General Studies Paper 3

Context:  More than 50 percent of the world’s largest lakes and reservoirs have shrunk over the past three decades primarily due to climate change and human activities, according to a new study.

About the study

• The study was published in the journal Science named‘Satellites reveal widespread decline in global lake water storage’.
• For the study, team examined1,975 of the world’s largest lakes, including 1,052 natural lakes and 921 reservoirs — researchers studied lakes which are larger than 100 sq km and reservoirs with more than 1 cubic km of storage capacity.
• The analysis was done following a novel methodology that involved combining two-dimensional water areas with one-dimensional water levels to estimate the three-dimensional change in water storage.
• Combining recent level measurements with longer-term area measurements allowed  to reconstruct the volume of lakes dating back decades.

Findings of the Study

• The researchers found that out of the 1,052 natural lakes that were examined, 457 had significant water losses in the past three decades. Meanwhile, 234 natural lakes gained water and 360 of such water bodies didn’t show any notable trend.
• The study also pointed out the worst affected largest lakes across the world and why they are shrinking in size.
  • For instance,the Aral Sea in Central Asia, Lake Mar Chiquita in Argentina, the Dead Sea in the Middle East, and the Salton Sea in California have mainly dried due to unsustainable water consumption.
  • Whereas, increasing temperature and (potential evapotranspiration)PET caused the complete disappearance of Lake Gowd-e-Zareh in Afghanistan, Toshka lakes in Egypt, and marked drying of Lake Kara-Bogaz-Gol in Turkmenistan, Lake Khyargas in Mongolia, and Lake Zonag in China.
• Notably, lakes have shrunk or disappeared completely across 82 percent of the Arctic’s lake-rich regions in the past 20 years.
• Natural lakes located in humid tropics and high altitudes are also experiencing water shortages.
• India:More than half of the reservoirs located in peninsular India have witnessed substantial water storage decline, mainly due to sedimentation.
  • Moreover, among the worst affected natural lakes in the country is Ladakh’s Tso Moriri.
• Reservoirs:Two-thirds of all reservoirs across the globe have experienced significant storage declines.
  • Reservoirs, however, showed a net global increase in water levels, owing to 183 recently filled reservoirs.

Reasons for Shrinking of Lakes

• Human Activities:57 percent of the net decline in the water quantity in natural lakes to human activities, such as unsustainable consumption of water.
• Climate Change:The Arctic lakes have shrunk as a result of a “combination of changes in precipitation, runoff, temperature, and  potential evapotranspiration (PET) — loss of water due to both evaporation and transpiration, which are likely a concurrent result of natural variability and climate change.
• Sedimentation:The main reason behind the drop in water levels is sedimentation — the process of particles such as sand and stones settling to the bottom of a body of water.
  • Sedimentation is the primary contributor to the global storage decline in existing reservoirs and has a larger impact than hydroclimate variability, i.e., droughts and recovery from droughts.

What are the consequences of shrinking lakes?

• Nearly two billion people, one-quarter of the global population in 2023, have been affected as they live in basins with large water bodies that have witnessed a significant drop in their water levels in the past three decades.
• Many of these drying lakes have been identified as important sources of water and energy (hydropower).
• The reduced size of these lakes not only results in freshwater decline and environmental degradation but also disrupts the water and carbon cycles.
• Widespread water shortage in these water bodies, “particularly accompanied by rising lake temperatures, could reduce the amount of absorbed carbon dioxide and increase carbon emissions to the atmosphere as the lakes are hotspots of carbon cycling.
• If lakes are encroached upon they disappear as a water source but also contribute to severe urban flooding. 
• Loss of lake levels leads to groundwater pumping and depletion,leading to a host of other issues.

How can we conserve these water bodies?

• There is a need to manage them in an integrated manner. Steps like restrictions on water consumption and climate mitigation to bring down global temperatures are some of the ways to conserve them.
• This will also help in reducing sedimentation in reservoirs as the rate of sedimentation is linked to climate change — it increases when there is extreme precipitation, as well as land disturbance such as wildfires, landslides and deforestation.
• Managing lakes in an integrated manner will elevate the status of lakes to their rightful place, and they can continue to sustain humanity.

General Studies Paper 3

Context: The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), as part of its Vision Insurance for all’ by 2047, has allotted states and union territories to every insurer to increase insurance penetration in India.

IRDAI is also planning to launch Bima Trinity – Bima Sugam, Bima Vistar, Bima Vaahaks – in collaboration with general and life insurance firms to make insurance activities hassle free.

What is IRDAI Vision 2047?

Objective:

• Insurance for All by 2047 aims that every citizen has an appropriate life, health and property insurance cover and every enterprise is supported by appropriate insurance solutions.
• It also aims to make the Indian insurance sector globally attractive

Pillars:

• Insurance customers (Policyholders)
• Insurance providers (insurers)
• Insurance distributors (intermediaries)

Focus Areas:

• Making available right products to right customers
• Creating robust grievance redressal mechanism
• Facilitating ease of doing business in the insurance sector
• Ensuring the regulatory architecture is aligned with the market dynamics
• Boosting innovation
• Competition and distribution efficiencies while mainstreaming technology and moving towards principle based regulatory regime.

Significance:

• It can help people in households all over the country to have access to an affordable insurance policy that covers health, life, property, and accidents.
• These policies would offer faster claim settlements, sometimes within hours, and additional benefits like gym or yoga memberships.

What is Bima Trinity?

