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  • First train under Bharat Gaurav Scheme inaugurated

    The ‘Bharat Gaurav’ train service from Coimbatore to Shirdi, a first of its kind in the country, was inaugurated at the Coimbatore North Railway Station.

    What are Bharat Gaurav trains?

    • Bharat Gaurav express trains are operated by private players, who have the right to use the rail infrastructure provided by the Indian Railways.

    About Bharat Gaurav Scheme

    • Under this Scheme, theme-based tourist circuit trains, on the lines of the Ramayana Express, can be run either by private or State-owned operators.
    • Till now, the Railways had passenger segments and goods segments.
    • Now, it will have a third segment for tourism under the Bharat Gaurav.
    • The scheme has been developed after extensive stakeholder discussions and a lot of State Governments, including Odisha, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, have shown interest.

    Key features

    • Service providers, who can be an individual, company, society, trust, joint venture or consortium will be free to decide themes/circuits.
    • They will offer an all-inclusive package to tourists including rail travel, hotel accommodation and sightseeing arrangement, visit to historical/heritage sites, tour guides etc.
    • They have full flexibility to decide the package cost.
    • The service providers will also be able to design/furnish the interior of the coaches based on the theme and put branding or advertising inside and outside of the train.

     

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  • Prithvi-II Missile successfully test-fired

    Successfully test-fire of indigenously developed, nuclear-capable Prithvi-II Missile was recently held.

    Prithvi-II Missile

    • The Prithvi-II surface-to-surface missile has a strike range of 350 km.
    • It is capable of carrying 500-1,000 kilogram of warheads and is powered by liquid propulsion twin engines.
    • It was inducted into the armory of Indian defence forces in 2003.
    • It is a nine-metre-tall, single-stage liquid-fuelled missile.
    • The state-of-the-art missile uses advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvering trajectory to hit its target.
    • It is the first missile to have been developed by the DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).

    Other variants of Prithvi

    • The Prithvi missile project encompassed developing three variants for use by the Indian Army, Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy.
    • The initial project framework of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program outlines the variants in the following manner:
    1. Prithvi I (SS-150) – Army version, 150 km range with a payload of 1,000 kg
    2. Prithvi II (SS-250) – Air Force version, 350 km range with a payload of 500 kg
    3. Prithvi III (SS-350) – Naval version, 350 km range with a payload of 1,000 kg

    Significance of the test-fire

    • Developed as a battlefield missile, it can carry a nuclear warhead in its role as a tactical nuclear weapon.
    • This is the second such test fire of nuclear capable highly manoeuvrable missile in weeks.

     

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  • Child Marriage in India

    Context

    There has been an ongoing debate on whether increasing the age of marriages can solve the problem of child marriage in India.

    Background

    • It is defined as a marriage of a girl or boy before the age of 18 and refers to both formal marriages and informal unions in which children under the age of 18 live with a partner as if married.
    • The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021, fixes 21 years as the marriageable age for women.

    Prevalence of child marriage in India

    •  NFHS-5 data show that about 25% of women aged 18-29 years married before the legal marriageable age of 18.
    • Marginal decline: The proportion has declined only marginally from NFHS-4 (28%).
    • Higher in rural India: Expectedly, the prevalence is higher in rural than urban India (28% and 17%, respectively).
    • West Bengal has the highest prevalence (42%), followed by Bihar and Tripura (40% each).
    • Oddly, the decline in child marriage has been paltry at best in these high-prevalence States.
    • At the other end of the spectrum are Goa, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala (6% to 7%).
    • 39% of child marriages in India take place among Adivasis and Dalits.
    • The share of advantaged social groups is 17% and the remaining share is of Other Backward Classes.

