(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelims and Mains:

1. Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) READ MORE
2. Benefit of Crop Insurance READ MORE
3. Explained: How resolution ‘pre-packs’ for MSMEs can speed up insolvency cases READ MORE
4. As told to Parliament (July 28, 2021): Bihar has the lowest score on SDG index READ MORE
5. India has 500 million tonnes of gold ore reserves: Govt READ MORE
6. Tropical forests losing capacity to cycle carbon and water, finds new tracking system READ MORE

Main exam  

GS Paper-1

SOCIETY

1. The Supreme Court is right on begging READ MORE
2. Is it really a good idea to count India’s population digitally? READ MORE

GS Paper-2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Probing Pegasus: On Bengal ordering inquiry into snooping row READ MORE
2. Oxygen for fiscal federalism: A special rate could be levied to the States to enable them to raise more resources during the pandemic READ MORE
3. To reopen schools, India must go local READ MORE
4. Centre can’t be a spectator in inter-state dispute READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. The vision of the National Education Policy must be served by its implementation READ MORE
2. How NEP can transform higher education in India READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. China Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosts Taliban, calls them ‘pivotal force’ READ MORE
2. West Asia: The parable of two Mohammeds and what it means for India READ MORE
3. Afghanistan turmoil: Peace only through talks READ MORE

GS Paper-3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Farm reforms must be oriented towards minimising risk and increasing returns for farmers READ MORE
2. Industry 4.0 is not a zero-sum game READ MORE
3. Behind the numbers: India’s policymakers need more timely unemployment data READ MORE
4. After Three Decades of Market Reforms, Where Does India Stand Compared With Bangladesh and China?READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. The new normal climate: India needs to focus on adaptation READ MORE
2. The Government Is Effectively Helping Industries Bypass Environmental Safeguards READ MORE

SECURITY

1. To deal with China on LAC, India must downsize and restructure the armed forces READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. How Effective are Embankments in Controlling Floods? READ MORE

GS Paper-4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Japanese education spells holistic development: It begins from scratch with elementary schools playing a vital role in trying to create mindful and responsible citizens READ MORE
2. Let us practise charity in its true spirit READ MORE
3. The Supreme Court is right on begging READ MORE
4. Spotlight on the homeless: Humane approach essential for uplift of the poor READ MORE
5. Making learning easier, enjoyable READ MORE

Questions for MAIN exam

1. Elementary school curriculum can play a tremendous role in building courteous and mindful societies. In this respect, explain the role played by schools in creating responsible citizenry.  
2. Empowering schools to make decisions will require giving them greater expenditure discretion and it will be an opportunity to involve local governments in school functioning. Analyse the statement.
3. ‘The progress and development of any nation is directly dependent on skilled manpower and the spirit of innovations’. Comment.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Investment in education yields both private and social returns.
• Education is everything that expands our capabilities — as individuals and as society.
• Moral education includes norms that define socially responsible and considerate behaviour towards everyone including nature.
• Elementary school curriculum can play a tremendous role in building courteous and mindful societies.
• Unlike the West, Japan is a collectivist society. Working as a group and group harmony is fundamental to this society.
• The general belief that one wins only when the group wins, generates equitable and united societies.
• Moral education includes norms that define socially responsible and considerate behaviour towards everyone including nature.
• Breaking the territorial trap, of envisioning ‘fixed’ and mutually exclusive forest reserve area could be a good place to start.
• The evolutionary nature of public policy needs to be recognised and accepted while attempts are being made to implement NEP.
• Posterity will celebrate this time in India’s history as far as educational transformation is concerned, if we are able to make efforts to implement the National Education Policy 2020.
• India cannot afford to ignore the costs of prolonged school closure. Local innovation with parents as partners is the path forward.
• Modern education systems must be conscious that both nature and nurture contribute to personality development and individual characteristics.

50-WORD TALK

• IMF says India’s economy will grow 9.5 per cent this year. Looks good, but here’s a reality check. It will merely restore our GDP to where it was two years ago. We can’t be smug. We can’t invite a third Covid wave with complacency again. Pace of vaccinations must accelerate.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do a map work (marking those areas in maps and also exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers etc. same applies for the national places.)
• For economy related news (banking, agriculture etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related with various economic aspects, for examples if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing prices rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates etc.
• For main exam related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occurs frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED.
• Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment in your writing.

[WpProQuiz 9]

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

• Prelims and Mains:

1. Scheme for Promoting Indigenous Rice READ MORE
2. India gets its 40th World Heritage Site READ MORE
3. Explained: Why South Korea’s version of Israel’s Iron Dome will be more capable READ MORE
4. In Chirgaon, Residents and Conservationists Work To Bring Back Their Vultures READ MORE
5. As Economies Reopen, IMF Forecasts 6% Global Growth This Year READ MORE
6. Explained: What is Telangana’s Dalit Bandhu scheme, and why is it facing criticism? READ MORE
7. Everything you need to know about RBI’s planned digital currency READ MORE

• Main exam:  

GS Paper: 1

HISTORY

1. Explained: What UNESCO heritage site Dholavira tells us about the Indus Valley Civilisation READ MORE

SOCIETY

1. Population populism: What led to the faster decline in fertility in recent decades? READ MORE

GS Paper: 2

Polity and Governance

1. Dangerous conflagration: On Assam-Mizoram border clash READ MORE
2. Simmering Northeast: Centre must constitute a new boundary commission to resolve the region’s internal border disputes READ MORE
3. What is data localisation & why Mastercard, Amex, Diners Club can’t add more customers in India READ MORE
4. Explained: How did the 150-year-old Assam-Mizoram dispute get so violent now? READ MORE

Social justice and social issues

1. The way forward for implementing NEP READ MORE

International Issues

1. Needed, a more unified Asian voice for Afghanistan: Afghanistan’s future will impact Central Asia and South Asia more than the distant global powers involved with it now READ MORE
2. Afghan conundrum and the road ahead READ MORE