Bima Sugam:

• It is a unified platform that combines insurers and distributors. It simplifies policy purchases, service requests, and claims settlement for customers in one convenient portal.

Bima Vistar:

• It is a comprehensive bundled policy that covers life, health, property, and accidents. It provides defined benefits for each risk category, ensuring quick claim payouts without surveyors.

Bima Vaahaks:

• It is a women-centric workforce operating at the Gram Sabha level. They will educate and convince women about the benefits of comprehensive insurance, particularly Bima Vistar. By addressing concerns and emphasizing advantages, Bima Vaahaks empower women and enhance their financial security.

What is the State of Insurance Sector in India?

• According to the Economic Survey 2022-23, life insurance density in the country increased from USD 11.1 in 2001 to USD 91 in 2021. Total global insurance premiums in 2021 increased 3.4% in real terms, with the non-life insurance sector registering 2.6% growth, driven by rate hardening in commercial lines in developed markets.
• According to the Economic Survey 2022-23, India’s insurance market is poised to emerge as one of the fastest-growing markets globally in the coming decade.
• As per the IRDAI, insurance penetration in India increased from 3.76% in 2019-20 to 4.20%in 2020-21, registering a growth of 11.70%.
• India is at present the 10th biggest market in the world it is projected to be 6th biggest by 2032.

What are the Challenges Related to Insurance Sector

Lower Adoption Rate:

• Insurance is not widely adopted in India compared to other countries. This is because many people are not aware of insurance or don’t trust it.
• In rural areas, where a large portion of the population lives, only a small percentage have life insurance coverage.
• The insurance industry’s contribution to India’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product) is less than 5%, which is lower than the global average. In simple terms, insurance is not widely used in India, and efforts are needed to increase awareness and trust in insurance products.

Lack of Product Innovation:

• The insurance sector in India has been slow in product innovation. Many insurance companies offer similar products, which leads to a lack of differentiation in the market.

Fraudulence:

• Fraud includes things like making false claims and lying about information.
• The use of digital technology and customer-focused policies may have unintentionally given fraudsters more chances to steal identities and make fake claims.
• Over 70% of Indian insurers have seen an increase in fraud cases in the past two years.

Talent Management:

• The insurance sector in India faces a talent shortage. The industry needs skilled professionals in areas such as actuarial science, underwriting, claims, and risk management. Attracting and retaining talented professionals is a challenge for the industry.

Slow Rate of Digitalization:

• The insurance sector in India has been slow to adopt digitalization compared to other industries, which has resulted in several challenges such as inefficient processes, lack of transparency, and poor customer experience.

Claims Management:

• The claims process in India is often seen as complicated, slow, and opaque, which can lead to customer dissatisfaction and loss of trust in the insurance industry.
• This can be due to a lack of transparency, inefficient processes, and poor communication with customers.

Way Forward

• To improve the insurance sector in India, several steps can be taken to leverage technology, align with customer behavior, optimize data usage, simplify claims management, adopt hybrid distribution models, and tackle fraud.
• Digitalization should be a priority across the value chain to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and support ecosystem development. This involves using technology to enhance employee skills and productivity through upskilling programs.

Insurers need to align with dynamic changes in customer behavior and preferences. By offering quick personalized products and prioritizing flexibility over mass offerings, insurers can better meet customer needs and manage perceptions.

General Studies Paper 2

Context: Recently, the First G20 Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group (DRR WG) meeting under India’s G20 Presidency took place, where India highlighted the importance of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).

What are the Highlights of the Meeting?

• The G20 Disaster Risk Resilience Working Group has called upon governments to build a social protection system with an effective and preferred instrument for disaster risk financing.
• It emphasised the need for new-age Social Protection Systems that invest in local risk resilience to mitigate, prepare and recover from disasters.

The five priorities outlined:

• Global coverage of Early Warning Systems
• Increased commitment towards making infrastructure systems disaster resilient
• Stronger national financial frameworks for DRR
• Strengthened national and global disaster response system
• Increased application of ecosystems-based approaches to DRR
• The G20 DRR WG intended to include considerations for the Sendai Framework’s mid-term review, renew multilateral cooperation at all levels, and inform future global policies and initiatives related to DRR.

What is the Need for Creating a Collective G20 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction?

• The G20 nations, with a population of 4.7 billion, have large exposure, risk from asset concentration, and vulnerability to natural disasters.
• In the current World Risk Index, four out of the top 10 vulnerable countries are G20 nations.
• The combined estimated annual average loss in the G20 countries alone is USD 218 billion, equivalent to 9% of the average annual investment in infrastructure made by them.
• Disaster risk reduction measures can play an important role in preventing such losses.

What can be the key Strategies for Reducing Disaster Risk?

Better Economic and Urban Development:

• Reducing risk can be achieved mainly by reducing vulnerability and exposure to risk through measures such as better economic and urban development choices and practices, protection of the environment, reduction of poverty and inequality, etc.
• For example, in India, effective implementation of flood risk management strategies can help in reducing and managing Extreme Weather Conditions.

Financing:

• There is a need to re-imagine financing disaster risk reduction. The financing requirements flowing through government budgets are not independent of a country’s fiscal position and hence may be limited.
• Innovative financing tools including creating reserve funds, dedicated lines of credit and tapping resources globally should be explored.

Infrastructure:

• Infrastructure, such as roads, rails, airports, and electricity lines created through public revenues need to be resilient to disasters and may require more funds incrementally.
• There is a need to finance this additionality using options that are reflective of the social benefits of such disaster-resilient infrastructure.