    Role of structural issues in adverse health and educational outcomes

    • Impact: Studies associate early marriage of women with early pregnancy, lower likelihood of accessing ante-natal care, higher risks of maternal morbidity and mortality, poor nutritional status of women and poor nutritional and educational outcomes of children.
    • These studies seem to provide a rather compelling case for increasing the age of marriage of women from 18 to 21 years, as a delayed marriage might offer significant public health dividends.
    • Structural factors at play: But a closer reading of the evidence shows that the association between child marriage and adverse health outcomes does not emerge in a vacuum. 
    • Rather, it is abetted by structural factors, including social norms, poverty, and women’s education.
    • Role of social norms: It is because of social norms in many regions and cultures that parents begin preparations for a girl’s marriage once she has reached menarche.
    • Role of poverty: A large proportion of child marriages take place primarily because of poverty and the burden of the huge costs of dowry associated with delayed marriages.
    • Role of education:  The NHFS-5 data confirm that a significant proportion of child marriages takes place among women with less than 12 years of schooling and households that are socially and economically disadvantaged.
    • The average age at marriage increases from 17 years among women who are illiterate and have had up to five years of schooling to 22 years among women who have had more than 12 years of schooling.
    • This indicates that an increase in years of schooling goes hand in hand with an increase in age at marriage.
    • While an increase in education is most likely to delay marriage, the increase in age at marriage may or may not increase women’s education.

    Why the age of marriage of women matters

    • Age of marriage has bearing on maternal mortality rates, fertility levels, nutrition of mother and child, sex ratios, and, on a different register, education and employment opportunities for women.
    • It is also argued that other factors — such as poverty and health services — were far more effective as levers for improving women’s and children’s health and nutritional status.
    • Child marriage curtail a girl’s opportunities to continue her education.
    • And in turn, the lack of educational opportunities plays an important role in facilitating child marriage.

    Way forward

    • The fact that about one-fourth of women (18-29 years) in India have married before 18 years despite the law tells us that legally increasing the age of marriage may not fully prevent child marriages. 
    • 1] Ensure education for at least up to 12 years: Much of the benefits can be reaped by ensuring that women complete education at least up to 12 years.
    • Bangladesh shows that improving women’s education and imparting modern skills to them that increase their employability reduces child marriage and improves health and nutrition.
    • 2] Educational attainment criteria in schemes: Schemes which ease the financial burden of marriage but the eligibility criteria of which should essentially link to educational attainment in addition to age demand attention.
    • The lessons from Janani Suraksha Yojana and the zeal demonstrated in ending open defecation might provide valid insights here.

    Conclusion

    A legalistic approach to increasing the age at marriage will produce positive results only if it leads to an improvement in women’s education and skill acquisition for employability. In the absence of an enhancement in women’s schooling or skills, a legalistic approach to ending child marriage might become counterproductive.

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  • ASI Act to be made more flexible

    Union Culture Minister said the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was working on an amendment to make the law that provides for the preservation of monuments and archaeological sites “more flexible and people-friendly”.

    What is the news?

    • The ASI is working to amend Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act 1958.
    • It particularly seeks to change the current 100-metre prohibited area around protected monuments to site-specific limits.

    What is the AMASR Act?

    • The AMASR Act provides for the preservation of ancient and historical monuments and archaeological sites and remains of national importance.
    • It also provides for the regulation of archaeological excavations and for the protection of sculptures, carvings and other like objects.
    • The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) functions under the provisions of this act.
    • The rules stipulate that area in the vicinity of the monument, within 100 metres is prohibited area.
    • The area within 200 meters of the monument is regulated category. Any repair or modifications of buildings in this area requires prior permission.

    About Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)

    • The ASI is an attached office of the Ministry of Culture.
    • It was founded in 1861 by Alexander Cunningham who also became its first Director-General.
    • Under the provisions of the AMASR Act of 1958, the ASI administers more than 3650 ancient monuments, archaeological sites and remains of national importance.
    • These can include everything from temples, mosques, churches, tombs, and cemeteries to palaces, forts, step-wells, and rock-cut caves.
    • The Survey also maintains ancient mounds and other similar sites which represent the remains of ancient habitation.
    • The ASI is headed by a Director-General who is assisted by an Additional Director General, two Joint Directors General, and 17 Directors.

     

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  • What is Agnipath Scheme?

    Defence Minister announced the ‘Agnipath’ scheme for the recruitment of youth in the armed forces for four years.

    Agnipath Scheme

    • This will be the only form of recruitment of soldiers into the three defence services from now.
    • The scheme aims at strengthening national security and for providing an opportunity to the youth to serve in the armed forces.
    • Recruits under the scheme will be known as ‘Agniveers’.
    • After completing the four-year service, they can apply for regular employment in the armed forces.
    • They may be given priority over others for various jobs in other government departments.
    • The move is expected to decrease the average age profile of armed forces personnel from the current 32 to 24-26 years over a period of time.

