. No. Topic Name Prelims/Mains About the Minimum Support Price Prelims & Mains Details of the Cryptocurrency in India Prelims & Mains About the Abortion Laws in India Prelims & Mains Details of the Line of Control Prelims Specific Topic 1 – About the Minimum Support Price: GS III Topic Agriculture related issues About: The rate at which the government buys crops from farmers is known as the MSP, and it is calculated as being at least 1.5 times the farmers’ production expenses. Any crop the government determines to be profitable for farmers and hence deserving of “assistance” has a “minimum price” (MSP) established for it. According to the Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices, sugarcane is one of 22 required crops and one of the MSP-recommended crops (CACP). CACP is the name of a division within the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. The list of necessary crops consists of 14 crops for the kharif season, 6 crops for the rabi season, and 2 more commercial crops. Additionally, the MSPs for de-husked coconut and toria are established using the MSPs for copra and rapeseed/mustard, respectively. Criteria for Suggesting the MSP: When recommending the MSP for a product, the CACP takes into account a variety of factors, including the cost of cultivation. The dynamics of supply and demand for the commodity, price trends on both the domestic and global markets, parity with respect to other crops, consumer effects (inflation), environmental effects (soil and water consumption), and trade agreements between the agricultural and non-agricultural sectors are all taken into account. There are three various production cost types: For each crop, the CACP calculates three different types of average production costs at both the state and national levels for India. ‘A2’: Covers all of the farmer’s direct costs, including fuel, irrigation, hired labour, leased land, pesticides, fertiliser, and seeds. “A2+FL” stands for A2 plus an imputed value for unpaid family labour. “C2”: This cost is more thorough and includes fixed capital assets, interest forgone on owned land, and rentals in addition to A2+FL. CACP considers both A2+FL and C2 costs when advising MSP. The return cost is simply estimated by CACP as A2+FL. However, C2 costs are primarily used by CACP as benchmark reference costs (opportunity costs) to assess whether the MSPs they recommend at least cover these costs in some of the major producing States. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) of the Union government makes the ultimate decision on the MSP level and other recommendations made by CACP. Why is MSP necessary? Due to the twin droughts of 2014 and 2015, farmers have been forced to deal with declining commodity prices since 2014. The rural economy was hurt by the simultaneous shocks of demonetization and the implementation of the GST, especially the non-farm sector but also agriculture. Due to the epidemic, the decline in the economy after 2016–17, and other issues, the majority of farmers still live in insecure situations. Cost increases for fuel, energy, and fertilisers have only gotten worse. What Issues Concern India’s MSP Regime? Despite the official release of MSPs for 23 different crops, only two commodities—rice and wheat—are purchased because they are distributed through NFSA (National Food Security Act). The rest is mostly incidental and unimportant. Ineffectively Implemented: In 2015, the Shanta Kumar Committee estimated that farmers could only obtain 6% of the MSP. This immediately means that 94% of farmers in the country do not profit from the MSP. The current MSP policy has no impact on domestic market prices. It serves as a procurement price rather than an MSP because its primary function is to satisfy NFSA requirements. Farmers are prevented from producing other crops and horticulture goods because of the overproduction of rice and wheat brought on by the unbalanced MSP system, which may increase farmers’ revenue. The MSP-based procurement system also depends on middlemen, commission agents, and APMC officials, all of whom are out of the reach of smaller farmers. Way Ahead: True MSPs demand that the government step in if market prices fall below a predetermined level, usually when there is an excess of production and supply or when external factors have caused a price collapse. MSP can also be a motivating price for many of the products that are desirable for nutritional security, such as coarse cereals, as well as for pulses and edible oils for which India is dependent on imports. Spending more money on nutrient-dense foods like fruits and vegetables, together with fisheries and animal husbandry, is the way to wisdom. The best way to invest is to give companies financial incentives to build valuable value chains based on cluster strategies. A transitional plan for agricultural pricing must be developed by the government, in which some agricultural pricing should be supported by the government and some should be decided by the market. One method to accomplish this would be to create a shortfall payment plan modelled after the Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana (BBY) of Madhya Pradesh. Source The Press Information Bureau 2 – Details of the Cryptocurrency in India: GS III Topic Economy related issues What is cryptocurrency? Cryptocurrency, often known as crypto-currency or crypto, is any kind of money that exists digitally or virtually and uses encryption to protect transactions. As opposed to being issued or regulated by a central authority, cryptocurrencies use a decentralised process to keep track of transactions and generate new units. It is supported by the blockchain, a decentralised peer-to-peer network. What Benefits Can We Get from Using Cryptocurrency? Transactions that happen quickly and affordably: Using cryptocurrency to conduct international transactions is substantially more cost-effective because there are fewer middlemen involved. Investment Location: Similar to gold, the supply of cryptocurrencies is limited. Furthermore, during the past few years, the cost of cryptocurrencies has risen faster than the cost of conventional financial assets. Investment in cryptocurrency may consequently gain popularity. Anti-inflationary Currency: Since cryptocurrencies are in such
