Current Affairs Reverse Engineering: CARE (18-07-2024)
| News at a Glance |
| Polity and Governance: Centre plans Rs 1.9-lakh crore 4th phase of rural road scheme |
| PM SHRI- schools scheme that Centre is pushing in states |
| Centre reconstitutes NITI Aayog, brings in allies as special invitees |
| Science and Technology: India releases fresh ‘positive indigenisation list’ to boost domestic defence manufacturing |
| Social Justice: About ‘Operation Nanhe Farishtey’ |
Centre plans Rs 1.9-lakh crore 4th phase of rural road scheme
Source: Indian Express
UPSC Syllabus Relevance: GS 2 Polity and Governance
Context: Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)
Why in News
- The Centre plans to launch the fourth phase of its flagship rural road scheme, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
Introduction to PMGSY-IV
- The Indian government plans to launch the fourth phase of its flagship rural road scheme, the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). This phase aims to connect 50,000 habitations
- with all-weather roads, enhancing rural connectivity and supporting economic growth in these areas.
Objective and Scope
- The main objective of PMGSY-IV is to improve connectivity in rural areas by constructing all-weather roads.
- This initiative targets habitations with a population above 250 in plain areas and 100 in special category states.
- Scope: The project will cover 50,000 habitations, identified based on the Census 2011 data.
- The focus will be on:
- Villages and habitations within 50 km of the national highways network.
- Rural growth centers and clusters in both farm and non-farm sectors.
Financial Details
- The total cost for PMGSY-IV is estimated to be Rs 1.9 lakh crore.
- Funding Breakdown:
- Central Government: Rs 1.3 lakh crore.
- State Governments: Rs 60,000 crore.
Implementation and Approval Process
- The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has initiated the process to obtain Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) approval.
- A draft EFC note was circulated for interministerial comments, and feedback has been received from some concerned ministries.
- The proposal will be sent to the Union Cabinet for approval.
- The ministry aims to secure Cabinet approval for PMGSY-IV.
Historical Context of PMGSY
- First Phase: Launched on December 25, 2000, by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government.
- Second Phase: Launched in 2013, expanding the scope and coverage of the scheme.
- Additional Component: Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas (RCPLWEA) was introduced in 2016 to focus on rural roads in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) areas.
- Third Phase: Launched in 2019, continuing the expansion and improvement of rural road connectivity.
Impact on Rural Economy
- Capital Expenditure: The implementation of PMGSY-IV is expected to significantly boost capital expenditure in the rural economy.
- Employment and Investment: PMGSY-IV, along with the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), is anticipated to drive investment and job creation in rural areas.
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)
- The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), was launched by the Govt. of India to provide connectivity to unconnected Habitations as part of a poverty reduction strategy.
- Govt. of India is endeavoring to set high and uniform technical and management standards and facilitating policy development and planning at State level in order to ensure sustainable management of the rural roads network.
| CARE MCQ | UPSC PYQ |
Q1. Consider the following statements with respect to Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY):
Which of the above statements is/are correct? A. Only 1 B. Only 2 C. Only 3 D. None |
Q. Consider the following schemes launched by the Union Government. (2001)
1. Antyodaya Anna 2. Gram Sadak Yojana 3. Sarvapriya 4. Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana Which of these were announced in the year 2000? (a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 4 (c) 3 and 4 (d) 1, 2 and 3 Ans. (a) |
| Answer 1- A
Explanation:
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PM SHRI, – schools scheme that Centre is pushing in states
Source: Indian Express
UPSC Relevance: GS2- Polity and Governance
Context: PM SHRI Scheme
Why in News
- The Centre has stopped funding for the umbrella program for school education in three opposition-ruled states that have refused to implement its PM SHRI scheme.
Overview of Samagra Shiksha Scheme
- Samagra Shiksha is an umbrella program for school education in India, encompassing pre-school to Class 12.
- It aims to improve school effectiveness by ensuring equal opportunities for schooling and equitable learning outcomes.
- It replaced the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), and Teacher Education (TE) schemes.
PM SHRI Scheme Introduction
- Purpose: Launched to develop 14,500 schools as exemplars under the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020.
- Scope: Includes elementary, secondary, and senior secondary schools operated by central, state, and local governments.
Funding and Implementation
- Total Project Cost: Rs 27,360 crore for five years (until 2026-27), with Rs 18,128 crore funded by the Centre.
- Allocation: Rs 3,395.16 crore approved for 2023-24, with the Centre contributing Rs 2,520.46 crore and states Rs 874.70 crore.