Dealing with Extensive and Intensive Risk:

• Differential strategies to deal with extensive risk (risk of losses from frequent but moderate impacts) and intensive risk (from low frequency and high impact events), should be worked out.
• A large portion of the losses accumulate from extensive events.
• Cumulatively, dispersed events such as Heatwaves, lightning, local floods, and landslides cause enormous losses. Implementing targeted approaches to reducing losses from extensive risk events can have an impact in the short to medium-term horizon.

Multi-tiered, Multi-sectoral Effort:

• There is a need to view disaster risk reduction as a multi-tiered, multi-sectoral effort.
• If efforts are integrated vertically from local to sub-national to national to global, and horizontally across sectors, the level of readiness to manage unknown risks will be enhanced.
• The world is interlinked and interdependent, and the G20 can help develop such strategies.

What are the Initiatives for Disaster Risk Reduction?

Global:

• Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030
• The Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS)
• International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction – 13th October
• Green Climate Fund’s Sectoral Guide on Climate Information & Early Warning Systems

India’s Initiatives:

• Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure Society (CDRIS)
• National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP)

Way Forward

• The G20 should foster collaboration and coordination among its members and other stakeholders on early warning systems, disaster-resilient infrastructure, financial frameworks and response systems for disaster risk reduction.
• They should promote innovation and research on disaster risk reduction, especially on the use of technology, data and ecosystems-based approaches.
• There is a need to align disaster risk reduction efforts with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the New Urban Agenda and ensure that no one is left behind.
• The Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction is an opportunity for the G20 to take a lead in the implementation of the Sendai framework over the next seven years.

General Studies Paper 2

Context: While inaugurating the new office of the Registrar General of India (RGI), the Home Minister said that the government will make sure that India’s next census (whenever it happens) is smarter and more dynamic. Such objectives are laudable, but it is a matter of concern that the 2021 decadal census has seen such an unprecedented delay.

• Some of the praiseworthy forthcoming changes include linking birth and death registration data to the national population register in real time. Not only will this give us a better idea of the state of the population, but it will also make existing databases, such as list of welfare programme beneficiaries and voter lists more accurate.
• The census is a count of people in a certain area, but in India, it gives more information than just the number of people. A lot of the information in the census is meant to capture the dynamics within the population: The share of rural and urban population, their occupational status in farm and non-farm and main and marginal work, migration and its longevity, mother tongue and other languages spoken, quality of household dwellings and assets are some such statistics.

What is the History of Census in India?

• The first census in India was conducted in 1872.
• India’s first proper or synchronous Census, one which begins on the same day or year across regions of the country, was carried out in 1881 by the colonial administration and has since happened every 10 years.
• The latest census in India was conducted in 2011, and the next census was scheduled for 2021 which has been postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and other reasons.

What is Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC)?

• SECC was conducted for the first time since 1931.
• SECC is meant to canvass every Indian family, both in rural and urban India, and ask about their:
• Economic status, so as to allow Central and State authorities to come up with a range of indicators of deprivation, permutations, and combinations of which could be used by each authority to define a poor or deprived person.
• Specific caste name to allow the government to re-evaluate which caste groups were economically worst off and which were better off.
• SECC has the potential to allow for a mapping of inequalities at a broader level.

What is the Difference between Census and SECC?

• The Census provides a portrait of the Indian population, while the SECC is a tool to identify beneficiaries of state support.
• Since the Census falls under the Census Act of 1948, all data are considered confidential, whereas according to the SECC website, “all the personal information given in the SECC is open for use by Government departments to grant and/or restrict benefits to households.”

What is the Significance of Census?

• Determining Population Size and Demographics: The primary purpose of a census is to provide an accurate count of the population residing in a particular area. It helps governments understand the size, distribution, and composition of their population. This information is essential for effective governance, policymaking, and resource allocation.
• Planning and Development: Census data helps governments make informed decisions about investing in urban planning, infrastructure, and public services by analyzing population trends and characteristics. It identifies areas that require specific attention, such as regions with high poverty rates or inadequate access to healthcare.
• Electoral Representation: Census data influences the redrawing of political boundaries and the allocation of seats in legislative bodies. It helps ensure fair representation by accurately reflecting population shifts and changes over time.
• Resource Allocation and Funding: Census data helps allocate government funding and resources to meet community needs for education, healthcare, social welfare, transportation, and infrastructure. Accurate data prevents underfunding or neglect of certain areas.
• The Finance Commission provides grants to the states on the basis of population figures available from the Census data.
• Economic Planning and Business Decisions: Census data helps businesses identify consumer trends, target demographics, assess market demand, and identify opportunities for growth and investment.
• Social Research and Policy Analysis: Census data aids researchers, academics, and policymakers in studying trends, understanding societal changes, and evaluating policies. It contributes to evidence-based decision-making and informed public discourse.

What are the Implications of the delay in Census?

Targeting the Right Beneficiaries:

• Outdated Census information (available from the last Census in 2011) often becomes unreliable and affects those who do and do not receive the benefits of welfare schemes.
• For Instance, National Food Security Act, 2013 which provides subsidised foodgrains to poor & vulnerable uses the census data to identify the beneficiaries.
• According to 2011 census, India’s population was about 121 crore and PDS beneficiaries were approximately 80 crores. However, the world bank has estimated India’s population to be 141 crore, PDS coverage should have increased to around 97 crore people.
• Moreover, the Finance Commission uses census data while granting finances to the states. In absence of exact data allocation of funds to the states would be disproportionate.

