1. To make educational campuses more democratic, address systemic caste bias READ MORE
2. Empowerment is the path to stopping child marriage READ MORE
3. Human values should matter in capitalism READ MORE

1. The curious case of the disqualification of a politician READ MORE
2. Ensure primacy of child marriage prohibition law READ MORE
3. Two Decades After Muthanga, Kerala’s Adivasis Continue to Struggle for Constitutional Rights READ MORE
4. Higher Judiciary Appointments—A Civilian Perspective READ MORE
5. Perils of judicial monopolisation: Critiquing the judiciary’s (mis)use of constitutional morality as a double-edged sword READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Department of Fisheries to host Sagar Parikrama Phase III Program from Gujarat to Maharashtra READ MORE  
2. Recommendations of 49th GST Council Meeting READ MORE
3. Munnar sees rare weather pattern as mercury dips to sub-zero levels again READ MORE
4. Rhododendrons carpet Darjeeling, Sikkim Himalayas READ MORE
5. Why environmental surveillance for avian influenza is vital READ MORE
6. ‘Rare, unique’: Diyodar meteorite in 2022 was India’s first aubrite in 170 years READ MORE
7. Telangana’s Teja chilli is hot property in many nations READ MORE
8. Bankers remain optimistic on loan demand across sectors READ MORE
9. India’s sticky inflation: Causes and consequences READ MORE
10. Explained | Is there a need for an extra dose of polio vaccine? READ MORE  

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. To make educational campuses more democratic, address systemic caste bias READ MORE
2. Empowerment is the path to stopping child marriage READ MORE
3. Human values should matter in capitalism READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. The curious case of the disqualification of a politician READ MORE
2. Ensure primacy of child marriage prohibition law READ MORE
3. Two Decades After Muthanga, Kerala’s Adivasis Continue to Struggle for Constitutional Rights READ MORE
4. Higher Judiciary Appointments—A Civilian Perspective READ MORE
5. Perils of judicial monopolisation: Critiquing the judiciary’s (mis)use of constitutional morality as a double-edged sword READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Remove barriers for social justice READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Why China’s stand on Russia and Ukraine is raising concerns READ MORE
2. Afghanistan on the boil: India must avoid getting sucked into the Pak-Taliban-US ‘Bermuda triangle’ READ MORE
3. There is hope, still, for United Nations READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Explained | How is the stock market regulated in India? READ MORE
2. Ashok Gulati and Ritika Juneja write: Lessons from Madhya Pradesh’s agriculture model READ MORE
3. Build on the success of sovereign green bonds READ MORE

TECHNOLOGY

1. How can BTech students be future-ready in the age of Artificial Intelligence? Ex-IIT director explains READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Long-run impacts of tube well irrigation in India READ MORE
2. Timely Jal Jan Abhian READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Nagendra-haraya, one who has tamed the ego READ MORE
2. Think clearly, it’s easy READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. Members of the judiciary cannot compromise judicial independence by trading it for a plum post-retirement sinecure. In the light of this statement, do you agree with the view that there should be a cooling-off period for judges after retirement?
2. Despite efforts to ensure their wellbeing, the Adivasi community remains one of the most deprived in India. In light of this statement critically analyse the steps taken by Government of India to address the issues of Adivasi community.
3. ‘India must put in place actionable policy to achieve Hydrogen Mission targets, which will depend on cheaper green hydrogen’. Discuss, why Green ports are key to achieve Green Hydrogen Mission?

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• The most ominous of fallacies: the belief that things can be kept static by inaction.
• Some of India’s largest cities with a population of a little more or less than one crore, have gone without a municipal government for several years.
• Members of the judiciary cannot compromise judicial independence by trading it for a plum post-retirement sinecure.
• As the current G-20 president, and as a vulnerable country, India has a key role in ensuring that AMR remains high on the global health agenda.
• A credible glide path to bring inflation down to the target level is of critical importance, particularly now with the national elections around the corner.
• Inflation is proving to be the Achilles heel of the Indian economy’s recovery from the pandemic and subsequent global disruptions.
• A Union of small states is a good idea is that such a political model addresses what’s going to soon be a source of tension in Indian federalism.
• Smaller or medium size states or small bits of one or two large states like Maharashtra and Gujarat are doing most of the economic heavy lifting – but it is the larger states with larger populations that wield political power.
• End child marriages is a challenge of moral suasion and Assam’s arrests were not a useful way to pursue this noble goal.
• The pandemic adversely affected the quality of employment. Further, higher the level of education, higher is the chance of being out of the job market.
• Article 25 of the Constitution guarantees the freedom to profess, practice and propagate religion to all citizens, subject to public order, health and morality.
• India must put in place actionable policy to achieve Hydrogen Mission targets, which will depend on cheaper green hydrogen.

50-WORD TALK

• The police have a role to play in preventing child marriages, but once these have taken place, police intervention is not the appropriate remedy. Rather than sending the husbands of the victim girls to jail and re-victimising them, it would be prudent for the cops to take stringent action against the religious priests who solemnise minors’ marriages without due diligence, and to sensitise the masses through them.
• The government’s economic advisers are grappling with the needs and rights of migrant workers, and they are struggling to provide social security to all workers. A new paradigm of economics must be built which gives precedence to the rights of human beings and nature over the property rights of financial owners.

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 map work (marking those areas in maps and exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price 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 occur 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 to your writing.

THE CONTEXT: In the case of Kaushal Kishor versus State of Uttar Pradesh &Ors, a five-judge Constitution bench unanimously held that grounds to restrict free speech under Article 19(2) of the Constitution are exhaustive. The bench further held that under the guise of invoking other fundamental rights, additional restrictions not found in Article 19(2) could not be imposed on the exercise of the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression by an individual under Article 19(1)(a). This topic delves into deep to highlight the various aspects of these decisions.

BACKGROUND OF THE ISSUE

ABOUT FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS

• Fundamental Rights are those rights which are needed for the overall development of the individual. It is guaranteed by the supreme law of the land that is Constitution. These human rights are conferred upon the citizens of India for the Constitution and are given protection against the encroachment. It is enshrined in Part III of the Constitution. However, these rights are not absolute as reasonable restrictions exist.

ARTICLE 19(1) IN THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA 1949

All citizens shall have the right:
a) to freedom of speech and expression;
b) to assemble peaceably and without arms;
c) to form associations or unions;
d) to move freely throughout the territory of India;
e) to reside and settle in any part of the territory of India; and
f) omitted
g) to practise any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business

ARTICLE 19(2) IN THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA 1949

Nothing in sub clause (a) of clause (1) shall affect the operation of any existing law, or prevent the State from making any law, in so far as such law imposes reasonable restrictions on the exercise of the right conferred by the said sub clause in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or Morality or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence

SUMMARY OF THE JUDGEMENT

CONSTITUTION BENCH JUDGEMENT

• Justices S Abdul Nazeer, BR Gavai, AS Bopanna, V Ramasubramanian and BV Nagarathna unanimously held that the grounds lined up in Article 19(2) for restricting the right to free speech are exhaustive. Under the guise of invoking other fundamental rights or under the guise of two fundamental rights staking a competing claim against each other, additional restrictions not found in Article 19(2) cannot be imposed on the exercise of the right conferred by Article 19(1)(a).

HORIZONTAL APPLICATION

• A fundamental right under Article 19 or 21 can be enforced even against persons other than the state or its instrumentalities however Justice BV Nagarathna dissents to say only habeas corpus remedy can be horizontally applied against private persons.
• The State is obliged to affirmatively protect a person’s rights under Article 21 even against a threat to the liberty of a citizen by the acts or omissions of another citizen or private agency. The court finally held that “A fundamental right under Article 19/21 can be enforced even against persons other than the State or its instrumentalities.”

WHETHER MINISTER’S STATEMENT CAN BE VICARIOUSLY ATTRIBUTED TO THE GOVERNMENT

• A statement made by a minister, even if traceable to any affairs of the state or for protection of the government, cannot be attributed vicariously to the government by invoking the principle of collective responsibility. However Justice Nagarathna dissents that statements in an official capacity reflecting views of the govt can be vicariously attributed to the govt.

CONSTITUTIONAL TORT

• A mere statement made by a minister inconsistent with the rights of a citizen of Part III of the Constitution may not constitute a violation of constitutional rights and become actionable as a constitutional tort. But, if as a consequence of such a statement, any act of omission or commission is done by the officers resulting in harm or loss to a person or citizen, then the same may be actionable as a constitutional tort.

WHAT IS A CONSTITUTIONAL TORT

If a government official violates an individual’s constitutional rights, then a civil action can lie against him. As the government official is a functionary of the state such wrongs are considered to be committed under the colour of state law. Such civil wrongs are called constitutional tort. A constitutional tort is a legal tool that allows the state to be held vicariously accountable for the actions of its agents.

ANALYSIS OF THE JUDGEMENT

• Article 19’s six freedoms are to promote intellectual self-expression and social interaction among citizens, and preserve the spirit of unity by encouraging free movement throughout India, as well as the development of personality and the pursuit of gainful activity to boost national productivity.
• The legal system of any democratic country places a high value on freedom of speech and expression. Freedom of speech and expression is critical for our country’s growth and progress, and its absence would negate democracy’s genuine meaning. But, it is also true that absolute freedoms will always damage society’s smooth functioning because every individual’s personal interests would be emphasised. This would result in the state withering away, resulting in anarchy. A balance between rights and restrictions is thus quintessential. The government should have the authority to place constraints on freedom as the maker and executor of the law. The reasonableness of the restriction determines the balance.
• However, the extent of balancing and how far we can go with these restrictions is also a matter of concern. Only reasonable limits are protected under the Constitution, and courts have established guidelines for determining whether or not a restriction is reasonable. We can only be safe if we can create a safer society. Reasonable limits are needed somewhere to maintain public order and decency. The term “reasonable restrictions” implies that the limitations placed on a person’s ability to exercise a right should not be arbitrary or unreasonable. A law that arbitrarily infringes on a person’s right cannot be considered reasonable. As a result, a balance between rights and restrictions is required.
• Supreme Court in the judgement ‘Express Newspapers (Private) Ltd. versus The Union of India (1984)’ and ‘Sakal Papers (P) Ltd. versus Union of India (1961)’ held that law enacted by the legislature, which does not come squarely within Article 19(2), would be struck down as unconstitutional. Thus there should be a balance between rights and restrictions; otherwise the fundamental freedom can not be ensured.
• In the preamble of the Indian constitution fraternity, fundamental rights are indicated, and the survival of democracy itself depends upon mutual respect, accommodation and willingness to co-exist. Also in fundamental duty in Article 51A(e) of the Constitution calls for promoting harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities. Thus to enjoy fundamental rights, there has to be restrictions on the individual to respect so that each can enjoy their fundamental rights.

