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Type: Prelims Only

  • Mother and Child Health – Immunization Program, BPBB, PMJSY, PMMSY, etc.

    How children win with U-WIN, govt’s new online vaccine portal?

    Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: U-WIN

    Why in the News?

    • The government plans to roll out U-WIN, an online vaccine management portal for childhood vaccination, across the country.
      • Similar to CoWIN used during the Covid-19 pandemic, U-WIN aims to digitize and individualize immunization records from birth.

    What is U-WIN? 

    • Children up to 6 years old and pregnant mothers are registered on U-WIN using government IDs like Aadhaar and their mobile phone numbers.
    • Records of all 25 shots given to a child and the two given to pregnant mothers are added to the platform.
    • It’s Working:
    • The platform generates a color-coded vaccination certificate.
      • The digital vaccine certificate can be downloaded by parents using their registered mobile numbers, eliminating the need for a physical vaccination booklet.
    • After each shot is administered and recorded, the date is added to the card, which also shows the due date for the next set of vaccines.
      • U-WIN sends SMS reminders to parents before their children are due for the next dose.
      • U-WIN helps locate the nearest vaccination center and book available slots.

    Significance:

    1) For providing Immunization:
    • U-WIN’s reminders to parents are likely to improve compliance with vaccination schedules.
    • The platform ensures portability, allowing children to receive their doses anywhere in the country, particularly benefiting children of migrant workers.
    • Registration at birth may help reduce the number of “zero dose” children, those who have not received any vaccinations.
    2) For Health Workers:
    • The platform can automatically generate a due list of children in specific areas for health workers.
    • These data points can be utilized by other government programs and eventually connected through the ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) ID.

    Integration with Existing Systems

    • U-WIN will link to the government’s existing eVIN platform for inventory management.
    • eVIN tracks all vaccine vials, from central stores to each vaccination site, monitoring doses used, wasted, and returned, and tracks real-time temperature and humidity using sensors.
    • U-WIN runs on the same principles and digital infrastructure as CoWIN, making adoption straightforward.
    • Most vaccinators are familiar with similar platforms, ensuring a smooth transition.

    Zero Dose Children

    • In India, the coverage of the first dose of diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus (DPT)-containing vaccine is taken as the proxy for zero dose children.
    • Data from WHO and UNICEF showed that while 93% of children received their first vaccine dose, there were still 1.6 million zero dose children in India in 2023.
    • The data also showed that 1.6 million children missed their first measles-containing vaccine in 2023, up from 1.1 million the previous year.
    • This is concerning as in 2022, five states — Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra — reported a rise in the incidence of measles.

     

    PYQ:

    [2016] ‘Mission Indradhanush’ launched by the Government of India pertains to:

    (a) Immunization of children and pregnant women

    (b) Construction of smart cities across the country

    (c) India’s own search for the Earth-like planets in outer space

    (d) New Educational Policy

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  • Global Geological And Climatic Events

    What are Rogue Waves and how can AI help predict them?

    Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Rogue Waves

    Why in the News?

    • Rogue waves, unusually large waves compared to those before and after them, pose significant threats to ships, coastal and offshore infrastructure, and human lives.
      • Until now, there has been no method to forecast rogue waves.

    What Are Rogue Waves?

    • Rogue waves are unusually large and unpredictable waves that are much larger than the surrounding waves.
    • They are often defined as waves that are at least twice the height of the surrounding waves.
    • Formation:
      • Rogue waves can form when swells from distant weather systems converge to create a single, amplified wave.
      • They may also form when ocean currents compress swells, creating strong, high waves.
    • Features:
      • Traditionally, rogue waves have been difficult to predict due to their sudden appearance and rare occurrence.
      • The lack of real-time forecasting methods has made it challenging to mitigate their impact effectively.

    What is Sea State?

    • In oceanography, sea state refers to the condition of the surface of a large body of water at a specific location and time.
    • The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) sea state code characterizes sea state based on wave height on a scale of 0 (no waves) to 9 (waves over 14 meters).

    Characteristics:

    • Unlike typical waves, rogue waves can appear suddenly and without warning.
    • They defy the average sea state, making them exceptionally dangerous.

    Threats Posed by Rogue Waves:

    (1) Shipping

    • For Ships and Vessels: Rogue waves pose a significant threat to ships and other vessels at sea. Their unexpected and massive size can lead to capsizing or severe damage.
    • For Offshore Infrastructure: Oil rigs, wind turbines, and other offshore structures can be heavily damaged or destroyed by rogue waves.