Implementation Challenges
- Selection Criteria: Schools selected via a “challenge mode” based on infrastructure, teaching staff, and learning outcomes.
- State Participation: Non-participation by states like Punjab, Delhi, and West Bengal due to existing similar schemes or objections to naming conventions.
PM SHRI Scheme
- It is a centrally sponsored scheme by the Government of India.
- Its objective is to establish over 14,500 PM SHRI Schools, overseen by the Central Government, State/UT Governments, local bodies, as well as Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS).
- These schools aim to create an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere for every student, ensuring their well-being and providing a secure and enriching learning environment.
- The goal is to offer a diverse range of learning experiences and ensure access to good physical infrastructure and appropriate resources for all students.
- The overarching purpose of PM SHRI School is to nurture students in a manner that transforms them into engaged, productive, and contributing citizens.
- This aligns with the vision of the National Education Policy 2020, striving to build a society characterized by equity, inclusivity, and pluralism.
Features of PM SHRI Schools:
- These schools will not only focus on enhancing cognitive development but also creating holistic and well-rounded individuals equipped with key 21st-century skills.
- The pedagogy adopted in these schools will be more experiential, holistic, integrated, play/toy-based (particularly in the foundational years), inquiry-driven, discovery-oriented, learner-centred, discussion-based, flexible, and enjoyable.
- The schools will be upgraded with labs, libraries, and art rooms. They will be developed as green schools with water conservation, waste recycling, energy-efficient infrastructure, and integration of the organic lifestyle as part of the curriculum.
- The focus will be on the learning outcomes of every child in every grade.
- Assessment at all levels will be based on conceptual understanding and application of knowledge to real-life situations and will be competency-based.
- A School Quality Assessment Framework (SQAF) is being developed, specifying the key performance indicators to measure outcomes. A quality evaluation of these schools at regular intervals will be undertaken to ensure the desired standards.
PM SHRI School Selection Process
- Parameters: Includes infrastructure quality, pupil-teacher ratio, and innovative pedagogical practices.
- Selection: Schools achieving minimum benchmarks are recommended by states and evaluated by an expert committee.
Controversies and Funding Cuts
- Funding Cut: Centre stopped Samagra Shiksha funds for Delhi, Punjab, and West Bengal for refusing to implement PM SHRI.
- Reasons: States objected to naming requirements and already implemented schemes.
| CARE MCQ | UPSC PYQ |
Q2. Consider the following statements with reference to PM SHRI:
Which of the above statements are incorrect?
|
Q. Consider the following statements: (2018)
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 3 only Answer: b |
| Answer 2 D
Explanation
|
Centre Reconstitutes NITI Aayog, brings in allies as special invitees
Source: Indian Express
https://indianexpress.com/article/business/govt-reconstitutes-niti-aayog-9457652/
UPSC Syllabus Relevance: GS2- Polity and Governance
Context: Composition of Niti Aayog
Why in News
The government reconstituted the NITI Aayog, increasing the number of special invitees from five to 11.
Reconstitution of NITI Aayog
- Chairperson: Narendra Modi remains as the Chairperson.
- Vice Chairperson: Suman K Bery continues in the role.
Full-Time Members
- V K Saraswat: Scientist, continues.
- Ramesh Chand: Agricultural economist, continues.
- V K Paul: Paediatrician, continues.
- Arvind Virmani: Macro-economist, continues.
- BVR Subrahmanyam: Continues as the CEO.
Ex-Officio Members
- New Appointment: Shivraj Singh Chouhan replaces Narendra Singh Tomar as the ex-officio member representing the Union Agriculture Ministry.
- Continuing Members: Nirmala Sitharaman (Finance), Amit Shah (Home Affairs), Rajnath Singh (Defence).
New Special Invitees and Portfolios
- H D Kumaraswamy (JD-S) – Heavy Industries and Steel.
- Jitan Ram Manjhi (HAM) – Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
- Rajiv Ranjan Singh (JD-U) – Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
- K R Naidu (TDP) – Civil Aviation.
- Chirag Paswan (LJP-Ram Vilas) – Food Processing Industries.
Additional Special Invitees
- Exclusions: Piyush Goyal and Ashwini Vaishnaw are no longer special invitees.
- Continuing Special Invitees: Nitin Gadkari (Road Transport and Highways), Virendra Kumar (Social Justice and Empowerment), Rao Inderjit Singh (Statistics and Programme Implementation).
