💥Join UPSC 2027,2028 Mentorship (August Batch) + XFactor Notes & Microthemes PDF
Talk to Mentor

Civilsdaily

Login

Search results for: “”

  • Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Report

    The number of journalists jailed around the world for practicing their profession has touched a record high, with 363 reporters deprived of their freedom as of December 1, 2022, according to the 2022 prison census released by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

    About Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)

    • The CPJ is an American independent non-profit, non-governmental organization, based in New York City, New York, with correspondents around the world.
    • CPJ promotes press freedom and defends the rights of journalists.
    • It is often called as the “Journalism’s Red Cross.”
    • Since late 1980s, the organization has been publishing an annual census of journalists killed or imprisoned in relation to their work.

    Key highlights of CPJ report

    • This year’s top five jailers of journalists were Iran, China, Myanmar, Turkey, and Belarus, respectively.
    • New ‘fake news’ laws, criminal defamation, and abuse of judiciary are also tactics used to clamp down on press freedom.
    • This year’s top five jailers of journalists were Iran, China, Myanmar, Turkey, and Belarus, respectively.
    • These govt aimed to keep the lid on broiling discontent in a world disrupted by COVID-19 and the economic fallout from Russia’s war on Ukraine.
    • In China, too, another ‘worst offender’, many imprisoned journalists were Uighurs from Xinjiang.

    What did it say about India?

    India continues to draw criticism over its treatment of the media, in particular its use of-

    1. Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act,
    2. Preventive detention law- to keep journalists behind bars after they were granted court-ordered bail in separate cases,
    3. Terrorism-related Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act to investigate and charge the journalists.

    Why does this report matter?

    • Earlier this year, India has reached 150th position in the World Press Freedom Index, dropping further from its last year’s 142nd rank out of 180 countries.
    • The safety of journalists is a grave concern in the Indian media landscape.

    Conclusion

    • The right occasion to deliberate about the much-needed reforms in the media ecosystem in the country is due.
    • Establishing plurality in ownership, better legal frameworks to protect journalists, and steps to reduce the influence of vested interest groups in Media operations are the immediate steps required.

    Back2Basics: Freedom of Press and Constitutional Provisions

    • The Supreme Court in Romesh Thappar v. the State of Madras, 1950 observed that freedom of the press lay at the foundation of all democratic organisations.
    • It is guaranteed under the freedom of speech and expression under Article 19, which deals with ‘Protection of certain rights regarding freedom of speech, etc.
    • Freedom of the press is not expressly protected by the Indian legal system but it is impliedly protected under article 19(1) (a) of the constitution.
    • The freedom of the press is also not absolute.

    Reasonable restrictions

    • A law could impose only those restrictions on the exercise of this right, it faces certain restrictions under article 19(2), which is as follows:
    1. Sovereignty and integrity of India
    2. Security of the State,
    3. Friendly relations with foreign States
    4. Public order, decency or morality
    5. Contempt of court
    6. Defamation
    7. Incitement to an offence

     

    Click and get your FREE Copy of CURRENT AFFAIRS Micro Notes

    (Click) FREE 1-to-1 on-call Mentorship by IAS-IPS officers | Discuss doubts, strategy, sources, and more

  • India test-fires Agni-V Ballistic Missile amid LAC heat

    agni

    India successfully carried out the night trials of the Agni V nuclear-capable ballistic missile days after Indian and Chinese troops clashed in Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh.

    Why in news?

    • It was a midnight test fire.
    • And there are rumours about the increased range and stealth capabilities of Agni-V missile.

    Agni Missiles

    agni

    • Agni missiles are long range, nuclear weapons capable surface to surface ballistic missile.
    • The first missile of the series, Agni-I was developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) and tested in 1989.
    • After its success, Agni missile program was separated from the IGMDP upon realizing its strategic importance.
    • It was designated as a special program in India’s defence budget and provided adequate funds for subsequent development.

