Critically evaluate India’s progress in achieving the targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Eight aspirational goals set out in the Millenium Development Goals to be achieved in 15 years which was started in 2000. The goals are set to eradicate extreme poverty & hunger, achieve universal primary education, reduce maternal mortality and infant mortality, reduce gender disparity, combat HIV/AIDS, malaria or other diseases, environment sustainability and global partnership for development.
Almost all countries have shown remarkable effort in meeting the target. The number of people now living under extreme poverty has declined from 1.9 billion in 1990 to 830 million in 2015.
India progress on achieving MDGs:
1. India has halved the number of people under extreme poverty. However, still India is carrying the highest number of hungry people in the world. China has shown remarkable achievement in this field that has now only 4 percent people under extreme poverty, it was 61 percent in 1990.
2. Maternal mortality ratio(MMR) was 190 in 2013 but the target is to achieve 109 MMR; similarly there is also slow progress in decline of Infant mortality ratio(IMR) from 88 in 1990 to 44 in 2012. Inspite of the schemes like Janani Suraksha Yojana and Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram, the result is not overwhelming.
3. The country is still struggling with diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria or others. Although there is decline in HIV cases, but the country has third highest number of people infected with HIV.
4. Universalisation of primary education under the aegis of Sarva shiksa Abhiyaan is still not fully implemented. India has more number of school drop-outs. Many poor children is working as labourer in hotels and shops. Mid Day Mill scheme is launched to reduce drop-outs.
5. On the matter of environment, India is one of the few countries that has reduced its carbon dioxide emissions in relation to its GDP from 0.65 kg of carbon dioxide per $1 of GDP in 1990, which fell to 0.53 kg in 2010.
We have achieved 11 out of 22 MDGs target. We could have done more than that but with only 4.1% of GDP investment in public healthcare and 3.1% in education, this scenario is not going to change in the near future.
In your opinion, what should be the primary objectives of the New Development Bank being established by BRICS countries and how these objectives should be achieved? Discuss. (200 Words)Analyse the importance of Central Asian countries in India’s fight against terrorism.
BRICS countries is launching New Development Bank with initial capital of $100 billion. The objectives of the bank is to fund infrastructure and sustainable development projects in their own countries as well as others.
This bank should not follow the principle of World Bank or IMF. The groupings have major population struggling with poverty, unemployment and basic infrastructure facilities. Hence the primary objectives of the bank should be The primary objectives of the NDB should be to achieve three zeros by 2050: zero poverty, zero unemployment, and zero net carbon emissions. This could be achieved only with the investment in social business projects. The social business is not a profit-driven but mission driven business.
Financing of capitalist projects will only be profitable to money-makers. The goal of NDB must be to unleash the potential of youths and with the use of innovative technologies, we can build social business to solve complex social, economic and environment problems. Currently, India is holding the largest population of youth generation and need of the hour to mobilise them in building social business so that inequality and disparity can be minimised.
For the sustainable development of the environment, financing of eco-friendly social businesses will be more profitable to the countries instead of serving the money-making businesses. The countries should be committed to eliminate non-renewable energy and zero-tolerance against greenhouse gas emission by 2050.
By following these strategies, NDB can set example for other funding organisation. Sustainable development, good governance and eliminating social problems should center theme for the newly created NDB.
Analyse the importance of Central Asian countries in India’s fight against terrorism. (200 Words)
Terrorism has acquired a new shape with the ISIS-Taliban cobweb spreading across the world. This has rung an alarm bell for India,which has one of the largest muslim population,but has so far been effective in insulating its population form the radicalism.but with the ISIS attaining a global presence by using internet to recruit its members world across,India needs to do more to counter the terrorism.
Pakistan and Afghanistan would have otherwise acted as a buffer to India against the spread of terrorism in the West Asia,but these two countries are themselves plagued with the terrorism.in such a case,Central asian countries play a major role.
Geopolitically,these countries provide a route to the Middle East.The middle east is already on the boil with a plethora of terrorist attacks taking place there.Sharing a border with the middle east,the terrorism might easily influence central asian countries.Hence if India indulges in information-sharing of such activities in these areas and take up counter-terrorist activities here,the spread of terrorists to India can be stopped,with the Central asian countries acting as a buffer for India.