    (2) Coastal Threats

    • Coastal Erosion: The sheer force of rogue waves can lead to accelerated coastal erosion, affecting beaches and shorelines.
    • Flooding: Rogue waves can cause sudden and severe coastal flooding, posing risks to coastal communities and ecosystems.

    (3) Human Safety

    • Loss of Life: Rogue waves have been responsible for numerous fatalities. Between 2011 and 2018, rogue waves killed at least 386 people.
    • Property Damage: The impact of rogue waves on ships, coastal areas, and offshore structures can result in significant financial losses.

    Advancements in Forecasting

    • University of Maryland mathematicians Thomas Breunung and Balakumar Balachandran have developed an artificial intelligence program capable of forecasting rogue waves.
    • The AI program was trained using billions of data points collected by a network of 172 ocean buoys.
    • The researchers analyzed 20-minute long samples recorded by ocean buoys.

     

    PYQ:

    [2017] At one of the places in India, if you stand on the seashore and watch the sea, you will find that the sea water recedes from the shore line a few kilometres and comes back to the shore, twice a day, and you can actually walk on the sea floor when the water recedes. This unique phenomenon is seen at:

    (a) Bhavnagar

    (b) Bheemunipatnam

    (c) Chandipur

    (d) Nagapattinam

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  • Parliament – Sessions, Procedures, Motions, Committees etc

    What is Governor’s immunity under Article 361, set to be reviewed by Supreme Court?

    Prelims Only | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Indian Constitution – historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Article 361 and its various sub-sections

    Why in the News?

    • The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a plea seeking to redefine the constitutional immunity of state Governors.
      • Article 361 of the Constitution shields the President and Governors from criminal prosecution and judicial scrutiny.
      • The Supreme Court will interpret whether the immunity includes the registration of an FIR, initiation of a preliminary inquiry, or a magistrate taking cognisance of an offence.

    Origins of Governor’s Immunity

    • The concept of immunity is based on the Latin maxim “rex non potest peccare” (the king can do no wrong), rooted in English legal traditions.
    • During the Constituent Assembly debates in 1949, member H. V. Kamath questioned whether immunity meant no proceedings could be instituted against the President or Governor during their term or only while they were in office.
      • The article was adopted without further debate on criminal immunity.

    What are immunities under Article 361?

    • According to Article 361(1), the President or a Governor is not answerable to any court for the exercise of their powers and duties.
    • Article 361(2) ensures that NO criminal proceedings can be initiated or continued against the President or Governor during their term.
    • Article 361(3) prohibits the arrest or imprisonment of the President or Governor while they are in office.
    • Article 361(4) states that civil lawsuits for personal acts against the President or Governor cannot be initiated during their term and can only proceed two months after a written notice is given post-term.

    Judicial Interpretations of Article 361:

    • Dr SC Barat and Anr vs. Hari Vinayak Pataskar Case (1961): Distinguished between the Governor’s official and personal actions. While official actions have complete immunity, civil proceedings for personal acts can proceed with prior notice.
    • Rameshwar Prasad vs. Union of India Case (2006): The Supreme Court recognized “complete immunity” for constitutional actions under Article 361(1), but allowed judicial review for actions taken with malicious intent.
    • Vyapam Scam Case (2015): The Madhya Pradesh High Court ruled that Governor Ram Naresh Yadav had absolute protection under Article 361(2), preventing his name from being included in the investigation to avoid undue legal harassment.
    • State of UP vs. Kalyan Singh Case (2017): The Supreme Court upheld that Kalyan Singh, while serving as Governor of Rajasthan, was immune under Article 361. Legal proceedings related to the Babri Masjid demolition were to resume after his term.
    • Telangana High Court Judgment (2024): Observed that the Constitution does not explicitly or implicitly bar judicial review of actions taken by a Governor, and stated that Article 361 immunity is personal and does not exclude judicial review.

    Case for Revisiting Immunity

    The debate on executive immunity is ongoing in other countries as well.

    • The US Supreme Court recently decided that former President Donald Trump is entitled to “absolute immunity” from criminal prosecution for official acts but not for unofficial or personal acts.
    • In India, the discussion is viewed within the larger context of the tension between Governors and opposition-ruled state governments.
    • The Supreme Court has noted instances where Governors acted with political motives.