Challenges for Research and Analysis:

• Researchers and policymakers may have to rely on outdated information or alternative data sources, which may not provide the same level of accuracy or granularity.
• Census data are critical for other sample surveys conducted in the country as they use the Census data as reference. For instance, the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) released last year used 2011 census data.

Impacts the Political Representation:

• The Census data is also used to demarcate constituencies and allocate seats in Parliament and State Assemblies. The delay in the Census means that the data from the 2011 Census would continue to be used. This may not reflect the rapid changes in the composition of the population over the last decade.
• Census data is used for delimitation of constituencies and for determining the quantum of reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The delay means that either too many or too few seats are being reserved for SC/STs and women in different regions.
• Compromises the Migration Data: The Census data is also important to understand migration and migration patterns and its economic impact. The delay in the Census means that the latest information on internal and international migration is not available for policy making and planning.
• The Covid pandemic has exposed the need for Migration Data. During lockdowns, the govt – in the absence of adequate data – was unable to target migrant laborers stranded in cities far from their homes.
• Missed Opportunities and Delayed Decision-making: Timely census data is essential for identifying emerging trends, assessing needs, and seizing opportunities. A delay in the census can result in missed opportunities for targeted interventions, economic planning, and business decisions.

How will the 2021 Census be Different from Previous ones?

• For the first time the data is collected digitally via mobile applications (installed on enumerator’s phone) with a provision of working in offline mode.
• The 2021 census will have Other Backward Class (OBC) data, for the first time since the 1931 census.
• The 2021 census will be conducted in 18 languages out of the 22 scheduled languages and English, while Census 2011 was in 16 of the 22 scheduled languages declared at that time.
• The 2021 census will have a dynamic approach having 31 questions in the house-listing schedule, which include new questions on access to internet, laptop/computer, and LPG/PNG connection.
• First time that information of a person from the Transgender Community and members living in the family will be collected.

Conclusion

• A delay in the census can have wide-ranging implications, including inaccuracies in population data, hindered planning and development, challenges in resource allocation, impacts on electoral representation, limitations in research and analysis, and missed opportunities for decision-making. It highlights the importance of conducting the census in a timely manner to ensure accurate and up-to-date information for effective governance and development.

General Studies Paper 2

Context: There are some basic rules a civil servant needs to follow, and the limitations they are placed under.

Civil Services

• There are three All India Services (governed by Article 312 of the Indian Constitution)– the Indian Administrative Service, the Indian Police Service and the Indian Forest Service – which are selected by the central government with officers allotted to various state cadres.
• Other services are called Central Civil Services.These services are under the central government itself with no state cadre system.
  • They include services such as the Indian Foreign Service, the Indian Revenue Service, Customs and Central Excise Service and several others.

About the Rules

• There are two sets of rules for civil servants – one for All India Services and the other for Central Civil Services.Specially designed Conduct Rules govern an officer’s behavior and conduct.
• The AIS Conduct Rules, 1968 and CCS Conduct Rules, 1964 are mostly similar. These were framed based on recommendations from a committee constituted by then Minister of Home Affairs Lal Bahadur Shashtri in 1962.

Rules

• Maintaining Integrity: Every member of the Service shall at all times maintain absolute integrity and devotion to duty and shall do nothing which is unbecoming of a member of the Service.
  • Rule 4(1) of the AIS Conduct Rules is more specific. It states, “No member of the Service shall use his position or influence directly or indirectly to secure employment for any member of his family with any private undertaking or Non- Government Organisation.”
• Assist Political Parties: No member of the Service shall bea member or associated with any political party or any organization which takes part in politics.
  • No member of the Service shall canvas or otherwise interfere with, or use his influence in connection with, or take part in, an election to any legislature or local authority.
• Expressing personal opinion: Rule 7 of AIS Rules states, “No member of the Service shall, in any radio broadcast or communication over any public media or in any document published anonymously, pseudonymouslyor in his own name make any statement of fact or opinion,— Which has the effect of an adverse criticism of any current or recent policy or action of the Central Government or a State Government.
• Taking dowry and Gifts: No member of the Service shall— (i) give or take or abet the giving or taking of dowry; or (ii) demand, directly or indirectly, from the parents or guardian of a bride or bridegroom, as the case may be, any dowry.
  • A member of the service may accept gifts from his near relatives or from his  personal friends having no official dealings with them, but shall make a report to the Government if the value of such gift exceeds Rs.25,000.
• Penalty:Transgressions can attract two kinds of penalties — major and minor. Major penalties can include “dismissal” from the service as well.

General Studies Paper 1

Context: On the occasion of International Museum Day PM Modi unveiled the Expos mascot – a “contemporised” version of the famous Dancing Girl of Mohenjodaro. The traditional craft of Channapatna toys was used to create this mascot.

Channapatna toys

• Channapatna toys are a particular form of wooden toys and dolls that are manufactured in the town of Channapatna in the Ramanagara district of Karnataka.
• This traditional craft is protected as a Geographical Indication (GI).
• As a result of the popularity of these toys, Channapatna is known as the Gombegala Ooru (toy- town) of Karnataka.
• Traditionally, the work involved lacquering the wood of the Wrightia tinctoria tree, colloquially called Aale mara (ivory-wood).