Diplomatically,India has had good relations with Central asian countries since a long time,hence futher maintaining this relation will build a confidence in the muslim population in India,which might curb spread of radicalism in our country.
Economically,these countries have huge resources,especially oil.Development of ties on the economic front with this area will develop these countries,and economic development of the masses here will further curb the spread of terrorism here,helping India indirectly. One such step is the operation of the TAPI pipeline,which will economically affect the area.
Hence,the key to prevent spreading of terrorism in India is by harnessing the good relations with the Central Asian nations.
“The National Judicial Appointments Commission gives government primacy over judiciary”.
NJAC act was notified by government after this was passed by parliament and half of the states.
NJAC act is enacted for replacing the collegium system of appointing the judges.
As per NJAC composition it will have
1) CJI as ex-officio chairperson
2) Law minister
3) Two other supreme court judges
4) Two eminent personalities which will be selected by a committee of Prime Minister, CJI, leader of opposition.
In India democracy is based on separation of judicial powers frome executive and legislature.
Which is seen as the basic structure of Constitution and this cannot be altered .Now if two eminent personalities are chosen by PM and leader of opposition and also there is no qualification defined for these two persoanlities which gives a chance to government to interfere in the work of NJAC. Also, there are chances the person appointed by government will be easily influenced by government. Law minister inclusion in NJAC is also seen as the same interference.So it means government has three people in NJAC , two eminent personalities and one law minister which can influence all the appointments because any two person can veto any appointment but if we see same is the case with Judges, there will be three judges as well in NJAC , CJI and two supreme court judges. So it is not a primacy for government but a sure hindrance in case they dont agree. Which is seen as interferening Judicial work.
In a diverse country like India and also as per constitution Judicial Independence is must so it will be better if Judicial independence is maintained and for that we can clearly define the eligibility for two eminent personalities and also more judges can be included in that committee so that we can be sure that there was no government primacy.
Critically comment.Critically comment on the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act and its impact on Indian women.
The Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956 is one of the four hindu code bills enacted during Nehru regime in1956. This act defines guardianship relation between adults and minors as well as between people of all ages and their property .
according to the law-
1 .Father is the primary guardian for legitimate son and unmarried daughter and
mother is the secondary guardian
2. Mother is primary guardian only for children of age less than five.
3. For adaptive son adaptive father is the primary guardian and mother is the secondary guardian
This kind of law only strengthen the patriarchal system of society where legally too women are considered as secondary . Indian constitution talks about equality of men and women but still in some laws like this legal discrimination is common.
In many public and private institutions like schools, banks,for employments etc. name of the father is essential which again buttress the patriarchal system of society and makes the women’s position secondary.
With the recent SC judgment allowing unwed mothers to take legal guardianship of child without fathers's consent,earlier Sc's recognition of both father and mother as legal guardian ,are steps in a positive direction.and significant for children born out of sex workers and one step for safeguarding women's right.
Now the age old Law should be amended to give equal guardianship for both mother and father so that both can be equally treated keeping in view the interest of childrenand as another step towards women empowerment.
Write a note on the working principle of the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) and its importance for India’s nuclear energy program. (200 Words)
The primary energy resource for electricity generation in India is coal which is adequate to meet the energy demand for about 50-70 years (500 GWe). The potential of other resources like gas, oil, wind, sol ar and biomass is very limited with their attendant problems The only other viable energy resource is nuclear. India has а moderate uranium reserve (50,000 t) i.e. 1-4% of world reserve and а large thorium reserve (5,00,000 t) i.e. 25% of world reserve.
