August 5th, 2021, PIB:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. CJI recuses himself from Andhra-Telangana case
2. RTE entitlements to be paid through cash transfers
3. 50% funds allotted for ongoing MPLADS projects lapse
4. In about one hour, RS passes 3 Bills
C. GS 3 Related
ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY
1. LS clears Air Quality Commission Bill for NCR
SECURITY
1. CERT-In tracks 6.07 lakh cybersecurity incidents
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. No fundamental right to strike
2. Clash of cultures in a federation
EDUCATION
1. A language ladder for an education roadblock
F. Prelims Facts
1. INS Vikrant
G. Tidbits
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

2. RTE entitlements to be paid through cash transfers

Context:

The Centre plans to pay students their Right to Education (RTE) entitlements in the form of cash transfers as part of a revamp and extension of its flagship Samagra Shiksha Scheme.

Details:

• The Samagra Shiksha scheme has been extended till March 2026.
• It will have a financial outlay of ₹2.94 lakh crore, including a Central share of ₹1.85 lakh crore.
• It includes several new initiatives on early childhood education, foundational literacy, and numeracy and language education.
• In order to enhance the direct outreach of the scheme, all child-centric interventions will be provided directly to the students through DBT [or direct benefit transfer] mode on an IT-based platform over a period of time.
  • This DBT would include RTE entitlements such as textbooks, uniforms and transport allowance.
  • It is not clear whether the tuition fees for students in the economically weaker section quota in private schools would also be paid directly to students as a cash transfer.
  • The stipend for children with special needs will be paid in this mode.

3. 50% funds allotted for ongoing MPLADS projects lapse

Context:

Virtually 50% of the ₹2,200 crore allotted for completing the ongoing MPLADS projects in 2020-21 have lapsed.

MPLADS Scheme:

• The Local Area Development Scheme known as MPLADS is a government scheme launched on 23rd December 1993.
• This central sector scheme was developed as an initiative to enable the parliament members to recommend developmental work in their constituencies based on locally felt needs.
• These developmental works mainly focused on the areas of national priorities such as drinking water, education, public health, sanitation, roads, etc.
• This scheme is now administered by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation but was earlier administered by the Ministry of Rural Development.
• Each MP is granted ₹5 crore under the scheme, adding up to ₹3,950 crore a year for 790 MPs, to undertake development projects in their respective constituencies.
• To implement their plans in an area, MPs have to recommend them to the District Authority of the respective Nodal District.
• The District Authorities then identify Implementing Agencies that execute the projects.
• The respective District Authority is supposed to oversee the implementation and has to submit monthly reports, audit reports, and work completion reports to the Nodal District Authority.

Details:

Image source: The Hindu

• The SCF head sharply criticised this stating that it constitutes a serious lapse in fiscal management with negative consequences for communities across India.
• The resultant funding crunch will hit several local area development projects under implementation across the country.
• Besides, in the five states that went to polls this year, no funds were released for these States and constituencies citing the model code of conduct (MCC).

Note:

• The Finance Ministry has asked the Statistics Ministry to further tighten the scheme’s guidelines by September this year, so that “if a work sanctioned by an MP is not used for five years, it will automatically lapse even if there is a committed liability for the work to be completed”.
• Currently, funds released to district authorities under MPLADS is not lapsable, while funds not released by the government in a particular year are carried forward.

4. In about one hour, RS passes 3 Bills

Context:

The Rajya Sabha has passed three Bills:

1. The Limited Liability Partnership (Amendment) Bill 2021.
2. Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
3. Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2021

Details:

The Limited Liability Partnership (Amendment) Bill 2021:

• LLP is an alternative corporate body form to traditional partnership firms.  Under LLP, a partner’s liabilities are limited to their investment in the business.
• The Bill seeks to amend the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008.
• The Act provides for the regulation of limited liability partnerships (LLP). 
• The Bill converts certain offences into civil defaults and changes the nature of punishment for these offences.
• It also defines small LLP, provides for the appointment of certain adjudicating officers, and establishment of special courts. 
• If an LLP or its partners carry out an activity to defraud their creditors, or for any other fraudulent purpose, every person party to it knowingly is punishable with imprisonment of up to five years and a fine between Rs 50,000 and five lakh rupees.
• Appeals against orders of NCLT cannot be made against an order that has been passed with the consent of the parties.  Appeals must be filed within 60 days (extendable by another 60 days) of the order.
• The Bill provides for the formation of a small LLP where:
  • the contribution from partners is up to Rs 25 lakh (may be increased up to five crore rupees).
  • turnover for the preceding financial year is up to Rs 40 lakh (may be increased up to Rs 50 crore).
  • The central government may also notify certain LLPs as start-up LLPs (as recognised through notifications).

Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2021:

This has been covered in  July 31st, 2021 CNA.

Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Bill 2021:

• It seeks to amend the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act, 2008.  The 2008 Act established the Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA). 
  • AERA regulates tariffs and other charges (such as airport development fees) for aeronautical services rendered at major airports in India.
• The bill allows tariff determination of a ‘group of airports’ by way of amending the definition of ‘major airport.’
  • The central government may designate any airport as a major airport by a notification.
• The intention of the government is to develop not only the high traffic volume & profitable airports but also the low traffic volume of non-profitable airports. The revenue earned by AAI from these airports will be utilized for the development of airports in Tier-II and Tier-III cities. It would help encourage the development of smaller airports. 

Category: SECURITY

1. CERT-In tracks 6.07 lakh cybersecurity incidents

Context:

Cybersecurity incidents noted by CERT-In.

Details:

• The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) observed more than 6.07 lakh cybersecurity incidents in the first six months of 2021, of which about 12,000 were related to government organisations.
• The IP addresses of the computers from where the attacks appeared to originate belonged to various different countries.

CERT-In:

• CERT-IN was established in 2004 under Section (70B) of the Information Technology Act.
• It is the national nodal agency for responding to computer security incidents as and when they occur.
• It strengthens the security-related defence of the Indian Internet domain.

Functions of CERT-In:

• Collection, analysis and dissemination of information on cyber incidents.
• Providing forecasts and alerts of cybersecurity incidents.
• Emergency measures for handling cybersecurity incidents.
• Coordination of cyber incident response activities.
• Issue guidelines, advisories, vulnerability notes and whitepapers relating to information security practices, procedures, prevention, response and reporting of cyber incidents.

2. Clash of cultures in a federation

The article brings to light the clash between the homogenising tendency of the union in India and EU with the particularism unique to individual states.

Conflict between the Union and its constituents:

• India and the European Union (EU) are unions.
• India is a federation because powers are divided between the Union and the States.
• EU is a supranational organisation that does not fit into both confederal and federal aspects. It is beyond that.

It is this division of powers in India and the EU that brings the unions into conflict with their constituent parts.

Latest controversy in the EU:

• The EU is criticised as a political dwarf distracted by internal quarrels and competing national agendas. It is seen as an aggregate of secondary powers in search of primary status through collective agency.
• The union finds it easier to promote universal standards in areas like climate change and food and bio-safety than domestic values.
• However, despite the EU being one of the largest economies of the world, the 27 leaders fight over issues from fisheries to budget allocations.
• The latest controversy with Hungary and Poland on gay and lesbian rights is a case in point.
  • Gay marriage is not recognised by Hungary and only heterosexual couples can legally adopt children.
  • The LGBTQ law that took effect recently, bans all content about homosexuality and gender change from Hungarian school curriculum and television shows for children under the age of 18.
  • This led to strong criticism from 17 liberal EU nations. They believe that the Hungarian law undermines the principle that discrimination on the basis of sexuality, ethnicity and gender is not permissible within the union.
  • Hungarian Prime Minister has countered by proposing a national referendum on the law.
• Besides, the Hungarian Prime Minister regularly frustrates the EU’s unity on foreign policy. Hungary was the first EU member to accept Russian and Chinese COVID-19 vaccines before approval by the EU medicines regulator.
• While there is an EU provision to remove voting rights from an offending country, penalties require unanimous agreement from EU states.
  • But, Hungary and Poland support each other and the union cannot expel a member state without the unanimity requirement.
  • Besides, Poland’s government takes a similar stance on LGBTQ with by-laws that have designated one-third of the nation as ‘LGBT-free zones’.
• Hungary is the second-largest net beneficiary of the EU budget, receiving €5 billion more than it contributes each year and hence does not wish to leave the union.

Issue:

• The measures introduced are for domestic popularity in a combined population of nearly 50 million with cultural traditions different from more liberal EU member states.
• This crisis is a clash of cultures that underlines the fact that integration towards a closer union is unlikely to happen.

Indian context:

• Similarly, in India, the Centre and the Opposition-controlled States have a historically fractious relationship.
• To begin with, in 1959, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru dislodged the Communist government in Kerala on deceptive grounds.
• This pattern has continued with the Union government attempting to subvert Opposition States by stimulating defections, ordering selective raids by investigative agencies, electronic surveillance, and delaying or refusing financial entitlements.
• The tensions between New Delhi and the Opposition-ruled states are magnified by differences in values.
• The homogenising bias of the union clashes with the particularism unique to individual States, resulting in the clash of cultures.

Cooperative federalism is where state and centre cooperate to frame, implement and regulate the national policies in the larger interest of the public and the growth of the economy. Yet, the clash of cultures has reduced the term ‘cooperative federalism’ to an oxymoron.
Category: EDUCATION

1. A language ladder for an education roadblock

Context:

• A recent decision states that 14 engineering colleges across eight States would offer courses in regional languages in select branches from the new academic year.
• Parallelly, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has given its decision permitting Tech programmes in 11 native languages in tune with the New Education Policy (NEP).

