Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

• A job and career right the disabled cannot be denied
• More than court action, revisit the Indus Waters Treaty
• Missing numbers – on statistical system
• President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Delhi: Sri Lanka and India, five things to do
• Sanjay Srivastava writes: Parliament, now, is a gated community

GS Paper 3

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

A job and career right the disabled cannot be denied

Source– The post is based on the article “A job and career right the disabled cannot be denied” published in “The Hindu” on 20th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Vulnerable sections of the population

Relevance: Issues related to disabled persons

News- The article explains the issue of reservation in promotion for people with disability.

What are the provisions related to reservation for disabled persons?

The right of the disabled person to be employed and promoted in government jobs on equal basis was first recognised by the Persons With Disabilities Act. It introduced a 3% reservation for the disabled in employment.

There was reservation for disabled in Groups C and D before the PwD Act. Now, the Act extended reservation for the disabled in Groups A and B.

What has been the stand of the judiciary on reservation in promotion for disabled persons?

In 1998, the DoPT made an important interpretation, considering reservation for the disabled in promotions as an essential component of the reservation system.

But, reservation of the disabled in promotion in Groups A and B was withdrawn in 2005 by another order of DoPT. It shows the apathetic attitude of the administration towards the disabled.

SC in its judgement in 2016, granted reservation in promotion in Groups A and B. But the Government of India did not make any effort to implement the judgement.

A case of contempt was filed in the Supreme Court in 2017. Court challenged the decision in the Indra Sawhney judgement.

As per SC, physical disability as the basis for providing reservation to the disabled is not denied under Article 16(1).

DoPT issued another order in 2022. Though the order made important clarifications on the reservation of seats for the disabled in recruitment.

Why does the judiciary need to be proactive in matters of reservation for disabled?

The judiciary has been instrumental in upholding justice for disabled individuals, particularly following the implementation of the PwD Act in 1995.

However, in this instance, the judiciary’s actions seem to have aggravated the government’s indifference towards the needs and aspirations of the disabled community.

The refusal to grant reservations in promotions is an obstacle for disabled individuals’ advancement within their respective organisations.

This hindrance undermines the larger objective of inclusivity for the disabled in society. It obstructs their ability to actively contribute to India’s development.

More than court action, revisit the Indus Waters Treaty

Source– The post is based on the article “More than court action, revisit the Indus Waters Treaty” published in “The Hindu” on 20th July 2023.

Syllabus : GS2- Bilateral groupings and agreements

Relevance: India and Pakistan bilateral relationship

News- The article explains the issues related to the Indus Water Treaty between India and Pakistan.

What are the issues faced by IWT?

Over the past ten years, there has been a growing trend of using the judicial route to resolve disputes arising from the construction and design aspects of run-of-river hydroelectric projects.

The Indus Waters Treaty permits India to construct these projects on the tributaries of the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab rivers before they enter Pakistan.

In January of this year, Pakistan took the initiative to initiate arbitration at the Permanent Court of Arbitration based in The Hague.

The purpose of this arbitration was to address matters concerning the certain design elements of the Kishanganga and Ratle projects, which are located on the Chenab river.

Why is there a need for a relook at IWT?

The IWT provides only some element of predictability and certainty with regard to the future supplies of water to the riparian states. But, it needs to incorporate mechanisms that allow flexibility in case of changes in the quantity of water available for allocation among the parties.

Bilateral water agreements are vulnerable to climate change. These are concluded under the assumption that future water availability will remain the same as today.

IWT does not take into account future water availability. Climate change can alter the form, intensity and timing of precipitation and runoff. The Assumption regarding the supplies of water for agricultural purposes and industrial needs does not hold true.

What is the way forward to reconcile the differences of India and Pakistan on IWT?

Two cardinal principles of international watercourse law can be helpful. These are equitable and reasonable utilization (ERU) and the principle not to cause significant harm or no harm rule (NHR).

ERU requires that the states need to be guided by the factors mentioned in Article 6 of the Convention on the Law of the Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses 1997, including climate change.

The NHR stipulates that any riparian state planning a project on a shared watercourse, which could potentially impact other neighboring riparian states, must take necessary actions to prevent harm. This includes conducting a transboundary environmental impact assessment as part of the precautionary measures

In a situation of conflict between different uses of water, it is suggested in Article 10 of the 1997 Convention to lean on “vital human needs” in the context of the ERU and the NHR.

‘Vital human needs’ principle is debatable but the inclusion of these principles in the IWT will help in resolving the differences.

The World Bank may forge a transnational alliance of epistemic communities to build convergent state policies. It can lead to inclusion of these two principles in the IWT.

