General Studies Paper 3

Context:

Recently, the Visible Line Emission Coronagraph (VLEC), the primary payload on board   Aditya-L1, was handed over to  Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)  by the  Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA).

• ISRO is planning to launch the Aditya-L1 mission, first Indian space mission to observe the Sunby June or July 2023 to observe the Sun and the solar corona.

What is Aditya-L1 Mission?

• Launch Vehicle:
  • Aditya L1 will be launched using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) with 7 payloads (instruments) on board.
  • The 7 payloads include:
    • VELC
    • Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT)
    • Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer (SoLEXS)
    • Aditya Solar wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX)
    • High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer (HEL1OS)
    • Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA)
    • Advanced Tri-axial High Resolution Digital Magnetometers
  • Objective:
    • Aditya L1 will study the Sun’s corona, Sun’s photosphere, chromosphere, solar emissions, solar winds and flares, and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) and will carry out round-the-clock imaging of the Sun.
      • The mission will be launched by ISRO to the L1 orbit which is about 1.5 million km from the Earth. The orbit allows Aditya-L1 to look at the Sun continuously.

What is L1?

• L1 refers to Lagrangian/Lagrange Point 1, one of 5 points in the orbital plane of the Earth-Sun system.
  • Lagrange Points are positions in space where the gravitational forces of a two-body system like the Sun and Earth produce enhanced regions of attraction and repulsion.
• These can be used by spacecraft to reduce fuel consumption needed to remain in position.
• A Satellite placed in the halo orbit around the L1has the major advantage of continuously viewing the Sun without any occultation/ eclipses.
• The L1 point is home to the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory Satellite (SOHO), an international collaboration project of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the European Space Agency (ESA).

What are the Features and Significance of VELC Payload?

• Features:
  • VELC will be the main payload among seven designed to study various aspects of the sun and is one of the most precise instruments made in India.
  • It was conceptualised and designed in 15 years which will help in solving mysteries related to solar astrophysics.
• Significance:
  • It will help in studying the temperature, velocity and density of the corona,understand the processes that result in heating of the corona and acceleration of the solar wind, aid studies on drivers of space weather, measure the magnetic field of corona and study the development and origin of coronal mass ejection.

What are the Other Missions to the Sun?

• NASA’s Parker Solar Probe:  Aims to trace how energy and heat move through the Sun’s corona and to study the source of the solar wind’s acceleration.
  • It is part of NASA’s ‘Living With a Star’ programme that explores different aspects of the Sun-Earth system.
• Helios 2 Solar Probe:The earlier Helios 2 solar probe, a joint venture between NASA and space agency of erstwhile West Germany, went within 43 million km of the Sun’s surface in 1976.
• Solar Orbiter:  A joint mission between the ESA and NASA to collect data that will help answer a central question of heliophysics like how the Sun creates and controls the constantly changing space environment throughout the solar system.
• Other Active Spacecraft Monitoring the Sun:Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE), Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS), WIND, Hinode, the Solar Dynamics Observatory, and Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO).

General Studies Paper 2

Context:

• Recently, Supreme Court ruled that all women, irrespective of their marital status, are entitled to safe and legal abortion.

More about the ruling

• Issue:
  • The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act of 1971 and its Rules of 2003 prohibit unmarried women who are between 20 weeks to 24 weeks pregnant to abort with the help of registered medical practitioners.
• SC’s Judgement:
  • In a landmark judgement, the country’s apex court said that the rights available to married women under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971,to abort a foetus will also be available to unmarried women.
  • Court said that the“artificial distinction” between married and unmarried women cannot be sustained, and women must have the autonomy to have free exercise of these rights.
• Marital rape:
  • The bench also noted that for the sole purpose of the MTP Act, the meaning of rape must include marital rape.

Significance of the ruling

• On the same level:
  • The judgement would put unmarried women on par with anguished women with less than 20-week-old pregnancies.
• Similar risks for both:
  • Unmarried women run the danger of suffering a mental breakdown because they had conceived due to the failure of “family planning devices or methods”.
    • Medical risk is the same for both married and unmarried women
  • Safe abortion practice has been a concern in our country, and with this judgement, we can expect a reduction in morbidity and mortality associated with unsafe abortion practice.
• International significance:
  • The significant decision came months after the US Supreme Court overturned the historic 1973 Roe v Wade decision in a 6-3 decision that made abortion a constitutional right in the country.

Salient features of the “Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act 2021”:

• Abortions before 20 weeks of pregnancy:
  • Terminating a pregnancy up to 20 weeks will only require the medical advice of one doctor.
• Abortions up to or beyond 24 of pregnancy:
  • Abortion is legal for women in certain circumstances up to 24 weeks.
  • It would include:
    •  survivors of rape, victims of incest and other vulnerable women (like differently-abled women, minors) etc.
  • Opinion of 2 providers is required for termination of pregnancy of 20-24 weeks of gestation.
  • A state-level medical board will be set up to decide:
    • if pregnancy may be terminated beyond 20 months till 24 months.
    • Such a decision can be taken by the medical board only after
      • due consideration and
      • ensuring that the procedure would be safe for the woman.
      • The time frame available to the Medical Board is 3 days.
  • The upper gestation limit does not apply in cases of substantial foetal abnormalities diagnosed by the Medical Board.
• Anonymity: 
  • Name and other particulars of a woman whose pregnancy has been terminated shall not be revealed except to a person authorised in any law for the time being in force.
• Marital and age criteria:
  • Unmarried women can also access abortion under the above-mentioned conditions because it does not mention the requirement of spousal consent.
  • If the woman is a minor, however, the consent of a guardian is required.
• Intentionally causing a miscarriage:
  • Section 312 of the Indian Penal Code holds intentionally causing a miscarriage as a criminal offence.

