Bowing to demands from tribal groups, the Manipur Assembly has resolved to implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and establish a State Population Commission (SPC).
To date, Assam is the only northeastern State to have implemented the NRC.
What is National Register of Citizens (NRC)?
The National Register of Citizens (NRC) is a register of all Indian citizens whose creation is mandated by the 2003 amendment of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
The register was first prepared after the 1951 Census of India.
Its purpose is to document all the legal citizens of India so that the illegal immigrants can be identified and deported.
It has been implemented for the state of Assam starting in 2013–2014.
The GoI announced plans to implement it for the rest of the country in 2021, but it has not yet been implemented.
NRC and Assam
Assam, being a border state with unique problems of illegal immigration, had a register of citizens created for it in 1951 based on the 1951 census data.
However, it was not maintained afterwards.
For decades, the presence of migrants, often called “bahiragat” or outsiders, has been a loaded issue here.
The Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal) Act, 1983 was then passed by the Parliament, creating a separate tribunal process for identifying illegal migrants in Assam.
The Supreme Court struck it down as unconstitutional in 2005, after which the Centre agreed to update the Assam NRC.
Who is a Foreigner in Assam?
The National Register of Citizens now takes its definition of illegal immigrants from the Assam Accord – anyone who cannot prove that they or their ancestors entered the country before the midnight of March 24, 1971, would be declared a foreigner and face deportation.
Those who entered on or after March 25, 1971, the eve of the Bangladesh War, would be declared foreigners and deported.
This means you could be born in India in 1971 to parents who crossed the border in that year, and still be termed an illegal immigrant at the age of 48.
CAA and NRC protests
These were a series of protests in India against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 which was enacted into law on December 12, 2019, and against the nationwide implementation of the NRC.
Protesters in all regions are concerned that the upcoming compilation of the National Register of Citizens might be used to deprive a community of its Indian citizenship.
Back2Basics: National Population Register (NPR)
The NPR is a database containing a list of all usual residents of the country.
Its objective is to have a comprehensive identity database of people residing in the country.
It is generated through house-to-house enumeration during the “house-listing” phase of the census, which is held once in 10 years.
A usual resident for the purposes of NPR is a person who has resided in a place for six months or more, and intends to reside there for another six months or more.
Once the basic details of the head of the family are taken by the enumerator, an acknowledgement slip will be issued. This slip may be required for enrolment in NPR, whenever that process begins.
And, once the details are recorded in every local (village or ward), sub-district (tehsil or taluk), district and State level, there will be a population register at each of these levels.
Together, they constitute the National Population Register.
National Democratic Alliance candidate and former West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar will be the 14th Vice-President of the country.
About Vice President of India
The VP is the deputy to the head of state of the Republic of India, the President of India.
His/her office is the second-highest constitutional office after the president and ranks second in the order of precedence and first in the line of succession to the presidency.
Qualifications
As in the case of the president, to be qualified to be elected as vice president, a person must:
Be a citizen of India
Be at least 35 years of age
Not hold any office of profit
Unlike in the case of the president, where a person must be qualified for election as a member of the Lok Sabha, the vice president must be qualified for election as a member of the Rajya Sabha.
This difference is because the vice president is to act as the ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
Roles and responsibilities
When a bill is introduced in the Rajya Sabha, the vice president decides whether it is a money bill or not.
If he is of the opinion that a bill introduced in the Rajya Sabha is a money bill, he shall refer it to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
The vice president also acts as the chancellor of the central universities of India.
Election procedure
Article 66 of the Constitution of India states the manner of election of the vice president.
The vice president is elected indirectly by members of an electoral college consisting of the members of both Houses of Parliament and NOT the members of state legislative assembly.
The election is held as per the system of proportional representation using single transferable votes.
The voting is conducted by Election Commission of India via secret ballot.
The Electoral College for the poll will comprise 233 Rajya Sabha members, 12 nominated Rajya Sabha members and 543 Lok Sabha members.
The Lok Sabha Secretary-General would be appointed the Returning Officer.
Political parties CANNOT issue any whip to their MPs in the matter of voting in the Vice-Presidential election.
