Syllabus: General Studies Paper 2

Why in News?

Recently, the year-end-review of the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment for the year 2022 was released.

What are Key Achievements of the Department?

• Reservation to Economically Weaker Sections (EWS):
  • Articles 15(6) and 16(6)were inserted in the Constitution vide the Constitution 103^rdAmendment Act 2019.
    • These Articles enable the States to provide upto 10% reservation for the EWS in Government jobs and Government Educational Institutions.
  • The Supreme Court of India, in November 2022, has upheld the validity of the Constitution 103rd Amendment Act 2019.

Nasha Mukht Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA):

• NMBA was launched in 2020 by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and is being implemented in 372 most vulnerable districts based on the findings of the first Comprehensive National Survey and inputs from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).
• It intends to reach out to the masses and spread awareness about substance use with focus on higher educational Institution, university campuses & schools, reaching out & identifying dependent population.
• Achievements:
  • Around 3 crore people have been sensitized on substance use including 3 Crore Youth and 2 Crore Women.
  • Events like ‘Nashe se Azaadi- A National Youth and Students Interaction Programme’,‘Naya Bharat, Nasha Mukt Bharat’, ‘NMBA Interaction with NCC’ are regularly organized to engage and connect with youth and other stakeholders.
  • National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR)is a scheme under which financial assistance is provided to State Governments, UT Administration, NGOs/VOs and Government Hospitals for different programmes for Drug Demand Reduction for Awareness Generation, Capacity Building, Counselling, Treatment and rehabilitation.

Pre & Post Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Castes:

• National Overseas Scholarship Scheme:
  • Department of Social Justice & Empowerment (DoSJE) is implementing the National Overseas Scholarship (NOS)for Scheduled Caste etc. under which financial assistance is provided to selected students from Scheduled Castes, De notified, Nomadic & Semi – Nomadic Tribes, landless agricultural laborers and traditional artisan categories, for pursuing Masters and PhD level courses abroad.
  • Number of seats under NOS has been increased from 100 to 125 with effect from 2021-22.
• National Fellowships for SC Students (NFSC):
  • The objective of the Scheme is to provide fellowships in the form of financial assistance to students belonging to Scheduled Caste category to pursue higher studies leading to M. Phil., Ph.D. in Science, Humanities and Social Science streams, in Indian Universities/Institutions/Colleges recognized by University Grants Commission (UGC).

Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM AJAY):

• It has been framed after merging the three erstwhile schemes namely:
  • Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY)
  • Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCA to SCSP)
  • Babu Jagjivan Ram Chatrawas Yojana (BJRCY)
• Developments:
  • Grants-in-Aid Component (Erstwhile SCA to SCSP):
    • The financial Assistance has been enhanced from Rs.10,000/- to Rs. 50,000/- or 50% of the asset cost, whichever is lesser for beneficiary/ household.
    • Web based portal has been developed for submission, appraisal, and approval and monitoring of Annual Action Plan through portal.

National Backward Classes Finance & Development Corporation (NBCFDC):

• NBCFDC was incorporated under Section 25 of the Companies Act 1956 in 1992 (now section 8 of Companies Act 2013) as a Company not for profit with an objective to promote economic and developmental activities for the benefit of Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
• Achievements:
  • During the year 2022 (Jan-Nov 2022), NBCFDC disbursed funds of Rs. 418 Crores for more than 1.2 lakh beneficiaries.

Dr. Ambedkar Foundation (DAF):

• DAF has launched a new scheme  Ambedkar Centre of Excellence (DACE),which has been implemented in 30 Central Universities throughout the country, for coaching of Scheduled Caste students for Civil Services Examination (CSE).
• Ambedkar Medical Scheme was implemented successfully with 173 beneficiaries.
• Ambedkar Scheme for Social Integration through inter Caste Marriages benefitted 218 beneficiaries.

Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas (SHRESHTA):

• The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment implements the Central Sector Scheme of “Grant-in-Aid to Voluntary and other Organizations working for Scheduled Castes” under which financial assistance is provided to the NGOs for projects related to the Education sector to Scheduled Caste students.
• The scheme has been revised with effect from 2022-23 as(SHRESHTA) and a new component under Mode-I has been added to the Scheme, under which every year a specified number of meritorious SC students in the country will be selected for quality residential education in top-class residential High Schools through a nation-wide entrance test conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA).

Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi (PM DAKSH) Scheme:

• Under the PM DAKSH Scheme, skills are provided to marginalized persons covering SCs, OBCs, EBCs, DNTs, Sanitation workers including waste pickers, through Corporations (NSFDC, NBCFDC and NSKFDC) under the Department of SJE.
• Under it, NSFDC’s target is to provide skill training of 20,600 during 2022-23.
• Achievements:
  • During 2022, NBCFDC has sanctioned skill development training programmes for 19553 trainees.

