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  • In news: Pralay Ballistic Missile

    pralay

    India is going to buy 250 more Pralay ballistic missiles for the services to strengthen them on the northern borders, further boosting the firepower of the defence forces.

    Pralay Ballistic Missile

    • Pralay is a tactical missile developed from India’s K-series of submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs).
    • It has a range of 150-500 km and can carry warheads weighing between 350 to 700 kg.
    • The missile is a canisters road-mobile system, which enhances its mobility and allows for quick preparation and launch of the missile.
    • Pralay has the ability to perform manoeuvres in flight and follows a quasi-ballistic trajectory to maintain high speed, making it difficult for enemy missile defence systems to intercept.

    Classification

    • The Indian Defence Ministry has classified Pralay as a “conventional Surface-to-Surface missile”.
    • This distinguishes it from the Agni series of missiles, which have the capability to carry either conventional or nuclear warheads.

    Testing and launch

    • The missile was launched on a quasi-ballistic trajectory in one of the two tests, which enhances its effectiveness against enemy missile defence systems.
    • Satellite imagery of the test shows that Pralay is a canisterised road-mobile system, which adds to its mobility and flexibility in responding to evolving threats.

     

  • NCERT’s Changes On Mughal History and Sparked Heated Debate

    NCERT

    Central Idea

    • The controversy over the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) reducing the content on Mughal history in the school curriculum has sparked a heated debate in the country. While some argue that this move is part of a larger agenda to erase the Mughal legacy, others believe that it is a necessary step towards reducing the burden on students and providing a more balanced approach to teaching Indian history.

    NCERT’s changes

    • The NCERT removed overlapping material from grades 6 to 12 to reduce the burden on students.
    • Grade 12 has been designed around themes in Indian history. It is divided into three parts spanning over 2,000 years. One theme out of 12 focuses on Kings and Chronicles. It revolves around the significant policies that redefined the landscape and mindset of the people. Akbar’s policies feature in this theme in the rationalized syllabus as well.
    • This is over and above the extensive coverage they get in the middle school curricula, at the cost of the exclusion of the rest. Mughals have been overrepresented in Indian history books and were an obvious area for right-sizing.

    What NCERT has said on omitting chapters?

    • Part of rationalisation process: According to NCERT director, Chapters on Mughals have not been dropped. There was a rationalisation process last year because due to COVID, there was pressure on students everywhere.
    • Reducing the burden without affecting the knowledge: The expert committees examined the books from standards 6-12. They recommended that if some sections or this chapter is dropped, it won’t affect the knowledge of the children and an unnecessary burden can be removed.
    • Transition towards National Education Policy (NEP): NCERT working as per NEP, 2020. This is a transition phase. NEP 2020 speaks of reducing the content load. NCF (National Curriculum Framework) for school education is being formed, it will be finalised soon. Textbooks will be printed in 2024 as per NEP.

    Need for a balanced approach

    • Purpose of studying Indian history: The purpose of studying Indian history should be to understand who we are and how we got here, by understanding the demography, culture, and practices of the various components of India over the last two-and-a-half millennia.
    • Dive deep into all polities: This requires us to dive deep into all polities that have resided in the subcontinental region for significant periods.
    • Mughal history is just one part: Mughal history is just one part of just one period (medieval) of Indian history, and there is a lot more to our history that needs attention.

    Need for a more comprehensive approach

    • Rich and long history: Indian history is too rich, long, and unwieldy for any curriculum to do justice.
    • Children needs to have broader understanding: In the age of Wikipedia, we need to expose our children to the broad themes and grand sweep of history, create an understanding of their origins, and equip them with the tools and curiosity to read and research further as they grow.
    • Step is in good direction: The current reorganization is a good step in that direction.

    Conclusion

    • The real debate should be how to teach 2,500 years of Indian history to children in an engaging and informative manner. Those quibbling over the current rearrangement lack both a perspective on the scale of Indian history and an understanding of the complexities of teaching it. They would be better served by picking up a few history books themselves.

    Mains Question

    Q. The national education policy speaks of reducing the content load and ensure the understanding in this light discuss the significance of teaching history of India in more rational and comprehensive manner.

  • Independence of Constitutional Authorities Is An Important Issue

    Central Idea

    • The recent comments made by the Supreme Court regarding the independence of constitutional authorities in India is an important issue. The need for independent institutions and a system of checks and balances is essential to prevent the arbitrary use of power by the government. The appointment process of key constitutional positions needs to be safeguarded from the whims of the executive.

    Need for Independent Institutions

    • Executive interference: The Constituent Assembly of India had recognized the need for independent institutions to regulate sectors of national importance without any executive interference.
    • Constitutional bodies: Various constitutional authorities such as the Public Service Commission, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Finance Commission, and the National Commissions for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Backward Classes (BC) have been set up for this purpose.
    • Need complete independence: Such constitutional bodies must be provided complete independence to enable them to function without fear or favor and in the larger interests of the nation.

    Appointment Process for Constitutional Authorities

    • Appointments are critical for independence: The appointment of individuals heading these institutions is critical to ensuring their independence.
    • Safeguarded from the whims of the executive: While empowering the President of India to appoint all constitutional authorities, the Constitution-makers had kept in mind those institutions whose independence is of paramount importance to the country and the manner in which the independence of these authorities could be safeguarded from the whims of the executive

    Appointment of Judges and Other Constitutional Positions

    • The Constitution provides for certain conditions to be fulfilled by those who may be considered for such appointments.
    • Role of governors: The appointment of Judges of the Supreme Court and the High Court, the CAG of India, and Governors are to be kept free from political or executive pressure.
    • For instance, appointment of the CAG:
    • In the draft Constitution, the article for the appointment of the CAG had provided that, there shall be an Auditor General who shall be appointed by the President. The Constituent Assembly further discussed that The Auditor-General should be always independent of either the legislature or the executive.
    • The process of selecting a person to be appointed as the CAG of India should begin by appointing a committee consisting of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the Chief Justice of India, and the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee to shortlist names to be considered for appointment as the CAG of India; and a panel of three names should be forwarded to the President for him to make the final selection as in Article 148 of the Constitution of India.

    Supreme court on appointment of CEC, EC’s and Governor

    • Appointment of CEC and EC’s: The Supreme Court has taken an important step in ensuring the independence of the Election Commission of India by divesting the executive of its sole discretion in appointing the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs) by forming a committee to suggest suitable names to man these constitutional posts.
    • Appointment of Governors: The Court expressed serious concern over the active role being played by Governors in State politics, observing that Governors becoming part of political processes is disconcerting. The appointment process for Governors needs to be unrestricted and unfettered to ensure that the President is free from the influence of the Legislature.

    Conclusion

    • It is necessary to ensure the independence of constitutional authorities to enable them to function without fear or favor and in the larger interests of the nation. The appointment process for key constitutional positions must be safeguarded from the whims of the executive. The recent comments of the Supreme Court regarding the independence of constitutional authorities in India are a reminder of the need to ensure that the appointment process for such positions is free from political or executive pressure.

    Mains Question

    Q. The issues over the independence of constitutional authorities in India is often in the headlines. In this light discuss why is it necessary to ensure the independence of constitutional authorities, and what are the implications of failing to do so?