Mohenjo-Daro

• Mohenjo-Daro or the“Mound of the dead” lies in Larkana district of Sindh (Pakistan), about 5 km away from the Indus.
• It is one of the largest of the Indus Valley Civilization sites.
• It was discovered by archeologists Rakhaldas Banerji and Sir John Marshall.
• The site is famous for its elaborate town planning with street grids with brick pavements, developed water supply, drainage, and covered sewerage systems, homes with toilets, and monumental buildings.
• Its excavations revealed findings like the Great Bath, Great Granary, a large assembly hall, temple-like structure, the seal of Pashupati and a bust of a bearded man.
• It is the most glaring example of town planning in the Harappan civilization. The city is divided into citadel and lower city.
• The civilization went into decline in the middle of the second millennium BC for reasons that are believed to include catastrophic climate change.

About the Mohenjo Daro Dancing Girl

• The Dancing Girl was discovered in 1926, by British archaeologist Ernest McKay in a ruined house in the ‘ninth lane’ of Mohenjodaro’s citadel.
• Even though Mohenjodaro and Harappa became part of Pakistani territory after the Partition, the Dancing Girl remained in India as part of an agreement.
• Today, the bronze figurine sits in the National Museum of India as an artifact, often referred to as its “star object”.

Why is it called Dancing Girl?

• Over the years, the Dancing Girl has been an object of fascination for archaeologists and historians. Of particular interest has been the pose the woman strikes and what that means.
• John Marshall, Director-General of the ASI from 1902 to 1928 who oversaw the initial excavations in Harappa and Mohenjodaro, described the figurine as “a young girl, her hand on her hip in a half-impudent posture, and legs slightly forward as she beats time to the music with her legs and feet”.
• As Marshall’s description suggests, it is the pose that the figurine strikes that has led historians to believe that the woman depicted was a dancer.However, there is no other evidence to support this claim.
• Recent work on the issue has suggested that the “dancer” label came from readings of Indian history from later dates,when court and temple dancers were commonplace.

Significance

• The Dancing Girl is evidence of the civilisation’s knowledge of metal blending and lost-wax casting– a complicated process by which a duplicate sculpture is cast from an original sculpture to create highly detailed metallic artefacts.
• Moreover, the very existence of a figurine such as the Dancing Girl, indicates the presence of high art in Harappan society.
• While art has probably been around since the very beginning of human existence, the degree of its sophistication indicates a society’s advancement.
• The Dancing Girl by all appearances is not an object built for some utilitarian purpose – artists took great time to create an artefact of purely symbolic, aesthetic value.

General Studies Paper 2

Context: The 2021 Census in India had to be postponed for the first time in the past 150 years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite the pandemic ending and the return to normalcy, the Census is still pending.

It was initially proposed to be an entirely digital exercise, with all the information being fed into a mobile app by the enumerators. However, owing to ‘practical difficulties’, it was later decided to conduct it in ‘mix mode’, using either the mobile app or the traditional paper forms.

Note: According to the State of World Population report 2023 released recently by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), India will overtake China to become the world’s most populous country by the middle of 2023.

What is the Census?

Definition:

• Population Census is the total process of collecting, compiling, analyzing and disseminating demographic, economic and social data pertaining, at a specific time, of all persons in a country or a well-defined part of a country.
• Census is the basis for reviewing the country’s progress in the past decade, monitoring the ongoing schemes of the government and plan for the future.
• It provides an instantaneous photographic picture of a community, which is valid at a particular moment of time.

Phases: The Census Operations in India are carried out in two phases:

• Houselisting/Housing Census under which details of all buildings, permanent or temporary, are noted with their type, amenities, and assets.
• Population Enumeration where more detailed information on each individual residing in the country, Indian national or otherwise is noted.
• It is carried out after making a list of all households that are surveyed.

Frequency:

• The first synchronous census was taken in 1881, by W.C. Plowden, Census Commissioner of India. Since then, censuses have been undertaken uninterruptedly once every ten years.
• The Census of India Act of 1948 provides the legal framework for carrying out the Census however, it does not mention its timing or periodicity.
• Hence, a Census is Constitutionally mandated in India but there is no Constitutional or legal requirement that it needs to be conducted decennially.
• The 10-year frequency is followed in many countries (Ex. the US and the UK) but some countries like Australia, Canada, Japan conduct it every five years.

Nodal Ministry:

• The decennial Census is conducted by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Until 1951, the Census Organisation was set up on an ad-hoc basis for each Census.

What is the Significance of Census?

Primary and Authentic Data:

• It generates primary and authentic data that forms the foundation of various statistical analyses. This data is essential for planning, decision-making, and development initiatives in various sectors, such as administration, economy, and social welfare.
• It is not the legal requirement but the utility of the Census that has made it a permanent regular exercise. Reliable and up-to-date data is vital as it influences the accuracy of indicators used in different aspects of India’s progress.

Demarcation:

• Census data is utilized for demarcation of constituencies and allocation of representation in government bodies.
• It plays a crucial role in determining the number of seats to be reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in Parliament, State legislatures, local bodies, and government services.
• In the case of panchayats and municipal bodies, the reservation of seats for SCs and STs is based on their proportion in the population.
• This ensures proportional representation and promotes inclusivity in the political and administrative systems.

Better Access for Businesses:

• The census data is also important for business houses and industries for strengthening and planning their business for penetration into areas, which had hitherto remained, uncovered.

Giving Grants:

• The Finance Commission provide grants to the states on the basis of population figures available from the Census data.

What can be the Consequences of Delaying Census?

