. No.	Topic Name	Prelims/Mains
1.	About the Gallantry Awards in India	Prelims & Mains
2.	Details of the Special Economic Zones	Prelims & Mains
3.	About the Women in Judiciary	Prelims & Mains
4.	Details of the NITI Aayog	Prelims Specific Topic

 

1 – About the Gallantry Awards in India:GS III

Topic à Internal Security related issues

 

·       Indian Honors for Valor/Gallantry:

 

·       The Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, and Vir Chakra were the first three gallantry awards established by the Indian government, and they went into effect on August 15, 1947. They were founded on January 26, 1950.

·       The Ashoka Chakra Class-I, Class-II, and Class-III bravery awards were subsequently created in 1952 and were thought to be in use as of August 15, 1947.

·       These awards’ titles were changed to Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra, respectively, in January 1967.

·       The prizes that are more significant than them are the Param Vir Chakra, Ashoka Chakra, Mahavir Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Vir Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra.

 

·       Participants in the Awards:

 

·       All officers of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, as well as any officially created reserve forces, territory armies, and other military organisations.

·       Along with the aforementioned personnel, there are also civilians, both male and female, who regularly or temporarily serve under the orders, guidelines, or supervision of any of the aforementioned forces, including matrons, sisters, nurses, as well as the staff of the nursing services and other services related to hospitals and nursing.

 

·       Highest Medals for Valor Awarded in Times of War:

 

·       Param Vir Chakra:

 

·       It is the highest military decoration awarded in India for bravery displayed during a combat on land, at sea, or in the air.

 

·       Maha Vir Chakra:

 

·       Whether on land, at sea, or in the air, it is the second-highest gallantry honour given for brave actions taken while the enemy is nearby.

 

·       Vir Chakra:

 

·       It is the third-highest wartime heroism award conferred in the country, behind the Param Vir Chakra and the Maha Vir Chakra.

 

·       Highest Honors for Heroism in Peacetime:

 

·       Ashoka Chakra:

 

·       It is the highest military award granted for bravery, selflessness, or acts of heroism during peacetime.

·       It is awarded for the most outrageous courage, a daring deed, the biggest act of heroism, or the greatest act of self-sacrifice that does not occur in the presence of the adversary.

 

·       Kirti Chakra:

 

·       It is the second highest peacetime gallantry award and is granted for bravery, sacrifice, or gallantry off the battlefield.

 

·       Shaurya Chakra:

 

·       It is awarded to military personnel for actions that exhibit extremely heroic behaviour.

 

·       Other Awards:

 

·       Sena Medal:

 

·       It is awarded to Army personnel who demonstrate especially high levels of bravery or dedication to duty.

 

·       Nao Sena Medal:

 

·       It is granted to members of the Navy for exemplary bravery or devotion to service.

 

·       Vayu Sena Medal:

 

·       It is granted to members of the Air Force for exemplary bravery or devotion to service.

 

Source à The Indian Express

 

 

 

 

2 – Details of the Special Economic Zones:GS III

Topic à Indian Economy related issues

 

·       About:

 

·       An SEZ is an area inside a country that frequently has different business and commercial regulations as well as duty-free status (fiscal concession) to encourage investment and increase jobs.

·       SEZs are created to better manage these areas and increase commercial accessibility.

 

·       SEZs in India:

 

·       In Kandla, Gujarat, the first export processing zone (EPZ) was established.

·       The government began developing SEZs in 2000 as part of the Foreign Trade Policy to address the infrastructure and administrative problems that were thought to have hampered the functioning of EPZs, despite the fact that the framework of these EPZs was identical to that of SEZs.

·       The Special Economic Zones Act was passed in 2005. The Act became effective in conjunction with the SEZ Rules in 2006.

·       But SEZs were utilised in India from 2000 to 2006. (In accordance with Foreign Trade Policy).

·       India’s SEZs were modelled after China’s very successful system in many ways.

·       Of the 379 SEZs that have been notified, 265 are currently operational. About 64% of the SEZs are located in five states: Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra.

·       The Board of Approval, which is the highest authority, is presided over by the Secretary of Commerce (Ministry of Commerce and Industry).

·       The Baba Kalyani-led committee was constituted by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to look into the nation’s current SEZ policy. In November 2018, the group presented its recommendations.

·       Its overarching objective was to evaluate SEZ regulations in order to make them comply with WTO (World Trade Organization) standards and to employ best practises from around the world to maximise capacity utilisation and potential output of the SEZs.

 

·       The aims of the SEZ Act are as follows:

 

·       To promote greater economic activity

·       To increase exports of goods and services.

·       To boost both domestic and foreign investment.

·       Construction of infrastructure facilities.

 

 

 

 

·       Significant Facilities and SEZ Incentives:

 

·       Construction, usage, and maintenance of SEZ units are all permitted with duty-free imports and domestic product purchases.

