Syllabus: GS-I, Subject: Society and Social Justice, Topic: Welfare schemes, mechanisms, laws and institutions related to SCs, Issue: National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC)

Context: The Union government to constitute the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) with at least one member from the Madiga community.

National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC)

• A constitutional body established in 1990 under Article 338A of the Indian Constitution.
• Composition: The NCSC is headed by a Chairperson, a vice-chairperson, and three other members appointed by the President of India.

Objectives:

• Protection from exploitation of SCs and ensure their safety and security.
• Promoting social, educational, and economic development of SC communities.
• Safeguarding constitutional rights of SCs guaranteed by the constitution.

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS-I, Subject: Society and Social Justice, Topic: Poverty, Hunger and developmental issues, Issue: Zero food children

Context: A study published in the peer-reviewed JAMA Network Open journal.

Zero-food children are infants who have not eaten any food of substantial calorific content — semi-solid, solid,soft, or mushy food, infant formula or fresh milk — for 24 hours.

Highlights of the study:

• The prevalence of zero-food children in India at around 19%.
• India has the third-highest percentage of zero-food children.
• In terms of numbers, India has the highest number of zero-food children at more than six million.
• Uttar Pradesh alone accounts for around 28% of zero-food children in India.

Reasons:

• Poverty and marginalisation in economic background.
• Rapid industrialisation resulting in nuclear families
• Lack of awareness about the nutritional needs of children, and misconceptions,

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS-II, Subject: Polity, Topic: Institutions, Issue: Appointment of CEC and ECs

Context: The filling up of two vacancies in the Election Commission (EC).

Appointment of Chief Election Commissioner(CEC) and Election Commissioners(ECs):

• Article 324 (2):
  • The Election Commission shall consist of the Chief Election Commissioner and such number of other Election Commissioners, , as the President may from time to time fix
  • the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners shall be made by the President.

Appointment Procedure:

• Regulated by the CEC and Other ECs (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023
• The CEC and ECs will be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of a Selection Committee consisting of the
  • Prime Minister,
  • a Union Cabinet Minister, and
  • Leader of Opposition/leader of the largest opposition party in Lok Sabha.

The salary and conditions of service of the CEC and ECs will be equivalent to that of Cabinet Secretary.

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS-I, Subject: Society and Social Justice, Topic: Social sector – Human resources, Issue: Gig and Platform Economy

Context: A study conducted by the Indian Federation of App-based Transport Workers.

Highlights:

• Almost a third of app-based cab drivers work for over 14 hours a day of which 60% are from the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.
• Low earnings: 43% of the participants in the study earn less than ₹500 a day.

Gig economy

It refers to work arrangements that are temporary, project-based, or freelance in nature.

• People in the gig economy are often called “gig workers”.
• They typically find and complete short-term projects or tasks.

Issues faced by gig workers:

• Income Instability: No guarantee of consistent work or pay, unlike traditional jobs with regular paychecks
• Lack of Benefits: Gig workers typically don’t receive benefits like health insurance, paid time off, or unemployment benefits.
• Job Security and Legal Protections: No formal employment contracts or job security.
• Unpredictable Work Conditions: Little control over their work environment or schedule.

Platform economy: It encompasses the online platforms that connect gig workers with businesses or consumers who need services.

• These platforms act as intermediaries, facilitating the exchange of work and streamlining the process.

Example: Uber, Swiggy

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS-III Subject: Economy Topic: Trade and External Sector, Issue: Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA)

Context: : India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) signed a free trade agreement called TEPA.

Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA)

• Includes tariff reduction, increase in market access, and simplification of customs procedures.
• Commitment by EFTA- an investment of $100 billion and one million jobs in India over 15 years.
• Also included a chapter on commitments to human rights and sustainable development.

Institutions in News:

European Free Trade Association (EFTA)

• A regional trade organisation and free trade area
• Composition: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland .
• All countries are not part of the European Union.

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS-III, Subject: Science and Technology, Topic: Emerging Technology, Issue: Deep Tech

Context: Capital support scheme to encourage indigenous deep-tech and cutting-edge technologies.

Deep technology:

• It refers to advanced technologies based on some form of substantial scientific or engineering innovation.
• The innovations are “deep” in that they are sophisticated, very advanced answers to complex challenges or issues.