Significance of the MTP Act

• Constitutional right:
  • The reproductive choice is personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Indian constitution.
• Reproductive Rights of a Woman:
  • The laws provide greater reproductive rights and dignity to women as abortion is considered an important aspect of the reproductive health of women.
• Right to Privacy:
  • The rape victims and vulnerable victims are also benefitted from Privacy Clause.
• Encouragement to Safe Abortion: 
  • Deaths and injuries from unsafe abortions are largely preventable provided services are performed legally by trained practitioners.
  • The procedures are performed under proper medical and surgical supervision if done in the hospital setting.
  • If termination pills are taken at home, it must be under medical supervision and follow up.

Criticisms:

• No Personal Choice:
  • The boards are unnecessary and an invasion of privacy of the pregnant women which pushes the laborious process a woman had to undergo in order to get an abortion.
  • As the law does not permit abortion at will, critics say that it pushes women to access illicit abortions under unsafe conditions.
• Increase in Gestational limit only in certain cases: 
  • It enhances the gestational limit for legal abortion from 20 to 24 weeks only for specific categories of women.
  • A woman who does not fall into these categories would not be able to seek an abortion beyond 20 weeks.
• Shortage of medical staff:
  • According to a 2018 study in the Lancet, 15.6 million abortions were accessed every year in India as of 2015.
  • The Act requires abortion to be performed only by doctors with specialisation in gynaecology or obstetrics.
  • However, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s 2019-20 report on Rural Health Statistics indicates that there is a 70% shortage of obstetrician-gynaecologists in rural India.

Way ahead

• Access to legal and safe abortion is an integral dimension of sexual and reproductive equality and must be a crucial element of conventional society.

General Studies Paper 2

Context:

• Recently, Singapore Minister in PMO was on a 2-day visit to India.

More about the visit

• The strategic partnership:
  • The strategic partnership between India and Singapore has shown its resilience and both sides look forward to further strengthening this important relationship in areas like trade, defence, science and innovation, education, governance and the digital economy.
• The upcoming collaborations:
  • India and Singapore are closely collaborating in cutting-edge areas that will shape the future.
    • The two countries are collaborating in fintech, information technology, cyber security, skill development, smart city solutions, renewable energy and food security.
  • Other areas of association:
    • Both sides also discussed establishing the Exchange Program of Civil Services and the PM Excellence Award to Singaporean Institutes of Excellence.
    • The Future of Work, Workforce and Workplace of Singapore has agreed to work closely with the Vision India-2047.

India and Singapore Relations

• Cultural relations:
  • Relations between the two countries have traditionally been strong and friendly, with the two nations enjoying extensive cultural and commercial relations.
• Economic partnership:
  • Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA):
    • India and Singapore have signed the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) in order to increase trade, investments and economic cooperation, and expanded bilateral cooperation on maritime security, training forces, and joint naval exercises, developing military technology and fighting terrorism.
  • Strategic Partnership:
    • This robust relationship was elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2015 during the visit of Prime Minister Modi and on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations
  • Investment partner:
    • Singapore is among India’s largest trade and investment partners in ASEAN and accounted for 22.13 % of our overall trade with ASEAN in 2014-15.
    • FDI:
      • Singapore has emerged as the top source nation in terms of foreign direct investment (FDI) equity flows into India for the financial year 2021-22.
      • The amount of FDI inflow from Singapore to India in fiscal year 2022 was estimated to be almost 16 billion U.S. dollars.
• Diplomatic relations:
  • India and Singapore are part of numerous groupings like G20, Commonwealth, IORA (Indian Ocean Rim Association), East Asia Summit, and IONS (Indian Ocean Naval Symposium.
    • Singapore supported India’s bid to become a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and expand its role and influence in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
  • Singapore also supported India in its war against Pakistan in 1965 and the Kashmir conflict.
• Military cooperation:
  • SIMBEX:
    • India and Singapore began their annual naval combat exercise, now called “SIMBEX” Several warships from India and Singapore took part in this interoperable combat exercise.
  • Defence Cooperation Agreement:
    • India and Singapore signed a Defence Cooperation Agreement, allowing the Singapore army and air force to conduct training on Indian soil.
  • Naval Cooperation:
    • India-Singapore Bilateral Agreement for Navy Cooperation was signed which gave Indian Navy ships access to Singapore’s Changi Naval Base near the disputed South China Sea, mutual logistical support and refuelling rights at the port.
  • India and Singapore signed the agreement for the “strategic relationship” across the board including defence and military, security and intelligence cooperation, political exchanges, enhancing trade and investment, improving financial linkages, improving air connectivity and cooperation in multilateral forums.
• Smart cities:
  • Singaporean companies continue to participate in a number of smart city, urban planning, logistics and infrastructure projects.
  • Singapore is working with Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra in preparing Master Plans for townships.
• Skill development:
  • Singapore is working with the Central and State Governments as well as Government organisations to establish skill development centres in various sectors.

General Studies Paper 3

Context:     

• Recently, it is reported that a rapidly spreading disease, commonly known as yellow band disease,is killing corals over vast stretches of the sea floor of
• Scientists believe overfishing, pollution and rising water temperatures because of climate change may be making the reefs more vulnerable to yellow-band disease.

What is Yellow Band Disease?