National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE):

• Achievements of NAMASTE:
  • Coverage of 3944 manual scavengers/dependants under various Skill Development Training programmes.
  • Covered 8396 sanitation workers under RPL/Upskilling training programme.
  • Provided assistance of Rs. 8.17 crore to 445 manual scavengers/dependants for general self-employment programme.

Transgender:

• A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with National Health Authority in 2022 for providing a comprehensive Medical package to Transgender Persons in convergence with Ayushman Bharat Yojana.
• The Comprehensive Package would cover all aspects of transition related healthcare for Transgender persons. It will also (not exhaustive) provide coverage for hormone therapy, gender reassignment surgery inclusive of post operation formalities which can be redeemed at all private and government healthcare facilities.

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 2

Why in News?

The Parliamentary panel on Social Justice and Empowerment has asked the government to expedite categorisation of Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes under either the SC/ST/OBC lists. Delay would increase their suffering and deprive them of welfare schemes.

Who are Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes?

• These are communities that are the most vulnerable and deprived.
• DNTs (Denotified) are communities that were ‘notified’ as being ‘born criminals’ during the British regime under a series of laws starting with the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871.
  • These Acts were repealed by the Independent Indian Government in l952, and these communities were “De-Notified”.
• A few of these communities which were listed as de-notified were also nomadic.
  • Nomadic and semi-nomadic communities are defined as those who move from one place to another rather than living in one place all the time.
• Historically, Nomadic Tribes and De-notified Tribes never had access to private land or home ownership.
• While most DNTs are spread across the Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) categories, some DNTs are not covered in any of the SC, ST or OBC categories.
• Many commissions and committees constituted since Independence have referred to the problems of these communities.
  • These include the Criminal Tribes Inquiry Committee, 1947constituted in the United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh),
  • Ananthasayanam Ayyangar Committee in 1949(it was based on the report of this committee the Criminal Tribes Act was repealed),
  • Kaka Kalelkar Commission (also called first OBC Commission) constituted in 1953.
  • The B P Mandal Commission constituted in 1980also made some recommendations on the issue.
  • The National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (NCRWC), 2002held that DNTs have been wrongly stigmatised as crime prone and subjected to high handed treatment as well as exploitation by the representatives of law and order and general society.
    • The NCRWC was established under the chairmanship of Justice M N Venkatachaliah.
  • It has been estimated that South Asia has the world’s largest nomadic population.
    • In India, roughly 10% of the population is Denotified and Nomadic.
    • While the number of Denotified Tribes is about 150, the population of Nomadic Tribes consists of about 500 different communities.

What are the Challenges Faced by Nomadic Tribes?

• Lack of Basic Infrastructure Facilities: Like drinking water, shelter, and sanitation facilities are not available to the communities. Healthcare and education facilities are also not available.
• Bad Treatment by Local Administration: Due to the stigma of Criminals bestowed upon them in the past, they are still treated as criminals and tortured by the local administration and police.
• Lack of Social Security Cover: Since they are on move frequently, they do not have a permanent settlement. As a result, they lack social security cover and are not issued Ration Cards, adhar Card, and hence, they are not getting benefits under the government welfare schemes.
• The caste categorization is not very clear for these communities, in some states some of the communities are included under the SC category, in some other states they are included under OBCs.
  • However, most of the groups from these communities do not have caste certificates and hence are not able to avail the benefits of government welfare programs.

What are the Related Developmental Efforts Regarding?

• Ambedkar Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarship for DNTs:
  • This Centrally Sponsored Scheme was launched in 2014-15 for the welfare of those DNT students who are not covered under SC, ST or OBC.
  • The scheme of Pre-matric Scholarship for DNT students is helpful in spreading education amongst DNT children especially the girl child.
• Nanaji Deshmukh Scheme of Construction of Hostels for DNT Boys and Girls:
  • This Centrally Sponsored Scheme, launched in 2014-15, is implemented through State Governments/UT Administrations/Central Universities.
  • The aim of the scheme is to provide hostel facilities to those DNT students; who are not covered under SC, ST or OBC; to enable them to pursue higher education.
• Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs:
  • It aims to provide free competitive exam coaching, health insurance, housing assistance, and livelihood initiatives.
  • It ensures expenditure of Rs. 200 crores to be spent over five years beginning 2021-22.
  • The DWBDNCs (Development and Welfare Board for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities) has been tasked with the implementation of this scheme.
• DWBDNC:
  • DWBDNC was established under the Societies Registration Act, 1860under the aegis of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for the purpose of implementing welfare programmes.
  • The DWBDNC was constituted on 21st February 2019, under the chairmanship of Bhiku Ramji Idate.

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3

Why in News?

In many of the world’s top economies, including the United States, the biggest and most consequential, there are fears of recession as the new year approaches.

• The US does look headed for a recession —a key pointer is the inversion of US treasury yields.

What is a Recession?