Missing numbers – on statistical system

Source– The post is based on the article “Missing numbers” published in “The Hindu” on 20th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Government policies and interventions

Relevance: issues related to government statistical system

News- The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has formed a new Standing Committee on Statistics (SCoS). It will advise on official data, including the household surveys carried out by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO).

It has a broader mandate to help design surveys for all types of data, identify data gaps that must be plugged, and conduct pilot surveys for new data sets.

Why is there a need for timely conduct of Household Consumer Expenditure Survey?

The Household Consumer Expenditure Survey is crucial not only for monitoring changes in people’s living standards but also for recalibrating essential economic indicators like the Consumer Price Index and the Gross Domestic Product.

The latest survey was carried out during 2017-18. But, the government withheld the findings in November 2019, citing concerns about data quality.

What is the way forward to improve the statistical system?

The responsibility for releasing data should rest with the National Statistical Commission. Undermining one’s own systems might achieve temporary goals. But, it ultimately undermines the ability to demonstrate effective governance outcomes.

The Standing Committee on Statistics can play a proactive role in rebuilding trust between India’s respected statistical system and data users. This trust deficit has resulted in an absence of official data.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Delhi: Sri Lanka and India, five things to do

Source: This post is based on the article “President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Delhi: Sri Lanka and India, five things to do” published in Indian Express on 20^th July.

Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2 – India and its neighborhood

News: Sri Lanka’s President Ranil Wickremesinghe is visiting India to finalize several investments, especially in energy, infrastructure, and tourism.

What are the post crisis developments in India-Sri Lanka Relations?

After Sri Lanka’s sovereign debt default, India’s Neighborhood First policy was evident in its aid to Sri.

India provided $5 billion in economic aid to Sri Lanka during its crisis in 2022, leading to the IMF’s $3 billion programme in March 2023.

Indian government has set an agenda for investing in renewable energy, infrastructure, and tourism in Sri Lanka. Indian companies, including the Adani Group and the Tata Group, are investing in Sri Lanka, according to the government’s aim.

What are the opportunities in the India-Sri Lanka relations?

India’s most significant concern with Sri Lanka is the deep presence of China, whose cumulative investments account for 18 per cent of Sri Lanka’s 2021 GDP and 10.8 per cent of the country’s foreign debt. Keeping Sri Lanka close will help India keep China at its periphery.

A determined Neighbourhood First policy from India will uplift South Asia’s regional attractiveness. Strategically, the bilateral engagement could naturally extend to the Indian Ocean, and beyond it, to the Indo-Pacific.

India’s aid and investments in Sri Lanka can lead to increased trade and the building of a robust South Asian supply chain. South Asian countries have lower hourly wages than China, therefore it can develop export processing zones and industrial clusters supplemented by a good supply chain network.

What more needs to be done?

India and Sri Lanka currently have a give-take relationship, with India providing aid. The goal is to make this relationship reciprocal, turning aid into trade, similar to the India-Japan bilateral relationship. For example, India is still the largest recipient of Japan’s overseas aid, but it is also India’s fifth-largest investor, with a cumulative investment of $38.7 billion.

Currently, Indian aid is routed via multiple ministries and agencies. India can consolidate its fragmented aid program through a single development bank. Talks should be accelerated for a comprehensive and high-quality India-Sri Lanka free trade deal focusing on supply chains and foreign investment.

While India’s digital public infrastructure led by UPI and open-source fintech, is being accepted globally, it has not entered in the south Asian countries. Sri Lanka should try to approach India for adaptation of its digital public infrastructure.

India and Sri Lanka should develop a mechanism for early warnings and methods for economic crisis. For example, ASEAN countries adopted a mutual monitoring mechanism after the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997.

Sanjay Srivastava writes: Parliament, now, is a gated community

Source– The post is based on the article “Sanjay Srivastava writes: Parliament, now, is a gated community” published in “The Times of India” on 20th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Polity

Relevance: Political institutions

News- The article explains the importance of Parliament as a process for strengthening democracy.

Why is it important to imagine Parliament both as space and process?

The assertion of sovereignty is not only conveyed through symbolic displays of governance but also through the actual governing processes.

Using the same parliament architecture, after independence, that once used for oppression of the people was more than just a symbol. It tells a story of seizing control from the previous ruling power, who justified their superiority by characterising the locals as incapable of self-rule.

The physical space of Parliament and the governing processes it contains are deeply interconnected. The relationship between Parliament as a building and the processes and the people it represents has not fulfilled the promise of the early post-colonial period.

How Parliament as an institution has not fulfilled its promise?

In the Indian context, the decline of Parliament’s influence in the lives of the people is primarily attributed to the shifting concept of the nation-state.

