9 PM UPSC Current Affairs Articles 8th June, 2024
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Mains Oriented Articles
GS PAPER - 2
Impacts of exam paper leaks in India
Source: The post impacts of exam paper leaks in India has been created, based on the article “Why exam paper leaks became one of big issues of the election” published in “Indian express” on 8th June 2024
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper2- Governance- Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education
Context: The article discusses how exam paper leaks in several Indian states became a significant issue affecting young voters. These leaks led to cancellations and delays in government job recruitment, causing frustration and impacting election results. Political parties are addressing this by promising reforms and compensation for affected candidates.
What is the present state of exam paper leaks in India?
- Exam paper leaks are a critical issue in India, affecting several states including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar.
- Over the last five years, 41 paper leaks have impacted 1.4 crore job seekers across 15 states, showcasing the extent of the problem.
- Recent incidents in 2024 include major leaks in UP’s police constable recruitment exams, with over 48 lakh candidates affected.
What are the impacts of exam paper leaks in India?
1.Impact on Young Aspirants
Financial and Emotional Strain: Aspirants invest in coaching, application fees, and often relocate, incurring debts. Leaks lead to wasted resources and increased uncertainty and stress. The frustration and financial strain are significant, especially for those from marginalized backgrounds.
Political Consequences
a) Electoral Impact: In the 2024 elections, paper leaks significantly affected political outcomes, notably in Uttar Pradesh where exam leaks influenced the BJP’s performance negatively.
b) Policy Responses: Political parties are responding with promises of reforms, such as fast-track courts and compensations, to address the grievances of young voters.
What should be done?
- Political parties and the government are suggesting measures like special task forces and stricter laws to prevent cheating and leaks.
- However, the effectiveness of these measures is still questionable, as the problem persists and continues to affect the job market and the aspirations of young Indians.
Question for practice:
Discuss the current state of exam paper leaks in India and their impacts, including the measures suggested by political parties and the government to address the issue.
Diversification in Parliament potentially strengthens democracy and federalism
Source: The post diversification in Parliament potentially strengthens democracy and federalism has been created, based on the article “The Centre is notional, the States the real entities” published in “The Hindu” on 8th June 2024
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper2-Polity-Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
Context: The article discusses how the 2024 general election in India led to more regional parties in Parliament, potentially strengthening democracy and federalism. It highlights ongoing conflicts between the central government and states over resource allocation and suggests ways to improve cooperation and fairness.
What does the 2024 General Election result mean for India?
- In 2024 general election more regional parties gain seats in Parliament. This diversification in Parliament means that both the ruling coalition and the opposition will include a mix of regional parties, potentially leading to more representative governance.
- The success of regional parties suggests an electorate seeking to address local concerns more directly, challenging the dominance of central parties.
- The election outcomes reflect a response to central policies perceived as undermining state autonomy, as seen in the tensions over resource allocation and political statements during the campaign.
What are the major issues between the Centre and states?
Resource Allocation Complaints: States governed by the opposition have accused the central government of unfair treatment regarding resource distribution. Specific examples include Kerala’s complaints about inadequate transfer of resources, Karnataka’s concerns over drought relief, and West Bengal’s issues with funds for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).
Legal Disputes: The Supreme Court of India has highlighted that a “steady stream of States are compelled to approach it against the Centre,” pointing to a rise in legal disputes between the states and the central government.
Bias in Finance Commissions: The states argue that the Finance Commissions, which are tasked with allocating funds between the Centre and the states, often favor the Centre. This is seen as a source of conflict, with states feeling the need to inflate their financial requirements to ensure they receive adequate funds.
For detailed information on issues between the Centre and states read Article 1, Article 2
What are the implications for poorer and richer states?
Resource Distribution: Richer states generate more revenue but receive a smaller share relative to their contributions. For instance, Mumbai, as a financial hub, contributes significantly to national taxes but doesn’t proportionately benefit from these contributions in local investments or services.
Development Disparities: Poorer states rely on greater resource allocation to accelerate development and reduce inequality. The Finance Commission aims to distribute funds more fairly, yet historical disparities persist.
Market Dynamics: Richer states benefit from markets in poorer states, fostering their own growth. For example, poorer states provide larger consumer bases that richer states rely on to expand their economic activities.
How could federalism be improved?
Increase Resource Devolution: Boosting the percentage of resources devolved from the Centre to the States beyond the current 41% could empower states, allowing for more tailored local governance.