GS Paper: 3

Economic Development

1. Strengthen the Code: Outcomes under IBC have fallen short of expectations. The process needs to be streamlined. READ MORE
2. Why has the world not warmed up to Make in India? READ MORE
3. The lockdown and its economic costs READ MORE
4. The GLOBAL MINIMUM TAX READ MORE

Environment and Ecology

1. How EU’s proposed carbon border tax will work & why India is among the nations opposing it READ MORE
2. Air Pollution Nine-Times More Likely to Kill India’s Poorest Than the Rich READ MORE
3. More livestock, more carbon dioxide, less ice: The world’s climate change progress since 2019 is (mostly) bad news READ MORE
4. Climate Change Triggering Extreme Weather Events across the World, India No Exception

Security

1. Theatre Commander under Chief of Defence Staff is not a good idea READ MORE

GS Paper: 4

Ethics Examples and Case Study

1. Needed: an anti-trafficking law READ MORE
2. Can’t take elitist view to ban begging: Supreme Court READ MORE
3. Planet Earth has a key to our spiritual growth READ MORE

Questions for MAIN exam

1. ‘A strong anti-trafficking law is the moral and constitutional responsibility of our elected leaders, and a necessary step towards nation-building and economic progress’. Discuss the statement.
2. ‘The IBC has emerged as a credible threat against errant promoters, and a stringent mechanism to usher in credit discipline in the country. But the functioning of the Code needs to be streamlined and strengthened’. Examine the statement.
3. ‘Centre must constitute a new boundary commission to resolve the region’s internal border disputes’. Comment.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Afghanistan’s story, backwards or sideways, is not confined to the Americans or the English.
• India has already been warned that monsoon rains would increase further with the rise in global temperature, and this would impact both agricultural and economy.
• Afghanistan’s future will impact Central Asia and South Asia more than the distant global powers involved with it now.
• Sectarian tribalism has been the bane of the North-eastern States, with underdevelopment acting as a catalyst in complicating knotty issues over land and other issues in the region.
• Human trafficking is a crime in itself, but it is also the propeller of several other crimes.
• A strong anti-trafficking law is the moral and constitutional responsibility of our elected leaders, and a necessary step towards nation-building and economic progress.
• The IBC has emerged as a credible threat against errant promoters, and a stringent mechanism to usher in credit discipline in the country.
• A major challenge in the implementation of any policy is the absence of relevant institutional mechanisms.
• Effective delivery of family planning services, strong incentives and disincentives led to decline in fertility rates.

50-WORD TALK

• BJP moved fast but cautiously in Karnataka, by choosing B.S. Yediyurappa loyalist, Basavaraj Bommai, as his successor. Bommai ticks many boxes: Lingayat leader, relatively young, clean image, administrative experience and shrewd consensus-builder, of a non-RSS import. His life won’t be easy though: there’s massive governance deficit and factionalism to address.
• Human trafficking is a crime in itself, but it is also the propeller of several other crimes. It creates a parallel black economy which fuels child labour, child marriage, prostitution, bonded labour, forced beggary, drug-related crimes, corruption, terrorism and other illicit businesses. The architects of our Constitution established the severity of the crime of trafficking by making it the only offence punishable under the Constitution of India itself, besides untouchability.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do a map work (marking those areas in maps and also exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers etc. same applies for the national places.)
• For economy related news (banking, agriculture etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related with various economic aspects, for examples if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing prices rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates etc.
• For main exam related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occurs frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED.
• Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment in your writing.

[WpProQuiz 8]

THE CONTEXT: Kandla SEZ has become the First Green SEZ to achieve the IGBC Green Cities Platinum Rating for Existing Cities.

Analysis

• IGBC Platinum rating has been awarded for ‘Green master planning, policy initiatives and implementation of green infrastructure’ by CII’s Indian Green Building Council (IGBC).
• The efforts of KASEZ is noteworthy especially because of the fact that this was accomplished in Bhuj region where water conservation and afforestation are critical interventions.
• The recognition will pave way for all the other SEZs in the country to emulate the green initiative and efforts of Kandla SEZ.

ABOUT INDIAN GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL

• The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), part of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) was formed in the year 2001.
• The vision of the council is, “To enable a sustainable built environment for all and facilitate India to be one of the global leaders in the sustainable built environment by 2025”.
• The council offers a wide array of services which include developing new green building rating programmes, certification services and green building training programmes.
•  The council also organises Green Building Congress, its annual flagship event on green buildings

THE CONTEXT: A recent study by researchers has highlighted the importance of the last fragments of tropical lowland forests in Assam by showing interactions between plants and fruit-eating birds in them.

Analysis:

• The researchers belonged to the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in Dehradun and the Nature Conservation Foundation non-profit in Bengaluru.
• They showed that small fruit eaters such as bulbuls and barbets “fed upon the highest number of fruits” in both, fragmented and contiguous forests. They were crucial in seed dispersal in both these types of forests.
• They also found that the remaining patches of forest were very important for birds like the White-throated Brown Hornbill, which dispersed larger seeds that other birds were not able to.
• The researchers cited these examples to show that such forest segments help to connect bigger portions of forest and thus help in the flow of biodiversity in them.
• They conducted sampling in two forest fragments experiencing degradation pressures namely Doom Dooma Reserve Forest and Kakojan Reserve Forest and a less disturbed, better protected contiguous forest patch, Dehing Patkai National Park.
• All three are located in Upper Assam.
• The researchers found that fragmentation of habitats had resulted in reduced interactions between plants and frugivorous birds in forest patches.
•  However, despite this, fragmented forest patches continued to harbour interactions and distinct ones at that, between frugivorous birds and plants.

THE CONTEXT: Pirs, a Russian module on the International Space Station (ISS) used as a docking port for spacecraft and as a door for cosmonauts to go out on spacewalks, was on July 26 detached from the 22-year-old floating laboratory.