After gaining independence, the state had a clear responsibility: to serve the nation and its people. It was recognized that the interests and lives of the people were distinct from that of the state.

However, over time, there has been a shift. State itself is increasingly being equated with the nation. As a result, there has been a growing tendency to unquestioningly accept, whatever the state says and does. It is also justified as the best interest of the people.

The initial commitment to a democracy led by the people has been replaced by one controlled by the state. Parliament has undergone a transformation. It resembles a fortress. It has distanced itself from society, placing itself above rather than alongside it.

It has become akin to a gated community. The construction of the new Parliament House has only exacerbated this trend. It portrays governance as a grand monument disconnected from the people.

GS Paper 3

Why are tomato prices still high?

Source: The post is based on the article “Why are tomato prices still high?” published in The Hindu on 20^th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Indian Economy – Inflation

Relevance: concerns associated with volatility of tomato prices

News: The RBI has recently highlighted that the volatility of tomato prices has historically contributed to the country’s overall inflation levels.

Where are tomatoes grown in India?

Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha, and Gujarat, contribute nearly 50% of the total tomato output.

Tomatoes are grown both as rabi and kharif crops. However, some regions in Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh’s Solan can also grow tomatoes during the monsoon months.

During the summer, Andhra Pradesh’s Madanapalle area alone accounts for all tomato production in the country. 

Further, the peak production of tomatoes was recorded in 2019-20 at 21.187 million tonnes (MT). However, it has been declining since then.

Why are the prices of tomatoes high?

First, the production of tomatoes has been low this year due to the extreme weather conditions. The farmers have also grown less tomatoes due to the low profit received from tomatoes in the previous year.

Second, delayed monsoon precipitation in southern India and Maharashtra, caused pest attacks on tomato crops. Hence, lower-quality varieties appeared in the markets earlier this year. Due to which farmers received lower profit on the crops.

While some farmers sold tomatoes at cheaper rates, others abandoned their crops, resulting in a supply shortfall.

Third, continuous rains in tomato-growing regions affected the new growing crop. Prices rose even more because the months of July and August are typically times of lower tomato production.

Fourth, due to higher profits, several farmers in Karnataka’s Kolar region, who are known for substantial tomato production, moved to other crops such as beans.

How has the government responded to the rising price of tomatoes?

As per the government, the rise in price of tomatoes is seasonal and a temporary issue. The Consumer Affairs Ministry added that the price increase is a seasonal issue and that tomato prices have increased in these months during the last five years.

What is the impact of rising tomato prices?

The RBI and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) are concerned over high seasonal price volatility of tomatoes and its impact on the overall Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Although TOP commodities only make up 2.20 of the CPI basket’s weight, their contribution to the total CPI has been volatile, resulting in higher overall inflation.

For instance, tomato’s contribution to the CPI basket in June 2022 was 8.9%, making it the highest of the 299 commodities.

Additionally, an ICRIER analysis found a cyclical trend in tomato pricing, with similar events taking place every other year.

How can volatility be managed?

Read Here: Volatility in Tomato, Onion and Potato (TOP) prices  – Explained

NRF: A landmark initiative

Source: The post is based on the article “NRF: A landmark initiative” published in Business Standard on 20^th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Science & Technology

Relevance: About the National Research Foundation

News: The article discusses the National Research Foundation (NRF).

What is NRF?

The NRF funds scientific research rather than technological research. Academics from both public and private universities are eligible for NRF funding.

However, scientists working at autonomous national laboratories are only eligible for NRF funds if they collaborate with an academic researcher.

Read More: India’s National Research Foundation (NRF): Needs, significance and challenges

Why was NRF needed?

In comparison to other nations such as South Korea, Taiwan, Israel, Singapore, and China, India’s overall R&D investment is 0.6 percent of GDP.

Indian industry invests around 0.25 per cent of GDP in in-house R&D compared to a world average of 1.4 percent.

Further, unlike the rest of the world, India conducts its research in autonomous government institutions rather than universities. Due to which, India allocated only 0.04 percent of GDP for research done within the higher education system.

Hence, there was a need to scale the R&D investments both by the industry and by the government within the higher education system.

Read More: India’s National Research Foundation (NRF): Needs, significance and challenges

What are the challenges with NRF?

Dividing the Funding Amount: Initially, the 50,000-crore funding was supposed to be totally funded by the government. However, in the final proposal the amount is shared by the government and private entities.

This does not align with the global trend where the burden of funds is totally taken up by the government.

Amount below the Global Average: The funding amount of 10,000 crore per year would double research within the higher education system and raise its share from 0.04% to 0.1% of GDP. However, it still falls short of the global average of 0.35% of GDP.