    Working of the scheme

    • The process of recruitment will commence in 90 days with a planned intake of 46,000 young men and women this year.
    • Enrolment to all three services will be through a centralized online system, with special rallies and campus interviews at recognized technical institutes.
    • Recruitment will be carried out on an “All India All Class” basis with the eligibility age ranging from 17.5 to 21, with medical and physical fitness standards in accordance with existing norms.

    Payouts of the Agniveers

    • The ‘Agniveers’ will receive an annual package of ₹4.76 lakh in the first year to ₹6.92 lakh in the fourth year, apart from risk and hardship and other allowances as applicable.
    • Under the ‘Seva Nidhi’ package, they will receive about ₹11.71 lakh, including contribution and interest, on completion of service.
    • The recruits will have to contribute 30% of their monthly emoluments to Seva Nidhi, with a matching contribution made by the government.
    • There will be no entitlement to gratuity and pension benefits under the scheme.
    • However, the ‘Agniveers’ will be provided a non-contributory life insurance cover of ₹48 lakh during their service.

     

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  • [pib] BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility (TTF)

    The Union Cabinet chaired by the PM has approved a Memorandum of Association (MoA) by India for the establishment of the BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility (TTF).

    What is BIMSTEC?

    • The BIMSTEC formed in 1997 is an international organisation of seven South Asian and Southeast Asian nations, housing 1.73 billion people and having a combined gross domestic product of $3.8 trillion (2021).
    • The BIMSTEC member states – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand – are among the countries dependent on the Bay of Bengal.
    • Leadership is rotated in alphabetical order of country names. The permanent secretariat is in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
    • A BIMSTEC free trade agreement is under negotiation (c. 2018), also referred to as the mini SAARC.

    What is BIMSTEC TTF?

    • The agreement was signed by the BIMSTEC member countries at the 5th BIMSTEC Summit held at Colombo, Sri Lanka on 30th March, 2022.
    • The main objectives of the BIMSTEC TTF are to coordinate, facilitate and strengthen cooperation in technology transfer among the BIMSTEC Member States.
    • It aims to promote the transfer of technologies, sharing of experiences and capacity building.
    • The TTF shall have a Governing Board and the overall control of activities of the TTF shall be vested in the Governing Board.
    • The Governing Board shall consist of one nominee from each Member State.

    Expected outcomes

    The expected outcomes of the BIMSTEC TTF are:

    • Databank of technologies available in BIMSTEC Countries,
    • Repository of information on good practices in the areas of technology transfer management, standards, accreditation, metrology, testing and calibration facilities,
    • Capacity building, sharing of experiences and good practices in development, and
    • Transfer and use of technologies among BIMSTEC countries.

     

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  • Nanhi Pari Programme

    The ‘Nanhi Pari’ programme was recently launched by the Northwest Delhi district administration.

    Nanhi Pari Programme

    • Nanhi Pari programme aims to provide a one-stop solution to parents, eliminating their need to visit various offices to obtain documents.
    • Under the programme, essential services such as the provision of a birth certificate, Aadhaar card registration and opening a bank account for girls are completed and delivered in government hospitals in the district before the mother and baby are discharged.
    • The programme will help in getting registration of baby girls and mothers under various schemes such as the Sukanya Samriddhi Account scheme, the Ladli scheme and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana at the hospital itself.

    Significance of the Programme

    • The programme makes the processes for schemes as simple as possible for all children and mothers.
    • Parents would not have to go from here to there, trying to avail themselves of the essential schemes.
    • Apart from ensuring that schemes reach target beneficiaries and protecting the interests of girl children, the programme also aims to promote institutional deliveries.

     

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  • Upholding the right to repair

    Context

    The U.S. state of New York recently passed the Fair Repair Act, which requires manufacturers to supply repair information, tools, and parts to independent repair shops and not just their own stores or partners.

    What is the right to repair?

    • It refers to proposed government legislation that would allow consumers the ability to repair and modify their own consumer products (e.g. electronic, automotive devices).
    • The idea behind “right to repair” is in the name: If you own something, you should be able to repair it yourself or take it to a technician of your choice.
    • People are pretty used to this concept when it comes to older cars and appliances, but right-to-repair advocates argue that modern tech, especially anything with a computer chip inside, is rarely repairable.

