Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

• When degrees lose their worth
• Towards reducing India’s prison footprint
• The case against- state control of Hindu temples
• Mountainous Question – China’s growing influence in Nepal means India’s diplomacy and project delivery will need to improve
• The New Year looks decidedly gloomy in India’s political neighbourhood

GS Paper 3

• ‘Demonetisation arose from the Centre …it should have enacted a law’
• Being pragmatic about energy sources
• It’s time to consider a wealth tax that may lessen Indian inequality
• Popularize the e-rupee even at the cost of UPI

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

• Draft Rules for Online Gaming: Online games must register with self-regulatory body, say draft rules
• Year-End Review -2022: Ministry of Rural Development
• Two views on demonetisation: What the Supreme Court’s demonetisation verdict says
• What is the new delimitation exercise by Assam?
• ST Commission holds its ground on impact of new rules on Forest Rights Act
• Sustainable shrimp cultivation provides hope for mangrove restoration in Sundarbans
• 2022 Year Ender Review: Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
• ‘SMART’ program for Ayurveda professionals to boost R&D in Ayurveda in the country
• T.N. government sets up Nilgiri Tahr conservation project

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

When degrees lose their worth

News– The article explains the phenomena of increasing emphasis on gaining more degrees and certificates.

What is the reason behind the increasing proliferation of degrees in our educational system?

A vast and varied market of qualifications has grown since the mid-1990s. Its growth feeds on itself. If a greater variety of qualifications are on offer, their demand grows faster. A young candidate enrolled in one course wants to enrol in other courses. Permission for dual degree admission has further boosted the urge.

The driving force of this urge is located both within and outside the system of education. Internally, the system encourages students to gather additional qualifications by defining course content and its aims narrowly. It is known as specialisation. This phenomenon is a response to the understanding of skills as distinct from knowledge.

The external driving force is the economy. Economic growth has not resulted in expansion of satisfying employment. The fear of joblessness fuels the urge to gain new eligibility. The volatility of the job market also implies that no job can last for long. Hence, candidates want to become eligible for as many types of jobs as possible.

Why has the experiment of delinking  degrees from jobs in 1980 has not been successful?

It was believed that delinking degrees from jobs will reduce the pressure on institutions of higher learning. If jobs were delinked from formal qualification, it would discourage the young from accumulating certificates and degrees.

But, the pressure to enrol in one course or another remained high. Correspondence courses proliferated. Later, the Internet also enabled the self-learning market. It has boosted self-employment to some extent. But, the lure of formal jobs has not diminished.

In fact, it has maintained remarkably high growth in the coaching market. Competitive exams now attract countless youths.

How the emphasis on degrees and qualification has impacted our educational system?

It has led to lowering of standards in the field of higher education. When a course does not give expected benefits, students go for a higher level of the same course.

Public institutions of higher education have suffered due to it. These are unable to maintain standards while being forced to accommodate an increased number of students. It has resulted in the mass exodus to foreign systems and expensive private institutions. Students from deprived strata can’t avail of these options.

It has led to a fall in standards of teaching and also in the expected diligence of students. Digital technology has made its own contribution to the noticeable changes in student behaviour.

A plethora of reforms introduced may not succeed in resolving the basic issues and tendencies. There is a considerable gap between the discourse of reform and the reality of our higher education system.

Towards reducing India’s prison footprint

News: Lieutenant-Governor of Delhi in June last year directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to allocate land to Delhi’s prison department to construct a district prison complex in Narela to prevent overcrowding.

How is the district prison complex in Delhi being built up?

The prison is to be constructed in two phases, the first for high-risk offenders and the second for undertrials.

In phase 1, a high-security jail is to be built in the complex with a capacity to lodge 250 high-risk prisoners.

High walls are being constructed between cells to prevent prisoners from viewing others, and interacting with each other, as well as building office spaces between cells to facilitate surveillance.

The Delhi prison administration is creating solitary confinement which can have a severe harmful effect on prisoners’ mental health.

Therefore, L-G’s claim to decongest Delhi’s prison complexes by setting up prisons in Narela is not appreciable and not a proper way of preventing overcrowding.

What are the reasons behind overcrowding of prisons?

One of the reasons behind it is that India has not done enough to truly prevent crime. Dalits and Adivasis are over-represented in Indian prisons.