Governance: The current governance structure of the NRF includes a high-level board chaired by the prime minister, with the ministers of education and science and technology as deputies. This makes it difficult to make them accountable.

However, instead of this, the board should consist of only professionals willing to dedicate the necessary time and energy and keep it free from any bureaucratic influence.

This board can then be accountable to the Cabinet, headed by the Prime Minister. This would be a more effective solution to the governance of NRF.

Read More: India’s National Research Foundation (NRF): Needs, significance and challenges

What can be the way ahead?

The NRF is indeed a landmark initiative. However, to achieve its potential, it is necessary that funds are properly utilized and those governing the NRF should be made accountable.

Source: Images from Business Standard

Combating air pollution -Rural areas should not be left out

Source: The post is based on the article “Combating air pollution -Rural areas should not be left out” published in “Business standard” on 20th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3- Environmental pollution

News: In this article the author discusses the overlooked issue of air pollution in rural areas. It highlights its causes and the need for equal attention to both urban and rural regions in combating this pollution.

About recent air pollution data

Urban Air Pollution

Urban areas in India recorded a PM 2.5 content of 46.8 microgram in 2022. This is higher than the national threshold of 40 micrograms.

NCAP Focus: The National Clean Air Program (NCAP) targets 130 cities for a 20-30% reduction in PM 2.5 and PM 10 levels by 2024.

About Rs. 89,000 crores have been allocated for the program, focusing solely on urban areas.

Rural Air Pollution

PM 2.5 Content: Rural regions showed almost equal PM 2.5 levels at 46.4 microgram in 2022.

Lifespan Impact: According to the Centre for Science and Environment, villagers lose around seven more months of their potential lifespan due to polluted air.

What Causes Pollution in Rural Areas?

Traditional Ovens: Rural homes commonly use chulhas (clay ovens) that emit smoke.

Conventional Fuels: Fuels like wood, crop residues, and animal dung cakes are burned for cooking.

Diesel Usage: Farm operations rely on diesel-run machinery such as tractors and water pumps.

Crop Residue Burning: Farmers burn crop leftovers, releasing pollutants into the atmosphere.

Fertilisers: Chemical fertilisers contribute to greenhouse gases, especially ammonia and nitrogen dioxide.

What’s the Solution?

Rural and urban areas need equal attention in battling air pollution.

Promoting access to clean fuels and efficient use of farm inputs can help curb rural pollution.

Cities, climate change and urban flooding

Source: The post is based on the article “Cities, climate change and urban flooding” published in Business standard on 20th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3- Disaster and disaster management.

News: The author discusses the challenges urban areas face due to climate change, such as flooding and infrastructure damage, emphasizing the need for improved urban planning, infrastructure, and global cooperation to address these issues and promote sustainable city growth.

What are the causes of the rise in urban flooding?

Climate Change: Increases unpredictable weather patterns, leading to intense rainfall, heatwaves, and cyclones.

Unplanned Urban Growth: Rapid expansion over natural resources makes cities vulnerable.

Human Encroachment: Building on active flood channels leads to urban flooding.

Inadequate Flood Management: Many cities lack proper flood control practices. For example, urban India frequently experiences waterlogging, highlighting municipal unpreparedness.

Waste Disposal Issues: Solid waste in drainage systems exacerbates flooding.

What are the challenges urban areas face due to the rise in urban flooding?

Infrastructure Damage: Heavy rainfall and flooding can damage buildings and roads, disrupting daily life. Example: frequent waterlogging in Indian cities.

Emergency Response: Unexpected disasters strain city resources and redirect budgets from growth to recovery.

Transportation Disruption: Floods can bring essential services to a halt, affecting socioeconomic activities.

Pollution Issues: Large amounts of contaminated runoff can overwhelm urban drainage systems, causing flash floods.

Health Risks: Poor air quality and contaminated water increase public health risks.

Food, Water, and Energy Security: Natural disasters threaten these basic needs, especially in coastal cities.

Housing Issues: In many developing cities, the poor often build homes in risky, flood-prone areas, increasing the harm caused by floods.

What should be done?

Improve Urban Planning: Focus on energy-efficient designs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the subsequent risk of severe weather.

Strengthen Infrastructure: Build systems that can withstand extreme weather. This can help prevent situations like the frequent waterlogging in Indian cities.

Prioritize Waste Management: Address the issue of solid waste in drainage systems to reduce flooding risks.

Enhance Emergency Preparedness: Cities need early warning systems for floods and other disasters.

Promote Global Cooperation: Join initiatives like the 100 Resilient Cities and the Global Covenant of Mayors for shared solutions.