    Why is such right significant?

    • Lifespan enhancement: The goal of the movement is to increase the lifespan of products and to keep them from ending up in landfills.
    • Against planned obsolescence: The electronic manufacturers are encouraging such culture so that devices are designed specifically to last a limited amount of time and to be replaced.
    • Scarcity of natural resources: Obsolescence leads to immense pressure on the environment and wasted natural resources.
    • Mitigating climate change: Manufacturing an electronic device is a highly polluting process. It makes use of polluting sources of energy, such as fossil fuel.
    • Boost to repair economy: Right to repair advocates also argue that this will help boost business for small repair shops, which are an important part of local economies.

    Why we need the right to repair?

    • Exorbitant repair price: Often, manufacturers reduce the durability of the product, compelling consumers to either repurchase the product or get it repaired at exorbitant prices affixed by the manufacturers.
    • Violation of rights: This tramples upon the right to obtain information about the quality of the product, the right to procure products at reasonable prices, and the right to seek redress against unscrupulous practices.
    • Implicit in Consumer Protection Act: The ‘right to repair’ can be said to be implicit in Section 2(9) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
    • Right to repair provides consumers with the right to repair and refurbish their purchased goods.
    • Providing livelihood to repair technicians: An entire repair class is, in effect, denied its right to conduct business as it does not have the tools, parts, guidelines and technical know-how to repair these high-tech products.
    • In addition to protecting their right to livelihood, it may also prove beneficial as tech companies are required to share their repair manuals with certified technicians.

    What are the concerns of the manufacturers?

    • IP rights, security and quality concers: While right to repair is a victory for consumer rights, privacy, security and quality concerns along with blatant intellectual property (IP) rights violations of the manufacturers cannot be sidelined.
    • Impact on quality and functioning: Manufacturers claim that the quality and functioning of the product might be adversely affected if they allow repairs by consumers and third parties.
    • The fear of manufacturers is so potent that they incorporate warranty clauses which lapse when the product is repaired by a third party.

    Way forward

    • Avoiding blanket waiver: While necessary clauses to maintain the quality of the product can be included, a blanket waiver should be avoided.
    • For instance, the quality assurance clause can be incorporated for use of company-recommended spare parts and certified repair shops.
    • Making available the repair manual: Making repair manuals available to certified business owners could go a long way in balancing the rights of consumers and manufacturers.
    • Sign non-disclosure agreement to protect IP rights: Manufacturers can sign a non-disclosure agreement to protect the IP with the certified repairers/businesses.
    • Alloting certification/license: Further, the lack of certification/licensing of repair workers is seen as a reflection of their lack of skills.
    • But a repair certification/licence can be allotted to those who pass certain criteria and skill tests.
    • Insert right to repair in Consumer protection Act: The ‘right to repair’ can be said to be implicit in Section 2(9) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
    • Its apparent disregard merits an explicit insertion of a ‘right to repair’ clause in the said provision.
    • This would make consumers more aware, provide tooth to an already implicit right, and aid in advancing repair-related liability on various stakeholders.
    • Reparability parameter: The product liability clause under Section 84 can be amended and expanded to impose product liability concerning various reparability parameters of the product.
    • France requires manufacturers to display a repairability index on their products which consists of five parameters.
    • Duration of product liability: The duration of imposing product liability may vary depending on the product and its longevity.
    • Here, we can rely on the EU’s guidelines on Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information Regulations, 2021, which mandate manufacturers to provide spare parts for up to 10 years to avoid premature obsolescence.

    Conclusion

    The New York legislation is a reminder that it is time to not only acknowledge the right to repair of consumers but also respond to the corresponding rights of the manufacturers.

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  • Back in news: Article 142 of the Constitution

    The Supreme Court has crafted a victory for a disabled student by using its special powers under Article 142 to declare the successful completion of her Master of Designs course from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).

    What is Article 142?

    Article 142 titled ‘Enforcement of decrees and orders of the Supreme Court and orders as to discovery, etc.’ has two clauses:

    [1] Article 142(1)

    • The Supreme Court in the exercise of its jurisdiction may pass such decree or make such order as is necessary for doing complete justice in any cause or matter pending before it.
    • Any decree so passed or order so made shall be enforceable throughout the territory of India.
    • It may be in such manner as may be prescribed by or under any law made by Parliament and, until provision in that behalf is so made, in such manner as the President may by order prescribe.

