9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – July 21st, 2022

Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 1

• Urban woes and construction catastrophe

GS Paper 2

• India-Vietnam ties, from strong to stronger
• Revamp India’s school health services
• What is India’s law on abortion?
• Saving mothers – Data on MMR should lead to restructuring health-care systems for women
• A friendlier tax regime can hold back an exodus

GS Paper 3

• CAPFs: children of a lesser God
• The West digs for the next energy battle
• Rupee@80: The Story Can Get Grimmer”
• India’s tenfold path to manage exchange rate volatility

GS Paper 4

• From Madras HC comments on mangalsutra to a survey in Karnataka, a troubling view of women emerges

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 1

Urban woes and construction catastrophe

News: Recently, the United Nations released its report titled the World Population Prospects 2022. The population in India is expected to surpass China’s by 2023. Thus, the urban population is also going to increase in the coming years.

In 2020, around 35% of the Indian population was already living in cities. However, the number of urban dwellers is set to increase with the population rise in India.

Some key determinants behind rapid urbanisation are economic development and growth, and investment in cities.

Problems in Indian Cities

There are issues like traffic, repeated road closures, and diversions due to construction and congestion. The issues negatively impact the liveability of a place.

Noida Case

The Comptroller and Auditor General’s “Performance and Audit Report on Land Acquisition and Allotment of Properties in Noida, Uttar Pradesh” stated:

(1) There has been complete disregard for basic tenets of governance viz., adherence to the public interest, accountability, transparency in decision making, ethics, and integrity in Noida.

(2) There were instances of “contravention of law” and “wilful concealment of facts”.

(3) There has been a nexus between the authorities and builders, as well as multiple violations that went unchecked, resulting in massive losses for the government and distress for the people.

Further such brazen corruption and disregard for the law are not peculiar to Noida itself.

Case of Gurugram

Despite being a modern infrastructural marvel with its high-rise structures and capable of offering affordability to luxury to everyone. The cities faced issues:

(1) The long traffic hours on the National Highway connecting Delhi and Gurugram due to congestion. Further, alternative routes are also full of traffic and jam due to the closure of main roads on account of more construction.

(2) The rampant constructions are causing profound environmental costs, like the declining groundwater table in the city and the low availability of potable water.

(3) Also, there are issues of water scarcity, poor drainage infrastructure, and roadblocks.

What are the causes of such issues in every city?

Role of private players: The private developers are not only monopolising a resource, but dominating the whole process of urbanisation for their own advantages. For Example, In Gurugram, the companies are involved in the construction and use of a part of the main roads, leading to traffic and congestion. Their power is their wealth and the vested interests of the few.

Urban planning has been poor in India. The plans are poorly designed and lead to environmental degradation. For example, the Punjab Land Preservation Act was amended to open up 33% of the forest land, including over 16,000 acres of the Aravalli Forests in Gurugram.

Poor city design greatly influences the kind of inequities and spatial relations produced in that region.

What should be done?

Undeniably, cities need to expand as the population living in them would increase. But the smart city design should ensure equitable access to everyday necessities and sources of leisure. These should be restricted to a few or should not be entirely cut off.

There should be soft policy actions to regulate land allocation processes and foster transparency.

Smart city designs need to prioritize facilitating movement and accessibility and enhance the quality of life. The transport infrastructure should be strengthened in a way that it positively impacts the attractiveness of a city.

Further, the government should build more and better housing facilities, schools, hospitals, working spaces, and markets, ensuring access to safe drinking water and water management, and reducing pollution in the Indian Cities.

There should be assertive policy actions. This would be to make sure that public assets remain with the public. Public assets should be managed by the public sector to ensure that resources are properly regulated and not captured.

Further, urban local governance should be made more accountable and transparent.

Further, the city development should be based on ease of living for its people and not profits for its developers.

GS Paper 2

India-Vietnam ties, from strong to stronger

Context: The article analyses various dimensions of India-Vietnam relations.

India’s external trade (over 90% by volume and 70% by value) is by sea, thus oceans are the key to India’s future. Thus, India has intensified its efforts to engage with maritime neighbors, including Vietnam.

With the following developments, the scale of the India-Vietnam strategic and defense cooperation was enhanced:

1. Formal declaration of a strategic partnership made in 2007.
2. Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, 2016,
3. Signing of ‘Joint Vision for Defence Cooperation and
4. A memorandum of understanding on mutual logistics support
5. India granted the U.S. $100 million Defence Line of Credit to Vietnam and announced finalization of another U.S. $500 million Defence Line of Credit.
6. India has also agreed to expand military training and assist the Vietnam Navy’s strike capabilities.
7. India’s Defence Minister handed over 12 high-speed boats, a Khukri-class corvette, to Vietnam recently’.

Other areas of cooperation between India and Vietnam

1) Maritime security dialogue, 2) naval exercises, 3) Coast Guard cooperation, and training and capacity building, and 4) cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

Furthermore, both countries are synergizing their efforts to work in bilateral and other sub-regional and multilateral frameworks, such as IORA, BIMSTEC, Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, etc.

Both countries are also looking at collaboration around the seven pillars of the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).

Significance of India-Vietnam relationship

As India pursues its ‘Act East Policy’, Vietnam has become a valuable partner in India’s political and security engagements in the Indo-Pacific region.

Both countries share some strategic concerns like energy security and open and secure sea lines of communication.