Fair Finance Commission Practices: The Sixteenth Finance Commission should aim for equitable treatment of all states. This could reduce friction and improve resource distribution, particularly favoring poorer states to address inequality.
Enhance State Autonomy: Reducing the central government’s dominance in programs like the Public Distribution System and MGNREGS would affirm the constitutional roles of states as equal partners in governance. This will prevent the central government from overshadowing state efforts.
Question for practice:
Discuss the implications of the 2024 General Election results on the relationship between the central government and regional parties in India, including the major issues between the Centre and states and potential improvements to federalism.
NEET Result and Associated Controversy
Source-This post on NEET Result and Associated Controversy has been created based on the article “Why is there a controversy around NEET this year” published in “The Indian Express” on 8 June 2024.
UPSC Syllabus-GS Paper-2– Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Context– The article discusses the controversies surrounding the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test, Undergraduate (NEET UG) 2024 results, which were announced recently. The examination is held for admission to medical, dental, and AYUSH courses in government and private colleges across India.
Around 2.4 million candidates appeared for the NEET UG 2024 examination held on May 5 in 571 cities, 14 of which were outside India. There are 1,08,940 MBBS seats available across over 700 medical colleges in the country.
What is the controversy about the NEET result?
1) The results got attention because a lot of candidates, 67 to be exact, got a perfect score of 720/720. Some candidates also scored 718 or 719 which seems unreasonable to many.
2) At least two petitions were filed in High Courts against the results, and a petition was filed in the Supreme Court requesting a re-examination due to alleged question paper leaks.
Read more- Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill 2024
What are the arguments given by NTA to justify its position?
1) Grace Marks for Textbook Error -44 of the 67 toppers got a basic physics question wrong but were still awarded “grace marks” due to a mistake in an older version of the NCERT Class 12 textbook. The NTA defended its decision, stating that it strongly recommends aspirants to study from NCERT textbooks for NEET preparation.
2) Possibility of scoring 718 and 719 marks-
A) The next highest score after 720 should have been 716.Itexplained that 1,563 candidates, including six toppers, were awarded “compensatory marks” for loss of examination time due to issues at certain centers in Bahadurgarh (Haryana), Delhi, and Chhattisgarh.
B) The Grievance Redressal Committees, set up by the Supreme Court, looked into complaints and awarded affected candidates marks based on how efficiently they answered and the time they lost.
3) Allegations of Paper Leak -Allegations of question paper leaks were made in Patna, but the Bihar Police’s Special Investigation Team found insufficient evidence to confirm a leak.
4) Wrong Paper Distribution-It A denied any paper leak but confirmed that some Hindi-medium students in Sawai Madhopur (Rajasthan) were mistakenly given English-medium question papers.
5) Early Declaration of Results– The NTA explained that they declared the results early because they followed all necessary checks and procedures before announcing them.
6) High Cutoffs-
A) The NTA said the high cutoffs were because candidates performed exceptionally well, and the exam was more competitive this year.
B) A record number of 23.81 lakh students signed up for NEET UG 2024, compared to 20.87 lakh in 2023. This increase in registrations may have played a part in the higher cutoff.
Question for practice
What is the controversy about the NEET result? What are the arguments given by NTA to justify its position?
GS PAPER - 3
The global plastics problem
Source: The post the global plastics problem has been created, based on the article “Remoulding the Global Plastics Treaty” published in “The Hindu” on 8th June 2024
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3-ecology, and environment-pollution
Context: The article discusses the need for a global treaty on plastic pollution to support informal waste workers. These workers, often overlooked, play a crucial role in recycling. It highlights the importance of integrating and protecting their contributions in new legal frameworks.
For detailed information on the UN Treaty on Plastic Pollution read this article here
What is the global plastics problem?
- Massive Increase in Plastic Waste: Global production of plastic waste has reached 353 million tonnes in 2019, more than double since 2000, and is expected to triple by 2060.
- Low Recycling Rates: Only 9% of the plastic waste produced globally is recycled. The majority is either incinerated (19%), dumped in landfills (50%), or disposed of at uncontrolled sites (22%).
- Contribution of Informal Sector: Informal recycling workers, who make up a significant part of the recycling workforce, manage to recycle 85% of this small percentage. They play a key role in reducing the plastic in landfills and preventing environmental leakage.
- These workers are vulnerable to job losses due to privatization and new public policies like waste-to-energy projects. They are often not included in formal waste management discussions and policies.
