1. NYAYA VIKAS PORTAL

TAG: GS 2: JUDICIARY

THE CONTEXT: Ministry of Law and Justice bringing some new significant changes along with improvising many schemes for the Judicial services. It has also facilitated justice to common man through a plethora of initiatives like nyaya vikas portal.

EXPLANATION:

Nyaya Vikas Portal:

• This portal has been created for monitoring the implementation of this Nyaya Vikas Scheme.
• This portal provides stakeholders with convenient access to information regarding funding, documentation, project monitoring, and approval.
• Nyaya Vikas Portal created for monitoring the implementation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes for Development of Infrastructure for Judiciary.
• Nyaya Vikas Portal allows four efficient ways of logging into the portal, thereby empowering stakeholders with seamless access to information pertaining to funding, documentation, project monitoring and approval.

About Nyaya Vikas Scheme:

• The Department of Justice has been implementing the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for Development of Infrastructure Facilities for Districts and Subordinate Judiciary since 1993-94.
• Under the Scheme,  central assistance is provided to the State Government / UT Administrations for construction of court halls and residential units for Judicial Officers / Judges of District and Subordinate Courts.
• With further extension of the scheme beyond 31.03.2021, some new features like Lawyers Hall, Toilet complexes and Digital computer rooms have been added to the scheme for the convenience of lawyers and litigants, besides court halls and residential units.
• The funds sharing pattern under the Scheme for Center and State is 60:40 in respect of States other than North Eastern and Himalayan States.
• The funds sharing pattern is 90:10 in respect of North Eastern and Himalayan States; and 100% in respect of Union Territories.
• The Nyaya Vikas Program adopts a multi-faceted approach to achieve its objectives. Some of the strategies employed include targeted welfare schemes tailored to the needs of marginalized communities, capacity building through training and support, leveraging technology and digital connectivity to bridge the digital divide, and forging partnerships and collaborations with non-governmental organizations, private sector entities, and civil society.

2. DRAFT PANDEMIC TREATY AND ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE

TAG: GS 2: HEALTH ISSUES

THE CONTEXT: Since the beginning of negotiations on the Pandemic Instrument, there have been calls from civil society and leading experts to include antimicrobial resistance. In the latest version of the draft Pandemic Instrument, also referred to as the “pandemic treaty,” was shared with Member States at the World Health Assembly. The text was made available online via Health Policy Watch and it quickly became apparent that all mentions of addressing antimicrobial resistance in the Pandemic Instrument were at risk of removal.

EXPLANATION:

Zero Draft of the Pandemic Treaty:

• Work on the Pandemic Instrument began in December 2021 after the World Health Assembly agreed to a global process to draft and negotiate an international instrument under the Constitution of the World Health Organization (WHO) to protect nations and communities from future pandemic emergencies.
• Zero Draft of the treaty, known as the Zero Draft of WHO CA+, was published on 1 February 2023, and discussed at the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body’s fourth meeting between 27 February 2023 and 3 March 2023.
• Because the Zero Draft is the starting point for negotiations, the substantive provisions and content of the treaty could change. But the general structure and broad issues the treaty is likely to address are more likely to remain.
• The main goal of this treaty would be to foster an all of government and all of society approach, strengthening national, regional and global capacities and resilience to future pandemics. This includes greatly enhancing international co-operation to improve, for example, alert systems, data-sharing, research and local, regional and global production and distribution of medical and public health counter-measures such as vaccines, medicines, diagnostics and personal protective equipment.
• Currently, the parties are negotiating on issues such as:
• The definition, means, and procedure for declaring a pandemic, and what this actually means in practice for states.
• How the treaty would work alongside the International Health Regulations.
• Key international principles that will guide the treaty, such as human rights, sovereignty, equity, solidarity, transparency, accountability and more.
• How to achieve equity in the global supply chain for pandemic-related products, and access to relevant technologies.
• Strengthening the resilience and responsiveness of health systems.
• How states and the WHO should be coordinating and cooperating in pandemic preparedness and response.
• How to finance pandemic preparedness and response initiatives.
• Setting up a new Governing Body for the treaty – a COP or Conference of the Parties.
• Other general legal issues relating to the treaty, such as amendments, withdrawal, and dispute settlement.