• A recession typically involves the overall output in an economy contracting for at least two consecutive quarters, along with job losses and reduction in overall demand.
• The US National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)decides whether the economy is in a recession based on its assessment of the depth, diffusion, and duration of the impact on the economy.
  • Sometimes, the duration may not be long but the decline could be very severe — as it happened in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • Or, the depth and diffusion may be relatively less but the downturn may last long — as is expected in the United Kingdom in the wake of the economic crisis.

What are US Treasuries?

• In any economy, the safest loans are those that are given to governments — entities that will always be there, and which typically do not default on their debt.
• Governments need to borrow money because their tax revenues more often than not aren’t enough to finance all their spending.
• The instrument by which the government borrows from the market is called a government bond.
• In India they are called G-secs, in the UK they are called gilts, and in the US, they are called

What is the Yield of a Treasury?

• Unlike a bank loan, on which the interest rate varies with time, a government bond comes with pre-determined “coupon” payment.
• So, the US government may “float” a 10-year bond with a face value of USD100 and coupon payment of USD 5. This means, if you lend USD100 to the US government by buying this bond, you would get USD 5 each year for the next 10 years plus the whole sum of USD100 at the end of 10 years. This would imply a yield of 5%.
• But if for some reason one sold this bond to another investor, the yield will change depending on the price at which the bond is sold. If the price increases — say, the bond is sold for USD110 — the yield will fall because the annual return (USD5) remains the same. And if the price falls, the yield will rise.

What is the Yield Curve?

• Governments borrow for durations ranging from 1 month to 30 years.
• Typically, yields are higher for longer tenures because one is lending money for longer.
• If the yields for different tenures of bonds are mapped, it will give an upward-sloping curve.
• The curves can be flat or steep depending on the money available in the market and the expected overall economic activity. When investors feel buoyant about the economy, they pull money out of long-term bonds and put it into short-term riskier assets such as stock markets. As prices of long-term bonds fall, their yields rise — and the yield curve steepens.

What is Yield Inversion?

• Yield inversion happens when yields for shorter duration bonds are higher than the yields on longer duration bonds. If investors suspect that the economy is heading for trouble, they will pull out money from short-term risky assets (such as stock markets) and put it in long-term bonds. This causes the prices of the long-term bonds to rise and their yields to fall. This process first leads to flattening and eventually the inversion of the yield curve.
• Yield inversion has long been a reliable predictor of recession in the US — and US treasuries have been witnessing yield inversion for a while now.
• The spread between the yields of 10-year and 3-month treasuries has turned negative.

Why does this matter to India?

• Rising interest rates are likely to make theUS dollar even more strong against the rupee. Indian imports will become costlier as a result, and could fuel domestic inflation.
• Higher returns in the US may also lead to some rebalancing of the investments coming to India.
• Indian exports may benefit due to a weaker rupee but a recession will dampen the demand for Indian exports.

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3

Why in News?

Farmers in Madhya Pradesh who follow regenerative farming methods find that they reduce the need for frequent irrigation, which conserves water and energy.

What is Regenerative Agriculture?

• Background:
  • The Green Revolution of the 1960s pulled India from the brink of starvation, but the revolution also made India the world’s biggest extractor of groundwater.
    • According to the UN’s World Water Development Report, 2022, India extracts 251 cubic km or more than a quarter of the world’s groundwater withdrawal each year; 90 % of this water is used for agriculture.
  • Currently, there is severe and widespread deficiency of organic carbon and micronutrients in Indian soils.
  • If agriculture is to continue to feed the country’s undernourished population — 224.5 million, according to the UN’s State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World, 2022 —and drive its economy, it needs to work in harmony with nature, not against it.
  • Farmers, activists and agricultural research organisations across the world are thus developing methods of chemical-less farming which uses natural inputs and cultivation practices such as crop rotation and diversification, which fall under the wider umbrella of regenerative agriculture.
• About Regenerative Agriculture:
  • Regenerative agriculture is a holistic farming system that focuses on soil health, food quality, biodiversity improvement, water quality and air quality through methods such as reducing the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, reducing tillage, integrating livestock and using cover crops.
  • It adheres to the following principles:
    • Minimize soil distribution through conservation tillage
    • Diversify crops to replenish nutrients and disrupt pest and disease lifecycles
    • Retain soil cover using cover crops
    • Integrate livestock, which adds manure to the soil and serves as a source of carbon sinks.

What are the Advantages of Regenerative Agriculture?

• Improves Soil Health:
  • It goes a step ahead of sustainable agriculture and aspires not only to maintain the resources like soil and water but also to improve them.
    • According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, healthy soil helps in better water storage, transmission, filtering and reduces agricultural run-off.
  • Water conservation:
    • Healthy soil helps in improving water-use efficiency by better water storage, transmission, filtering and reduces agricultural run-off.
      • Studies have established that 1% increase in soil organic matter per 0.4 hectare increases water storage potential by more than 75,000 litres.
    • Energy Conservation:
      • Regenerative Agriculture practices conserve energy used by irrigation aids such as pumps.