MEANING OF ‘REASONABLE RESTRICTIONS UNDER ARTICLE 19 OF INDIAN CONSTITUTION

• Over time, the Supreme Court has laid down, in a plethora of cases, various tests and principles with respect to the concept of reasonable restrictions. The term “reasonable” has not been defined under the Constitution and no tests were laid down either. It is in this regard, the role of the Supreme Court to interpret the Constitution comes into play.
• Reasonableness – With respect to the ambit of reasonable restrictions, the Supreme Court in Chintaman Rao v State of Madhya Pradesh had laid down the principle that the legislative view of what constitutes reasonable restriction shall not be conclusive and final and that it shall be subjected to supervision by the Supreme Court.
• The most basic rule while testing whether a law falls within the ambit of reasonable restriction is that no general or abstract rule shall be adopted for the application of all case. Each case has to be seen independently. The test of reasonableness shall be however on the basis of the following grounds; “The nature of the right alleged to have been infringed, the underlying purpose of the restrictions imposed, the extent and urgency of the evil sought to be remedied thereby, the disproportion of the imposition, the prevailing conditions at the time”
• In Express Newspapers v Union of India, it was held by the Supreme Court that there ought to be a reasonable balance between the freedoms enshrined under Article 19(1) and the social control permitted by clauses (2) to (6). In addition to this, the restriction imposed shall have a direct or proximate nexus with the object sought to be achieved by the law.

GROUNDS FOR RESTRICTIONS

Article 19(2) draws a line of division between permissible speech and impermissible speech.

• Sovereignty and Integrity of India- This ground was added in 1963 by the 16th Amendment Act with a view to restrict those categories of speech that could be detrimental to national integrity and the sovereignty of India. Speeches inciting secession from the Union of India shall be restricted as it compromises the sovereignty of India.
• Security of the state might be at stake when actions intended to overthrow the government are carried on. It is thus necessary to restrict such circumstances in the interest of the security of the state. Words, signs, speech etc which caused incitement to violence shall be restricted.
• Friendly Relations with the Foreign States- Apart from internal peace, there is something else the government need to sure; relation with foreign countries. Restrictions may be imposed on any form of speech that could jeopardize India’s relations with foreign countries.
• Public Order- The restrictions in the interest of public order have been discussed above. Public order as the ground was later added in 1951 by the First Amendment Act. It is synonymous with public peace and tranquillity.
• Decency and Morality- these are further grounds on which the government may impose restrictions upon the people. The collective interest of society as a whole shall override individual rights and interests.
• The Contempt of Courts Act is the legislation enacted to impose a restriction upon actions including speech and expression that would scandalize the courts and jeopardize their position. Civil Contempt is the willful disobedience of a court order whereas criminal contempt is the publication of any matter or doing of any act which scandalizes or tends to scandalize or lower or tend to lower the authority of any court
• Defamation- Free Speech does not warrant an individual to defame another. A person knowingly makes a statement or publishes a matter to the public about another person that would tarnish the latter’s reputation shall be restricted on grounds of defamation. A defamatory matter in a permanent form such as a matter written or printed is labelled as Libel and the defamatory matter which is spoken is called slander
• Incitement to an Offence- Free speech shall be restricted if it incites offences punishable under law. The First Constitutional Amendment Act, 1951 added this.

AVAILABILITY OF ARTICLE 19, 21 RIGHTS AGAINST NON-STATE ACTORS

• Referring to Part III of Constitution, Justice Ramasubramanian observed that there are some Articles in Part III where the mandate is directly for the State and there are other Articles where without injuncting the State, certain rights are recognised to be inherent, either in the citizens of the country or in persons. This, Justice Ramasubramanian, said, is an indication that some of the rights conferred by Part III are to be honoured by, and are also enforceable against, non-State actors.
• “For instance, the rights conferred by Articles 15(2)(a) and (b), 17, 20(2), 21, 23, 24, 29(2) etc., are obviously enforceable against non­-State actors also.
• Disagreeing with Justice Ramasubramanian, Justice Nagarathna held that a fundamental right under Articles 19 or 21 cannot be enforced against persons other than the State or its instrumentalities. But she added that a remedy in the form of writ of Habeas Corpus, if sought against a private person on the basis of Article 21 of the Constitution, would lie.

MINISTER’S STATEMENT AND CONSTITUTIONAL TORT

• Supreme Court held that mere statement made by a Minister, inconsistent with the rights of a citizen under Part III of the Constitution, may not constitute a violation of constitutional rights and become actionable as a constitutional tort. But if, as a consequence of such a statement, any act of omission or commission is done by the officers resulting in harm or loss to a person/citizen, then the same may be actionable as a constitutional tort, he added.
• Explaining it further, Justice Ramasubramanian said that if a Minister makes a statement that women are unfit to be employed in a particular vocation, it may reflect his insensitivity to gender equality and also may expose his low constitutional Morality. Due to his insensitivity or lack of understanding or low constitutional Morality, he speaks a language that can potentially demean the constitutional rights of women, cannot be a ground for action in Constitutional tort.

THE CONCLUSION: In the context of this judgement, it can be said that the judiciary has taken a stand to protect a fundamental right. Supreme Court is the protector of the fundamental rights of Indian citizens and the guardian of the Indian Constitution because it has been given the power to protect, safeguard and uphold the Constitution and its various components.Thus it has given a more predictable restriction to fundamental rights so that executive and legislative activism against fundamental rights can be curbed.It has upheld constitutional Morality which holds the principles, philosophy and values as supreme.Further, it upholds the protection of fundamental rights not only against the state but also non state actors. Thus in this way, Supreme Court judges has enlarged the protection against the violation of fundamental rights.However, there is still a very large scope of restriction in Article 19(2) .Thus it provides a lot of room to manoeuvre and restrict the fundamental right by the legislature. In this context, there is a need of to protect constitutional Morality so that constitutional values can be protected

Mains Question:
1. Limiting the restriction of Fundamental Rights to Article 19(2) by Supreme Court in a recent judgement will help protect fundamental rights. Critically examine.
2. Analyse the Supreme Court judgement on Article 19(2). Will it help in protecting Constitutional Morality?

[WpProQuiz 428]

GEOGRAPHY

1. WHAT ARE GEOMAGNETIC STORMS?

TAGS: PRELIMS- GS-I-GEOGRAPHY

 THE CONTEXT:  Recently, a Geomagnetic Storm was caused by a solar wind that passed through a gap created in the Earth’s magnetic field.

THE EXPLANATIONS:

About Geomagnetic Storms:

• A geomagnetic storm is a major disturbance of Earth’s magnetosphere.
• These storms result from variations in the solar wind that produces significant changes in the currents, plasmas, and fields in Earth’s magnetosphere.
• The solar wind conditions that are effective for creating geomagnetic storms are sustained (for several hours) periods of the high-speed solar wind and a southward-directed solar wind magnetic field (opposite the direction of Earth’s field) at the dayside of the magnetosphere.
• The largest such storms are associated with solar coronal mass ejections (CMEs), where a billion tons or so of plasma from the sun, with its embedded magnetic field, arrives at Earth.

Effects:

• These storms can heat the ionosphere, causing beautiful auroras on Earth.
• Because the ionosphere is heated and distorted during storms, long-range radio communication that relies on sub-ionospheric reflection gets affected.
• Ionospheric expansion due to these storms can increase satellite drag and make their orbits difficult to control.
• Satellite electronics can be damaged through the build-up and discharge of static-electric charges.
• It can disrupt global navigation systems.
• It can create harmful geomagnetic-induced currents (GICs) in the power grid and pipelines.

What is a Solar wind?

• It is a stream of energized, charged particles, primarily electrons and protons, flowing outward from the Sun through the solar system at speeds as high as 900 km/s and a temperature of 1 million degrees (Celsius).
• It is made of plasma.
• When the solar wind reaches Earth, it sends a flurry of charged particles toward the magnetosphere, along Earth’s magnetic field lines, towards the poles.

What are Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs)?

• CMEs are large expulsions of plasma and magnetic field from the Sun’s corona that propagates outward into interplanetary space.
• The blast of a CME carries about a billion tons of material out from the Sun at very high speeds of hundreds of kilometers per second.

INDIAN POLITY

2. DOCTRINE OF NECESSITY

TAGS: PRELIMS- GS-II-POLITY

CONTEXT: Recently, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) Invoked the “doctrine of necessity” to clear six deals involving mergers & acquisitions (M&A) and investment proposals.

THE EXPLANATION:

About Doctrine of necessity:

• It allows the legal authorities to carry out certain activities which are not permitted in the normal course.
• This term is used to describe a principle of constitutional law, where in an emergency or an exigent circumstance, a state may legally act which in other circumstances is deemed to be illegal.
• The term was first used in 1954 in a controversial judgment in Pakistan.
• The Doctrine of Necessity was changed to the Doctrine of Absolute Necessity in the case of “Election Commission of India v. Dr. Subramaniam Swamy”
• Outcome: This doctrine shall be used only in case of absolute necessity.
• It acts as a defense against violating the law making the decision valid and not biased.
• Doctrine of necessity acts as an exception to ‘Nemo judex in causa sua’, where an authority is disqualified on the grounds of a biased decision.

Evolution of the Doctrine of Necessity

• The term Doctrine of Necessity is a term used to describe the basis on which administrative actions by administrative authority, which are designed to restore order, are found to be constitutional. The maxim on which the doctrine is based originated in the writings of the medieval jurist Henry de Bracton, and similar justifications for this kind of administrative action have been advanced by more recent legal authorities, including William Blackstone.
• In modern times, the term was first used in a controversial 1954 judgment in which Pakistani Chief Justice Muhammad Munir validated the extra-constitutional use of emergency powers by Governor General, Ghulam Mohammad. In his judgment, the Chief Justice cited Bracton’s maxim, ‘that which is otherwise not lawful is made lawful by necessity’, thereby providing the label that would come to be attached to the judgment and the doctrine that it was establishing.

ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

3. INDIAN PANGOLIN

TAGS: PRELIMS- GS-III-ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: International non-profit organization TRAFFIC recently reported that 1,203 pangolins had been found in illegal wildlife trade in India from 2018 to 2022.

THE EXPLANATION:

About Indian Pangolin:

• The Indian pangolin, also called thick-tailed pangolin and scaly anteater is native to the Indian subcontinent.
• It is one of the eight species of pangolins found.
• They are one of the most trafficked mammals in the world, despite an international ban on their trade.
• Scientific name: Manis crassicaudata
• Distribution: It lives in India (south of the Himalayas), Bangladesh, Southern Nepal, Sri Lanka, and small parts of Pakistan.
• Habitat: It occurs in tropical forests, open land, grasslands, and degraded habitat, including in close proximity to villages.

Features:

• Like other pangolins, it has large, overlapping scales on its body, which act as armor.
• The Indian pangolin’s armor is amongst the most effective in the mammalian world. It has about 13 rows of moveable sharp scales covering its body, which are shed periodically.
• The colour of its scales varies depending on the colour of the earth in its surroundings.
• It can also curl itself into a ball as self-defense against predators.
• It is an insectivore feeding on ants and termites.
• It is nocturnal and rests in deep burrows during the day.