Analysis

• In its place, Russia’s space agency Roscosmos will be attaching a significantly larger module called Nauka, which will serve as the country’s main research facility on the space station.
• It is a path breaking collaborative effort between five participating space agencies: NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe) and CSA (Canada).
• Nauka, which was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on July 21 using a Proton rocket, is scheduled to be integrated with the ISS on July 29.
• Nauka — meaning “science” in Russian — is the biggest space laboratory Russia has launched to date, and will primarily serve as a research facility.
• It is also bringing to the ISS another oxygen generator, a spare bed, another toilet, and a robotic cargo crane built by the European Space Agency (ESA).

 WHAT KIND OF RESEARCH GOES ON AT THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION?

• A space station is essentially a large spacecraft that remains in low-earth orbit for extended periods of time.
• It is like a large laboratory in space, and allows astronauts to come aboard and stay for weeks or months to carry out experiments in microgravity.
• For over 20 years since its launch, humans have continuously lived and carried out scientific investigations on the $150 billion ISS under microgravity conditions, being able to make breakthroughs in research not possible on Earth.
• As per NASA, 243 people from 19 countries have so far visited the ISS.
• The floating laboratory has hosted more than 3,000 research and educational investigations from researchers in 108 countries and areas, carrying out cutting edge research in various disciplines, including biology, human physiology, and physical, material and space science

[WpProQuiz 7]

THE CONTEXT: On June 30th, 2021, Chief Justice N.V. Ramana delivered the 17th Justice P.D. Desai Memorial Lecture on the “Rule of Law”. According to CJI, regular participation in polls was not a guarantee against the tyranny of the elected. In his speech, he underscored the pressure of social media on institutions. Identifying Covid-19 as “an unprecedented crisis”, CJI urged the governments to evaluate how they used the rule of law or failed to ensure protection to, and, the welfare of all of our people. This article provides insights into the lecture on the Rule of Law vs. the Rule by Law.

IMPORTANT EXCERPTS OF THE LECTURE

JOURNEY FROM RULE BY LAW TO RULE OF LAW	 Our struggle for independence marked our journey towards the establishment of a state defined by the “Rule of Law”.  There was a need to give a guarantee for the laws to be framed with a human face for the benefit of the masses. A framework was needed to ensure this. The framework that forms the binding link between law and justice in this country is what “We the people” gave to ourselves in the form of the Constitution.
CONSTITUTION AND RULE OF LAW	 The framers envisaged the Constitution which not only took care of the prevailing conditions but would also continue and be relevant for all times to come. Therefore Constitution is conceived as a living document whose contents evolve over the years, as the Courts deal with new situations and question and interpret the Constitution in the light of the same.  The Constitution embodies within itself the concept of Rule of Law and the same can be witnessed from our Preamble, the Fundamental Rights, the Directive Principles of State Policy, the Separation of Powers, etc.  By situating the concept of Rule of Law at the confluence of three important values – human dignity, democracy, and justice, our founding fathers showed the path for the rest of the world too.
ADVICE TO JUDICIARY	 For the judiciary to apply checks on governmental power and action, it has to have complete freedom. The judiciary cannot be controlled, directly or indirectly, by the legislature or the executive, or else the Rule of Law would become illusory.  Judges should not be swayed by the emotional pitch of public opinion, which is getting amplified through social media platforms. Judges have to be mindful of the fact that the noise thus amplified is not necessarily reflective of what is right and what the majority believes in.  Social media is incapable of distinguishing between right and wrong, good and bad, and the real and fake. Therefore, media trials cannot be a guiding factor in deciding cases. It is therefore extremely vital to function independently and withstand all external aids and pressures.  The ultimate responsibility of a judge is to uphold the Constitution and the laws. Reason, reasonableness, and protection of human dignity are the values that will serve us well.
THE ROLE OF LAWYERS	 The “Rule of Law” demands expertise, experience, and commitment. Lawyers should perform their duties with integrity and diligence. We need social virtue rather than economically self-interested behavior.  Historically, lawyers have a rich tradition of social activism demonstrated by the number of lawyers who participated in the Indian freedom struggle.  We need now to rebuild and recreate a tradition of civic professionalism. We need a professional ideology about social responsibility.  Both young and senior counsels should extend a helping hand to those in need of justice. Extending ease of access to justice is no less a social justice.
THE ROLE OF SOCIETY	 To advance the “Rule of Law” we primarily need to create a society where “Rule of Law” is respected and cherished.  Only when the citizens believe that they have fair and equal access to justice, can we have sustainable, just, inclusive, and peaceful societies.  Citizens can strengthen the “Rule of Law” by being knowledgeable about it and by applying it to their daily conduct and pushing for justice when needed.

4 CORE PRINCIPLES OF RULE OF LAW

PRINCIPLE	DETAILS	ANALYSIS/PRESENT STATUS
‘LAWS MUST BE CLEAR AND ACCESSIBLE’	- When laws are expected to be obeyed, the people at least ought to know what the laws are. - Law should be worded in simple, unambiguous language.	- In India, we are constantly striving to make legislations and judgments accessible to the general public by translating them into various Indian languages.
“EQUALITY BEFORE THE LAW”	- An important aspect of “equality before the law” is having equal “access to justice”. - Access to justice forms the bedrock of the “Rule of Law”.	- This guarantee of equal justice will be rendered meaningless if the vulnerable sections are unable to enjoy their rights because of their poverty or illiteracy or any other kind of weakness. - There is a need for legal empowerment of women. It not only enables them to advocate for their rights and needs in society but also increases their visibility in the legal reform process.
“RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CREATION AND REFINEMENT OF LAWS”	- The very essence of a democracy is that its citizenry has a role to play, whether directly or indirectly, in the laws that govern them.	- In the seventeen national general elections held so far, the people have changed the ruling party or combination of parties eight times, which accounts for nearly 50 percent of the number of general elections. - Despite large-scale inequalities, illiteracy, backwardness, poverty, and alleged ignorance, the people of independent India have proved themselves to be intelligent and up to the task. The masses have performed their duties reasonably well.
“STRONG INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY”	- The judiciary is the primary organ that is tasked with ensuring that the laws which are enacted are in line with the Constitution. Judicial review is one of the main functions of the judiciary.	- The Supreme Court has held this function to be a part of the basic structure of the Constitution, which means that the Parliament cannot curtail the same. - But the responsibility of safeguarding constitutionalism lies not just on the Courts. All the three organs of the State, i.e., the executive, legislature, and the judiciary, are equal repositories of Constitutional trust. - The role of the judiciary and scope of judicial action is limited, as it only pertains to facts placed before it. This limitation calls for other organs to assume responsibilities of upholding Constitutional values and ensuring justice in the first place, with the judiciary acting as an important check.

