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  • How long is a year on other planets?

    For us, 365 days make up a year because Earth takes as many days to complete one orbit of the Sun. But have you ever wondered how many days make up a year on other planets?

    What determines the length of a year?

    • The length of a year on any planet depends on where the planet is orbiting.
    • Planets that are closer to the Sun than Earth will have fewer days in a year, while those rotating farther away will take many more days to make up a year.
    • This is because of two reasons – planets that are closer to the Sun will take a shorter time to orbit it than those farther away, and the closer a planet orbits the Sun, the Sun’s gravity can pull on the planet, making the planet orbit faster.

    Why should we care?

    • To send a spacecraft to another planet, we need to know where the planet is in orbit.
    • This will help us plan and manoeuvre the spacecraft accordingly.

    How long each planet takes to orbit the Sun (in Earth days):

    • Mercury: 88 days
    • Venus: 225 days
    • Earth: 365 days
    • Mars: 687 days
    • Jupiter: 4,333 days
    • Saturn: 10,759 days
    • Uranus: 30,687 days
    • Neptune: 60,190 days

    It’s a mean task to consider this PYQ from 2013, Huh!

    Q.Which planet was downgraded to dwarf planet status?

    (a) Pluto

    (b) Mars

    (c) Earth

    (d) Venus

  • Dandi March to mark 75 years of Independence

    PM will flag off a commemorative ‘Dandi March’ on March 12 to launch the celebrations of the 75th year of Independence.

    Dandi March

    • The Dandi March was an act of nonviolent civil disobedience in colonial India led by Mahatma Gandhi.
    • The twenty-four day march lasted from 12 March 1930 to 5 April 1930 as a direct action campaign of tax resistance and nonviolent protest against the British salt monopoly.
    • Another reason for this march was that the Civil Disobedience Movement needed a strong inauguration that would inspire more people to follow Gandhi’s example.
    • Growing numbers joined them along the way.
    • When Gandhi broke the British Raj salt laws at 6:30 am on 6 April 1930, it sparked large scale acts of civil disobedience against the salt laws by millions of Indians.

    Try this PYQ:

    Q. Who of the following organized a March on the Tanjore coast to break the Salt Law in April 1930?

    (a) V. O. Chidambaram Pillai

    (b) C. Rajagopalachari

    (c) K. Kamaraj

    (d) Annie Besant

    Followed by Dharasana Satyagraha

    • After making the salt at Dandi, Gandhi continued southward along the coast, making salt and addressing meetings on the way.
    • The INC planned to stage a satyagraha at the Dharasana Salt Works, 40 km south of Dandi.
    • However, Gandhi was arrested on the midnight of 4–5 May 1930, just days before the planned action at Dharasana.
    • The Dandi March and the ensuing Dharasana Satyagraha drew worldwide attention to the Indian independence movement through extensive newspaper and newsreel coverage.
    • The satyagraha against the salt tax continued for almost a year, ending with Gandhi’s release from jail and negotiations with Viceroy Lord Irwin at the Second Round Table Conference.

    Its aftermath

    • The March to Dandi had a significant influence on American activists Martin Luther King Jr., James Bevel, and others during the Civil Rights Movement for African Americans in the 1960s.
    • The march was the most significant organised challenge to British authority since the Non-cooperation movement of 1920–22.
    • It directly followed the Purna Swaraj declaration of sovereignty and self-rule by the Indian National Congress on 26 January 1930.
    • It gained worldwide attention which gave impetus to the Indian independence movement and started the nationwide Civil Disobedience.

  • United Bengal Plan of 1947

    In a recent election rally, a politician spoke about the contributions of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee in the making of West Bengal immediately after independence.

    This newscard contains some archaic statements and thoughts (that may seem like polarized opinions) which are directly reproduced from the newspaper. 

    The 1947 independence era circumstances are discussed with context to the United Bengal Plan and its subsequent partition.