As per a report, social, systemic, legal, and political barriers are the reason behind this. Laws such as the Habitual Offenders Act and Beggary Laws allow the police to target Dalit and Adivasis for reported crimes.

Furthermore, prisons in India are still governed by the colonial law Prisons Act, 1894. It treats prisoners as sub-par citizens, and provides for strict punishment rather than rehabilitation.

What can be the way ahead?

President Murmu said that rather than building more prisons to prevent overcrowding we must adopt measures like releasing unwell or old inmates, reducing penalties, allowing bail at affordable costs, etc.

India is a progressing country, so its approach to crime should be preventive rather than reactive.

Therefore, the L-G should work with the Delhi government to channel public funds towards public goods such as housing, education, and employment, so that crimes could be prevented.

The case against- state control of Hindu temples

News– The article explains the issue of state governments managing the affairs of Hindu religious endowments.

What are the constitutional provisions for state regulating secular activities associated with religious practices?

Article 25(2)(b) empowers the state to provide for social welfare and reform or the throwing open of Hindu religious institutions” to “all classes and sections of Hindus”. Hence, the issue of regulating secular aspects of religious practice is distinct from providing access to worship.

What are the judicial precedents for state management of temples?

In the Shirur Mutt judgement (1954) case, Supreme Court impugned many provisions of the Madras Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1951. It termed these provisions as “extremely drastic” in character. Even the Advocate General of Madras stated that he “could not support the legality of these provisions”.

The legislature of the erstwhile Madras State enacted in 1954 an amendment Act for removing the defects pointed out by the Supreme Court. Again, the Act was struck down by Madras High Court.

The Orissa Hindu Religious Endowments Act, 1939 was struck down by the Supreme Court twice in 1954 and 1956.

What are issues with the state management of temples?

In the guise of administering Hindu religious endowments, the states are interfering in religious affairs. This is more prevalent in Tamil Nadu where temples cannot even conduct pujas as the state has depleted their income.

As per the HR&CE policy note of 2012-13 of Tamil Nadu, Hindu temples own land covering 29 crore sq. ft in area. Its estimated value would be almost ₹10 lakh crore. But the income realised by the Tamil Nadu HR&CE Department is ₹120 crore per year.

The state is silencing temple activists by initiating arbitrary criminal action against them.

The Tamil Nadu HR&CE Department does not even have records of its own executive notifications justifying its management of certain temples.

What is the way forward?

A long line of judicial precedents emphasise that secularism means the state cannot mix with religion. Nothing justifies a state official directing a religious functionary for conducting worship. The purpose should be to involve the community, which has been excluded by the state. The participation of different stakeholders and the building of consensus among them will determine who will take over temples.

Mountainous Question – China’s growing influence in Nepal means India’s diplomacy and project delivery will need to improve

News: Recently, Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” has become the new Prime Minister of Nepal. He was the leader of the third-largest party in parliament and was not even considered a serious contender for the post. But some last-minute political moves ensured his Prime Ministership.

He will face a mandatory vote of confidence in parliament. His failure to secure a vote of confidence would work in favour of the single-largest party which, under such circumstances, would gain the first opportunity to form the government as per article 76(3) of the constitution.

What are the Chinese concerns with the previous government in Nepal?

The previous PM dampened the prospects of the execution of China’s Belt and Road Initiative by stating that Nepal would prefer projects under grants over loans.

The Nepal parliament also ratified the $-500 million Millenium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact in February. This effectively overruled Chinese objections and awarded two mega hydroelectricity power projects — West Seti and Seti Water — with a combined production capacity and worth of 1200 MW and $2.4 billion to the US.

Hence, China sent multiple messages that attest to engagement with and interest in recent developments in Nepal.

Why China is happy with Nepal’s new PM?

The new PM was inspired by the ideologies of Mao Zedong. China’s acting ambassador met the Nepalese PM to congratulate him on the same day as his elevation.

He also conveyed that China had lifted the suspension of business and supply of goods from the Rasuwa-Kerung and Hilsa-Parang 2 checkpoints that had not been commissioned for use since the Covid-19 pandemic hit.

A high-level Chinese team was already in Kathmandu to conduct a feasibility study for the ambitious Kerung-Kathmandu railway line, a major project under the BRI.