Anti Microbial Resistance:

• Since the beginning of negotiations on the Pandemic Instrument, there have been calls to include the so-called “silent” pandemic of antimicrobial resistance in the instrument as not all pandemics in the past have been caused by viruses and not all pandemics in the future will be caused by viruses. Devastating past pandemics of bacterial diseases have included plague and cholera. The next pandemic could be caused by bacteria or other microbes.
• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the process by which infections caused by microbes become resistant to the medicines developed to treat them. Microbes include bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites. Bacterial infections alone cause one in eight deaths globally.
• AMR is fueling the rise of drug-resistant infections, including drug-resistant tuberculosis, drug-resistant pneumonia and drug-resistant Staph infections such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
• Even if the world faces another viral pandemic, secondary bacterial infections will be a serious issue. During the COVID-19 pandemic for instance, large percentages of those hospitalized with COVID-19 required treatment for secondary bacterial infections.
• The exclusion of these measures would hinder efforts to protect people from future pandemics, and appears to be part of a broader shift to water-down the language in the Pandemic Instrument, making it easier for countries to opt-out of taking recommended actions to prevent future pandemics.

3. FOURTEEN FIXED-DOSE COMBINATION (FDC) MEDICINES

TAG: GS 2: HEALTH ISSUES

THE CONTEXT: Fourteen fixed-dose combination (FDC) medicines found to lack therapeutic relevance have been banned by the Central Government through a gazette notification. While industry experts claim that some of these combinations aren’t available in the market currently, the banned combinations include medicines used for cough, fever and infections, and are sold over the counter.

EXPLANATION:

• These banned drugs included those used for treating common infections, cough and fever combinations such as: Nimesulide Paracetamol dispersible tablets, Chlopheniramine Maleate Codeine Syrup, Pholcodine Promethazine, Amoxicillin Bromhexine and Bromhexine Dextromethorphan Ammonium Chloride Menthol, Paracetamol Bromhexine Phenylephrine Chlorpheniramine Guaiphenesin and Salbutamol Bromhexine.
• The expert committee said that there is “no therapeutic justification for this FDC (fixed dose combination) and the FDC may involve risk to human beings.
• Hence, in the larger public interest, it is necessary to prohibit the manufacture, sale or distribution of this FDC under section 26 A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.

Fixed-Dose Combination (FDC) medicines:

• According to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), FDCs refer to products containing one or more active ingredients used for a particular indication(s).
• FDCs can be divided into the following groups and data required for approval for marketing is described below:
• The first group of FDCs includes those in which one or more of the active ingredients is a new drug. For such FDCs to be approved for marketing data to be submitted will be similar to data required for any new drug (including clinical trials).
• The second group FDCs includes those in which active ingredients already approved/marketed individually are combined for the first time, for a particular claim and where the ingredients are likely to have significant interaction of a pharmacodynamic or pharmacokinetic nature.
• The third group of FDCs includes those which are already marketed, but in which it is proposed either to change the ratio of active ingredients or to make a new therapeutic claim. For such FDCs, the appropriate rationale including published reports should be submitted to obtain marketing permission. Permission will be granted depending upon the nature of the claim and data submitted.
• The fourth group of FDC includes those whose individual active ingredients (or drugs from the same class) have been widely used in a particular indication(s) for years, their concomitant use is often necessary and no claim is proposed to be made other than convenience. It will have to be demonstrated that the proposed dosage form is stable and the ingredients are unlikely to have significant interaction of a pharmacodynamic or pharmacokinetic nature. No additional animal or human data are generally required for these FDCs, and marketing permission may be granted if the FDC has an acceptable rationale.

Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO):

• It is under Directorate General of Health Services,Ministry of Health & Family Welfare,Government of India.
• Its headquarter is located at FDA Bhawan, Kotla Road, New Delhi and also has six zonal offices,four sub zonal offices,thirteen Port offices and seven laboratories spread across the country.
• The Drugs & Cosmetics Act,1940 and rules 1945 have entrusted various responsibilities to central & state regulators for regulation of drugs & cosmetics.
• It envisages uniform implementation of the provisions of the Act & Rules made there under for ensuring the safety, rights and well being of the patients by regulating the drugs and cosmetics.
• Under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, CDSCO is responsible for approval of Drugs, Conduct of Clinical Trials, laying down the standards for Drugs, control over the quality of imported Drugs in the country and coordination of the activities of State Drug Control Organizations by providing expert advice with a view of bring about the uniformity in the enforcement of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
• Further CDSCO along with state regulators, is jointly responsible for grant of licenses of certain specialized categories of critical Drugs such as blood and blood products, I. V. Fluids, Vaccine and Sera.
• The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) is the primary regulatory body for medical devices in India. It is responsible for overseeing the import, manufacture, sale, and distribution of medical devices in the country.

4. THE DECADE-LONG SEARCH FOR A RARE HIGGS BOSON DECAY

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Recently, physicists working with the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) particle-smasher at CERN, in Europe, reported that they had detected a Higgs boson decaying into a Z boson particle and a photon. This is a very rare decay process that tells us important things about the Higgs boson as well as about our universe.

EXPLANATION:

• The Higgs boson is a type of boson, a force-carrying subatomic particle.
• It carries the force that a particle experiences when it moves through an energy field, called the Higgs field, that is believed to be present throughout the universe.
• For example, when an electron interacts with the Higgs field, the effects it experiences are said to be due to its interaction with Higgs bosons
• The stronger a particle’s interaction with the Higgs boson, the more mass it has. This is why electrons have a certain mass, protons have more of it, and neutrons have just a little bit more than protons, and so on.
• A Higgs boson can also interact with another Higgs boson: this is how we know that its mass is greater than that of protons or neutrons.
• Photons, the particles of light, have no mass because they don’t interact with Higgs bosons

How did a Higgs boson decay to a Z boson and a photon if it doesn’t interact with photons and what are virtual particles?

• According to quantum field theory, which is the theory physicists use to study these interactions, space at the subatomic level is not empty. It is filled with virtual particles, which are particles that quickly pop in and out of existence. They can’t be detected directly, but according to physicists their effects sometimes linger.
• The LHC creates a Higgs boson by accelerating billions of highly energetic protons into a head-on collision, releasing a tremendous amount of energy that condenses into different particles.
• When a Higgs boson is created in this hot soup, it has a fleeting interaction with virtual particles that creates a Z boson and a photon.

What is the new result?

• Higgs boson is an unstable particle because it is so heavy, that decays into lighter particles.
• For example, this theory, called the Standard Model, says that a Higgs boson will decay to a Z boson and a photon 0.1% of the time. This means the LHC needed to have created at least 1,000 Higgs bosons to have been able to spot one of them decaying to a Z boson and a photon.
• As it happens, the Z boson is also unstable. Z bosons decay to two muons some 3% of the time. If the detectors at the LHC were looking for a pair of muons plus a photon created at the same time, the LHC would have had to create at least 30,000 Higgs bosons to observe the decay just once.
• The two detectors that announced the new measurement, called ATLAS and CMS, had in fact looked for and found the decay before as well (in 2018 and 2020). On this occasion, however, the two teams combined their data, collected “between 2015 and 2018”, and as a result “significantly increased the statistical precision and reach of their searches,” according to a CERN statement.

What is the Standard Model?

• The Standard Model has made many accurate predictions but it can’t explain what dark matter is or, in fact, why the Higgs boson is so heavy. Testing its predictions as precisely as possible is a way for physicists to find whether there are any cracks in the Model – cracks through which they can validate new theories of physics.
• Standard Model predicts that the Higgs boson will take this path 0.1% of the time if its mass is 125 billion eV/c2 (a unit of mass used for subatomic particles).