India’s is broadening its economic and strategic interests in the region, while Vietnam’s desire for strategic autonomy. Both will be benefitted by the strong relationship.

Vietnam is of great strategic importance because its position enables it to control ‘the South China Sea — a true Mediterranean of the Pacific’.

What are the driving factors behind India’s growing maritime engagement with Vietnam?

1) To counter an assertive China by strengthening Vietnam’s military power.

2) Recognising geostrategic and geo-economic importance of sea lines of communication beyond its geographical proximity like the South China Sea. It is important as almost 55% of India’s trade with the Indo-Pacific region passes through the South China Sea.

3) To track potential developments in the maritime domain that could affect its national interests

4) Importance of a forward maritime presence and naval partnership to deter potential adversaries, has been recognised by the Indian Navy.

What are the potential areas of cooperation?

1) Meaningful academic and cultural collaborations, 2) blue economy, 3) marine habitat conservation, 4) advance collaboration between maritime security agencies.

Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) presents immense opportunities for India-Vietnam relations. It will be helpful in addressing common challenges and strengthening India- Vietnam relationship.

Revamp India’s school health services

Context: After the return of normalization post-pandemic, on the education front, there has been some discourse on ‘learning recovery’. However, the health needs of schoolchildren are not getting due attention yet. There is a need for improved school health services.

Government initiatives and past efforts toward School Health Services (SHS)

The first documented record of school health services in India is from 1909. Then presidency of Baroda began the medical examination of schoolchildren.

In its 1946 report, Sir Joseph Bhore committee observed that school health services in India were practically non-existent.

In 1953, the secondary education committee recommended comprehensive policy interventions dealing with school health and school feeding programs.

However, most of the interventions focused on nutrition instead of comprehensive school health.

In March 2022, the government of Delhi began 20 school health clinics, with the following significance. 1) The initiative recognized the importance of school health services. 2) It was based on the multi-stakeholder partnership, i.e. funded through a corporate social responsibility fund and run with collaboration between health and education departments.

This Delhi initiative also suffered from the same issue, i.e. lack of knowledge on what makes comprehensive school health services.

What are the constituents of comprehensive School Health Services (SHS)?

Health-care needs are often equated with medical care needs.

Although school children have limited medical care needs, there are many required health needs. Such as unhealthy dietary habits, irregular sleep, lack of physical activity, mental, dental, and eye problems, sexual behavior, the use of tobacco and other substances, addiction, etc.

The health knowledge acquired, and lifestyle adopted at the school-going age stays in adulthood. They lay the foundations of healthy behavior for the rest of their life. For example, scientific evidence shows that tobacco cessation efforts are far more successful if started in school.

FRESH Framework: UNESCO, UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank have published an inter-agency framework called FRESH — an acronym for Focusing Resources on Effective School Health. It proposes four core areas and three supporting strategies:

The core areas include; 1) focus on school health policies, i.e., water, sanitation, and the environment 2) skills-based health education 3) school-based health 4) school-based nutrition.

The supporting strategies include; 1) effective partnerships between the education and health sectors, 2) community partnership and 3) student participation.

Guidelines by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, U.S: School health services should focus on four main areas; 1) Acute and emergency care 2) family engagement 3) chronic disease management 4) care coordination

WHO guidelines: SHS should be designed based on local need assessment, with components; 1) health promotion, 2) health education, 3) screening leading to care and/or referral and support as appropriate.

What India should do?

First, states should draw up a road map to revamp and strengthen school health services, with a timeline and dedicated budgetary allocation.

Second, build upon the existing school health infrastructure. Health talks should be a part of teaching. Adolescent sexual health such as menstrual hygiene, etc. should be integrated into regular classroom teaching.

Third, school health clinics should be supplemented with online consultations for physical and mental health needs.

Fourth, the role and the participation of parents, especially through parent-teacher meetings, should be increased.

Fifth, Government’s school health services initiatives should take care of both private schools and government-run schools.

Sixth, the School Health initiative under the Ayushman Bharat program must be revamped.

Seventh, elected representatives, professionals, pediatricians, and all other influential stakeholders should raise the issue and work towards improved school health services.

Lastly, a convergence of the National Health Policy, 2017 and National Education Policy, 2020 may result in the provision of comprehensive school health services in every Indian State.

What is India’s law on abortion?

News: A woman has moved to the Supreme Court after her plea was declined in the High Court. The plea has challenged Rule 3B of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Rules, 2003.

The woman is seeking permission for termination of a pregnancy of 23 weeks and 5 days.

Delhi High Court’s Decision

Delhi HC denied permission to terminate the pregnancy. In oral observations, HC asked the woman to carry her pregnancy to term and to give up the newborn for adoption.

What is India’s law on abortion?

Section 312 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, criminalizes voluntarily “causing miscarriage”. It is an offense, even with the pregnant woman’s consent. However, it is allowed when the miscarriage is caused to save the woman’s life.

Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act (MTP Act) was introduced in 1971 and amended in 2021. After 2021 amendment, few changes were made. 1) For terminating pregnancy up to 20 weeks, the opinion of one doctor was required. 2) For terminating pregnancies between 20 and 24 weeks, the opinion of two doctors was required.

However, under the 2^nd category, certain categories of women could seek termination of pregnancy, such as survivors of sexual assault or rape or incest, minor, widowhood, and divorce during pregnancy, mentally ill women, foetal malformation, etc.

What is the intent behind MTP act?