Conservation status:

• IUCN Red List: Endangered
• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
• CITES: Appendix I

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

4. FINDER DEVICE

TAGS: PRELIMS- GS-III-DISASTER MANAGEMENT

THE CONTEXT: NASA has developed a technology that can remotely detect the tiniest motions of the body that will be used by disaster relief teams in earthquake-stricken Turkey.

THE EXPLANATION:

About FINDER device:

• The devices, called FINDERs( Finding Individuals for Disaster Emergency Response), use microwave radar sensors to find survivors underneath the rubble.
• It was designed to detect a human heartbeat buried beneath 30 feet of rubble.
• The radar illuminates the rubble pile and receives reflections back from a disaster site, including the victim.
• FINDER looks for changes in the reflection that indicate movement and then checks to see if those movements can be attributed to human heartbeats and respirations.
• It can distinguish human respiration from animals or mechanical movements.

PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

5. WHAT IS YAKSHAGANA?

TAGS: PRELIMS- GS-I-ART AND CULTURE

THE CONTEXT: The Prime Minister of India has expressed deep grief over the demise of noted Yakshagana playback singer, Shri Balipa Narayana Bhagavatha.

THE EXPLANATION:

About Yakshagana:

• Yakshagana is a traditional folk dance form popular in Coastal Karnataka
• It is a rare combination of dance, music, song, scholarly dialogues and colourful costumes.
• Traditionally, men portray all roles, including the female ones, though women are now part of Yakshagana troupes.
• A typical troupe consists of 15 to 20 actors and a Bhagavatha, who is the master of ceremonies and the main storyteller.

What are the elements of Yakshagana?

• The Act: Each performance typically focuses on a small sub-story (known as ‘Prasanga’) from ancient Hindu epics of Ramayana or Mahabharata. The show consists of both stage performances by talented artists and commentary (performed by the lead singer or Bhagavatha) accompanied by traditional music.
• The Music: Musical instruments used in Yakshagana include Chande (drums), Harmonium, Maddale, Taala (mini metal clappers) and flute among others.
• The Dress: Costumes used in Yakshagana are very unique and elaborate. Large size headgear, coloured faces, elaborate costumes all over the body and musical beads on the legs (Gejje).

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the Uttar Pradesh government has set up a five-member commission to provide reservation to Other Backward Castes (OBCs) on the basis of the triple test. However, it has now ordered the polls to take place without OBC reservation. This came in response to Allahabad High Court Judgement, where it has struck down quota for OBCs in urban local body polls. This article analyses the triple test formula given by the Supreme Court, the background of OBC reservations, and the measures that need to be taken to resolve the issue.

ANALYSIS OF TRIPLE TEST

The three tests that Supreme Court lays are:

(1) To set up a dedicated Commission to conduct a rigorous empirical inquiry into the nature and implications of the Backwardness qua local bodies, within the state.

(2) To specify the proportion of reservations required to be provisioned local body wise in light of recommendations of the Commission, so as not to fall foul of overbreadth.

(3) In any case such reservation shall not exceed an aggregate of 50 per cent of the total seats reserved in favor of SCs/STs/OBCs taken together.

FIRST TEST

• With regard to the first test, there is a criteria to set up a dedicated Commission for conducting empirical enquiry to collect data on the conditions (economic and educational), nature and impact of Backwardness of OBCs in local elections in the state.
• However, most often these inquiries are not adequate enough and do not provide much results as they are often affected by executive interference.
• For example, credibility of the recommendations of numerous commissions in India such as Nanavati Commission, W.C. Banerjee Commission, Ranganath Mishra Commission, etc have been publicly questioned.
• Since there is no mechanism to ensure reliability of such commissions’ reports, there is a growing trend to rely on the research published in peer-reviewed journals. There is a need for such a commission to be competent enough to take such studies.

SECOND TEST

• With regard to the second test, there is a provision of providing reservation on a proportional basis in municipal and municipal elections by state government.
• There is a positive impact of reservation in local bodies as there is stigmatization faced by the unprivileged section of OBC.
• In a local body, space for providing such reservation in favour of OBCs could only be notified upon fulfilling the preconditions of the triple test and with proper inquiry into the nature and implications of Backwardness by an independent commission about the imperativeness of such reservation.
• However, “In Vikas Kishanrao Gawali, the Supreme Court has also outlined that such inquiry into the nature and implications of backwardness cannot be a static arrangement; rather, it must be reviewed from time to time so as not to violate the principle of over-breadth of such reservation.”

THIRD TEST

• With regard to the third test, breaching the total reservation limit of 50% is not allowed; despite this many communities have sought separate reservations at the state and central levels across India.
• For example, the Supreme Court citing Indira Sawhney’s Judgment put a stay on Madhya Pradesh’s endeavor to establish 27% reservation for OBCs in local body polls and Tamil Nadu’s 10.5% reservation to Vanniyars within the existing quota for OBCs. This law was later struck down as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
• However, Since the inclusion of the 10-per-cent EWS quota, most States have breached the 50-per-cent cap on reservations. Topping the list is Tamil Nadu (69 per cent), followed by Chhattisgarh (69 per cent), Maharashtra (62 per cent), Andhra Pradesh (60 per cent), Bihar (60 per cent) etc.
• Recently, the call for reconsidering the 50-per-cent cap has been growing since several States have been demanding a caste census to determine the actual population of SCs, STs, OBCs, and minorities.

BACKGROUND OF TRIPLE TEST

In 2010, a five-judge bench constitution bench in Dr Krishnamurthy v Union of India was set up where it dwelt on the issue of reservation in local bodies. Here, Supreme Court had interpreted Article 243D (6) and Article 243T (6), which permit reservation by enactment of law for backward classes in Panchayats and municipal bodies, respectively.Though reservation to local bodies is permissible, the top court declared that the same is subject to empirical finding of Backwardness in relation to local bodies as fulfilled through the triple tests.

In 2017, Uttar Pradesh government issued orders to conduct a rapid survey for OBC reservation and based on that seats were reserved in proportion to the population of the backward class. However, this rapid survey only focusses on the headcount which according to Allahabad High Court is not enough criteria to consider Backwardness.

The issue of OBC quota in local bodies elections was then again raised in Maharashtra and then even demanded by other states and laid down the criteria to set a commission to collect “contemporaneous data” on the nature and pattern of Backwardness. Here, The Triple-Test Formula, laid down by the Supreme Court in again reiterated in March 2021 which required the states to appoint a commission, collect quantifiable data of the community, and allocates reservation to them in local bodies in such a manner that the total reservation in each seat does not exceed 50%.

To create OBC reservation in local body elections, a Supreme Court bench of Justice A.M Khanwilkar and Justice Dinesh Maheshwari gave the triple test formula in the judgment of Vikas Kishanrao Gawali Vs. State of Maharashtra (2021). A Bench headed by Justice A.M. Khanwilkar accepted the 781-page report of the Commission led by former Chief Secretary Jayant Banthia and allowed reservation for OBCs in the nagar panchayat, nagar parishad and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections.

CASTE CENSUS: UNION/STATE

It has been noticed that political parties, both at the centre and regional level, are having a tussle over conducting caste census. First caste census conducted in 2011 was not successful and Union government is reluctant to launch a new caste census and in opposition to that many state governments as Bihar have decided to conduct their own caste census.

Conduction of Census comes under the provision of the Census Act, 1948 and it is to be conducted every ten years by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs. It is the responsibility of Union government and not state government to conduct census as it comes under Unionsubject under Article 246 of Indian Constitution and mentioned in seventh schedule of the constitution.

However, In 2021, the Parliament passed the 127th Constitutional amendment which allowed States and Union Territories to prepare their own list of socially and educationally backward classes (SEBC). In this regard, each state has listed communities which are recognized as OBCs and accorded them reservations accordingly.

For conducting the caste census, Centre government should collaborate with the state government in the following manner:

• By classifying caste into fewer and consistent categories by ascertaining income and asset ownership of various caste groups.
• Office of the registrar general and census commissioner of India should be independent of the political process.
• Both centre and state should clearly define the purposes before conducting caste census as it would avoid chaotic outcomes.

Caste is an integral part of society. Data on the economic wellbeing of various caste groups is critical for an informed discourse on how government policies and practices are formulated by government to ensure welfare of unprivileged sections.

OBC RESERVATION AND CASTE CENSUS

MANDAL COMMISSION REPORT

• OBC reservation was first defined in the Mandal Commission Report in 1980 based on socio-educational field surveys, lists of OBCs notified by various State governments, the 1961 Census report, and extensive touring of the country.
• It has been estimated that OBCs constituted nearly 52% of India’s population, excluding Scheduled Castes/Tribes (SC/STs.)
• Hence, for the inclusion of OBCs, the report recommended a 27 per cent reservation for these communities in government services and central/State educational institutions. That reservation was also made applicable to promotion quotas at all levels.
• However, children of government officials at higher posts, civil servants, high-ranking armed forces officers, professionals in trade, and so-called ‘creamy layer’ individuals are to be excluded from OBC reservations.

CREAMY LAYER CRITERIA

• According to a 2017 order issued by the centre, creamy layer individuals are those who have an annual income of Rs 8 lakhs or more, disqualifying them from benefits under the OBC quota.
• The ‘creamy layer’ threshold has been gradually increased from Rs 1 lakh/year in 1993 to Rs 2.5 lakhs, Rs 4.5 lakhs, Rs 6 lakhs and now Rs 8 lakhs

STATUS OF OBC RESERVATIONS IN INDIA

• Currently, SC/ST communities have a 22.5 per cent reservation, OBCs have 27 per cent and members of the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) have a 10 per cent reservation in government jobs and educational institutions.

OBC QUOTA IN ELECTIONS

• To ensure political representation, of the 543 seats in Lok Sabha, 84 seats are reserved for SCs, 47 seats for STs and 2 for Anglo-Indian members (nominated by the President). SC/ST communities have reservations in their respective State Assemblies, councils, and local bodies too.
• However, for OBC communities, there are no separate political reservations in State legislatures or local bodies.

INDIRA SAWHNEY VS UNION OF INDIA (1992)

• In this judgment,the Supreme Court had upheld the 50-per-cent ceiling on reservations, thereby limiting states’ powers.
• The nine-judge Bench in the case also established factors such as caste, social status, and income to ascertain Backwardness.
• The Bench also introduced the ‘creamy layer’ concept to exclude more wealthy individuals from seeking the benefit of reservations.