- Newly Included: Nitin Gadkari (Road Transport and Highways), J P Nadda (Health), Virendra Kumar (Social Justice and Empowerment), Jual Oram (Tribal Affairs), Annapurna Devi (Women and Child Development), Rao Inderjit Singh (Statistics and Programme Implementation).
Composition of NITI Aayog
- Chairperson: Prime Minister
- Vice-Chairperson: To be appointed by Prime-Minister
- Governing Council: Chief Ministers of all states and Lt. Governors of Union Territories.
- Regional Council: To address specific regional issues, Comprising Chief Ministers and Lt. Governors Chaired by Prime Minister or his nominee.
- Adhoc Membership: 2 members in ex-officio capacity from leading Research institutions on rotational basis.
- Ex-Officio membership: Maximum four from Union council of ministers to be nominated by Prime minister.
- Chief Executive Officer: Appointed by Prime-minister for a fixed tenure, in rank of Secretary to Government of India.
- Special Invitees: Experts, Specialists with domain knowledge nominated by Prime-minister.
| CARE MCQ | UPSC PYQ |
| Q3. Consider the following statements regarding the composition of NITI Aayog:
Statement I: The Vice-Chairperson of NITI Aayog is appointed by the Prime Minister. Statement II: The Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog holds the rank equivalent to a Secretary to the Government of India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? [A] Statement I only |
Q. The Government of India has established NITI Aayog to replace the (2015)
(a) Human Rights Commission (b) Finance Commission (c) Law Commission (d) Planning Commission Ans: (d) |
| Answer 3 C
Explanation
|
India releases fresh ‘positive indigenisation list’ to boost domestic defence manufacturing
Source: Indian Express
UPSC Relevance: GS 3- Science and Technology
Context: Positive indigenisation of India
Why in News
- India announced a fresh list of 346 military hardware that will only be procured from state-run domestic manufacturers after a ban on their import kicks in under a staggered time-line.
Introduction to the Fifth Positive Indigenisation List
- India has announced a new list of 346 military hardware items that will only be procured from domestic manufacturers, particularly from state-run enterprises.
- This decision is part of a broader strategy to enhance self-reliance in defence production and reduce reliance on foreign imports.
Objectives and Strategic Importance
- Boosting Domestic Production: By mandating the procurement of these items from domestic sources, the government aims to strengthen the local defence industry.
- Reducing Import Dependence: This move is intended to minimize the import of military hardware, thereby decreasing India’s reliance on foreign suppliers.
- Strategic Autonomy: The indigenisation of critical defence systems enhances national security by ensuring that essential military hardware is produced within the country.
- Strategically Important Items: The list includes line replacement units, systems, sub-systems, assemblies, sub-assemblies, spares, and raw materials. These items are crucial for the operational readiness and maintenance of India’s defence forces.
Financial Impact
- The 346 items on the fifth positive indigenisation list have an import substitution value of Rs 1,048 crore.
- This represents the potential savings and economic benefits of producing these items domestically rather than importing them.
Role of Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs):
- DPSUs will be responsible for producing the items on the list.
- They will use various methods to achieve this, including in-house development and collaboration with private industry partners.
Indigenisation Process:
- The DPSUs will undertake the indigenisation process through multiple routes, which may include partnerships with private sector companies, research and development initiatives, and leveraging the expertise of academic and research institutions.
Economic and Strategic Benefits
- The initiative is expected to stimulate economic growth by increasing investment in the defence sector.
- It will also create job opportunities and enhance the capabilities of the domestic defence industry.
- By involving academia and research institutions, the initiative aims to improve the design and development capabilities of the domestic defence industry.
- This collaboration will foster innovation and technological advancement.
Previous Indigenisation Efforts
- Over the past three years, more than 12,300 items have been indigenised.
- This demonstrates the government’s ongoing commitment to reducing import dependence and strengthening domestic manufacturing capabilities.
- Prior to this announcement, the Ministry of Defence had notified four positive indigenisation lists, comprising a total of 4,666 items.
- Out of these, 2,972 items, with an import substitution value of Rs 3,400 crore, have already been indigenised.
- These efforts are part of a continuous push to enhance self-reliance in the defence sector.
Additional Positive Indigenisation Lists
- Apart from the five lists issued by the Department of Defence Production, the Department of Military Affairs has also notified five positive indigenisation lists comprising 509 items.
- These lists include highly complex systems, sensors, weapons, and ammunition, further underscoring the focus on indigenisation across various categories of military hardware.