MTP is not a legislation, focused on women and their reproductive rights. Instead, it is a law that sets limits for medical practitioners that cannot be breached while performing abortions.

The law transfers the decision-making power from the pregnant woman to the RMP. Thus, it seeks to shield medical practitioners from criminal liability.

Saving mothers – Data on MMR should lead to restructuring health-care systems for women

News: A recent study published in the peer-reviewed journal, PLOS Global Public Health, casts a shadow on the progress of health care targeting women in the country. Further, it also questions the reliability of the country’s own periodic estimates of maternal mortality ratio, or MMR.

Note: MMR denotes the number of mothers who die from complications in pregnancy for every one lakh live births.

What are the key findings of the study?

Researchers from the International Institute for Population Sciences triangulated data from routine records of maternal deaths under the Health Management Information System, with Census data and the Sample Registration System (SRS) to provide the MMR for all States and districts of India.

-The analysis suggests that 70% of districts (448 out of 640 districts) in India have reported MMR above 70 deaths.

-Many of the districts in southern India and Maharashtra have an MMR of less than 70.

-The north-eastern and central regions have the least number of districts (12 and six districts, respectively) with an MMR less than 70.

Note: MMR of 70 is a target under the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

What is the significance of the study?

a) The analysis demonstrates the presence of huge within-State inequalities, even among the better performers — Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, b) According to the SRS (2016-18), only Assam (215) has an MMR of more than 200. But this district-level assessment indicates that about 130 districts have reported above 200 MMR, c) The high MMR also indicates the inadequacy of responsiveness of health systems in India.

How to reduce MMR in India?

There is adequate proof that focusing on the following things will help to reduce MMR. These include, a) Improvements in access to contraceptives, b) Focus on antenatal care, post-delivery health care, body mass index, c) Economic status, d) A concerted reduction of higher-order births, births in higher ages.

Hence, India should improve overall care for women, and keep real-time track of crucial health data. These urgent and intense actions can reduce MMR and help India to control eminently preventable deaths.

A friendlier tax regime can hold back an exodus

News: This week, the government has placed the latest data in Parliament, which shows a rising number of people giving up Indian citizenship.

In 2021, over 163,000 Indians chose to become citizens of other countries. This is the highest in seven years.

About the laws of Indian citizenship

Last year, half of those who left Indian citizenship, took US citizenship.

Last year’s tally of Indians who opted to be citizens of Australia stood at 23,533, Canada at 21,597, the UK at 14,637, Italy at 5,986, New Zealand at 2,643, and Singapore at 2,516.

Apart from small tax havens, this list features Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Spain, and Portugal,

What were the reasons for choosing citizenship in these countries?

Some of the above-said countries offer easy entry with a citizenship option if one brings along a modest amount of money to invest there.

On international surveys of ‘passport power’, India still ranks much too low for comfort. The Indian passport is weak to let us get into richer countries. The scroll of nations that grant us either visa-free or swift entry also remains too short. Therefore, some switchover chose those countries, whose passports enable smoother global travel.

Some of the well-off residents chose to move abroad due to the high taxation regime in India. For example, after counting surcharges on the rich, the taxation regime on the rich class has entered a zone that’s closer to ‘half my earnings’ than ‘one-third’. Thus, taxpayers are feeling over-squeezed if not extorted.

For some years now, the Centre has adopted a tendency to harden taxes. For, case of wealth tax.

Another big barrier in front of the well-off class has been our curbs on capital transfers overseas. In India, up to $250,000/year can be remitted legally.

What should be done?

The Indian government can reduce outbound motivations to contain the possibility of emigration turning into an exodus in following ways:

(1) Lighter taxation should top the list of retention measures. This trend could be weakened if our top-bracket tax burden were eased.

(2) Diplomatic efforts can be made to make it easy for Indian passport holders to go to a greater number of countries.

GS Paper 3

CAPFs: children of a lesser God

News: In several states of India, the policemen are given step-motherly treatment, but the personnel from the defence services are treated only with a limited quantity of respect.

How do various states treat CAPF personnel?

While defence personnel are paid handsome monetary grants by certain States, several others are economical. For instance,

The Telangana Government provide a grant of ₹2.25 crore for winners of Param Vir Chakra (PVC) (the highest wartime gallantry award) and the Ashoka Chakra (highest peacetime gallantry award). It also provides ₹1.25 crore for Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) (second-highest wartime gallantry award) and the Kirti Chakra (second-highest peacetime gallantry award).

On the other hand, the Tamil Nadu Government provide monetary grants of ₹25 lakh, ₹20 lakh, ₹15 lakh and ₹10 lakh for the PVC, the Ashoka Chakra, the MVC and the Kirti Chakra, respectively.

How can a CAPF personnel get the Chakra series of medals?

CAPFs comprise the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and the Assam Rifles. They were, however, eligible for the Chakra series of medals if the battalions were placed under the operational control of the Army.

The President’s notification of January 1952 had debarred personnel of the police forces and the fire services from being conferred with the chakra series of medals, though civilians were eligible.

The 1999 amendment to the order includes “citizens of either sex in all walks of life and members of police forces including Central Para Military Forces and the Railway Protection Force.”

What changes can be done to recognise the sacrifice of CAPFs personnel?

Institute exclusive medals for CAPFs: The Government could consider setting up a high-powered committee to go into the basics of instituting three classes of gallantry medals exclusively for the police forces. This should be done along the lines of the Ashoka Chakra, the Kirti Chakra and the Shaurya Chakra and could be named Sarvottam Police Chakra (SPC), Uttam Police Chakra (UPC) and Police Chakra (PC).