POLITICAL RESERVATION FOR OBC AND ITS IMPLICATION TO LOCAL BODIES

With the Mandal Commission’s recommendations, there is the emergence of OBC parties in North India

and the proportion of OBC elected representatives in the Hindi belt rose from 11% in1984 to 25% in 1996. In this concern has been raised regarding political reservation of OBC:

• Not a constitutional provision: Supreme Court observed that the reservation for OBCs was just a “statutory dispensation to be provided by the state legislations,” is different from the “constitutional” provisions that mandate reservation to the Scheduled Castes (SCs)/Scheduled Tribes (STs)and it may be invoked only upon complying with three conditions before notifying the seats reserved for the OBC category in the concerned local bodies.
• Need of conduction of empirical exercise: Supreme Court had directed the state to conduct an empirical study on the socio-economic Backwardness of the OBC communities before deciding on the quantum of reservation. Failure on the state government’s part to undertake this empirical exercise has had the effect of depriving OBCs from exercising their right to be represented in local elections.

IMPLICATION OF QUOTA IN LOCAL BODIES

• The reservation of the OBCs in local bodies is seen as a sign of democratic deepening, decentralization of governance and another step towards the downward shift of political power through electoral politics.
• This will lead to a new phase of politicization of caste where even a numerically small OBC caste can claim their power and would help OBCs to mobilize by increasing their bargaining power with the dominant castes.
• It can provide a platform for the emergence of a new leadership among OBCs which led to new dimensions in local-level politics.

It will facilitate OBCs to claim a fair share of union and state power that have been denied all these years. It would help bridge the magnitude of the gap between economic and social capital acquisition within and between the general category as well as the reserved sections.

CASTE CENSUS OR SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND CASTE CENSUS (SECC)

• Ministry of Rural Development Government of India commenced the Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011, in June 2011 through a comprehensive door to door enumeration across the country. This is the first time such a comprehensive exercise has been carried out for both rural and urban India.
• It is also expected to generate information on a large number of social and economic indicators relating to households across the country.
• It seeks to collect data on the economic status of every Indian family in rural and urban India to identify beneficiaries who need the support of the state.
• It allows the government to put specific caste names to make a comparison between their economic status which allows Central/State authorities to come up with a range of indicators of deprivation which could be used by each authority to define a poor or deprived person.
• Data provided by Socio-Economic, and Caste Census is open to use by any government department, which can be used to make grants to needy beneficiaries.
• There is also a provision in the Constitution of India which favours conducting a caste census. Article 340 mandates the appointment of a commission to investigate the conditions of socially and educationally backward classes and make recommendations as to the steps that should be taken by governments.
• However, centre has maintained that the caste census data of 2011 is unusable as it was “fraught with mistakes and inaccuracies” and thus, centre is not in favour of conducting nationwide caste census in 2022.

WAY FORWARD OVER IMPASSES

• Setting up of Commission: There is a need for setting up of dedicated Commission for undertaking the exercise of conducting the empirical study as to the nature and implications of Backwardness for the purposes of providing reservation to the backward class of citizens in the context of elections to the urban local bodies as per the triple test.
• Supreme Court: Another method to solve the issue can be approaching the supreme court after considering all the legal aspects regarding the decision of the high court.

Justice Rohini Commission

The Commission was set up in 2017 under Article 340 of the Constitution.

Its mandate includes:

• Exercise identifying the respective castes, communities, sub-castes, or synonyms in the Central List of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and classifying them into their respective sub-categories.
• Examining the extent of inequitable distribution of benefits of reservation among the castes or communities included in the broad category of Other Backward Classes with reference to such classes included in the Central List, working out the mechanism, criteria, norms and parameters in a scientific approach for their sub-categorization.

THE WAY FORWARD

• The focus on social welfare: There is a need to focus on social sectors like education, healthcare, and social security promote the welfare of the masses and their socio-economic upliftment.
• Economic development of unprivileged sections: Public spending by the government is considered a reliable way to focus on development as government can choose to distribute their limited resources in economic sectors, like industry, ports, highways, etc., which generally support economic growth.
• Representative bureaucracy: There is a need for more representative bureaucracy that including people from different backgrounds which can make the state more accessible to a wider population and allow citizens to make claims on the state.
• Change in mindset: Caste system is arguably one of the most rigid forms of social stratification and continues to determine social and economic outcomes which needs to be addressed by change in mindset at both society and individual level.
• Non compromise with merit: Activists have rightly questioned the very meaning of ‘merit’ in a society as unequal as ours as compromise in merit leads to compromise in development. So, while providing reservation to unprivileged section the issue of merit should be considered as well.

THE CONCLUSION: There is a need for socio economic upliftment of the individual beneficiaries and address the heterogeneity within OBCs so that unprivileged sections can get the benefit. However, participation in local self-government is intended as a more immediate measure of empowerment for the community rather than relying on reservation.

QUESTIONS

1. Analyze the triple-test formula regarding the OBC quota and the possible implications of restructuring the quota system.
2. Explain the background of OBC reservations and what role caste census can play in ensuring a level playing field with respect to the socio-economic development of unprivileged sections.

HEALTH ISSUES

1. VERTIPLANE X3 DRONE DELIVERS TB MEDICINES

TAGS: PRELIMS- GS-II-HEALTH ISSUES

THE CONTEXT: The Ministry of Health recently conducted a trial of delivering TB medicines in a drone. The trials were conducted in Rishikesh. Traversing through the Himalayas, especially during rainy seasons and winter seasons is challenging and time-consuming. Drones can deliver medicines to hilly regions quickly even during harsh weather conditions.

THE EXPLANATION:

Drone delivery of TB medicines

• The trials of TB medicine delivery using drones were conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences under the supervision of the Health ministry. The trial was successful. The drone delivered 2 kilograms of anti-tubercular drugs to a hospital in Tehri Garhwal from AIIMS.

Future plans

• GoI is planning on using drone technology to deliver medicines and also sputum samples to laboratories and eliminate TB by 2025. Further, government hospitals will be encouraged to use this technology to deliver organs for transplantation.

About the drone used in the trials

• The drone can carry 4 kilograms. It can traverse 50 km. The drone was designed and built by Tech Eagle Innovations. The drones developed by the same company were used by the Meghalaya government to transport medicines. The Government of Meghalaya set up a drone station in Jengjal. Drones were also used by ICMR to deliver COVID vaccines in Manipur.

VALUE ADDITION:

Tuberculosis

• Cause: It is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (bacteria) and it most often affects the lungs.

Transmission

• TB is spread through the air when people with lung TB cough, sneeze or spit. A person needs to inhale only a few germs to become infected.
• With TB infection, a person gets infected with TB bacteria that lie inactive in the body. This infection can develop into TB disease if their immune system weakens.

Symptoms

• Prolonged cough, chest pain, weakness/fatigue, weight loss, fever, etc.
• Often, these symptoms will be mild for many months, thus leading to delays in seeking care and increasing the risk of spreading the infection to others.

Diagnosis

• In the case of suspected lung TB disease, a sputum sample is collected for testing for TB bacteria.
• For non-lung TB disease, samples of affected body fluids and tissue can be tested.
• WHO recommends rapid molecular diagnostic tests as initial tests for people showing signs and symptoms of TB.
• Other diagnostic tools can include sputum smear microscopy and chest X-rays.

Treatment

• Bedaquiline for multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB
• Both TB infection and disease are curable using antibiotics.
• It is treated by the standard 6-month course of 4 antibiotics. Common drugs include rifampicin and isoniazid.
• In drug-resistant TB, the TB bacteria do not respond to the standard drugs. Its treatment is longer and more complex.
• In case of infection (where the patient is infected with TB bacteria but not ill), TB preventive treatment can be given to stop the onset of disease. This treatment uses the same drugs for a shorter time.

2. GOVERNING ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION IN INDIA

TAGS: GS- HEALTH ISSUES

THE CONTEXT:The Central Government has recently made major changes in the organ transplant regulations in the country under its ‘one nation, one policy’ rule by removing the 65-year age cap for recipients and allowing them to register in any state and not just their state.

THE EXPLANATION:

About Organ Transplantation in India:

• The primary legislation governing organ transplantation in India is the Transplantation of Human Organs Act, passed in 1994.
• It provides a system to regulate the removal, storage, and transplantation of human organs for therapeutic purposes and for the prevention of commercial dealings in human organs.

National Organ transplant programme:

• It is implemented by the Directorate General of Health Services, Government of India.
• Objectives:

• To organize a system of organ and Tissue procurement & distribution for transplantation.
• To promote deceased organ and Tissue donation.
• To train the required manpower.
• To protect vulnerable poor from organ trafficking.
• To monitor organ and tissue transplant services and bring about policy and programme corrections/ changes whenever needed.

National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO):

• It is a National level organization set up under the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
• It functions as the apex center for coordinating all activities and networking for the procurement and distribution of organs and tissues and maintaining the registry of organs and tissue donation and transplantation in the country.

Organ donation in India:

• Organ donation means giving part of the body (organ) to a person with end-stage organ disease who needs a transplant.
• In India, organ donations are legal under the Transplantation of Human Organs Act (THOA), 1994, which also legalizes the concept of ‘brain death’, the permanent cessation of all brain functions.
• Organ donation is a voluntary process wherein you can fill up a consent form to donate your organs in the event of your demise.

Types of organ donation:

Living Donor Organ Donation:

• A person during his life can donate one kidney, a portion of the pancreas, and a part of the liver.
• Living Donor is any person not less than 18 years of age who voluntarily authorizes the removal of any of his organ and/or tissue, during their lifetime, as per prevalent medical practices for therapeutic purposes.
• The donor can be a family member, relative, friend, neighbour, or in-law.

ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

3. THYREUS NARENDRANI

TAGS: PRELIMS- GS-III- ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Recently, researchers from Kerala has been discovered a new species of cuckoo bee from the Kole wetlands and named it Thyreus narendrani.

THE EXPLANATION:

About Thyreus narendrani:

• The new species belongs to the family Apidae of the order Hymenoptera.
• The genus Thyreus consists of cuckoo bees or cleptoparasitic bees.
• Cuckoo bees parasitise the nest of other bees by breaking and entering and laying their eggs.
• Unlike other female bees, cuckoo bees lack pollen-collecting structures.
• Once the cuckoo bee’s larva hatches out in the nest of the host bee, it consumes the food stored by the host for its own growing larva.

About Kole wetland

• It is the largest brackish, humid tropical wetland ecosystem located in the state of Kerala.
• Extending from the northern bank of Chalakudy River in the south to the southern bank of Bharathapuzha River in the north
• It is situated in the central Asian Flyway of migratory birds.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

4. US BILL ON ARUNACHAL PRADESH LAC

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE- GS-II-INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

THE CONTEXT: The US senate recently passed a resolution condemning China. According to the resolution, China is changing the status of LAC using its military force. Also, the resolution lauded India for the country’s steps to defend itself against Chinese aggression at the border.

THE EXPLANATION:

About the resolution

• The resolution title was long and self-explanatory. The title mentioned that Arunachal Pradesh was an integral part of India. It also said that the actions of China in South Asia are provocative.