    The United Bengal plan

    • A most striking aspect of the Partition of Bengal was the fact that the same people, who had vociferously opposed the 1905 partition of the region by Lord Curzon, were the ones who demanded the division of the province on communal lines.
    • One way to understand this is by noting the fact that the communal skirmishes that had started in 1905, reached its peak by 1947.
    • But there was also the fact that Bengal politics changed dramatically in 1932 with the introduction of the Communal Award.
    • It gave more seats in the Legislative Council to Muslims than Hindus. It also provided separate electorates for the Dalits.
    • Consequently, Bengali Hindus ceased to be as significant and visible in provincial politics as they were before.
    • What further aggravated the situation was the communal violence in Calcutta in August 1946 and those in Noakhali just seven weeks later.

    Try this PYQ from CSP 2013:

    Q.The Partition of Bengal made by Lord Curzon in 1905 lasted until

    (a) The First World War when Indian troops were needed by the British and the partition was ended.

    (b) King George V abrogated Curzon’s Act at the Royal Darbar in Delhi in 1911

    (c) Gandhiji launched his Civil Disobedience Movement

    (d) The Partition of India, in 1947 when East Bengal became East Pakistan

    Mukherjee and the Plan

    • Mukherjee, who was president of the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha between 1943 and 1946, is known to have been the man behind the Partition of Bengal in 1947.
    • Calcutta riots (1947) led the Hindu Mahasabha under Mukherjee to put forward the demand for dividing Bengal on religious grounds.
    • He was one of the strongest voices to have opposed the united Bengal plan of the Bengal provincial League leader and PM Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy.
    • As per the plan, Bengal would be a separate nation, independent from both India and Pakistan.

    Debate over partition

    • In the meantime Suhrawardy along with few other top Bengal politicians like Sarat Bose and K.S. Roy came up with an alternative for the Partition.
    • They argued for a united Bengal, independent from India and Pakistan.
    • Suhrawardy had realized that the Partition of Bengal would mean economic disaster for East Bengal since all jute mills, coal mines and industrial plants would go to the western part of the state.
    • Suhrawardy argued strongly for a united Bengal because Bengal was indivisible in view of its ‘economic integrity, mutual reliance and the necessity of creating a strong workable state.

    Why did Mukherjee oppose the united Bengal plan?

    • The Hindu Mahasabha under Mukherjee spearheaded a fierce attack against the united Bengal scheme, which he thought would force Hindus to live under Muslim domination.
    • He further defended the Partition to the Viceroy by drawing upon Jinnah’s two-nation theory.
    • Finally, for Mukherjee, the idea of a united Bengal was not appealing because he believed that a ‘sovereign undivided Bengal would be a virtual Pakistan’.
    • Eventually, the idea of a united Bengal failed to garner sufficient support from among the Muslim League and the Congress.
    • It also did not find sufficient support from the grassroots as most Hindus favoured the Partition of Bengal.

    Back2Basics: Partition of Bengal

    • The first Partition of Bengal (1905) was a territorial reorganization of the Bengal Presidency implemented by the authorities of the British Raj.
    • The reorganization separated the largely Muslim eastern areas from the largely Hindu western areas. Announced on 19 July 1905 by Lord Curzon, the then Viceroy of India.
    • It was implemented on 16 October 1905, it was undone a mere six years later.
    • Hindus were outraged at what they saw as a “divide and rule” policy, even though Curzon stressed it would produce administrative efficiency.
    • The partition animated the Muslims to form their own national organization along communal lines.
    • To appease Bengali sentiment, Bengal was reunited by Lord Hardinge in 1911, in response to the Swadeshi movement’s riots in protest against the policy.
    • In 1947, Bengal was partitioned for the second time, solely on religious grounds, as part of the Partition of India following the formation of the nations India and Pakistan.
    • In 1955, East Bengal became East Pakistan, and in 1971 became the independent state of Bangladesh.

  • [pib] Stand Up India Scheme

    The Ministry of Finance has informed that more than 81% of account holders are Women under Stand Up India Scheme.