    PYQ:

    [2018] Consider the following statements:

    1. No criminal proceedings shall be instituted against the Governor of a State in any court during his term of office.
    2. The emoluments and allowances of the Governor of a State shall not be diminished during his term of office.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) Both 1 and 2

    (d) Neither 1 nor 2

    [2019] Which one of the following suggested that the Governor should be an eminent person from outside the State and should be a detached figure without intense political links or should not have taken part in politics in the recent past?

    (a) First Administrative Reforms Commission (1966)

    (b) Rajamannar Committee (1969)

    (c) Sarkaria Commission (1983)

    (d) National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (2000)

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  • Economic Indicators and Various Reports On It- GDP, FD, EODB, WIR etc

    India’s economy projected to grow at 6.5% to 7% in FY ending March 2025.

    Prelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Indian Economy

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Trends in India's GDP growth rate

    Why in the News?

    • India’s economy is projected to grow at 6.5% to 7% in the fiscal year ending March 2025.
      • The Economic Survey for 2023-24 highlights the need to address inequality and unemployment as policy priorities.

    Policy Recommendations by Chief Economic Adviser (CEA)

    • Regulatory Burdens: CEA V. Anantha Nageswaran advocates for Central and State governments to reduce regulatory burdens on businesses.
    • Corporate Responsibility: He urges the corporate sector to create productive jobs, emphasizing their responsibility in generating employment.

    Various Challenges discussed

    (1) Challenges in the IT Sector:

    • Slowdown in Hiring: The CEA notes a significant slowdown in IT sector hiring over the last two years.
    • AI and Labor: He encourages the industry to use AI to augment labor rather than replace workers.

    (2) Skilling Initiatives

    • Addressing Inequality: The Economic Survey suggests steps to tackle inequality, improve health, and bridge the education-employment gap.
    • Skilling Reboot: A reboot of India’s skilling initiatives is proposed to provide the industry with people having the right attitude and skills.

    (3) Corporate Sector and Economic Growth

    • Demand and Employment: The Survey emphasizes the benefits for corporates from higher demand generated by employment and income growth.
    • Warning against Short-Termism: It warns against “short-termism” which can weaken economic linkages.

    (4) State Capacity and Consensus Building:

    • Enhancing State Capacity: Enhancing state capacity is critical for the strategy to work.
    • Need for Consensus: The CEA stresses the need for consensus between governments, businesses, and the social sectors for effective transformation.

    (5) Land Acquisition and Investment Concerns:

    • Land Use Norms: While the Survey does not mention land acquisition reform, it highlights the need to deregulate land use norms and consolidate farmland holdings.
    • Investment Cautions: The Survey cautions about private capital formation being cautious due to fears of cheaper imports, indirectly referencing China.

    (6) Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Challenges:

    • Attracting FDI: Attracting FDI will be challenging due to higher interest rates and developed countries encouraging domestic investments through subsidies.
    • Addressing Uncertainties: Despite progress, uncertainties related to transfer pricing, taxes, and import duties need to be addressed.

    Structural Reforms

    • Existing Reforms: Structural reforms such as GST and the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code are delivering expected results.
    • Next-Gen Reforms: The Survey calls for “next-gen reforms” that are bottom-up in nature to achieve sustainable, balanced, and inclusive growth.

    Strategic Directions for Growth

    • Six-Pronged Strategy: The Survey outlines a six-pronged strategy for growth, emphasizing private sector investments and a fair share of income for workers.
    • Focus Areas: Other focus areas include financing the green transition, removing barriers for MSMEs, and implementing intelligent farmer-friendly policies.

    Conclusion

    • Sustained Growth Potential: The economy can grow at over 7% on a sustained basis in the medium term by building on past reforms.
    • Tripartite Compact: Achieving this growth requires a tripartite compact between the Centre, States, and the private sector.

    PYQ:

    [2013] Economic growth in country X will necessarily have to occur if:

    (a) There is technical progress in the world economy.

    (b) There is population growth in X.

    (c) There is capital formation in X.

    (d) The volume of trade grows in the world economy.

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  • Modern Indian History-Events and Personalities

    National Flag Day, 2024

    Prelims Only | History | Mains Paper 1: Modern Indian History

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Adoption of National Flag by Constituent Assembly

    Why in the News?

    On 22nd July in 1947, the Constituent Assembly of India adopted the National Flag.