What are Indian Efforts to Promote Regenerative Agriculture?

• The National Project on Organic Farming:
  • The National Project on Organic Farming is the country’s longest experiment on the practice, ongoing since 2004 and conducted by ICAR-Indian Institute of Farming System Research, Meerut.
• Systematic Rice Intensification:
  • A method in which seeds are spaced at wider distances and organic manure is applied to improve yields.
• Zero-Budget Natural Farming:
  • It is also known as Subhash Palekar Natural Farming and emphasises on preparing and using inputs made from crop residue, cow dung and urine, fruits, among other things.
• Samaj Pragati Sahyog:
  • It is a grassroots organisation that promotes natural methods to control agricultural pests such as composting and recycling of crop residues, use of farm yard manure, cattle urine and application of tank silt, has also made efforts to this end.
    • It has conducted field trials with 1,000 farmers on more than 2,000 ha of land in four districts of Madhya Pradesh and one district of Maharashtra in 2016-18, to measure the water saved.

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 2

Why in News?

On the geopolitical and diplomatic stage, 2022 was a difficult year, especially following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

How did India handle the Ukraine Crisis?

• Following Non-Alignment Policy:
  • The war in Ukraine saw the government spell out its version of “non-alignment”, as it sought to keep a balance in the growing polarisation between the U.S. and the European Union on one side, and Russia on the other.
  • On one side the Indian Prime Minister made his discomfort with the war clear directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin with the words “This era is not for war” and on the other hand refused to accept western sanctions, growing military and oil trade with Russia, and seeking rupee-based payment mechanisms to facilitate them.
• Refusing to Vote on the Resolution:
  • Most significantly, in more than a dozen resolutions at the United Nation Security Council (UNSC), United Nations General Assembly (UNGA),International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Human Rights Commission, and other multilateral platforms seeking to censure Russia for the invasion and humanitarian crisis, India chose to abstain.
    • The Indian Foreign Policy said that India’s policy was guided by its national interests, telling those who expected India to take sides, “Tough luck if our policies do not meet your expectations”.

What were the Other Highlights in Foreign Policy in 2022?

• Returning to Free Trade Agreements (FTAs):
  • In 2022, India returned to FTAs, after a break of several years when India had called for a review of all FTAs, scrapped all Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) and walked out of the 15-nation Asian Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
  • In 2022, India signed trade agreements with the UAE and Australia, and hopes to progress on talks with the EU, Gulf Cooperation Council and Canada for others.
• Joining US led IPEF:
  • India also joined the S.-led Indo-Pacific Economic Forum (IPEF), although it later decided to stay out of trade talks.

What about Ties with Neighbours?

• Sri Lanka:
  • India’s foreign policy was marked by economic assistance to Sri Lanka in the midst of its collapse.
• Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal:
  • Foreign policy of India is marked by regional trade and energy agreements with Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal that could see a South Asian energy grid emerge.
• Central Asian countries:
  • India has also strengthened ties with Central Asian countries on connectivity.
    • India has restarted efforts to revive the much-delayed Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline project.
    • India also discussed the best use of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).
    • Steps have also been taken to operationalize the Chabahar port in Iran which can provide a secure, viable and unhindered access to the sea for the Central Asian countries.
    • In addition, the Ashgabat Agreement on International Transport and Transit Corridor (ITTC) was discussed to enhance connectivity between India and Central Asian countries.
  • Afghanistan and Myanmar:
    • The government kept channels open with repressive regimes like Afghanistan’s Taliban and the Myanmar Junta, opening a “technical mission” in Kabul and sending the foreign secretary to Myanmar to discuss border cooperation.
    • Earlier in December, 2022 India abstained on a UNSC vote calling for Myanmar to end violence and release political prisoners.
  • Iran and Pakistan:
    • With Iran too, where protests against the killing of an activist have brought thousands onto the streets, India has steered clear of any criticism.
    • However, ties with Pakistan remain flat, with a big showdown at the UN in December, 2022 between the foreign ministers of the two nations.

What Progress has been made in the LAC-China Standoff?

• Despite a visit to Delhi by China’s Foreign Minister and disengagement at some stand-off points, tensions at the Line of Actual Control remained high, and an unsuccessful Chinese PLA attempt to take Indian posts at Yangtse in Arunachal Pradesh ended the year, signalling more violent clashes in 2023.
• In spite of the fraught state of relations, India is due to host the Chinese President twice in 2023, at the G-20and SCO summits, opening up the possibility for talks to end the standoff.

What are the Current Challenges in India’s Foreign Policy?