Nuclear energy program in India is being implemented in three stages . Natural uranium fuelled Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors(PHWR) are in operation / under construction in the first stage . The plutonium generated from PHWR will be amplified through breeding in Fast Breeder Reactors (FBR) in the second stage. This will facilitate launching of large scale Тh- U233 fuel cycle in the third stage. FBR also utilize natural uranium fuel very effectively (~75 % ) through breeding and thus provide а rapid energy growth potential (300 GWe for about 30 у) . They also constitute а clean source of power unlike fossil fuel power stations. Several operating FBR worldwide are witness to their environment friendly performance. The use of Thorium in FBR in the third stage makes it а much larger resource (1500 billion tonnes of coal equivalent) than the combined coal, oil and gas resources. Thus FBR provides long term energy security utilizing the indigenous uranium and thorium reserves .
Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam i s responsible for establishment of fast breeder technology in the country.
The Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam, designed and developed the technology for the PFBR. They are called breeder reactors because they breed more fuel than they consume.
Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) in Kalpakkam, an important part of the country’s three-stage nuclear power programme. In the first stage of the programme, natural uranium fuelled pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWR) produce electricity while generating plutonium-239 as by-product. the second stage, fast breeder reactors (FBRs) would use a mixed oxide (MOX) fuel made from plutonium-239, recovered by reprocessing spent fuel from the first stage, and natural uranium. A Stage III reactor or an Advanced nuclear power system involves a self-sustaining series of thorium-232-uranium-233 fuelled reactors. This would be a thermal breeder reactor, which in principle can be refueled – after its initial fuel charge – using only naturally occurring thorium.
Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) in Kalpakkam(40 km from Chennai in Tamil Nadu), an important milestone in the country’s three-stage nuclear power programme. The surplus plutonium (or uranium-233 for thorium reactors) from each fast reactor can be used to set up more such reactors and grow the nuclear capacity in tune with India's needs for power.Unlike conventional reactors that use water to transfer heat, a PFBR uses liquid sodium as coolant. The PFBR is part of the three-stage nuclear power program. The ultimate focus of the programme is on enabling the thorium reserves of India to be utilised in meeting the country's energy requirements. This is of special significance to the Indian nuclear power generation strategy as India has one of the world's largest reserves of thorium, which could provide power for more than 60,000 years
In recent years massive corruption in the competitive exams for professional courses and government conducted at both state and national level is coming into light thanks to vigilant media and courageous whistleblowers. In your opinion, what are the causes and consequences of this type of corruption? Critically discuss. (200 Words)
The recent Vyapam Scam in Madhya Pradesh has brougt to light the very real and omnipresent system of corruption in competitive exams for professional and government courses , rampant but seldom brought to light in many of the states
The spate of scams in recruitment exams conducted for government jobs (Vyapam, UP-PSC) and professional courses (All India PMT) brings to light the clear nexus between recruitment agency officials, middlemen and aspirants seeking to take the easy way out.
Driven sometimes by economic pressures or simply by preference for the quickest road to success to get a 'secure government job' or a seat at an institution, aspirants fall in the trap of corrupt officials. Who in turn see this pool of short-cut seekers as a captive market..
The various causes which can be attributed to it are:-
1. Holding in high esteem , the professional courses as compared to simple degree courses which makes them a coveted entity.
2. Expectation of high dividends and returns on completion of these courses and hence a bee-line to get into them.
3. Unjustifiable desire of parents to channel their children in such courses which presumably offer better job perspectives in a highly unemployed economy and hence no hesitation in spending/investing huge amounts of money in them.
The consequences of such scams are:-
1 . Admission of incapable students in professional streams which makes the particular chosen field hollow at its base and so leads to its deterioration at gradual levels.
2. Exclusion of capable students who fail to gain positions in such courses illegitimately and hence ttheir moral and professional discouragement.
3. Rampant growth and encouragement of corrupt officials who carry on with their malpractices.
Ministers make a plea on Sec. 8
The A. P. Government has urged President Pranab Mukherjee to ensure the enforcement of provisions under Section 8 of the AP Reorganisation Act.
The issue has come to the fore again following the allegations of the AP government that the phones of its leaders have been illegally tapped by the Telangana police.
Kalpakkam breeder reactor to go on stream
The 500-MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam is getting ready to be commissioned in September.
The Indian nuclear power programme, launched in 1954, envisaged a three-stage development of nuclear power generation from the country’s uranium and thorium resources.