5. THE ENERGY PROGRESS REPORT 2023

TAG: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

THE CONTEXT:  According to the energy progress report 2023, World still off-track from achieving universal energy access to all i.e SDG 7. High inflation, debt distress, policy inactions and lagging financial flows slowing access to electricity, clean cooking in developing economies

EXPLANATION:

Finding of the report:

• SDG 7 includes reaching universal access to electricity and clean cooking, doubling historic levels of efficiency improvements, and substantially increasing the share of renewables in the global energy mix.
• Several major economic factors are impeding the realisation of SDG 7 globally, like uncertain macroeconomic outlook, high levels of inflation, currency fluctuations, debt distress in many countries, lack of financing, supply chain bottlenecks, tighter fiscal circumstances and soaring prices for materials.
• The rate of improvement in energy efficiency (target 7.3) is not on track to double by 2030, with the current trend of 1.8 per cent falling short of the targeted increase of 2.6 per cent each year between 2010-2030.
• Globally, access to electricity grew by an annual average of 0.7 percentage points between 2010 and 2021, rising from 84 per cent of the world’s population to 91 per cent.
• With the ongoing impact of COVID-19 and soaring energy prices, the IEA estimates show 100 million people who recently transitioned to clean cooking may revert to using traditional biomass, the report added.
• In 2020, the share of renewable energy in total final energy consumption stood at just 19.1 per cent (or 12.5 per cent if traditional use of biomass is excluded), not much more than the 16 per cent a decade earlier.

Sustainable Development Goal:

• Sustainable Development Goals are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.
• They address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace and justice.
• The 17 Goals are all interconnected, and in order to leave no one behind, it is important that we achieve them all by 2030.

Energy Progress Report:

• IRENA produces the report jointly with the SDG 7 co-custodian agencies: the International Energy Agency (IEA), the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), the World Bank, and the World Health Organization (WHO).
• The Energy Progress Report provides the international community with a global dashboard to register progress on the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7): ensuring universal energy access, doubling progress on energy efficiency and substantially increasing the share of renewable energy.
• It also registers progress towards enhanced international cooperation to facilitate access to clean and renewable energy by 2030, as well as on the expansion of infrastructure and technology upgrade for supplying modern and sustainable energy services for all in developing countries.
• It assesses the progress made by each country on these targets and provides a snapshot of how far we are from achieving SDG7. The 2022 release is the eight edition of this report, which was formerly known as the Global Tracking Framework (GTF).

International Energy Agency:

• It is an international energy forum comprised of 29 industrialized countries under the Organization for Economic Development and Cooperation (OECD).
• The IEA was established in 1974, in the wake of the 1973-1974 oil crisis, to help its members respond to major oil supply disruptions, a role it continues to fulfill today.
• IEA’s mandate has expanded over time to include tracking and analyzing global key energy trends, promoting sound energy policy, and fostering multinational energy technology cooperation.

International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA):

• It is an intergovernmental organisation that supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future, and serves as the principal platform for international cooperation, a centre of excellence, and a repository of policy, technology, resource and financial knowledge on renewable energy.
• IRENA promotes the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy, including bioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, ocean, solar and wind energy in the pursuit of sustainable development, energy access, energy security and low-carbon economic growth and prosperity.

1. El Nino 2023: Warming this year last seen in 2009; may cause global marine devastation; here’s how READ MORE
2. Why melting glaciers are causing both drought and floods in the Himalayas READ MORE

1. El Nino 2023: Warming this year last seen in 2009; may cause global marine devastation; here’s how READ MORE
2. Why melting glaciers are causing both drought and floods in the Himalayas READ MORE

1. An unfinished task of social justice politics READ MORE
2. Don’t drop disability questions from NFHS-6. It will create an information gap READ MORE