Challenges in Framing Policy:

• A break in the Census periodicity can result in data that is not comparable to previous sets, creating challenges in analyzing trends and making informed policy decisions.
• Lack of reliable data – 12-year-old data on a constantly changing metric is not reliable – has the potential to upset every indicator on India and affect the efficacy and efficiency of all kinds of developmental initiatives.

Political Misrepresentation:

• Delaying the Census has consequences for the reservation of seats for SCs and STs in various governing bodies.
• The data from the 2011 Census would continue to be used, which may result in inaccurate seat reservations.
• This is particularly problematic in towns and panchayats where there have been significant changes in population composition over the last decade.

Unreliable Estimates on Welfare Measures:

• The delay will impact government schemes and programmes, and would result in unreliable estimates from other surveys on consumption, health and employment, which depend on census data to determine policy and welfare measures.
• As many as 100 million people are likely to be excluded from the government’s food subsidy programme—the Public Distribution System (PDS)—as the population figures used to calculate the number of beneficiaries are from the 2011 census.

Impact on Houselisting:

• Houselisting takes nearly a year to complete, as it requires enumerators to locate addresses and gather relevant information. In India, houselisting is particularly crucial because the country lacks a robust address system.
• Delaying the census means that the list becomes outdated, as changes in households, addresses, and demographics occur over time.
• This can result in incomplete or incorrect information, leading to a less reliable foundation for subsequent population enumeration and data collection

Lack of Migration Data:

• The outdated 2011 Census data couldn’t provide answers to important questions regarding the numbers, causes, and patterns of migration.
• During the Covid lockdown, the sight of migrant workers leaving cities and walking back to their villages highlighted their challenges.
• The government lacked information on the stranded migrants and their requirements for food relief and transportation support.
• The upcoming Census is expected to capture the scale of migration towards smaller towns in addition to major cities, shedding light on healthcare and social service needs specific to migrants.
• This data can help in identifying the necessary support and services required by migrants and their locations.

Way Forward

• The government should prioritize conducting the Census at the earliest possible time.
• Efforts should be made to leverage technology and innovative methods to streamline the data collection process.
• The government should allocate necessary resources and manpower to ensure a smooth and efficient Census operation.
• Timely completion of the Census is crucial for accurate data, informed policy decisions, effective governance, and inclusive development in various sectors.

General Studies Paper 3

Context: There can be no denying that the era of electric vehicles (EVs) is well and truly upon us. With zero tailpipe emissions, EVs are a direct cure for air pollution and will also help reduce oil imports.

• There has been a significant rise in the production and sales of electric vehicles in recent years. Many major automobile manufacturers have invested heavily in EV technology, launching a wide range of electric models to cater to the growing demand. This increased availability and diversity of electric vehicles contribute to the notion that the era of EVs is indeed underway.
• Advancements in battery technology and infrastructure have played a crucial role in accelerating the adoption of EVs. The development of more efficient and affordable batteries has extended the driving range of electric vehicles, reducing range anxiety for consumers. Additionally, the expansion of charging infrastructure, including public charging stations and home charging solutions, has improved the convenience and accessibility of EVs for drivers.
• Furthermore, governments and policymakers around the world have shown a strong commitment to promoting electric vehicles as a means to address climate change and reduce emissions.

Why are EVs crucial?

Environmental Benefits: EVs have the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.

• Unlike fossil fuel engine vehicles, EVs produce zero tailpipe emissions.
• EVs help reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) and other pollutants that contribute to air pollution, smog, and global warming.
• Electric vehicles help reduce harmful pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
• This has a direct positive impact on public health, as cleaner air reduces the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
• Energy Diversity and Security: EVs contribute to energy diversity by reducing dependence on oil imports.
• As the electricity grid can be powered by a mix of energy sources, including renewables like solar and wind, EVs offer the opportunity to shift transportation towards cleaner and more sustainable energy options.
• This reduces vulnerability to fluctuations in oil prices and enhances energy security by reducing reliance on fossil fuel imports.
• Technological Advancements and Job Creation: The development and adoption of EVs have spurred technological advancements in battery technology, electric drivetrains, and charging infrastructure.
• These advancements not only benefit the automotive sector but also have broader applications, such as energy storage for renewable energy sources and grid stability.
• Electric mobility creates jobs and innovation in battery manufacturing, renewable energy, and charging infrastructure.
• Long-Term Cost Savings: Electric vehicles have lower operating costs, as electricity is generally cheaper than gasoline or diesel. Moreover, EVs have fewer moving parts and require less maintenance, resulting in reduced servicing and repair expenses over time.
• Decongesting Cities: Electric vehicles can help decongesting cities by promoting shared mobility and compact design.
• Shared mobility refers to the use of vehicles as a service rather than as a personal asset. This can reduce the number of vehicles on the road and the need for parking space.
• Compact design refers to the use of smaller and lighter vehicles that can fit more easily in urban spaces. This can also reduce congestion and emissions.
• Innovative and futuristic smart EVs for shorter intra-city distances, day- trips, and the like would not need a bigger battery. That means less time to recharge and lower cost.

What are the challenges for EVs?