    [2] Article 142(2)

    • The Supreme Court shall have all and every power to make any order for the purpose of securing the attendance of any person, the discovery or production of any documents, or the investigation or punishment of any contempt of itself.

    Important instances when Article 142 was invoked

    • Bhopal Gas tragedy case: The SC awarded a compensation of $470 million to the victims and held that “prohibitions or limitations or provisions contained in ordinary laws cannot, ipso facto, act as prohibitions or limitations on the constitutional powers under Article 142.”
    • Babri Masjid demolition case: The Supreme Court ordered framing of a scheme by the Centre for formation of trust to construct Ram Mandir at the Masjid demolition site in Ayodhya.
    • Liquor sale ban case: The Supreme Court banned liquor shops within a distance of 500 metres from National as well as State highways in order to prevent drunken driving.
    • Ex-PM Assassin case: In the case of Perarivalan, the Supreme Court invoked Article 142(1) under which it was empowered to pass any order necessary to do complete justice in any matter pending before it.

    Try this PYQ from CSP 2019:

    Q.With reference to the Constitution of India, prohibitions or limitations or provisions contained in ordinary laws cannot act as prohibitions or limitations on the constitutional powers under Article 142. It could mean which one of the following?

     

    (a) The decisions taken by the Election Commission of India while discharging its duties cannot be challenged in any court of law.

    (b) The Supreme Court of India is not constrained in the exercise of its powers by laws made by the Parliament.

    (c) In the event of grave financial crisis in the country, the President of India can declare Financial Emergency without the counsel from the Cabinet.

    (d) State Legislatures cannot make laws on certain matters without the concurrence of Union Legislature.

     

    [wpdiscuz-feedback id=”ymyde3o963″ question=”Please leave a feedback on this” opened=”1″]Post your answers here.[/wpdiscuz-feedback]

     

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  • Managing Type 1 Diabetes

    Last week, the Indian Council of Medical Research (IMCR) released guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment, and management for type-1 diabetes.

    Why such move?

    • India is considered the diabetes capital of the world, and the pandemic disproportionately affected those living with the disease.
    • Type 1 or childhood diabetes, however, is less talked about, although it can turn fatal without proper insulin therapy.
    • Type 1 diabetes is rarer than type 2. Only 2% of all hospital cases of diabetes in the country are type 1.

    What is Diabetes?

    • Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy.
    • Most of the food you eat is broken down into sugar (also called glucose) and released into your bloodstream.
    • When your blood sugar goes up, it signals your pancreas to release insulin.

    What is Type 1 Diabetes?

    • Type 1 diabetes is a condition where the pancreas completely stops producing insulin.
    • Insulin is the hormone responsible for controlling the level of glucose in blood by increasing or decreasing absorption to the liver, fat, and other cells of the body.
    • This is unlike type 2 diabetes — which accounts for over 90% of all diabetes cases in the country — where the body’s insulin production either goes down or the cells become resistant to the insulin.

    How lethal diabetes is?

    • Type 1 diabetes is predominantly diagnosed in children and adolescents.
    • Although the prevalence is less, it is much more severe than type 2.
    • Unlike type 2 diabetes where the body produces some insulin and which can be managed using various pills, if a person with type 1 diabetes stops taking their insulin, they die within weeks.

    How rare is it?

    • There are over 10 lakh children and adolescents living with type 1 diabetes in the world, with India accounting for the highest number.
    • Of the 2.5 lakh people living with type 1 diabetes in India, 90,000 to 1 lakh are under the age of 14 years.
    • For context, the total number of people in India living with diabetes was 7.7 crore in 2019.
    • Among individuals who develop diabetes under the age of 25 years, 25.3% have type 2.

    Who is at risk of type 1 diabetes?

    • The exact cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown, but it is thought to be an auto-immune condition where the body’s immune system destroys the islets cells on the pancreas that produce insulin.
    • Genetic factors play a role in determining whether a person will get type-1 diabetes.
    • The risk of the disease in a child is 3% when the mother has it, 5% when the father has it, and 8% when a sibling has it.
    • The presence of certain genes is also strongly associated with the disease.

     

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