- Environmental Impact: About 60 million tonnes of plastic from municipal solid waste end up polluting the environment, including water bodies, largely due to inadequate waste management services. Without the efforts of the informal sector, this figure would be even higher.
What is the Global Plastics Treaty?
- The Global Plastics Treaty is a crucial international initiative aimed at reducing and eventually eliminating plastic pollution globally.
- It was kick-started in 2021 when an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) was established during the fifth UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya.
- Since its inception, the treaty has progressed through several meetings held across the world—in places like Dakar, Senegal; Uruguay; Paris, France; Nairobi, Kenya; and Canada—with the final meeting scheduled to take place in South Korea.
- A key aspect of these discussions has been the active participation of the International Alliance of Waste Pickers, who advocate for the inclusion and consideration of informal waste pickers in the treaty to ensure sustainable waste management and fair policies.
Why is India’s role important?
- Balanced Approach: India advocates for managing plastic through repair, reuse, refill, and recycling methods, without completely eliminating plastic use.
- Local Adaptations: The country emphasizes the importance of adapting the treaty to suit country-specific conditions and capacities, ensuring that the global policies are practical and effective locally.
- Support for Informal Sector: India highlights the critical role of informal waste pickers in the recycling process. Their inclusion in treaty discussions is vital to ensure that these workers are not marginalized by new international regulations.
Question for practice:
Examine the significance of India’s role in the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations and its stance on managing plastic pollution.
Repo Rate Kept Unchanged
Source-This post on Repo Rate Kept Unchanged has been created based on the article “Sticky inflation: Why is RBI refusing to cut interest rates?” published in “The Indian Express” on 8 June 2024.
UPSC Syllabus-GS Paper-3– Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Growth, Development and Employment.
Context-The article discusses reasons behind the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) decision to keep the benchmark repo rate unchanged for the eighth consecutive time during its latest bi-monthly monetary policy review.
What is a Repo Rate?
Definition-The repo rate is the interest rate at which the RBI lends money to commercial banks.
Impact-A) A lower repo rate incentivizes economic activity by making it cheaper for banks to borrow from the RBI and lend to customers.
B) A higher repo rate disincentivizes economic activity by making it costlier for everyone in the economy to borrow money. Movements in the repo rate have a significant impact on the EMIs (Equated Monthly Installments) paid for car, home, or business loans.
What is the goal of RBI’s monetary policy?
1) Price Stability-The primary goal of RBI’s monetary policy is to maintain price stability in the economy by targeting an inflation rate of 4%. This goal is mandated by the law.
2) Promote Economic Growth-When the economy needs a lift, such as after the COVID pandemic, the RBI lowers the repo rate. This makes borrowing money easier for both consumers and producers, encouraging spending.
Conversely, when inflation rises significantly above 4%, like during the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the RBI raises the repo rate to lessen the demand for borrowing money, thus reducing excessive spending fueled by credit.
Read more- Monetary Policy – Basics Simplified
What are the reasons for not cutting interest rates?
Despite the retail inflation rate coming closer to the 4% target and staying within the RBI’s comfort zone of 2-6% since September 2023, the RBI has not changed the repo rate since February 2023. The reasons for this are:
1) Sticky Inflation- While the inflation rate has dropped, it hasn’t reached 4% since January 2021, and the decline has been slow. The RBI is concerned about this persistent inflation, which stayed around 5% in the first four months of 2024.
2) Commitment to Durable Inflation Targeting– The RBI wants to keep inflation around 4% consistently and doesn’t reduce rates immediately when inflation falls below this target for just one month. The RBI believes that any future drop in inflation below 4% will only be temporary.
3) Strong Economic Growth– India’s GDP growth rate has been unexpectedly strong recently, leading the RBI to raise its forecast for the current financial year from 7% to 7.2%. With this strong economic growth, it’s unlikely that the repo rate is hindering India’s economic activity.
4) Fiscal Deficit Concerns- The RBI’s choice might be affected by the upcoming Union Budget and how much the government plans to borrow from the market. This borrowing could impact inflation or interest rates.
Question for practice
What is the goal of RBI’s monetary policy? What are the reasons for not cutting interest rates?
Factors influencing RBI’s monetary policy stand
Source-This post Factors influencing RBI’s monetary policy stand has been created based on the article “MPC’s cautious approach is driven by inflation” published in “The Indian Express” on 8 June 2024.