 THE RULE OF LAW BY DICEY

• A detailed analysis of the concept of Rule of Law was done by Professor A.V. Dicey who in his book “Introduction to the Study of the Law of the Constitution” published in the year 1885 tried developing the concept of Rule of Law.
• Dicey’s theory of Rule of Law consists of three basic principles:

1. The supremacy of law
2. Equality before law
3. The predominance of Legal Spirit

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RULE OF LAW AND RULE BY LAW

	RULE OF LAW	RULE BY LAW
DEFINITION	- The term "rule of law" comes from the French phrase "la Principe de legality," which translates to "government based on legal principles." It is based on the Latin phrase "Lex is Rex," which translates to "Law is King."	- It is based on the Latin term 'Rex is Lex' which means 'King is Law'.
ORIGIN	- The Rule of Law was first originated by Sir Edward Coke, the Chief Justice in England at the time of King James I. Coke was the first person to criticize the maxims of Divine Concept. He strongly believed that the King should also be under the Rule of Law. - According to him, "Rule of Law" means the absence of arbitrary power on the part of the Government.	- In his battle against the Church and common law judges, King James I of England triumphed, twisting the phrase 'Lex is Rex' to 'Rex is Lex.'
THE CONCEPT	- The state should act as per the "Rule of Law" which is the foundation of any constitution.	- The state acts as per what it this as lawful rather than what the "Rule of Law" says like invoking section 144 without its necessity.

 RULE OF LAW AND INDIAN CONSTITUTION

• In India, the concept of Rule of Law can be traced back to Upanishads. Its traces can also be found in the epics like Mahabharata and Ramayana, Ten Commandments, Dharma Chakra, and other seminal documents.
• The Preamble to the Indian Constitution mentions Justice, Liberty, and Equality.
• As per Article 13, 14 and 21 of the Indian Constitution promote equality although there are exceptions as well.
• Some Exceptions:
• Articles 15 and 16, Article 105 and Article 194.
• Criminal immunity to President and Governor as mentioned in Article 361.
• Diplomatic Immunity as per the Vienna Convention.

JUDICIAL PRONOUNCEMENTS ON RULE OF LAW

• The judicial decisions have played an indispensable role to counter any arbitrariness on part of the state.
• In K. Kraipak V. Union of Indiathe Apex Court held that ours being a welfare State, it is regulated and controlled by the Rule of Law.
• In Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India,the court ensured that the exercise of power in an arbitrary manner by the government would not infringe the rights of the people.
• The Apex Court in Indira Nehru Gandhi Vs. Raj Narain (1975) held that the Rule of Law embodied in Article 14 of the Constitution is the “basic feature” of the Indian Constitution and hence it cannot be destroyed even by an amendment of the Constitution under Article 368 of the Constitution.
• In L Chandra Kumar v Union of India, the court declared the independence of the judiciary to be a part of the basic structure and further the court struck down the amendment to article 323A of the constitution.
• The Habeas Corpus Case (1976) held that article 21 is the sole repository of Rule of law in India.

ANALYSIS: PRESENT STATUS OF RULE OF LAW IN INDIA

• In India, the Rule of Law is not followed in stricto sensu (“In the strict sense.”). There are several instances:

1. Several guidelines have been laid down by the court to curb the practice of honor killing but still, there have been numerous instances of honor killing reported. The decision on honor killing is taken by an extra-constitutional bodyby the nomenclature of Khap Panchayat which engages in feudalistic activities has no compunction to commit such crimes which are offenses under the Indian Penal Code, 1860. No heed is paid to the basic human right of “Right to life and liberty”.
2. The Sabarimala case verdict throws light upon the discretion of men in abiding by the directions given by the Supreme Court only to the point if they are analogous to the belief they hold. After the verdict massive protests were carried out, there were also occurrences of violence against women who tried to enter the temple. The women were denied their constitutional right to worship and the principles of equality were violated even after the practice was declared unconstitutional by the Apex Court.
3. Another evil practice pertinent in society is that of mob lynching. Supreme Court described it as horrendous acts of mobocracy and stated that “the law is the mightiest sovereign in a civilized society”.

In fact, the present debate has started due to increase in the incidences of RULE BY LAW like:

1. Internet shutdown in J&K for over one year
2. Arbitrary application of laws against media and journalists
3. Arbitrary application of UAPA, sedition law and NSA against protesters, dissenters, activists, etc.
4. Gagging criticisms on the mishandling of covid second wave

Such developments give a feeling of an authoritarian state and not of a democratic state. The CJI in his lecture has also highlighted how the people have largely plaid their role through 17 general elections and have rejected the governments if they have failed to withstand the rule of law. No government is permanent. Hence, it is the duty cast upon the three organs to play their role in upholding the rule of law.

THE CONCLUSION: The work of ensuring complete justice can never be said to be completed. The mandate of our Constitution is to work tirelessly to surpass our expectations, to make India a country wherein rights are cherished, and which sets an example for other countries to follow.

“Desamamte Matti Kadoi, Desamamte ManushulOi” (“A nation is not merely a territory. A nation is essentially its people. Only when its people progress, the Nation progresses”)

                                                                                                                                  ———– Maha Kavi Gurajada Appa Rao

Questions to Ponder

1. Differentiate between the Rule of law and Rule by law. Discuss the role of the judges and lawyers in ensuring Rule of law.
2. “The responsibility of safeguarding constitutionalism lies not just on the Courts.” Analyze.
3. Discuss why electoral democracy is prone to tyranny of those who are elected and what should be the safeguards?
4. Social media is incapable of distinguishing between right and wrong, good and bad, and the real and fake. Comment.