    Try this PYQ from CSP 2016:

    Q.With reference to ‘stand up India scheme’, which of the following statement is/are correct?

    1. Its purpose is to promote entrepreneurship among SC/ST and women entrepreneurs.
    2. It provides for refinance through SIDBI.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) Both 1 and 2

    (d) Neither 1 nor 2

    Stand-Up India Scheme

    • Stand Up India Scheme was launched on 5 April 2016 to promote entrepreneurship at the grass-root level of economic empowerment and job creation.
    • This scheme seeks to leverage the institutional credit structure to reach out to the underserved sector of people such as SCs, STs and Women Entrepreneurs.
    • The objective of this scheme is to facilitate bank loans between Rs.10 lakh and Rs.1 crore to at least one SC or ST borrower and at least one woman borrower per bank branch for setting up a Greenfield enterprise.
    • The offices of SIDBI and NABARD shall be designated Stand-Up Connect Centres (SUCC)
    • It is similar to but distinct from Startup India.

    Back2Basics: Start-Up India Scheme

    • Startup India Scheme is an initiative of the Indian government, the primary objective of which is the promotion of startups, generation of employment, and wealth creation.
    • It was launched on the 16th of January, 2016.
    • A startup defined as an entity that is headquartered in India, which was opened less than 10 years ago and has an annual turnover of fewer than ₹100 crores (US$14 million).
    • The action plan for this initiative is based on the following three pillars:
    1. Simplification and Handholding
    2. Funding Support and Incentives
    3. Industry-Academia Partnership and Incubation
    • An additional area of focus is to discard restrictive States Government policies within this domain, such as License Raj, Land Permissions, Foreign Investment Proposals, and Environmental Clearances.
    • It was organized by The Department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPI&IT).

  • [pib] Declaration of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO                 

    The Ministry of Culture and Tourism has provided some useful information about the World Heritage Sites By UNESCO in India.

    We regret for the distorted view of this newscard on the app. Pls refer to the webpage link.

    [pib] Declaration of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO                 

    World Heritage Sites in India

    • At present, India has 38 World Heritage Properties. All the sites under the Ministry are conserved as per ASI’s Conservation Policy and are in good shape.
    • ‘Dholavira: A Harappan City’ has been submitted for the nomination of World Heritage Site in 2019-2020.
    • Nomination dossiers of ‘Santiniketan, India’ and ‘Sacred Ensemble of Hoysalas’ have been submitted to UNESCO for the year 2021-22 cycle.

    WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN INDIA (38)

    CULTURAL SITES:

    Under Protection of Archaeological Survey of India (22)

    S.No. Name of Site State
    1 Agra Fort (1983) Uttar Pradesh
    2 Ajanta Caves (1983) Maharashtra
    3 Ellora Caves (1983) Maharashtra
    4 Taj Mahal (1983) Uttar Pradesh
    5 Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram (1984) Tamil Nadu
    6 Sun Temple, Konark (1984) Odisha
    7 Churches and Convents of Goa (1986) Goa
    8 FatehpurSikri (1986) Uttar Pradesh
    9 Group of Monuments at Hampi (1986) Karnataka
    10 Khajuraho, Group of Temples (1986) Madhya Pradesh
    11 Elephanta Caves ( 1987) Maharashtra
    12 Great Living Chola Temples at Thanjavur, Gangaikondacholapuram and Darasuram (1987 & 2004) Tamil Nadu
    13 Group of Monuments at Pattadakal (1987) Karnataka
    14 Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (1989) Madhya Pradesh
    15 Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi (1993) Delhi
    16 Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi (1993) Delhi
    17 Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (2003) Madhya Pradesh
    18 Champaner-Pavagarh Archaeological Park (2004) Gujarat
    19 Red Fort Complex, Delhi (2007) Delhi
    20 Hill Forts of Rajasthan

    1. Kumbhalgarh, Jaisalmer and Ranthambhore, Amber and Gagron Forts) (2013)

    (Amber and Gagron Forts are under protection of Rajasthan State Archaeology and Museums)