·       exemption from a range of taxes, such as the income tax and the minimal alternate tax.

·       SEZ units may borrow without maturity limitations up to $500 million in international commercial debt annually through recognised banking channels.

·       a single platform for approvals at the federal and state levels.

 

·       Performance of SEZ in India:

 

·       Exports increased from Rs. 22,840 billion in 2005-2006 to Rs. 7,59,524 billion in 2016-17. (2020-21).

·       Investments have increased from Rs. 4,035.51 crore in 2005-2006 to Rs. 6,17,499 crore (2020-21).

·       Employment: There are presently 23,58,136 individuals employed, up from 1,34,704 in 2005–2006. (2020-21).

 

·       Challenges:

 

·       Due to the pandemic’s delays and a lack of demand for SEZ space, there is unutilized land in these zones.

 

·       Different Models Exist:

 

·       Since there are so many various kinds of economic zones, including SEZs, coastal economic zones, the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, National Investment and Manufacturing Zones, food parks, and textile parks, integrating different economic zone models can be challenging.

 

·       ASEAN countries’ threats:

 

·       In order to attract international investors to their special economic zones (SEZs) and to develop a variety of skill-building projects, many ASEAN countries have changed their legislation in recent years.

·       Indian SEZs must now adhere to newer regulations because they have lost some of their global competitive advantages.

 

·       How to Proceed:

 

·       One suggestion offered by the Baba Kalyani Committee on SEZs is to support MSME initiatives and allow other sectors to invest in sector-specific SEZs in order to boost MSME investments in SEZs.

·       It had also pushed for new enablers, procedural leniencies, and providing SEZs infrastructure status in order to expand their access to funding and permit long-term borrowing.

 

Source à The Hindu

 

 

3 – About the Women in Judiciary:GS II

Topic à Judiciary related issues

 

·       How do women fare in the legal system?

 

·       Four of the 33 justices now sitting on the Supreme Court are female, despite the fact that only 11.5% of judges in high courts are female.

·       In this country, the situation for female attorneys is not much better. The 1.7 million registered activists only have 15% women.

 

·       What factors contribute to the lack of female representatives?

 

·       Societal inequality:

 

·       The ingrained patriarchy of society is the main reason why women are underrepresented in the courts.

·       Women frequently find the atmosphere in courtrooms to be unwelcoming. In addition to harassment, a lack of respect from the bar and the judges, and being taught what to say and what not to say, many female lawyers regularly discuss other painful experiences.

 

·       How the Opaque Collegium System Works:

 

·       More women often attend the lower courts at the entry level because recruiting is done through an entrance exam.

·       However, the collegium system utilised by the upper judiciary has a reputation for being more opaque and, as a result, more likely to expose bias.

·       37 women, or 19% of the total, were included in the most recent Supreme Court Collegium recommendation for 192 candidates for the High Courts. Sadly, only 17 of the 37 women who were recommended have so far been appointed.

 

·       Women Not Allowed:

 

·       While the High Courts and Supreme Court do not have a reservation policy for women, the subordinate courts in numerous states do.

·       States like Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, and Rajasthan currently have 40–50% female judicial officers as a result of this reservation.

·       The plan to give women a 33% reservation in state and federal legislatures has received significant support from all major political parties, but it has not yet been passed.

 

 

 

·       Having obligations to one’s family:

 

·       Other factors that affect the elevation of female judges from lower courts to higher tribunals include age and family obligations.

·       Not Enough Women in Litigation: It is significant to note that the number of women attorneys is still low, which restricts the pool from which women judges can be selected. Judges in the high courts and Supreme Court are primarily made up of lawyers who were elevated from the bar to the bench.

·       Justice System Infrastructure Another barrier preventing women from entering the legal profession is the lack of judicial infrastructure.

·       Small, packed courtrooms, a lack of restrooms, and childcare facilities are challenges.

 

·       No Genuine Effort:

 

·       No significant steps have been taken in the previous 70 years to guarantee that women have adequate representation on the Supreme Court or in the higher courts.

·       There aren’t many women who hold the position of judge in India, despite the fact that they make up about 50% of the population and have many opportunities for progression in the bar and judicial systems.

·       What does it imply that there are so many women in leadership roles?

·       Why Are More Women Demanding Justice? If there are more and more well-known female judges, women may be more likely to use the legal system to protect their rights and seek redress.

·       The litigant could feel more at ease if the judge shares their gender, though this is not always the case.

·       Imagine a trans woman serving as the judge in a case involving other trans women. The litigant would feel more confident as a result.

 

·       Many perspectives:

 

·       It is certainly advantageous to have representation of various marginalizations in the judiciary due to their diverse lived experiences.

·       Unquestionably, having a diverse bench would bring a range of inclusive perspectives to legal judgments.

·       The ability of judicial thinking to consider a variety of social situations and experiences is enhanced and increased by increased judicial diversity.