    Variants of Agni missiles

    1. Agni I: It is a Medium Range Ballistic Missile with a Range of 700-800 km.
    2. Agni II: It is also a Medium Range Ballistic Missile with a Range more than 2000 km.
    3. Agni III: It is also an Inter-Medium Range Ballistic Missile with Range of more than 2,500 Km
    4. Agni IV: It is also an Inter-Medium Range Ballistic Missile with Range is more than 3,500 km and can fire from a road mobile launcher.
    5. Agni-V: Currently it is the longest of Agni series, an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with a range of over 5,000 km.
    6. Agni- VI: The longest of the Agni series, an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with a range of ICBM 11,000–12,000 km.

    Strategic significance of Agni Missiles

    • The success of AGNI missiles is in line with India’s stated policy to have ‘credible minimum deterrence’ that underpins the commitment to ‘No First Use’.
    • What makes Agni 5 agile is that it is a “canisterised” missile. It means that the missile can be launched from road and rail platforms, making it easier for it to be deployed and launched at a quicker pace.
    • The canisterisation also gives the missile a longer shelf life, protecting it from the harsher climatic conditions.
    • While India is among the handful of nations with ICBM capability.
    • The next generation of the missile, Agni VI, under development, is expected to have a range of around 8,000 km.

     

    Click and get your FREE Copy of CURRENT AFFAIRS Micro Notes

    (Click) FREE 1-to-1 on-call Mentorship by IAS-IPS officers | Discuss doubts, strategy, sources, and more

  • (Watch LIVE) 7-step Integrated Current Affairs strategy for UPSC Prelims & Mains 2023/2024? Linking current affairs to GS in Answer Writing | FREE Webinar + Samachar Manthan current affairs module

    (Watch LIVE) 7-step Integrated Current Affairs strategy for UPSC Prelims & Mains 2023/2024? Linking current affairs to GS in Answer Writing | FREE Webinar + Samachar Manthan current affairs module

    Join Zoom Meeting

    https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89622617083?pwd=cTc2bHlDeUUzNWJxeWVDWnk3VXh2Zz09

    Get FREE Samachar Manthan module after Webinar

    (Click) Register for FREE Webinar

    How to collect-analyse-organize-utilize-revise current affairs? Circle 16th (Friday) on the Calendar for Important Webinar for UPSC 2023-24.

    Everybody tells you Current Affairs is crucial for UPSC CSE Prelims and Mains.

    But no one tells you how to cover current affairs, what are the best sources, and how to collect-analyse-organize-utilize-revise current affairs.

    Dimple Chouhan ma’am, senior IAS faculty for Samachar Manthan program will take the most important webinar for you on How to cover current affairs most effectively for UPSC CSE?

    Table of Content

    Current Affairs provide the basis for almost 70-80% of the questions asked in UPSC Prelims and Mains. As per recent exam trends, even the questions on various hardcore GS subjects, including History, Culture, Geography, and politics, have been critically connected with and influenced by current events.

    Webinar Details:

    Date: 16th December, Friday

    Time: 7 PM

    Mode: Online (we will email you the link)

    Registration is FREE and Webinar is Open to all

    (Click) Register for FREE Webinar

    Post webinar get PERSONALIZED Current Affairs Strategy + MENTORSHIP CALL for UPSC 2023-24. 

    What are you going to learn in this Webinar?

    Basically, exam-oriented current affairs preparation depends on 4 aspects;

    • Staying informed about the most relevant current topics.
    • Understanding the context (It is not enough to simply know what has happened
    • Organizing & updating your notes for MCQs & Answer writing.
    • Practicing MCQs and forming Mains GS answers 

    In this webinar Dimple ma’am will discuss following points

    1. How to cover daily current affairs in just 1.5 hrs along with notes and answer writing? Especially for working professionals.

    2. How to Link current affairs to GS in Answer Writing?

    3. How Current Affairs can help beat the unpredictability of UPSC paper, especially Prelims. Changing trends, eg: Prelims 2022- many questions from IR.

    4. Issues in Current Affairs coverage- 

    • What to read?
    • What are the sources?
    • How much time should be devoted to Current Affairs?
    • Can newspapers be a substitute for monthly magazines?
    • How to make notes
    • How to integrate CA into Mains answers
    • Daily, weekly coverage vs monthly coverage

    5. Subjects, directly and indirectly, dependent on CA

    (Click) Register for FREE Webinar

    Post webinar get PERSONALIZED Current Affairs Strategy + MENTORSHIP CALL for UPSC 2023-24. 