• Yellow-band disease – named for the colour it turns corals before destroying them-was first spotted decades ago and has caused widespread damage to reefs in the Caribbean. There is no known cure.
• The Yellow Band disease is caused by a combination of environmental stressors, including increased water temperatures, pollution, and sedimentation, as well as increased competition for space from other organisms.
  • These factors can weaken the coral and make it more susceptible to infection by pathogens,such as bacteria and fungi.
• The disease’s impact cannot be reversed, unlike the effects of  coral bleaching.

Significance of Coral Reefs:

• Ecological Importance:Coral reefs are one of the most diverse and productive ecosystems on Earth, providing habitat for a wide variety of plant and animal species.
  • They also play a critical role in regulating the planet’s climate by absorbing carbon dioxide and protecting coastlines from erosion and storm damage.
• Economic Importance:Coral reefs support a variety of industries, including fishing,  tourism, and recreation. They also provide resources for medicine and biotechnology.
• Climate Regulation: Coral reefs act as natural buffers against the impact of climate change by absorbing wave energy, protecting coastlines and reducing the impact of storms and sea level rise.
• Biodiversity:Coral reefs are home to a vast array of marine life, including fish, sharks, crustaceans, mollusks and many more. They are considered as the rainforests of the sea.

• Threats:
  • Climate change:Coral reefs are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, which is causing ocean acidification  and coral bleaching.
    • Coral bleaching occurs when coral polyps expel the algae (zooxanthellae) living in their tissues, causing the coral to turn completely white.
  • Pollution:Coral reefs are also threatened by pollution, including sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial discharge.
    • These pollutants can cause coral death and disease, as well as reduce the overall health of the reef ecosystem.
  • Overfishing: Overfishing can disrupt the delicate balance of coral reef ecosystems, which can lead to the decline of coral populations.
  • Coastal Development:Coastal development, such as the construction of ports, marinas, and other infrastructure, can damage coral reefs and reduce the overall health of the reef ecosystem.
  • Invasive Species:Coral reefs are also threatened by invasive species, such as the lionfish, which can outcompete native species and disrupt the overall balance of the reef ecosystem.
• Initiatives to Protect Corals:
  • Technological Intervention:
    • Cyromesh: Storage of the coral larvae at -196°C and can be later reintroduced to the wild
    • Biorock: Creating artificial reefs on which coral can grow rapidly
  • Indian:
    • National Coastal Mission Programme
  • Global:
    • International Coral Reef Initiative
    • The Global Coral Reef R&D Accelerator Platform

General Studies Paper 2

Context:

• Recently, on the occasion of the 74^th Republic Day, the President of Egypt was invited as the chief guest at the parade, this is the first time that an Egyptian President has been accorded this honour.
• A military contingent from Egypt also participated in the parade.
• Note:An invitation to be Chief Guest is an important honour that is very high on symbolism. New Delhi’s choice of Chief Guest every year is dictated by a number of reasons — strategic and diplomatic, business interest, and geopolitics.

What is the Status of the India-Egypt Relationship?

• History:
  • The history of contact between India and Egypt, two of the world’s oldest civilisations, can be traced back to at least the time of Emperor Ashoka.
    • Ashoka’s edicts refer to his relations with Egypt under Ptolemy-II.
  • In modern times, Mahatma Gandhi and the Egyptian revolutionary Saad Zaghloul shared the common goal of Independence from British colonial rule.
    • The joint announcement of establishment of diplomatic relations at Ambassadorial level was made on 18 August 1947.
  • India and Egypt signed a friendship treaty in 1955.In 1961, India and Egypt along with Yugoslavia, Indonesia and Ghana established the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

• In 2016, the joint statement between India and Egypt identified political-security cooperation, economic engagement and scientific collaboration, and cultural and people-people ties as the basis of a new partnership for a new era.

• Recent Scenario:
  • During this year’s meeting, both India and Egypt agreed to elevate the bilateral relationship to a “strategic partnership”.
    • The strategic partnership will have broadly four elements:political, defence, and security; economic engagement; scientific and academic collaboration; cultural and people-to-people contacts.
  • India and Egypt signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for three years to facilitate content exchange, capacity building, and co-productions between Prasar Bharati and the National Media Authority of Egypt.
    • Under the pact, both broadcasters will exchange their programmes of different genres like sports, news, culture, entertainment on bilateral basis.
  • A Partner within the OIC:
    • India views Egypt as a moderate Islamic voice among Muslim-majority countries, and as a partner within the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
  • Terrorism & Defence:
    • During this Republic Day meeting, India and Egypt expressed concerns about the spread of terrorism around the world as it is the most serious security threat to humanity. Consequently, the two countries agreed that concerted action is necessary to end  cross-border terrorism.
    • The two countries are looking at deepening defence and security cooperation. Moreover, the two Air Forces collaborated on the development of fighter aircraft in the 1960s, and Indian pilots trained their Egyptian counterparts from the 1960s until the mid-1980s.
      • Both the  Indian Air Force (IAF) and Egyptian air force fly the French Rafale fighter jets.
    • In 2022, a pact was signed between the two countries that have decided to also participate in exercises and cooperate in training.
    • The first joint special forces exercise between the Indian Army and the Egyptian Army, “Exercise Cyclone-I”has been underway since 14 January 2023 in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
  • Cultural Relations:
    • The Maulana Azad Centre for Indian Culture (MACIC) was established in Cairo in 1992. The centre has been promoting cultural cooperation between the two countries.
  • Difficult Time for Egypt:
    • Egypt’s economy has been in chaos over the past few years due to the pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war which impacted its supply of food as almost 80% of Egypt’s grain imported from Rusia and Ukraine and impacted Egypt’s foreign exchange reserves.