Give due recognition: Those who have been awarded the President’s Police and Fire Service Medal for Gallantry (PPFSMG) and the President’s Police Medal for Gallantry (PPMG) could be placed at par with the Kirti Chakra and awardees of the PMG could be placed at par with the Shaurya Chakra.

According to the government, over 2,000 personnel, including 47 Gazetted Officers of the CAPF lost their lives on operational duties during the last three years. The sacrifices made by the police and the CAPF personnel in the service of the nation cannot just be ignored.

The West digs for the next energy battle

News: In the recent summit meetings of the US-EU in Brussels, the EU Council, the G-7, and NATO, it was noticed that energy security figured prominently.

Reasons for the prominence of energy security theme in these meeting

In recent months, Russia’s war on Ukraine and the Western economic sanction imposed on Russia, have led to a new era of the “weaponization of energy” openly.

At the G-7 Summit, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development report on the security of the supply of raw materials was highlighted. The report cautioned that the green energy transition will require a quantum leap in the use of critical minerals, many of which are more geoeconomically concentrated than oil. For example, lithium, bismuth, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth production is concentrated in just three countries.

The transition to Electric Vehicles Technology would require batteries for storage. This could increase lithium demand by 40 times, and cobalt by 30 times by 2040.

Issues with Chinese Dominance

At present, China threatens to use its dominant position in the green energy sector as a weapon.

China is endowed with critical minerals: China controls 50% of global rare earth mining.

Since the 2000s, China has been investing in the solar photovoltaic (PV) industries. The PV sector was subsidized as a strategic sector. In 2022, the International Energy Agency warned that 80% of all the world’s manufacturing stages related to PV, from polysilicon to ingots, wafers, cells, and modules are in China. It has focused on the vertical integration of the industry.

China has invested heavily in all the supply chain links for solar and wind energy. Further, it has plans to do the same for all green energies.   For Example:

China’s Green Finance Committee has reported that China is expected to invest $75 trillion by 2050 in carbon neutrality financing. The investment will range from zero-carbon electricity, hydrogen fuel cells, and carbon capture to many more. The investment will be equivalent to over 10% of China’s gross domestic product every year.

The Western Response

The US/NATO wants to decouple with China in many fields of normal economic and sci-tech cooperation.

At the US-EU Energy Council, it was stated that reliable, affordable, and secure energy can only come from a decarbonized energy mix based largely on renewables”.

The US and EU announced to have “laid the foundations for the rules-based international order”. Further, it was stated that “some of the rules need an update” with high priority given to “protect the planet” and “foster green growth”.

About the Mineral Security Partnership

It is a venture which was announced during a major mining conference in Toronto. It is aimed to bolster critical mineral supply chains. It has also been described as “metallic NATO”.

Members: There are eleven partner countries – US, Canada, Japan, Germany, France, UK, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Korea, Australia along with the European Commission. Some of the countries are geologically well endowed, some are players in mining, some have strengths in refining, processing and trading of minerals, and some lead the R&D on metallurgy for alternatives.

The Mineral Security Partnership has the potential to influence future investments, technological development, and trade flows in energy raw materials.

About NATO’s new Strategic Concept at Madrid

NATO aims at “mitigating strategic vulnerabilities” to counter China’s attempts “to control key technological and industrial sectors, critical infrastructure, strategic materials and supply chains.”

NATO and its invitees to the meeting i.e., Japan, Korea, and Australia are poised to give a new Asian focus to alliance planning.

Rupee@80: The Story Can Get Grimmer”

News: Recently, The Indian Rupee has dropped to a record below the 80-mark against the dollar.

What are the implications of such a depreciation of the India Rupee?

In contrast to what many are saying that the rupee fall may help the Indian export to grow, the rupee fall may not help our exports. Here’s why.

(1) In the case of depreciation, the exports of price-sensitive commodities do well. But exports of income-sensitive goods may not necessarily do well. Income-sensitive commodities perform well when there is an upsurge in foreign income. But at present, the incomes in foreign countries are under pressure.

(2) At present, there is weak global economic growth due to a surge in inflation. For example, the real GDP growth in the Euro Area and China is expected to fall in 2022.

(3) In the case of India, there is a change in the composition of exports from price-sensitive items such as leather footwear, dairy products, etc., to more income-sensitive items such as refined petroleum products, iron and steel, chemicals, machinery, and transport equipment (engineering goods), and pearls and precious stones such as diamonds.

(4) Therefore, at present, there is a lower demand for income-sensitive items that comprise a major chunk of India’s export basket.

(5) As per the analysis of intra-industry trade (IIT), India is losing out to its competitors, even in exports of price-sensitive commodities. IIT means importing the same line of products, like leather footwear, textiles, and apparel, which a country is exporting, but with different quality.

(a) The quality and value of price-sensitive items that are imported into India are much higher than similar items exported from India.

(b) In India, IIT is becoming more widespread because industrial tariffs have in general gone down across countries. This has promoted overlapping trade flows within the same product categories.

(6) Therefore, India’s major imports like crude oil, precious metals, and coal will continue to cost more as the rupee depreciates.