    PC: The Better India

    About the National Flag Day

    • The Constituent Assembly met in New Delhi at 10 o’clock, chaired by Dr. Rajendra Prasad.
    • The Assembly had been meeting since December 9, 1946, discussing various subjects.
    • The Chair announced the first agenda item: “a Motion by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru about the Flag.”

    Jawaharlal Nehru’s Resolution on National Flag

    • India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, moved the Resolution:
      • The National Flag of India shall be a horizontal tricolour of deep Saffron (Kesari), white, and dark green in equal proportion.
      • In the centre of the white band, there shall be a navy blue Wheel representing the Charkha.
      • The design of the Wheel is based on the Chakra from the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka.
      • The diameter of the Wheel approximates the width of the white band.
      • The ratio of the width to the length of the Flag shall be 2:3.
    • The motion was adopted unanimously by the Assembly.
    • Adoption by Popular Acclaim:
    • Nehru mentioned that the Flag was adopted by popular acclaim and sacrifice over the past decades.
    • Nehru clarified that the Flag was not meant to be seen in communal terms.
    • The design was intended to represent the spirit and tradition of India, grown over thousands of years.

    Reactions and Support

    • There were no significant objections to Nehru’s Resolution.
    • Several members, including Seth Govind Das, V I Muniswami Pillai, Chaudhri Khaliquzzaman, S Radhakrishnan, Saiyid Mohammad Saadulla, Frank R Anthony, and Sarojini Naidu, paid tributes to the Flag and supported the Resolution.
    • H V Kamath suggested adding a Swastika inside the Chakra to symbolize peace but withdrew the amendment after seeing the Flag’s design.
    • Dr. P S Deshmukh preferred retaining the original tricolour with the Charkha but did not push his amendment, respecting the House’s preference.

    Back2Basics: History of Our National Flag

    First Public Display in Kolkata (1906):

    • The first national flag of India was hoisted on August 7, 1906, in Kolkata at Parsee Bagan Square (Green Park).
    • The flag had three horizontal stripes of red, yellow, and green, with “Vande Mataram” inscribed in the center.
      • Symbolism: The red stripe included symbols of the sun and a crescent moon, while the green stripe featured eight half-open lotuses.
    • The flag is believed to have been designed by freedom activists Sachindra Prasad Bose and Hemchandra Kanungo.

    Indian Flag in Germany:

    • In 1907, Madame Cama and her group of exiled revolutionaries hoisted an Indian flag in Germany.
    • This event marked the first time the Indian flag was hoisted in a foreign country.

    Home Rule Movement Flag:

    • Dr. Annie Besant and Lokmanya Tilak introduced a new flag in 1917 as part of the Home Rule Movement.
    • The flag featured alternate red and green horizontal stripes, with seven stars in the Saptarishi configuration.
    • It included a white crescent and star in one top corner, and the Union Jack in the other.

    Version by Pingali Venkayya:

    • Pingali Venkayya, an Indian freedom fighter, is credited with the design of the modern Indian tricolour.
    • Venkayya first met Mahatma Gandhi in South Africa during the second Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902).
    • He conducted extensive research and published a book in 1916 that included possible designs for the Indian flag.
    • At the All India Congress Committee in Bezwada in 1921, Venkayya proposed a basic flag design to Gandhi, featuring two bands of red and green to represent Hindus and Muslims.

     

    PYQ:

    [2014] The national motto of India, ‘Satyameva Jayate’ inscribed below the Emblem of India is taken from

    (a) Katha Upanishad
    (b) Chandogya Upanishad
    (c) Aitareya Upanishad
    (d) Mundaka Upanishad

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  • International Space Agencies – Missions and Discoveries

    What is the Dyson Sphere?

    Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Dyson Sphere

    Why in the News?

    Recently, astronomers have made progress in finding possible candidates as Dyson Sphere, sparking new excitement and debate about extraterrestrial life.

    What is a Dyson Sphere? 

    • Imagine you are an astronomer looking for extraterrestrial life and you find a star covered by solar panels. This structure, collecting massive amounts of solar energy, is known as a Dyson sphere.
    • The concept is named after Freeman Dyson, a theoretical physicist who lived from 1923 to 2020.
    • Dyson proposed that advanced civilizations would need to harness a star’s energy, constructing a spherical array of solar collectors around it.
    • He suggested that the heat emitted as infrared radiation could indicate the presence of these massive structures and thus intelligent life.