Governments Support:

• Financial support to encourage adoption of indigenous deep-tech and cutting-edge technologies in defence, energy and electronics.
• Initial period of five years, scheme to be run by
  • National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) and
  • National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF)

Challenges in deep tech:

• Need for greater investment in R&D.
• Improvement in infrastructure.
• Addressing regulatory and policy hurdles.

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus: GS-III, Subject: Science and technology, Topic: Emerging technologies, Issue: Crypto-Currency

Reason behind rise in crypto currency price:

• Market recovery: from geopolitical events like Russia – Ukraine Conflict and cryptocurrency collapses in 2022.
• Sign of regulatory openness – Approval of the first spot exchange traded funds for Bitcoin by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
• Increase in investor confidence and dominance in digital asset investment.
• Anticipation of the Bitcoin Halving event in April, is driving investor speculation and price increase.

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS-III, Subject: Economy, Topic: Infrastructure, Issue: Infrastructure- Road and Highways

Context: Road Transport and Highways Minister announced plans for a new highway toll collection system.

Proposed Highway Tolling System:

• Involves fitting vehicles with On-Board Units (OBUs) for tracking.
• GAGAN, with 10-meter accuracy, to map vehicle locations.
• Toll rates will be assigned based on highway coordinates and distance traveled, deducted from a linked OBU wallet.
• Aims to enable pay-as-you-use tolling and eventually barrier-free movement.

     Challenges:

• Recovering toll from non-compliant users presents a major challenge.
• Lack of barriers makes it difficult to stop non-compliant vehicles.
• Vehicles traveling without an OBU, deliberate OBU switch-off, or misuse of OBUs.

Conclusion:

• Requirement for OBUs in vehicles need to be mandated by regulations.
• The new tolling system to coexist with FASTag-based toll collection.
• Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 to address privacy concerns.
• Use of GAGAN satellite system instead of GPS will ensure data remains within India.

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS-II, Subject: Polity, Topic: Election and RPA, Issue: Elections

Key issues in election campaign spending:

• Uneven playing field: Government advertisements before elections often favor the ruling party.
• No expenditure limits: on political parties during elections.
• The illicit distribution of cash and the opaque nature of donations.
• Still unaccounted electoral funding acquired through electoral bonds scheme.

Election reform proposed by Election Commission in 2016:

• Ban on government advertisements from six months before elections.
• Imposition of expenditure ceilings on parties, linked to candidate limits.
• Appointment of additional judges in High Courts: for expeditious resolution of election-related cases.

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS-II, Subject: Polity, Topic: Election and RPA, Issue: Electoral Bonds

Context: the Supreme Court declared the electoral bond scheme unconstitutional.

More about the S.C. court ruiling:

• The scheme facilitated unlimited anonymous funding of political parties.
• The court ordered the State Bank of India to halt the issuance of electoral bonds.
• And disclose complete details of bond purchased since April 12, 2019 within 21 days.

Conclusion:

• Transparency in political funding:
  • allows voters to track potential quid pro quo.
  • crucial for maintaining democratic integrity and effective governance.
• The C. must enforce disclosure timelines to uphold voters’ right to information.

Access to this information empowers voters to make informed decisions.

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS- III, Subject: Environment, Ecology and Disaster Management, Topic: Disaster Management, Issue: Water Crisis

Context: Water Crisis in Karnataka (Bengaluru)

• Bengaluru’s reliance on the Cauvery River and groundwater worsens the crisis.

Key factors responsible for the crisis:

1. Insufficient rainfall– resulting under-‘replenishment’ of the Cauvery.
2. Reduction in rainy season – less number of rainy days.
3. Bengaluru’s lack of preparation– low ground water recharge rate, demand-supply mismatch, reduction in number of lakes within the city, low investment on research and development etc.

Concerns:

• Climate change leads to non-linear, disproportionate, and potentially irreversible outcomes, necessitating rapid and sustained responses.
• Even if erratic rainfall is not directly linked to climate change, its unpredictability will likely increase.

The way ahead:

• long-term strategies are crucial.
• Holistic solutions to be ready for rapid urban growth
• Circular water economy: can reduce reliance on external sources and maximize water utility.
• Restoring the health of rivers.

Source: The Hindu