What India can do to counter the Chinese involvement in Nepal?

-India needs to reach out and build equally robust ties with all political stakeholders in Nepal, be they on the left, right or centre.

-Given its geographic position, it is natural for Nepal to seek infrastructure investment from both India and China. India should be competitive and prove to Nepal that Indian projects are best suited for the Himalayan nation than the Chinese.

-Many Indian projects in the past were marred by delays due to local environmental objections, cost overruns and the selection of poor local contractors. Hence, India should help Nepal correct these and deliver on big-ticket infrastructure like the Arun III hydroelectric project by the scheduled deadlines.

-Further, India should also maintain close political communication to avoid disputes like the one over territory in the Kalapani region

The New Year looks decidedly gloomy in India’s political neighbourhood

News: Three key Indian neighbourhood countries with which India has economic ties — Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal — are facing risks that appear to be worsening.

What are the risks associated with India’s political neighbourhood?

Sri Lanka: Its economic crisis needs International Monetary Fund (IMF) loans – a combination of the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) and the Extended Fund Facility (EFF).

But for that, Sri Lanka will have to reach a deal with its bilateral creditors, principally, India, Japan and China that the terms of their loans do not work at cross purposes with the IMF loan.

Bangladesh: It also having economic trouble. The collapse of global trade, on which the economy is acutely dependent, and high oil prices have hit the economy hard. There is a “sharp widening of the current account deficit, the rapid decline of foreign exchange reserves, rising inflation and slowing growth” in Bangladesh.

Due to these, the country has just signed a 42-month arrangement to secure a $3.2-billion IMF loan under ECF and EFF, with another $1.3 billion under the climate-linked Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF).

Nepal: The general elections had led to no clear verdict. Recently, the country finally got a new government in place with a left-wing orientation. The previous government’s repair work was made necessary by the IMF loan. The current inflation rate of 8.08%.

Pakistan: Standard & Poor recently reduced the sovereign rating to CCC-plus. This puts it deep in junk grade.

The supply shock-led crisis in South Asia highlights the policy missteps of different governments. The growth of South Asia now depends on how the countries implement the IMF support programmes.

GS Paper 3

‘Demonetisation arose from the Centre …it should have enacted a law’

News– The article explains the issue of legality of demonetisation by the central government in 2016.

What are the legal provisions for demonetisation initiated by RBI?

According to sub-section (1) of Section 26 of the RBI Act, 1934, every bank note shall be legal tender at any place in India and shall be guaranteed by the central government. This provision is subject to sub-section (2) of Section 26 of the Act.

Sub-section (2) of Section 26 of the Act applies only when a proposal for demonetisation is initiated by the RBI. It should be a recommendation being made to the central government. The recommendation can be in respect of any series of bank notes of any denomination

The word “any” will mean a specified series or a particular series of bank notes. Similarly, “any” denomination will mean any particular or specified denomination of bank notes.

If the word “any” is interpreted to mean “all series of bank notes” of “all denominations”, it would give the central board of the bank unguided and unlimited powers. It would be arbitrary and  unconstitutional.

On receiving the said recommendation made by the central board of the bank under sub-section (2) of Section 26 of the Act, the central government may accept or reject the said recommendation.

If the central government accepts the recommendation, it may issue a notification in the Gazette of India. It should specify the date from which the bank notes shall cease to be legal tender.

What are the legal provisions for demonetisation initiated by the central government?

The provisions of the Act do not bar the central government from initiating demonetisation. It could do so by using the powers under Entry 36 of List I of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution. However, it has to be done only by an ordinance or legislation.

The central government cannot demonetise bank notes by issuance of a gazette notification under sub-section (2) of Section 26 of the Act.

When the central government proposes demonetisation of any bank note, it must seek the opinion of the central board of the bank. The bank is the sole authority to regulate circulation of bank notes and secure monetary stability.

The opinion of the central board of the bank should be independent after a meaningful discussion by the central board of the bank. If the central bank gives negative opinion, the central government may still go ahead with demonetisation after weighing the pros and cons.

What are arguments against the legality of demonetisation initiated by the central government in 2016?