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

• Prelims and Mains:

1. India gets its 39th World Heritage Site READ MORE
2. Two-third Indians with non-communicable diseases fall in 26-59 age group, survey finds READ MORE
3. Philippines becomes first country to approve genetically modified ‘golden rice’ for commercial production READ MORE
4. Omid No More READ MORE
5. What is essential defence services Bill and how it will impact ordnance factories and others READ MORE
6. Israel appoints first ambassador to UAE READ MORE

Main exam:

GS Paper- 1

GEOGRAPHY

1. A climate risk: On extreme weather events READ MORE

SOCIETY

1. Why UP’s Population Control Bill Can Prove Disastrous for Women, Poor Families READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Pegasus and the laws on surveillance in India READ MORE
2. Why the monsoon session matters READ MORE
3. Administering India: The British administered India with the help of Indian Army and an institution called the ICS READ MORE
4. It’s Time for the Government To Redeem Itself and Repeal the UAPA READ MORE

SOCIAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Over 35% of government schools, anganwadis do not have tap water READ MORE
2. Lessons from India’s food security response: Government measures to tackle the food crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic were effective READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Can SAARC fill the power vacuum left by US withdrawal from Afghanistan? READ MORE
2. Science and technology is central to strong and lasting Indo-US ties READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Money changer: On need for an official digital currency READ MORE
2. What a digital currency from RBI must get right READ MORE
3. Currency creation: RBI should be careful in launching a digital currency READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Is climate change to blame for the recent weather disasters? 2 things you need to understand READ MORE
2. Prepare for extreme rainfall events READ MORE

SECURITY

1. Opinion: Strong-armed majoritarianism can never solve the challenges in India’s border regions READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Why the world’s cascade of disasters is not a coincidence READ MORE

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Scientific and metaphysical thoughts on infinity READ MORE
2. Learn To Be Still READ MORE

Questions for MAIN exam

1. Increase in number of extreme weather events in India calls for climate-proofing of the most vulnerable regions. Discuss.
2. Discuss the measures required to be taken to improve access to food grains and inclusion among the missing vulnerable population.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• We are not makers of history; we are made by history. -Martin Luther King, Jr.
• “If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.” -Nelson Mandela.
• “They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” -Benjamin Franklin
• Only proper planning can insure against the inevitable extremities of nature.
• International climate change agreements to limit greenhouse gas emissions will yield benefits only in the very long term but what is done in the near future will mean the difference between surviving and thriving.
• The scale of India’s public food distribution systems is immense and has gone through constant navigation and improvement, which is commendable. But more needs to still be done to improve access and inclusion among the missing vulnerable population.
• India is Europe’s third-largest trading partner, and it does not have its own carbon tax or cap. So, introduction of carbon border adjustment mechanism could be a cause of concern.
• The coming together of leaders, even at the height of tensions, in a region laden with congenital suspicions, misunderstandings, and hostility is a significant strength of SAARC that cannot be overlooked.
• India and the US can be true partners through joint efforts in making the next generation of quantum computers, achieving breakthroughs in the use of AI, making genome sequencing and analysis affordable.
• Using the dangerous and reckless brush of uniformity in a complex nation like India that nurtures unprecedented diversities is a strong-armed display of majoritarianism.

50-WORD TALK

• Soldiering is a calling. It epitomises three cardinal principles of the oath: one, a soldier signs an unlimited liability contract; two, a runners-up position is unacceptable; and three, unity in diversity is non-negotiable. It is in pursuance of these principles that he delivers. In Kargil, as always, our soldiers upheld every part of the contract.
• Indian companies should invest in more renewable electricity and energy efficiency. They can adopt science-based targets for emission reduction and internal carbon pricing to incentivise low-carbon choices. The government can extend the perform-achieve-trade scheme to more industries and provide finance to MSMEs to upgrade to clean technologies.
• SAARC members are among the top troop-contributing countries to UN peacekeeping missions. With the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, a joint peacekeeping force from the SAARC region under the UN aegis could be explored to fill the power vacuum that would otherwise be filled by terrorist and extremist forces.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do a map work (marking those areas in maps and also exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers etc. same applies for the national places.)
• For economy related news (banking, agriculture etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related with various economic aspects, for examples if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing prices rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates etc.
• For main exam related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occurs frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED.
• Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment in your writing.

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THE CONTEXT: The Union Cabinet has approved Rs 6,322 crore production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for specialty steel.

Analysis

• Speciality steel has been chosen as the target segment by the government because out of a production of 102 million tonnes of steel in 2020-21, only 18 million tonnes of value-added steel/speciality steel were produced in the country.
• Moreover, of 6.7 million tonnes of imports in the same year, approximately four million tonnes were of speciality steel, resulting in forex outgo of approximately Rs 30,000 crore,
• Speciality steel can be used in various strategic applications like defence, space, power, automobile sector, specialised capital goods, among others.
• There are three slabs of PLI incentives, the lowest being four per cent and highest being 12 per cent, which has been provided for electrical steel (CRGO). The duration of the scheme will be five years, from 2023-24 to 2027-28.

POTENTIAL IMPACT OF THE SCHEME

• This move is expected to attract an additional investment of about Rs 40,000 crore and capacity addition of 25 million tonnes in the segment.
• The scheme will give employment to about 525,000 people of which 68,000 will be direct employment.
• The steel sector is on an uptrend and major integrated producers have lined up major expansion plans; the PLI scheme is expected to boost those plans further.
• Most of the imports into India are in the value-added and speciality segment. The PLI scheme will boost manufacturing capacities by Indian mills in this segment and MSMEs will be able to source from them directly.
• The government expects the benefits of the scheme to accrue to both integrated steel plants and smaller players (secondary steel players) as speciality steel production to increase to 42 million tonnes by the end of 2026-27.
• This will ensure that approximately Rs 2.5 trillion worth of speciality steel will be produced and consumed in the country which would otherwise have been imported.
• Similarly, the export of specialty steel will become around 5.5 million tonnes as against the current 1.7 million tonnes of specialty steel getting forex of Rs 33,000 crore.