• Pakistan-China Strategic Nexus:
  • The most formidable threat India faces today is from the Pakistan-China strategic nexus that seeks to change the status quoat the contested borders and undermine India’s strategic security.
  • China’s aggressive actions since May 2020 to change the status quo at the Line of Actual Control have severely damaged Sino-Indian relations.
• China’s Expansion:
  • For India, the issue of how to balance China’s forays into South Asia and the Indian Ocean region is another concern.
  • Under the rubric of China’s much touted Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), it is developing China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Pakistan (through the Indian territory in the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir), building China-Nepal Economic Corridor, China-Myanmar Economic Corridor and dual use infrastructure in the littorals of the Indian Ocean.
• Balancing Big Power Relations:
  • India’s strategic autonomy precludes New Delhi to join any military alliance or strategic partnership that is inimical to another country or group of countries.
  • Traditionally, the West has perceived India closer to the Soviet Union / Russia. These perceptions are accentuated with India actively participating in SCO, BRICS and Russia-India-China (RIC) forum.
  • For India to balance an assertive China, it has to rely on external balancing in the Indo-Pacific to overcome the security dilemmas posed by the Pakistan-China hybrid threats.
  • India’s participation in QUAD, signing of foundational agreements with US, Japan, France, UK and Indonesia should be seen from that perspective.
• Refugee Crisis:In spite of not being a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, India has been one of the largest recipients of refugees in the world.
  • The challenge here is tobalance protection of human rights and national interest. As the Rohingya crisis unfolds, there is still a lot that India can do to facilitate the finding of long-term solutions.
  • These actions will be key in determining India’s regional and global standing on human rights.

Way Forward

• India should look forward to creating an external environment which is conducive for an inclusive development of India so that the benefits of growth can reach the poorest of the poor in the country.
  • And ensure that India’s voice is heard on global forums and that India is able to influence world opinion on issues of global dimensions such as terrorism, climate change, disarmament, reforms of institutions of global governance.
• As rightly said by Mahatma Gandhi, politics without principles and ethics would be disastrous. India should move towards collective development with an ethical persuasion reclaiming its moral leadership in the world at large.
• As we live in a dynamic world, India’s foreign policy is therefore geared up to be proactive, flexible, and pragmatic in order to respond quickly to changing situations.

Question For Practice

The long-sustained image of India as a leader of the oppressed and marginalised nations has disappeared on account of its new found role in the emerging global order.’ Elaborate. ( UPSC 2019)

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3

Why in News?

• The Centre has told the Supreme Court that a ban imposed by certain coastal States on purse seine fishing, which is known to disadvantage endangered species, is not justified.

What are the Issues?

• Currently, bans on purse seine fishing are implemented in the territorial waters of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry, Odisha, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands up to 12 nautical miles.
• While States such as Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, West Bengal have not imposed any such ban.

What is Purse Seine Fishing?

• About:
  • A purse seine is made of a long wall of netting framed with floating and leadline and having purse rings hanging from the lower edge of the gear, through which runs a purse line made from steel wire or rope which allow the pursing of the net.
  • The technique has been widely deployed on India’s western coasts.

• Advantages:
  • Purse-seine fishing in open water is considered to be an efficient form of fishing.
  • It has no contact with the seabed and can have low levels of by catch.
  • It can also be used to catch fish congregating around fish aggregating devices
  • It is used in the open ocean to target dense schools of single-species pelagic (midwater) fish like tuna and mackerel.

What are the Concerns?

• In some States, this technique linked to concerns about the decreasing stock of small, pelagic shoaling fish such as sardines, mackerel, anchovies and trevally on the western coasts.
• The scientific community argues that climatic conditions, including the El Nino phenomenon, are responsible for the declining catch of such fish in the last ten years.
• However, fishermen using traditional methods have placed the blame squarely on the rise of purse seine fishing, and fear a further fall in the availability of these small fish if the ban is lifted.
  • They have also demanded that, as the Centre has supported the lifting of the ban, it should publish the expert committee report it has based its stance on.
• A major concern is the dwindling availability of oil sardines, a favourite of Kerala fish eaters.
  • In 2021, Kerala recorded a catch of just 3,297 tonnes of sardine, a sharp decrease from the haul of 3.9 lakh tonnes in 2012.
• Purse seine is a non-targeted fishing gear and catches all sorts of fishes which come in the way of the net, including juveniles. Hence, they are very much detrimental to marine resources.

What is the Union Government’s Argument Against Ban?

• The Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has recommended the lifting of the ban on purse seine fishing on a report submitted by an expert committee.
• The expert panel has said that this mode of fishing “per se has not resulted in any serious resource depletion so far, given the available evidence”.
• The expert panel has recommended purse seiners to fish in territorial waters and the Indian Exclusive Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) subject to certain conditions.
• The committee has also suggested the framing of a “national management plan on purse seine fisheries.

What is the Jurisdiction of Fishing?

• Fishing is a state subject and the management plan for marine fisheries in territorial waters is the job of the State.
• State subject consists of 61 subjects (originally 66 subjects).
  • These are of local importance such as, local government, public order and police, agriculture, forest, public health and sanitation, fisheries, education, State taxes and duties. The states under normal circumstances have exclusive power to make laws on subjects mentioned in the State List.