Expected Trends in the Exchange Market – Rupee is likely to fall further

The Law of One Price (LOOP) theory states that an identical (similar) commodity will cost the same in 2 countries if cost is expressed in a similar currency. It assumes no transport costs and no tariffs on the product. Now, what are the factors that contribute to the reduction of currency value?

(1) Even in the case of LOOP theory, the value of the currency will reduce if Inflation increases.

(2) Domestic inflation is one reason the rupee is under pressure. Further, inflation is unlikely to moderate any time soon due to various reasons:

(a) The recent imposition of GST on pre-packaged food items is likely to increase inflation numbers.

(b) Further imported inflation is not going to ease in the coming days.

(3) Rupee is also under pressure due in the asset markets. Foreign exchange markets, the foreign institutional investors (FIIs) have become the net sellers in the Indian domestic stock market due to high CAD and higher inflationary expectations.

(4) As per the UNCTAD’s World Investment Report, foreign direct investment (FDI) fell by 30% to $45 billion in 2021.

India’s tenfold path to manage exchange rate volatility

News: In recent months, India has witnessed the depreciation of the Indian rupee to a record level.

What are the tools in the RBI’s monetary and forex policies to handle the situation?

(A) Instruments of direct nature:

(1) To sell dollars in the spot forex market. The idea of the RBI selling dollars works well in the currency market, which keeps guessing how much the central bank is willing to sell at any point in time.

(2) To promote non-resident Indian (NRI) deposits. For example, the RBI outreached to NRIs to put in their money in the Resurgent India bonds and India Millennium Deposits with attractive interest rates, in 1998 and 2000.

Limitations: The idea entails forex risk when the debt is redeemed. For example, the rates tend to be attractive at the time of deposits, but the same rate cannot be offered on deposit renewals once the crisis ends.

(3) To get oil importing companies to buy dollars directly from a public sector bank. The deals are not in the open. Therefore, the market does not witness a large demand for dollars on this account.

(4) A directive can be issued for all exporters to mandatorily bring in their dollars on receipt within a set time period. This prevents an artificial dollar supply reduction due to exporters holding -back the profit.

(5) Curbing the amount of dollars that one can take under the Liberalized Exchange Rate Management System for current account purposes like travel, education, healthcare, etc.

(6) The RBI can deal in the forward-trade market. It controls volatility because the RBI conducts transactions where only the net amount gets transacted finally. It has the same power as spot transactions but without any significant withdrawal of forex from the system.

(7) The RBI can use the concept of swaps. In this, the banks collected foreign currency non-resident deposits with a simultaneous swap with RBI. Hence, it was different from earlier bond and deposit schemes. The same idea has been used though without deposits being raised. It involves a sale-purchase transaction in which dollars are provided to banks with a commitment to buy back after, say, 3 years.

(B) Nowadays, the RBI uses more policy-oriented approaches, and the last three measures announced are in this realm.

(2) The RBI allowed the banks to work in the non-deliverable forwards (NDF) market. This is a largely overseas speculative market. Here, forward transactions take place without real inflows or outflows, with only price differences settled in dollars. Due to this measure, the rates in this market and in domestic markets have gotten equalized.

Second, the RBI has opened up the capital account on NRI, external commercial borrowings, and foreign portfolio investments, which has the potential to draw in forex over time.

Third, the RBI has given permission for foreign trade deals to be settled in rupees. India is a net importer. Therefore, gains can be made if we pay in rupees for imports.

GS Paper 4

From Madras HC comments on mangalsutra to a survey in Karnataka, a troubling view of women emerges

News: Recently, the Madras High Court’s comment on the mangalsutra and Karnataka’s survey that sought to gauge attitudes towards gender highlights the peculiar nature of gender relations in India.

What are the two instances that highlights gender relations in India?

Madras Highcourt’s comment on Mangalsutra: The court observed that the removal of the mangalsutra by the woman from her body amounted to “mental cruelty” towards her husband. The court also said that the mangalsutra is only removed at the death of the husband.

Karnataka’s survey: The survey of teachers, students and parents in Karnataka found that, 1) Childcare is women’s responsibility, 2) They put up with domestic violence for the “good” of the family.

What is the significance of these instances on gender relations in India?

The court’s comment a) Normalises ideas about inequality in family relationships, b) Consider a woman’s primary task is to be a good wife and display the symbols of domesticity.

Similarly, the survey highlights that a broad cross-section of society still thinks that women’s primary role is as wives and mothers.

Both instances highlight the duties of women. That is their duties are tied to their families, sons, husbands and society.

What is the role of society and institutions on gender relations in India?

The relationship between a society and its institutions is a peculiar one. The attitudes of the institutions are just a small part of the expression of social life. 

The relationship between institutions and society should be one where the former shapes the latter. This is crucial for any social change. In that, the courts of law enjoy a superior position in the hierarchy of institutions.

Why do institutions need to change?

An idea is getting popular that institutions of various kinds are sacrosanct and any criticism of their functioning is considered as the absence of proper respect for society and nation. However, this is not correct.

If it is a change that one is after, then he/she needs to consider the gender of institutions. This means that the default gender of institutions should be changed to avoid masculinity of institutions.

How institutions can ensure gender equality?

In a society where men can marry “modern” women who must both work and look after the home, they must respect gender equality. The institutions need to ensure that others benefit from it by contributing to social welfare. They must be open to all the elements of society not alone masculinity.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

The NEET conundrum and Tamil Nadu’s steadfast opposition

Source: This post is based on the article “The NEET conundrum and Tamil Nadu’s steadfast opposition” published in The Hindu on 21st July 2022.