    Who was Freeman Dyson (1923-2020)?

    • Dyson was a renowned British-American theoretical physicist and mathematician known for his work in quantum electrodynamics, solid-state physics, and astronomy.
    • Born on December 15, 1923, in England, he made significant contributions to science and technology, including the Dyson Sphere concept—a hypothetical structure that could encompass a star to capture its power output.
    • He was also a prominent futurist and author, exploring ideas on space travel, extraterrestrial life, and the future of humanity.
    • Dyson spent much of his career at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton and was known for his interdisciplinary approach to science.

     

    PYQ:

    [2015] The term ‘Goldilocks Zone’ is often seen in the news in the context of

    (a) The limits of habitable zone above the surface of the Earth

    (b) Regions inside the Earth-like planets in outer space

    (c) Search for the Earth-like planets in outer space

    (d) Search for meteorites containing precious metals

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  • Capital Markets: Challenges and Developments

    New Asset Class proposed by SEBI

    Prelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Effects Of Liberalization On The Economy, Changes In Industrial Policy and their effects on Industrial Growth

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: New Asset Class, Mutual Funds, Portfolio Management Services (PMS)

    Why in the News?

    • The markets regulator, SEBI, has proposed a new asset class designed to offer investment products positioned between mutual funds (MFs) and portfolio management services (PMS).
      • This new category aims to fill an opportunity gap for investors and offer greater flexibility in portfolio construction.

    Note:

    • PMS provides customized investment solutions to high net-worth individuals (HNIs) with a minimum investment limit of Rs 50 lakh.
    • MFs, on the other hand, have a much lower minimum investment limit of just Rs 100, managed by a professional fund manager.

    About the New Asset Class

    • The new asset class aims to provide an intermediate option with more flexibility in portfolio construction, helping investors avoid unregistered and unauthorized schemes.
    • It will have a risk-return profile between MFs and PMS, targeting investors with higher risk tolerance and larger investment amounts than those typical of MFs but lower than PMS.
    • The current range of investment products includes:
    1. MF schemes: Focused on retail investors,
    2. PMS: For HNIs, and
    3. Alternative investment funds (AIF): For sophisticated investors.

    How will investments in the new asset class work?

    • The new asset class will be introduced under the MF structure with necessary relaxations in prudential norms.
    • The minimum investment amount is proposed to be Rs 10 lakh per investor within the asset management company (AMC)/MF.
    • This high threshold is intended to deter retail investors while attracting those with investible funds between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 50 lakh.

    Significance of the New Asset Class:

    • SEBI noted that the gap between investment opportunities in MFs and PMS has led some investors towards unauthorized investment avenues.
    • The new asset class will help curb the proliferation of unregistered investment products and provide a structured and regulated option for investors.
    • SEBI emphasized that the new asset class would offer a regulated and structured investment suited to investors looking for opportunities between MFs and PMS.

    Investment Strategies:

    • Like MF schemes, the new asset class will provide options for Systematic Investment Plan (SIP), Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP), and Systematic Transfer Plan (STP).
    • AMCs can offer ‘investment strategies’ under a pooled fund structure with tailored redemption frequencies (daily, weekly, monthly, etc.).

    PYQ:

    [2021] Indian Government Bond Yields are influenced by which of the following?

    1. Actions of the United States Federal Reserve
    2. Actions of the Reserve Bank of India
    3. Inflation and short-term interest rates

    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    (a) 1 and 2 only
    (b) 2 only
    (c) 3 only
    (d) 1, 2 and 3

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  • Waste Management – SWM Rules, EWM Rules, etc

    CPCB plans to check violations in Plastic Waste Trading Regime 

    Prelims Only | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: CPCB, EPR Program

    Why in the News?

    • The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has started a national audit of about 800 plastic-waste recyclers across India.
      • This action follows the discovery that four firms in Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Gujarat issued nearly 600,000 fake certificates under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programme.

    About Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): Overview

    • The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is a statutory organization established in September 1974.
    • It was constituted under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
    • CPCB is also entrusted with powers and functions under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
    • It serves as a technical arm of the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, implementing the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

    Principal Functions:

    • Water Pollution Control:
      • Promote the cleanliness of streams and wells in different states by preventing, controlling, and abating water pollution.
      • Oversee the National Water Quality Monitoring Program to collect, collate, and disseminate technical and statistical data relating to water pollution.
    • Air Pollution Control:
      • Improve the quality of air and prevent, control, or abate air pollution in the country.
      • Conduct air quality monitoring as part of air quality management.
      • Implement the National Air Monitoring Programme (NAMP) to determine current air quality status and trends, regulate pollution from industries, and provide background air quality data for industrial siting and town planning.