  • [Burning Issue] Policy rate hike pause by RBI: Inflation Targeting Framework

    rbi

    Context

    • In a surprise move, the Indian central bank decided to pause its consecutive rate hikes and keep the benchmark repo rate at 6.50%.
    • The decision taken by the monetary policy committee (MPC) is a unanimous one despite inflation still beyond tolerance levels and downside risks from global economic activity.
    • Thus, this edition of the burning issue will talk about this hike pause and the mechanism of inflation targeting.

    Background: Evolution of Inflation Targeting Framework

    Phase One: Non-Statutory Inflation Control By RBI

    • Non-statutory: This Phase was marked by a Non-statutory inflation mechanism by RBI which included changes in several policy rates such as cash reserve ratio, and statutory liquidity ratio to maintain inflation.
    • Limitation: The mechanism lacked in several points such as lack of transparency in decision-making, uncertainty in the market about rates and inflation etc. Thus, the government shifted to Inflation targeting.

    Phase Two- The MPC and The Beginning of the Inflation Targeting Era

    What is the Monetary policy committee (MPC)?

    • Monetary policy refers to the policy of the central bank with regard to the use of monetary instruments under its control to achieve the goals specified in the Act.
    • Six-member committee: Under Section 45ZB of the amended (in 2016) RBI Act, 1934, the central government is empowered to constitute a six-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).
    • The primary objective: Section 45ZB of RBI Act, 1934 sets the objective of the RBI’s monetary policy to maintain price stability while keeping in mind the objective of growth.
    • A Monetary policy committee was formed to decide the Key policy rates.
    • Objective: Further, Section 45ZB lays down that “the Monetary Policy Committee shall determine the Policy Rate required to achieve the inflation target”.

    Flexible Inflation Targeting Framework

    Now, there is a flexible inflation-targeting framework in India (after the 2016 amendment to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Act, 1934).

    What is Inflation Targeting? 

    • Inflation targeting is a central banking policy that revolves around adjusting monetary policy to achieve a specified annual rate of inflation.  
    • Inflation targeting was first adopted in New Zealand and subsequently by 33 other countries. India adopted it in 2016.
    • The amended RBI Act, 1934 provided for the INFLATION TARGET (4% +-2%) to be set by the Government of India, in consultation with the Reserve Bank, once in every five years.

    3 Stances of RBI under Inflation Targeting

    1. ‘Accommodative’ 

    • An accommodative stance means the central bank is prepared to expand the money supply to boost economic growth. The central bank, during an accommodative policy period, is willing to cut interest rates. A rate hike is ruled out.

    2. ‘Neutral’

    • A ‘neutral stance’ suggests that the central bank can either cut rate or increase rate. This stance is typically adopted when the policy priority is equal on both inflation and growth.

    3. ‘Hawkish’

    • A hawkish stance indicates that the central bank’s top priority is to keep inflation low. During such a phase, the central bank is willing to hike interest rates to curb the money supply and thus reduce the demand.

    How inflation and rate hikes are linked?

    • When there is a shortage of funds, commercial banks borrow money from the central bank which is repaid according to the repo rate applicable.
    • The central bank provides these short terms loans against securities such as treasury bills or government bonds.
    • This monetary policy is used by the central bank to control inflation or increase the liquidity of banks.
    • The government increases the repo rate when they need to control prices and restrict borrowing.
    • An increase in repo rate means commercial banks have to pay more interest for the money lent to them and therefore, a change in repo rate eventually affects public borrowings such as home loans, EMIs, etc.
    • From interest charged by commercial banks on loans to the returns from deposits, various financial and investment instruments are indirectly dependent on the repo rate.
    rbi

    Why RBI hiked rates previously?

    • Global economic volatility due to the Ukraine war since March 2022 supply chain disruptions for a number of items.
    • Record high inflation throughout a major period during 2022 has prompted the RBI to make multiple policy rate hikes.

    Impact:

    • The RBI has raised the repo rate by 250 basis points (bps) since May 2022, thereby increasing the External Benchmark Linked Interest Rates, EBLR by 250 bps.
    • Banks have also raised the lending rate linked to the marginal cost of funds-based lending rate (MCLR) in the past 11 months.
    • Last year, the Consumer price index (CPI) hit its highest of 7.79% in Apr, and the wholesale price index (WPI) reached 15.88% in May 2022.
    2

    Why RBI has now paused hikes?

    • Decreasing inflation: The country’s retail inflation, which is measured by the consumer price index (CPI), slipped 16-month low of 5.66% in Mar. 2023.
    • Inflation data on the Wholesale Price Index (WPI), which calculates the overall prices of goods before selling at retail prices, was at 3.85% in Feb. 2023.
    • May slow down growth and consumption: Concerns over slowing consumption and tepid private investment have been emerging in policy quarters, with many seeing high-interest rates as a crucial factor in dampening demand.
    • Decrease in crude prices: Also, there has been a decrease in global crude prices and food inflation.
    • Still risks are there: The RBI underlined risks from protracted geopolitical tensions, tight global financial conditions and global financial market volatility to its monetary policy outlook.

    Will this pause be helpful or not?

    (1) Yes

    • The pause by the RBI will help favor the growth-inflation tradeoff towards the former.
    • An increase in EMIs for different types of loans will also halt helping the middle class to cope with inflation.

    (3) No

    • Rates to remain high: In the backdrop of many global agencies lowering India’s growth forecasts for this financial year amid expectations of global economic slowdown and monetary tightening by other countries.
    • No relief on debts: The interest rates of debts are already high and a pause on a hike will not bring down these interest rates and thus keep the debt costlier.

    Effectiveness of Inflation Targeting

    Successes

    • Average inflation has declined: The average inflation rate measured through the GDP deflator has declined significantly in the inflation targeting regime.
    • The average inflation, which was 5.69 per cent five years in the pre-inflation targeting period, has declined to 3.47 per cent in the last five years.
    • CPI declined: Consumer Price Index inflation declined from 8.26 per cent during the 2011-2015 period to 4.99 per cent in 2016-2019, a 3.27 percentage point fall.
    • This is highest among both inflation-targeting countries as well as those that did not adopt it.
    • Enhanced transparency:  Monetary policy transparency in India has improved after the adoption of the inflation-targeting framework.

    Failures

    • Sole focus of inflation: However, some critics of inflation targeting feel that its sole focus on price stability ignores growth imperatives.
    • Not much effective in India: In India, the agricultural sector and informal economy have a large share, which is not directly impacted by such rate hikes, thus rendering the hikes less effective.

    Way forward

    • The review committee should try to find out areas of further improvement in the monetary policy framework which will strengthen the MPC to achieve the inflation target.
    • In the present framework, it is not clear which model the RBI uses to forecast inflation and GDP figures, so it should disclose the models used in forecasting as other inflation-targeting countries do.
    • Further, the RBI may include a forecast of core inflation in the minutes.

    Conclusion

    • Central banks including the RBI are often accused of falling behind the curve. However, these are challenging times for central banks. Rate hikes operate with a lag. They also lead to a growth slowdown.
    • Thus, RBI has to walk a tightrope to balance growth-inflation dynamics. The accountability measures incorporated in the inflation targeting framework ensure that the focus on inflation management is not lost.

  • India’s Forex Reserves rise $6.30 bn to $584.75 bn

    forex

    India’s forex reserves increased by $6.306 billion to $584.755 billion last week, according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

    Why discuss this?