India on track in cutting poverty: MDG report
Recently released Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Report 2015 shows that India has halved its incidence of extreme poverty, from 49.4% in 1994 to 24.7% in 2011 ahead of the deadline of 2015 set by the United Nations.
Details of the report:
Eight aspirational goals set out in the Millenium Development Goals to be achieved in 15 years which was started in 2000. The goals are set to eradicate extreme poverty & hunger, achieve universal primary education, reduce maternal mortality and infant mortality, reduce gender disparity, combat HIV/AIDS, malaria or other diseases, environment sustainability and global partnership for development.
Almost all countries have shown remarkable effort in meeting the target. The number of people now living under extreme poverty has declined from 1.9 billion in 1990 to 830 million in 2015.
India progress on achieving MDGs:
1. India has halved the number of people under extreme poverty. However, still India is carrying the highest number of hungry people in the world. China has shown remarkable achievement in this field that has now only 4 percent people under extreme poverty, it was 61 percent in 1990.
2. Maternal mortality ratio(MMR) was 190 in 2013 but the target is to achieve 109 MMR; similarly there is also slow progress in decline of Infant mortality ratio(IMR) from 88 in 1990 to 44 in 2012. Inspite of the schemes like Janani Suraksha Yojana and Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram, the result is not overwhelming.
3. The country is still struggling with diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria or others. Although there is decline in HIV cases, but the country has third highest number of people infected with HIV.
4. Universalisation of primary education under the aegis of Sarva shiksa Abhiyaan is still not fully implemented. India has more number of school drop-outs. Many poor children is working as labourer in hotels and shops. Mid Day Mill scheme is launched to reduce drop-outs.
5. On the matter of environment, India is one of the few countries that has reduced its carbon dioxide emissions in relation to its GDP from 0.65 kg of carbon dioxide per $1 of GDP in 1990, which fell to 0.53 kg in 2010.
We have achieved 11 out of 22 MDGs target. We could have done more than that but with only 4.1% of GDP investment in public healthcare and 3.1% in education, this scenario is not going to change in the near future.
In your opinion, what should be the primary objectives of the New Development Bank being established by BRICS countries and how these objectives should be achieved? Discuss. (200 Words)Analyse the importance of Central Asian countries in India’s fight against terrorism.
BRICS countries is launching New Development Bank with initial capital of $100 billion. The objectives of the bank is to fund infrastructure and sustainable development projects in their own countries as well as others.
This bank should not follow the principle of World Bank or IMF. The groupings have major population struggling with poverty, unemployment and basic infrastructure facilities. Hence the primary objectives of the bank should be The primary objectives of the NDB should be to achieve three zeros by 2050: zero poverty, zero unemployment, and zero net carbon emissions. This could be achieved only with the investment in social business projects. The social business is not a profit-driven but mission driven business.
Financing of capitalist projects will only be profitable to money-makers. The goal of NDB must be to unleash the potential of youths and with the use of innovative technologies, we can build social business to solve complex social, economic and environment problems. Currently, India is holding the largest population of youth generation and need of the hour to mobilise them in building social business so that inequality and disparity can be minimised.
For the sustainable development of the environment, financing of eco-friendly social businesses will be more profitable to the countries instead of serving the money-making businesses. The countries should be committed to eliminate non-renewable energy and zero-tolerance against greenhouse gas emission by 2050.
By following these strategies, NDB can set example for other funding organisation. Sustainable development, good governance and eliminating social problems should center theme for the newly created NDB.
Analyse the importance of Central Asian countries in India’s fight against terrorism. (200 Words)
Terrorism has acquired a new shape with the ISIS-Taliban cobweb spreading across the world. This has rung an alarm bell for India,which has one of the largest muslim population,but has so far been effective in insulating its population form the radicalism.but with the ISIS attaining a global presence by using internet to recruit its members world across,India needs to do more to counter the terrorism.
Pakistan and Afghanistan would have otherwise acted as a buffer to India against the spread of terrorism in the West Asia,but these two countries are themselves plagued with the terrorism.in such a case,Central asian countries play a major role.