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 2

Why in News?

• A recent hooch tragedy in Bihar claimed many lives and left several others critically ill and blind.

What is the Background of Liquor Ban in India?

• In India, attempts at prohibition have been influenced by the thinking of Mahatma Gandhi, who viewed alcohol consumption more as a disease than a vice.
• Following India’s independence, Gandhians continued to push for a liquor ban.
  • These efforts led to the inclusion of Article 47 in the Constitution.
• Several Indian states have enacted bans on alcoholic beverages.
  • For example, Haryana made several attempts at prohibition but was forced to abandon the policy due to the inability to control illicit distillation and bootlegging, which also resulted in many deaths.
• Prohibition has been in effect in Gujarat since 1^stMay 1960, but the liquor trade persists through the black market.
• Bihar’s prohibition, imposed in April 2016, which initially appeared to succeed and yield certain social gains.
  • However, following several deaths from consuming illicit liquor, the policy is increasingly coming under attack.
• Currently, there are five states (Bihar, Gujarat, Lakshadweep, Nagaland, and Mizoram) with total prohibition and some more with partial prohibition.

What is the Indian Constitution’s View of Alcohol?

• Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP)(Article 47):
  • It mentions that “in particular, the State shall endeavour to bring about prohibition of the consumption except for medicinal purposes of intoxicating drinks and of drugs which are injurious to health.”
  • While DPSPs are not in themselves legally enforceable, they set goals that the state should aspire towards to establish conditions under which citizens can lead a good life.
  • Thus, alcohol is seen by the Constitution and by extension, the Indian state, as an undesirable evil that needs to be regulated.
• Seventh Schedule:
  • According to the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, alcohol is a state subject, i.e., state legislatures have the right and responsibility to draft laws regarding it, including “the production, manufacture, possession, transport, purchase and sale of intoxicating liquors.”
  • Thus, laws regarding alcohol differ from state to state, falling in the whole spectrum between prohibition and private sale.

What is the Reason that Not all States have Banned Alcohol?

• While the Constitution sets prohibition on alcohol as a goal, for most states, it is very difficult to declare a ban on alcohol.
• This is primarily because liquor revenues are not easy to ignore and have consistently contributed a large share of state governments’ revenue.
  • For instance, in Maharashtra, state liquor revenues amounted to Rs 11,000 crore in April 2020 (during the nationwide Covid lockdown), compared with Rs 17,000 crore in March.

What are the Pros and Cons of Prohibition?

• Pros:
  • Various studies have provided evidence linking alcohol with domestic abuse or domestic violence.
• Case of Bihar: Crimes against women have clearly declined both in terms of rate (per 100,000 female population) and incidence (absolute numbers).
• Cons:
  • Strengthen Organised Crime Groups:
• Prohibition creates opportunities for a thriving underground economy that distributes liquor, outside the regulatory framework of the state.
• This creates its own problems, from strengthening organised crime groups (or mafias) to the distribution of spurious liquor.
• In the case of Bihar, it was reported that a year after prohibition was enforced, there was a spike in substance abuse.
• While the government made liquor more inaccessible, it is impossible to take it out of circulation completely.
  • Affects Poorer Sections of Society:
• Prohibition disproportionately affects poorer sections of society with upper classes still being able to procure expensive (and safe) alcohol.
• In Bihar, most of the cases registered under its prohibition laws are related to illicit or low-quality liquor consumption.
  • Burden on Judiciary:
• Bihar introduced complete prohibition in April 2016. While it certainly has led to reduction in alcohol consumption, the related social, economic, and administrative costs have been far too much to justify gains. Prohibition crippled the judicial administration.
• The former NV CJI Ramana had stated that decisions like the liquor ban in Bihar put a huge burden on courts. As of 2021, there are three lakh cases pending in the courts related to liquor ban.

Way Forward

• A Nuanced Approach is Needed:
  • There is a need for a nuanced approach that integrates the regulation of alcohol production and sale without compromising the requirements of public health.
  • The goal of an effective and sustainable alcohol policy can only be achieved through coordinated action between multiple stakeholders, such as women’s groups and vendors.
• Regulating Liquor:
  • On the regulation side, the rules on drunken driving and liquor advertisements can be tightened, and compulsory labelling on the dangers of excessive drinking can be mandated.
• On the advisory side, developed nations have adopted behavioural counselling, educating their people on the consequences of excessive liquor intake. Such campaigns help people make educated choices about their lifestyles.

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 2

Why in News?

• Good Governance Day (25^thDecember) is being celebrated on the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

What is Good Governance?