9 Sept 2022 Daily Quiz
9 Sept 2022 Daily Current Affairs
. No. Topic Name Prelims/Mains About the Monkeypox Prelims & Mains Details of the Build Operate Transfer Model Prelims & Mains About the DTP Vaccine Prelims & Mains Details of the Rafale Jets Prelims Specific Topic 1 – About the Monkeypox: GS II Topic Health related issues About: The phrase “monkeypox” refers to a viral zoonotic sickness that affects monkeys and is known to be similar to the pox in humans. In Nigeria, it is pervasive. It is caused by the monkeypox virus, a member of the family of orthopoxviruses. The original host of the virus is still a mystery. There are, however, numerous reports of the disease in animals. The monkeypox virus is known to be carried by monkeys, apes, a wide range of rodents (including rats, mice, squirrels, and prairie dogs), and rabbits. Outbreaks: In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), it was first detected in 1958 in monkeys and then in humans there in 1970. Nigeria saw its worst outbreak ever in 2017—40 years after the final reported case. Since then, the disease has been reported in several West and Central African countries. Symptoms: Infected people get a rash that looks like chicken pox. Monkeypox, however, frequently results in more severe fever, malaise, and headache symptoms when compared to chicken pox. Monkeypox can be distinguished from smallpox because of the enlargement of the lymph gland in the early stages of the disease. Transmission: Primary infection is brought on by direct contact with an infected animal’s blood, bodily fluids, or cutaneous or mucosal lesions. Eating improperly prepared, infected animal meat puts you at risk as well. Human-to-human transmission may occur as a result of close contact with infectious respiratory tract secretions, skin lesions on an infected individual, or recently contaminated objects with patient fluids or lesion materials. Placental transfer and immunisation are among additional modes of transmission (congenital monkeypox). Vulnerability: If infected, it spreads rapidly and can be fatal to one out of every 10 individuals. Treatment and immunisation: There is no particular drug or vaccine to stop monkeypox. It has been established in the past that the anti-smallpox vaccine has an 85% success rate in preventing monkeypox. However, the vaccine is no longer widely accessible because smallpox was declared extinct on Earth in 1980. Every country struggles to contain any outbreaks when they happen since there is currently no global framework in place to stop the spread of monkeypox. Way Forward: improved surveillance and response, increased disease knowledge, and avoiding contact with wild animals, especially monkeys. Animals that may have come into contact with an infected animal must be confined, handled with standard safety precautions, and kept under observation for 30 days for indications of monkeypox. It is crucial to turn attention to other diseases. Due to Covid-19, fewer incidences of endemic diseases are being reported since fewer people are visiting hospitals for treatment. Source The Indian Express 2 – Details of the Build Operate Transfer Model: GS III Topic Investment related issues What is Build Operate Transfer (BOT)? A build-operate-transfer (BOT) contract is a form of funding for big infrastructure projects developed through public-private partnerships. A BOT is a public organisation, such as a local government, that first grants permission to a private corporation to develop and manage a project. Control of the project is returned to the government agency after a set amount of time, usually two or three decades. What Is the PPP Model, Exactly? Public-private partnerships are one of three investment forms where a government agency and a private firm cooperate to achieve a social or infrastructural growth goal. According to the World Bank, India is one of the countries that is most accepting of PPPs. What Steps Comprise a BOT Model’s Process? A public organisation (typically the government) grants a private firm the right to fund, develop, and manage a project via a build-operate-transfer (BOT) contract. The corporation oversees the project for a certain period of time (perhaps 20 or 30 years) in order to recoup its investment before handing management of the project over to the government. BOT projects generally involve huge greenfield infrastructure projects that would typically be entirely funded, built, and administered by the government. The Philippines’ power plant, China’s wastewater treatment plant, and India’s six-lane national highway are just a few examples. BOT contractors are frequently special-purpose companies founded only for a project. Revenues from the project