The proposal for demonetisation in 2016 came from the central government. Therefore, it could not be given effect by way of a notification under Section 26 of the Act.

The decision making process did not include independent advice by the central board of the bank. The central bank acted on behalf of the central government.

Therefore, notification dated November 8, 2016 for demonetisation is unlawful.

Being pragmatic about energy sources

News: The Russia-Ukraine war has again made countries dependent on fossil fuels for energy generation which has impacted the adoption of clean energy.

What is needed towards adoption of clean energy?

There is a need for proper storage technology for renewables and without it solar and wind capacities will need gas-powered plants for energy generation.

There are announcements made about giga-storage factories that can power the world but we are still several years away from such energy storage technologies.

What are the reasons behind delay in storage technology?

First, laboratory experiments for bringing up storage technology that can power large numbers of homes, factories and offices require time, capital and engineering expertise.

Second, better battery capacities for storage requires an increase in the mining activities and mineral supply. For example, solar panels and wind turbines need minerals. Some varieties are easily available but there are many minerals that are relatively rare.

As per the expert, billions of tones of minerals will need to be mined over the next few decades to ensure that ambitious clean energy goals of developed countries are met.

However, the problem with mining is that it is not clean, causes ecological damage and requires a large amount of energy from thermal-fueled power plants.

What are other concerns with the adoption of green hydrogen?

Green hydrogen is produced by the process of electrolyzing water using renewable energy sources such as solar or wind power. It is considered among the cleanest of fuels.

However, green hydrogen costs too much to be a replacement for natural gas.

Furthermore, there are leakage problems associated with hydrogen. Hydrogen is highly inflammable and requires special containers and pipes to transport safely. Still, some of the gas leaks into the atmosphere causing environmental damage.

Therefore, all energy sources have negatives and the government must keep this in mind that fossil fuel will be needed for the energy generations in the coming decades.

It’s time to consider a wealth tax that may lessen Indian inequality

News– The article explains the case of levying wealth tax in India .

Why is there a need to introduce wealth tax in India?

There has been massive accumulation of wealth in a few hands. It remains completely untaxed and unavailable for public allocation.

Wealth is largely dependent on inheritance and opportunities. It comes with the advantages associated with belonging to a privileged class and caste.

According to the World Inequality Database of 2022, India’s top 10% population owns 65% of the country ‘s wealth while, bottom 10% owns only 6%. An Oxfam report highlighted how India’s richest doubled their wealth during the pandemic.

One argument in support of wealth accumulation is that it could lead to investment. But this is not true in the case of India. Government lowered corporate tax significantly from 30% to 22% in 2019-20. But, it has not generated much private investment.

Investment has not created employment opportunities for youth. The unemployment rate in the 15-24 age group during May-July 2022 was 28.3%. In post-covid recovery phase, economic growth has largely been jobless.

What is wealth tax and its prevalence in India?

Wealth tax is a direct tax. It can take several forms such as property tax, inheritance or gift tax and capital gains tax. Capital gains tax exists in India but applies only to transactions. Hence, it has a very limited base.

India scrapped its estate duty in 1985 and has no inheritance tax. The receipt of gifts is subjected to income tax but it is subjected to various exemptions.

At present, India does not have any wealth tax that is tax levied on an entire property.

What is the way forward?

India needs a shift in its fiscal policy. It needs to adopt measures that create employment opportunities and drive demand for products made by small and medium producers.

Public investment is needed to boost the capabilities of small players across various sectors like agriculture and manufacturing. It is also required for essential public services to enhance the capabilities of youth.  One potential source of revenue to fund such investments is wealth tax

A number of Latin American countries have introduced annual wealth tax on wealth gains each year. This is the right time for the country to introduce a progressive wealth tax along with other fiscal steps that can reduce the growing inequalities.

Popularize the e-rupee even at the cost of UPI

News: Recently, the supreme court upheld the demonetization done by the government in 2016. The government plans to improve the rupee digitisation. But, India’s cash intensity remains roughly on the same incline as it was earlier.

About the success of Unified Payments Interface (UPI)

The UPI has been a spectacular success since its 2016 launch. It is designed for instant transfers between bank accounts done via mobile phones.

According to the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), UPI operator, UPI processed more than 74 billion transactions in 2022. This is up 90% over 2021. It is worth almost ₹126 trillion, a 76% leap from 2021.