    Materials You Will Receive Post Webinar (Webinar FREE Package)

    • 1-1 discussion on Most Probable current affairs topics for UPSC 2023
    • Smash Prelims notes PDF,
    • 24 weeks’ Micro-Macro masterplan,
    • and MCQ tests.

    About Dimple Ma’am

    Dimple Chouhan is a senior IAS faculty at CivilsDaily. She has been mentoring UPSC aspirants for 4 years now and has mentored 150+ aspirants to Prelims success.

    What The Hindu mentioned about Civilsdaily Mentorship

    (Click) Register for FREE Webinar

    Post webinar get PERSONALIZED Current Affairs Strategy + MENTORSHIP CALL for UPSC 2023-24. 

  • The silent revolution of “Nari Shakti”

    revolution

    Context

    • On the occasion of the 75th year of India’s independence, the Prime Minister articulated a bold vision that in the coming 25 years, “Nari Shakti” would play a vital role in India’s socio-economic developmental journey.

    Click and get your FREE Copy of CURRENT AFFAIRS Micro Notes

    Background: Status of women In India

    • Elevated status in ancient texts and thoughts: Culturally and mythologically, women have enjoyed an elevated status in India. For example, it is mentioned in the Kena Upanishad that it was the goddess Uma who enlightened the three powerful but ignorant gods, Indra, Vayu, and Agni, to the profound mystery of Brahman.
    • Experience of women in modern era is far from ideal: Women have faced discrimination in the household and at jobs, and for a long time, they were victims of political indifference and neglect.
    • Recognizing the Nari Shakti: In recent decades, “Nari Shakti” has been reasserted through micro and silent revolutions. There are some silent women-led changes transforming our society politically and economically But there is need to highlight the challenges that remain in women fulfilling their true potential as modern nation-builders of India.

    revolution

    Nari Shakti The silent revolution: Role of Women in Indian democracy

    • Gender gap in voter turnout is diminishing rapidly as women often exceeds male voter turnout: Research on women voters using historical data has revealed that since 2010, the gender gap in voter turnout has diminished significantly and the recent trends show women voter turnout often exceeds male voter turnout. This massive increase is a nationwide phenomenon and is also observed in less developed regions of the country where traditionally, the status of women has been significantly lower.
    • Dramatic increase in women contesting election particularly in panchayat level: Since 2010, many more women have been contesting elections. To put this in perspective, in the 1950s, in the state assembly elections, women contested elections in approximately 7 per cent of the constituencies, but by the 2010s, women were competing in 54 per cent of the constituencies. This is particularly remarkable at the grass roots panchayat level where 50 per cent seats have been reserved for women for over a decade now.

    Results of this positive change

    • Women voters can no longer be neglected or marginalized: A key implication of this is that women voters can no longer be marginalised or neglected; they demand respect and command attention.
    • Political entrepreneurs compelled to address women issues: This silent revolution has compelled political entrepreneurs and grounded leaders to design policies addressing issues that women care about. It is not surprising that some of the most dramatic policy changes concerning poverty reduction since 2015-16 have been in the form of networking of households across the nation through amenities such as cooking fuel, sanitation, water, and electricity. These are also the key drivers of long-term economic growth.
    • Rising women voters compelled political parties to make law and order a critical issue: In less developed regions where women and children have been the biggest victims of lawlessness, the silent revolution of rising women voters has compelled political parties to make law and order a critical political issue.
    • Positive response by political parties: Political parties and leaders are now responding to this by improving access and affordability to basic needs of ordinary people like amenities and infrastructure rather than focusing on the rhetoric of caste and communalism. This is in sharp contrast to the “democratic recession” that is being experienced in the rest of the world.