This topic has been covered in NEP: BTech in Regional Languages: RSTV – Big Picture Discussion

Details:

• The progressive and visionary NEP 2020 champions education in one’s mother tongue right from the primary school level.
• It is believed that this would improve the learning outcomes of the child.
• Multiple studies have proved that children who learn in their mother tongue in their early, formative years perform better than those taught in an alien language.
• UNESCO and other organisations have been laying emphasis on the fact that learning in the mother tongue is germane to building self-esteem and self-identity, as also the overall development of the child.

Global practices:

• Among the G20, most countries have state-of-the-art universities, with teaching being imparted in the dominant language of their people.
• In South Korea, nearly 70% of the universities teach in Korean.
• In Japan, a majority of university programmes are taught in Japanese; in China too, universities use Mandarin as the medium of instruction.

In this global context, it is ironic that India has an overwhelming majority of professional courses being taught in English. In science, engineering, medicine and law, the situation is even bleaker, with native language courses being practically non-existent. Fortunately, the NEP outlines the road map, demonstrating the means to protect our languages while improving the access and quality of education.

Way Forward:

• If a language is neglected, not only is a priceless body of knowledge lost but also, there is a risk of depriving the future generations of their cultural roots and precious social and linguistic heritage.
• More institutions must be encouraged and inspired in the coming years to offer courses in regional languages. 
• In the digital age, technology can be suitably leveraged to increase the accessibility of these Indian language courses to students in remote areas.
• Content in the digital learning ecosystem is greatly skewed towards English and has to be corrected.
  • A welcome development in this regard is the collaboration between the AICTE and IIT Madras to translate SWAYAM’s courses into eight regional languages such as Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, Marathi, Malayalam and Gujarati.
• In an increasingly interconnected world, proficiency in different languages opens new vistas to a wider world. What must be followed is not ‘Mother tongue versus English’, but a ‘Mother tongue plus English’ approach.

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. What is 'Project Himank'? 

1. It is a high-altitude research station in Himalaya
2. It is the country’s first robotic telescope located at the Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) at Hanle in Ladakh
3. It is an initiative of the Indian Government to safeguard the Himalayan Quail
4. It is a project of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in the Ladakh region

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: d

Explanation:

• Project HIMANK is a project of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in the Ladakh region, that started in August 1985.
• Under the Himank project, BRO is responsible for the construction and maintenance of roads and related infrastructure in Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), including some of the world’s highest motorable roads across the Khardung La, Tanglang La and Chang La passes.
• Now Umling La is the highest motorable road on Earth with a height of 19300 feet.
• Himank project ensures access to sensitive military areas including the world’s highest battleground at the Siachen Glacier and Pangong Tso Lake whose waters span the de facto India-China border.

Q2. Consider the following statements with respect to Anaimalai flying frog:

1. It is endemic to the southern part of the Western Ghats.
2. Its IUCN status is Endangered.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both
4. None

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: a

Explanation:

• The Anaimalai Flying Frog is found in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in the Western Ghats of India in the tropical evergreen forests. It is endemic to the southern part of the Western Ghats.
• It is also called the false Malabar gliding frog.
• As a semi-arboreal species of frog, the Anaimalai Flying Frog is found in the lower canopy and under story levels of the forests.
• Its IUCN status is Critically Endangered.

Image source: Wikipedia

Source: IUCN Red List

Q3. Which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. Sand is a minor mineral under the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957.
2. The Act empowers the State Governments to make rules for regulating the grant of minor mineral concessions.
3. Central Government is the owner of the minerals underlying the ocean within the territorial waters or the Exclusive Economic Zone of India.

Options:

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: d

Explanation:

• Sand is a minor mineral under the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957.
• The Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957 empowers the State Governments to make rules for regulating the grant of minor mineral concessions.
• Central Government is the owner of the minerals underlying the ocean within the territorial waters or the Exclusive Economic Zone of India

Q4. With reference to Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (NavIC), which of the 
following statements is/are incorrect?

1. It is designed to provide accurate position information service to users in India as well as the region extending up to 1500 km from its boundary.
2. ISRO has built a total of eight satellites in the IRNSS series; of which seven are currently in orbit, three of these satellites are in Geostationary Orbit (GEO) while the remaining in Geosynchronous Orbits (GSO).

Options:

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both
4. None

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation:

• Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (NavIC) is designed to provide accurate position information service to users in India as well as the region extending up to 1500 km from its boundary.
• It was developed in India by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and its commercial wing ANTRIX.
• ISRO has built a total of nine satellites in the IRNSS series; of which eight are currently in orbit, three of these satellites are in Geostationary Orbit (GEO) while the remaining in Geosynchronous Orbits (GSO).

Q5. In India, which of the following have the highest share in the disbursement of credit to 
agriculture and allied activities? (2011)

1. Commercial Banks
2. Cooperative Banks
3. Regional Rural Banks
4. Microfinance Institutions

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: a

Explanation:

In India, commercial banks have the highest share in the disbursement of credit to agriculture and allied activities.

Read the previous CNA here.

August 5th, 2021, PIB:- Download PDF Here