Encourage Citizen Involvement: Local action plans involving residents can support municipal efforts.

Shift to Clean Production: Embrace renewable energy and reduce industrial emissions, benefiting both climate and local air quality.

Protect Natural Resources: Ensure urban growth respects and conserves the environment.

Use contextual tools and models to catalyse our climate transition

Source: The post is based on the article “Use contextual tools and models to catalyse our climate transition” published in “Live mint” on 20th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3- Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

News: In this article the author discusses the importance of genuine and long-term business strategies in the climate transition, warning against short-lived tactics and emphasizing that eco-friendly investments are beneficial.

About carbon emissions data

Global Carbon Emissions:

Economic systems are now accounting for the cost of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Transition to a low-carbon economy is driven by various stakeholders.

Electric vehicles are a solution to replace traditional combustion engine vehicles.

Rice cultivation contributes 10% of global methane emissions, a GHG 25 times stronger than CO2.

India’s Carbon Emissions:

India ranks as the third-largest emitter worldwide.

Per capita emissions in India are one-fifth the global average.

With a growing middle class and manufacturing base, India’s emissions will rise.

What should be done to effectively catalyze the climate transition?

Adopt Low-Carbon Technologies: Embrace alternatives for carbon-heavy industries to reduce emissions. Electric vehicles can replace traditional combustion engine vehicles, minimizing automotive emissions.

Implement Digital Solutions: a) Optimizing supply chains can reduce carbon footprints, b) A McKinsey report highlights that 80% of an organization’s emissions come from its supply chain, signifying the importance of this optimization, c) Digital tools can monitor production processes, decreasing inefficiencies and waste, thus cutting emissions.

Encourage Innovative Food Production: Adopt technologies like CRISPR for different food production methods. Like, String Bio is a model example, using methane-based synthetic biology to improve rice yields by 30-40% while decreasing methane emissions by 60%.

Reduce Food Waste: a) It’s tied to 8-10% of all annual GHG emissions, b) Digital-enabled supply chains can help match demand with supply for perishable items, reducing waste rates to single digits.

Develop the Carbon Accounting Market: a) Transition from legacy accounting systems that overlook the costs of earth’s resources, b) The potential growth of the carbon accounting market is vast, with estimates suggesting a leap from $12 billion to $65 billion by 2030, c) Use software and hardware-led methods for scalable and authentic carbon measurement and reporting.

Promote Transparency and Accountability: Business opportunities in climate transition should prioritize transparency to counteract short-term opportunistic strategies like greenwashing.

When El Nino and the monsoon meet in India: Rain checks for our times

Source: The post is based on the article “When El Nino and the monsoon meet in India: Rain checks for our times” published in “ The Indian express” on 20th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3- Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

News:  In this article author discusses the changing monsoon patterns in India due to climate factors like El Nino, its impact on agriculture and livelihoods, and suggests strategies like mapping, financial planning, and restoring ecosystems to tackle these changes.

What are the reasons for change in monsoon pattern in India?

El Nino: Characterized by warming of the Central and Eastern Equatorial Pacific Ocean, it influences global weather patterns. For example, during El Nino years, rainfall trends over 132 years show frequent drought-like conditions in India.

Indian Ocean Dipole and Madden-Julian Oscillation: These regional phenomena significantly shape monsoon dynamics.

Climatic Events: Like, in June, cyclone Biparjoy hit the western coast, leading to erratic monsoon onset in other parts.

Human Impact: As the climate changes, unpredictable monsoons occur, affecting 75% of India’s rain-fed farmlands.

How can India tackle this challenge?

Mapping and Forecasting: a) Identify monsoon variability impacts, b) Create a high-resolution monsoon variability index for vulnerabilities at city and block levels, c) Strengthen early warning systems for accurate predictions.

Financial Planning and Integration: a) Merge public and private funds to handle financial challenges from erratic monsoons, b)Have the central bank monitor climate patterns like El Nino for better financial planning, c) Implement mandatory reporting as per the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).

Ecosystem Restoration: a) Prioritize rehabilitating ecosystems like mangroves, wetlands, and forests, b) Promote nature-based solutions for climate challenges, c) Allocate resources for sustainable land restoration to mitigate climate impact.

Shared Responsibility: a) Encourage all societal sections to collaboratively address climate change, b) Focus on being proactive rather than using alarming rhetoric.

Adopting these strategies can ensure India’s preparedness against monsoon changes and its consequences.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

India climbs seven points to 80 on Passport Index; Singapore at top position

Source: The post is based on the article “India climbs seven points to 80 on Passport Index; Singapore at top position”  published in The Hindu on 20th July 2023

What is the News?