• In 2022, despite restrictions on the export of wheat India allowed shipments of 61,500 metric tonnes to Egypt.

• From India, Egypt is seeking investments in infrastructure including Metro projects, a  Suez Canal  economic zone, a second channel of the Suez Canal, and a new administrative capital in Egypt.
  • More than 50 Indian companies have invested more than USD 3.15 billion in Egypt.
• Geo-Strategic Concerns:
  • China’s bilateral trade with Egypt is currently at USD 15 billion, double that of India’s USD 7.26 billion in 2021-22.During the past eight years, the President of Egypt has traveled to China seven times to lure Chinese investments.
  • Egypt, the most populous country in West Asia, occupies a crucial geo-strategic location— 12% of global trade passes through the Suez Canal and is a key player in the region.
    • It is a major market for India and can act as a gateway to both Europe and Africa. However, it also has bilateral trade pacts with important West Asian and African nations which is a cause of concern for India.

General Studies Paper 1

Context:

• Recently, the Steering Committee of the Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP) held its third meeting in New Delhi.

River-linking in India 

• The idea of river-linking:
  • In the 1970s, the idea of transferring surplus water from a river to a water-deficit area was proposed by the then Union Irrigation Minister (earlier the Jal Shakti Ministry was known as the Ministry of Irrigation).
• National Perspective Plan (NNP):
  • About:
    • It was prepared by the then Ministry of Irrigation (now Ministry of Jal Shakti) in 1980 for water resources development through the inter-basin transfer of water.
    • It aimed for transferring water from water-surplus basins to water-deficit basins. 
  • The NPP comprised two components:
    • Himalayan Rivers Development: 
      • It envisages the construction of storage reservoirs on the main Ganga and Brahmaputra Rivers and their principal tributaries in India and Nepal so as to conserve monsoon flows for irrigation and hydro-power generation, besides flood control.
      • Links will transfer surplus flows of the Kosi, Gandak and Ghagra to the west.
      • Surplus flows that will become available on account of the interlinking of the Ganga and the Yamuna are proposed to be transferred to the drought-prone areas of Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
    • Peninsular Rivers Development:  
      • The main component of Peninsular Rivers Development is the “Southern Water Grid”which is envisaged to link Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Pennar, and Cauvery rivers. 

Significance of River interlinking 

• Balancing the uneven water availability: 
  • Most part of the country is monsoon dependent and the quantum of rain varies widely across different regions.
  • Therefore, interlinking will help in balancing the uneven water availability.
• Tackling droughts and floods:
  • The Indian Rivers Inter-link aims to link India’s rivers with a network of reservoirs and canals and so reduce persistent floods in some parts and water shortages in other parts of India.
• Efficient logistic movement: 
  • The interlinking of river projects can help India in increase connectivity by creating more inland waterways, therefore, cater the logistic deficiency.

Criticisms around River interlinking

• Damage to ecology: 
  • Changes to Rivers natural course will have an impact on all the flora and fauna, the wetlands and the floodplains that are intricately linked to the river system.
  • The long-term environmental impact of such a project is a major concern.
• Threat to Fertile deltas:
  • The River Linking Projects will not only reduce the inflow of the northern rivers but also significantly reduce the sediments deposited by the rivers in deltas.
    • Fertile deltas will be under threat,with coastal erosion expected to threaten the land and livelihoods of local economies.
  • Costly affair:
    • River inter-linking is an expensive business from building the link canals to the monitoring and maintenance of infrastructure.
  • Disagreement between the states: 
    • The states couldn’t agree on how water would be shared, particularly in the non-monsoonal months.
  • Regarding Ken-Betwa river link project:
    • Issues of water security:
      • Critics are concerned that the project will endanger the water security of Panna.
      • According to them, there may not even be enough water in the Ken, a non-perennial river, to meet the projected needs of the Betwa.
    • Inter-state conflicts:
      • This linking may also intensify water conflicts between Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh;
    • Endangering Panna Tiger Reserve & Ken Gharial Sanctuary:
      • Out of the 6,017 ha of forest area coming under submergence of Daudhan dam of Ken Betwa Link Project, 4,206 ha of the area lies within the core tiger habitat of Panna Tiger Reserve.
        • Panna is exceptional tiger habitat because of its deep gorges, which will be drowned if the new dam is built.
      • Downstream of the national park lies the Ken Gharial Sanctuary, created to protect the critically endangered Gangetic gharial.
      • Accoding to the experts, the destructive impact of the proposed dam on the flow of water into and outside of this sanctuary should be immediately clear.

Way ahead

• River interlinking can lead to large-scale displacement of people and animals.
  • Hence appropriate rehabilitation measures should be taken by the Government.
• A careful scientific assessment of the project and its impact on the environment is necessary in case of a project of this magnitude.

General Studies Paper 2

Context: Children with disability/disabilities (CWD) do not have accessible spaces and other guiding infrastructure in schools to get safely.

Children with disability/disabilities (CWD):

• There are more than 78 lakh children with disabilities in India between 5-19 years.
• Only 61% of children were attending an educational institution.
• About 12% had dropped out, while 27% had never been to school at all.
• There are fewer girls with disabilities in schools than boys
  • School enrollment: more girls with disabilities get left behind than boys.

UNESCO 2019 report:

• Census 2011: CWD comprises 7(one point seven)% of the total child population in India
• More than 70% of five-year-olds with disabilities in India have never attended any educational institution
• Many CWD also tend to drop out of school as they grow older.