·       The justice system will be able to better serve the needs of women and other marginalised groups as a result.

 

·       How to Proceed:

 

·       It is essential to bring about institutional, social, and behavioural change among India’s population through increasing awareness and emphasising inclusivity.

·       It is absolutely necessary to change the patriarchal mindset that pervades the selection and approval of high court justice candidates, as well as to increase the representation of deserving female district judges and attorneys.

·       Women must be empowered before they may receive justice.

·       It is past time for everyone with influence to acknowledge the necessity of giving women adequate representation in the judiciary when choosing justices for the Supreme Court and High Court.

·       In truth, the superior judiciary should have a horizontal reserve for women similar to the lower judiciary without sacrificing quality.

 

Source à The Indian Express

 

4 – Details of the NITI Aayog:

Prelims Specific Topic

 

·       What is the past of it?

 

·       Since our leaders were influenced by the socialist milieu of the former USSR, planning has been engrained in Indian culture. The planning commission served as the primary planning tool for nearly 60 years, mostly using the control and command method.

·       With a focus on the “Bottom-Up” approach to visualise the goal of Maximum Governance, Minimum Government, and to replicate the spirit of “Cooperative Federalism,” the Planning Commission was replaced on January 1, 2015, by a new organisation called NITI Aayog.

 

·       What about the makeup of the NITI Aayog?

 

·       the Prime Minister, as chairman

 

·       Vice-Chairman: The Prime Minister will select him or her.

 

·       The governing council is composed of the Chief Ministers of the States and the Lt. Governors of the Union Territories.

 

·       The Prime Minister or a contender for the job will preside over the Regional Council, which is composed of the Chief Ministers and Lt. Governors to address specific regional issues.

 

·       Adhoc Membership: Two ex-officio members from esteemed research institutes who serve on a rotational basis.

 

·       Ex-Officio members: From the Union Council of Ministers, the Prime Minister may suggest up to four people.

 

·       The Prime Minister granted the Chief Executive Officer the title of Secretary to the Government of India for a predetermined amount of time.

 

·       Special Invitees: Professionals and subject-matter experts the prime minister recommends.

 

 

 

·       How do the NITI Aayog Hubs function?

 

·       Between the States and the Center, the Team India Hub acts as a conduit.

·       The Knowledge and Innovation Hub enhances the think tank capabilities of NITI Aayog.

·       The Aayog’s release schedule included three documents: a 3-year action agenda, a 7-year medium-term strategy paper, and a 15-year vision document.

 

·       What is the mission of the NITI Aayog?

 

·       It was no longer required to have the Planning Commission, a 65-year-old institution. It was significant in a command economic framework, but not currently.

·       India is a diversified country, and each of its states has particular advantages and disadvantages as well as varying levels of economic development.

·       It is no longer appropriate to use a “one size fits all” approach to economic planning in this circumstance. Through it, India cannot compete in the contemporary global economy.

 

·       What are Its Main Objectives?

 

·       To consistently advance cooperative federalism through planned support initiatives and processes with the States, recognising that strong States are a precursor to strong nations.

·       The development of techniques for producing trustworthy plans at the village level and gradually merging these at higher tiers of governance

·       To ensure that economic strategy and policy in the specifically stated areas takes the interests of national security into account.

·       Should pay particular attention to the social groups who might not profit enough from economic progress.

·       To provide direction and encourage partnerships between significant stakeholders, internationally active Think Tanks, and organisations engaged in policy research and education.

·       To create a cooperative network of experts, practitioners, and other collaborators on a national and international scale in order to promote knowledge, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

·       Establishing a forum for the settlement of disputes across departments and sectors to speed up the implementation of the development agenda

·       Maintain a state-of-the-art Resource Center, act as a repository for studies on excellent leadership and the most effective strategies for attaining sustainable and equitable development, and assist in the dissemination of this information to stakeholders.

 

·       What Concerns Relate to This?

 

·       If the NITI Aayog is to show its expertise in policy making, it must prioritise from a long list of 13 objectives while understanding the distinctions between policy, planning, and strategy.

·       In order to increase trust, faith, and confidence more than the planning commission, NITI Aayog needs freedom of various kinds with budgetary provisions, not in terms of plan and non-plan expenditures, but rather in terms of revenue and capital expenditure. This is because a higher rate of increase in capital expenditure can eliminate infrastructure deficits at all levels of operation in the economy.

 

 

·       How To Proceed Ahead:

 

·       Decentralization is being planned, but with a five-year plan as a guide.

·       By specialising it and implementing performance-based accountability, it is vital to overcome the bureaucratic inertia.

·       NITI Aayog may eventually come to be seen as a force for change, supporting the government’s agenda for improving governance and coming up with innovative solutions for better public service delivery.

·       NITI Aayog continues to advocate for a country’s efficient, open, creative, and accountable governance structure with a strict code of conduct for employees.

 

Source à The Hindu