• High Initial Cost: The upfront cost of purchasing an electric vehicle is relatively higher compared to conventional vehicles. The high initial cost makes it less affordable for many potential buyers, limiting the demand for EVs.
• This cost difference is primarily due to the expensive battery technology used in EVs.
• Limited Charging Infrastructure: In India, the charging infrastructure is still in the early stages of development and is concentrated in major cities.
• The lack of a robust and widespread charging network makes it inconvenient for EV owners, especially for those living in apartments or without dedicated parking spaces.
• Range Anxiety: Range anxiety refers to the fear or concern of running out of battery charge while driving. Limited driving range is a significant challenge for EV adoption.
• Although EV ranges have been improving, there is still a perception that EVs may not offer sufficient range for long-distance travel, particularly in a country with vast distances like India.
• The batteries in EVs degrade over time, which can lead to a decrease in range.
• Battery Technology and Supply Chain: The production of lithium-ion batteries, which are a key component of EVs, requires specific minerals and rare earth elements.
• India currently relies heavily on imports for battery manufacturing, leading to supply chain challenges.
• The charging time of EVs is longer than the refuelling time of conventional vehicles, which affects their convenience and usability.
• Limited Model Options: Currently, the availability of electric vehicle models in India is relatively limited compared to conventional vehicles. The market needs more options in various segments, including affordable EVs, to cater to diverse consumer preferences and requirements.

What are some government initiatives to promote EV adoption?

• The Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME)scheme II, which provides incentives for EV manufacturers and buyers. These incentives include subsidies, tax rebates, preferential financing, and exemptions from road tax and registration fees.
• The National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP), which sets out the target to achieve 6-7 million sales of hybrid and electric vehicles year on year from 2020 onwards by providing fiscal incentives.
• The National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage, which seeks to create a comprehensive ecosystem for the adoption of EVs and support the establishment of giga-scale battery manufacturing plants in India.
• The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, which provides incentives for the manufacturing of electric vehicles and components.
• The Vehicle Scrappage Policy, which provides incentives for the scrapping of old vehicles and the purchase of new electric vehicles.
• The Go Electric campaign aims to create awareness on the benefits of EVs and EV charging infrastructure.
• India is among a handful of countries that support the global EV30@30 campaign, which aims for at least 30% new vehicle sales to be electric by 2030.
• The Ministry of Power, in its revised guidelines on charging infrastructure (MoP Guidelines), has prescribed that at least one charging station should be present in a grid of 3 km and at every 25 kms on both sides of the highways.
• The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has also amended the Model Building Bye-laws, 2016 (MBBL) to mandate setting aside 20% of the parking space for EV charging facilities in residential and commercial buildings.

Conclusion

• India has set a very ambitious target to achieve net zero by 2070 at UNFCC COP26. To achieve this goal, EVs have a crucial role to play. While EVs themselves produce zero tailpipe emissions, the overall environmental impact of electric vehicles depends on the source of the electricity used to charge them. If the electricity is generated from renewable sources like solar or wind, the environmental benefits are maximized.

General Studies Paper 2

Context: Need is to re-emphasise the crucial, critical and life-giving nature of civil society.

About the Civil Society Organizations in India

• About:
  • India has a long history of civil society based on the concepts of daana (giving) and seva (service).
  • Civil society Organization (CSO)or non-governmental organization (NGO) are organizations that are voluntary in spirit and without profit-making objectives—have been active in cultural promotion, education, health, and natural disaster relief.
• Data on NGOs:
  • Today, about 5 million NGOs work in India(i.e., nonprofit, voluntary citizens’ groups organized on a local, national, or international level).
    • According to a survey conducted by Society for Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA),
      • 5% of NGOs are engaged in religious activities,
      • while 21.3% work in the area of community and/or social service.
      • About one in five NGOs works in education,
      • while 17.9% are active in the fields of sports and culture.
      • Only 6.6% work in the health sector.

Role of civil society

• The values of civil society are those of political participation and state accountability.
  • Thus, it provides the necessary basis for participation in formal political institutions.
• The institutions of civil society are associational. It advocates pluralism and is opposed to totalitarianism.
• When state becomes an authoritarian political institution, its authority is to be challenged by the civil society.
• Within the civil society, individuals enjoy enforceable rights of free expression, freedom to form associations, formulation of opinions and freedom to dissent. Civil society is a vital pre-condition for the existence of democracy.

Criticisms

• All over the world, the influence of civil society organisations is increasing, however, their credibility seems to be going down.
• One of the independent reports of 2018 stressed on some key observations and the most important among them were:
  • That civil society organisations are self-appointed rather than elected, and thus do not represent the popular will.
  • That civil society organisations receiving foreign funding are accountable to external rather than domestic constituencies and advance foreign rather than local agendas.
  • That civil society groups are elite actors who are not representative of the people they claim to represent.
    • Critics point to the foreign education backgrounds, high salaries, and frequent foreign travels of civic activists to portray them as out of touch with the concerns of ordinary citizens and only working to perpetuate their own privileged lifestyle.

Issues faced by the civil society

• Shrinking voice of CSOs:
  • It is widely claimed that the ability of civil society to shape policy and public discourse has shrunk drastically. Because civil society is seen to be the new frontier for war and foreign interference
• Financial crunch:
  • Because of the financial and structural constraints imposed on them, CSOs/movements are lacking conscientious youngsters, who naturally need some financial sustenance.
  • Thousands working in the social sector, particularly in grassroots organisations, have already been rendered jobless as the ban on sub-granting has caused resource starvation for these organisations.
• No possibility of tangible contribution:
  • Without sustained support, CSOs cannot positively mould public discourse or make a tangible impact on the nation at large.
  • With governments consciously avoiding CSOs/movements, their ability to shape policy is diminished (which adversely impacts organisational morale).
• The net result:
  • Faced with a drastically reduced spectrum of options, some progressives will migrate to safer avenues; others may limit the scope of their work
  • The net result is that civil society will be unable to speak truth to power, amplify the voices of the most vulnerable, enrich policies/legislation through constructive feedback, or further the collective good.