    • In October 2021, India’s forex reserves reached an all-time high of $645 billion.
    • Since then, the reserves have been declining.

    What is Foreign Exchange (Forex) Reserve?

    • Foreign exchange reserves are important assets held by the central bank in foreign currencies as reserves.
    • They are commonly used to support the exchange rate and set monetary policy.
    • In India’s case, foreign reserves include Gold, Dollars, and the IMF’s quota for Special Drawing Rights.
    • Most of the reserves are usually held in US dollars, given the currency’s importance in the international financial and trading system.
    • Some central banks keep reserves in Euros, British pounds, Japanese yen, or Chinese yuan, in addition to their US dollar reserves.

    India’s forex reserves cover:

    1. Foreign Currency Assets (FCAs)
    2. Special Drawing Rights (SDRs)
    3. Gold Reserves
    4. Reserve position with the International Monetary Fund (IMF)

    Countries with the highest foreign reserves

    • Currently, China has the largest reserves followed by Japan and Switzerland.
    • India earlier overtook Russia to become the fourth-largest country with foreign exchange reserves. (Data from August 2022)
    1. China – $3,349 Billion
    2. Japan – $1,376 Billion
    3. Switzerland – $1,074 Billion
    4. Russia – $597.40 Billion

    Why are these reserves so important?

    • All international transactions are settled in US dollars and, therefore, required to support India’s imports.
    • More importantly, they need to maintain support and confidence for central bank action, whether monetary policy action or any exchange rate intervention to support the domestic currency.
    • It also helps to limit any vulnerability due to sudden disturbances in foreign capital flows, which may arise during a crisis.
    • Holding liquid foreign currency provides a cushion against such effects and provides confidence that there will still be enough foreign exchange to help the country with crucial imports in case of external shocks.

    Initiatives taken by the government to increase forex

    • To increase the foreign exchange reserves, the Government of India has taken many initiatives like AatmaNirbhar Bharat, in which India has to be made a self-reliant nation so that India does not have to import things that India can produce.
    • Other than AatmaNirbhar Bharat, the government has started schemes like Duty Exemption Scheme, Remission of Duty or Taxes on Export Product (RoDTEP), Nirvik (Niryat Rin Vikas Yojana) scheme, etc.
    • Apart from these schemes, India is one of the top countries that attracted the highest amount of Foreign Direct Investment, thereby improving India’s foreign exchange reserves.

  • NISAR to map Himalayas’ Seismic Zones

    nisar

    Central idea

    • The ISRO and the NASA have jointly developed a forthcoming satellite called NISAR.
    • It will map the most earthquake-prone regions in the Himalaya.

    What is NISAR?

    • NISAR stands for NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar.
    • The mission aims to provide global measurements of the causes and consequences of land surface changes using advanced radar imaging.
    • The satellite is equipped with two types of synthetic aperture radars (SAR): L-band and S-band, which will allow for high-resolution, all-weather imaging of the Earth’s surface.
    • The NISAR satellite is expected to be launched in January 2024.

    How it will be used for earthquake monitoring?

    • It will generate data that can potentially give advance warning of land subsidence and identify places that are at greatest risk from earthquakes.
    • The geoscience community can use this to determine how strain is building up in various parts of the Himalayas.
    • Strain refers to the deformation that occurs in rocks when it is under pressure from other rocks.
    • Movements of continental plates that are sliding, colliding, or subducting against each other cause strain.
    • With a frequency of 12 days and the ability to provide images even under cloudy conditions, NISAR would be a valuable tool to study deformation patterns, such as in Joshimath.

    Strain Map already in place

    • In 2021, scientists from the Geological Survey of India published a “strain map” of the Himalayas based on data from 1,252 GPS stations along the Himalayas.
    • It identified regions that had the greatest odds of generating earthquakes of magnitude above 8 and their extent.
    • However, these many stations are still too few, and there’s only one satellite (Sentinel) that we rely on.
    • With NISAR, the costliest space mission ever, we can have a game-changer in earth-science observation.

     

    Seismic Zones of India

    nisar

    India is divided by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) into 4 seismic zones based on the level of seismicity and the frequency of earthquakes that occur in that particular region.

    These zones are as follows:

    1.      Zone 2: This is a low seismic zone comprising of areas with the lowest risk of earthquakes. It includes regions like the northeastern states of India, parts of J&K, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.

    2.      Zone 3: This is a moderate seismic zone comprising of areas that are at moderate risk of earthquakes. It includes regions like Gujarat, Haryana, Delhi, parts of UP, Bihar, West Bengal, and parts of Jharkhand.

    3.      Zone 4: This is a high seismic zone comprising of areas that are at high risk of earthquakes. It includes regions like the A&N Islands, parts of Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Uttarakhand, and the entire northeastern region.

    4.      Zone 5: This is a very high seismic zone comprising of areas that are at the highest risk of earthquakes. It includes regions like the entire state of J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, the entire northeastern region, parts of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and the A&N Islands.

     

     

     

  • In news: Mahad Satyagraha

    mahad

    Central idea

    • B.R. Ambedkar’s life was full of milestones, and he was the first Dalit to study at Elphinstone College in Bombay.
    • He was also the chair of the drafting committee of the Constitution of India and became the first law minister of independent India.
    • Moreover, he contributed significantly to the movement for Dalit emancipation, awakening Dalit consciousness and leading the community’s bid for political power.

    Context of the Mahad Satyagraha

    • The Mahad Satyagraha of 1927 was one of the earlier and most significant milestones in Ambedkar’s life.
    • The events leading up to it began in August 1923, when the Bombay Legislative Council passed a resolution to allow the Untouchable classes to use all public water sources.
    • Although the Bombay government adopted the resolution, the situation on the ground remained unchanged, with upper-caste Hindus still not allowing lower castes to access public water sources.

    What happened at the Satyagraha?

    • Ramchandra Babaji More, a Mahad-based Dalit political leader, approached Ambedkar to preside over a conference of the Untouchables in Konkan, and Ambedkar agreed.
    • Around 2,500 delegates, workers, and leaders of Depressed Classes attended the conference, including boys of fifteen to old men of seventy.
    • On the first day of the conference, progressive non-Dalit leaders addressed the attendees and promised to help them in their struggle.
    • Ambedkar stressed creating “a wave of awakening” among the lower caste people of Konkan.
    • After the day’s proceedings, Ambedkar and the other organizers and attendees marched to the nearby Chavadar tank the next morning, where people from untouchable communities were not allowed to draw water from.
    • They implemented the resolution by picking up water with their cupped hands and drank it.

    Key event: Burning of Manusmriti

    • Despite the court injunction prohibiting Babasaheb and other Dalits from going to the tank or taking water from it until further orders, the Satyagraha was held on a much larger scale on December 26, 1927.
    • Although most people wanted to go ahead, the Satyagraha was suspended on the advice of Ambedkar, and unlike the last time, no water was drawn from the Chavadar tank.
    • Ambedkar and his followers burnt the Manusmriti, a powerful rejection of the caste system, for the first time in symbolic action.

    Significance of the Satyagraha

    • The Mahad Satyagraha is considered to be the “foundational event” of the Dalit movement.
    • The community collectively displayed its resolve to reject the caste system and assert their human rights for the first time.
    • It became the blueprint for organizing future movements against the caste system and its practices.
    • It marked an important point in Ambedkar’s political journey, catapulting him to the leadership of the downtrodden and oppressed classes in the country.