    revolution

    Challenges ahead

    • Women employment a biggest challenge: According to World Bank data, the female labour force participation rate has declined from 32 per cent in 2005 to 19 per cent in 2022. Labour force participation does not consider unpaid domestic services, which include household services such as taking care of the children and the elderly.
    • More hours spent is in unpaid domestic services: Our research based on data from the time use surveys in India in 2018–19 reveals that women in the age group of 25 to 59 years spend approximately seven hours daily in unpaid domestic services.
    • Double burden of working is one of the reasons behind decline of women labour participation: Double burden of working women perhaps is one of the critical reasons for the decline in the women’s labour force participation rate. In sharp contrast, working or non-working men in the same age group spend less than 45 minutes on unpaid domestic or caregiving services.
    • Declined fertility rate: Fertility rates have declined dramatically below the replacement rate, the share of the ageing population has increased, and there is an alarming increase in the percentage of kinless elderly.

    Did you know Baumol Cost Disease?

    • The care industry is labour-intensive and, therefore, subject to Baumol Cost Disease, implying that the cost of providing care would keep rising over time.

    Way ahead

    • On labour force participation: It is essential to look at the experience of advanced countries, where increased participation of women in the labour force has come at the expense of family structure.
    • On dynamics of household and elderly care, sharing burden by men is a necessity: If we want more women to participate in the labour force, and at the same time preserve the family structure, then men would have to share the burden of unpaid domestic services. This would require a break from tradition and the creation of new modern narratives and myths.

    revolution

    Conclusion

    • As India takes over the presidency of G20, it is an occasion to celebrate “Nari Shakti” and political empowerment a stupendous increase in women voter turnout in the decade has strengthened and made our democracy more progressive. Women’s political empowerment has been a bottom-up revolution in India and holds lessons for other countries.

    Mains question

    Q. Culturally and mythologically, women hold a high position in India. However, there are still challenges in women fulfilling their true potential as India’s modern nation-builders. Discuss.

    (Click) FREE1-to-1 on-call Mentorship by IAS-IPS officers | Discuss doubts, strategy, sources, and more

  • Capital Expenditure and Fiscal Consolidation

    Fiscal

    Context

    • The 2023-24 Union budget will be announced on February 1, followed by the states’ respective budgets. These budgets will set the policy tone for the rest of the year and, as such, are followed closely.

    Click and get your FREE Copy of CURRENT AFFAIRS Micro Notes

    Situation of Capex and fiscal consolidation after pandemic

    • Rise in fiscal deficit: The overall fiscal deficit of the government has soared and we believe the next few years will be all about getting it back on track.
    • Rising interest payments: This is important because interest payments on past debt make up a whopping 50 per cent of net tax revenues for the central government, leaving very little room for other spending.
    • less room for social spending: Given the needs of the economy on various fronts like health, education and capex, it is important to lower the interest burden over time. That can only be achieved by fiscal consolidation.

    Analysing the tax revenue and expenditure of central and state Government

    • Central government tax revenues have risen faster than state revenues: Both benefitted as small and informal firms struggled with the lockdowns and lost market share to large firms, which tend to pay more taxes.
    • Disparity in revenue collection: A large chunk of the tax revenues in the early part of the pandemic period came from the “special” duty and surcharge on oil, which went primarily to the central government. To be fair, the central government subsequently cut the duty on oil (in both 2021-22 and 2022-23) and the tax share that went to the states rose somewhat.
    • Capex of centre is more: The Centre has committed to more current expenditure than the states. While it increased across the board during the pandemic, current expenditure rose more for the central government.
    • Higher spending on social schemes: This was led by higher social welfare spending (for instance, on the free food distribution scheme) and, more recently, higher subsidies (for example, fertilisers) in the face of rising commodity prices.
    • States have a moderate capex: The common perception is that states have gone all out on unsustainable current expenditure. But the data shows that it’s just a few states which have spent heavily (for example, Telangana, Assam, West Bengal and Punjab).