Implications of the resolution

• The USA is strongly supporting India and its international relations. US Congress had passed such resolutions earlier too. For instance, in 2020, the US Congress passed a similar resolution after the Galwan issue. However, this is the first time, the US is passing a detailed and open resolution that is echoing the position of India in the border areas.

Political significance

• The resolution had the support of both the Republican and conservative party support. This is an additional benefit. This means the support from the US and its citizens is strong. The increase in the number of Indian Americans in the country may be one of the major reasons for such collective support.

PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

5. USTAD BISMILLAH KHAN YUVA PURASKAR

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

THE CONTEXT: The award is presented by Sangeet Natak Akademi to artists in the field of dance, music, and drama. It is presented annually to artists below the age of 40. Every year, more than 33 artists are presented with the award. The winners receive 25,000 rupees of the cash price. The Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar is being presented since 2006. The awards were presented by the Union Minister of Culture and Tourism.

THE EXPLANATION:

Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar

• 19 artists from North East India won the award. The awards were presented for the years 2019, 2020, and 2021. 102 awardees were selected. The lists were finalised in 2022. However, are being presented now. Categories include Sitar, Flute, Mridangam, etc.

Who is Ustad Bismillah Khan?

• He was a famous Shehnai musician. He was one of the few musicians in the country to receive Bharat Ratna. Before him, musicians M S Subbulakshmi and Ravi Shankar were honoured with the award before him and he was the third to receive the honour.

Sangeet Natak Akademi

• It was established by the Education ministry of India in 1952. The main objective of the academy is to promote and preserve the cultural heritage of the country.

VALUE ADDITION:

Sangeet Natak Akademi confers classical status on nine Indian dance forms:

• Bharatanatyam: Tamil Nadu
• Kathak: Northern India
• Kathakali: Kerala
• Kuchipudi: Andhra Pradesh
• Manipuri: Manipur
• Mohiniyattam: Kerala
• Odissi: Odisha
• Sattriya: Assam
• Chhau: Odisha

1. Awakening of intuition READ MORE
2. Feeling Overwhelmed? READ MORE

1. Announces Push for Mangrove Conservation, but Where Are the Funds? READ MORE
2. Mission Urban Wetlands Are Not Wastelands, They Are Essential for Climate Resilient Cities READ MORE

1. The automation boom may widen inequality. Address it READ MORE
2. Language and Power READ MORE
3. Section 377 scrapped, but LGBTQIA+ awaits acceptance READ MORE
4. What India Should Have Done for Migrant Workers – But Conveniently Didn’t READ MORE

1. How data can empower MPs to serve people better READ MORE
2. Organ donation in India needs a major push READ MORE
3. It is free for all!: Tripura elections once again show how political parties are wooing voters with freebies READ MORE
4. ‘Basic Structure’ as democratic defence READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. AICTE and BPRD Jointly Launch KAVACH-2023, a National Level Hackathon to tackle cyber threats and provide effective solutions READ MORE  
2. likely to place reverse charging of GST on scrap before Council READ MORE
3. Now, no age bar to register for cadaver organ transplants READ MORE
4. 12 cheetahs from South Africa take off for Gwalior; to fly to Kuno by chopper READ MORE
5. India accounts for 52% of world’s new leprosy patients, says Health Minister READ MORE
6. PM Modi inaugurates Aadi Mahotsav tribal festival, says welfare of Adivasis ‘personal for me’ READ MORE
7. Factors behind moderating CAD, how it will impact markets READ MORE
8. India should brace for dry and hot spring-summer, El Nino, say experts READ MORE
9. Supreme Court reserves judgment on whether a Speaker under notice can disqualify legislators READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. The automation boom may widen inequality. Address it READ MORE
2. Language and Power READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. How data can empower MPs to serve people better READ MORE
2. Organ donation in India needs a major push READ MORE
3. It is free for all!: Tripura elections once again show how political parties are wooing voters with freebies READ MORE
4. ‘Basic Structure’ as democratic defence READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Section 377 scrapped, but LGBTQIA+ awaits acceptance READ MORE
2. What India Should Have Done for Migrant Workers – But Conveniently Didn’t READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Need to revive SAARC READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Shuffling feet: On foreign trade and policy responses READ MORE
2. RBI’s nod to payment aggregators signals start of light-touch regulation READ MORE
3. Agri credit societies: Indispensable lifeline for small and marginal farmers READ MORE
4. Lower rates will reduce interest burden on Govt debt READ MORE

TECHNOLOGY

1. Google and ChatGPT can coexist READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Announces Push for Mangrove Conservation, but Where Are the Funds? READ MORE
2. Mission Urban Wetlands Are Not Wastelands, They Are Essential for Climate Resilient Cities READ MORE

SECURITY

1. Resisting China: The seven new ITBP battalions are part of Indian efforts to curb the belligerence of our northern neighbor READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Disaster relief as a tool of outreach READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Awakening of intuition READ MORE
2. Feeling Overwhelmed? READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. Members of the judiciary cannot compromise judicial independence by trading it for a plum post-retirement sinecure. In the light of this statement, do you agree with this view that there should be a cooling-off period for judges after retirement?
2. Despite efforts to ensure their wellbeing, the Adivasi community remains one of the most deprived in India. In light of this statement critically analyse the steps taken by Government of India to address the issues of Adivasi community.
3. ‘India must put in place actionable policy to achieve Hydrogen Mission targets, which will depend on cheaper green hydrogen’. Discuss, why Green ports are key to achieve Green Hydrogen Mission?

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Judicial abuse occurs when judges substitute their own political views for the law.
• Post retirement, the judicial community should take a concerted decision not to accept any job stemming from political patronage.
• Members of the judiciary cannot compromise judicial independence by trading it for a plum post-retirement sinecure.
• As the current G-20 president, and as a vulnerable country, India has a key role in ensuring that AMR remains high on the global health agenda.
• A credible glide path to bring inflation down to the target level is of critical importance, particularly now with the national elections around the corner.
• Inflation is proving to be the Achilles heel of the Indian economy’s recovery from the pandemic and subsequent global disruptions.
• A Union of small states is a good idea is that such a political model addresses what’s going to soon be a source of tension in Indian federalism.
• Smaller or medium size states or small bits of one or two large states like Maharashtra and Gujarat are doing most of the economic heavy lifting – but it is the larger states with larger populations that wield political power.
• End child marriages is a challenge of moral suasion and Assam’s arrests were not a useful way to pursue this noble goal.
• The pandemic adversely affected the quality of employment. Further, higher the level of education, higher is the chance of being out of the job market.
• Article 25 of the Constitution guarantees the freedom to profess, practice and propagate religion to all citizens, subject to public order, health and morality.
• India must put in place actionable policy to achieve Hydrogen Mission targets, which will depend on cheaper green hydrogen.

50-WORD TALK

• India lost 24 tigers between January and February, the highest in three years. The lack of scientific assessment of the carrying capacity of forests frequented by them is also a worry. There is such a thing as too many tigers in a region, especially with human activity shrinking their habitat.
• The drastic economic measures announced by Pakistan show how desperate its situation is but also highlight IMF’s unrelenting push for economic reform in the country. While these measures will cause pain among the citizenry, there is hope IMF can finally pull Pakistan out of its perennial state of economic crisis.

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 map work (marking those areas in maps and exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price 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 occur 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 to your writing.

THE CONTEXT: With the rapid change in economy and society in this age, there is an influx of wealth in the philanthropy world with changing needs of society which is leading to change in the face of Philanthropy. It is said that we are entering the golden age of Philanthropy. In this context, there is a need to analyze, the role of Philanthropy in accelerating economic growth that is both inclusive and sustainable.

INTRODUCTION: PHILANTHROPY

Jamsetji Tata stated, “In a free enterprise, the community is not just another stakeholder in business but is in fact, the very purpose of its existence.” Here, the role of Philanthropy is seen both as an obligation and a sign of privilege and status. It tends to play a key role in advancing social justice and equality. It can even lead to shaping public policies by insisting on measurable results of their investments and advancing market-based solutions to contain social ills. One of the examples is the 2010 Giving Pledge, created by Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates, where signatory billionaires promise to give away at least half of their wealth during their lifetime or at their death.

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

With the growth of the economy and its unintended negative consequences, there is a heightened sense of social responsibility, as a further consequence, more and more Indian corporate houses have come forward, resulting in increased spending in social responsibility in the last two decades.

What is Corporate social responsibility (CSR)?

• It is a self-regulating business model that helps a company to be socially accountable to itself, its stakeholders, and the public. By practising corporate social responsibility, also called corporate citizenship, companies can be conscious of the kind of impact they are having on all aspects of society, including economic, social, and environmental.
• CSRs are often broken into four categories: environmental impacts, ethical responsibility, philanthropic endeavours, and financial responsibilities.
• Philanthropic responsibility: It refers to how a company spends its resources to make the world a better place. This includes Whether a company donates the profit to charities or causes it believes in. Whether a company only enters into transactions with suppliers or vendors that align with the company philanthropically. Whether a company supports employee philanthropic endeavors through time off or matching contributions. Whether a company sponsors fundraising events or has a presence in the community for related events.
• Example: Starbucks has been known for its keen sense of corporate social responsibility and commitment to sustainability and community welfare. According to its 2020 Global Social Impact Report, these milestones include reaching 100% of ethically sourced coffee, creating a global network of farmers and providing them with 100 million trees by 2025, pioneering green building throughout its stores, contributing millions of hours of community service, and creating a groundbreaking college program for its employees.

CSR initiatives strive to have a positive impact on the world through direct benefits to society, nature and the community in which a business operates. In addition, a company may experience internal benefits through the initiatives.

GOVERNMENT VS PHILANTHROPY

The government and the philanthropic community have long worked together to solve public problems.
Philanthropy relates to the concept of nationalism or welfarism. However, Philanthropy is not interchangeable for government spending. Here, there is a need to look into the role of both government and Philanthropy.

GOVERNMENT WELFARE 

• Not regulated by an external force: The government is in itself responsible for public welfare and not regulated or controlled by any external force for its welfare activities and is free to choose its own methods.
• Compulsory: Welfare is a compulsory obligation and an entitlement for the government.
• Allowed for legislation: Governments can fulfill their social welfare obligation by exercising their legislative powers by enacting laws and bringing policies.
• Can’t experiment much: Governments are the principal actors in the social sector and spend crores on education, health, etc. However, the government is a behemoth and can’t experiment or innovate on a continuous basis;
  state capacity is also limited.
• For maximum people: The welfare state has to work for maximum good for the maximum people for an inclusive society so that benefits reach to every section.
• Accountable: It is obligatory for the government to perform social welfare and if not performed well they can be held accountable for this.