With 381 banks in the loop, net-linked handsets everywhere and UPI adoption now so wide.

What are the concerns associated with the UPI?

The government levies no user fee for UPI transactions. Public funds are used in strengthening UPI and funding bank transfers done by UPI. The government justifies that it’s a “digital public good with immense convenience for the public and productivity gains for the economy.”

Why India should promote RBI’s retail e-rupee instead of UPI?

This is because a) The digital rupee will better serve the cause of economic stability than an over-reliance on banks that square off transfers among themselves, b) With increasing UPI Payments, the public money spent for strengthening it will also increase. But this is not the case with the e-rupee, c) The mass usage of the e-rupee would involve the circulation of money that’s a direct liability of the central bank. On the other hand, UPI relies more on money in bank accounts.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Draft Rules for Online Gaming: Online games must register with self-regulatory body, say draft rules

Source: The post is based on the article “Online games must register with self-regulatory body, say draft rules” published in The Hindu on 3rd January 2023

What is the News?

The Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology(MeitY) has released draft rules for online gaming companies.

It has also proposed an amendment to bring online gaming within the ambit of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

What are the Draft Rules for Online Gaming?

Aim: 1) To safeguard users against potential harm from skill-based games, 2) To regulate online gaming platforms as intermediaries and place due diligence requirements on them and 3) To grow the online gaming sector and encourage innovation.

Key Provisions of the rules

Register with a self-regulatory body: Online games will have to register with a self-regulatory body and only games that are cleared by the body will be allowed to legally operate in India.

Composition of the self-regulatory body: The self-regulatory body will have a board of directors with five members from diverse fields including online gaming, public policy, IT, psychology and medicine. 

– The body must ensure that the registered online games don’t have anything which is not in the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states or public order or incites the commission of any cognizable offence relating to the aforesaid.

– There could be more than one self-regulatory body and all of them will have to inform the Centre about the online games they have registered.

No betting on the outcome of the game: Online gaming companies will not be allowed to engage in betting on the outcome of a game.

Self-due diligence: Online gaming firms will be required to undertake additional due diligence, including KYC of users, transparent withdrawal and refund of money, and a fair distribution of winnings.

– They will also have to appoint a compliance officer who will ensure that the platform is following the norms, a nodal officer who will act as a liaison official with the government and assist law enforcement agencies and a grievance officer who will resolve user complaints.

Year-End Review -2022: Ministry of Rural Development

Source: The post is based on the article “Year-End Review -2022: Ministry of Rural Development” published in PIB on 3rd January 2023

What is the News?

The Ministry of Rural Development has launched several initiatives and schemes in 2022.

What are the schemes and initiatives launched by the Ministry of Rural Development in 2022?

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (Mahatma Gandhi NREGA) 

Achievements of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA:

GIS-based Planning of Gram Panchayats (GPs): The Ministry has initiated integrated holistic planning of the Gram Panchayats based on watershed development principles (ridge to valley approach) using the Geographical information system (GIS).

Yuktdhara Portal

National Electronic Fund Management System (NeFMS)/ DBT: Under the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, 99% of wage seekers are receiving their wages directly into their Bank/Post Office accounts. It is a big step towards transparency and the timely release of wages.

SECURE: It is an online application designed and developed, especially for the estimate preparation and approval for Mahatma Gandhi NREGA works. The estimates are based on the standard rates of items and specifications of works, entered for State/ District/ Block for Mahatma Gandhi NREGA-related works.

Emphasis on Social Audit: The system of Social Audit is being strengthened. In association with the office of CAG, the auditing standards have been finalized and the implementation of the same has started. Social Audit Units have been established in 27 States and 1 UT. 

Amrit Sarovar

Jaldoot App

Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G): In order to ensure the empowerment of women, all the houses under PMAY-G include names of women members of the household in sanction details/ownership details (either solely or in joint ownership).

Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission -(DAY-NRLM)

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)

Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY): It is a demand-driven placement-linked skill training initiative of the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD).

– The scheme is uniquely aimed at rural poor youth between 15 and 35 years of age with the purpose to create income diversity in poor families and help rural youth realize their career aspirations.      