     

    Try this PYQ:

    Which of the following parties were established by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar?

    1. The Peasants and Workers Party of India
    2. All India Scheduled Castes Federation
    3. The Independent Labour Party

    Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

    (a) 1 and 2 only

    (b) 1, 2 and 3

    (c) 1 and 3 only

    (d) 2 and 3 only

     

    Post your answers here.

     

  • What is Magnetoresistance?

    magnet

     

    Researchers in the UK, led by Nobel laureate Andre Geim, have discovered magnetoresistance in graphene – a single-atom-thick layer of carbon atoms bonded in a honeycomb pattern – that further distinguishes this ‘wonder’ material.

    Graphene’s anomalous Giant Magnetoresistance (GMR)

    • Graphene displayed an anomalous giant magnetoresistance (GMR) at room temperature.
    • GMR is the result of the electrical resistance of a conductor being affected by magnetic fields in adjacent materials.
    • It is used in hard disk drives and magnetoresistive RAM in computers, biosensors, automotive sensors, micro-electromechanical systems, and medical imagers.

    What is GMR?

    • GMR is a phenomenon where the electrical resistance of a conductor is affected by magnetic fields in adjacent materials.
    • Say a conductor is sandwiched between two ferromagnetic materials (commonly, metals attracted to magnets, like iron).
    • When the materials are magnetised in the same direction, the electrical resistance in the conductor is low.
    • When the directions are opposite each other, the resistance increases.

    Significance of the finding

    • The magnetoresistance observed in the graphene-based device was almost 100 times higher than that observed in other known semimetals in this magnetic field range.
    • In the study, the magnetoresistance in monolayer graphene at 27º C held between two layers of boron nitride increased by 110% under a field of 0.1 tesla.
    • To compare, the magnetoresistance in these conditions increases by less than 1% in normal metals.
    • The team attributed this to the presence of a ‘neutral’ plasma and the electrons’ mobility.

    Try this MCQ

    Which of the following best describes magnetoresistance?

    (a) The magnetic resistance of a conductor to electrical current flow

    (b) The phenomenon where the electrical resistance of a conductor is affected by magnetic fields in adjacent materials

    (c) The ability of a conductor to produce a magnetic field when an electrical current is passed through it

    (d) The resistance of a magnet to demagnetization by an external magnetic field

     

    Post your answers here.

     

  • Bioluminescence observed at Visakhapatnam beach

    bio

    The blooms of Noctiluca Scintillans, commonly known as “sea sparkle or bioluminescence” are being witnessed along the coasts of Visakhapatnam, AP.

    Noctiluca Scintillans

    • Scintillans is a bioluminescent specie that brightens the seawater during the night.
    • It grazes on other micro-organisms such as larvae, fish eggs, and diatoms. But the unicellular phytoplankton that lives inside it can photosynthesize, turning sunlight into energy.
    • They help their host cell survive even when food was scarce.
    • Thus, N. Scintillans acts as both a plant and an animal

    Threats posed

    • According to marine experts, the phenomenon is an indicator of climate change.
    • While smaller blooms may be harmless, slow-moving larger blooms may have an impact on deep-sea fishes.
    • The toxic blooms of N. Scintillans were linked to massive fish and marine invertebrate kills.
    • Though the species does not produce a toxin, it was found to accumulate toxic levels of ammonia, which is then excreted into the surrounding waters, possibly acting as the killing agent in blooms.
    • They have displaced microscopic algae called diatoms, which form the basis of the marine food chain. This has deprived food for the planktivorous fish.

    Back2Basics: Bioluminescence

    • It is the property of a living organism to produce and emit light.
    • Animals, plants, fungi and bacteria show bioluminescence. A remarkable diversity of marine animals and microbes are able to produce their own light.
    • It is found in many marine organisms such as bacteria, algae, jellyfish, worms, crustaceans, sea stars, fish and sharks.
    • Luminescence is generally higher in deep-living and planktonic organisms than in shallow species.

     

  • Madhya Pradesh’s Gond Painting gets GI Tag

    gond

    The Gond painting of Madhya Pradesh has received the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

    Other recent GI tags awarded in UP

    10 products from UP got GI Tag on March 31:

    • Aligarh Tala
    • Bakharia Brassware
    • Banda Shazar Patthar Craft
    • Pratapgarh Aonla (Amla)
    • Ramnagar Bhanta (Brinjal)
    • Muzaffarnagar Gur (jaggery)
    • Banarasi Pan
    • Nagina Wood Craft
    • Hathras Hing
    • Banaras Langda Aam

     

    Gond Art

    • Gond painting is a traditional art of Madhya Pradesh and belongs to the Gond tribe.
    • Patangarh village of Dindori district is famous for Gond paintings, where there is an artist in every house.
    • Their work is famous in the state and abroad for its unique style, theme, and motifs.
    • Gond art has been passed down through generations, traditionally adorning the walls of each artist’s home in Patangarh.

    Features of Gond Painting

    • Gond paintings showcase the beauty of nature, including trees, plants, animals, the moon, sun, river, drains, God, and Goddesses.
    • The paintings also portray daily life activities such as food, plough making, and even how the king used to fight.

    Back2Basics: Geographical Indication (GI)

    • A GI is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
    • Nodal Agency: Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry
    • India, as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 w.e.f. September 2003.
    • GIs have been defined under Article 22 (1) of the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement.
    • The tag stands valid for 10 years.

     

  • India’s Philosophy Stand Out As A Beacon To The World

    Philosophy

    Central Idea

    • The philosophical underpinnings of India’s civilization are unique and powerful, and they empower India to withstand waves of invasions, natural calamities, and societal challenges. India’s worldview and approach towards human life make India stand out as a beacon to the world. However, many Indians remain ignorant of their own philosophical heritage, and building on these foundational values can serve as building blocks for India’s soft power.

    The Fundamentals of Indian Philosophy

    • Indian philosophy cannot be ascribed to any particular scripture.
    • The fundamentals of the perceived philosophy of India have come from many scriptures, and the Indian approach is to let a thousand flowers bloom.

    The Five Tenets that Make India Stand Out

    India’s philosophy has at least five fundamental tenets that make it stand out: 1. Spiritual democracy, 2. Unity in diversity, 3. Confluence with nature, 4, antyodaya, and 5. vasudhaiva kutumbakam. These tenets reflect the teachings of sages and philosophers such as Gautama Buddha, Adi Shankara, and Guru Nanak.

    1. Spiritual Democracy: India rejects any monopolistic approach to ways of worship, and it welcomes diversity in ways of worship. This approach reflects the fundamental unity of all that exists, and sages call it by various names.
    2. Unity in Diversity: India’s unity is inherent in its diversity, and this diversity is our innate unity that manifests in myriad ways. India not only accommodates but also celebrates the pervasive diversity.
    3. Confluence with Nature: India does not aspire to conquer nature, but instead, it has a tradition of sincere and deepest gratitude towards nature. Many Indian traditions and rituals reflect this approach, and sustainability is a part of our philosophy of human life.
    4. Antyodaya: India’s unique concept of antyodaya puts the last man first. The most deprived are the most deserving when it comes to the distribution of the fruits of development. Antyodaya encompasses both social and economic justice and takes us beyond the binary of capitalism and socialism.
    5. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: India has imagined the entire world as one family, where values like mutuality, sharing, and collectivism are given primacy. This approach nips in the bud all the uncalled-for apprehensions about ultra-nationalistic or jingoistic approaches.