    Key Initiatives and Programs:

    • National Air Monitoring Programme (NAMP): Established to monitor air quality status and trends, and to control and regulate industrial pollution to meet air quality standards.
    • National Air Quality Index (NAQI): Provides real-time air quality data and trends.
    • Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP): A set of measures to be taken based on the severity of air pollution levels.
    • Clean Air Campaign: Initiatives aimed at reducing air pollution through public awareness and actionable measures.

    Role in Data Management:

    • CPCB collects, collates, and disseminates technical and statistical data related to water and air pollution.
    • Provides necessary data for regulatory and planning purposes, including industrial siting and urban planning.

    What is Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Programme?

    • Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) means the responsibility of a producer for the environmentally sound management of the product until the end of its life.
    • India had first introduced EPR in 2011 under the:
    1. Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011
    2. E-Waste Management and Handling Rules, 2011.
    • The EPR scheme requires businesses using plastic packaging to recycle a certain percentage of the plastic used in the previous two years.

    Implementation of EPR:

    • Registration: Producers must register with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and submit an EPR plan.
    • Collection Mechanisms: Producers set up collection centers, return schemes, or partner with authorized recyclers to manage waste.
    • Documentation: Producers are required to maintain detailed records of waste collected and processed and submit regular reports to the CPCB.
    • Compliance Audits: The CPCB conducts audits to ensure that producers comply with EPR requirements.

    Function of EPR Certificates:

    • Registered plastic waste recyclers generate EPR certificates by recycling plastic waste.
    • Every tonne of plastic recycled generates a certificate.
      • According to a CPCB report in May, nearly 3.7 million tonnes of recycled plastic generated certificates.
    • In 2022-23, about 18,000 companies using plastic packaging were registered with the CPCB, aiming to recycle about 3.3 million tonnes.

    Compliance and Targets:

    • Companies must recycle 70% of the packaging used in the previous two financial years for 2022-23 and 100% for 2023-24. Non-compliance with these targets can result in fines.
    • EPR certificates are uploaded on a dedicated portal maintained by the CPCB, allowing recyclers and buyers to trade online.

    PYQ:

    [2019] In India, ‘extended producer responsibility’ was introduced as an important feature in which of the following?

    (a) The Bio-medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998

    (b) The Recycled Plastic (Manufacturing and Usage) Rules, 1999

    (c) The e-Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011

    (d) The Food Safety and Standard Regulations, 2011

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  • Primary and Secondary Education – RTE, Education Policy, SEQI, RMSA, Committee Reports, etc.

    Bombay HC quashes Exemption from RTE Quota for Private Schools  

    Prelims Only | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Indian Constitution – historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Features of the RTE Act

    Why in the News?

    The Bombay High Court has cancelled the Maharashtra government’s new rule that allowed private schools within 1 kilometer of government or government-aided schools to avoid reserving 25% of their seats for students from weaker sections and disadvantaged groups.

    Right to Education (RTE) Act: Overview

    • The Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009 ensures free and compulsory education as fundamental right under Article 21A of the Indian Constitution.
    • It mandates that every child has the right to full-time elementary education of satisfactory and equitable quality in a formal school that meets certain essential norms and standards.
    • Key Provisions:
      • The RTE Act provides for free and compulsory education for all children between 6 and 14 years.
      • Schools must be available within a prescribed distance from the child’s residence to ensure accessibility.
      • The Act ensures the provision of adequate teachers and the establishment of standards for their training and quality.
    • Teacher Qualification: The teacher must pass the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET), which is administered by the respective government authority. The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) has established the minimum qualifications required for a person to be eligible for appointment as a teacher for classes I to VIII.
    • The RTE Act does NOT apply to Minority institutions.

    Section 12(1) (C) of the RTE Act:

    • Section 12(1) (C) requires private unaided and specified category schools to reserve at least 25% seats for children from economically weaker sections and disadvantaged groups.
    • This provision aims to promote social inclusion and ensure that children from all backgrounds have access to quality education.
    • The government reimburses schools for the expenses incurred for admitting these children, based on per-child expenditure incurred by the state.
    • Children from economically weaker sections and disadvantaged groups benefit from this Section as it provides them access to private schooling.
    • This section aims to contest education apartheid and bring parity and equality of opportunity for all children.