PHILANTHROPY

• Regulated by the government: Though Philanthropy may be as old as human civilization, it is regulated by political institutions in a welfare state. Donations, charity, and funds spent as Philanthropy are encouraged with tax subsidies.
• Voluntary: Philanthropy is voluntary and depends on the organization whether to take it or not.
• Not allowed for legislation: organizations are not allowed to be “action organizations” that seek to influence legislation or participate in political campaigns.
• Innovative: Philanthropy solves problems differently than government. It tends to be more inventive and experimental, quicker, nimbler, more efficient, more varied, more personalized, and more interested in transformation than treatment, and more efficient.
• Discriminatory: Philanthropy activity can be discriminatory, and target based for organization’s own purpose.
• No accountability: There is no such accountability on the part of philanthropists and even if they don’t perform their obligations, they cant be held accountable.

LIMITATION OF PHILANTHROPY

• Rise of Corruption: The rise of rich organizations lead to vast sums of wealth and can use Philanthropy as a way to protect their wealth accumulation or diverting black money to the cause of Philanthropy avoiding penalties.
• Diversion of Resources: Philanthropy can lead to diversion of already scarce resources from a more effective solution to some less needy from a more deserving recipient as philanthropists are not experts in the social sector, they are not able to identify the needy properly.
• Lack of Transparency: It can involve secrecy that sometimes hides real connections or reasons behind philanthropic acts because of non-disclosure of acts.
• Lack of measurable impact: As there are no such parameters or tools to measure the efficiency of strategy and implementation of the acts done by philanthropists, it generally becomes not possible to measure the impact of these acts.
• Paternalism and Cultural Insensitivity: Another criticism of philanthropic interventions is the tendency of having cultural insensitivity and a sense of paternalism in the lives of vulnerable people rather than being empathic.
• Using it for their own agenda: As it can be noticed that the rich are not only becoming richer, but they have learned how to turn their giving into an instrument of shaping public agendas and policies at global and national levels for their own benefits.
• Undermined democracy: Privatization of public wealth effectively undermines democracy by handing control of essential public services to the ultra-rich, which can lead to monopoly of essential services.

WHY THERE IS NEED FOR PHILANTHROPY

• Create a culture of giving: It helps establish a culture of giving for generations and passes on positive attitudes towards money and helping others.
• Fueling innovation: Philanthropy is super important in terms of fueling innovation and ensuring that local organizations have the resources to implement the same.
• Quickly fill the fund gaps: Philanthropists can immediately support a cause or organization upon learning about it. Government policies may take time to implement but philanthropists help to quickly fill in gaps in funding that may emerge.
• Strengthen community: Philanthropy fuels a person or organization’s involvement in their community. It brings people together to support a cause which leads to much stronger unity and a sense of belonging.
• Supports underfunded causes: Philanthropy is important to society because governments can’t address the needs of all causes. Frequently, certain government budgets get slashed because of politics or a need to shift the money elsewhere. This can leave gaps in areas where support is needed. Philanthropic individuals and businesses help fill in the gaps by supporting causes and organizations that don’t use government funding.
• Benefits the philanthropist corporation as well: The benefits of Philanthropy are not limited to individuals. Corporations that support charitable giving receive a wealth of offerings from building a better public image, creating more vital brand awareness, and attracting new partners and talent who may be attracted to a company that contributes to charities.

INDIA: CURRENT SITUATION OF PHILANTHROPY

INDIA’S RICH HISTORY OF PHILANTHROPY

• Philanthropy has long been embedded in the fabric of Indian society and contributed heavily to the creation of modern-day India. Pre-industrial India saw business families giving away a proportion of their income to local charities.
• Industrialization in the 19th and 20th centuries has enabled rapid wealth creation for social causes. For example, business leaders like Sir Jamsetji Tata voiced their opinions on using wealth for social good, donating vast amounts to create exemplary institutions.
• As India’s Independence movement began, Mahatma Gandhi encouraged businessmen to contribute their wealth for the betterment of society. Industrialists like Jamnalal Bajaj and G.D. Birla supported Mahatma Gandhi’s initiatives during the freedom movement while pursuing their own philanthropic interests.

CURRENT SITUATION OF PHILANTHROPY IN INDIA

• India has no shortage of billionaires as 17 new ones added in 2017 alone, taking the count up to 101 and during the same year, the wealth of this elite group increased by ₹20,91,300 crore an amount equal to the total budget of the central government in 2017-18 but when it came to Philanthropy, though, only 38 men and one woman made it to the annual Hurun Indian Philanthropy List 2018.
• Relative contributions (giving as a percentage of wealth) among Indian UHNIs range from 0.1% to 0.15% compared with 1.2% to 2.5% in the United States, 0.5% to 1.8% in the UK, and 0.5% to 1.4% in China.
• Currently, this is a threshold moment for India’s philanthropy sector as despite economic uncertainty and the continuing impact of Covid-19, Indian Philanthropy is growing steadily as evidenced but there is a need to pace up the philanthropist activities.

ISSUES RELATED TO PHILANTHROPY IN INDIA

Despite India’s history of giving and rapid wealth creation in the last few decades, there are three major challenges that have inhibited Indian Philanthropy:

• A trust deficit: Budding philanthropists haven’t yet come to fully appreciate the good work being done in the impact sector.
• The parochial nature of giving: It risks some of the poorest parts of the country being ignored.
• Programmatic giving: The philanthropist acts are not giving intended outcomes, for example, a number of organizations are working on education yet learning outcomes have not improved.

MODERN-DAY PHILANTHROPY—INDIA’S TAKEOFF MOMENT

Indian Philanthropy is now poised to take off, despite the challenges. Few examples in this regard:

• There has been an uptick in domestic Philanthropy recently, with Azim and Yasmin Premji, and Nandan and Rohini Nilekani leading the way. Beyond committing to part with a majority of their wealth, they’re showing the world a new model of selfless public service and Philanthropy.
• Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani and Ajay Piramal have made big commitments, along with the startup gang inspired by people like Sridhar Vembu and the Kamath brothers.
• Tatas had a rich legacy of profit for purpose and they were not unique because, around the turn of Independence, we had other prominent Indian groups, such as the Godrej, Bajaj and the Birlas, who had a similar ethos.
• Adani family pledged Rs 60,000 crore towards charity to mark the 60th birthday of Gautam Adani. It’s one of the biggest philanthropic commitments made in India so far. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, it is about 9% of Adani’s net worth.

But there’s scope to do more as the wealth of India’s ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families has continued to grow dramatically, but giving has not kept pace.Indeed, if they gave the same share of their wealth as their peers in the US, total giving could reach US$58 billion by 2026 which can contribute in growth of economy as well as social sector.

THE WAY FORWARD

Philanthropy has been part of our culture from the ancient times and is deeply embedded as a way of life, here we need to be proud of our culture and follow few strategies that are mentioned below for major impacts and to build a better world:

• Collaboration with stakeholders: Philanthropists need to collaborate with other stakeholders like NGOs or government agencies through collaborative vehicles and by making alliances of social sector actors with multilateral donor agencies for taking on some of India’s most chronic social challenges.
• Being more flexible: As Indian Philanthropy is short-term and restricted, there is a need for flexibility in the organization to strengthen the capacity of the social sector by building knowledge, and networks and engaging in these efforts.
• To realize the potential of the social sector: The response to the Covid-19 pandemic has shown a spotlight on Philanthropy and signaled the potential of India’s social sector. In this regard, if the wealthiest Indians continue on this path to take their place alongside the world’s notable philanthropists, the nation will have a chance at achieving its potential.
• Investment in prominent social areas: There is a need for identification of the social sector and investing in areas such as literacy, health infrastructure and gender equity for a better outcome.
• Meaningful dialogue with government: Policymakers can encourage Philanthropy meaningfully by engaging with wealth creators in a dialogue on issues such as tax disincentives or identifying critical areas which can lead to improvement in service delivery.
• Enable economic growth: To achieve India to be a $30 trillion inclusive and sustainable economy, there is a need to create resources for the government to fund development programmes and social security. Here, philanthropists can use their wealth and experience to advocate policies, support the improvement of enabling conditions for investment, exports and job creation, and help transform our economy.

THE CONCLUSION: The old model of Philanthropy was to create change in society by the generosity and this modern-day Philanthropy beginning in the 19th century, has shown the power of strategic transformative change. Society and Organization need to adjust in this changing world, and there is a need to balance government and Philanthropy as we enter the Golden Age of Philanthropy.

Mains questions

1. With the rich becoming richer and the poor becoming poor, there is a need to balance the growth of wealth in society. In this context, analyze the role of Philanthropy in balancing economy and welfare and its limitations.
2. Both Government and Philanthropy are contributing to the welfare of the social sector. In this regard, compare how both are different from each other and what can be the way forward for the sustainable growth of the social sector.

[WpProQuiz 427]

ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

1. OMORGUS KHANDESH

TAGS: PRELIMS- GS-III-ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Recently, a scientist from the Zoological Survey of India, Western Regional Centre (WRC), Pune discovered a new beetle species.

THE EXPLANATION:

• OmorgusKhandesh is necrophagous and is, therefore, also called a keratin beetle. During the decomposition of a body, blowflies are amongst the first ones to arrive in the early stages. Meanwhile, the final successional stage is with the arrival of the keratin feeders, thus their importance in forensic science.
• The beetles of this group are sometimes called hide beetles as they tend to cover their body under the soil and hide. They are not photogenic; they are usually black or grey and encrusted in dirt. Their bumpy appearance is distinct, with short, dense setae all over the body.
• The new species is morphologically most similar to Omorgusrimulosus. The latter is redescribed and illustrated to enable accurate recognition of both species in the new paper.
• OmorgusKhandesh is mainly associated with bird and mammal nests or burrows and the details of their life histories are poorly known. They feign death upon being disturbed and become motionless.
• “The keratin beetles are less studied in the Oriental region generally and India particularly as compared to the other part of the world.
• “Hence, the authors have tried to give the catalogue of the subgenus Omorgus with details on their type depositories, synonyms, chresonomy and known geographical distributions.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

2. MARGINAL COST OF FUNDS-BASED LENDING RATE (MCLR)

TAGS: PRELIMS- GS-III-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda and Indian Overseas Bank have raised their marginal cost of fund-based lending rates (MCLR) by up to 15 basis points.

THE EXPLANATION:

Marginal cost of funds-based lending rate:

• It is the minimum interest rate below which no bank is permitted to lend money.
• It is determined by banks internally, depending upon the loan repayment time.
• The Reserve Bank of India introduced the MCLR methodology for fixing interest rates on 1 April 2016.
• It replaced the base rate structure, which had been in place since July 2010.
• The rate is determined internally by the bank depending on the period left for the repayment of a loan.
• MCLR is calculated based on four components Marginal cost of fund, Negative carry on account of cash reserve ratio, Operating costs, Tenor premium.

What is the difference between MCLR and base rate?

• MCLR is an advanced version of the base rate.
• The base rate is based on the average cost of funds, but MCLR is based on the marginal or incremental cost of money.
• MCLR depends on the repo rates changed by RBI while Base Rate does not depend on the repo rates changed by RBI.