– The program occupies a unique position amongst other skill training programs due to its focus on the rural poor youth and its emphasis on sustainable employment through the prominence and incentives given to post-placement tracking, retention and career progression.

– Under DDU-GKY two special programs are being implemented. i.e; ROSHNI program is being implemented for 27 left-wing extremist affected areas of 9 States with mandatory residential courses with 40% coverage to women candidates and Himayat- All youth of the UT of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh are covered under this scheme with 100% central funding.    

Rural Self-Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs)   

National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP)

Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY)

Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Rurban Mission (SPMRM)

District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committees(DISHA): They have been formed to ensure better coordination among all the elected representatives in Parliament, State Legislatures and Local Governments (Panchayati Raj Institutions/Municipal Bodies) for efficient and time-bound development. 

– It is a government-wide initiative that seeks to promote participative governance and deliberative democracy.DISHA seeks to achieve this by facilitating a quarterly review of all development activity at the district level. 

– The Chairperson of a DISHA committee is the senior most Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) elected from the district and nominated by the Ministry of Rural Development. 

– DISHA committee meetings will be held on a quarterly basis, under the chairmanship of the MP, and will be attended by all elected representatives and officials from the district.

Two views on demonetisation: What the Supreme Court’s demonetisation verdict says

Source: The post is based on the article “Two views on demonetisation: What the Supreme Court’s demonetisation verdict says” published in Indian Express on 3rd January 2023

What is the News?

The Supreme Court has upheld the government’s 2016 decision to demonetise currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 by a 4:1 majority.

What is Demonetization?

Click Here to read

What was the majority view on Demonetization?

The majority held that the demonetization was valid on the following grounds: 

The Centre has the power, under the RBI Act to demonetise all series of bank notes: The petitioners challenging demonetisation had contended that the Union Government’s powers to demonetise bank notes under Section 26(2) of the Reserve Bank Of India Act, 1934, are restricted only for ‘one’ or ‘some’ series of bank notes and not for ‘all’ series of bank notes.

– However, the majority judgment held that the power available to the central government under Section 26(2) of the RBI Act can be exercised for all series of bank notes.

– The court said that this section cannot be interpreted to give the government “restricted power” to demonetise notes as it would lead to a situation where the authorities could demonetise some counterfeit notes of a specific denomination but not all notes. Such a scenario “will result in nothing else but absurdity.

Demonetisation notification does not suffer from any flaws in the decision-making process: There was consultation between the Centre and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for six months indicating a reasonable nexus between the measures undertaken and the object sought to be achieved and, therefore, the demonetisation passed the test of doctrine of “proportionality”. 

The time provided for the exchange of demonetised notes was reasonable: The court referred to the judgment of a Constitution Bench in Jayantilal Ratanchand Shah Vs RBI (1996) which upheld the validity of 1978’s Demonetisation Act. 

The 1996 judgment notes that if the time for such exchange was not limited, the high denomination bank notes could be circulated and transferred from one person to another and any such transferee could walk into the Bank on any day thereafter and demand the exchange of his notes.

What was the minority view on Demonetization?

The dissenting judge held that the government’s demonetisation exercise was well-intentioned and thought-through. But was unlawful on the following grounds: 

No independent application of mind by RBI: The dissenting judge held that the central bank did not apply its mind independently while recommending the cancellation of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes as proposed by the Centre.

Executive order is not enough for such a step: The demonetisation of all series of notes at the instance of the central government is a far more serious issue than the demonetisation of a particular series by the bank. So, it has to be done through legislation rather than through executive notification.

Interpretation of Section 26(2) of the RBI Act: Section 26(2) only contemplates the demonetisation of banknotes at the instance of the Central Board of the RBI. However, since in this case the proposal was not initiated by the RBI, the demonetisation exercise could have been undertaken by the central government only through an ordinance or a parliamentary law.

– The dissenting judge also said that the word ‘any’ in sub-section (2) of Section 26 cannot be read to mean ‘all series of bank notes’ as this would vest with the Central Board of the Bank unguided and unlimited powers.

What is the new delimitation exercise by Assam?

Source: The post is based on the article “What is the new delimitation exercise by Assam?” published in The Hindu on 3rd January 2023

What is the News?