    Fiscal

    Analyzing the capex and fiscal deficit of central and state government

    • The central government capex has risen but state capex has contracted: Making a commendable choice, the central government used both its tax bounty as well as its ability to borrow more at a time when banking sector liquidity was loose to raise capex spending, which rose by 1.2 per cent of GDP between 2019-20 and 2021-22.
    • Cut in state capex: On the other hand, the states cut back on capex, which has fallen as a percentage of GDP over the last few years, and continues to be on a weak footing in the current year. In fact, putting the central government’s capex alongside the state and public sector capex shows that the overall public sector thrust is not any stronger than it was back in 2018-19.
    • Centre has breached the fiscal deficit target: The central government’s fiscal deficit has overshot targets while the state deficit is relatively contained. At a budgeted 6.4 per cent of GDP in 2022-23, the central government’s fiscal deficit has risen above the pre-pandemic level of 3.4 per cent in 2018-19, and is well above the 3 per cent medium-term target.
    • Sharp fall in states fiscal deficit target: Even though the state fiscal deficit rose in the first year of the pandemic (from 2.5 per cent of GDP in 2018-19 to 3.8 per cent in 2020-21), it has fallen sharply since (to 2.7 per cent in 2021-22).
    • Low borrowing by states: In fact, state government borrowing is rather low in the current year so far. If this continues, the fiscal deficit could be even lower in 2022-23 (around 2.5 per cent of GDP), which is well under the 3 per cent medium-term target, and bang in line with pre-pandemic levels.

    Fiscal

    What are the challenges?

    • Less consolidation by states: The states have less fiscal consolidation to do than the central government.
    • High quality spending: Both have a common challenge to commit to more capex, which is considered high quality spending as it “crowds in” private investment if done responsibly. And we believe investment is the only sustainable way to increase the capacity of the economy to grow and create jobs.
    • Balancing the capex and fiscal consolidation: For the central government, the challenge is to hold on to its capex push at a time of fiscal consolidation. For the states, the challenge is to start doing more.

    Fiscal

    What should be the way forward?

    • Lowering the fiscal deficit: The central government’s aim is to lower the fiscal deficit by about 2 per cent of GDP over the next three years. About half of this consolidation can come from lowering current expenditure to pre-pandemic levels.
    • Raising the tax revenue through formalization: Continued formalisation of the economy that raises tax revenues (though “organic” formalisation will likely be more sustainable than “forced” formalisation).
    • Disinvestment of PSUs: A bigger push for disinvestment by selling stakes in public-owned companies, and further tax reforms (in terms of direct taxes and the GST).
    • Capex cut is the last option: If these don’t work, the default option will be to cut capex, which is a concern as it has implications for medium-term growth.

    Conclusion

    • Fiscal consolidation and capital expenditure should go hand in hand. More government spending means more infrastructure building and more chances of growth and employment. However, this spending should be done with sound fiscal base.

  • Day 10| Daily Answer Wars| CD WarZone

    Topics for Today’s question:

    GS-2          Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

    Question

    Q. India’s Higher education institutions (HEIs) are plagued with many administrative and operational issues. Discuss. Suggest ways to overcome them and improve the state of HEIs. (15 Marks)

     

    HOW TO ATTEMPT ANSWERS IN DAILY ANSWER WARS (DAW)?

    1. Daily 1 question either from General Studies 1, 2, 3 or 4 will be provided via live You Tube video session.
    2. You can write your answer on an A4 sheet and scan/click pictures of the same.
    3. The answer needs to be submitted by joining the telegram group given in the link below.

      https://t.me/cdwarzone

    *In case your answer is not reviewed, reply to your answer saying *NOT CHECKED*. 

    1. For the philosophy of Daily Answer Wars and payment: 
    Daily Answer Wars | CD warzone
    Payment Link DAW
  • 15th Dec 2022 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions

    15th Dec 2022 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions

    [WpProQuiz 1188]

    [WpProQuiz_toplist 1188]

    UPSC 2023 countdown has begun! Get your personal guidance plan now! (Click here)

  • India’s experience under colonial rule: A study by Dylan Sullivan and Jason Hickel

    colonial

    Context

    • A recent study of India’s experience under colonial rule by Dylan Sullivan and Jason Hickel concludes that data from the Census of India reveal that between 1880 and 1920 approximately 100 million Indians died due to British policy in India. Their method is to calculate the excess mortality, being the difference between the actual deaths and the deaths that may be expected.

    Click and get your FREE Copy of CURRENT AFFAIRS Micro Notes

    What are assumptions made by their study?