Government Measures to Promote Domestic Defence Production
- India is one of the largest importers of arms globally.
- The government has introduced several measures to promote domestic defence production and reduce import dependence.
- These measures include policy reforms, incentives for domestic manufacturers, and initiatives to foster innovation and research in the defence sector.
Defence Manufacturing Goals
- The Indian armed forces are projected to spend around USD 130 billion on capital procurement over the next five to six years.
- This significant expenditure highlights the potential for domestic manufacturers to capture a substantial share of the defence procurement market.
- The Ministry of Defence has set an ambitious goal of achieving a turnover of USD 25 billion (Rs 1.75 lakh crore) in defence manufacturing over the next five years.
- This target reflects the government’s commitment to building a robust and self-sufficient defence industrial base.
- This focus on exports aims to position India as a significant player in the global defence market, leveraging its growing manufacturing capabilities.
| CARE MCQ | UPSC PYQ |
| Q4. Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: The fifth positive indigenisation list includes 346 military hardware items that will only be procured from state-run domestic manufacturers. Statement-II: The indigenisation of these items is expected to enhance investment in the domestic defence industry and reduce import dependence. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? [A] Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I. [B] Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I. [C] Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect. [D] Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct. |
Q. In the context of the Indian defense, what is ‘Dhruv’? (2008)
(a) Aircraft-carrying warship (b) Missile-carrying submarine (c) Advanced light helicopter (d) Intercontinental ballistic missile Ans: (c)
|
| Answer 4– A
Explanation –
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About ‘Operation Nanhe Farishtey’
Source: PIB
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2033823
UPSC Syllabus Relevance: GS 2- Social Justice
Context: Operation Nanhe Farishtey
Why in news
- The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has been at the forefront of an operation named ‘Nanhe Faristey’ – a mission dedicated to rescuing children in need of care and protection across various Indian Railway Zones.
Introduction to ‘Operation Nanhe Faristey’
- ‘Operation Nanhe Faristey’ is an initiative undertaken by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) aimed at rescuing and safeguarding vulnerable children across Indian Railway Zones.
- It has been operational since 2018, focusing on children in need of care and protection within railway stations and trains.
Track Child Portal
- Purpose: Provides comprehensive details about rescued children.
- Functionality: Helps in tracking and managing rescued children’s information.
Child Helpdesks
- Establishment: Over 135 railway stations equipped with child helpdesks.
- Role: Facilitates immediate assistance and support upon identification of vulnerable children.
Handover Process
- Procedure: Upon rescue, children are handed over to the District Child Welfare Committee.
- Subsequent Steps: Committee ensures appropriate care and eventual reunion with parents or placement in suitable care facilities.
Impact and Achievements
Since its inception, ‘Nanhe Faristey’ has achieved significant milestones:
- Rescue Operations: Thousands of children have been rescued from potentially dangerous situations, including trafficking, begging, and child labor.
- Rehabilitation Efforts: Rescued children have been reunited with their families or placed in safe environments provided by child welfare organizations.
- Increased Reporting: Enhanced awareness and the presence of help desks have led to an increase in reporting cases of children in distress.
- Positive Public Response: The operation has received positive feedback from the public, highlighting the RPF’s role as a protector of vulnerable children.
Challenges and Future Directions
Despite its successes, ‘Nanhe Faristey’ faces several challenges:
- Resource Constraints: Adequate funding and resources are crucial for the sustained success of the operation.
- Coordination with Agencies: Effective coordination between various stakeholders, including government bodies, NGOs, and law enforcement, remains a challenge.
- Continuous Training: Regular training and sensitization programs are needed to keep the RPF personnel updated on best practices for child protection.
Conclusion
- The ‘Nanhe Faristey’ operation by the Railway Protection Force is a commendable initiative that underscores the importance of protecting vulnerable children in the complex and bustling environment of India’s railway network.
- By focusing on rescue, rehabilitation, and awareness, the RPF is not only ensuring the safety of countless children but also setting a precedent for other law enforcement agencies to follow.
| CARE MCQ | UPSC PYQ | ||||||||||||
Q5. Match the following operations by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) with their primary focus:
Which of the above pairs are correctly matched?
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Q. “Rights are certain advantageous conditions of social well-being indispensable to the true development of the citizen”. In the light of this statement, which one of the following is the correct understanding of rights? (2017)
a. Rights aim at individual good only. b. Rights aim at social good only. c. Rights aim at both individual and social good. d. Rights aim at individual good devoid of social well-being. Ans: c |
| Answer 5 C
Explanation
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