Barriers to accessibility:

• Inaccessible school buses
• Inaccessible facilities in schools (drinking water facilities, canteens and toilets)
• Inappropriate infrastructure in classrooms (uncomfortable seating, slippery flooring and low illumination).
• Misinformed attitudes and perceptions among parents, teachers, staff, and communities.
• The lack of teaching and learning practices that integrate inclusive technologies and digital equipment to engage the child, such as assistive devices, are additional challenges.
• At training programmes conducted by UN-Habitat India and IIT Kharagpur: Accessible infrastructure within schools, such as ramps or tactile paths, are either in deficit or have not been constructed utilizing suitable materials.

Different laws for providing accessible education to all:

• Article 21A of the Constitution
• Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009: the fundamental right to education and the right to have free and compulsory education for children aged 6-14 years.
• The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, which adopted a ‘zero rejection policy’
  • It emphasizes that “every child with special needs, irrespective of the kind, category and degree of disability, is provided with a meaningful and quality education”.
• India ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities:
• Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) in 2015: Accessibility to built environment.
• Principle of Leave No One Behind (LNOB): which is the central, transformative promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

What steps need to be taken?

• Awareness and sensitisation programmes for children, parents, and caregivers
• Training trainers for upskilling of school faculty and special educators and providing access to updated teaching toolkits and materials
• Technical training for local government departments
• co-learning platform for knowledge-sharing between all.

Constitutional Provisions related to education:

• Part IV of Indian Constitution, Article 45 and Article 39 (f) of Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP), has a provision for state-funded as well as equitable and accessible education.
• The 42nd Amendment to the Constitution in 1976 moved education from the State to the Concurrent List.
• Article 21A: It provides free and compulsory education of all children in the age group of six to fourteen years as a fundamental Right in such a manner as the State may, by law, determine. The 86th Amendment in 2002 made education an enforceable right under Article 21-A.
• Article 39(f): It provides that children are given opportunities and facilities to develop in a healthy manner and in conditions of freedom and dignity and that childhood and youth are protected against exploitation and against moral and material abandonment.
• Article 45: The State shall endeavor to provide, within a period of ten years from the commencement of this Constitution, for free and compulsory education for all children until they complete the age of fourteen years.

ARTICLE 46: The State shall promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people, and in particular, of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, and shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation.

Government Initiatives:

• National Education Policy 2020.
• Samagra Shiksha (SS) 2.0
• NIPUN Bharat Mission
• PM Poshan Scheme
• Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE).
• Performance Grading Index
• National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: It gives high priority to the acquisition of foundational literacy and numeracy skills especially for children in early grades.
• “NIPUN Bharat” (where NIPUN is National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy) the government’s flagship programme designed to translate policy into practice, is beginning to have traction in many States.

Way Forward

• To motivate all children to meaningfully participate in all indoor and outdoor activities without barriers or limitations, the school ecosystem has to be made safe, accessible, and reliable.
• The cooperation, involvement, and sensitisation of parents and caregivers, teachers, school management authorities, and the local government departments are required so that all these barriers are actively addressed.
• Mainstreaming LNOB project by UN-Habitat: pilot training programmes on enhancing accessibility and inclusion were implemented in two schools in Delhi with support from IIT Kharagpur and the Department of Social Welfare, Delhi government.
• Through interactive training sessions and simulation exercises that encourage empathy-building.
  • It can go a long way in creating inclusive spaces.
• Developing inclusive and accessible schools will be a big step towards not only challenging perceptions about CWD, and the associated discrimination, but also in actualising the zero-rejection policy in schools.
• A multi-pronged participatory approach towards providing an enabling environment for the empowerment of future citizens is needed to ensure that stakeholders in the school ecosystem collectively work towards promoting accessibility and inclusion in schools.
• Five principles:
  • Equitability, usability and durability, affordability, cultural adaptability, and aesthetic appeal.
  • They should be embedded from the planning to implementation to evaluation stages of providing infrastructure services in schools.

General Studies Paper 3

Context: On National Tourism Day (January 25) the Ministry of Railways, in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, is launching its Jagannath Yatra train package.

Tourism:

• India ranks 6th according to the World Travel and Tourism Council in terms of Travel & Tourism total contribution to GDP in 2021.
• India is currently ranked 54th in World Economic Forum’s Travel & Tourism Development Index (2021).
• India has 40 sites listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List (32 cultural, 7 natural, and 1 mixed) as of 2021.
  • Dholavira and Ramappa Temple are the latest ones.

Jagannath Yatra train package:

• It is an eight-day tour that begins from Delhi, traverses Kashi and other places and ends at the Vishnupad temple in Gaya.
• It is launched by the Ministry of Railways, in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism.
• This is linked to using Bharat Gaurav Trains (or theme-based tourist circuit trains): To highlight India’s rich cultural heritage and history.

Promotion of India’s tourism by Government:

• The Ministry of Tourism has prioritized the task of inter-ministerial cooperation and coordination, breaking down silos and working together effectively with other Ministries.
• The Ministry of Tourism coordinates with over 20 central government Ministries in the promotion and the development of tourism in the country.
• The Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Home Affairs organized the National Conference on Tourist Police.
  • To develop tourist specific policing
  • Aim: working with the police and sensitizing them on addressing the needs of foreign and domestic tourists.
• With The Ministry of Education: Tourism Ministry has begun establishing ‘Yuva Tourism’ clubs to nurture young ambassadors of Indian tourism.
• The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is aiming to make India an attractive cruise tourism destination using state-of-the-art infrastructure.
• In partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs: tourism officers have been placed in 20 Indian missions in countries that contribute to some of the highest foreign tourist arrivals in India.
  • Role:
    • Facilitating and providing inputs for country-specific sensibilities and having them reflected in tourism products.
  • With the Ministry of Roadways and the Petroleum Ministry: steps are being taken to ensure that highways and fuel stations have clean sanitation infrastructure.
  • The Ministry of Tourism is funding several commercial flight routes in partnership with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, making them viable.