    • Mortality rate before colonial rule: Before colonial rule, the mortality rate of India is unlikely to have been very different from that of contemporary England.
    • Deaths due to colonial policies during the period of 1880-1920: The resulting estimates for excess deaths during 1880-1920 are 50 million in the first case and 160 million in the second one, respectively. The authors settle for the midway figure of approximately 100 million for the deaths caused in India due to colonial policy.
    • Figure is greater than deaths from famine in other countries: For perspective, they point out that this figure is greater than the death from famine in “the Soviet Union, Maoist China, North Korea, Pol Pot’s Cambodia, and Mengistu’s Ethiopia”. In their view, this provides a direct assessment of the consequences of the Raj for India.

    Study quantifying the impact of colonial rule in India

    • Change in national income as a basis to quantify impact of colonial rule is non-existent: Attempts to quantify the impact of colonial rule in India have mostly relied on the change in national income. But reliable income data for the nineteenth century are almost non-existent. Population figures, though, are available from the time of the first Census of India in 1871.
    • Steady rise in mortality rate: The mortality rate in British India is seen to rise steadily after 1881, recording an increase of close to 20% by 1921. As it is unusual for the mortality rate of a country to rise continuously due to natural causes, this suggests that the living conditions worsened during this period.
    • Mortality rate dipped in last census in British India but famine is not recorded: The mortality rate dipped in 1931, which was the last census conducted in British India, but the last famine recorded in the country was yet to come. It took place in Bengal in 1943, in the last five years of the close to two centuries of British colonial rule.

    colonial

    How recurring famines are recorded?

    • British arguments for the empire: Arguments include “English forms of land tenure, the English language, banking, the common law, Protestantism, team sports, the limited state, representative assemblies, and the idea of liberty”, have been advanced by the Harvard historian Niall Ferguson.
    • No mention of the famines: There is no mention of the famines which started almost at the onset of rule by the East India Company in Bengal, the de-industrialisation of India in the nineteenth century, the drain of wealth, or the worsening food security as India’s peasants were forced to grow commercial crops for export so that Britain could balance its trade.
    • Population explosion but the life expectancy increased: The belief that British policy in India caused repeated famines is bolstered by the fact that there has not been a single famine since 1947. This is despite a population explosion following a sharp fall in death rates. The decline in the mortality rate surely signals improved living conditions. The Census shows that in the 1950s, life expectancy at birth of Indians increased by more than it did in the previous seventy years.

    Census as a double-edged sword

    • Worsening gender inequality in India after 1947: It points to a worsening gender inequality in India. A simple indicator of this would be the ratio of females to males in the population. It is believed that in the absence of factors that lower the life chances of women, including foeticide, this ratio would tend to one. The Census of India shows that we have not attained that level in our recorded history, except in pockets within the country.
    • Trend in gender inequality: While this is disturbing in itself what is more so is that this ratio has steadily declined after 1947. After declining for four decades from 1951 it started inching up in 1991. But in 2011, it was yet lower than what it was in 1951.
    • Life expectancy faster for man than women: So, even though life expectancy increased soon after Independence, in the early years at least it increased faster for men than it did for women.

    Conclusion

    • The Census of India not only helps understand the perils of British rule, but also flags the roadblocks lying ahead. As India chants Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam at the G-20, implying that the nations of the world are a family, it behooves us to ensure that all the persons in our own family enjoy the same freedoms.

    Mains Question

    Q. According to the census of the time discuss the impact of colonial rule in India. The Census of India not only helps understand the perils of British rule, but also flags the roadblocks lying ahead. Discuss.

    (Click) FREE1-to-1 on-call Mentorship by IAS-IPS officers | Discuss doubts, strategy, sources, and more

  • [Sansad TV] Perspective: Regulations for Dedicated Freight Corridor

    Context

    • With over 80% of the Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) running parallel to passenger lines, a parliamentary panel has raised concerns over the lack of safety rules for the goods-only network.

    News: Leniency over regulations of DFCs

    • The Standing Committee on Transport in its report, pointed out that while rules and regulations are defined for passenger trains, no such regulation exists for the Dedicated Freight Corridors.
    • There are many instances where rules were amended by the Ministry of Railways without consulting the commission, even when provisions to such consultations exist.