Henley Passport Index 2023 has been released by the consultancy firm named ‘Henley & Partners’.

What is the Henley Passport Index?

​​Henley Passport Index is the ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. 

The index includes 199 passports and 227 travel destinations.

What are the key rankings of Henley Passport Index 2023?

Source: The Hindu

Globally: Singapore has topped the index. It is now officially the most powerful passport in the world with its citizens able to visit 192 travel destinations out of 227 around the world visa-free.

– Germany, Italy, and Spain occupied the second place. 

– Japan, which occupied the top position Index for five years, has dropped to the third place.

India: India has climbed seven places in 2023 and is ranked at 80th position. Indian citizens can now enjoy visa-free access to 57 destinations.

– In 2014, India was ranked 76 with 52 countries allowing Indian passport holders visa-free access but its performance has not been linear. 

– It ranked 88 in 2015 (visa-free access to 51 countries), 85 in 2016, 87 in 2017, 81 in 2018, 82 in 2019 and 2020, and 81 in 2021.

What is the Henley Openness Index?

Henley Openness Index measures how many nations does a country allows visa-free access to.

The top 20 ‘most open’ countries are all small island nations or African states, except for Cambodia.

Here, India was ranked 94 out of a total of 97 ranks for allowing only four countries visa-free access.

40% of districts do not have nursing colleges, Health Ministry data show

Source: The post is based on the article “40% of districts do not have nursing colleges, Health Ministry data show”  published in The Hindu on 20th July 2023

What is the News?

Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved 157 new nursing colleges for 24 states and 3 union territories. 

What is the present status of Nursing services in India?

Nursing services form the backbone of any medical establishment. India currently has close to 35 lakh nurses, but its nurse-to-population ratio is only 2.06:1000 against a global benchmark of 3:1000.

There has been a 36% growth in the number of institutions offering undergraduate nursing education since 2014-15 resulting in a 40% growth in nursing seats. But there is a regional skew within these statistics. For instance:

– About 64% of the nursing workforce is currently trained in just eight States.

– 42% of nursing institutions are concentrated in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana while 17% are in the western States of Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. 

– Only 2% of nursing colleges are in the northeastern States. 

– There are no nursing colleges in 40 percent of districts across India.

– The growth of nursing colleges also lags far behind the 81% growth rate of medical colleges with the number of undergraduate and postgraduate medical seats surging at 110% and 114%, respectively, since 2014-15.

What does the WHO say on the global nursery workforce?

According to the WHO, approximately 27 million men and women make up the global nursing and midwifery workforce, accounting for nearly 50% of the global health workforce.

There is a global shortage of health workers, in particular nurses and midwives, who represent more than 50% of the current shortage in health workers. 

The largest shortages of nurses and midwives are in Southeast Asia and Africa.

What is the scheme launched by the Government of India to address shortage of nurses?

Government has approved 157 new nursing colleges for 24 states and 3 union territories.

The nursing colleges will be set up in co-location with the existing medical colleges in India. 

Funding: The financial contribution of the central government for the project will be Rs 1570 crore.

– The central government will provide Rs 10 crore for setting up these colleges and the state governments can invest in the remaining amount depending upon the project report to be prepared for each college.

Significance: The new colleges will add about 15,700 nursing graduates every year.

A third of Central varsity teaching positions lying vacant

Source: The post is based on the article “A third of Central varsity teaching positions lying vacant”  published in The Hindu on 20th July 2023

What is the News?

According to a Right To Information(RTI) reply, over 30% of teaching positions are lying vacant in 45 Central Universities across India.

What is the data regarding the vacant position lying in Central Universities across India?

Vacant seats: Over 30% of teaching positions are lying vacant in 45 Central Universities across India.

State wise: Around 88% of the teaching positions were vacant in Odisha’s central universities — the highest among all States. 

– On the other hand, Mizoram and Kerala had the least share of vacancies — 15% or less.

Universities: Central University of Andhra Pradesh had a 100% vacancy, with none of the sanctioned teaching positions filled.

– The Central University of Odisha, Dr. Harisingh Gour University in Madhya Pradesh, the Central Kashmir University and the Tripura University had over 50% of seats vacant.

Caste wise: Only 20% of teacher positions sanctioned under the general category were vacant compared to 44% among OBC positions, 38% among SC positions and 45% among ST positions.

– Notably 71% of posts sanctioned under the EWS quota and 58% under the Persons with Disabilities were also vacant. 

– Hence, among all the reservation groups, General Category positions had the least vacancy share.

What are the main reasons for these higher vacancies in Central Universities?