Assam has re-merged four districts with the ones they were carved out after the Election Commission of India(ECI) notified the initiation of the delimitation of Assembly and Parliamentary constituencies in the State.

What is Delimitation?

Click Here to read

Why was delimitation in Assam put on hold?

Delimitation panels were set up thrice (1952,1962 and 1972) regularly before the exercise was suspended in 1976 in view of the family planning programmes in the States. 

The last Commission was set up in 2002, but before its exercise was completed in 2008, the delimitation was put on hold.

Several political parties were opposed to delimitation in 2008 as they wanted it to be done only after the updating of the National Register of Citizens(NRC) to weed out “illegal immigrants”.

Why are some political parties critical of delimitation?

The Central government reconstituted the Delimitation Commission for the four north-eastern States and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in 2020. 

The exercise was imminent but Section 8A of the Representation of People Act, 1950, cited by the ECI for initiating delimitation and the use of the 2001 Census data have raised the following questions:

Firstly, Section 8A only allows reorientation and rules out any change in the total number of parliamentary and Assembly constituencies. Hence, what’s the point of delimitation if Assembly seats are not increased.

Secondly, basing the delimitation on the 2001 Census is unjust specifically after the ECI used the 2011 Census for completing the exercise in Jammu and Kashmir where the number of constituencies increased. 

Why does the government see delimitation as Assam’s saviour?

Assam Chief Minister has said that the delimitation can provide the safeguards that the NRC and the Assam Accord of 1985 envisaged to but failed. 

This is because, unlike the unsuccessful NRC, delimitation can save the future of Assam for at least two decades by ensuring the State Assembly is less affected by demographic changes.

ST Commission holds its ground on impact of new rules on Forest Rights Act

Source: The post is based on the article “ST Commission holds its ground on impact of new rules on Forest Rights Act” published in The Hindu on 3rd January 2023

What is the News?

National Commission for Scheduled Tribes(NCST) Chairman has said that the new Forest (Conservation) Rules, 2022 are violative of the Forest Rights Act, 2006.

What are the new Forest (Conservation) Rules,2022?

Click Here to read

Why has the NCST chairman called new Forest (Conservation) Rules, 2022 violative of Forest Rights Act, 2006?

NCST Chairman has said that the new FCR, 2022 has done away with the clause to mandatorily seek consent of the gram sabhas before the Stage 1 clearance or even after Stage 2 clearance for diversion of forest land.

In such a scenario, project proponents, having received partial clearance will be pushing the State governments and Union Territory administrations for “diversion at the earliest”. This would seriously impact the process of recognition of rights under the FRA.

What was the government’s response to the NCST objection?

The Union Environment Minister has argued that the new Forest Conservation rules specifies that states will release the order for diversion of forest land after it is satisfied that all provisions under the Forest Rights Act(FRA) have been complied with.

However, NCST pointed out that between 2009 and 2018, of the 128 applications for forest diversion for mining, 74 were cleared at the Stage 2 and 46 at the Stage 1 and none of the rejections were based on FRA non-compliance. Hence, the new rules will only increase such violations.

Sustainable shrimp cultivation provides hope for mangrove restoration in Sundarbans

Source: The post is based on the article “Sustainable shrimp cultivation provides hope for mangrove restoration in Sundarbans” published in The Hindu on 3rd January 2023

What is the News?

In Sundarbans, a new shrimp farming initiative named “SAIME Initiative” offers hope for mangrove restoration.

What is the SAIME Initiative?

Sustainable Aquaculture In Mangrove Ecosystem(SAIME) initiative was started in 2019. 

It is a community-based initiative for sustainable shrimp cultivation.

The initiative was conceived by NGOs- Nature Environment and Wildlife Society (NEWS) and Global Nature Fund (GNF), Naturland, Bangladesh Environment and Development Society (BEDS).

Under the initiative, farmers have taken up the cultivation of shrimp at 30 hectares in West Bengal. Additionally, they are restoring mangroves.

What is shrimp cultivation?

Shrimp farming is an aquaculture business that exists in either a marine or freshwater environment, producing shrimp or prawns for human consumption.

Shrimp cultivation is practised in about 15,000 to 20,000 hectares of the unique ecosystem in India.

About Sundarbans

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2022 Year Ender Review: Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship

Source: The post is based on the article “2022 Year Ender Review: Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship” published in PIB on 3rd January 2023

What is the News?