1. Sedition — illogical equation of government with state READ MORE
2. End the debate: On the Law Commission’s recommendation on sedition READ MORE
3. Why Law Commission is wrong about sedition law READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Can you spot the quantum physics around your house? READ MORE  
2. ‘Crop shortages could quicken inflation following MSP hikes’ READ MORE
3. NATO to put up biggest air deployment exercise READ MORE
4. Mazagon Dock and German firm strike deal on submarines READ MORE
5. India, U.S. review export control regulations READ MORE
6. How KFON aims to bridge the digital divide in Kerala READ MORE
7. How can we transition to a low-carbon city? READ MORE
8. Fiji reconsiders security ties with China amid Pacific tensions READ MORE
9. Surplus liquidity of banks may dip on tax outflows, higher currency demand READ MORE
10. Why area under cotton cultivation is likely to shrink this kharif READ MORE
11. CSE analysis says South Delhi, New Delhi worst affected by ground-level ozone: What is this pollutant? READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. El Nino 2023: Warming this year last seen in 2009; may cause global marine devastation; here’s how READ MORE
2. Why melting glaciers are causing both drought and floods in the Himalayas READ MORE
3. An unfinished task of social justice politics READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Sedition — illogical equation of government with state READ MORE
2. End the debate: On the Law Commission’s recommendation on sedition READ MORE
3. Why Law Commission is wrong about sedition law READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. Don’t drop disability questions from NFHS-6. It will create an information gap READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Preventing Chinese hegemony in expanded BRICS READ MORE
2. China may use disinformation to disrupt India, US, Taiwan. That’s modern warfare for Beijing READ MORE
3. BIMSTEC: A call for robust institutionalization READ MORE
4. An intensifying partnership READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Pitfalls of the food storage plan READ MORE
2. India’s blue economy sets sail to unlock a sea of opportunities! READ MORE
3. RBI’s caution on ‘unsecured advances’ READ MORE
4. Food can turn poison if its safety is not ensured READ MORE
5. The true picture on the economy READ MORE
6. India still fumbling in its semiconductor mission READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Behavioural change can turn the tide: Technology alone not enough to tackle climate change, drug menace READ MORE
2. A Wasted Effort: A Decade On, Task Force’s Suggestions on Garbage Disposal Have Failed READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Is India missing the graphene bus? READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Preventing landslips: NHAI initiates action on Parwanoo-Solan stretch READ MORE

SECURITY

1. Busting drug cartels: Combating crime on darknet a challenge READ MORE
2. The grammar of Naxal violence READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. When traveller and destination are the same READ MORE
2. Ways of the universe READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. Democratic values are enshrined by the functioning of constitutional and legal institutions. Comment.
2. ‘An accurate estimate of India’s disabled population would help strengthen their case in Parliament and local elected bodies such as Panchayats’. Discuss the statement in light of government’s decision to drop disability-related questions from the National Family Health Survey-6.
3. Decentralising power and empowering local governments can enhance accountability and promote citizen participation in matters of national importance. Justify the statement.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Strategy is not the consequence of planning, but the opposite: its starting point.
• Parliament has lost its effectiveness as an instrument of oversight and there is a declining process of scrutiny, debate and dissent.
• US initiatives in Indo-Pacific are paying dividends as many Asian nations are developing the political will to confront China.
• The India-Nepal ties are bound to improve after Prachanda’s recent visit, in which seven agreements have been signed at the risk of irritating the dragon.
• An accurate estimate of India’s disabled population would help strengthen their case in Parliament and local elected bodies such as Panchayats.
• Democratic values are enshrined by the functioning of constitutional and legal institutions.
• To ensure that people of high ethical values are elected as representatives of the people of India, the RPA has laid down certain rules of electoral morality and prohibited certain acts which denigrate the purity of the elections.
• It is time we revive our political morality to uphold conventional and constitutional values.
• Many democratic countries, including the UK, have removed sedition as an offence from the statute book. India should follow that. Hopefully the Supreme Court will stick to the right view.
• The Supreme Court’s criticism of the tendency of governments to engage in litigation on the most unnecessary grounds and contribute to the backlog of cases in courts must be paid heed to.
• Governments should review all cases pending before the courts and withdraw all vexatious and unnecessary cases. Such a spring cleaning will be in the interest of justice and governance.
• AI might not impact the revenues and profitability of IT companies if they are proactive in using AI and adapt to the latest developments.
• Developed countries should extend adequate financial and technical assistance to the developing countries to fight climate change.

50-WORD TALK

• Thawing of the India-German defence ties after 35 frozen years following the ill-fated Type 209 submarine deal is significant. In the rapidly evolving ‘new Cold War’ equations, India has a key position. Europe, by and large, has warmed up. Germany has been slow, hesitant. It’s just begun to catch up.
• The destruction of the Kakhovka dam signals the coming of total war to Ukraine, directed at the destruction of agricultural infrastructure, power, and even drinking water. As Ukraine’s counteroffensive gathers momentum, Russia is seeking deterrence through mass devastation. The carnage exposes the entire world to grave economic and security risks.