3. INVESTOR EDUCATION AND PROTECTION FUND AUTHORITY (IEPFA)

TAGS:PRELIMS- GS-III- ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

THE CONTEXT: The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA), will organise a State Level Conference on Financial Literacy in Amrit Kaal – Empowering Investors in association with the Department of Tourism in Aizawl.

THE EXPLANATION:

About Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority:

• It was established in 2016 under the Companies Act, of 2013.
• The Authority is entrusted with;
• The responsibility of administration of the Investor Education Protection Fund (IEPF).
• Make refunds of shares, unclaimed dividends, matured deposits/debentures etc. to investors and promote awareness among investors.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Corporate Affairs

About the Investor Education Protection Fund (IEPF).

• It has been established under Section 205C of the Companies Act, 1956 by way of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 1999.
• The following amounts that remained unpaid and unclaimed for a period of seven years from the date they became due for payment are credited to the Fund:
  o Amounts in the unpaid dividend accounts of the companies
  o The application money received by companies for allotment of any securities and due for refund
  o Matured deposits with companies
  o Matured debentures with companies
  o Grants and donations are given to the fund by the Central Government, State Governments, companies or any other institutions for the purposes of the Fund
  o The interest or other income received out of the investments made from the fund.

PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

4. SHINKU LA TUNNEL

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

THE CONTEXT: The Union Cabinet recently approved the construction of the tunnel. With the Atal Tunnel and the completion of the Shinku La Tunnel in 2025, the Nimmu – Padum – Darcha road shall be accessed all through the year.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The Shinku La or Shingo La is a mountain pass located on the border between HP and Ladakh. It is at an altitude of 5,091 metres. In 2016, the Border Road Organization built a road to the pass.
• However, the road couldn’t be accessed during winter and large-wheeled vehicles couldn’t pass through. Following this, in 2020, GoI planned to build a 13.5 km tunnel in the pass.

Significance

• The tunnel will help to boost the Zanskar valley economy. It reduces the travel time between HP and Ladakh.
• Currently, one has to travel 101 km on the Manali-Leh road and then take the Darcha road to enter the Zanskar region. With the tunnel, you can drive to Darcha via Padum.
• The toughest hurdle is the 15-20 feet of snowfall the region received during winter. Almost all roads are closed during this season. The Shinku La Tunnel is to make the Zanskar valley accessible 365 days.

Project Yojak

• The Shinku La tunnel is a part of Project Yojak. This project is implemented by BRO. The main objective of the project is to make sure Manali – Leh route is accessible all through the year.

5. STUDY ON THWAITES GLACIER

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

THE CONTEXT: The recent study on Doomsday Glacier, also called the Thwaites Glacier says that the weak spots in the glacier are increasing. More and more warm water is seeping into the glacier. There is a threat of massive sea rise. If the glacier melts the sea level will increase by more than half a metre.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The study was conducted by the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration. It is one of the biggest studies conducted on the glacier so far. More than 13 scientists participated in the study from the UK, the US, and different other countries. They spent more than six weeks coming to this conclusion.

Findings

• Terraces in the glaciers are increasing. These openings are causing the sideways melt of the glacier. Terraces are leading the warm water to the crevasses and increasing the melting further.

What are Glacier Terraces?

• It is a long segment of a glacier. It is formed due to the stripping of soft strata from hard strata. In India, the glacial terraces are addressed as Karewas. They are found in Kashmir valley.
  Glacial Crevasses
• They are deep cracks in glaciers. Their sizes range from a few inches to more than 40 feet. They are formed due to shear stress. Say two big ice masses are moving. Friction develops resulting in shear stress. This leads to breakings in the faces.

1. Faith and Science READ MORE
2. Key to peaceful and beautiful life READ MORE

1. A manifesto for tackling the silent pandemic of Antimicrobial Resistance READ MORE
2. Can debt swaps be a game-changer for poor nations to go green? READ MORE
3. Green ports are key to Green Hydrogen Mission READ MORE

1. Starvation, disease: Tribes of Lower Omo bear the brunt of development projects READ MORE
2. Invest in changing social norms to end child marriages READ MORE
3. The state of Adivasi livelihoods after 75 years of planned development READ MORE
4. A manifesto for tackling the silent pandemic of Antimicrobial Resistance READ MORE

1. Post-retirement appointments: a danger to judicial independence READ MORE
2. Beyond limits: On the Supreme Court order upholding J&K Delimitation Commission READ MORE
3. The right to propagate religion cannot lead to undermining of faiths READ MORE
4. Subsidence of democratic values READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Cabinet approves Centrally Sponsored Scheme- “Vibrant Villages Programme” for the Financial Years 2022-23 to 2025-26 with financial allocation of Rs. 4800 Crore READ MORE  
2. The 1st Agriculture Deputies Meeting (ADM) of the Agriculture Working Group under India’s G20 Presidency concluded successfully today at Indore READ MORE
3. With an eye on China, Union Cabinet clears 7 ITBP battalions READ MORE
4. monitoring imports to detect any surge that can hurt economy: Finance Minister READ MORE
5. Warm water melts weak spots on Antarctica’s ‘Doomsday Glacier,’ say scientists READ MORE
6. India, Bangladesh pledge ‘reciprocal support’ for UNSC non-permanent membership READ MORE
7. Ring around a dwarf planet lies where it isn’t supposed to exist: What it means, why it matters READ MORE
8. What is Lavani, and why is Maharashtra’s folk dance form in controversy? READ MORE
9. Sea Level Is Rising and Will Continue to Do So: WMO Report READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. All at sea: The impact of warming oceans is a neglected threat READ MORE
2. Buddhism did not spread by the sword. But the empires that helped it grow did READ MORE
3. Starvation, disease: Tribes of Lower Omo bear the brunt of development projects READ MORE
4. Invest in changing social norms to end child marriages READ MORE
5. The state of Adivasi livelihoods after 75 years of planned development READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Post-retirement appointments: a danger to judicial independence READ MORE
2. Beyond limits: On the Supreme Court order upholding J&K Delimitation Commission READ MORE
3. The right to propagate religion cannot lead to undermining of faiths READ MORE
4. Subsidence of democratic values READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. A manifesto for tackling the silent pandemic of Antimicrobial Resistance READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. The price pinch: Despite RBI’s best intentions, inflation continues to hurt READ MORE
2. Union of 100 states: Why India must have many small states. It will make for better economy and better politics READ MORE
3. Export challenge READ MORE
4. Explainer: Everything You Need to Know About Short Selling, and How it is Done in India READ MORE

TECHNOLOGY

1. Google and ChatGPT can coexist READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Can debt swaps be a game-changer for poor nations to go green? READ MORE
2. Green ports are key to Green Hydrogen Mission READ MORE

SECURITY

1. Great feat: The domestic defence industry has done well in the last few years, but a lot more needs to be done READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Earthquake: The scandal of not being prepared READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Faith and Science READ MORE
2. Key to peaceful and beautiful life READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. Members of the judiciary cannot compromise judicial independence by trading it for a plum post-retirement sinecure. In light of this statement, do you agree with the view that there should be a cooling-off period for judges after retirement?
2. Despite efforts to ensure their well-being, the Adivasi community remains one of the most deprived in India. In light of this statement, critically analyse the steps taken by the Government of India to address the issues of the Adivasi community.
3. ‘India must put in place an actionable policy to achieve Hydrogen Mission targets, which will depend on cheaper green hydrogen’. Discuss why Green ports are key to achieving the Green Hydrogen Mission?

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Privacy is not something that I’m entitled to, it’s an absolute prerequisite.
• Post retirement, the judicial community should take a concerted decision not to accept any job stemming from political patronage.
• Members of the judiciary cannot compromise judicial independence by trading it for a plum post-retirement sinecure.
• As the current G-20 president, and as a vulnerable country, India has a key role in ensuring that AMR remains high on the global health agenda.
• A credible glide path to bring inflation down to the target level is of critical importance, particularly now with the national elections around the corner.
• Inflation is proving to be the Achilles heel of the Indian economy’s recovery from the pandemic and subsequent global disruptions.
• A Union of small states is a good idea is that such a political model addresses what’s going to soon be a source of tension in Indian federalism.
• Smaller or medium size states or small bits of one or two large states like Maharashtra and Gujarat are doing most of the economic heavy lifting – but it is the larger states with larger populations that wield political power.
• End child marriages is a challenge of moral suasion and Assam’s arrests were not a useful way to pursue this noble goal.
• The pandemic adversely affected the quality of employment. Further, higher the level of education, higher is the chance of being out of the job market.
• Article 25 of the Constitution guarantees the freedom to profess, practice and propagate religion to all citizens, subject to public order, health and morality.
• India must put in place actionable policy to achieve Hydrogen Mission targets, which will depend on cheaper green hydrogen.

50-WORD TALK

• Air India’s 470 aircraft order underlines the global impact of India’s growth. Such an order by a government airline would’ve led to cries of scams and kept CBI busy for years. Now, there’s celebration. It’s a vindication for supporters of privatisation. Reminder to governments: business is none of your business.
• Notable, besides the timing of IT raids on the BBC, are BJP spokespersons’ arguments. One calls BBC Bhrasht Bakwaas Corporation. Are they suggesting raids are to teach BBC a lesson and tax “irregularities” mere pretense? Another asks, “Didn’t Indiraji throw BBC out in Emergency?” A sad race to the bottom.

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 map work (marking those areas in maps and exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price 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 occur 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 to your writing.

[WpProQuiz 426]

THE CONTEXT: The number of startups recognised has surged more than 20-fold in five years. India recognised 14,000 new startups in the first nine months of fiscal, according to the Economic Survey 2022. That compares with 733 recognised in 2016-17. As a result, India has become the third largest startup ecosystem in the world after the US and China. Further, a record 44 Indian startups have achieved unicorn status in 2021 taking the overall tally of unicorns in India to 83, most of these are in the services sector. Despite the current statistics, the startup ecosystem has been free from challenges. Despite the government focus on enhancing the startup ecosystem faces various challenges. This article goes into analysis of the challenges and its solution of the startup ecosystem.

BACK TO BASICS

WHAT IS STARTUP

Startups are nothing but an idea that manifests into a commercial undertaking. A startup venture could be defined as, a new business that is in the initial stages of operation, beginning to grow and is typically financed by an individual or small group of individuals. It is a young entrepreneurial, scalable business model built on technology and innovation wherein the founders develop a product or service for which they foresee demand through disruption of existing or by creating entirely new markets.

Recognition of startups:company must meet the following criteria to be considered eligible for DPIIT startup recognition.

•    Period of existence and operations should not be exceeding 10 years from the Date of Incorporation.

•    Incorporated as a Private Limited Company, a Registered Partnership Firm or a Limited Liability Partnership.