Geopolitically,these countries provide a route to the Middle East.The middle east is already on the boil with a plethora of terrorist attacks taking place there.Sharing a border with the middle east,the terrorism might easily influence central asian countries.Hence if India indulges in information-sharing of such activities in these areas and take up counter-terrorist activities here,the spread of terrorists to India can be stopped,with the Central asian countries acting as a buffer for India.
Diplomatically,India has had good relations with Central asian countries since a long time,hence futher maintaining this relation will build a confidence in the muslim population in India,which might curb spread of radicalism in our country.
Economically,these countries have huge resources,especially oil.Development of ties on the economic front with this area will develop these countries,and economic development of the masses here will further curb the spread of terrorism here,helping India indirectly. One such step is the operation of the TAPI pipeline,which will economically affect the area.
Hence,the key to prevent spreading of terrorism in India is by harnessing the good relations with the Central Asian nations.
“The National Judicial Appointments Commission gives government primacy over judiciary”.
NJAC act was notified by government after this was passed by parliament and half of the states.
NJAC act is enacted for replacing the collegium system of appointing the judges.
As per NJAC composition it will have
1) CJI as ex-officio chairperson
2) Law minister
3) Two other supreme court judges
4) Two eminent personalities which will be selected by a committee of Prime Minister, CJI, leader of opposition.
In India democracy is based on separation of judicial powers frome executive and legislature.
Which is seen as the basic structure of Constitution and this cannot be altered .Now if two eminent personalities are chosen by PM and leader of opposition and also there is no qualification defined for these two persoanlities which gives a chance to government to interfere in the work of NJAC. Also, there are chances the person appointed by government will be easily influenced by government. Law minister inclusion in NJAC is also seen as the same interference.So it means government has three people in NJAC , two eminent personalities and one law minister which can influence all the appointments because any two person can veto any appointment but if we see same is the case with Judges, there will be three judges as well in NJAC , CJI and two supreme court judges. So it is not a primacy for government but a sure hindrance in case they dont agree. Which is seen as interferening Judicial work.
In a diverse country like India and also as per constitution Judicial Independence is must so it will be better if Judicial independence is maintained and for that we can clearly define the eligibility for two eminent personalities and also more judges can be included in that committee so that we can be sure that there was no government primacy.
Critically comment.Critically comment on the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act and its impact on Indian women.
The Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956 is one of the four hindu code bills enacted during Nehru regime in1956. This act defines guardianship relation between adults and minors as well as between people of all ages and their property .
according to the law-
1 .Father is the primary guardian for legitimate son and unmarried daughter and
mother is the secondary guardian
2. Mother is primary guardian only for children of age less than five.
3. For adaptive son adaptive father is the primary guardian and mother is the secondary guardian
This kind of law only strengthen the patriarchal system of society where legally too women are considered as secondary . Indian constitution talks about equality of men and women but still in some laws like this legal discrimination is common.
In many public and private institutions like schools, banks,for employments etc. name of the father is essential which again buttress the patriarchal system of society and makes the women’s position secondary.
With the recent SC judgment allowing unwed mothers to take legal guardianship of child without fathers's consent,earlier Sc's recognition of both father and mother as legal guardian ,are steps in a positive direction.and significant for children born out of sex workers and one step for safeguarding women's right.
Now the age old Law should be amended to give equal guardianship for both mother and father so that both can be equally treated keeping in view the interest of childrenand as another step towards women empowerment.
Write a note on the working principle of the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) and its importance for India’s nuclear energy program. (200 Words)
The primary energy resource for electricity generation in India is coal which is adequate to meet the energy demand for about 50-70 years (500 GWe). The potential of other resources like gas, oil, wind, sol ar and biomass is very limited with their attendant problems The only other viable energy resource is nuclear. India has а moderate uranium reserve (50,000 t) i.e. 1-4% of world reserve and а large thorium reserve (5,00,000 t) i.e. 25% of world reserve.