Removal
The Constitution states that the vice president can be removed by a resolution of the Rajya Sabha passed by an Effective majority (majority of all the then members) and agreed by the Lok Sabha with a simple majority( Article 67(b)).
But no such resolution may be moved unless at least 14 days’ noticein advance has been given.
Notably, the Constitution does not list grounds for removal.
No Vice President has ever faced removal or the deputy chairman in the Rajya Sabha cannot be challenged in any court of law per Article 122.
Researchers from across the world have made available over 650 complete genome sequences of monkeypox isolates to date in public domain databases including GISAID and GenBank.
What is Genome Sequencing?
Genome sequence is the unique code of genetic material of any organism, and determines the characteristic of any organism.
Whole genome sequencing is the process of determining the complete DNA sequence of an organism’s genome at a single time.
The gene composition of novel coronavirus, for instance, is different from that of the influenza virus. Every organism has a unique genome sequence.
Laboratories in various countries have been isolating and sharing the genome sequences of the virus on an international platform.
Why are so many genome sequences being isolated?
When viruses multiply, or reproduce, there is a copying mechanism that transfers the gene information to the next generation.
However, no copying mechanism is perfect. When the virus multiplies, there will be small changes, which are called mutations.
These mutations accumulate over time, and after prolonged periods, are responsible for evolution into new organisms.
Within a single reproduction, the changes are extremely minor. More than 95 per cent of the gene structure remains the same.
How does it help scientists?
However, the small changes that occur are crucial to understanding the nature and behaviour of the organism.
In this case, for example, the small changes could provide scientists with information about the origin, transmission, and impact of the virus on the patient.
It could also hold clues to the differing effects the virus could have on patients with different health parameters.
Accelerated evolution of Monkeypox
The monkeypox virus has a DNA genome of around 2,00,000 base pairs, roughly six times larger than that of SARS-CoV-2.
Like other viruses, the monkeypox virus evolves by the accumulation of genetic errors, or mutations, in its genome when it replicates inside a host.
Being a DNA virus, the monkeypox virus like other poxviruses was believed to have a small rate of accumulating genetic changes compared to viruses with an RNA genome like SARS-CoV-2, which have a much larger rate of mutations.
For poxviruses, this rate is estimated to be as low as a couple of genetic changes every year.
A recent study, however, revealed that the observed rate of genetic changes in the virus was higher than expected — average of around 50 genetic changes.
Key findings
Ans. APOBEC3 protein
The study also suggests that several mutations that have been identified in the new sequences of the monkeypox virus.
This may have emerged due to interaction between the virus genome and an important family of proteins coded by the human genome known as the Apolipoprotein B Editing Complex (or APOBEC3).
These proteins offer protection against certain viral infections by editing the genome sequence of the virus while it replicates in the cell.
Some researchers suggest that many of the genetic mutations in the monkeypox genomes from the current outbreak are relics of the effect of APOBEC3.
Conclusion
Genomic surveillance of pathogens provides interesting insights by following a molecular approach for contact tracing and understanding the transmission of the virus across the world.
As cases of monkeypox continue to rise, it is therefore important to strengthen the genomic surveillance for the monkeypox virus.
Since data from the present outbreak suggest a sustained human-to-human transmission, continuous genomic surveillance is important to understand the evolution and adaptation of the virus, apart from providing useful data to epidemiologists.
With COVID-19 continuing unabated and monkeypox around the corner, the time has never been better, and the need never more acute, to build a sustainable system for genomic surveillance in India.
The Centre has blamed the States for a prolonged delay in releasing the findings of the Seventh Economic Census, a critical compendium of formal and informal non-farm enterprises operating across the country, in a submission to the Parliament.
What is National Economic Census?
In 1976, GoI launched a planning scheme called Economic Census and Surveys.
It is the census of the Indian economy through counting all entrepreneurial units in the country which involved in any economic activities of either agricultural or non-agricultural sector which are engaged in production and/or distribution of goods and/or services not for the sole purpose of own consumption.
It provides detailed information on operational and other characteristics such as number of establishments, number of persons employed, source of finance, type of ownership etc.
This information used for micro level/ decentralized planning and to assess contribution of various sectors of the economy in the GDP.
Censuses till date
Total Six Economic Censuses (EC) has been conducted till date.