What is the News?

The Tamil Nadu government has opposed NEET-based admission to undergraduate and postgraduate medical courses from the beginning. Though it got exceptions earlier, in 2017 the Supreme Court refused to grant further exemption to the State. The legal fight against NEET continues to this day.

Why and how was NEET introduced?

The Medical Council of India (MCI) had mooted the NEET in 2009 with a stated objective of ensuring inter-se merit in medical admissions and avoiding multiple entrance tests conducted by different agencies, governments and deemed universities.

In 2013, the Supreme Court struck down the NEET as unconstitutional and ruled that the MCI had no powers to issue notifications to regulate admissions in medical/dental colleges.

Three years later, the court recalled its 2013 judgment and eventually mandated the conduct of NEET. Following this, the Government promulgated an ordinance in 2016.

What was the initial response of states to the NEET exam?

Gujarat: It was “torture” to impose NEET on students who had already mentally prepared for the State entrance exams.

Tamil Nadu: State does not have a legacy of entrance exams since 2007.

Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana: They invoked special provisions in the Constitution to contend that only the State and not the Centre had the legislative competence to conduct examinations for MBBS and BDS courses.

What are the challenges associated with the NEET Exam?

a) Overshadows students’ efforts in their higher secondary education, b) Spawn multi-billion dollar coaching centres, c) Prevent mastering the subjects at the higher secondary level, especially it compromises the learning of non-core subjects, d) There are many instances of impersonation is being reported, and e) Did not prevent students with poor NEET scores paying hefty sums as fees to get admission to deemed universities and private colleges.

What were the AK Rajan committee findings?

What is the status of Tamil Nadu bills and NEET?

The President refused to assent to the two Bills adopted by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly unanimously in 2017 seeking exemption from NEET-based admissions for undergraduate and postgraduate degree medical courses.

In 2021, a fresh Bill to admit students for MBBS/BDS courses only on the basis of their class XII board examination scores was adopted by the Legislative Assembly. The Bill is at present with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for Presidential assent.

NITI Aayog Releases Report on Digital Banks; Proposes a Licensing and Regulatory Regime for India

Source: The post is based on the article “NITI Aayog Releases Report on Digital Banks; Proposes a Licensing and Regulatory Regime for India” published in PIB on 20th July 2022.

What is the News?

NITI Aayog has released a report titled “A Proposal for Digital Banks in India: Licensing & Regulatory Regime”.

What is the purpose of the report?

The Report offers a template and roadmap for a Digital bank licensing and regulatory framework in India.

What are the key highlights from the report?

Need for Digital Bank: In recent years, India has made huge progress in furthering financial inclusion catalyzed by the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, UPI among others.

– However, credit penetration remains a policy challenge, especially for the 63-million-odd MSMEs that contribute 30% to GDP, 45% to manufacturing output, and 40% to exports, while creating employment for a significant section of the population.

– Hence, there is a need to leverage technology effectively through steps like Digital Banks. This will help cater to these needs and bring the under-served further within the formal financial fold.

What would be the structure of the Digital Bank suggested by the report?

A digital bank would be a bank defined in the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, and shall have its own balance sheet and legal existence. It would accept deposits and advance loans through digital means.

They will principally rely on the internet and other proximate channels24 to offer their services and not physical branches.

However, digital banks would be different from the 75 Digital Banking Units (DBUs) as announced by the Finance Minister in Union Budget 2022-23. DBUs are being set up to push digital payments, banking and fintech innovations in underserved areas.

Roadmap for giving Digital Bank License: The report has recommended a carefully calibrated three-step approach for digital bank license by the Reserve Bank of India(RBI):

– In the first phase, a restricted digital bank licence should be given to an applicant with restrictions in terms of volume/value of customers serviced and the like. 

– In the second stage, the licensee will be put in a regulatory sandbox framework by the RBI.

– Finally, the issue of a ‘full-scale’ digital bank licence will be given based on the satisfactory performance of the licensee in the regulatory sandbox, including salient, prudential and technological risk management.

Capital Requirement: A Digital bank may be required to bring in ₹20 crores of minimum paid-up capital in the restricted phase. Upon progression from the sandbox, a full-scale Digital Business bank will be required to bring in ₹200 crores.

Regulatory Norms: Digital banks will be subject to prudential and liquidity norms on a par with existing commercial banks.

Explained: The demand for ‘tribal’ status for Himachal’s Trans-Giri and its Hatti community

Source: The post is based on the article “Explained: The demand for ‘tribal’ status for Himachal’s Trans-Giri and its Hatti community” published in Indian Express on 19th July 2022.

What is the News?

The Government of India is considering the Himachal Pradesh government’s request for the inclusion of the Hatti community in the list of Scheduled Tribes in the state.

Note: The list of STs in Himachal Pradesh includes Gaddis, Gujjars, Kinnaras (Kinnauras), Lahaulas, Pangwalas, and some other smaller tribes. 

Who are Hattis?

The Hattis are a close-knit community who takes their name from their traditional occupation of selling home-grown crops, vegetables, meat, and wool at small-town markets known as ‘haats’. 

Lives in: The Hatti homeland straddles the Himachal-Uttarakhand border in the basin of the Giri and Tons rivers, both tributaries of the Yamuna.

– They live in the Trans-Giri area in today’s Himachal Pradesh and Jaunsar Bawar in Uttarakhand.