that the contractor has established are frequently generated from a single source and over the course of the project. It’s possible that the federal or state governments own this company. Proof of this arrangement is provided by power purchase agreements, in which a public utility acts as an off-taker and purchases electricity from a privately owned plant. In a typical concession, the company would sell directly to customers rather than the government. Under BOT contracts, the off-taker is typically obligated to pay the minimum price. Benefits of Build Operate Transfer (BOT) include: BOT benefits governments since it reduces spending on infrastructure and development while also transferring risk to the concessionaire. The concession company benefits from better control over a number of construction risks as well as the possibility to mitigate any unfavourable outcomes through operational advantages. BOT provides organisations with a framework and incentives to boost productivity through performance-based agreements and output-oriented goals. The projects are completed for the least amount of money possible thanks to a completely competitive bidding process. The private sector is responsible for some of the project’s risks. There are certain limitations to Build Operate Transfer (BOT): Since many organisations are involved and a thorough institutional and legal structure is required, a BOT financial arrangement may take a long time to prepare for and close. There, small projects might not be appropriate for the BOT. It may take some time to develop the institutional capacity required for realising the full benefits
INDIA AND JAPAN:
Introduction: Former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe has been assassinated yesterday during a political rally in Japan. Additionally, in 2022, Japan and India will celebrate the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. On April 28, 1952, India and Japan established diplomatic ties. Japan-India Relations: Historical: Beginning with the visit of the Indian monk Bodhisena in 752 AD, the relationship between India and Japan has a lengthy history founded in spiritual affinities as well as strong cultural and civilizational linkages. Swami Vivekananda, Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, JRD Tata, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, and Judge Radha Binod Pal are notable Indians who have ties to Japan in modern times. Diplomatic: In 1952, India and Japan established diplomatic ties. There were a number of high-level exchanges in the first ten years after diplomatic relations were established, including the visit to India in 1957 by the Japanese Prime Minister. Japan was one of the few nations to help India with its balance of payments problem in 1991. The 2017-founded Act East Forum will act as a platform for India-Japan cooperation under the auspices of Japan’s “Free and Open Indo-Pacific Vision” and India’s “Act East Policy.” Investments and projects: Four agreements between India and Japan demand Tokyo’s support for health care initiatives in India that are sponsored through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects (GGP) programme. The “Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects (GGP)” programme provides funding for development projects created to satisfy the various essential requirements of people residing in developing nations. In addition to actively collaborating with India on infrastructure projects in third countries like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, Japan has invested 1,600 crores in development projects in the northeastern states of India. The Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA), which enables India and Japan to exchange goods and services for their respective armed forces, was also inked in September. Both countries have outlined a plan for growing their Special Strategic and Global Partnership in the post-COVID era. The Japanese prime minister recently visited India and pledged to invest $42 billion (about Rs 3,20,000 crore) there over the next five years as the two countries finalised a number of collaborations and agreements to strengthen their ties. Relationships in the economy and in business: Given the complimentary structure of the two Asian economies, there is a tonne of room for expansion in the economic ties between Japan and India. India’s large and expanding market, as well as its resources, particularly its human resources, have increased Japan’s interest in the nation. In August 2011, India and Japan’s Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) went into effect. The agreement, which covers not just trade in products but also services, the movement of people, investments, intellectual property rights, customs procedures, and other trade-related problems, is the most comprehensive of its kind that India has ever signed. Since 1958, Japan has been the main source of bilateral loans and aid for India, making it the latter country. For the fiscal year 2019–20, bilateral trade between the two countries reached a total of $11.87 billion (April–December). Japan imported goods at US$ 7.93 billion while exporting goods to India worth US$ 3.94 billion. Petroleum products, chemicals, elements, compounds, non-metallic mineral ware, fish and fish preparations, metalliferous ores and scrap, clothes and accessories, iron and steel products, textile yarn, fabrics, and machinery are a few of India’s most important exports to Japan. Machines, electrical