In 1977 CSO conducted First economic census in collaboration with the Directorate of Economics & Statistics (DES) in the States/UTs.
The Second EC was carried out in 1980 followed by the Third EC in 1990. The fourth edition took place in 1998 while the fifth EC was held in 2005.
The Sixth edition of the Economic Census was conducted in 2013.
Last month, two BSF personnel who were part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, were killed during a protest in an eastern town near the border with Uganda.
This tragic incident has brought renewed focus on the role of peacekeepers and the urgent need to ensure their safety and security.
What is United Nations Peacekeeping?
UN Peacekeeping helps countries navigate the difficult path from conflict to peace.
UN peacekeepers are often referred to as Blue Berets or Blue Helmets because of their light blue berets or helmets) can include soldiers, police officers, and civilian personnel.
UN Peacekeeping is guided by three basic principles:
Consent of the parties
Impartiality
Non-use of force except in self-defence and defence of the mandate
UNPKF in operation
Since 1948, UN Peacekeepers have undertaken 71 Field Missions.
There are approximately 81,820 personnel serving on 13 peace operations led by UNDPO, in four continents currently.
This represents a nine-fold increase since 1999.
A total of 119 countries have contributed military and police personnel to UN peacekeeping.
Currently, 72,930 of those serving are troops and military observers, and about 8,890 are police personnel.
What are the responsibilities of UNPKF?
U.N. military personal can be tasked with:
Protecting civilians and other U.N. personnel
Monitoring disputed borders
Observing peace processes in post-conflict areas
Providing security in conflict zones
Providing security during elections
Assisting in-country military personnel with training and support
Assisting ex-combatants in implementing the peace agreements
Why need UNPKF?
Conflict resolution: Peacekeeping has proven to be one of the most effective tools available to the UN to assist host countries navigate the difficult path from conflict to peace.
Burdensharing: Peacekeeping has unique strengths, including legitimacy, burden sharing, and an ability to deploy and sustain troops and police from around the globe, integrating them with civilian peacekeepers to advance multidimensional mandates.
Democratization: UN peacekeepers provide security and the political and peacebuilding support to help countries make the difficult, early transition from conflict to peace.
India’s contribution to UN Peacekeeping
(I) Largest contributor of troops
India has a long history of service in UN Peacekeeping, having contributed more personnel than any other country.
To date, more than 2,53,000 Indians have served in 49 of the 71 UN Peacekeeping missions established around the world since 1948.
Currently, there are around 5,500 troops and police from India who have been deployed to UN Peacekeeping missions, the fifth highest amongst troop-contributing countries.
India has also provided and continues to provide, eminent Force Commanders for UN Missions.
India is the fifth largest troop contributor (TCC) with 5,323 personnel deployed in 8 out of 13 active UN Peacekeeping Missions, of which 166 are police personnel.
(II) History of India’s contribution
India’s contribution to UN Peacekeeping began with its participation in the UN operation in Korea in the 1950s.
This is where India’s mediatory role in resolving the stalemate over prisoners of war in Korea led to the signing of the armistice that ended the Korean War.
India chaired the five-member Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission, while the Indian Custodian Force supervised the process of interviews and repatriation that followed.
The UN entrusted the Indian armed forces with subsequent peace missions in the Middle East, Cyprus, and the Congo (since 1971, Zaire).
India also served as Chair of the three international commissions for supervision and control for Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos established by the 1954 Geneva Accords on Indochina.
(III) Role of women in Indian Peacekeeping
India has been sending women personnel on UN Peacekeeping Missions.
In 2007, India became the first country to deploy an all-women contingent to a U.N. Peacekeeping mission.
The Formed Police Unit in Liberia provided 24-hour guard duty and conducted night patrols in the capital Monrovia, and helped to build the capacity of the Liberian police.
These women officers not only played a role in restoring security in the West African nation but also contributed to an increase in the number of women in Liberia’s security sector.
(IV) Medical care as part of India’s Missions
In addition to their security role, the members of the Indian Formed Police Unit also organized medical camps for Liberians, many of whom have limited access to health care services.
Medical care is among the many services Indian Peacekeepers provide to the communities in which they serve on behalf of the Organization.
They also perform specialized tasks such as veterinary support and engineering services.