Suggestions

• For government:
  • The governments should also realise that some of its prominent acts or laws, such as the Right to Information Act, The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and the National Food Security Act, among others, will remain relevant if the foundations of civil society are strong.
    • Any attempt to disturb civil society will be tantamount to diluting these laws.
  • Any stringent measures would also adversely impact the monitoring of the implementation of various government schemes, such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, etc.
• For NGOs:
  • Alternate ways of funding:
    • Post new FCRA laws, many organisations have already started looking up to local resource mobilisation (LRM)and are largely focused on corporate funding through corporate social responsibility (CSR).
  • Charitable funding:
    • Civil society should explore how to encourage more collective giving, a form of charitable giving where groups pool their donations to create larger funds to tackle problems.
  • Utilizing technology:
    • There is increasing awareness that increased use of data and digital technology can make charities stronger and even better at what they do.
  • For young activists:
    • The one possibility that could emerge is that young activists could be inducted into political parties, either within the party organisation or in an aligned body.
    • This could create an institutionalised moral force within the parties (which could balance electoral compulsions with ethical/human rights considerations).
      • This would afford parties a layered systemic approach to thorny issues.

Way ahead

• It is civil society that makes India pluralistic, providing for alternatives beyond the ritualistic game of electoralism. It provides a compost heap of ideas that makes democracy a continuous drama of experiments.
• Civil society has to create a new sense of the commons, rework the rights of nature and create a new mode of constitutional thinking.
• Civil society has to think more internationally to function more creatively in local terms.

General Studies Paper 2

Context: Recently, at a press conference in Hiroshima, Japan, the UN Secretary-General has called for reforms in UNSC (United Nations Security Council) and Bretton Woods Institutions, citing that the current order is outdated, dysfunctional and unfair.

In the face of the economic shocks from the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine Conflict, the said institutions have failed to fulfil their core function as global safety nets.

Need for Reforming Bretton Woods Institutions:

• While these institutions performed well over their first 50 years – they have been struggling in more recent times as problems of rising inequality, financial instability and Protectionism have re-emerged.
• The threat of Climate Change and ecological stress, rising disasters and a more interconnected world with new threats like cyber-security and pandemics require a new International Financial Architecture.
• There has been biases in fund allocation and unregulated Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), the IMF allocated USD 650 billion in SDRs during the pandemic.
• The G7 countries, with a population of 772 million people, received USD 280 billion. The African continent, with 1.3 billion people, received only USD 34 billion.

What is the United Nations Security Council?

About:

• The UN Security Council was established by the UN Charter in 1945 and is one of the 6 principal organs of the United Nations.
• UNSC has 15 members: 5 permanent members (P5) and 10 non-permanent members elected for 2-year terms.
• The P5 are: US, Russia, France, China and the UK.
• India has been a non-permanent member of the Council during 1950-51, 1967-68, 1972-73, 1977-78, l984-85, 1991-92, 2011-12 and for the 8th time, entered the UNSC in 2021 and was on the council for the term 2021-22.

Issues with the UNSC:

Creating Problems for the Developing Countries:

• Developing countries are facing problems in three dimensions: Moral, power-related, and practical.
• A systemic and unjust bias in global economic and financial frameworks in favour of rich countries is generating “great frustration in the developing world”.

Limits the Representation:

• The absence of Africa, as well as countries like India, Germany, Brazil, and South Africa, from the permanent membership of the UN Security Council is seen as a significant drawback.
• It limits the representation of important nations and their perspectives on global issues, hindering effective decision-making on complex and interconnected problems.

Misuse of Veto Power:

• The P5 have anachronistic veto power in the UNSC which has faced criticism for being undemocratic and limiting the Council’s ability to make important decisions when any of the P5 disagrees.
• Many argue that such elite decision-making structures are not suitable for the current global security landscape.

What can be done to Address these Issues?

Bretton Woods:

There is a need to reshape and revitalize three global institutions -the IMF, WBG and the WTO (World Trade Organization) where:

• The IMF will focus on macroeconomic policy and financial stability, with stricter surveillance of advanced economies and their impact on global crises.
• The restructured WBG will prioritize sustainability, shared prosperity, and leveraging private capital effectively. It should work with others to address global challenges and act as a wholesaler of finance.
• A stronger WTO is needed for fair trade, faster dispute resolution, and the ability to respond swiftly to emergencies.
• The system needs more automatic and rule-based financing mechanisms to avoid delays and political influences.
• There needs to be regular calibrated SDR issues, global pollution taxes, and financial transaction taxes.
• A well-structured G-20 could provide overarching guidance to the Bretton Woods system and its interactions with other institutions.

UNSC:

• There is a need to ensure equal representation for all regions, including Africa, along with decentralization of power and authority, which will allow nations from all regions to voice concerns related to peace and democracy in their countries, making decision-making more representative and democratic.
• The focus should be on addressing global issues rather than preserving the privileges of the P5 nations.
• Urgent correction is needed to balance power between the P5 and the rest of the world, ensuring a more democratic and legitimate governance of the UNSC for international peace and security.
• The IGN (Intergovernmental Negotiation) process, which discusses UNSC reform, should be revised and re-energized, avoiding procedural tactics that hinder progress.