machinery, iron and steel products, plastics, non-ferrous metals, auto components, organic chemicals, metal producers, etc. are among the major Japanese imports into India. Defence: Over time, the India-Japan Defense and Security Partnership has developed into a crucial tenet of the two countries’ relations. Growing strategic convergence has increased the effectiveness of our engagements, and our shared beliefs on issues affecting the Indo-Pacific region’s peace, security, and stability have increased the importance of those engagements. The “Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation between Japan and India” was released by the two leaders in October 2008, during Prime Minister Singh’s visit to Japan. The “2+2” summit, the annual Defense Ministerial Interaction, and the Coast Guard-to-Coast Guard communication are a few of the forums for security and defence discussions between Japan and India. The Japanese and Indian armed services collaborate to organise the bilateral exercises JIMEX, SHINYUU Maitri, and Dharma Guardian. Additionally, both nations take part in the Malabar exercise with the USA. Technology & Science: The two nations’ S&T collaboration was formalised by the 1985 Inter-Governmental Agreement. The India-Japan Digital Partnership (IJDP) was established during PM Modi’s visit to Japan in October 2018 in order to broaden both current areas of cooperation and new initiatives within the context of cooperation in S&T/ICT, with a stronger emphasis on “Digital ICT Technologies.” Three joint laboratories between Japan and India in the fields of ICT (AI, IoT, and Big Data) as well as the launch of the DST-JSPS Fellowship Program for young academics are recent projects. Healthcare: In order to adapt AHWIN’s story for AYUSHMAN Bharat, the Japanese organisation ASHWIN and the Indian AYUSHMAN Bharat Program collaborated. Japanese-Asian Community: The composition of the Indian community has changed as a result of the recent influx of numerous professionals, including IT specialists, engineers working for Indian and Japanese firms, as well as authority in management, finance, education, and S&T research. QUAD Grouping: India and Japan’s bilateral collaboration has grown in the Indo-Pacific area, both directly and through the Quad grouping. A “free, open, and prosperous” Indo-Pacific area is the shared goal of India, the US, Japan, and Australia in their informal Quad strategic conversation.
INDO PACIFIC REGION:
The idea of the Indo-Pacific: It is a relatively new idea. The Indo-Pacific region only started to gain widespread attention about ten years ago, but since then, it has grown significantly. The realisation that the Indian Ocean and the Pacific are connected strategic theatres is one of the elements that influences the use of the phrase. Asia is also currently the zone of gravity. Because the Pacific and Indian oceans offer the sea lanes, there exist maritime routes. The great majority of global trade passes via these waters. Trade literally travelled across the Atlantic before the Cold War because that was where the universe’s centre of gravity was located. Instead of India, the earlier phrase Asia-Pacific was used. During the Cold War, many people utilised this catchphrase. The “Indo-Pacific” moniker highlights how important India is to the new system. The Indo-Pacific area faces significant risks from terrorism and the worry that one particular country in the region would start to assert itself. The United States, China, Japan, and India have the four largest economies in the Indo-Pacific region. Different parties have different ideas about what is meant by the term “Indo-Pacific.” India views the area as being open, balanced, inclusive, and integrated. India frequently emphasises the strategic connections, shared difficulties, and opportunities between the Pacific and the Indian Ocean. Since the United States views the Indo-Pacific as being free and open, it emphasises the importance of regional standards or norms of behaviour and strives to lessen China’s influence there. The ASEAN nations have included China in order to give it some stakeholdership and to look at potential areas of cooperation because they regard the Indo-Pacific region as a consociational model. India’s perspective on the Indo-Pacific region: Close allies of India include the US, Australia, Japan, and Indonesia, who define the Indo-Pacific as the Asia-Pacific plus India. India is now part of the Asia-Pacific strategic architecture. They essentially want India to be present in the South and East China Seas to compete with China. India, however, wants to work together to create a structure that will bring about peace and stability in the region. The states need to work together to establish a common rules-based structure for the area so that everyone can live in prosperity and security. The Indo-Pacific area is viewed as emancipated and welcoming by India. Everyone with an interest in the region is included, including every country in the area. The territory between the coasts of Africa and America is taken into account when calculating India’s geographic size. India is in favour of an Indo-Pacific trading environment that is governed by rules and is open, balanced, and stable so that all countries can profit from trade and investment. The nation anticipates the same thing from the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). India, not China, prefers an ASEAN that is cohesive rather than fragmented. China attempts to implement