Nuclear energy program in India is being implemented in three stages . Natural uranium fuelled Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors(PHWR) are in operation / under construction in the first stage . The plutonium generated from PHWR will be amplified through breeding in Fast Breeder Reactors (FBR) in the second stage. This will facilitate launching of large scale Тh- U233 fuel cycle in the third stage. FBR also utilize natural uranium fuel very effectively (~75 % ) through breeding and thus provide а rapid energy growth potential (300 GWe for about 30 у) . They also constitute а clean source of power unlike fossil fuel power stations. Several operating FBR worldwide are witness to their environment friendly performance. The use of Thorium in FBR in the third stage makes it а much larger resource (1500 billion tonnes of coal equivalent) than the combined coal, oil and gas resources. Thus FBR provides long term energy security utilizing the indigenous uranium and thorium reserves .
Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam i s responsible for establishment of fast breeder technology in the country.
The Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam, designed and developed the technology for the PFBR. They are called breeder reactors because they breed more fuel than they consume.
Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) in Kalpakkam, an important part of the country’s three-stage nuclear power programme. In the first stage of the programme, natural uranium fuelled pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWR) produce electricity while generating plutonium-239 as by-product. the second stage, fast breeder reactors (FBRs) would use a mixed oxide (MOX) fuel made from plutonium-239, recovered by reprocessing spent fuel from the first stage, and natural uranium. A Stage III reactor or an Advanced nuclear power system involves a self-sustaining series of thorium-232-uranium-233 fuelled reactors. This would be a thermal breeder reactor, which in principle can be refueled – after its initial fuel charge – using only naturally occurring thorium.
Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) in Kalpakkam(40 km from Chennai in Tamil Nadu), an important milestone in the country’s three-stage nuclear power programme. The surplus plutonium (or uranium-233 for thorium reactors) from each fast reactor can be used to set up more such reactors and grow the nuclear capacity in tune with India's needs for power.Unlike conventional reactors that use water to transfer heat, a PFBR uses liquid sodium as coolant. The PFBR is part of the three-stage nuclear power program. The ultimate focus of the programme is on enabling the thorium reserves of India to be utilised in meeting the country's energy requirements. This is of special significance to the Indian nuclear power generation strategy as India has one of the world's largest reserves of thorium, which could provide power for more than 60,000 years
In recent years massive corruption in the competitive exams for professional courses and government conducted at both state and national level is coming into light thanks to vigilant media and courageous whistleblowers. In your opinion, what are the causes and consequences of this type of corruption? Critically discuss. (200 Words)
The recent Vyapam Scam in Madhya Pradesh has brougt to light the very real and omnipresent system of corruption in competitive exams for professional and government courses , rampant but seldom brought to light in many of the states
The spate of scams in recruitment exams conducted for government jobs (Vyapam, UP-PSC) and professional courses (All India PMT) brings to light the clear nexus between recruitment agency officials, middlemen and aspirants seeking to take the easy way out.
Driven sometimes by economic pressures or simply by preference for the quickest road to success to get a 'secure government job' or a seat at an institution, aspirants fall in the trap of corrupt officials. Who in turn see this pool of short-cut seekers as a captive market..
The various causes which can be attributed to it are:-
1. Holding in high esteem , the professional courses as compared to simple degree courses which makes them a coveted entity.
2. Expectation of high dividends and returns on completion of these courses and hence a bee-line to get into them.
3. Unjustifiable desire of parents to channel their children in such courses which presumably offer better job perspectives in a highly unemployed economy and hence no hesitation in spending/investing huge amounts of money in them.
The consequences of such scams are:-
1 . Admission of incapable students in professional streams which makes the particular chosen field hollow at its base and so leads to its deterioration at gradual levels.
2. Exclusion of capable students who fail to gain positions in such courses illegitimately and hence ttheir moral and professional discouragement.
3. Rampant growth and encouragement of corrupt officials who carry on with their malpractices.
Ministers make a plea on Sec. 8
The A. P. Government has urged President Pranab Mukherjee to ensure the enforcement of provisions under Section 8 of the AP Reorganisation Act.
- A delegation of Ministers of the A. P. State Cabinet recently called on the President and submitted a representation on the problems faced by the Government ‘owing to the confrontationist attitude adopted by the Telangana Government’.
- The delegation apprised Mr. Mukherjee of the alleged tapping of telephones of 120 important functionaries of the AP Government and the TDP by the Telangana Government.