    		 Rajasthan
    21 Rani-ki-Vav (The Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan (2014) Gujarat
    22 Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University) at Nalanda (2016) Bihar

     

    Under Protection of Ministry of Railways (2)

    23. Mountain Railways of India Darjeeling,(1999), Nilgiri (2005), Kalka-Shimla (2008) West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh
    24. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) (2004) Maharashtra

     

    Under Protection of Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (1)

    25 Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya, (2002) Bihar

     

    Under Protection of Rajasthan State Archaeology and Museums (1)

    26. The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur (2010) Rajasthan

     

    Under Protection of Chandigarh Administration (1)

    27. The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement (2016) Chandigarh

     

    Under Protection of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (1)

    28. Historic City of Ahmedabad (2017) Gujarat

     

    Under Protection of Bombay Municipal Corporation (1)

    29. Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai (2018) Govt of Maharashtra

     

    Under Protection of Jaipur Municipal Corporation (1)

    30. Jaipur City, Rajasthan (2019) Govt of Rajasthan

     

    NATURAL SITES: (7)

    Under Protection of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Changes

    31. Kaziranga National Park (1985) Assam
    32. Keoladeo National Park (1985) Rajasthan
    33. Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (1985) Assam
    34. Sunderbans National Park (1987) West Bengal
    35. Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks (1988, 2005) Uttarakhand
    36. Western Ghats (2012) Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra,Tamil Nadu
    37 Great Himalayan National Park (2014) Himachal Pradesh

     

    MIXED SITE: (1)

    Under Protection of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Changes

    38. Khangchendzonga National Park (2016) Sikkim

     

    Back2Basics: UNESCO World Heritage Sites

    • A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area, selected by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for having cultural, historical, scientific or other forms of significance, which is legally protected by international treaties.
    • The sites are judged to be important for the collective and preservative interests of humanity.
    • To be selected, a WHS must be an already-classified landmark, unique in some respect as a geographically and historically identifiable place having special cultural or physical significance (such as an ancient ruin or historical structure, building, city, complex, desert, forest, island, lake, monument, mountain, or wilderness area).
    • It may signify a remarkable accomplishment of humanity, and serve as evidence of our intellectual history on the planet.
    • The sites are intended for practical conservation for posterity, which otherwise would be subject to risk from human or animal trespassing, unmonitored/uncontrolled/unrestricted access, or threat from local administrative negligence.
    • The list is maintained by the international World Heritage Program administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 “states parties” that are elected by their General Assembly.

    UNESCO World Heritage Committee

    • The World Heritage Committee selects the sites to be listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger.
    • It monitors the state of conservation of the World Heritage properties, defines the use of the World Heritage Fund and allocates financial assistance upon requests from States Parties.
    • It is composed of 21 states parties that are elected by the General Assembly of States Parties for a four-year term.
    • India is NOT a member of this Committee.

  • Assam’s Sattras and their political significance

    In poll-bound Assam, the campaigns are sought to be held in the Bartadrava Than/Sattra (monastery) in Nagaon, which is the birthplace of renowned Vaishnavite saint-reformer Srimanta Sankardeva.

    Q.Discuss the role of religion in India’s electoral politics. Discuss how identity politics is harmful to a harmonious society.

    What are Sattras?

    • Sattras are monastic institutions created as part of the 16th-century Neo-Vaishnavite reformist movement started by Vaishnavite saint-reformer Srimanta Sankaradeva (1449-1596).
    • As the saint travelled across Assam, spreading his teachings and propagating an egalitarian society, these Sattras/Thans were established as centres of religious, social and cultural reforms in the 16th century.
    • These institutions are of paramount importance and lie at the heart of Assamese culture.
    • Today, Sattras are spread across the state, promulgating Sankardeva’s unique “worship through art” approach with music (borgeet), dance (sattriya) and theatre (bhauna).