Tourism policy:

• To promote investment in the tourism sector: granting of industry status to the sector, along with formally granting infrastructure status to hotels.
• Five key areas would be given significant focus in the next 10 years:
  • green tourism
  • digital tourism
  • destination management
  • skilling the hospitality sector
  • supporting tourism-related Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
• Relief Measures and Taxation Breaks
• It doesn’t deal with specific operational issues, but offers framework conditions to help the sector, especially in the wake of the pandemic.

Recent Initiatives Related to Tourism in India:

• Swadesh Darshan Scheme
• Draft National Tourism Policy 2022
• Dekho Apna Desh Initiative
• National Green Tourism Mission

Way Forward

• The new draft National Tourism Policy 2022 has been formulated after situational analysis including the impact of COVID-19 and taking into account future projections for the tourism sector with a vision for India@100.
• G-20 presidency: Every delegate or visitor who is in India to attend the G-20 summit will return as a brand ambassador and spread the word on India’s rich cultural, spiritual and natural heritage.
• The Ministry of Tourism declaration of “Visit India Year 2023” aims to promote various tourism products and destinations to increase India’s share in the global tourism market.
• Domestic tourism has recovered to pre-pandemic levels, even exceeding it in some cases.
  • Jammu and Kashmir: record 84(one point eight four)crore domestic tourists visiting in 2022.
• For centuries many great foreign travelers have visited India and shared their experiences in the form of memoirs, travelogs, poetry and books, as Megasthenes, Hiuen-Tsang, Marco Polo, and Fa-Hien have shown.
• As the birthplace to four major world religions, i.e., Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism
  • India can truly claim to be the world’s spiritual beacon.

General Studies Paper 2

Context:

• The External Affairs Minister of India recently visited Maldives. In a bid to strengthen the India-Maldives Relationship, the two countries signed pacts on several development projects. The EAM’s visit comes at a crucial time. Presidential elections are set to be held in Maldives in September 2023. The elections are important for India as well, because the trajectory of India-Maldives relationship will depend on the outcome of the elections. Domestic politics of Maldives have come about to be the most vital aspect of the India-Maldives Relationship. The increasing Chinese influence in Maldive’s domestic politics poses a new challenge to Indian diplomacy.

What is the significance of Maldives to India?

• Geographical Location: Maldives is geographically located in a position that makes it resemble a ‘toll gate’ between the chokepoints of the western Indian Ocean (Gulf of Aden and the Strait of Hormuz), and the eastern Indian Ocean (Strait of Malacca).
• Economic Significance: It is strategically located at the crossroads of several important trade routes that run through the Indian Ocean. Through this region passes more than 97% of India’s total international trade by volume and 75% by value.
• Strategic Significance: The significance of the Maldives has steadily increased since China’s naval expansion into the Indian Ocean. Maldives is now at the centre of geopolitical affairs on a global scale. The Republic of Maldives is a party to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation(SASEC).
• Security: Under the Presidency of Abdullah Yameen, there was a rapid increase in radicalization. It was frequently said that the archipelago was responsible for one of the highest numbers of foreign fighters in Syria in terms of the number of fighters per capita. Yameen’s Government (2013-18) also had a very prominent pro-China tilt which was detrimental to India’s interests in Maldives and the Indian Ocean Region.
• Indian Diaspora: There is a sizeable population of people descended from India living in Maldives. There are numerous Indians employed in the Maldives’ education and medical care systems, as well as in the tourism and hospitality sector.

How has the India-Maldives Relationship evolved?

• India and Maldives have close cultural relationship since ancient times. The name Maldives is believed to be of Sanskrit origin (Mala(garland) + Dweep (Island)). There is reference of Maldives in ancient texts like Mahavamsa. The islands are believed to have been inhabited as early as 5th century BC by settlers from Sri Lanka and Southern India. The origins of Dhivehi (the Maldivian language) traces back to Sanskrit and Pali, which are also the roots of many southern Indian languages. There were close trade relationships between India and Maldives during ancient and medieval times.
• After Maldives gained independence from British rule in 1966, both countries moved quickly to establish diplomatic relations. India was one of the earliest countries to acknowledge Maldives’ status as an independent nation. Since then, India and the Maldives have developed close military, economic, and cultural relationship.
• India’s relationship with the Maldives has largely remained free of any politically contentious issues. The one-time claim to Minicoy Island by Maldives was resolved by the Maritime Boundary Treaty of 1976 between the two countries, whereby Maldives has recognized Minicoy as an integral part of India.
• India and Maldives signed comprehensive trade agreement in 1981.
• In 1988, there was an attempt to overthrow the Government of Maldives. The coup attempt was made by local Maldivians assisted by mercenaries from a Tamil secessionist group from Sri Lanka, the People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam. The Indian Armed Forces moved swiftly, launched Operation Cactus. The swift action by the Indian Forces coupled with accurate intelligence prevented the coup from succeeding.
• India was the first to assist Maldives after the 2004 Tsunami as well as the water crisis in Malé in December 2014. India’s timely interventions to support Maldives at the time of crises has laid the foundation of a strong India-Maldives Relationship. There has been a notable expansion in the level of cooperation between India and Maldives since the 1990s. In Malé, the capital of the Maldives, India built the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital. Additionally, India increased the number of scholarships available to Maldivian students and expanded both telecommunications and air links.
• During the COVID-19 crisis, India offered Maldives assistance in the form of vaccines, financial, material, and logistical support etc.