THE CONTEXT: The Reserve Bank of India is planning pilot projects to assess the viability of using digital currency to make wholesale and retail payments.

Analysis

• India is already a leader in digital payments, but cash remains dominant for small value transactions.
• An official digital currency would reduce the cost of currency management while enabling real-time payments without any inter-bank settlement.
• A high-level inter-ministerial committee set up by the Finance Ministry had recommended the introduction of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) with changes in the legal framework including the RBI Act.

BENEFITS OF THE CBDC

• The cost of printing, transporting and storing paper currency can be substantially reduced given fairly high cash to GDP ratio in India.
• The advent of private virtual currencies is another reason. If these private currencies gain recognition, national currencies with limited convertibility are likely to come under some kind of threat.
• Transacting with CBDC would be an instantaneous process as the need for interbank settlement would disappear as it would be a central bank liability handed over from one person to another
• Moreover, foreign trade transactions could be speeded up between countries adopting a CBDC.
• They could enable a cheaper and more real-time globalisation of payment systems — it is conceivable for an Indian exporter to be paid on a real-time basis without any intermediary.
• The risks of dollar-rupee transactions, the time zone difference in such transactions would virtually disappear.

THE CONTEXT: Ministry of Development of North-East Region (Min of DoNER) along with other departments have under taken various developmental programmes for the NER.

Analysis

• For the current financial year (2021-22), an amount of Rs 68020 crore has been earmarked by 54 Ministries/Departments at the Budget Estimates (BE) stage for North Eastern Region.
• During the FY 2020-21, Government announced a special economic and comprehensive package, which included Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) and three Atma Nirbhar Bharat (ANB) packages to combat the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and to revive economic growth.
• The Union Budget 2021-22 also announced increase in investment in Health Infrastructure, Mega Investment Textiles Parks (MITRA), enhancing agricultural credit and infrastructure funds, additional budget allocation to MSME Sector etc.
• Further, in June, 2021, Government announced a relief package of Rs 6.29 lakh crore comprising of 17 measures to support the Indian economy in its fight against the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic.
• Many of these programmes and policies will benefit the North Eastern Region as well.

SPECIFIC INITIATIVES OF THE MIN OF DoNER

• The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region/ North Eastern Council sanctioned untied funds amounting to Rs. 26.09 crore to combat COVID-19 pandemic in 8 NER States.
• Projects worth Rs. 36.50 crore have also been sanctioned to North Eastern Region States for livelihood generation for returnee migrant worker due to COVID-19.
• Eleven projects amounting to Rs. 313.98 crore have been sanctioned by the Ministry of DoNER under the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS) for strengthening health infrastructure of North Eastern States, especially for fighting COVID-19 pandemic.
• During 2020-21, Rs. 322.89 crore was released to the North Eastern States towards the India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Packages through National Health Mission (NHM).
• During 2019-20, an amount of Rs 111.34 crore was released to North Eastern States under National Health Mission.
• For the containment measures allowed under SDRF, State Government were allowed to spend upto 35% of the annual allocation of SDRF during the financial year 2019-20.
• The ceiling of 35% was further enhanced to 50% during the financial year 2020-21 and 2021-22.

NOTE: THE ABOVE WRITE UP PROVIDES A READY MADE ANSWER FOR THE GOVERNMENT’S EFFORTS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF NER. GRANULAR DATA IS PROVIDED TO UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT ONLY.

THE CONTEXT: The Union Cabinet has approved the establishment of an Integrated Multi-purpose infrastructure Development Corporation for the Union Territory of Ladakh

Analysis

• It is a new establishment.  Presently, there is no such similar organization within the newly formed UT of Ladakh.
• The approval has an inherent potential for employment generation as the corporation will be undertaking various kinds of developmental activities.
• Corporation will work for industry, tourism, transport and marketing of local products and handicraft.
• Corporation will also work as main construction agency for infrastructure development in Ladakh.
• The establishment of corporation will result in inclusive and integrated development of the Union Territory of Ladakh.
• This will, in turn, ensure socio-economic development of the entire region and population of the Union Territory.
• The erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir has been re organised as per the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.
• On this basis, the Union Territory of Ladakh (without Legislature) came into existence on 31.10.2019

THE CONTEXT: The villages around Odisha’s Bhitarkanika National Park, the country’s second-largest mangrove forests, are increasingly reporting cases of snake bites during this monsoon season: At least eight people have succumbed to snake bites so far.

Analysis

• Villagers in Mahakalapada and Rajnagar blocks of Kendrapada district near the national park often succumb to snake bites during the monsoon season.
• Each year on July 16, the World Snake Day, awareness camps have been organised on how to save people from snake bites and to protect reptiles.
• Snakes in the Bhitarkanika include the poisonous king cobra, banded krait, common krait bamboo snake and blue krait. Among non-poisonous snakes are the Indian Rock python, rat snake, the water snake, common worm snake, etc.
• The snakes crawl into homes in the rainy season as the monsoon is the breeding season for the reptiles. The number of snakes appearing in human habitations increases during the nesting season.
• “Reptiles attack humans when they disturb them. Snakes guard the eggs near the nests. Snakes kill rats as a result the reptiles help farmers. Killing snakes disturbs the balance of the nature’s food chain will be affected.”

ABOUT BHITARKANIKA NATIONAL PARK

• Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the estuarial region of Bramhani-Baitarani, in the north-eastern place of Kendrapara district of Odisha (Orissa), the sanctuary covers an area of 672 square kilometers of Mangrove Forests and Wetland.
• The rivers, Bramhani, Baitarani, Dhamra and Pathsala flow out to sea at Bhitarkanika forming a tidal maze of muddy creeks and mangroves. It is a Ramsar site.
• Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary is home to numerous species of birds. It is also home to the endangered and mysterious King Cobras.
• The sanctuary has to its account is the inhibition of its ecosystem by the Giant Estuarine Crocodiles and numerous varieties of other animal species.
• Bhitarkanika Mangrove Ecosystem is richest from bio-diversity point of view. The floral diversity in Bhitarkanika is 2nd largest after Papua New Guinea.
• The Protected Area encompasses variety of habitats and microhabitats. Mangroves serve as nesting, feeding and breeding grounds for wide range of invertebrates and vertebrates.
• The Sanctuary is home to the largest number of Estuarine Crocodiles in the Indian sub-continent. With a population of more than 1600 crocodiles.