• About:
  • Governance is the process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented (or not implemented).
• Governance can be used in several contexts such as corporate governance, international governance, national governance and local governance.
  • Good Governance is defined as “the manner in which power is exercised in the management of a country’s economic and social resources for development”
  • The concept of good governance existed even during the days of Chanakya. He had mentioned it elaborately in
  • Citizens centric administration lies on the foundation of good governance.
• 8 Principles of Good Governance:
  • Participation:
• People should be able to voice their own opinions through legitimate immediate organizations or representatives.
• This includes men and women, vulnerable sections of society, backward classes, minorities, etc.
• Participation also implies freedom of association and expression.
  • Rule of Law:
• Legal framework should be enforced impartially,especially on human rights laws.
• Without rule of law, politics will follow the principle of matsya nyaya i.e. the law of fish which means the strong will prevail over the weak.
  • Consensus Oriented:
• Consensus oriented decision-making ensures that even if everyone does not achieve what they want to the fullest, a common minimum can be achieved by everyone which will not be detrimental to anyone.
• It mediates differing interests to meet the broad consensus on the best interests of a community.
  • Equity and Inclusiveness:
• Good governance assures an equitable society.
• People should have opportunities to improve or maintain their well-being.
  • Effectiveness and Efficiency:
• Processes and institutions should be able to produce results that meet the needs of their community.
• Resources of the community should be used effectively for the maximum output.
  • Accountability:
• Good governance aims towards betterment of people, and this cannot take place without the government being accountable to the people.
• Governmental institutions, private sectors, and civil society organizations should be held accountable to the public and institutional stakeholders.
  • Transparency:
• Information should be accessible to the public and should be understandable and monitored.
• It also means free media and access to information.
  • Responsiveness:
• Institutions and processes should serve all stakeholders in a reasonable period of time.

What are the Challenges to Good Governance in India?

• Women Empowerment:
  • Women are not adequately represented in government institutions, and other allied sectors.
• Corruption:
  • The high level of corruption in India has been widely perceived as a major obstacle in improving the quality of governance.
• Delay in Justice:
  • A citizen has the right to avail timely justice, but there are several factors, because of which a common man doesn’t get timely justice. One such factor is lack of personnel and logistics under disposal of court.
• Centralisation of Administrative System:
  • Governments at lower levels can only function efficiently if they are empowered to do so. This is particularly relevant for the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), which currently suffer from inadequate devolution of funds as well as functionaries to carry out the functions constitutionally assigned to them.
• Criminalisation of Politics:
  • The criminalisation of the political process and the unholy nexus between politicians, civil servants, and business houses are having a baneful influence on public policy formulation and governance.
• Other Challenges:
  • Environmental security, sustainable development and challenges of globalization, liberalisation and market economy.

What are the Indian Initiatives to improve Good Governance?

• Good Governance Index (GGI):
  • GGI has been launched by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions to determine the status of governance in the country.
  • It assesses the impact of various interventions taken up by the State Government and UTs.
• National e-Governance Plan:
  • It has the vision to “make all government services accessible to the common man in his locality, through common service delivery outlets and ensure efficiency, transparency & reliability of such services at affordable costs to realise the basic needs of the common man.”
• Right to Information Act, 2005:
  • It plays an effective role in ensuring transparency in governance.
• Other Initiatives: Setting up of NITI Aayog, Make in India programme, Lokpal, etc.

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3

Why in News?

• Recently, the Genetically Modified (GM) mustard Dhara Mustard Hybrid (DMH-11) was tested in the field and shown to be more productive.
• Production of theDMH-11 variety is not interfering with honey bees’ natural pollination practices.

What are Genetically Modified (GM) Crops?

• GM crops are derived from plants whose genes are artificially modified, usually by inserting genetic material from another organism, in order to give it new properties, such as increased yield, tolerance to a herbicide, resistance to disease or drought, or improved nutritional value.
  • Earlier, India approved the commercial cultivation of only one GM crop, Bt cotton, but Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) has recommended GM Mustard for commercial use.

What is GM Mustard?

• DMH-11is an indigenously developed transgenic mustard. It is a genetically modified variant of Herbicide Tolerant (HT) mustard.
• DMH-11is a result of a cross between Indian mustard variety ‘Varuna’ and East European ‘Early Heera-2’
• It contains two alien genes (‘barnase’ and ‘barstar’) isolated from a soil bacterium called Bacillus amyloliquefaciens that enable breeding of high-yielding commercial mustard hybrids.
• Barnase in Varuna induces a temporary sterility because of which it can’t naturally self-pollinate. Barstar in Heera blocks the effect of barnase allowing seeds to be produced.
• DMH-11has shown approximately 28% more yield than the national check and 37 % more than the zonal checks and its use has been claimed and approved by the
  • “Bar gene”maintains the genetic purity of hybrid seed.

Why is the Barnase/Barstar System Required?

• The hybrid seed production requires an efficient male sterility and fertility restoration system.
• The currently available conventional cytoplasmic-genetic male sterility system in mustard has limitations of breakdown of sterility under certain environmental conditions leading to lowering of seed purity.
• The genetically engineered barnase/barstar system provides an efficient and robust alternative method for hybrid seed production in mustard.
• In India, the Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants (CGMCP) has made a successful attempt with some alterations in the barnase/ barstar system which culminated in the development of GM mustard hybrid MH11 which has undergone the required regulatory testing processes during 2008-2016.