    Composition of Sattra

    • Each Sattra has a naamghar (worship hall) as its nucleus and is headed by an influential “Sattradhikar”.
    • Monks, known as bhakats, are inducted into Sattras at a young age.
    • They may or may not be celibate, depending on the kind of Sattra they are inducted into.

    What is Sankardeva’s philosophy?

    • Sankardeva propagated a form of Bhakti called eka-sharana-naam-dhrama.
    • He espoused a society based on equality and fraternity, free from caste differences, orthodox Brahmanical rituals and sacrifices.
    • His teaching focused on prayer and chanting (naam) instead of idol worship. His dharma was based on the four components of deva (god), naam (prayers), bhakats (devotees), and guru (teacher).

    Try this PYQ:

    Q. With reference to the cultural history of medieval India, consider the following statements:

    1. Siddhas (Sittars) of Tamil region were monotheistic and condemned idolatry.
    2. Lingayats of Kannada region questioned the theory of rebirth and rejected the caste hierarchy

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) Both 1 and 2

    (d) Neither 1 nor 2

    What is the relationship between the Sattra and the State?

    • During the Ahom reign, the Sattras received a lot of donations in the form of land or money from the kings.
    • Unlike temples, Sattras did not require patronage because they were self-sufficient, grew their own food and could sustain themselves.
    • However, today, it is different. Annual grants from the state and central government are doled out to Sattras, in the hope of political support.

    Do Sattras matter in elections?

    • While Sattra votes may not decide the outcome of an election, it is undeniable that the Sattras and Sattradhikars have a lot of influence.
    • There are especially Sattra-based constituencies like Nagaon, Kaliabor, Majuli, Barpeta, Bartadadrva etc.
    • Assamese families usually have ties with one Sattra, or the other.
    • That is why politicians — regardless of party are often seen visiting Sattra.

  • Food Waste Index Report 2021

    The Food Waste Index Report 2021 was recently released by the UNEP.
    Even though the world produces enough food to feed twice the world’s present population, food wastage is ironically behind the billions of people who are starving.

    Food Waste Index

    • The Food Waste Index is released by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and partner organisation WRAP.
    • It measures tons of wasted food per capita, considering a mixed stream of products from processing through to consumption.
    • It was prepared by using data from 54 countries and then extrapolated to the remaining countries.
    • Contrary to belief, the study by the UNEP revealed that food waste was a global problem and not that of just the developed world.

    Highlights of the 2021 report

    • The report has revealed that 17 per cent of all food available at consumer levels was wasted in 2019.
    • That year, some 690 million people had to go hungry.
    • The food waste amounted to a whopping 931 million tonnes of food sold to households, retailers and restaurants.
    • Waste at household, foodservice and retail amounted to 79, 26 and 13 kilogram /capita / year respectively.
    • The data, though scarce, revealed that food waste was substantial, regardless of income level.

    Data on India

    • The report notes that food waste at the consumer level happens in almost every country, regardless of income level.
    • In South Asia, while 50 kilograms of food is wasted per person each year at the household level in India.
    • Others include- 65 kilograms of this happening in Bangladesh, 74 kilograms in Pakistan, 76 kilograms in Sri Lanka, 79 kilograms in Nepal and 82 kilograms in Afghanistan.

    Why it is important to prevent food wastage?

    • Food waste also has a substantial environmental, social and economic impact.
    • Food loss and waste cause about $940 billion per year in economic losses. Reductions can save money for farmers, companies, and households.
    • For example, 8-10 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions are associated with food that is not consumed.
    • Reducing food waste would cut greenhouse gas emissions, slow the destruction of nature through land conversion and pollution, enhance the availability of food and thus reduce hunger and save money.

  • [pib] Ease of Living Index (EOLI) 2020

    The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs has announced the release of the final rankings of the Ease of Living Index (EoLI) 2020 and the Municipal Performance Index (MPI) 2020.

    For any such index, always note the verticals i.e. the various parameters.

