22 of the Indian Constitution provides protection against arrest and detention in certain cases.
Rights of an Arrested Person in India
A/c to Article 22(1) and 22(2) of the Indian constitution:
A person cannot be arrested and detained without being informed why he is being arrested.
A person who is arrested cannot be denied to be defended by a legal practitioner of his choice. This means that the arrested person has right to hire a legal practitioner to defend himself/ herself.
Every person who has been arrested would be produced before the nearest magistrate within 24 hours.
The custody of the detained person cannot be beyond the said period by the authority of magistrate.
Exceptions for Preventive Detention
Article 22(3) says that the above safeguards are not available to the following:
If the person is at the time being an enemy alien
If the person is arrested under certain law made for the purpose of âPreventive Detentionâ
Constitutional provision
It is extraordinary that the framers of the Indian Constitution, who suffered most because of the Preventive Detention Laws, did not hesitate to give Constitutional sanctity.
B.R. Ambedkar was of the opinion that the freedom of the individual should not supersede the interests of the state.
He had also stated that the independence of the country was in a state of inflancy and in order to save it, preventive detention was essential.
Issues with preventive detention
Arbitrariness: The police determinations of whether a person poses a threat are not tested at a trial by leading evidence or examined by legally trained persons.
Rights violation: Quiet often, there is no trial (upto 3 months), no periodic review, and no legal assistance for the detained person.
Abuse: It does not provide any procedural protections such as to reduce detaineesâ vulnerability to torture and discriminatory treatment, and to prevent officialsâ misusing preventive detention for subversive activities.
Tool for suppression: In the absence of proper safeguards, preventive detention has been misused, particularly against the Dalits and the minorities.
What has the apex court recently rule?
Preventive detention is a necessary evil only to prevent public disorder, ruled the Supreme Court in 2021.
The State should not arbitrarily resort to âpreventive detentionâ to deal with all sundry âlaw and orderâ problems, which could be dealt with by the ordinary laws of the country.
Whenever an order under a preventive detention law is challenged, one of the questions the court must ask in deciding its legality is: was the ordinary law of the land sufficient to deal with the situation?
If the answer is in the affirmative, the detention order will be illegal.
Upholding the Article 21
Preventive detention must fall within the four corners of Article 21 (due process of law) read with Article 22 (safeguards against arbitrary arrest and detention) and the statute in question, Justice Nariman ruled.
The Liberty of a citizen is a most important right won by our forefathers after long, historical, and arduous struggles.
Way forward
Having such kind of acts has a restraining influence on the anti-social and subversive elements.
India is a large country and many separatist tendencies against the national security and integrity existed and existing and a strict law is required to counter the subversive activities.
The number of persons detained in these acts is not a very large and due attention is made before preventive detention.
The state should have very effective powers to deal with the acts in which the citizens involve in hostile activities, espionage, coercion, terrorism, etc.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NA
Mains level: Sexual orientation as medical condition
The National Medical Commission (NMC), the apex regulatory body of medical professionals in India, has written to all State Medical Councils, banning sexual conversion therapy and calling it a âprofessional misconductâ.
What is the news?
The NMC has empowered the State bodies to take disciplinary action against medical professionals who breach the guideline.
The NMC was following a Madras High Court directive to issue an official notification listing conversion therapy as a wrong, under the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquettes and Ethics) Regulations, 2002.
What is Sexual Conversion Therapy?
Conversion or reparative therapy is an intervention aimed at changing the sexual orientation or gender identity of an individual.
It uses either psychiatric treatment, drugs, exorcism and even violence, with the aim being to make the individual a heterosexual.
The conversion therapy umbrella also includes efforts to change the core identity of youth whose gender identity is incongruent with their sex anatomy.
Often, the therapy is offered by quacks with little expertise in dealing with the issue.
As late as 2018, medical books listed homosexuality and lesbianism as a âperversionâ.
What are the risks?
The interventions under conversion therapy are provided under the false premise that homosexuality and diverse gender identities are pathological.
They are not; the absence of pathology means there is no need for conversion or any other like intervention.
Conversion therapy poses the risk of causing or exacerbating mental health conditions, like anxiety, stress and drug use which sometimes even lead to suicide.
What is the role of the Madras High Court in the ban?
On June 7, 2021, Justice N. Anand Venkatesh of the Madras High Court gave a landmark ruling on a case he was hearing about the ordeal of a same-sex couple who sought police protection from their parents.
Pending adequate legislation more protective of the community, Justice Venkatesh issued a slew of interim guidelines.
It aimed for the police, activists, Union and State Social Welfare Ministries, and the National Medical Commission to ensure their safety and security to lead a life chosen by them.
The ruling prohibited any attempt to medically âcureâ or change the sexual orientation of LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual or of any other orientation) people.
It urged the authorities to take action against professionals involving themselves in any form or method of conversion therapy,â which could include the withdrawal of licence to practice medicine.
On July 8, 2022, the court gave an order to the NMC directing it to issue necessary official notification by enlisting âConversion Therapyâ as a professional misconduct.
What were some of the other guidelines issued by the court?
The court asked the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment to draw up a list of NGOs and other groups which could handle the issues faced by the community, and gave it a time of 8 weeks from the date of the order.
The court said the community should be provided with legal assistance by the District Legal Services Authority in coordination with law enforcement agencies.
It asked agencies to follow the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules, 2020, and the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, in letter and spirit.
The court said it was imperative to hold sensitisation programmes for an all-out effort to understand the community and its needs.
Way forward
Schools and colleges must effect changes in curricula for a better understanding of the community.
People of a different sexual orientation or gender identity often narrate harrowing tales of bullying, discrimination, stigma and ostracization.
Gender-neutral restrooms should be compulsory in educational institutes and other places.
Parents too need to be sensitised, because the first point of misunderstanding and abuse often begins at home, with teenagers being forced to opt for âconversionâ therapies.
Health professionals point out that even adults opting for sex reassignment surgeries need to get proper guidance liketherapy pre and post operation.
Back2Basics: Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019: Key Features
Defining Transperson
The act defines a transgender person as one whose gender does not match the gender assigned at birth.
It includes trans-men and trans-women, persons with intersex variations, gender-queers, and persons with socio-cultural identities, such as kinnar and hijra.
Prohibition against discrimination
It prohibits the discrimination against a transgender person, including denial of service or unfair treatment in relation to education, employment, healthcare, access to, or enjoyment of goods, facilities, opportunities available to the public.
Every transgender person shall have a right to reside and be included in his household.
No government or private entity can discriminate against a transgender person in employment matters, including recruitment, and promotion.
HRD measures
A transgender person may make an application to the District Magistrate for a certificate of identity, indicating the gender as âtransgenderâ.
Educational institutions funded or recognised by the relevant government shall provide inclusive facilities for transgender persons, without discrimination.
The government must provide health facilities to transgender persons including separate HIV surveillance centres, and sex reassignment surgeries.
Grievances redressal
The National Council for Transgender persons (NCT) chaired by Union Minister for Social Justice, will advise the central government as well as monitor the impact of policies with respect to transgender persons.
It will also redress the grievances of transgender persons.
Legal Protection
The Bill imposes penalties for the offences against transgender persons like bonded labour, denial of use of public places, removal from household & village and physical, sexual, verbal, emotional or economic abuse.
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