Why GM Mustard is Necessary?

• India’s import of edible oils is on continuous rise to meet the domestic demand. It ultimately led reduction forex. GM Mustard is essential to reduce the forex drain on Agri-import.
• Productivity of oilseed crops, soybean, rapeseed mustard, groundnut, sesame, sunflower, safflower and linseed in India is much lower than the global productivity of these crops.
• Crossing of genetically diverse parents results in hybrids with increased yield and adaptation

What are the Safety Concerns associated with DMH-11?

• The safety of three genes used in the creation of the technique Barnase, Barstar and Bar is being questioned.
• Field trials for three years (two years of BRL-I and one year of BRL-II) have been conducted to assess the impact on human health and environment as per the stipulated guidelines and applicable rules.
• It is important to note that comprehensive research on the toxicity, allergenicity, compositional analysis, field trials, and environmental safety studies of GM mustard has shown that they are safe for food and feed usage as well as for production.
• DMH-11has “Bar gene” which is responsible for herbicide tolerance. Effectiveness of “Bar Gene” is under question as per herbicide tolerance is concerned.

What is the Significance of Genetically Modified Crops?

• Crossing of genetically diverse plants results in hybrids with increased yield and adaptation, a phenomenon known as hybrid vigor heterosis which has been widely exploited in crops like rice, maize, pearl millet, sunflower and many vegetables.
• It has been convincingly demonstrated that hybrids in general show20-25% higher yield over the conventional varieties across the crops.
• Hybrid technology can play an important role in enhancing the productivity of rapeseed mustard in the country.

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 2

Why in News?

• Recently, the year-end-review of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj for the year 2022was released.

What are the Key Achievements of the Ministry?

• SVAMITVA Scheme:

• About:

• Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas (SVAMITVA)scheme was launched by the Prime Minister on National Panchayati Raj Day 2020 to enable economic progress of Rural India by providing “Record of Rights” to every rural household owner.

• Achievements:

• As on December 2022, drone flying has been completed in around 2 lakh villages.
• Droneflying has been saturated in Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Delhi, Haryana, Lakshadweep Islands, Puducherry, Uttarakhand, Goa, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• Property cards have been prepared for all the Inhabited villages of Haryana and Uttarakhand.
• e-Gram Swaraj e-Financial Management System:

• e-Gram Swaraj is a Simplified Work Based Accounting Application for Panchayati Raj.
• It assists in enhancing the credibility of Panchayat through inducing greater devolution of funds to Panchayati Raj Institutions. It brings better transparency through decentralized planning, progress reporting and work-based accounting.

• Geo-Tagging of Assets:

• Ministry has developed “mActionSoft”, a mobile based solution to help in capturing photos with Geo-Tags (i.e., GPS Coordinates) for the works which have assets as an output.
• As of December 2022, 2.05 lakh photographs of the assets have been uploaded by the Gram Panchayats for the activities taken under Fifteen Finance Commission in 2022.

• Citizen Charter:

• In order to focus on the commitment of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) towards its Citizens in respects of Standard of Services, the Ministry has provided platform to upload Citizen Charter document with the slogan “Meri Panchayat Mera Adhikaar – Jan Sevaayein Hamaare Dwaar”.
• Till December 2022, 2.15 lakh Gram Panchayats have uploaded their approved Citizen Charter and offering 952 services to citizen out of which 268 services are delivered through online mode.

• Audit Online:

• In order to provide audited reports of Panchayat accounts in the public domain, the Ministry had conceptualized the application “AuditOnline” for carrying out online audits of Panchayat accounts pertaining to Central Finance Commission Grants.
• It not only facilitates the auditing of accounts but also provisions for maintaining digital audit records pertaining to audits that have been carried out.

• Gram Urja Swaraj:

• The Ministry has started the Gram Urja Swaraj initiative, with an aim to promote adoption of renewable energy at Gram Panchayat level.
• The Ministry has also launched the Gram Urja Swaraj Portal in May 2022, to capture the inclination of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) towards adoption of renewable energy.

• Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan(2022-23 to 2025-26):

• The focus of the scheme of Revamped RGSA is on re-imagining Panchayati Raj Institutions as vibrant centers of local self-governance with special focus on Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs) at grassroot level adopting thematic approach through concerted and collaborative efforts of Central Ministries and State Line departments and other Stakeholders with ‘Whole of Government and Whole of Society’ approach.
• The Revamped RGSA will extend to all States and Union Territories (UTs) of the country.

• As of December 2022, an amount of Rs.435.34 crore has been released to 11 State and other implementing agencies and more than 13 lakh Elected Representatives, Functionaries and & other stakeholders of Panchayats were provided various and multiple trainings for which details have been uploaded on Training Management Portal.