Issues with UNPKM
[A] Issues for India
1. Interference in Kashmir
Despite its presence in several countries as part of the Peacekeeping missions, India has routinely expressed its displeasure at a similar mission headquartered in Srinagar and Islamabad.
The UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) was established on January 24, 1949 to supervise the ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
2. Disregard for India-Pak Ceasefire
UNMOGIP has remained in the region to observe hostilities between the neighbouring countries and report ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC).
India has reiterated that the mission has “outlived its relevance” after the Shimla Agreement was signed by India and Pakistan in July 1972 and the establishment of the LoC.
[B] Global challenges
Diverse security challenges: India is of the view that the international community must grasp the rapid changes that are underway in the nature and role of contemporary peacekeeping operations.
Adequate resources: The Security Council’s mandates to UN Peacekeeping operations need to be rooted in ground realities, and co-related with the resources provided for the peacekeeping operation.
Greater say to troop’s country: It is critical that troop and police contributing countries should be fully involved at all stages and in all aspects of mission planning.
HR allocation: There should be greater financial and human resources for peace-building in post-conflict societies, where UNPKOs have been mandated.
Way forward
Reform the UNSC itself: Reformed multilateralism – and its root the reform of the UNSC.
Multi-partner collaboration: To make counterterrorism more effective by including actors outside of the UNSC.
Selective modernization: The third priority is more effective peacekeeping—by modernization and greater inclusion of the UN Peace Keeping Force (UNPKF).
Effective decision-making: The final priority was to make the UNSC’s decision-making more human-centric, through electoral accountability.
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Only 10000 out of around 11 Lakhs aspirants who appear, qualify in the UPSC Prelims. Just the 1%. This leaves no scope for mistakes, yet many of you keep committing the same mistakes again and again.
Guys, there is no doubt that UPSC Prelims could be the toughest stage. It is the great filter that weeds out the not-so-serious candidates but at times many serious ones too.
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Context: India has said the statement by the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation on Jammu and Kashmir “reeked of bigotry”.
What did the MEA say?
The Ministry of External Affairs said the Saudi Arabia -based OIC continued to issue statements on J&K at the behest of a serial violator of human rights and notorious promoter of terrorism, indicating Pakistan.
What is OIC?
The OIC — formerly Organisation of the Islamic Conference — is the world’s second-largest inter-governmental organization after the UN, with a membership of 57 states.
The OIC’s stated objective is “to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various people of the world”.
OIC has reserved membership for Muslim-majority countries. Russia, Thailand, and a couple of other small countries have Observer status.
India and OIC
At the 45th session of the Foreign Ministers’ Summit in 2018, Bangladesh suggested that India, where more than 10% of the world’s Muslims live, should be given Observer status.
In 1969, India was dis-invited from the Conference of Islamic Countries in Rabat, Morocco at Pakistan’s behest.
Then Agriculture Minister Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed was dis-invited upon arrival in Morocco after Pakistan President Yahya Khan lobbied against Indian participation.
Recent developments
In 2019, India made its maiden appearance at the OIC Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Abu Dhabi, as a “guest of honor”.
This first-time invitation was seen as a diplomatic victory for New Delhi, especially at a time of heightened tensions with Pakistan following the Pulwama attack.
Pakistan had opposed the invitation to Swaraj and it boycotted the plenary after the UAE turned down its demand to rescind the invitation.
What is the OIC’s stand on Kashmir?
It has been generally supportive of Pakistan’s stand on Kashmir and has issued statements criticizing India.
Last year, after India revoked Article 370 in Kashmir, Pakistan lobbied with the OIC for their condemnation of the move.
To Pakistan’s surprise, Saudi Arabia and the UAE — both top leaders among the Muslim countries — issued nuanced statements, and were not as harshly critical of New Delhi as Islamabad had hoped.
Since then, Islamabad has tried to rouse sentiments among the Islamic countries, but only a handful of them — Turkey and Malaysia — publicly criticized India.
How has India been responding?
India has consistently underlined that J&K is an integral part of India and is a matter strictly internal to India.
The strength with which India has made this assertion has varied slightly at times, but never the core message.
It has maintained its “consistent and well-known” stand that the OIC had no locus standi.