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 482]

THE CONTEXT:  MPLAD scheme was introduced in 1993. The purpose of the Scheme was to enable MPs to create durable assets based on local requirements of their respective constituencies. The Scheme is administered as per guidelines issued from time to time. Revised guidelines has been issued on March 14 2023, is based on the experience gained over nearly 30 years. This article analyses various aspects related to the MPLAD scheme.

ABOUT MPLAD SCHEME

• The MPLAD Scheme is a Central Sector Scheme fully funded by the Government of India. This Scheme was announced on December 23, 1993
• In 1993-94, when the Scheme was launched, each Member of Parliament was allocated an amount of Rs. 5 (five) lakh per annum, which was enhanced to Rs.1 (One) crore per annum in 1994-95, and further to Rs. 2 (two) crore per annum in 1998-99 and it is currently fixed at Rs. 5 (five) crore per annum w.e.f. the financial year 2011-12.
• In the wake of the COVID pandemic, MPLADS was suspended from April 6, 2020 to November 9, 2021, and no funds were allocated to the Scheme for FY 2020-21. For the balance period of FY 2021-22, i.e., from November 10, 2021 to March 31, 2022, Rs. 2 Crore was allocated under the Scheme for each Member of Parliament.
• Lok Sabha Members can recommend works within their Constituencies and Elected Members of Rajya Sabha can recommend works within the State of Election (with select exceptions). Nominated Members of both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha can recommend works anywhere in the country.
• MPs are to recommend every year, works costing at least 15 per cent of the MPLADS entitlement for the year for areas inhabited by Scheduled Caste population and 7.5 per cent for areas inhabited by ST population.
• The funds under MPLADS are non-lapsable both at the end of the Union Government and at the end of the District Authority. The unspent balances of a particular year are utilized in the subsequent year(s).

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SCHEME

• A Member of Parliament shall give his/ her choice of Nodal District in a prescribed format to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation with copy to the State Government and to the District Magistrate of the chosen District.
• The annual entitlement of Rs 5 crore shall be released, in two equal instalments of Rs 2.5 crore each, by Government of India directly to the District Authority of the Nodal District of the Member of Parliament concerned.
• Each MP shall recommend eligible work on the MP’s letter head duly signed by the MP to the district authority.
• The District Authority shall identify the Implementing Agency capable of executing the eligible work qualitatively, timely and satisfactorily. It shall be responsible for timely and effective implementation of such works. All recommended eligible works should be sanctioned within 75 days from the date of receipt of the recommendation, after completing all formalities. The District Authority shall, however, inform MPs regarding rejection, if any, within 45 days from the date of receipt of recommendations, with reasons thereof.
• MPLAD Scheme can be converged in individual/stand-alone projects of other Central and State Government schemes provided such works of Central/State Governments Schemes are eligible under MPLADS. Funds from local bodies can similarly also be pooled with MPLADS works. Wherever such pooling is done, funds from other scheme sources should be used first and the MPLADS funds should be released later, so that MPLADS fund results in completion of the project.
• As soon as a work under the Scheme is completed, it should be put to public use. For greater public awareness, for all works executed under MPLADS a plaque (stone/metal) carrying the inscription ‘Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme Work’ indicating the cost involved, the commencement, completion and inauguration date and the name of the MP sponsoring the project should be permanently erected.

BENEFITS OF THE SCHEME

• Creation of the Durable assets: The entire population across the country stands to benefit through the creation of durable assets (at local level) like drinking water, education, public health, sanitation and roads etc, under MPLAD Scheme.
• Rural empowerment: Under the Scheme, over 19 lakh projects worth Rs 45,000 crore had been sanctioned, of which 82% of the projects have been in rural areas.
• Address the resource Crunch in District: Utilising MPLADS funds for priority areas will help in addressing, partly, the resource crunch of the districts.
• Collaborative synergies: It also helps pave the way for the much-needed collaborative synergies between the political representative and the administration on the ground to augment basic health care facilities in rural areas.
• Strengthen the Confidence of people in elected representatives: MPLADS not only address the human capital needs of rural societies at large — but also restore the faith and confidence of citizens in their elected leaders.