- Section 8 of AP Reorganisation Act, 2014 empowers the governor to have control over administration of law and order in Hyderabad.
- It gives the Governor in the common capital area (Hyderabad) the special responsibility for the security, life, liberty and property of all those who reside in the area.
- The Section grants special powers to the governor to ensure security in Hyderabad, the shared capital of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, for 10 years.
- The provisions were incorporated by the UPA government to address the concerns of people hailing from Andhra and Rayalaseema but residing in the common capital.
- Section 8 says the governor can, after consulting the council of ministers of Telangana, use his personal judgment and take action in matters relating to law and order, including police transfers in the shared capital.
- The police commissioners of Hyderabad, Cyberabad and the SP of the neighbouring district of Ranga Reddy are also required to furnish reports on law and order frequently to the governor.
- The Act says the governor’s decision is final and the validity of anything he or she does cannot be called into question.
The issue has come to the fore again following the allegations of the AP government that the phones of its leaders have been illegally tapped by the Telangana police.
Kalpakkam breeder reactor to go on stream
The 500-MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam is getting ready to be commissioned in September.
- When the reactor goes critical, it will signal India’s triumphant entry into the second stage of its three-stage nuclear power programme.
- It is a 500MWe fast breeder nuclear reactor presently being constructed at the Madras Atomic Power Station in Kalpakkam, India.
- It will use plutonium-uranium oxide as fuel and 1,750 tonnes of liquid sodium as coolant.
- The Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) is responsible for the design of this reactor.
- Total costs, originally estimated at 3500 crore are now estimated at 5,677 crore.
- The PFBR is part of the three-stage nuclear power program.
- A breeder reactor is one that breeds more material for a nuclear fission reaction than it consumes.
The Indian nuclear power programme, launched in 1954, envisaged a three-stage development of nuclear power generation from the country’s uranium and thorium resources.
- The first stage programme consists of setting up of pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs). PHWRs are natural uranium-fuelled, heavy water moderated and cooled. The uranium reserves in the country are adequate to support the first stage nuclear power programme of 10,000 MWe through PHWRs. In addition to generating power, PHWRs progressively make available plutonium as a by-product. The technologies for the reprocessing of plutonium from spent PHWR fuel and for fabrication of plutonium bearing fuels have been systematically established in India through research and development over the past several years.
- The second stage of the nuclear power programme consists of effective utilisation of plutonium in Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs) which will provide the key to full utilisation of the country’s uranium resources and prepare the way for the long-term utilisation of the more abundant thorium reserves. FBRs enable generation of more fresh fissile material than is consumed for power production. With the deployment of FBRs, the depleted uranium and plutonium generated in the first stage will permit an additional power potential to the extent of 3,50,000 MWe.
- During the later part of the second stage programme, it is proposed to use thorium as blanket material in FBRs to generate U-233, another fissile material for use in the third stage programme based on U-233 fuelled reactor systems.
- Stage-I: envisages, construction of Natural Uranium, Heavy Water Moderated and Cooled Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs). Spent fuel from these reactors is reprocessed to obtain Plutonium.
- Stage-II: evisages, construction of Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs) fuelled by Plutonium produced in stage-I. These reactors would also breed U-233 from Thorium.
- Stage-III: would comprise power reactors using U-233 / Thorium as fuel.
Recently released Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Report 2015 shows that India has halved its incidence of extreme poverty, from 49.4% in 1994 to 24.7% in 2011 ahead of the deadline of 2015 set by the United Nations.
Details of the report:
- The report has set the limit for extreme poverty as those living on $1.25 or less a day.
- India’s reduction in poverty is still less than that achieved by several of India’s poorer neighbors. Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh have each outstripped India in poverty reduction over comparable time periods.
- India still remains home to one quarter of the world’s undernourished population, over a third of the world’s underweight children, and nearly a third of the world’s food-insecure people
- The report says that India has already achieved 11 out of 22 parameters in the report—spanning issues like education, poverty, health, and education— and is on track to achieve one more by the end of 2015.