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has launched several initiatives and schemes in 2022.

What are the schemes and initiatives launched by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in 2022?

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana

Skill Hubs: The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in consultation with the Ministry of Education(MoE) has planned to implement the ‘Skill Hub Initiative’ under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 3.0(PMKVY 3.0). 

– Skill Hubs are nodal skill centres identified to provide skill development and vocational training opportunities to target population segments from class 6-8th (introduction to world-of-work through orientation, industry visits), 9th to 12th (aimed at exposing students to skill development avenues), school dropouts and out-of-education (aimed for academic credit, mainstreaming back to education and or apprenticeship and employment linkages).

Bharatskills Platform

Skill India for Women Empowerment: Ministry of Skill has imparted self-defense training to women under “My Safety, My Responsibility” programme.

UdyamDisha: It is an online e-mentoring platform developed to handhold and guide aspiring and existing entrepreneurs and facilitate online mentoring services.

Jan Shikshan Sansthan (Central Sector Scheme)

National Skill Qualification Framework(NSQF)

India has secured the 11th position in the WorldSkills Competition 2022(WSC 2022) as compared to the 13th position in 2019.

This improvement in position suggests the surge in awareness among youth, trainers, and other key stakeholders in the skill ecosystem about participating in the competition which inspires young people to develop a passion for skills and pursue excellence through competitions.

‘SMART’ program for Ayurveda professionals to boost R&D in Ayurveda in the country

Source: The post is based on the article “SMART program for Ayurveda professionals to boost R&D in Ayurveda in the country” published in PIB on 3rd January 2023

What is the News?

The Ministry of Ayush has launched the ‘SMART’ (Scope for Mainstreaming Ayurveda Research in Teaching Professionals) program.

What is a SMART program?

Launched by: National Commission for Indian System of Medicine(NCISM) and the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences(CCRAS), the two prominent institutions under the Ministry of Ayush.

Aim: To boost scientific research in priority healthcare research areas through Ayurveda colleges and hospitals.

Under the program, the government will identify, support and promote innovative research ideas in healthcare research areas including osteoarthritis, iron deficiency anaemia, chronic bronchitis, dyslipidemia, rheumatoid arthritis, obesity, diabetes mellitus, psoriasis, generalised anxiety disorder and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease(NAFLD).

T.N. government sets up Nilgiri Tahr conservation project

Source: The post is based on the article “T.N. government sets up Nilgiri Tahr conservation project” published in The Hindu on 3rd January 2023

What is the News?

The Tamil Nadu government has launched the Nilgiri Tahr conservation project.

What is the Nilgiri Tahr conservation project?

Launched by: Tamil Nadu

Aim: To develop a better understanding of the Nilgiri Tahr population through 1) Surveys and radio telemetry studies, 2) Reintroduce the Tahrs to their historical habitat, 3) Address proximate threats and 4) Increase public awareness of the species.

Duration: The project is to be implemented from 2022 to 2027.

Funding: ​​The funds for the project are to be provided by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board.

– Note: October 7 will be celebrated as ‘Niligiri Tahr Day’ in honour of E.R.C. Davidar, who was responsible for pioneering one of the first studies of the species in 1975.

What is Nilgiri Tahr?

Nilgiri Tahr is the sole Caprinae species found in the tropical mountains of southern India. 

IUCN Status: Endangered

Wildlife (Protection) Act of India,1972: Schedule I

Habitat: The animal inhabits meadows with steep cliffs at elevations between 300 metres and 2,600 metre above sea level. 

Population: It is estimated that there are 3,122 Nilgiri Tahrs in the wild. 

Geographical range: Historically, the Nilgiri Tahr was known to inhabit a large portion of the Western Ghats. But today it remains restricted to a few scattered patches in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. 

– It has become locally extinct in around 14% of its traditional shola forest-grassland habitat.

Significance: There are multiple references to the Nilgiri Tahr in Tamil Sangam literature dating back to 2,000 years.

The late Mesolithic (10,000-4,000 BC) paintings highlight the significance of the Tahr in folklore, culture and life.

It has been designated as the State animal of Tamil Nadu in recognition of its ecological and cultural significance.