Note:  Jaunsar Bawar was once part of the royal estate of Sirmaur. It was conquered by the British in 1814. The two Hatti clans, in Trans-Giri and Jaunsar Bawar, have similar traditions, and inter-marriages are common. 

Caste System: There is a rigid caste system among the Hattis — the Bhat and Khash are the upper castes while the Badhois are below them. Inter-caste marriages have traditionally remained a strict no-no.

Traditional Council: The Hattis are governed by a traditional council called Khumbli, which is like the khaps of Haryana. The council decides community matters. The Khumbli’s power has remained unchallenged despite the establishment of the Panchayati Raj System.

Pythagorean geometry in Vedic-era texts, centuries before Pythagoras

Source: The post is based on the article “Pythagorean geometry in Vedic-era texts, centuries before Pythagoras” published in Indian Express on 19th July 2022.

What is the News?

A position paper by the Karnataka government on the National Education Policy(NEP) 2020 has described Pythagoras’s theorem as “fake news”. It has referred to a text called the Baudhayana Sulbasutra, in which a specific shloka refers to the theorem.

Who was Pythagoras?

Evidence suggests that the Greek philosopher Pythagoras (around 570–490 BC) did exist. There is an element of mystery around him, largely because of the secretive nature of the school/society he founded in Italy.

Relatively little is known about his mathematical achievements because there is nothing today of his own writings.

What is Pythagoras’ Theorem?

The Pythagoras theorem describes the relationship connecting the three sides of a right-angle triangle (one in which one of the angles is 90°).

a² + b² = c²

If any two sides of a right triangle are known, the theorem allows one to calculate the third side.

How do we know that the Indian Vedic Mathematician knew this theorem?

Baudhayana Sulbasutra: There are references of Pythagoras in the Sulbasutras, which are texts pertaining to fire rituals (yajanas) performed by Vedic Indians. The oldest of these is the Baudhayana Sulbasutra.

– The period of Baudhayana Sulbasutra is uncertain. It is estimated based on linguistic and other secondary historical considerations. In recent literature, Baudhayana Sulbasutra is taken to be from around 800 BCE.

– Baudhayana Sulbasutra contains a statement of what is called the Pythagoras theorem (it was known rather as a geometric fact, and not as a ‘theorem’).

– For instance, the yajna rituals involved the construction of altars (vedi) and fireplaces (agni) in a variety of shapes such as isosceles triangles, symmetric trapezia, and rectangles. The sulbasutras describe steps towards the construction of these figures with prescribed sizes.

How did the knowledge of Pythagoras’ Theorem evolve?

The earliest evidence is from the Old Babylonian civilisation (1900-1600 BCE). They referred to it as the Diagonal Rule.

The evidence of proof also comes from a period after the sulbasutras. But, the oldest surviving axiomatic proof of the theorem is in the Elements of Euclid from around 300 BCE.

E- utthaan Portal

Source: The post is based on the article “E- utthaan Portal” published in PIB on 19th July 2022.

What is the News?

The Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment has informed Rajya Sabha about E- Utthaan Portal.

What is E- Utthaan Portal?

Developed by: National Informatics Centre(NIC) Cell of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Purpose: To capture online data based on the allocation of funds that has been allocated under Scheduled Caste Sub Plan(SCSP) from various Ministries/Departments on the financial, physical and outcome based monitoring indicators. 

Shortage of administrative capacity leading to underspending by states

Source: The post is based on the article “Shortage of administrative capacity leading to underspending by states” published in Business Standard on 20th July 2022.

What is the News?

According to the Comptroller and Auditor General(CAG) audit report, States often spend far less money on health and education for lack of departmental capacity rather than lack of funds.

States Spending on Education and Health

States often spend far less money on education and Health. The unused allocated budget for education and health is also often large. For instance:

Education: Delhi government which has asserted its political model on spending on education saved 21% of its education department budget for the year FY20 (a pre-Covid-19 year).

Health: Odisha is one of India’s better-managed states. Even here the state ended up with savings of 17% in its health and family welfare budget in a Covid-19-hit year. 

Based on these facts, the report observed that the states spend less money on health and education not due to lack of funds but due to a lack of departmental capacity.

World Bank and UN on Education

According to the World Bank-Unesco “Education Finance Watch” report: Education budgets are not adjusting proportionately to the challenges brought about by COVID-19, especially in poorer countries.

It argues that recent increases in public education spending have been unfortunately associated with relatively small improvements in education outcomes.

Vidya Samiksha Kendra

Source: The post is based on the article “Vidya Samiksha Kendra” published in PIB on 19th July 2022.

What is the News?

The Minister of Education has informed Rajya Sabha about Vidya Samiksha Kendra.

What is the need of Vidya Samiksha Kendra?

There are various initiatives of the Ministry of Education like UDISE, Student Database, NAS, NIPUN BARAT, Teacher Database, DIKSHA among others.

However, these initiatives are working in silos. Integrating various data sets of these initiatives by breaking the barrier of silos will help in effectively leveraging different entities towards a common goal.

Hence, in view of this, States/UTs have been advised to establish a Central system (Vidya Samiksha Kendra) at the state level.

What will Vidya Samiksha Kendra do?

Vidya Samiksha Kendra(VSK) is aimed at leveraging data and technology to bring a big leap in learning outcomes. 