•   Should have an annual turnover not exceeding Rs. 100 crore for any of the financial years since its Incorporation

•   Entity should not have been formed by splitting up or reconstructing an already existing business

•   Should work towards development or improvement of a product, process or service and/or have scalable business model with high potential for creation of wealth & employment

BENEFITS OF STARTUPS

Startups in India as in many other parts of the world, have received increased attention in recent years. Their numbers are on the rise, and they are now being widely recognised as important engines for growth and jobs generation. Through innovation and scalable technology, startups can generate impactful solutions, and thereby act as vehicles for socio-economic development and transformation.

SCOPE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE INDIAN MARKET

There are some important factors that can help in not only setting up a company but running it successfully.

•    Youth Oriented Demography: India is a country with a huge number of youth work forces . They are educated and can be easily trained. These resources can be used for ones benefit and not only generate profit for oneself but also make a meaningful impact on the society by generating jobs.

•   Large Population: The economy works on the policy of demand and supply. With its large population, India is already is a huge market that has a diverse demand, which needs to be catered.

ISSUES AND CHALLENGES OF STARTUPS

1. Financial resources Availability of finance is critical for the startups and is always a problem to get sufficient amounts. Many finance options are available, including family members, friends, loans, grants, angel funding, venture capitalists, crowd funding etc. The requirement starts increasing as the business progresses. Scaling of business requires timely infusion of capital. Proper cash management is critical for the success of the startups .
2. Revenue generation Several startups fail due to poor revenue generation as the business grows. As the operations increase, expenses grow with reduced revenues forcing startups to concentrate on the funding aspect, thus, diluting the focus on the fundamentals of business. Hence, revenue generation is critical, warranting efficient management of burn rate which in common parlance is the rate at which startups spend money in the initial stages. The challenge is not to generate enough capital but also to expand and sustain the growth.
3. Supporting infrastructure There are a number of support mechanisms that play a significant role in the life cycle of startups which include incubators, science and technology parks, business development centers etc. Lack of access to such support mechanisms increases the risk of failure.
4. Perception challenge– People who want to start a venture face.challenge that is understanding the creditworthiness of start-ups. Many point out that banks and other funding entities look at start-ups from a very traditional business point of view. Start-ups are evaluated from the variables of debt-to-equity ratio, profits and other profit and loss and balance sheet items. The point they miss is unlike traditional businesses where the bank takes risks like equity contribution risk, project risk, operational risk and market risk most of the start-ups already have achieved a reasonable scale and have large equity financing upfront before they reach out to traditional lenders. . But venture capitalists and other strategic investors such as private equity firm look at the scalability of business.
5. Exceed customer expectations The next most important challenge is gauging the market need for the product, existing trends, etc. Innovation plays an important role, since, that the startup has to fine-tune the product offerings to suit the market demands (Skok, 2016). Also, the entrepreneur should have thorough domain knowledge to counter competition with appropriate strategies. Due to emerging technologies, the challenge to provide over and above an earlier innovation is pertinent.
6. Team members Startups normally start with a team consisting of trusted members with complementary skill sets. Usually, each member is specialized in a specific area of operations. Assembling a good team is the first major requirement, failure to have one sometimes could break the startup.
7. Creating awareness in markets— Startups fail due to lack of attention to limitations in the markets. The environment for a startup is usually more difficult than for an established firm due to the uniqueness of the product. The situation is more difficult for a new product as the startup has to build everything from scratch.
8. Tenacity of founders —Founders of startups have to be tough when the going gets tough. The journey of starting a venture is fraught with delays, setbacks and problems without adequate solutions. The entrepreneur needs to be persistent, persuasive, and should never give up till he/she achieves desired results.
9. Regulations- Starting a business requires a number of permissions from government agencies. Regulations pertaining to labor laws, intellectual property rights, dispute resolution etc., are rigorous in India. Although there is a perceptible change, it is still a challenge to register a company.
10. Lack of mentorship: Lack of proper guidance and mentorship is one of the biggest problems that exist in the Indian startup ecosystem . Most of startups have brilliant ideas and/or products, but have little or no industry, business and market experience to get the products to the market. It is a proven example that a brilliant idea works only if executed promptly. Lack of adequate mentoring/ guidance is the biggest challenge which could bring a potentially good idea to an end.
11. Lack of a good branding strategy— Absence of an effective branding strategy is another issue that prevents startups from flourishing at a faster pace. Hemant Arora, Business Head-Branded Content, Times Network opines that branding demands paramount attention as it gives an identity and occupies a space in the consumer minds.
12. Cyber Security – This is the digital age. And surviving the challenges in this age requires small startups – especially the ones operating online – to be super agile to counter the so called online security threats. Startups that are active online do face online security threats. Be it unauthorized access to startup’s sensitive information, employee records, bank accounts’ information, or any other related information deemed important for a tech startup’s survival, they are at risk.
13. Winning Trust of Customers- Customer is the king. And that’s absolutely right. Winning a customer’s trust is one of the most important challenges that businesses in general – and startups in particular – face today. With a highly satisfied and loyal customer base, startups can scale and make progress towards excellence.
14. Value creation vs valuations-

Value creation

• It refers to the value created by startup in the society through their products and services. Startup create the value through problem solving in the society
• value creation should be the focus of the entrepreneurs

valuation

• It refers to the market value of the companies.
• Valuation should be the focus of market

The problem exists in the startup ecosystem is shifting of the focus of the startups from value creation to valuation. In this game startup’s inflate their valuation artificially to get the investment from the investors

SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM OF STARTUPS

Lack Of Finances–: A solution to this challenge is finding ways in which cost can be minimized. Entrepreneurs can make use of accounting software to keep track of their inflow and outflow. It’s also not a bad idea to go the digitalized way.

Fund Raising-The startup needs to assess why the funding is required, and the right amount to be raised. The startup should develop a milestone-based plan with clear timelines regarding what the startup wishes to do in the next 2, 4, and 10 years. This would enable these startups to graduate to a level where they will be able to raise investments from angel investors or venture capitalists or seek loans from commercial banks or financial institutions.

Support by the Government–

• Income Tax Exemption on profits under Section 80-IAC of Income Tax Act:. A DIPP recognized Startup shall be eligible to apply to the Inter-Ministerial Board for full deduction on the profits and gains from business.
• Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) aims to provide financial assistance to startups for proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, market entry and commercialization.
• Fund of Funds for Start-ups (FFS) was unveiled in line with the Start-up India Action Plan. Introduced with a focused objective of supporting development and growth of innovation driven enterprises, FFS facilitates funding needs for Start-ups through participation in capital of SEBI registered Alternative Investment Funds. It has approved corpus of Rs 10,000 crore for contribution to various Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) registered with SEBI.

Business Planning–Before launching a business, it is important to carry out proper research by investigating necessary details such as competitors’ prices, suppliers and the rest. This approach builds a solid foundation for a successful business. Also, writing an effective business plan helps startups to define their business, target audience, operational conduct and the amount of money that it will generate and spend.

Proper Marketing Strategy–Technology today has practically made a lot of things easier as it has opened a broad spectrum of avenues for marketing in the form of electronic, print, online etc. Therefore, startups need to seek out ways in which they can create innovative marketing plans, advert placing, to let people know the worth of their product or services.

Competition–There is, in fact, a whole lot of opportunities existing for entrepreneurs because switching costs for most customers are low and many are willing to try new, relatively untested products or services. To overcome the challenge of competition, startups need to research and analyze their niche industry; should be unique and different in approach.

Framework to reduce the regulatory burden on startups  To create a document listing all compliance requirements for all products and services in one place. For instance, if an entrepreneur wants to open a restaurant or a school etc. There is no common source of information, and the entrepreneur is at the mercy of intermediaries. A standardised document withholding all the important information will make the process and business transparent.

Setting up a single-window system – For example, a person needs 12-16 approvals from multiple government agencies to set up a warehouse. While some can be obtained simultaneously, others require much going back and forth, making it a cumbersome process that takes about six months. But in the single window system – one can simply apply for all the approvals on an online portal. The platform will be responsible for running the operation, administration and oversight of the entire process. The inbuilt intelligence system will direct all the information to the appropriate authorities, and the service agreement will bind them to respond within a timely manner.

Introducing an ease of implementation score (EIS) will rate all the government schemes/programmes/information sources. The EIS will hold a minimum performance standard in implementing a service/scheme. A high EIS will mean that service can be programmed to ensure automated decision making. The government may appoint someone to calculate the EIS for a government agency. A high EIS will be the point of pride and, therefore, promote all online services to enhance, starting an improvement race that needs no oversight.

Simplification of legal language will decrease discretionary powers, reduce litigation and allow easy online processes.

Using technology, outsourcing rule making and mutual recognition Agreements (MRA) –  Using technology will make the process transparent, maintaining the integrity of all transactions, and MRA’s will promote foreign trade in goods and services.

SOME INITIATIVE FOR THE STARTUPS

There are numerous government and semi-governmental initiatives to assist startups.

1. Start-Up India

• This initiative provides three-year tax and compliance breaks intended for cutting government regulations and red tapism.

2. Mudra Yojana

• Through this scheme, startups get loans from the banks to set up, grow and stabilize their businesses.

3. SETU (Self-Employment and Talent Utilization)

• Fund Government has allotted Rs 1,000 Cr in order to create opportunities for self-employment and new jobs mainly in technology-driven domains.

4. E-Biz Portal

• Government launched e-biz portal that integrates 14 regulatory permissions and licenses at one source to enable faster clearances and improve the ease of doing business in India

5. The 19-point Action Plan

• Organized by the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP), focuses both on restricting hindrances and promoting faster growth by way of:

• Simplification and Handholding
• Funding Support and Incentives
• Industry-Academia Partnership and Incubation

Launch of Startup India Action Plan Startup India’s 19-Point Action Plan consist of following steps–

1. Self-certification compliance,
2. single point of contact via Startup India Hub
3. Simplifying processes with mobile app and portal (for registration, filing compliances & obtaining information)
4. Legal support, fast tracking & 80% reduction in patent registration fee
5. Relaxed norms of public procurement
6. Easier & faster exit
7. Funding support via a fund of funds corpus of INR 10,000 crore
8. Credit Guarantee Funding
9. Tax exemption on capital gains
10. 3-Year income tax exemption
11. Tax exemption on investments above Fair Market Value (FMV)
12. Annual startup fests (national & international)
13. Launch of world-class Innovation Hubs under Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)
14. Set up of country-wide incubator network
15. Innovation centers to augment incubation and R&D
16. Research parks to propel innovation
17. Promote entrepreneurship in biotechnology
18. Innovation focused programs for students
19. Annual incubator grand challenge

THE CONCLUSION: India is evolving fast and what is needed is not innovation that is ‘cut and paste’, but creative solutions using thinking that is ‘out-of-the-box’ to produce star innovators, startups and entrepreneurs to handle current problems in India. With over three thousand plus startups working nonstop to address India’s problems, entrepreneurs will need a support system that helps free up their time and focus on their business efforts.

Mains Question

1. Startups in India have large scope however, there are various challenges that affect their future prospects. Analyse.
2. What are the reasons for the dismal performance of the startups in creating employment despite various schemes of government?