    Details of the Exemption Rule in Maharashtra

    • The notification stated that private unaided schools within one kilometer of a government or government-aided school would not need to reserve 25% of seats for socio-economically backward students.
    • Students in these areas would first be considered for admission to nearby government or government-aided schools.
    • The exemption also applied to future private schools established within a one-kilometer radius of government or government-aided schools.
    • If no such schools existed in the vicinity, private schools would be identified for RTE admissions.

    Similar Exemptions in Other States

    • Maharashtra joined Karnataka and Kerala in implementing this regime to exempt private schools from RTE admissions.
    • Karnataka introduced the rule in December 2018, referencing Kerala’s rules introduced in 2011.
    • In Kerala, the fee concession is available to RTE quota students only if there are no government or aided schools within one kilometer for Class 1 students.

    Reasons for Introducing Exemptions

    • Karnataka’s Law Minister stated in 2018 that the primary intention of RTE is to provide education to all classes of students.
    • Allowing parents to admit children to private schools despite nearby government schools resulted in a drop in enrollment ratios in government schools.
    • Private schools and teachers’ organizations highlighted that state governments often failed to reimburse fees for students admitted through the RTE quota.
      • Section 12(2) of the RTE Act binds state governments to reimburse expenses incurred by schools per child or the fee amount, whichever is less.
      • In Maharashtra, the Maharashtra English School Trustees Association (MESTA) threatened to boycott RTE admissions last December due to pending reimbursements of Rs 1,800 crore.

    PYQ:

    [2022] The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 remains inadequate in promoting incentive-based systems for children’s education without generating awareness about the importance of schooling. Analyse.

    [2018] Consider the following statements:

    1. As per the right to education (RTE) Act, to be eligible for appointment as a teacher in a state, a person would be required to possess the minimum qualification laid down by the concerned State council of Teacher education.
    2. As per the RTE Act, for teaching primary classes, a candidate is required to pass a Teacher Eligibility Test conducted in accordance with the National Council of Teacher Education guidelines.
    3. In India, more than 90 % of teacher education institutions are directly under the State Governments.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    (a) 1 and 2
    (b) 2 only
    (c) 1 and 3
    (d) 3 only

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  • Tribes in News

    Bhil Tribe have again demanded a separate ‘Bhil Pradesh’

    Prelims Only | Indian Society | Mains Paper 1: Communalism, Secularism, Regionalism

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Bhil Tribe

    Why in the News?

    A large number of people from the Bhil tribe recently gathered at a rally in Rajasthan’s Mangarh Dham to raise the demand for an independent ‘Bhil state’.

    Background of the Bhil Pradesh Demand

    • The idea of a tribal state, comprising parts of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra, has been discussed previously.
    • The demand for a separate tribal state in western India was put forward by the Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) formed in 2017.
    • The Bhil community has been demanding that 49 districts be carved out of the four states to establish Bhil Pradesh.
    • The demand for Bhil Pradesh has been raised repeatedly since Independence.

    Historical Context

    • Bhil social reformer and spiritual leader Govind Guru first raised the demand for a separate state for tribals in 1913.
    • The demand followed the Mangarh massacre, where hundreds of Bhil tribals were killed by British forces.
    • The massacre took place six years before the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and is sometimes referred to as the “Adivasi Jallianwala”.

    Reasons for the Demand

    • Earlier, the tribal-majority regions were a single entity but were divided post-Independence.
    • According to the 2011 census, tribals comprise almost 14% of Rajasthan’s population.
    • Several Union governments have brought various laws and schemes for tribals but have been slow in implementation.

    Example of Implementation Issues

    • The Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, aimed to decentralize governance and empower gram sabhas in tribal areas.
    • The Rajasthan government adopted the law in 1999, but its rules were only formulated in 2011.
    • Many people, including local leaders, are still unaware of the law.

    PYQ:

    [2013] Consider the following pairs :

    Tribe: State

    1. Limboo Limbu : Sikkim

    2. Karbi : Himachal

    3. Dongaria Kondh : Odisha

    4. Bonda : Tamil Nadu

    Which of the above pairs are correctly matched?

    (a) 1 and 3 only

    (b) 2 and 4 only

    (c) 1, 3 and 4 only

    (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

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