    Ease of Living Index (EoLI)

    • It is an assessment tool that evaluates the quality of life and the impact of various initiatives for urban development.
    • It provides a comprehensive understanding of participating cities across India based on the quality of life, the economic ability of a city, and its sustainability and resilience.
    • It examines the outcomes that lead to existing living conditions through pillars of Quality of Life, Economic Ability, Sustainability.

    Municipal Performance Index (MPI)

    • It was launched as an accompaniment to the Ease of Living Index.
    • The five verticals under MPI are Services, Finance, Policy, Technology and Governance.
    • The Ease of Living Index encapsulates the outcome indicators while the Municipal Performance Index captures the enabling input parameters.

    Performance of cities

    • Bengaluru emerged as the top performer in the Million+ categories, followed by Pune, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Surat, Navi Mumbai, Coimbatore, Vadodara, Indore, and Greater Mumbai.
    • In the Less than Million category, Shimla was ranked the highest in ease of living, followed by Bhubaneshwar, Silvassa, Kakinada, Salem, Vellore, Gandhinagar, Gurugram, Davangere, and Tiruchirappalli.

    Why need such indices?

    • The EoLI primarily seeks to accelerate India’s urban development outcomes, including the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
    • The findings from the index can help guide evidence-based policymaking.
    • It also promotes healthy competition among cities, encouraging them to learn from their peers and advance their development trajectory.

  • LinkedIn Opportunity Index 2021

    The Opportunity Index 2021 highlights the difference in perception of available opportunities in the market for men and women in India.

    LinkedIn Opportunity Index 2021

    • The report seeks to understand how people perceive opportunities and the barriers that stand in the way of achieving them.
    • This year’s report dives deep to understand how women perceive opportunities, and how the gender gap is further slowing down career progress for working women in India amid the pandemic.

    LinkedIn is an American business and employment-oriented online service that operates via websites and mobile apps. Launched on May 5, 2003, the platform is mainly used for professional networking and allows job seekers to post their CVs and employers to post jobs

    Highlights of the report

    India’s working women still face the strongest gender bias across Asia Pacific countries.

    • Covid impact: Nine in 10 (89%) women state they were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
    • General Bias: 1 in 5 (22%) working women in India said their company’s exhibit a ‘favourable bias’ towards men at work when compared to the regional average of 16%.
    • Work opportunity: While 37% of India’s working women say they get fewer opportunities than men, only 25% of men agree with this.
    • Pay: This disparity in perception is also seen in conversations about equal pay, as more women (37%) say they get less pay than men, while only 21% of men share this sentiment.
    • Promotion: In India, more than 4 in 5 working women (85%) claim to have missed out on a raise, promotion, or work offer because of their gender, compared to the regional average of 60%.
    • Family burden: Lack of time and family care stop 7 in 10 Indian women from progressing in their careers.
    • Maternity: Consumer sentiment from the report shows that more than 7 in 10 working women (71%) and working mothers (77%) feel that managing familial responsibilities often come in their way of career development.

    Scope for equality

    • The report shows that even though 66% of people in India feel that gender equality has improved compared to their parents’ age.
    • In India, the top three job opportunities sought by both men and women are job security, a job that they love, and a good work-life balance.
    • But despite having similar goals, more women (63%) think a person’s gender is important to get ahead in life when compared to men (54%).

    Barriers faced by Indian women

    • Lack of required professional skills and a lack of guidance through networks and connections are also some of the other barriers that get in the way of career development for working women in India.

    What next?

    • Organisations should step up to provide robust maternity policies and flexibility programs.
    • Reduced and flexible schedules, more sabbaticals, and new opportunities to upskill and learn are critical offerings that can help organizations attract, hire, and retain more female talent.

  • NITI Aayog proposes revisions to National Food Security Act

    The NITI Aayog has recently proposed a revision in the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 for lowering the coverage of both rural and urban population to save up to Rs 47,229 crore annually.