    India’s Philosophical Heritage Can Build on Its Soft Power

    • India can build on its unique philosophical heritage, which can serve as building blocks of India’s soft power.
    • India’s foundational values are needed now more than ever, as the global community faces conflicts and wars emanating from weird ideas of supremacy, oneupmanship, and monopolistic spirituality.

    Conclusion

    • India’s philosophy and approach towards human life and worldly concerns are unique and powerful, and they make India stand out as a beacon to the world. India’s soft power can build on its unique philosophical heritage, and India can use this to assert itself even in the most complex and unpredictable future. The key challenge is to establish that India is capable of walking the talk and using its philosophy to deal with societal challenges. Indian philosophy empowers us to handle the contemporary challenges, and it has gained India huge goodwill among the global community.

    Mains Question

    Q. India’s philosophy and approach towards human life and worldly concerns are unique and powerful, and they make India stand out as a beacon to the world. Discuss

  • [Sansad TV] Perspective: Cluster Farming

    [Sansad TV] Perspective: Cluster Farming

    Central idea

    • Five private firms have been allowed by the Central Government to engage in cluster farming of specific horticulture crops on a pilot basis.
    • The goal of this initiative is to enhance the competitiveness of Indian produce on a global scale and increase the earnings of farmers.
    Overview of the Horticulture Sector in India

    India is the world’s second-largest producer of horticulture crops. It is a leading producer of fruits such as Mango, Banana, Pomegranate, Sapota, Acid Lime and Amla.
    UP was the top state in horticulture production in 2021-22, followed by MP and West Bengal. West Bengal, UP and MP were the top states in vegetable production.
    Maharashtra followed by AP and UP were the top states in fruit production.
    The area under horticulture crops increased to 27.74 million hectares in 2021-22, producing around 341.63 million tonnes.

    What is Cluster Farming?

    • Cluster farming is a strategy aimed at improving the global competitiveness of Indian produce and boosting farmers’ income.
    • It involves the regional concentration of targeted horticulture crops to allow for specialization in production, post-harvest management, marketing, and exports.

    Features of cluster farming include

    • Collaboration: It is a collaborative effort where farmers work together to share resources, knowledge, and expertise to achieve common goals.
    • Resource sharing: It involves sharing resources such as land, water, labor, and equipment to achieve economies of scale and reduce the cost of production.
    • Specialization: It allows farmers to specialize in particular crops or livestock, which enables them to become experts in their chosen areas and increase their productivity.
    • Marketing: It enables farmers to market their products more effectively by pooling their resources and creating a unified marketing strategy.
    • Infrastructure development: It involves the development of shared infrastructure such as irrigation systems, warehouses, and processing facilities, which improves efficiency and reduces costs.
    • Environmental sustainability: It promotes environmental sustainability by encouraging farmers to adopt eco-friendly farming practices, such as conservation agriculture and integrated pest management.

    Why need Cluster Farming in India?

    There are several reasons why cluster farming is needed in India:

    • Income push for small farmers: India has a high percentage of small and marginal farmers who own less than 2 hectares of land. Cluster farming can help small farmers pool their resources and achieve better access to inputs, services, and markets.
    • Youth retention: Many young people are leaving rural areas in search of better economic opportunities in urban areas. Cluster farming can help create job opportunities in rural areas and improve the livelihoods of rural communities.
    • Supply chains utilization: India’s agriculture supply chain is fragmented, resulting in low prices for farmers and high prices for consumers. Cluster farming helps farmers create a unified supply chain and market their products effectively, reducing intermediaries and improving prices.
    • Filling infrastructure gap: Many parts of rural India lack basic infrastructure such as roads, irrigation systems, and storage facilities. Cluster farming can help farmers share the cost of building and maintaining such infrastructure, which can improve efficiency and reduce costs.
    • Mitigate climate change: Climate change is increasingly affecting India’s agriculture sector, with frequent droughts, floods, and extreme weather events. Cluster farming can help farmers adopt climate-resilient farming practices and reduce their vulnerability to climate change.

    Key initiative: Horticulture Cluster Development Programme

    • The CDP is a recently launched central scheme with an outlay of Rs 2,200 crore.
    • It is a central sector programme aimed at growing and developing identified horticulture clusters to make them globally competitive.
    • Under the CDP, financial assistance of up to Rs 100 crore will be provided to projects based on their size.

    Implementation strategy

    • The National Horticulture Board (NHB) is responsible for implementing it.
    • The list of 55 clusters, each with a focus on specific crops, includes states such as Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Manipur, Mizoram, Jharkhand, and Uttarakhand.
    • During the pilot phase, it was implemented in 12 clusters across 11 states and union territories.

    Objectives of the CDP

    • Export promotion: Improve exports of targeted crops by 20% and create cluster-specific brands to enhance competitiveness
    • Sectoral reform: Address all major issues related to the Indian horticulture sector including pre-production, production, post-harvest management, logistics, marketing and branding
    • Leverage geographical specialisation:  Promote integrated and market-led development of horticulture clusters
    • Converge with other government initiatives: Such as the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund
    • Attract investment

    Other initiatives

    (1) Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)

    • MIDH is a centrally sponsored scheme for the holistic growth of India’s horticulture sector, covering fruits, vegetables, and other areas.
    • The government of India contributes 60% of the total outlay for developmental programs in all states (except North Eastern and Himalayan states where it contributes 90%), with 40% contributed by state governments.

    (2) Project CHAMAN

    • The project name stands for “Coordinated Horticulture Assessment and Management using Geo-informatics.”
    • It is focused on leveraging geo-informatics, which involves using spatial data, to provide assistance to farmers and improve the overall management of the horticulture sector.
    • It aims to provide farmers with accurate and up-to-date information on factors such as weather patterns, soil moisture levels, and disease outbreaks.

    (3) National Horticulture Board (NHB)

    • NHB is a government organization that provides financial assistance and other support to promote the development of the horticulture sector.
    • The NHB provides support for various activities, including production, post-harvest management, marketing, and export.

    Hurdles for horticulture development in India

    • Fragmented landholdings: Land fragmentation is a major issue in many horticulture clusters in India, which can make it difficult for farmers to achieve economies of scale and adopt modern farming practices.
    • Inadequate market linkages: Many farmers in horticulture clusters have limited access to markets, which can result in low prices for their produce. Improving market linkages is crucial for promoting the growth of the horticulture sector.
    • Pest and disease management: Pests and diseases can pose a major threat to horticulture crops, and managing these risks can be challenging for small-scale farmers who may lack access to information and resources.

    Way forward

    • Land consolidation: The government could encourage land consolidation in horticulture clusters, which would enable farmers to achieve economies of scale and adopt modern farming practices.
    • Facilitate access to finance: The government could work with financial institutions to provide credit and other financial services to small-scale farmers in horticulture clusters. This would enable farmers to invest in their farms and adopt new technologies.
    • Establish market linkages: The government could work with private sector players to develop market linkages for farmers in horticulture clusters. This would help farmers get better prices for their produce and improve their livelihoods.
    • Pest and disease management: The government could provide training and support to farmers in horticulture clusters on pest and disease management. This would help farmers adopt eco-friendly pest and disease management practices and reduce crop losses.