    What are Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs)?

    • The DFC project was first proposed in April 2005 to address the needs of the rapidly developing Indian economy.
    • They were proposed to ensure a more reliable, economical, and faster transportation of goods.
    • These corridors seek to bring a paradigm shift in Railway Freight Operations in the country, thus providing relief to the heavily congested Golden Quadrilateral.

    Its conceptualization

    • The inception of DFCs can be understood clearly as one delves into Indian Railways’ freight operations scenario in the past.
    • It was majorly the Golden Quadrilateral, linking the four metropolitan cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Howrah and its two diagonals.
    • This comprised 16% of the route, which carried over 52% of passenger traffic and 58% of freight traffic.

    Principal components: Eastern and Western DFCs

    1. Eastern DFC: It passes through Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
    2. Western DFC: From JNPT to Dadri via Vadodara-Ahmedabad- Palanpur-Phulera- Rewari, Western DFC will pass through Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.

    Need for DFCs

    • Logistics boost: To resolve the increasing need for road decongestion, accident reduction and ensuring energy security, the DFCs were launched to aid the growth of rail transportation in India.
    • Industrial competitiveness: This will also lead to the construction of industrial corridors and logistic parks along these routes, thereby making the industrial ecosystem more competitive.
    • Optimizing logistics cost: The new corridors will permit the trains to carry higher loads, in a more reliable manner, thereby reducing logistic costs.
    • Speedy movement: These lines are also being built to maximize speeds to 100 km/hour, up from the current average freight speed of 20 km/hour. This will also reduce transit time from freight source to destination.
    • Global successes: China’s new DFCs have been designed with the objective to link hinterland areas with ports, along with the aim to transfer commodities, raw materials, and other critical resources.

    Issues with Railways Freight

    • Highways are more feasible: The share of roads in freight transport is more than half in India; while in China, it is only 30%. As more highways are built rapidly, the share of roads in freight transport is increasing.
    • Costly transport: The working of Indian Railways is caught up between making it a self-sufficient organization and serving it as a transport system for the poor.  The passenger fares usually remain static for years.
    • Decline in coal freight: Decreasing dependency on coal with increasing thrust on renewable energy has crippled railway revenue from freights.
    • Lack of finances:  About 94 percent of the system’s revenues are spent on operating costs and social obligations, leaving little to modernize its infrastructure.
    • Delayed movement: Most passenger and freight lines are shared, and, when there is a delay, passenger trains are always prioritized. This makes it impossible to ensure deliveries within a set time.
    • Stuck into monopoly: The Indian railways have lacked investment. There’s been an inability to raise passenger fares because it’s a political ideology that public transport in India needs to be accessible for everyone.
    • Populist developments: Railways sometimes seem to be diverting from core issues of safety and operation and to populist needs aimed at wooing corporate travelers.
    • Regulation issue: The Commission of Railway Safety falls under the administrative control of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, and deals with matters pertaining to safety of rail travel and train operations.

    Significance of DFCs

    • Decongestion of road: Around 70% of the freight trains currently running on the Indian Railway network are slated to shift to the freight corridors, leaving the paths open for more passenger trains.  
    • Increased NTKM Capacity: NTKM stands for transportation of 1 tonne of goods over 1 km. Goods trains shall be able to run freely on DFC without any restrictions imposed by the movement of passenger trains.
    • Improvised logistics and connectivity: Tracks on DFC are designed to carry heavier loads than most of the Indian Railways. It will connect the existing ports and industrial areas for faster movement of goods.
    • Speed and Punctuality: To begin with, freight trains will run according to a timetable and as fast as express trains.  
    • Employment generation: Thousands of people will get employed in the construction of the corridor and other facilities along the corridor, including logistics parks to handle cargo and townships these corridors.

    Way forward

    • DFCs present a significant opportunity for freight logistics in India. What is important is to see how increasingly optimistic traffic projections will be realized.  
    • That depends upon the industrial and trade growth in India and the development of industrial corridors and the feeder network.
    • It would also play a lead role in transforming the railways from a loss-making operation to an efficient and profitable venture.
    • Also, it would be interesting to see the potential all these corridors hold for the regions they pass through.