Location: Vacancies can arise in some universities which are located in remote rural areas. For instance, the Central University of Odisha is located in Sunabeda town of Koraput district in Odisha which is up to 486 km away from the State capital, Bhubaneshwar.

Age of the University: Central University of Andhra Pradesh was founded in 2018.This is a fairly new university. It usually takes three to five years for a Central University to have a fully functional campus. In these campuses, teaching faculty from older Universities are often asked to mentor and handhold until vacant positions get filled.

What are the steps being taken by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to address vacancies in Central Universities?

CU- Chayan portal has been launched by University Grants Commission (UGC).

Purpose: It is a unified recruitment portal designed and developed specifically for faculty recruitment in Central Universities.

– The portal provides a common platform for listing vacancies/advertisements/ faculty positions across all Universities. The Portal makes the recruitment process entirely online, from application to screening with alerts to all the portal users.

The Ministry of Culture and the Indian Navy sign an MoU to revive the “ancient stitched shipbuilding method (Tankai method)”

Source: The post is based on the article “The Ministry of Culture and the Indian Navy sign an MoU to revive the “ancient stitched shipbuilding method (Tankai method)”” published in PIB on 19th July 2023

What is the News?

The Ministry of Culture and Indian Navy have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to revive and preserve the 2000-year-old technique of shipbuilding known as the Tankai method.

What is the Tankai method?

The Tankai method is a 2000-year-old technique of shipbuilding. It is also known as ‘stitched shipbuilding method’.

In this method, the ships are constructed by stitching wooden planks together rather than using nails.

This method offers flexibility and durability to ships making them less susceptible to damage from shoals and sandbars.

The arrival of European ships led to a shift in shipbuilding techniques. But this art of stitching ships has survived in a few coastal regions of India, primarily for small local fishing boats.

How is the Ministry of Culture planning to revive the Tankai method?

The Ministry of Culture and Indian Navy have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to revive the Tankai method.

As per the MoU, the plan is to construct an ocean-going wooden stitched sail ship using the ancient Tankai method.

Significance: The significance of this stitched ship project extends beyond its construction.It aims to revive the maritime memory and instill a sense of pride in India’s rich maritime heritage among its citizens. 

– Additionally, it aims to promote cultural memories among the Indian Ocean littoral countries. 

A ‘dead’ Ghaggar and its tributaries wrought havoc in Haryana early July; here is how

Source: The post is based on the article “A ‘dead’ Ghaggar and its tributaries wrought havoc in Haryana early July; here is how”  published in Down To Earth on 17th July 2023

What is the News?

Ghaggar River and its tributaries have caused widespread devastation in Haryana after reclaiming their floodplains.

Where is Ghaggar River?

Ghaggar-Hakra River is an intermittent river in India and Pakistan that flows only during the monsoon season. 

The river is known as Ghaggar before the Ottu barrage, and as Hakra downstream of the barrage in the Thar Desert.

Origin: It originates in the village of Dagshai in the Shivalik Hills of Himachal Pradesh and flows through Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.

Tributaries: The main tributaries of the Ghaggar are the Kaushalya, Tangri, Markanda, Beghna and Sukhna and Chautang.

What happened now?

Ghaggar river and its tributaries are considered dead rivers in the state and are heavily encroached upon.

These rivers are facing threats from growing residential settlements, industrial units and sewage. The rivers have been so badly encroached that it would be difficult to locate them on the ground.

However, this monsoon heavy rains in the Shivalik hills caused flash floods in the catchment areas of the Ghaggar and its tributaries. 

Due to this, many cities in Haryana have been flooded causing heavy losses.

A fascinating fusion of rock art at Rudragiri hillock

Source: The post is based on the article “A fascinating fusion of rock art at Rudragiri hillock”  published in The Hindu on 19th July 2023

What is the News?

Rudragiri hillock stands as a shining example of the rich historical and artistic legacy of Andhra Pradesh.

What is Rudragiri Hillock?

Rudragiri Hillock is located in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh.

It is nestled amidst the Eastern Ghats, features five naturally formed rock shelters at its foothills, facing westward.

It features a unique combination of prehistoric rock paintings from the Mesolithic period and exquisite artwork from the Kakatiya dynasty, dating back to around 1300 AD.

Key Findings from the Rudragiri Hillock site:

The first cave presents a narrative mural portraying the intense battle between the Vanara brothers, Vali and Sugriva.

In the middle cave, a grand sketch of Hanuman, accompanied by sacred symbols of the conch (Sankha) and the fire altar (Yagna Vedi) is present. Hanuman is depicted carrying the Sanjivani hill in his right hand symbolizing his mission to save Lakshmana’s life.