This time, India went a step ahead and said the grouping continues to allow itself to be used by a certain country “which has a record on religious tolerance, radicalism, and persecution of minorities”.
OIC members and India
Individually, India has good relations with almost all member nations. Ties with the UAE and Saudi Arabia, especially, have looked up significantly in recent years.
The OIC includes two of India’s close neighbors, Bangladesh and Maldives.
Indian diplomats say both countries privately admit they do not want to complicate their bilateral ties with India on Kashmir but play along with OIC.
Way ahead
India now sees the duality of the OIC as untenable, since many of these countries have good bilateral ties and convey to India to ignore OIC statements.
But these countries sign off on the joint statements which are largely drafted by Pakistan.
India feels it important to challenge the double-speak since Pakistan’s campaign and currency on the Kashmir issue has hardly any takers in the international community.
As the long-range, live-fire drills began with China’s Eastern Theatre Command firing several ballistic missiles, Taiwan said that it was “preparing for war without seeking war”. What is Taiwan’s strategy to fight back in case China attempts to occupy it by force?
What is a Military Doctrine?
Military doctrine is the expression of how military forces contribute to campaigns, major operations, battles, and engagements.
It is a guide to action, rather than being hard and fast rules. Doctrine provides a common frame of reference across the military.
Why do need such a doctrine?
It helps standardize operations, facilitating readiness by establishing common ways of accomplishing military tasks.
It decides what you buy, produce, or prioritize, all of which flows from deciding your best fighting foot.
What is the ‘Porcupine Doctrine’?
This doctrine was proposed in 2008 by US Naval War College research professor William S Murray.
It is a strategy of asymmetric warfare focused on fortifying a weak state’s defences to exploit the enemy’s weaknesses rather than taking on its strengths.
It is about building defences that would ensure that Taiwan could be attacked and damaged but not defeated, at least without unacceptably high costs and risks.
How does this work?
It identifies three defensive layers in the porcupine approach.
The outer layer is about intelligence and reconnaissance to ensure defence forces are fully prepared. Behind this come plans for guerrilla warfare at sea with aerial support from sophisticated aircraft provided by the US.
The innermost layer relies on the geography and demography of the island.
While the outer surveillance layer would work to prevent a surprise attack, the second one would make it difficult for China to land its troops on the island in the face of a guerrilla campaign at sea using “agile, missile-armed small ships, supported by helicopters and missile launchers”.
Another tactic: Asymmetric systems of defence
Asymmetric systems are ones that are small, numerous, smart, stealthy, mobile and hard to be detected and countered and associated with innovative tactics and employments.
These asymmetric capabilities will be aimed at striking the operational centre of gravity and key nodes of the enemy.
The geographic advantages of the Taiwan Strait shall be tapped to shape favourable conditions to disrupt the operational tempo of the enemy, frustrate its attempts and moves of invasion.
Taiwan underlined its shift to an asymmetric approach by adopting the Overall Defence Concept (ODC) in 2018.
Do you know?
Indian armed forces follow the Cold Start Doctrine that involves joint operations between India’s three services and integrated battle groups for offensive operations. A key component is the preparation of India’s forces to be able to quickly mobilize and take offensive actions without crossing the enemy’s nuclear-use threshold.
Need for such a strategy
China enjoys overwhelming military superiority over Taiwan.
Over the past decade, Beijing has developed far more accurate and precise weapon systems to target Taiwan.
China has been more vocal about its intention to “reunite” the island with the mainland, by force or coercion if needed.
The PLA has already achieved the capabilities needed to conduct an air and naval blockade, cyberattacks, and missile strikes against Taiwan.
PLA leaders now likely assess they have, or will soon have, the initial capability needed to conduct a high-risk invasion of Taiwan (following Russia’s path).
How easy will it be for China?
Missile strikes, cyberattacks, air and naval blockade aside, undertaking a full-scale invasion across the Taiwan Strait, with attendant risks of anti-ship and anti-air attacks, could present challenges for China.
The PLA is estimated to have air and naval resources to carry out an initial landing of 25,000 or more troops, which could increase if it deploys civilian ships to meet its military objectives.
However, it will have to first select and secure a suitable beachhead from among the handful that is available.