    National Food Security (NFS) Act

    • The NFS Act, 2013 aims to provide subsidized food grains to approximately two-thirds of India’s 1.2 billion people.
    • It was signed into law on 12 September 2013, retroactive to 5 July 2013.
    • It converts into legal entitlements for existing food security programmes of the GoI.
    • It includes the Midday Meal Scheme, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme and the Public Distribution System (PDS).
    • Further, the NFSA 2013 recognizes maternity entitlements.
    • The Midday Meal Scheme and the ICDS are universal in nature whereas the PDS will reach about two-thirds of the population (75% in rural areas and 50% in urban areas).
    • Pregnant women, lactating mothers, and certain categories of children are eligible for daily free cereals.

    Key provisions of NFSA

    • The NFSA provides a legal right to persons belonging to “eligible households” to receive foodgrains at a subsidised price.
    • It includes rice at Rs 3/kg, wheat at Rs 2/kg and coarse grain at Rs 1/kg — under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).
    • These are called central issue prices (CIPs).

    Try this PYQ:

    Q.With reference to the provisions made under the National Food Security Act, 2013, consider the following statements:

    1. The families coming under the category of ‘below poverty line (BPL)’ only are eligible to receive subsidized food grains.
    2. The eldest woman in a household, of age 18 years or above, shall be the head of the Household for the purpose of issuance of a ration card.
    3. Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a ‘take-home ration’ of 1600 calories per day during pregnancy and for six months thereafter.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    (a) 1 and 2 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) 1 and 3 only

    (d) 3 only

    What has NITI Aayog asked for review?

    • A revision of CIPs is one of the issues that have been discussed.
    • The other issues are updating of the population covered under the NFSA, and beneficiary identification criteria.
    • Under sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the Act, the term “eligible households” comprises two categories — “priority households”, and families covered by the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY).
    • Priority households are entitled to receive 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month, whereas AAY households are entitled to 35 kg per month at the same prices.

    Provisions for review

    • Under Schedule-I of the Act, these subsidised prices were fixed for “a period of three years from the date of commencement of the Act”.
    • While different states began implementing the Act at different dates, the deemed date of its coming into effect is July 5, 2013, and the three-year period was therefore completed on July 5, 2016.
    • However, the government has yet not revised subsidised prices.
    • The government can do so under Schedule-I of the Act, after completion of the three-year period.
    • To revise the prices, the government can amend Schedule-I through a notification, a copy of which has to be laid before each House of Parliament as soon as possible after it is issued.
    • The revised prices cannot exceed the minimum support price for wheat and coarse grains, and the derived minimum support price for rice.

    The question of coverage

    • The Act has prescribed the coverage under “eligible households” — 75% of the rural population and up to 50% of the urban population.
    • On the basis of Census 2011 figures and the national rural and urban coverage ratios, 81.35 crore persons are covered under NFSA currently.
    • This overall figure has been divided among the states and UTs, based on the NSSO Household Consumer Expenditure Survey 2011-12.
    • Section 9 of the Act deals with an update of coverage of the population under the Act.
    • However, given the population increase since then, there have been demands from the states and union territories to update the list by ensuring an annual updating system under NFSA.

    Propositions by NITI Aayog

    • The NITI Aayog has suggested that the national rural and urban coverage ratio be reduced from the existing 75-50 to 60-40.
    • If this reduction happens, the number of beneficiaries under the NFSA will drop to 71.62 crores (on the basis of the projected population in 2020).
    • To make these changes in the law, the government will have to amend sub-section (2) of Section 3 of the NFSA. For this, it will require parliamentary approval.

    Implications of the move

    • If the national coverage ratio is revised downward, the Centre can save up to Rs 47,229 crore (as estimated by the NITI Aayog paper).
    • On the other hand, if the rural-urban coverage ratio remains at 75-50, then the total number of people covered will increase from the existing 81.35 crores to 89.52 crore —an increase of 8.17 crore.
    • This estimate by the NITI Aayog is based on the projected 2020 population, and, according to the paper, will result in an additional subsidy requirement of Rs 14,800 crore.