THE CONTEXT: The central government has sought the Parliament’s approval for an additional expenditure of ₹23,675 crore for this financial year, in view of the increased spending on healthcare amid the pandemic.

Analysis

• Finance minister also sought Parliament’s approval for transferring loans of around ₹59 trillion raised from the market as part of its commitment to compensate states for the revenue shortfall under the goods and services tax (GST).
• This is part of a nearly ₹64 trillion technical supplementary grant that do not involve a net cash outgo, as it is financed either by savings, extra revenues or other arrangements.
• GST compensation to states through loans raised by the central government will eventually be repaid from the cess levied in future on the sale of luxury and sin goods.
• The proposal was cleared by the GST Council in May, considering the expected revenue deficit in the cess collected from the sale of cars and tobacco this fiscal year.
• The debt financing of states’ GST revenue gap will be recognised as fiscal deficit in the states’ budgets, and not of the central government.

ABOUT SUPPLEMENTARY GRANTS

• They are granted by Parliament to the government when there is additional expenditure on a particular service in a financial year.
• The grant is provided in Art 115 of the constitution.
• The Demand of Grants provided under the Appropriation Act becomes insufficient to meet the expenditure. Thus the executive asks for more money in terms of Supplementary Grants.

THE CONTEXT: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology will question officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on July 28 in connection with reports about the illegal surveillance using Pegasus spyware.

Analysis

• The IT Panel will hold the meeting on ““citizens’ data security and privacy”. The parliamentary panel is headed by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor.
• The Pegasus spyware is developed, marketed and licensed to governments around the world by the Israeli cyber intelligence company NSO Group.
• The company says that it licenses its software only to “vetted governments” and that Pegasus is meant to be targeted at criminals.
• On 18 July, a leaked list of 50,000 potential targets of the spyware, “concentrated in countries known to engage in surveillance of their citizens” was released.
• The list was accessed by Paris-based media nonprofit Forbidden Stories and Amnesty International, which shared it with 17 news organisations as part of the Pegasus Project.

ABOUT PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES

• Both Houses of Parliament have a similar committee structure, with a few exceptions. Their appointment, terms of office, functions and procedure of conducting business are also more or less similar and are regulated as per rules made by the two Houses under Article 118(1) of the Constitution.
• Broadly, Parliamentary Committees are of two kinds – Standing Committees and ad hoc Committees. The former are elected or appointed every year or periodically and their work goes on, more or less, on a continuous basis. The latter are appointed on an ad hoc basis as need arises and they cease to exist as soon as they complete the task assigned to them.
• Standing Committees: Among the Standing Committees, the three Financial Committees – Committees on Estimates, Public Accounts and Public Undertakings – constitute a distinct group as they keep an unremitting vigil over Government expenditure and performance. While members of the Rajya Sabha are associated with Committees on Public Accounts and Public Undertakings, the members of the Committee on Estimates are drawn entirely from the Lok Sabha.
• Besides these three Financial Committees, the Rules Committee of the Lok Sabha recommended setting-up of 17 Department Related Standing Committees (DRSCs). Accordingly, 17 Department Related Standing Committees were set up on 8 April 1993. In July 2004, rules were amended to provide for the constitution of seven more such committees, thus raising the number of DRSCs from 17 to 24. The functions of these Committees are:
  • To consider the Demands for Grants of various Ministries/Departments of Government of India and make reports to the Houses;
  • To examine such Bills as are referred to the Committee by the Chairman, Rajya Sabha or the Speaker, Lok Sabha, as the case may be, and make reports thereon;
  • To consider Annual Reports of ministries/departments and make reports thereon; and
  • To consider policy documents presented to the Houses, if referred to the Committee by the Chairman, Rajya Sabha or the Speaker, Lok Sabha, as the case may be, and make reports.

THE CONTEXT: The government has informed Lok Sabha on July 20 that all households except few in the LWE areas have been electrified under the Saubhagya Scheme.

Analysis

• Government of India launched the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana – Saubhagya in October, 2017
• The objective is to achieve universal household electrification for providing electricity connections to all willing un-electrified households in rural areas and all willing poor households in urban areas in the country by March, 2019.
• All households were reported electrified by the States, except 18,734 households in Left Wing Extremists (LWE) affected areas of Chhattisgarh as on 31.03.2019.
• A total of 2.817 crore households have been electrified since the launch of Saubhagya, up to 31.03.2021.

ABOUT SAUBHAGYA SCHEME

• Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana –“Saubhagya” is a scheme to ensure electrification of all willing households in the country in rural as well as urban areas.
• The objective of the ‘Saubhagya’ is to provide energy access to all by last mile connectivity and electricity connections to all remaining un-electrified households in rural as well as urban areas to achieve universal household electrification in the country.
• The beneficiaries for free electricity connections would be identified using Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011 data.
• However, un-electrified households not covered under the SECC data would also be provided electricity connections under the scheme on payment of Rs. 500 which shall be recovered by DISCOMs in 10 instalments through electricity bill.
• The solar power packs of 200 to 300 Wp with battery bank for un-electrified households located in remote and inaccessible areas is also provided under the scheme.
• The Rural Electrification Corporation Limited (REC) will remain the nodal agency for the operationalization of the scheme throughout the country

THE CONTEXT: In a major boost for federalism, the Supreme Court struck down parts of a Constitution amendment which shrank the exclusive authority of States over its cooperative societies.

Analysis

• Part IXB, introduced in the Constitution through the 97th Amendment of 2011, dictated the terms for running cooperative societies.
• The provisions in the amendment are passed by Parliament without getting them ratified by State legislatures as required by the Constitution.
• The amendment even went to the extent of determining the number of directors a society should have or their length of tenure and even the necessary expertise.
• In a majority judgment authored by Justice Nariman, the court held that cooperative societies come under the “exclusive legislative power” of State legislatures.
• Part IX B, which consists of Articles 243ZH to 243ZT, has “significantly and substantially impacted” State legislatures’ “exclusive legislative power” over its cooperative sector under Entry 32 of the State List.
• The SC, however, said the Centre had power over multi-State cooperative societies.

