November 7, 2024

Governance


General Studies Paper-2 Context: The Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, addressed the 12th edition of the Traffic Infra Tech Expo. He emphasized the critical need to improve road safety and the adoption of advanced technologies in the transportation sector. About India experiences around 5 lakh accidents each year, resulting in numerous fatalities. More than half of these casualties are in the age group of 18-36 years. The economic loss due to road accidents is estimated at 3% of the country’s GDP. The government has decided to appoint experts from the private sector to collaborate on developing technological solutions.....Read More

General Studies Paper-2 Context: The United Nations’ goal to eradicate world hunger by 2030 seems increasingly challenging to achieve due to the impacts of wars, climate change, and economic crises. About Goal 2 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is all about creating a world free of hunger by 2030. The 2024 Global Hunger Index score for the world is 18.3, with 42 countries still experiencing alarming or serious hunger. Hunger is most severe in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia where the crisis has soared to humanitarian levels. Little progress has been made on reducing hunger since 2016,....Read More

General Studies Paper-2 Context: The Union Cabinet extends the rice fortification initiative across welfare schemes until 2028 to combat anemia and nutritional deficiencies. Background The rice fortification would continue as a central sector initiative with 100% funding by the Centre in order to ensure inclusive nutritional security in the country. The free fortified rice will be provided under programmes such as Targeted Public Distribution System, Integrated Child Development Service, PM POSHAN, in all the States and Union Territories. FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) has established Food Fortification Resource Centre (FFRC) as a resource center to promote large-scale....Read More

General Studies Paper-2 Context: The Union Health Minister said that “India’s health system embraces a “whole of government” and “whole of society” approach to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC). What is Universal Health Coverage? It means that all people have access to the full range of quality health services without financial hardship. Key components of UHC include: Access to Care: Everyone should be able to obtain necessary health services when they need them. Quality Services: The care provided should be effective, safe, and of good quality. Financial Protection: Individuals should not face financial difficulties due to medical expenses. Achieving UHC....Read More

General Studies Paper-2 Context: Given the rising levels of inequality and disparity among the States, it is important the 16th Finance Commission gives intra-State disparities as much importance as inter-State disparities. Understanding Regional Disparities in Finance Commission Devolutions The Finance Commission in India plays a crucial role in distributing financial resources between the central government and the states. Its recommendations impact state finances, development, and governance. One critical aspect it grapples with is the balance between equity and efficiency. Intra-State Disparities While inter-state disparities have received significant attention, disparities within states — often referred to as intra-state disparities—are equally important.....Read More

General Studies Paper-2 Context: The recent rape and murder of a doctor at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in West Bengal have once again spotlighted the issue of sexual violence in India. In response, the West Bengal government introduced the Aparajita Woman and Child Bill, 2024, proposing the mandatory death penalty for rape resulting in death or a permanent vegetative state. This move raises critical debates around the effectiveness of harsher punishments in deterring sexual violence and the broader challenges within India’s criminal justice system. Background Over 90% of rape cases in India involve perpetrators known to the....Read More

General Studies Paper-2 Context: A study published in the Nature journal by the International Food Policy Research Institute suggests that the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) has led to a significant reduction in infant deaths by improving sanitation. About SBM: Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) was launched on October 2, 2014, to fulfil the vision of a cleaner India by October 2, 2019. The objective of the Mission was to eliminate open defecation, eradicate manual scavenging, and promote scientific solid waste management. Key Findings of the Report: Infant and Child Mortality: The post-Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) period showed accelerated reductions in infant....Read More

General Studies Paper-2 Context: A recent article in The Lancet has estimated that the Indian population’s consumption of 15 dietary micronutrients is inadequate. Major Highlights Over 5 billion people worldwide, which is 68% of the global population, do not consume enough iodine; 67% do not consume enough vitamin E; and 66%, calcium. More than 4 billion people (65% of the population) do not consume enough iron; 55%, riboflavin; 54%, folate; and 53%, vitamin C. Within the same country and age groups, estimated inadequate intakes were higher for women than men for iodine, vitamin B12, iron, and selenium; and higher for....Read More

General Studies Paper-2 Context The Union Budget’s allocations for health sector initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) and Human Resources for Health and Medical Education (HRHME) depend heavily on State-level implementation. These Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) require States to share costs and manage operations. Key Issues Pertaining to This Low Fund Utilisation: In PM-ABHIM, only about 29% of funds were utilised in 2022-23. In HRHME, fund absorption was similarly low. Factors like complex grant structures and overlapping funding streams have slowed implementation. For instance, only 45% of the health grants from the 15th Finance Commission....Read More

General Studies Paper-3 Context: The recently concluded Paris Olympics saw the Indian contingent return with six medals, with overall ranking of 71st out of 84 countries highlighted the discrepancy between investment and outcomes. About India celebrated the achievements of athletes like Neeraj Chopra (who secured a silver medal), Manu Bhaker (with two bronze medals in shooting), and the hockey team (adding a bronze) in the Paris Olympics. However, there were disappointments—particularly in badminton, where no medals were won, and weightlifting, where Mirabhai Chanu narrowly missed the podium with a fourth-place finish. Earlier, India sent our largest-ever contingent (124 athletes) to....Read More

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