ISSUES RELATED TO THE MPLAD

• Corruption:  There have been cases of widespread corruption and misappropriation of funds. In a lot of cases, private contractors (which are not permitted) are engaged to implement the works. Also, there have been instances where expenditure has been incurred on works which are prohibited under the Scheme.
  1. It is widely alleged that MPs use these funds and get a percentage as commission.
  2. The MPs are alleged to use this avenue to enrich themselves. There seems to be no local development but only self-development of MPs.
• Funding:  There are large amounts of unspent balances rising over the years, as the Comptroller and Auditor General of India observed that there is low utilisation of funds and an expenditure bias towards a particular sector.
• Administration of the Scheme: There were many lacunas in the administration of the Scheme at the ground level and often the MPs have deviated from the original purpose of the Scheme. MPLAD funds were mostly underutilised and misused. Reports from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) list out various lapses in the implementation of the Scheme. The CAG observed flouting of rules and corruption while implementing the Scheme.
•  Delivery: There are weaknesses in the process of sanction. The District Authorities tend to execute works without receiving any recommendations from MPs concerned or on the recommendation of the representatives of the MPs rather than the MPs themselves.
• Lapses on the monitoring and supervision front: District Authorities failing to inspect the required number of sanctioned works as well as in sending regular monitoring reports.
• Sustainability of the Scheme:  There have been charges that the Scheme goes against the spirit of the 73rd and the 74th Amendment, with MPs enjoying the privilege of an uninterrupted yearly flow of funds to do the work that local bodies are better placed to deliver. The constitutionality of the Scheme has also been questioned as 2nd ARC stated that Scheme erodes the notion of separation of powers, as the legislator directly becomes the executive.
• Lack of Data to the MPs: Lack of adequate information available to MPs, which sometimes leads to a disproportionately large amount of money flowing into one district. There also seems to be an absence of a proper mechanism to ensure constituent participation in order to determine locally felt needs, leaving open the possibility of a small group, having easy access to the MPs, impressing upon him to recommend works according to their needs.
• Handing over of assets and assets not put to use : The Scheme mandates that as soon as a work is completed, it should be transferred to the user agency for public use. Out of the 15,049 sample works created during 2004-09, handing over was not on record for 14,828 cases, which is 98.53 per cent of the works created.
• Use of funds to woo voters: A study published in 2017 shows that during the period from 2009 to 2014, MPs irrespective of party ideology, spent less in the beginning of the term. Majority of the unspent balance and new funds were spent in the last year of the term. This enables them to spend the amount just before the general election to woo the voters with some pet scheme.

Best Practices

• ‘One MP-One Idea’ competition initiated in Kottayam Lok Sabha constituency;’
• In this three most innovative ideas from the local people on development projects will be awarded cash prizes.
• The objective of the initiative is to ensure development through people’s participation. The best project idea will get a cash award of `2.5 lakh and second and third winners will get `1.5 lakh and `1 lakh through the MP’s local area development (MPLAD) funds.

THE WAY FORWARD

• Regular Monitoring: There is a need for a greater focus on regular monitoring by the District Authorities. The practice of random inspections by the District Authority, both before the release of the second instalment and after the completion of the work, is a good practice followed in Varanasi.
• Assessing the need of the People: In order to better assess the needs of the constituents, surveys can be conducted across the constituency. For this purpose, NGOs and local community can be involved. Once the needs of the constituency are determined, implementation can be linked to what’s needed.

• Assessment of the Scheme:  For the Scheme to be more effective, an impact assessment study should be undertaken at the constituency level, on a yearly basis, to assess the benefits of the works implemented to the community at large.
• Making the fund lapsable: To tackle the issue of large unspent balances which have accumulated and are rising over the years, funds can be made lapsable. This way funds lying unused can be put to other uses.

THE CONCLUSION: MPLAD scheme is a unique scheme however it has faced various lacunae in the Scheme. Thus, there is a need to improve the functioning of the MPLAD Scheme so that more efficient use of the funds can be ensured. With more efficient use of the Scheme, the bonding of the elected representative and people will increase thereby strengthening the democratic system which is the core feature of the political system of the country.