The third cave houses the prehistoric rock paintings from the Mesolithic era. The Kakatiya artist chose the same rock shelter to superimpose the elegant figure of Hanuman who is portrayed in a unique ‘Anjali’ posture, folding his hands in a divine offering.

What is the Rudragiri Hillock connection with Telangana?

There is a striking resemblance between the splendid frescoes on Rudragiri’s rock shelters and those discovered in Muppavaram and Pandavula Gutta in Warangal district of Telangana. 

These similarities suggest that the Ramayana scenes depicted at Rudragiri might have drawn inspiration from the artworks at Muppavaram.

Moreover, the Ganapati Deva (1199-1262 AD), the founder of Muppavaram temple and a prominent figure of the Kakatiya dynasty likely patronized the rich ancient mural heritage found at Rudragiri.

What are the takeaways from the NATO summit?

Source: The post is based on the article “What are the takeaways from the NATO summit?”  published in The Hindu on 20th July 2023

What is the News?

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit was held recently at Vilnius, Lithuania.

What is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization(NATO)?

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What are the key takeaways from the recent NATO summit?

Firstly,  NATO acknowledged that the Russian Federation is the most significant and direct threat to Allies’ security, peace, and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area. Their approach towards strengthening their defenses and deterrence against Russia remains the recurring theme of the Summit document.

Secondly, there was an expectation of a timeline for the Ukrainian membership of NATO. However, this did not happen but the leaders reiterated that NATO will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine when allies agree and conditions are met.

– In this regard, the launch of the NATO-Ukraine Council as a forum for crisis consultations and decision-making indicated that NATO tried to assuage the feelings of Ukraine for not being included in the alliance by creating a mechanism for its wider engagement, support and future inclusion as a full member.

Thirdly, the inclusion of Finland and approval of Sweden as NATO members indicates a few things. 

– It signals that NATO continues to practice Article 10 of the Washington Treaty signed in April 1949 which states that member countries can invite other European countries to become members of NATO.

– Turkey moving back from its long-standing opposition to Sweden’s inclusion in NATO is also a significant shift. 

Fourthly, the summit minced no words on the challenges and threats emerging from China’s stated ambitions and coercive policies. It stated that NATO faces threats from China’s malicious hybrid cyber operations, as well as confrontational rhetoric and disinformation, which specifically aim at NATO allies and pose a threat to the security of the Alliance.

ECI to issue digital time vouchers to National and State political parties for campaigning on Doordarshan & All India Radio during election

Source: The post is based on the article “ECI to issue digital time vouchers to National & State political parties for campaigning on Doordarshan & All India Radio during elections”  published in The Hindu on 20th July 2023

What is the News?

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has introduced a digital time voucher system for political parties to access government-owned electronic media, such as Doordarshan and All India Radio for campaigning during elections.

Background:

The scheme regarding political parties’ access to government-owned electronic media such as Doordarshan and All India Radio for campaigning during elections was initially notified in 1998.

This scheme holds a statutory basis under Section 39A of the Representation of People’s Act, 1951.

Under this Scheme, an equitable base time is allotted to each National Party and Recognized State Party of the state concerned uniformly on DD & AIR.

– An additional time is allotted based on the poll performance of the parties in the last assembly elections from the respective States/UT or in the last general Elections to Lok Sabha, as the case may be. 

What is a Digital Time Voucher introduced by EC now?

A digital voucher is a type of voucher that is given online and can be redeemed at a later date.

Election Commission of India(ECI) has planned to issue digital time vouchers to National & State political parties for campaigning on Doordarshan & All India Radio during elections.

These vouchers can be redeemed by political parties at designated Doordarshan or AIR centres in exchange for total time allotted.

Each political party shall be given time Vouchers of different denominations of, 5 minutes and 10 minutes, equal to the total time allotted to it for telecasts on Doordarshan and broadcasts on AIR.

The political party shall have the discretion to choose any representatives and allow them to use those time vouchers provided that no such individual representative shall be allowed to use more than 20 minutes of the total time allotted to that party, either on Doordarshan or on AIR.

What is the significance of this Digital Time Voucher by EC?

Firstly, with this the political parties will not be required to send their representatives to ECI/CEO Offices for collection of the time vouchers physically during elections.

Secondly, this step also reflects the EC’s commitment to leveraging technology for the betterment of the electoral process and ease of all stakeholders.

– Note: EC had also recently introduced a web portal for online filing of financial accounts by political parties with the Election Commission. 

The following today’s current affairs articles have been covered in 7 PM Explained section of the day:

7 PM Editorial of the day: National Multidimensional Poverty Index: Explained, pointwise