It will help states in tracking student enrolment, progress in their learning levels, Out of School Children mainstreamed, textbook delivery, support required by teachers and schools etc.

Note: Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Rajasthan are not considered for Vidya Samiksha Kendra as they are approved under the STARS Project. Financial assistance is not given to Gujarat as the State is already having the system.

Explained: MSP and govt panel’s task

Source: The post is based on the article “Explained: MSP and govt panel’s task” published in Indian Express on 20th July 2022.

What is the News?

The Government of India has constituted a committee to look into the issues of minimum support price(MSP), Natural Farming and Crop diversification. 

Why has the committee been set up?

It has been constituted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare as a follow-up to an announcement by the Prime Minister when he declared the government’s intention to withdraw the three farm laws.

The protesting farm unions had demanded a legal guarantee on MSP based on the Swaminathan Commission’s ‘C2+50% formula’ (C2 is a type of cost incurred by farmers;). This was in addition to their demand for repeal of the three farm laws.

What is the composition and purpose of the committee?

Click Here to read about it

Tenure of the committee: Government does not specify the tenure of the committee. No deadline has been given for submitting its suggestions.

Why have the protesting farm unions opposed this committee?

Firstly, this committee includes members who supported the now-repealed farm laws.

Secondly, the terms and references of the committee do not mention the legal guarantee to MSP. Instead, it mentions making MSP more effective and transparent.

What is the Minimum Support Price(MSP)?

Click Here to read about it

Government undertakes several initiatives to promote electronics manufacturing in India

Source: The post is based on the article “Government undertakes several initiatives to promote electronics manufacturing in India” published in PIB on 19th July 2022.

What is the News?

The Government of India has launched several initiatives to promote electronics manufacturing in India.

Due to these initiatives, the domestic production of electronic goods has increased substantially from USD 37 billion in 2015-16 to USD 74.7 billion in 2020-21 growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate(CAGR) of 17.9%.

What are the schemes launched by the Government to promote electronics manufacturing in India?

Scheme for setting up of Semiconductor Fabs in India: It provides fiscal support to eligible applicants for setting up of Semiconductor Fabs.

Scheme for setting up of Display Fabs in India: It provides fiscal support to eligible applicants for setting up of Display Fabs. The Scheme provides fiscal support of up to 50% of Project Costs subject to a ceiling of INR 12,000 crore per Fab.

Scheme for setting up of Compound Semiconductors / Silicon Photonics / Sensors Fab and Semiconductor Assembly, Testing, Marking and Packaging(ATMP) / OSAT facilities in India: The Scheme provides financial support of 30% of the Capital Expenditure to the eligible applicants for setting up of Compound Semiconductors / Silicon Photonics (SiPh) / Sensors (including MEMS) Fab and Semiconductor ATMP.

Design Linked Incentive(DLI) Scheme

National Overseas Scholarship Scheme

Source: The post is based on the article “National Overseas Scholarship Scheme” published in PIB on 19th July 2022.

What is the News?

The Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment has informed Rajya Sabha about the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme for SCs and others.

What is the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme?

Nodal Ministry: Ministry for Social Justice and Empowerment

Type: Central Sector Scheme

Aim: To facilitate the low-income students belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, Landless Agricultural Labourers and Traditional Artisans category to obtain higher education viz., Master’s degree or Ph.D courses by studying abroad thereby improving their Economic and Social status.

Features of the Scheme

– 30% of the scholarships for each year shall be earmarked for women candidates. 

– Bachelors Level courses in any discipline are not covered under the Scheme. 

– Candidates already staying or studying or having completed studies abroad by utilizing any other scholarship from the State Government or through their own funds are not eligible to apply under the scheme. 

– Candidates having an unconditional offer of admission to top 500 ranked foreign Institutes /Universities as per the latest available QS rankings only will be selected for grant of scholarship during the first round of selection. In the second round, other students will be selected.

Eligibility: In order to be eligible for the scholarship, at least 60% marks or equivalent grade in the qualifying examination would be required.

Age: Age Not more than 35 (Thirty-Five) years, as on the first day of April for selection year.

Income Criteria:  Income Ceiling Total family income from all sources shall not exceed Rs. 8.00 lakh per annum in the preceding financial year.

Union Minister moves Weapons of Mass Destruction Amendment Bill in Rajya Sabha

Source: The post is based on the article “Union Minister moves Weapons of Mass Destruction Amendment Bill in Rajya Sabha” published in AIR on 19th July 2022.

What is the News?

The Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022 was introduced in Rajya Sabha.

What is the Weapons of Mass Destruction Amendment Bill,2022?

The Bill amends the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Act, 2005.

Why was this Bill brought?  

The 2005 Act prohibits unlawful activities (such as manufacturing, transport, or transfer) related to weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery.   Weapons of mass destruction are biological, chemical, or nuclear weapons. 

However, presently there are no specific provisions in the WMD Act of 2005 in relation to the prohibition or prevention of financing of prohibited WMD activities. Therefore, there is a need to amend the WMD Act of 2005.

What are the key provisions of the bill?

Prohibition on financing certain activities: The Bill bars persons from financing any prohibited activity related to weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems.   

– To prevent persons from financing such activities, the central government may freeze, seize or attach their funds, financial assets, or economic resources (whether owned, held, or controlled directly or indirectly).  

– It may also prohibit persons from making finances or related services available for the benefit of other persons in relation to any activity which is prohibited.

Click Here to read about the Bill