    Click and get your FREE Copy of CURRENT AFFAIRS Micro Notes

    (Click) FREE 1-to-1 on-call Mentorship by IAS-IPS officers | Discuss doubts, strategy, sources, and more

  • What is Public Financial Management System (PFMS)?

    pfms

    The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), in its report found that the tasks related to the implementation of the PFMS appeared to have been dealt with a casual approach and there was no proper financial planning.

    Public Finance Management System (PFMS)

    • PFMS is an online platform developed and implemented by the office of the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) under the Union Ministry of Finance.
    • The PFMS portal is used to make direct payments to beneficiaries of government schemes.
    • PFMS initially started as a Plan scheme named CPSMS of the Planning Commission in 2008-09 as a pilot in four States of Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab and Mizoram.
    • It was for four Flagship schemes e.g. MGNREGS, NRHM, SSA and PMGSY.
    • In December, 2013 the Union Cabinet approved the national roll out of PFMS for all States.

    Mandate of PFMS

    PFMS has been mandated the following:

    • It acts as a financial management platform for all plan schemes and allows for efficient and effective tracking of fund flow to the lowest level of implementation for the planning scheme of the Government.
    • It is mandated to provide information on fund utilization leading to better monitoring, review, and decision support system to enhance public accountability in the implementation of plan schemes.
    • To result in effectiveness and economy in Public Finance Management through better cash management for Government transparency in public expenditure and real-time information on resource availability and utilization across schemes.

    Achievements of PFMS

    • PFMS can be credited to the transformation of Direct Beneficiary Transfers space in financial governance in India.
    • An estimated 102 crore DBT transactions were done through PFMS in FY 19-20 amounting to about ₹2.67 lakh crore.
    • Through efficient use of technology, PFMS is estimated to have saved about ₹1 lakh crore in direct beneficiary transfers.

    Factors that could determine the successful evolution of PFMS in future

    • Agility in terms of Onboarding/Integrating all Govt. accounts: Only after ensuring significant coverage, the true execution of the concept will take place.
    • Effective data management capabilities: PFMS will have to add significant data management capabilities in order to ensure better monitoring/review to deliver on the idea of a decision support system for effective cash management or management of idle float in the system.
    • Constantly upgrading: Adaption to rapid changes in technology is another key area that would call for a considerable amount of focus both in terms of gradation and monitoring.
    • Collaboration with the banking system: Lastly, one of the most critical factors for the successful execution of PFMS is its integration with the banking systems.

    What did PAC observe now?

    • PAC is concerned over data security of PFMS.
    • It observed that in the absence of a dedicated workforce, a key strategic system like the PFMS could possibly encounter new threats every now and then owing to the advancements in technology.
    • It stressed the need for a thorough assessment of physical and technical infrastructure along with back-up arrangements required in the PFMS scheme.

    Conclusion

    • The PFMS has revolutionized the ways public finances are managed in the country.
    • With constant improvement and increasing coverage, the scope of PFMS is ever-increasing.

    Back2Basics: Public Accounts Committee

    • The PAC is a committee of selected members of parliament constituted for the purpose of auditing the revenue and the expenditure of the Government of India.
    • It was established in 1921 after its first mention in the Government of India Act, 1919.
    • PAC is one of the parliamentary committees that examine the annual audit reports of CAG, which the President lays before the Parliament of India.
    • It seeks to examines public expenditure.
    • Those three reports submitted by CAG are:
    1. Audit report on appropriation accounts
    2. Audit report on finance accounts
    3. Audit report on public undertakings

    Its members-

    • It consists of not more than twenty-two members, fifteen elected by Lok Sabha and not more than seven members of Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Parliament.
    • The members are elected every year from amongst its members of respective houses according to the principle of proportional representation by means of single transferable vote.
    • None of its members are allowed to be ministers in the government.

     

    Click and get your FREE Copy of CURRENT AFFAIRS Micro Notes

    (Click) FREE 1-to-1 on-call Mentorship by IAS-IPS officers | Discuss doubts, strategy, sources, and more

More posts