the “divide and rule” conquest tactic by pitting some ASEAN members against one another. India does not share the American view of the Indo-Pacific, which aims to restrain Chinese dominance. India is more interested in finding methods to cooperate with China. India supports the democratisation of the area. The place used to look almost exactly like a lake in America. However, there are concerns that the region may now become predominately Chinese. In this context, the Scarborough Shoal issue is used as an illustration. India opposes any member of the region achieving hegemonic supremacy. To prevent China from taking over the region, India takes part in trilaterals like India-Australia-France and India-Australia-Indonesia. China: A Challenge or a Threat? China has traditionally been a threat to the nations in the Asia-Pacific in addition to currently being a threat to Indian interests in the Indian Ocean. The distance between the Indian coast and the Chinese-controlled port of Hambantota in Sri Lanka is only a few hundred kilometres. China is, in a way, colonising the region by providing military hardware to India’s neighbours, such as submarines to Myanmar, frigates to Sri Lanka, equipment to Bangladesh, and weapons to Thailand. ASEAN: Because some of its members have been influenced by China, there is a danger that ASEAN’s unity in support of the Indo-Pacific idea could be compromised. India’s relations with ASEAN are further jeopardised by the fact that China is the largest trading partner in the area and can hardly be ignored by the entire association. The centre of the Indo-Pacific is Southeast Asia, and ASEAN is significant to India, particularly in light of its Act East Policy. The ASEAN nations understand how crucial India’s presence in the region is as a counterbalance to China. India and China share similar objectives in a variety of areas, such as globalisation, climate change, etc., despite their major disparities. China and India are members of the BRICS, the SCO, as well as other international organisations. Given China’s significance in the Indo-Pacific, it is believed that China poses more of a threat to India than a threat to its position. How to Move Forward: In line with international law, all countries in the area should be given the same rights to use the common sea and airspace, which calls for unimpeded commerce, freedom of navigation, and the peaceful resolution of disputes. Connectivity must be built up throughout the region based on the principles of preserving territorial integrity and sovereignty, consultation, good governance, openness, viability, and sustainability. Security in the Indo-Pacific region depends on marine domain awareness (MDA). MDA implies thorough awareness of any maritime operation that may have an impact on the environment, economy, or security. Multipolarity: It is essential that the nations in the region uphold security and enjoy law and order. Additionally, this will enable multipolarity in the area. India is expected to step up and provide the weaker nations in the region more options, both militarily and economically. India should try to accommodate their requirements. India needs a potent navy, international diplomacy, and commercial relations with other countries to handle the issues in the Indo-Pacific
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY:
About: “Corporate social responsibility” (CSR) refers to a business endeavour to evaluate, assume responsibility for, and support positive social and environmental change with regard to the company’s effects on the environment and social welfare. It goes above and beyond what the law might require. The money should be returned because it is entirely community-sourced. What is mandated by the law? To be in compliance with the Companies Act of 2013, a business must have a net value of at least Rs 500 crore, annual sales of at least Rs 1000 crore, and a net profit of at least Rs 5 crore. Companies must allocate at least 2% of its three-year average net profit to CSR initiatives that meet the requirements of Schedule VII, as from time to time updated. The regulations become operative on April 1, 2014. Additionally, in compliance with the CSR Rules, a foreign company’s branch and project offices in India are liable to the CSR requirements. The qualified business must also establish a CSR Committee with three or more directors. The CSR Committee shall establish and submit to the Board a policy setting forth the responsibilities to be performed, resource allocations, and company-wide CSR policy monitoring. If no decisions were made on CSR spending, the company must explain why. A punishment of up to 25 lakh rupees or up to three years in prison are possible for failing to disclose or omitting information. The first nation to explicitly require corporate contributions is India. What types of activities are permitted? CSR is a commitment to funding programmes that significantly raise the standard of living for the poor through one or more of the priority areas listed below. Getting rid of poverty, malnutrition, and hunger Advancing education, safeguarding the environment, and enhancing mother-child health Preserving the culture of the country Supporting the armed forces Promoting sports and financially aiding the Prime Minister’s National Relief Construction projects in slums, etc. How does it help businesses? Customers actively look for businesses that support charitable causes. Customers are conscious of societal problems. CSR