What are the areas of cooperation in India-Maldives Relationship?

• Both India’s policy of ‘Neighbourhood First’ and the Maldives’ policy of ‘India First’ appear to be perfectly coordinated with one another.
• Security Cooperation: Maldives relies heavily on trilateral maritime security cooperation with India and Sri Lanka. The purpose of such collaboration is to counter common maritime security threats and challenges such as illicit trafficking, piracy, and illegal and unregulated (or unreported) fishing. India and Maldives have agreed on energizing cooperation in maritime security, maritime domain awareness, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief(HADR) through the implementation of underway projects and capacity building initiatives.
• Military Cooperation: (a)India has donated Landing Assault Craft and 24 Utility Vehicles to Maldives in order to bolster maritime security; (b) A grant assistance of US$ 50 million Line of Credit facility has also been approved for carrying multiple defense projects; (c) To establish new horizons in the defence ecosystem, Maldives hosted the 5th Meeting of Colombo Security Conclave in Male’ in March 2022 which witnessed membership expansion as well as addition of a new pillar (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, HADR); (d) A comprehensive Action Plan for Defence was signed in April 2016 to consolidate defence partnership. India also provides the largest number of training opportunities for Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF), meeting around 70% of their defence training requirements.
• Economic Cooperation: (a)India and the Maldives have also signed multiple bilateral agreements in recent years, including US$ 500 million in grants and financing to support maritime connectivity, a US$ 800-million line of credit from the Export-Import Bank of India, and an agreement on exchanging information on the movement of commercial maritime vessels; (b) From 4th in 2018, India has become Maldives’ 2nd largest trading partner; (c) In 2021, there was a rise of 31% in bilateral trade compared to the 2020; (d) The Maldives’ economy is almost entirely dependent on the tourism sector. Maldives is an important tourist destination for many Indians.
• Infrastructure Cooperation: (a) India is the partner for the ambitious Greater Male Connectivity Project. This is one the largest project infrastructure project in Maldives. The project aims to connect Male to Villingili, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi islands through a series of bridges, causeways and roads. The project is crucial for the proposed Gulhifalhu Port, and will be a major catalyst for the Maldivian economy in the future through jobs and economic activity; (b) Buyers Credit Agreement has been signed for design and construction of 61 police infrastructures across Maldives. This will contribute to improved access to policing and to ensure the safety and security of the communities in the islands; (c) Indian-Maldives are carrying strategic harbour projects viz  Uthuru Thila Falhu. The island has been selected for the development of a dockyard facility and a harbor for the coast guard of the Maldives National Defence Force; (d) India is also undertaking Airport Redevelopment Project at the Hanimaadhoo International Airport.
• Humanitarian Assistance: (a)In 2019, an MoU for grant assistance for High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) was signed. A number of socio-economic development projects are planned to be implemented throughout the country under this funding; (b) India provided 100,000 Covishield vaccines to Maldives in January 2021, during the peak of the pandemic; (c) India  has handed over the two sea ambulances to the Ministry of Defence of Maldives; (d) The main government-affiliated hospital in the Maldives, the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital in the capital, was built with aid from the Government of India; (e) India provided assistance to Maldives during recovery efforts after the 2004 Tsunami. India also helped address the shortage of drinking water in 2014; (f) Water and Sanitation in 34 Islands: The project seeks to improve water supply and sewerage facilities in 34 identified islands by installing proper water supply distribution network, ensuring protection of ground water aquifer and sustainable water source management. The project was awarded as 6 packages to 4 Indian contractors after a tendering process. Work has commenced on all islands.
• Education and Technology Cooperation: (a) The National Knowledge Network is a multi-gigabit national network for research and education. It has recently established connections with the academics and research institutions of the Maldives. The National Informatics Centre is in charge of its operation (NIC); (b) Both countries have signed the Peering Agreement, which will now help over 1,500 Indian institutes and a host of universities and centres of learning from Singapore, Europe and the United Stated are now connected to Maldives; (c) India has helped Maldives in establishing the National College for Policing and Law Enforcement (NCPLE) at Addu City which was inaugurated in March 2022; (d) India has support for the development of a sports complex in Gahdhoo. Cochin University of Science and Technology and the Maldives National University are collaborating in the academic field; (e) India will send 10,000 school books to be distributed in 260 schools in Maldives.

Challenges in the India-Maldives Relationship

• Political: (a)While the incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has a very prominent pro-Indian approach, the political opposition under former President Abdulla Yameen is seen as anti-India. Abdulla Yameen had allotted lot of development projects to China during his tenure; (b) Abdulla Yameen also led the India out Campaign. He is opposed to India’s military presence in Maldives.
• Radicalisation: A large number of Maldive citizens had joined violent extremist organisations such as the Islamic State (IS). There has been a steady rise in recruits joining jihadi groups in Pakistan over the last decade. There is now a greater risk that terrorist organisations based in Pakistan will use the Maldives as a staging ground for attacks on India and Indian assets.
• Chinese Influence: China has enhanced its influence in Maldives (and in Indian Ocean). Maldives is an essential ‘pearl’ in China’s ‘String of Pearls’ initiative in South Asia.

What can be done to enhance India-Maldives Relationship?