  • Supreme Court rulings on Encounters

    encounter

    Central idea: A gangster-turned-politician son and his aide were killed in an encounter in UP.

    Why discuss this?

    • The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Supreme Court have laid down proper guidelines and procedures to be followed to prevent any misuse of power by the law enforcement agencies.
    • However, this encounter has brought to the forefront the issue of extra-judicial killings or “encounters” by the police in India.

    Supreme Court Guidelines on Encounters

    • In September 2014, a bench of then CJI RM Lodha and Rohinton Fali Nariman issued detailed guidelines.
    • These guidelines came in the case “People’s Union for Civil Liberties v State of Maharashtra”.
    • The guidelines enumerated 16 points to be followed in the matters of investigating police encounters in the cases of death as the standard procedure for a thorough, effective and independent investigation-
    1. Registration of a first information report (FIR) as mandatory
    2. Magisterial inquiry
    3. Keeping written records of intelligence inputs
    4. Independent investigation by bodies such as the CID
    5. A Magisterial Inquiry must invariably be held in all cases of death which occur in the course of police action
    6. Next of kin of the deceased must invariably be associated in such inquiry
    7. In every case when a complaint is made against the police alleging commission of a criminal act on their part, which makes out a cognizable case of culpable homicide, an FIR to this effect must be registered under appropriate sections of the IPC
    8. Such an inquiry made under Section 176 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, must show “whether use of force was justified and action taken was lawful.”
    9. Whenever the police receives any intelligence or tip-off on criminal movements or activities relating to the commission of grave criminal offence, “it shall be reduced into writing in some form (preferably into case diary) or in some electronic form.”
    10. Following such tip-off or intelligence, if an encounter takes place and a firearm is used by the police party, resulting in death, then an FIR to that effect has to be registered and forwarded to the court under Section 157 without delay.
    11. Provisions for an independent investigation into the encounter
    12. The requirements/norms must be strictly observed in all cases of death and grievous injury in police encounters by treating them as law declared under Article 141 of Indian Constitution.
    13. The law declared by the Supreme Court shall be binding on all other courts in Indian Territory.
    14. NHRC’s involvement is not necessary, “unless there is serious doubt about independent and impartial investigation.”
    15. The information about the incident must be sent to NHRC or the State Human Rights Commission.

    NHRC Guidelines on Encounters

    • The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked all states and Union Territories to ensure that police follow a set of guidelines in cases where death is caused in police encounters.
    • These included the police’s duty to enter all information received about encounter deaths in an “appropriate register” and provisions for investigation by independent agencies like the State CID.

    Issues with such encounters

    • Defies rule of law: This practice undermines the rule of law and due process, and violates the right to life and other human rights.
    • Use of force: There have been allegations of police and security forces using excessive force.
    • Fake encounters: There have been instances of staging encounters, and conducting fake encounters to eliminate suspects without following the due legal process.
    • Autocracy: These incidents have raised concerns about impunity, lack of accountability, and the need for reforms to ensure that law enforcement officials are held accountable for their actions.
    • Distrust among the public: Public often tend to lose belief among the constitutional process of justice.

    Why are such encounters popular among public?

    • Lack of trust in the legal system: Some people may view extrajudicial killings and encounters as a way of bypassing the legal system which they may view as corrupt or inefficient.
    • Perception of safety: There may be a belief among some members of the public that such encounters can help to deter criminals and make their communities safer.
    • Frustration with the slow pace of justice: The Indian legal system can be slow and protracted, and some people may view extrajudicial killings and encounters as a way to expedite the process of justice.
    • Lack of awareness about human rights: Some people may not be aware of the human rights implications of such encounters, or may view them as a necessary means to an end.

    Conclusion

    • It is important to note, however, that extrajudicial killings and encounters are illegal, undermine the rule of law, and violate human rights.
    • They also carry the risk of abuse, and can result in innocent people being targeted or killed.
    • Therefore, such practices cannot be justified or condoned in a democratic and law-abiding society.

    Back2Basics: National Human Rights Commission

    • NHRC is an independent statutory body established in India on 12 October 1993 under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
    • It is responsible for the protection and promotion of human rights, and prevention of their violations.
    • It is empowered to investigate complaints of human rights violations and recommend appropriate remedial measures.
    • It also monitors the human rights situation in the country, undertakes research and advocacy, and conducts various educational and awareness programs to promote human rights awareness and sensitivity among various sections of society.

     

  • 14th Apr 23 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions

    14th Apr 23 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions

    [WpProQuiz 1317]

    [WpProQuiz_toplist 1317]

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  • Nikaalo Prelims Spotlight || Constitutional and Statutory bodies, Regulatory, Quasijudicial Bodies, RTI etc.

    Dear Aspirants,

    This Spotlight is a part of our Mission Nikaalo Prelims-2023.

    You can check the broad timetable of Nikaalo Prelims here

    Session Details

    YouTube LIVE with Parth sir – 7 PM  – Prelims Spotlight Session

    Evening 04 PM  – Daily Mini Tests

    Join our Official telegram channel for Study material and Daily Sessions Here

    14th Apr 2023

    Constitutional bodies

      Appointment Tenure Removal Process of removal Eligibility for reappointment w/i govt
    Attorney general (Advocate general) President (governor) Pleasure of President (governor) President (governor) No reason needs to be mentioned Yes
    Election Commission (SEC) President (governor) 6 years/ 65 President CEC and SEC by a special majority

    Other ECs on the recommendation of CEC

    		 Yes
    Finance commission (SFC) President (governor) Specified by president NA NA Yes
    UPSC (SPSC) President (governor) 6 years/ 65 President After enquiry by supreme court Members can become Chair, state members can become chair or member or chair of UPSC
    CAG President 6 years/ 65 President Special majority No

    Statutory bodies

      Appointment Committee members Other members Tenure Removal
    NHRC (SHRC) President (Governor) 6 (PM + LOP Lok Sabha) Speaker, Deputy CP RS, LOP RS, home minister 3 years*/ 70 President after Supreme Court inquiry
    CIC (SIC) President (Governor) 3 ((PM + LOP Lok Sabha) Cabinet Minister nominated by PM As prescribed by the Central Govt*./ 65 President (governor for SIC) after supreme court inquiry
    CVC President (governor) 3 ((PM + LOP lok sabha) Home minister 4 years/ 65 President after Supreme court inquiry
    Lokpal President 5 (PM + LOP lok sabha Speaker, CJI, eminent jurist 5 years/ 70 Like a Supreme Court judge

    Regulatory Bodies

    Regulatory bodies in India Sector Functions
    Telecom Regulatory Authority of India – TRAI Telecommunication and Tariffs To make regulations to ease competition and enhance the  efficiency in the operation of telecommunication services
    Competition Commission of India (CCI) Company affairs To protect the interest of consumers,  prevent some practices having harmful effect on competition
    Securities and  Exchange Board of India Securities (Stock) and Capital Market To safeguard the interests of investors and to regulate the securities market.
    Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)

    		 Food industry To ensure the food quality, to watch and regulate the processing, manufacture, distribution, sale and import of food.
    Medical Council of India Medical education To regulate and set up high and uniform standards of medical education
    Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

    		 Banking and Monetary regulations It executes multiple functions as a custodian to regulate all the banking and the monetary function in country
    Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority of India – IRDAI

    		 Insurance To regulate and enhance insurance business and reinsurance business in India.
    National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)

    		 Financing Rural Development Functions as a supreme body for catering  the credit needs of all types of rural development

    and agricultural
    Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)

    		 Certification and Censorship To regulate and monitor the public exhibition of movies.
    Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority

    		 Pension and welfare To regulate promote and develop the pension sector in the country.
     