therefore draws in clients. Advantage over competitors – Companies that can set themselves out from the pack by demonstrating that they are more socially conscious than their rivals frequently thrive. CSR efforts boost employee morale because they increase employees’ faith in the company’s compassion. How does legislation affect people? The commercial sector has donated more than 250 billion rupees to charity since the law’s adoption, up from 33.67 billion in 2013. How mainstreaming charity can take CSR from the periphery to the boardroom. Now, businesses must carefully consider the tools, schedules, and tactics required to meet their legal commitments. There are drawbacks, though. Non-compliance: 52 of the top 100 American businesses, according to a report, did not spend the requisite 2% of their yearly earnings last year. According to reports, fewer people have given larger sums of money to charitable organisations that later return donors’ contributions minus a commission. Back then, charity giving served as a critical reputation-builder for philanthropic family-run corporations. Now, all that is required is to abide by the law. Many businesses that were contributing more than 2% have cut back. Finding reputable organisations to collaborate with is one of the issues the corporate sector faces as a result of inequality. As a result, bigger, more well-known organisations get a lot of funding at the expense of smaller ones. The issue is exacerbated by the fact that smaller charities frequently lack the money necessary to meet the administrative and operational needs of businesses. Geographic bias results from the 2% law, with companies favouring projects that are close to where they are located. States with higher levels of industrialization are thus gaining authority over remote, less developed areas that urgently require development assistance. Politics: In an effort to build goodwill, some businesses choose supporting government-led programmes over those that are started independently. What further has to be done? Spending that is necessary moves India a little bit closer to its goals of widespread institutional change and social innovation. Additionally, it inhibits suggestions that businesses alter their operational procedures. A company should think about and nurture its relationships with stakeholders as part of CSR, and it should show this commitment by implementing the appropriate business practises and activities. To define responsible company conduct and demonstrate that CSR extends beyond charitable giving, a formalised set of voluntary national standards is necessary.
PM SHRI SCHEME:
What does PM SHRI mean exactly? As part of the centrally funded PM SHRI Schools initiative, 14,500 schools will be renovated in states and union territories to reflect the key components of the NEP, 2020. The PM Schools for Rising India. At a conference the Ministry of Education held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, in June, the proposal was first discussed with the education ministers of the states and UTs. The PM SHRI will serve as “NEP labs,” even if there are excellent schools like Navodaya Vidyalayas and Kendriya Vidyalayas. NEP characteristics: The National Education Plan envisions a curriculum structure and teaching approach organised into basic, preparatory, intermediate, and secondary levels (NEP). Play-based learning will be used in the early years (preschool and grades I and II). Brief reading material and structured classroom teaching will be provided throughout the preparation stage (III–V). Middle school students will be introduced to subject teachers (VI-VIII). There won’t be a clear distinction between the arts, sciences, or other fields at the secondary level (IX–XII). What distinguishes PM SHRI schools from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas or Kendriya Vidyalayas? Both Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas are wholly supported by the Union government through Central Sector Schemes, and both are overseen by the Ministry of Education of the Center. Unlike JNVs, which were created to support gifted students in rural portions of the nation, KVs mostly serve children of Union government personnel stationed in states and UTs. In contrast, compared to current institutions supported by the Center, governments, UTs, and neighbourhood organisations, PM SHRI schools will be an upgrade. Therefore, KVs, JNVs, state governments, or even municipal corporations could manage PM SHRI schools. Where will the schools that PM SHRI will operate be situated? Despite claims that the PM SHRI schools will also “provide mentorship” to other schools nearby, the Center has not yet made the list of the schools that have been selected for this reason public. These institutions will have access to contemporary resources like labs, smart classrooms, libraries, sporting equipment, art studios, etc. Additionally, it will be built using energy-efficient materials, recycle garbage, conserve water, and integrate curricula for an organic way of life. What is a centrally sponsored scheme? A programme that is centrally funded is one in which the federal government and the states/union territories normally split the costs of implementation 60:40. The noon meal programme and PM Awas Yojana are two instances of centrally backed programmes (PM Poshan). The Center’s contribution may be close to 90% for the Northeastern states, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, and UTs without legislatures.