UPSC Syllabus-GS Paper-3– Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Growth, Development and Employment.
Context-The article discusses the monetary policy stance of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the factors influencing its decision-making, particularly in relation to inflation targeting and economic growth.
Provisional estimates from the National Statistical Office indicate strong GDP growth in India, at 8.2%, surpassing expectations. This growth allows the RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to concentrate on reducing inflation to its target of 4%. The RBI has maintained its inflation forecast for the current fiscal year at 4.5%. Central banks, including the RBI, remain cautious due to inflation concerns.
How does the global rate hike cycle affect central bank moves?
The global rate hike cycle has reached its highest point. Central banks’ actions are likely to be out of sync, unlike the coordinated rate cuts seen during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The MPC’s decisions are not influenced largely by the monetary policy actions of systemically important central banks like the Federal Reserve (Fed) and the European Central Bank (ECB).
Read more- Inflation Management in India
What are the factors influencing RBI’s monetary policy stance?
1) Inflation Dynamics– Consumer inflation in India is mainly caused by the ongoing supply shock in agriculture, which has led to high food inflation. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, was at a low of 3.2% in April, remaining stable for several years
2) Lessons from the Post-Pandemic World-A key lesson for central banks is to pay attention to supply shocks, especially during periods of strong economic growth. When growth is robust, the MPC tends to prioritize controlling inflation, even if it’s due to a supply shock.
3) Food Inflation and Inflationary Expectations- Food prices, especially for vegetables, have stayed consistently high, with a 27.8% increase in April. Since food carries a significant weight of 39% in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), continued high prices can raise expectations of inflation and cause a widespread increase in prices. Bad weather and pests have made vegetable prices more volatile and increased their level.
4) Commodity Prices – Lower commodity prices have reduced costs for businesses, thus keeping core inflation low. However, increased uncertainties in the Middle East have pushed up prices of essential commodities like oil and gold. If this continues, along with a low-base effect, it could raise core inflation significantly this fiscal year.
5) Economic Growth – The National Statistical Office raised the fiscal 2024 growth estimate from 7.6% to 8.2%. Recent data, like record GST collections, strong Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) readings, and robust credit growth, indicate a strong start to this fiscal year. Additionally, the RBI increased its GDP growth forecast for this fiscal year to 7.2%.
Thus, there is a need to strike a balance between promoting growth and managing inflationary pressures, particularly those arising from supply-side shocks in the agricultural sector.
Question for practice
What are the factors influencing RBI’s monetary policy stance?
Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)
Digital Payments Intelligence Platform
Source-This post on Digital Payments Intelligence Platform has been created based on the article “Digital payments intelligence platform soon to curb fraud” published in “The Hindu” on 7 June 2024.
Why in News?
With the rise in digital payment scams, there is a growing need for a collective approach to prevent and manage these issues. Considering the rise in digital payments, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) plans to create a Digital Payments Intelligence Platform.
About Digital Payments Intelligence Platform
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1. Aim: It aims to gather intelligence across the digital payments network and enable real-time data sharing.
2. Objective: RBI wants to expand the existing e-mandate system as more people are using automated recurring payment.
3. This system will now include payments that happen regularly but not at a fixed time, such as topping up Fastag balances for tolls or the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) used in public transport.
4. This change would allow customers to set their Fastag and NCMC to automatically refill whenever the balance drops below a certain level they choose. This will make it easier and quicker to pay for travel and transportation.
5. The RBI aims to boost the use of UPI Lite, a service for fast, small payments directly from a device.
6. They plan to integrate UPI Lite into the e-mandate system to encourage more people to use this convenient payment method.
UPSC Syllabus: Indian Economy
Placenta Mammals
Source-This post on Placenta Mammals has been created based on the article “Marsupials key to discovering the origin of heater organs in mammals” published in “Phys.org” on 8 June 2024.
Why in News?
Researchers at Stockholm University have found that brown fat, the typical mammalian heater organ, has evolved exclusively in modern placental mammals.
About Placenta Mammals:
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1. About Placenta Mammals: A placental mammal is an animal that has a placenta.
2. The placenta is a special organ that forms during pregnancy in female mammals (except for monotremes and marsupials). It is made from both the mother’s and the fetus’s tissues.
3. The placenta helps by:
i) Transporting nutrients from the mother to the fetus.
ii) Removing waste products from the fetus.