    Quasi-judicial Bodies

    A quasi-judicial body can be an individual or body with powers resembling a court of law.

    • They can adjudicate and decide penalties on the guilty.
    • They are different from judicial bodies in that their field is limited compared to a court.
    • They can be formed on a matter pending in court, by court order if the court considers it necessary; the court reserves the right to appoint members of such a body.
    • They can be tribunals for a specific domain, or like an arbitrator.
    • Quasi-judicial bodies have adjudicating powers in such matters as:
      • Breach of discipline
      • Trust in money matters or otherwise
      • Conduct rules
    • Their authority is limited to specific areas like:
      • Financial markets
      • Land use and zoning
      • Public standards
      • Employment law
      • Specific set of regulations of an agency
    • Decisions of a quasi-judicial body are often legally enforceable under the laws of a jurisdiction.

    List of Quasi-Judicial Bodies in India are:

    1. National Green Tribunal
    2. Central Information Commission
    3. National Human Rights Commission
    4. Tribunal
    5. SEBI

    Difference between Judicial and Quasi-judicial Bodies

    • Judicial decisions are bound by precedent in common law, whereas quasi-judicial decisions are generally not.
    • Judicial decisions may create new laws, but quasi-judicial decisions are based on existing law.
    • Quasi-judicial needn’t adhere to strict judicial rules (of procedure and evidence).
    • Quasi-judicial bodies can hold formal hearings only if they are mandated to do so as per their governing laws.

  • Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s Vision Continues to Inspire Present Day Governance

    B.R. Ambedkar

    Central idea

    • The 132nd birth anniversary of B.R. Ambedkar is an occasion to recognize his ideas and actions which continue to inspire and guide the present and future generations.

    B.R. Ambedkar’s Legacy

    • R. Ambedkar was more than an individual, and his ideas and actions continue to illuminate the present and are a guiding light for the future.
    • He epitomised the spirit of justice and stressed establishing institutions for a just society.

    Ambedkar’s contribution to nation-building

    • Multidimensional contribution: The centenary of Ambedkar’s work, The Problem of Rupee: Its Origin and its Solution, paved the foundation of the Reserve Bank of India in 1934. During that time, the country was trying to come out of the clutches of colonialism, and Ambedkar vigorously advocated for significant nation-building measures in a multidimensional manner.
    • Tirelessly work to safeguarding the interests of the people: From his work on the Simon Commission to representing the Depressed Classes in the Round Table conferences and chairing the Constitution’s drafting committee, Ambedkar tirelessly worked towards safeguarding the interests of the people.

    Quick knowledge box from civilsdaily: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s literary work

    Literary Works

    Description
    Castes in India: Their Mechanism, Genesis and Development A paper presented by Ambedkar to an anthropology seminar at Columbia University, which discusses the caste system in India and its origins
    The Problem of the Rupee: Its Origin and Its Solution A work that proposed a solution to the problem of currency fluctuations in India and paved the way for the establishment of the Reserve Bank of India
    Annihilation of Caste A speech delivered by Ambedkar that strongly criticized the caste system in Hindu society and advocated for its annihilation
    What Congress and Gandhi Have Done to the Untouchables A book that criticized the Indian National Congress and Mahatma Gandhi for their treatment of the untouchables in India
    States and Minorities A book that analyzes the relationship between the majority and minority communities in India and argues for the protection of minority rights
    The Untouchables: Who Were They and Why They Became Untouchables? A book that traces the history of the untouchables in India and argues for their social and economic upliftment
    Buddha and His Dhamma A book that describes the life and teachings of the Buddha and how they can be applied to contemporary society
    Who Were the Shudras? A book that examines the origins and history of the Shudra caste in Hindu society

    Present government’s commitment to Ambedkar’s vision

    • Ambedkar’s vision in planning and implementation: The present-day government led by PM Modi has been committed to adhering to Ambedkar’s vision from planning to implementation.
    • People-centric policy measures: The government has taken steps towards the ease of life of citizens, such as the implementation of pro-poor and people-centric policy measures.
    • For instance: Schemes such as Stand-Up India, Start-Up India, PM Awas Scheme, BHIM, Mudra, and JAM trinity, which show that the government is leaving no stone unturned to fulfill the assigned targets and ensure saturation-level implementation.
    • Government’s efforts to preserve Ambedkar’s legacy: Government’s has adopted a sensitive approach towards preserving Ambedkar’s legacy. The National Research for Conservation of Cultural Property has preserved Ambedkar’s belongings for posterity, which will be showcased at the upcoming Dr B R Ambedkar Socio-Economic & Culture Centre. The Centre will serve as a sacred place highlighting glimpses of Ambedkar’s contribution to building the nation.

    Ambedkar’s relevance to present-day India

    • Panch Pran mantra: There are parallels between Ambedkar’s ideas and the Prime Minister’s Panch Pran mantra for making a developed India.
    • Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav: Ambedkar believed that the constitutional ideals and social philosophy of liberty, equality, and fraternity have Indian cultural roots, and the government’s initiatives, such as Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, reflect this belief.

    Conclusion

    • India’s commitment to Ambedkar’s vision would have resulted in greater public welfare if earlier governments had accepted him in this manner. On Ambedkar’s 132nd birth anniversary, it is essential to recognize his legacy and commitment to establishing institutions for a just society. The legacy of B.R. Ambedkar is a guiding light for India, and his ideas and actions continue to inspire and provide a moral force for justice.

    Mains Question

    Q. Discuss the relevance of B.R. Ambedkar’s ideas to present-day India. How has the present government committed to adhering to Ambedkar’s vision in planning and implementation of policies?

  • Dabba Trading and its impact on the Economy

    dabba

    Central idea

    • The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has issued a series of notices warning retail investors about entities involved in ‘dabba trading’.
    • The NSE cautioned investors not to subscribe or invest using these products offering indicative, assured or guaranteed returns in the stock market as they are prohibited by law.
    • The entities involved in dabba trading are not recognized as authorized members by the exchange.

    What is Dabba Trading?

    • Dabba (Box) trading refers to informal trading that takes place outside the purview of the stock exchanges.
    • It involves betting on stock price movements without incurring a real transaction to take physical ownership of a particular stock as is done in an exchange.
    • In simple words, it is gambling centred around stock price movements.

    How does it work?

    • In dabba trading, investors place bets on stock price movements at a certain price point.
    • If the price point rises, they make a gain, and if it falls, they have to pay the difference to the dabba broker.
    • The broker’s profit from the investor’s loss, and vice versa.
    • Transactions are facilitated using cash and unrecognised software terminals or informal records, which helps traders stay outside the regulatory mechanism.

    What are the problems with dabba trading?

    • Since dabba traders do not maintain proper records of income or gain, they are able to escape taxation, which results in a loss to the government exchequer.
    • The use of cash also means that they are outside the purview of the formal banking system.
    • Investors in dabba trading do not have formal provisions for investor protection or grievance redressal mechanisms available within an exchange, which exposes them to the risk of broker defaults or insolvency.
    • Dabba trading also perpetuates a parallel economy, potentially encouraging the growth of black money and criminal activities.