Also, with small and agile weapons systems, Taiwan can turn its coastline into a kill zone that would deny China a walkover.
Beijing would have to rely on cyberattacks, missile strikes on Taiwan’s air bases and runways, and a blockade to choke it into surrendering.
The Supreme Court has said it may loosen the restrictive grip of a 51-year-old abortion law that bars unmarried women from terminating pregnancies up to 24 weeks old.
What is the news?
The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1971 and its Rules of 2003 prohibit unmarried women who are between 20 weeks and 24 weeks pregnant to abort with the help of registered medical practitioners.
What did the Court say now?
In a very significant move, the court said that the prohibition was manifestly arbitrary and violative of women’s right to bodily autonomy and dignity.
The danger to life is as much in the case of an unmarried woman as in the case of a married woman said Justice Chandrachud.
The danger of suffering a mental breakdown is much more prominent for unmarried women, said the court.
Earlier observations
A woman’s right to reproductive choice is an inseparable part of her personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution.
She has a sacrosanct right to bodily integrity, the court quoted from precedents.
The court said forcing a woman to continue with her pregnancy would not only be a violation of her bodily integrity but also aggravate her mental trauma.
Indispensable clause of safety
The court ordered a medical board to be formed by the AIIMS to check whether it was safe to conduct an abortion on the woman and submit a report in a week.
What is the case?
A Bench led by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud was hearing the appeal of a woman who wanted to abort her 24-week pregnancy after her relationship failed and her partner left her.
The lower court had taken an “unduly restrictive view” that her plea for a safe abortion was not covered under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act.
This was since the pregnancy arose from a consensual relationship outside wedlock.
What was the last amendment?
The court noted that an amendment to the Act in 2021 had substituted the term ‘husband’ with ‘partner’, a clear signal that the law covered unmarried women within its ambit.
Reiterating the live-in recognition
Chastising the lower court, the Bench said live-in relationships had already been recognized by the Supreme Court.
There were a significant number of people in the social mainstream who see no wrong in engaging in pre-marital sex.
The law could not be used to quench “notions of social morality” and unduly interfere in their personal autonomy and bodily integrity.
Back2Basics: Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act
Abortion in India has been a legal right under various circumstances for the last 50 years since the introduction of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act in 1971.
The Act was amended in 2003 to enable women’s access to safe and legal abortion services.
Abortion is covered 100% by the government’s public national health insurance funds, Ayushman Bharat and Employees’ State Insurance with the package rate for surgical abortion.
The idea of terminating your pregnancy cannot originate by choice and is purely circumstantial. There are four situations under which a legal abortion is performed:
If continuation of the pregnancy poses any risks to the life of the motheror mental health
If the foetus has any severe abnormalities
If pregnancy occurred as a result of failure of contraception (but this is only applicable to married women)
If pregnancy is a result of sexual assault or rape
These are the key changes that the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2021, has brought in:
The gestation limit for abortions has been raised from the earlier ceiling of 20 weeks to 24 weeks, but only for special categories of pregnant women such as rape or incest survivors. But this termination would need the approval of two registered doctors.
All pregnancies up to 20 weeks require one doctor’s approval. The earlier law, the MTP Act 1971, required one doctor’s approval for pregnancies upto 12 weeks and two doctors’ for pregnancies between 12 and 20 weeks.
Women can now terminate unwanted pregnancies caused by contraceptive failure, regardless of their marital status. Earlier the law specified that only a “married woman and her husband” could do this.
There is also no upper gestation limit for abortion in case of foetal disability if so decided by a medical board of specialist doctors, which state governments and union territories’ administrations would set up.
The Centre has launched a common facility to register names in ration cards on a pilot basis for 11 States and Union Territories.
Ration Mitra
Ration Mitra’ Portal aims to enable these States to identify and verify the eligible beneficiaries for coverage under the National Food Security Act.
Named as Ration Mitr, this software developed by the National Informatics Centre can be used to enrol people of any State.
The portal is an enabler for States/UTs to complete their inclusion exercise under NFSA.
The NFSA provides food security coverage for 81.35 crore persons in the country. The present NFSA coverage is about 79.74 crore.
About 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 converts into legal entitlements for existing food security programs 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).