4. Fetal Development:
i) Placental mammals carry their fetus in the uterus until it is born at an advanced stage.
ii) The fetus gets nourishment through the placenta before birth.
iii) The placenta delivers nutrients and oxygen to the fetus in the uterus.
iv) This allows a long period of fetal growth in the uterus, so the fetus can become large and mature before birth.
5. Classification: Placental mammals are classified under the subclass Eutheria. There are 4,000 identified species of placental mammals.
6. Evolution: Fossil evidence shows that the first placental mammals evolved between 163 million and 157 million years ago during the Jurassic Period.
7. Diversity: Placental mammals include all living mammals except marsupials and monotremes (egg-laying mammals). Marsupials and monotremes have a less-developed and less-efficient type of placenta that limits the gestation period.
About Marsupials
1. About Marsupials: Marsupials are a group of mammals known for giving birth to relatively undeveloped young.
2. Reproduction:
i) Marsupials have a short-lived placenta that nourishes their young for just a few days before they are born.
ii) After birth, the young continue to grow and develop outside the womb, usually in a pouch.
iii) The young get their nutrition from the mother’s teats inside the pouch.
3. Anatomy: Marsupials have an extra pubic bone called the epipubic bone to support their pouch.
4. Species: There are over 330 species of marsupials. About two-thirds of them live in Australia and the other third mostly live in South America. Examples: Kangaroos, Koalas, Opossums, etc
UPSC Syllabus: Science & Technology
National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC)
Source-This post on National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) has been created based on the article “Cabinet Secretary Shri Rajiv Gauba chaired meeting of NCMC to review preparedness to deal with heat wave and forest fires” published in “PIB” on 8 June 2024.
Why in News?
Recently, Union Cabinet Secretary chaired a meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC). This is to review preparedness to deal with heat waves and forest fires.
About National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC)
Aspects | Description |
About NCMC | It is a key committee involved in top-level decision-making for disaster management in India. |
Composition of NCMC | Chairperson: The Cabinet Secretary. Members: Secretaries of various Ministries/Departments and agencies responsible for disaster management. |
Role of NCMC | Crisis Management: It handles major crises with serious or national implications. Disaster Preparedness: It reviews measures to ensure readiness for natural disasters. Coordination: It coordinates relief efforts across different agencies and states. Support: It provides logistic and financial support to state governments. Preventive Measures: It ensures all necessary steps are taken to minimize damage and loss of life. |
UPSC Syllabus: Polity & Governance
World Wealth Report 2024
Source- This post on World Wealth Report 2024 has been created based on the article “Wealth of HNWIs reached unprecedented levels in 2023: Capgemini study” published in “The Hindu” on 8 June 2024.
Why in the News?
The Capgemini Research Institute’s recently published World Wealth Report 2024.
About World Wealth Report 2024
1. Released By: Capgemini Research Institute.
2. Coverage: The report covers 71 countries, representing more than 98% of global gross national income and 99% of the world’s stock market capitalization.
Findings of the report
About | Description |
HNWIs Definition | Individuals with investable assets of $1 million or more, excluding their primary residence, collectibles, consumables, and consumer durables. |
Global HNWI Wealth and Population | i) Wealth Expansion: In 2023, global high-net-worth individuals (HNWI) wealth grew by 4.7%, reaching $86.8 trillion. ii) Population Growth: The HNWI population increased by 5.1% to 22.8 million globally. |
Wealth Bands | i) Ultra-HNWIs: $30 million or more. ii) Mid-Tier Millionaires: $5-30 million. iii) Millionaires Next Door: $1-5 million. |
Performance in the APAC Region | i) Top Performers: India and Australia were among the best performers. ii) Factors: A resilient economy and strong equity market performance drove the wealth growth in these countries. |
HNWIs in India | i) Population Increase: The number of HNWIs in India grew by 12.2% in 2023 compared to 2022, reaching 3.589 million. ii) Wealth Growth: The financial wealth of India’s HNWIs increased by 12.4% in 2023, reaching $1,445.7 billion, up from $1,286.7 billion in 2022. |
Economic Indicators in India | i) Unemployment Rate: It decreased to 3.1% in 2023, down from 7% in 2022. ii) Market Capitalization: It increased by 29.0% in 2023, following a 6% increase in 2022. iii) National Savings: As a percentage of GDP, national savings rose to 33.4% in 2023, compared to 29.9% in 2022. |
UPSC Syllabus: Reports