ABOUT CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES

• Co-operative societies are based on the principles of voluntary formation, democratic member- control, member-economic participation and autonomous functioning.
• The 97th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2011 gave a constitutional status and protection to co- operative societies. In this context, it made the following three changes in the constitution:
• It made the right to form co-operative societies a fundamental right (Article 19).
• It included a new Directive Principle of State Policy on promotion of co-operative societies (Article 43-B).
• It added a new Part IX-B in the Constitution which is entitled “The Co-operative Societies” (Articles 243-ZH to 243-ZT).

PART IX-B OF THE CONSTITUTION CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING PROVISIONS

• The board directors of a co-operative society shall consist of such number of directors as may be provided by state legislature. But, maximum number of directors of a co-operative society shall not exceed 21.
• The state legislature shall provide for the reservation of one seat for the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes and two seats for women on the board.
• Term of office of elected members of the board – five years from the date of election
• The functional directors of a co-operative society shall also be the members of the board and such members shall be excluded for the purpose of counting the total number of directors
• No board shall be superseded or kept under suspension for a period exceeding six months.
• Accounts of every co-operative society shall be audited within six months of the close of the financial year
• The audit report of the accounts of an apex co-operative society shall be laid before the state legislature.

THE CONTEXT: The Government has informed the parliament on July 20 that it has launched a Bad Bank with all the regulatory approvals in place.

Analysis

• The Finance Minister, in her speech on the Budget for the financial year 2021-22, had announced that an Asset Reconstruction Company Limited and Asset Management Company would be set up
• They will consolidate and take over the existing stressed debt and then manage and dispose of the assets to Alternate Investment Funds and other potential investors for eventual value realization.

ABOUT BAD BANK

• A bad bank is a financial entity set up to buy non-performing assets (NPAs), or bad loans, from banks.
• The aim of setting up a bad bank is to help ease the burden on banks by taking bad loans off their balance sheets and get them to lend again to customers without constraints.
• After the purchase of a bad loan from a bank, the bad bank may later try to restructure and sell the NPA to investors who might be interested in purchasing it.
• A bad bank makes a profit in its operations if it manages to sell the loan at a price higher than what it paid to acquire the loan from a commercial bank.
• However, generating profits is usually not the primary purpose of a bad bank the objective is to ease the burden on banks, holding a large pile of stressed assets, and to get them to lend more actively.
• Finance Minister in her Budget speech revived the idea of a ‘bad bank’ by stating that the Centre proposes to set up an asset reconstruction company to acquire bad loans from banks.
• In pursuance to this, the National Asset Reconstruction Company Limited (NARCL) has been set up by the government
• RBI is the regulator of Asset Reconstruction Companies and thus will regulate the NARCL also.

THE CONTEXT: The Government is implementing more than 40 skill development schemes across 20 Central Ministries/Departments, for providing a variety of skill development training programmes under the Skill India Mission.

Analysis

• Some of the major schemes are Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikash Yojana (PMKVY), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), fee based training by National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) etc.
• Under PMKVY 2.0 scheme, training Centres takes all efforts to facilitate placements of certified candidates through multiple initiatives like Rojgaar Mela, Yuva Sampark and Aatmanirbhar Skilled Employees Employer Mapping (ASEEM) ’portal, etc.
• In PMKVY 3.0 facilitation of wage employment / self-employment / apprenticeship shall be provided to the certified candidates.
• Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras shall act as nodal Centres at districts for providing self-employment support.

ABOUT SKILL INDIA MISSION

• Launched on 2015, SKILL INDIA MISSION aims to train over 40 crore people in India in different skills by 2022.
• The mission aims at vocational training and certification of Indian youth for a better livelihood and respect in the society.
• It is implemented by National Skill Development Corporation under the aegis of Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

SCHEMES & INITIATIVES UNDER SKILL INDIA MISSION

• Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY): The scheme is implemented with the objective to enable a large number of Indian youth to take up industry-relevant skill training that will help them in securing a better livelihood. Individuals with prior learning experience or skills were also assessed and certified under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) category.
• Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra (PMKK): These are state-of-the-art, visible and aspirational model training centers in every district of India, ensuring coverage of all the parliamentary constituencies. These model training centers are referred to as “Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra” (PMKK). The PMKK program provides financial support in form of a soft loan up to INR 70 lakhs to create training infrastructure and complements the delivery of the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY).
• India International Skill Centres (IISC): To bridge the global shortage of labour force in the coming years by reaping the demographic dividend of young Indian labour force, India International Skill Centre (IISC) has been set up to provide skill trainings and certification benchmarked to International Standards.
• National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS): NAPS was launched in August 2016 to promote the Apprenticeship in the country by providing financial incentives, technology and advocacy support. The government shares a specific percentage of basic training cost and/or stipend given to the apprentice.

THE CONTEXT: The Tripura government has taken initiatives to promote commercial cultivation of Agar trees.

Analysis

• It has set a target to achieve Rs 2,000 crore business from the sector in the next three years.
• The state has plans to export 75,000 kg of Agar chips and 1,500 kg of Agar oil in 2021-22 fiscal
• At present, over 50 lakh Agar trees are available in the state.
• The government has launched a draft ”Tripura Agar Wood Policy 2021”, and set a target of doubling the plantation by 2025.

ABOUT AGAR TREE

• The agar wood tree is native to Northeast India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and parts of Southeast Asia
• Agar (Aquilaria malaccensis) is an evergreen tree that grows in Tripura in abundance.
• This species has a huge potential of creating another economic revolution in Tripura after rubber, bamboo and other major forestry crops.
• Low input cost for management and growth and intercropping adaptation could make agar a preferred cash crop.
• Agar wood has been widely used as therapeutic perfumes, traditional medicine, religious purposes and aromatic food ingredient