08 Sept 2022 Daily Current Affairs
. No. Topic Name Prelims/Mains 1 About the Retail Inflation Prelims & Mains 2 Details of the FCRA Prelims & Mains 3 About the Judicial Custody Prelims & Mains 4 Details of the Digilocker Prelims Specific Topic 1 – About the Retail Inflation: GS II Topic Indian Economy Regarding the CPI: Retail prices of goods and services: When we speak of inflation, we frequently refer to the CPI-based inflation rate (CPI). The retail prices of the goods and services that families purchase for their everyday needs are monitored by the CPI. We determine the CPI’s percentage change from the same point a year earlier in order to measure inflation. Deflation is the condition of falling prices (negative inflation). This figure is particularly important to the Central Bank (RBI), which is in charge of keeping price stability in the economy. Other ideas that the CPI also helps with understanding are the real worth of salaries, wages, and pensions, the purchasing power of the currency, and rate control. What distinguishes the WPI from the CPI? WPI assesses the average change in prices of goods at the wholesale level, whereas CPI calculates the average change in prices of goods and services at the retail level. While the Office of Economic Adviser, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, releases WPI data, the National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, publishes CPI data (MoSPI). The basis year for WPI is 2011–12, while the base year for CPI is 2012. WPI just takes into account changes in product prices, whereas CPI also takes production changes into account. Source The Indian Express 2 – Details of the FCRA: GS II Topic Indian Economy The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) of 2010: The FCRA legislation, which is implemented by the Ministry of Home Affairs, regulates foreign funding of individuals in India. People are free to solicit contributions from abroad without the MHA’s consent. However, these international contributions can only be made in amounts that are less than Rs. 25,000. The Act ensures that recipients of foreign donations carry out the specified purposes for which they were raised. According to the Act, organisations are required to register themselves every five years. The five categories of social, educational, religious, economic, and cultural goals for which foreign donations are permitted to registered NGOs are as follows: FCRA Amendment Act 2020: The Act prohibits public employees from accepting foreign contributions. A public servant is somebody who works for, is paid by, or receives compensation from the government in exchange for performing any civic duty. A foreign contribution may not be transferred to a third party who is not authorised to accept a foreign contribution, per the Act. The Act mandates that all officers, directors, and key staff of a person accepting foreign contributions must possess an Aadhaar number as identification. The Act states that State Bank of India branches in New Delhi may only accept foreign donations in accounts the bank has designated as FCRA accounts. Reduced use of foreign contributions for administrative costs: According to the Act, only 20% of all foreign donations received may be used to pay for administrative expenses. The FCRA of 2010 set a 50% cap. Revocation of registration certificate: In accordance with the Act, the central government may permit a person to revoke their registration certificate. FCRA-Related Problems: The FCRA regulates the transfer of funds to Indian NGOs coming from abroad. It prohibits accepting donations “for any acts harmful to the national interest” from outside the country. The Act states that if the government believes that the gift to the NGO will adversely affect “public interest” or “economic interest of the state,” it may refuse to give its assent. On the other hand, “public interest” is not specifically defined. Both the freedom of speech and the freedom of association that are protected by Articles 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(c) of the Constitution are significantly impacted by the limits imposed by the FCRA. The impact on the right to free expression comes in two forms: By allowing some political organisations to receive foreign funding while forbidding others, it is feasible to produce biases in favour of the government. NGOs must exercise caution while criticising the regime since too much criticism may endanger their ability to continue operating. FCRA regulations can stifle dissenting opinions by characterising them as being against the public interest. This kind of repression of free expression may lead to self-censorship. In Shreya Singhal v. Union of India, the Supreme Court (SC) struck down Section 66A of the Information Technology Act in a case concerning confusing requirements for the public interest (2015). The SC decided that the Act might be used to suppress free expression. Since the right to freedom of association is mentioned in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a violation of this right also amounts to a violation of human rights (Article 20). The UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association examined the FCRA, 2010, from a legal standpoint in April 2016. It stated that restrictions supported by “public interest” and “economic interest” had violated the FCRA’s “legitimate limits” requirements. The clause’s terms were excessively unclear and gave the state wide leeway in how to implement them. Even though controlling corrupt NGOs is crucial in this environment, there needs to be clarity around ideas like the public interest. Way Forward: Regulations on foreign contributions that are excessively stringent may make it difficult for NGOs to operate, which are crucial to carrying out government programmes locally. They fill in the gaps left by the government when it falls short. The restriction shouldn’t preclude the global community from sharing resources, and it shouldn’t be discouraged until there is reason to believe the funds are being used to fund illegal activities. Source The Indian Express