    What is the current scenario?

    • Industry observers have reported that dabba brokers harass clients for default payments and refuse payments upon profit.
    • Potential investors are lured by aggressive marketing, ease of trading using apps with quality interfaces, and lack of identity verification.
    • Brokers keep their fees and margins open to negotiation depending on an individual’s trading profile.
    • The mechanism could potentially induce volatility and cause losses for the regulated bourse when dabba brokers look to hedge their exposures.

    What are the legal implications?

    • Dabba trading is recognised as an offence under Section 23(1) of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act (SCRA), 1956.
    • Upon conviction, it can invite imprisonment for a term extending up to 10 years or a fine up to ₹25 crore, or both.

     

  • What is MUDRA Scheme?

    mudra

    PM hit out at people ridiculing the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) and said those who gave loans to big businessmen “over phone” never understood the power of microfinance.

    MUDRA Scheme

    • MUDRA (Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency) Scheme is a financial initiative launched by the Government of India in April 2015 to provide financial support to micro-enterprises in India.
    • The scheme is designed to cater to the financial needs of the non-corporate, non-farm sector enterprises in the country.
    • The objective of the scheme is to promote entrepreneurship, employment generation, and to provide access to finance to small and micro-businesses in India.

    Range of loans

    • The MUDRA scheme provides loans ranging from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 10 lakhs to small and micro-businesses.
    • These loans are provided through various financial institutions such as banks, microfinance institutions, and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs).
    • The scheme also offers refinance support to these institutions.
    Category Loan Amount
    Shishu Up to Rs. 50,000
    Kishore Rs. 50,001 to Rs. 5 lakhs
    Tarun Rs. 5 lakhs to Rs. 10 lakhs

    Key features of the MUDRA scheme

    • Refinance support: The scheme offers refinance support to various financial institutions, such as banks, microfinance institutions, and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), to provide loans to small and micro-businesses.
    • Employment generation: The scheme aims to promote entrepreneurship and employment generation in the country.
    • Digitalization of financial transactions: The scheme has helped in promoting the digitalization of financial transactions.
    • Focus on underprivileged and marginalized sections: The scheme aims to provide financial assistance to underprivileged and marginalized sections of the society, especially those belonging to the non-corporate, non-farm sector enterprises in the country.
    • Simplified loan processing: The loan processing under the scheme is simplified and requires minimal documentation.
    • No collateral requirement: The loans provided under the scheme do not require any collateral or security.
    • Competitive Interest rate: The interest rate for the loans provided under the scheme is competitive and affordable.

     

  • Uthirameur Inscription: Ancient Tamil proof of Democratic Provisions

    uthirameur

    PM Modi referred to an over 1,100-year-old inscription found in Uthirameur, Tamil Nadu, which talks about rules for a local body, including provisions for disqualifying a member.

    What are Uthiramerur inscriptions?

    • Uthiramerur inscriptions are a set of ancient Tamil inscriptions found in Uthiramerur, a town in the Kanchipuram district of Tamil Nadu.
    • These inscriptions date back to the 10th century CE and were created during the reign of the Chola dynasty, which ruled over a large part of South India.
    • It was crafted under the rule of Parantaka Chola I (907 – 956 AD.)

    What does the inscription say?

    The temple inscriptions of Uthiramerur provide historical descriptions of rural self-governance.

    (1) Sabha and Ur

    • Uthiramerur had two village assemblies: Gram Sabha and Ur.
    • Sabha was exclusively a Brahmin assembly, while the Ur was made up of people belonging to all classes.
    • Sabha managed land sales, endowment fund for dredging a tank, and assigned duties to the Ur for managing deserted land.
    • Sabha assembled in the hall of the local temple and was summoned through beating of the drums.
    • The inscriptions contained references to variyars, the executive officers subordinate to the Sabha.

    (2) Administrative System

    • The executive powers were given to committees called Variyams during the Chola king Parantaka I’s reign (907–955).
    • Each variyam constituted 6 to 12 members, depending on the importance of its functions.
    • The first inscription (dated 919 CE) described the rules for electing committee members.
    • The second inscription (dated 921 CE) described some amendments to these rules to make them more practical.

    (3) Committees and Qualifications

    • The village had 30 kudumbus or wards, from which the members of various committees were selected annually.
    • The inscription lays down the qualifications for a nominee, including ownership of tax-paying land, residence on self-owned land, age between 35 and 70 years, knowledge of mantras and the Brahmanas, and not being associated with certain offenses or activities.
    • The candidates were selected via Kudavoloi (pot of palm leaf tickets) system.
    • The tenure of a committee member was 360 days.
    • Anyone found guilty of an offense was immediately removed from the office.

    (4) Punishments

    • The Uthiramerur inscriptions indicate that parading on a donkey was a punishment for offenses such as incest, adultery, theft, and forgery.

  • India signs MoU with World Food Programme for sending wheat to Afghanistan

    India signed an MoU with the World Food Programme (WFP) to send 10,000 metric tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan.

    Reason: Utilizing WFP supply chain

    • The MoU signed between India and the World Food Programme (WFP) paves the way for sending 10,000 metric tonnes of wheat for the people of Afghanistan.
    • The WFP has a massive supply chain and logistics infrastructure in Afghanistan that could help in ensuring that the food supply reaches those who need it the most and no one is excluded.
    • The MoU also ensures that the assistance is coordinated and delivered in an effective and efficient manner, and that it reaches the most vulnerable sections of the Afghan population.

    What is World Food Programme (WFP)?

    • The WFP is a humanitarian organization that is part of the United Nations system.
    • It was established in 1961 and has its headquarters in Rome, Italy.
    • The WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian agency focused on combating hunger and promoting food security.

    Scope of Operations

    • The WFP operates in more than 80 countries, delivering food assistance to people in need.
    • WFP programs reach over 97 million people each year, including children, pregnant and nursing women, and people affected by emergencies, such as conflict or natural disasters.
    • It provides a range of food assistance, including in-kind food assistance, cash and voucher-based transfers, and specialized nutritious foods.

    Funding and Support

    • The WFP is funded entirely by voluntary contributions from governments, companies, and individuals.
    • The organization works closely with donors to ensure that funding is used effectively and efficiently, and to ensure that it is directed to the areas and programs where it is needed most.

    Governance and Structure

    • The WFP is governed by an Executive Board, which is composed of 36 member states that are elected to three-year terms.
    • The Executive Board provides oversight and strategic direction to the organization, and approves the WFP’s programs and budgets.
    • The WFP is headed by an Executive Director, who is appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
    • The organization has more than 17,000 staff worldwide, including professionals in fields such as logistics, nutrition, and food security.

    Impact and Achievements

    • Over the years, the WFP has made significant contributions to addressing hunger and promoting food security worldwide.
    • The organization has responded to numerous emergencies, providing food assistance to millions of people affected by conflict, natural disasters, and other crises.
    • The WFP has also supported programs that help people access the food they need to lead healthy, active lives, and that promote sustainable agriculture and development.
    • The WFP has been recognized for its efforts, receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020 in recognition of its contributions to combatting hunger and promoting peace.

     

     

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