• First, India should increase development assistance to Maldives. India should target projects that have larger impact on general population of Maldives. This will enhance India’s goodwill among the people of Maldives.
• Second, India should also engage with political opposition of Maldives. The concerns of the opposition can be addressed through suitable discussions. India should also convey that the projects being undertaken are for the general good of the people of Maldives e.g., the US$ 136.6-million development of the airport at Hanimadhoo includes the development of a 2.46-km runway that can accommodate large aircraft, and a terminal with an annual capacity for 1.3 million passengers. This will improve tourist inflow, which is the mainstay of economy of Maldives.
• Third, It should be ensured that India is not seen as interfering in the internal politics of Maldives including Presidential elections. Political interference by India will be exploited by opponents to India’s detriment.
• Fourth, As part of India’s Neighbourhood First policy, the exemplary bilateral cooperation between India and Maldives could serve as a useful template for developing our ties with other This would be in keeping with India’s commitment to putting its neighbours first. The Maldives have always benefited from India’s assistance and development.

Conclusion

• Maldives is vital to India’s interests due to its strategic location in the Indian Ocean. India-Maldives Relationship has a strong foundation based on India’s historic assistance to Maldives during multiple crises. However, the relationship has seen new challenges in recent times, especially since China’s rising influence in the Indian Ocean Region. India must give a rigorous push to ties with Maldives while being mindful of Maldives’ sensitivities.

General Studies Paper 3

Context: India’s Electric Vehicle future shines bright with ambitious government targets and advancements in technology.

Roadmap for Electric vehicles

• India has set an ambitious goal to become a leader in the electric vehicle market by 2030 with the government laying out a comprehensive roadmap to achieve this goal, which includes several initiatives and policies to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles in the country.
• One of the key initiatives is the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric vehicles (FAME) scheme, which provides subsidies to customers who purchase electric vehicles.
• The government has also set a target to achieve 30% electric vehicle penetration in the country by 2030.
• In this regard, the government is also taking steps for development of domestic manufacturing capabilities for electric vehicles and their components.

Key highlights:

• Electric vehicle adoption, including four, three, and two-wheelers, and buses, has seen a significant uptick in recent years.
• Target of net-zero carbon emissions in the future will help promote the e-vehicle industry.
• Push for electric mobility will reduce dependence on oil imports and free up foreign exchange reserves.
• Last-mile mobility is a defining sector that will help carry this momentum, with partnerships with companies like Spoctech Green Ventures.
• Decisive growth in the mass-market category of private vehicles in 2023, particularly in Tier II and III cities will promote demand.
• Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric vehicles (FAME) scheme extended until March 31, 2024 to provide subsidies will aid electric vehicle adoption.
• Volumes, mass adoption, and large-scale component manufacturing will drive prices down.

Various initiatives to promote e-vehicles

About: In India, the government has implemented several schemes to promote the use of electric vehicles (EVs). These include:

• FAME I & II: Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles is a government scheme, which provides incentives for the purchase of EVs and the installation of charging infrastructure.
• NEMMP: National Electric Mobility Mission Plan was launched in 2020, which aims to have at least 30% of vehicles on Indian roads be electric by 2030.
• Tax benefits: The Government has announced plans to provide an additional income tax deduction of INR 1.5 Lakh on the interest paid on loans taken to purchase electric vehicles.
• PLI: The government has announced a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme to boost domestic manufacturing and attract global companies to invest in the Indian market.
• NTTM: The Government also plans to set up a National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) to promote the use of technical textiles in various sectors, including the EV industry.
• Manufacturing plants: Setting up of battery manufacturing units in India to promote the use of electric vehicles.
• Public transport: The Government has also announced plans to promote the use of electric vehicles in the public transportation sector, by providing financial assistance to states for the purchase of electric buses.E.g., E-buses in Delhi
• Ensuring last-mile connectivity: The government has also identified last-mile mobility as a key sector to drive the adoption of electric vehicles E.g., deployment of a fleet of over 5,000 vehicles in Chennai.
• Promoting e-vehicles in government:  In an attempt to promote use of electric vehicles in the public sector, the government has plans to replace existing government vehicles with electric vehicles.
• Phased Manufacturing Programme (PMP): Indigenous manufacturing of electric vehicles, their assemblies/sub-assemblies, and parts/sub-parts/inputs of the sub-assemblies to be promoted over time through a graded duty structure.
• National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Storage: Government aims to drive strategies for transformative mobility and Phased Manufacturing Programmes for electric vehicles, electric vehicle Components and Batteries.

What more can be done?

• Government can devise strategies for transformative mobility for electric vehicles, electric vehicle Components and Batteries
• Creating a Phased Manufacturing Program (PMP) to localize production across the entire electric vehicle value chain.
• Coordination with key stakeholders in Ministries/ Departments/states to integrate various initiatives to transform mobility in India.
• Ensuring holistic and comprehensive growth of the battery manufacturing industry in India with initial focus on large-scale module and assembly plants on Gigascale manufacturing in future.
• Preparing roadmap for enabling India to leverage its size and scale to produce innovative, competitive multi-modal mobility solutions that can be deployed globally in diverse contexts

Conclusion

• In an attempt to leverage the potential of e-vehicles, the Indian Government needs to provide more incentives and subsidies for the purchase of EVs, invest in charging infrastructure and battery technology, and promote domestic manufacturing capabilities for electric vehicles and their components.

• Overall, electric vehicles offer a cleaner, more efficient, and cost-effective alternative to traditional gasoline-powered vehicles, and with the right infrastructure and policies in place, they can play a major role in reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions while improving energy independence