- On the environment front, India is one of the few countries that has reduced its carbon dioxide emissions in relation to its GDP. India emitted 0.65 kg of carbon dioxide per $1 of GDP in 1990, which fell to 0.53 kg in 2010.
MDGs: What are they?
These are eight international development goals that were established following the Millennium Summit of the United Nations in 2000, following the adoption of the United Nations Millennium Declaration. They were set to be achieved by 2015.
- These are time-bound and quantified targets for addressing extreme poverty in its many dimensions-income poverty, hunger, disease, lack of adequate shelter, and exclusion-while promoting gender equality, education, and environmental sustainability.
- They are also basic human rights-the rights of each person on the planet to health, education, shelter, and security.
- Since the adoption, there has been significant progress in many of the goals. But the progress has not been uniform. The progress differs from country to country and even within the country.
The eight millennium development goals are:
- Eradicate Extreme Hunger and Poverty
- Achieve Universal Primary Education
- Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women
- Reduce Child Mortality
- Improve Maternal Health
- Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Other Diseases
- Ensure Environmental Sustainability
- Develop a Global Partnership for Development
- Each goal has specific targets, and dates for achieving those targets.
Why can’t we bring you under RTI, asks SC
In a step towards making political parties publicly accountable for their financial assets, the Supreme Court recently asked six national parties, including the BJP and the Congress, to come clean and explain their hesitation in disclosing complete details of their income, expenditure, donations and funding, including donor details, to the public under the Right to Information Act.
- The court has given the political parties six weeks to file their responses on why they should not be declared as “public authorities” under the Right to Information Act 2005, making them liable to disclose their financial assets to the public.
- The CIC had declared all national and regional political parties to be public authorities under the RTI in its 2013 order. In March this year, it had reiterated the order as “final and binding.”
Background:
The order came based on a petition. The petition was filed by noted RTI activist Subhash Chandra Agarwal, represented by advocate Prashant Bhushan, and NGO Association for Democratic Rights (ADR).
- The petition argues that political parties should come under the RTI as they play a core role in governance, and, in fact, enjoy a “stronghold” over their elected MPs and MLAs under Schedule 10 of the Constitution. The Schedule makes it compulsory for MPs and MLAs to abide by the directions of their parent parties.
- It contends that it would be within the average voter’s fundamental right to information to know the financial details of political parties.
- the petition says that under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 all political parties must affirm their allegiance to the Constitution of India and such allegiance is made compulsory for the purpose of registration under sub-section (7) of Section 29A. Therefore, political parties so registered must furnish information to the public under the right of information under Article 19(1) (a) of the Constitution of India, since right of information has been held to be a part of freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a).
- It also contends that the Law Commission of India in its 170th Report on ‘Reform of the Electoral Laws’ in May 1999 had recommended transparency in the functioning of political parties.
Five States seek time to roll out Food Security Act
The government will soon take a call on extending the September 30 deadline for implementation of the National Food Security Act as most States are not yet ready to roll out the programme.
- Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat and Kerala have sought over a year to implement the Act while UP has asked for six months.
What the states say?
- Tamil Nadu says that the State has a universal public distribution system and limiting priority beneficiaries under the NFSA will “open a Pandora’s box.”
- Bihar protested the number of beneficiaries fixed for the State under the Food Security Act and said over one crore poor had been left out making it difficult to identify beneficiaries.
- J&K sought at least a year as it was still reeling under the impact of the floods that wreaked havoc in the State last year.
- Gujarat says that the State government was planning to connect PDS beneficiary data, NREGA card holders and Socio-Economic Caste Census statistics for which it required at least a year.
- Kerala has also sought a year as it was having problems with computerisation.
About the National Food Security Act, 2013:
- Also called as the Right to Food act, this act aims to provide subsidized food grains to approximately two thirds of India’s 1.2 billion people.
- It extends to the whole of India.
- Under the provisions of this act, beneficiaries are able to purchase 5 kilograms per eligible person per month of cereals at the following prices:
- Rice at 3 Rupees per kg
- Wheat at 2 Rupees per kg
- Coarse grains (millet) at 1 rupee per kg.
Salient features:
- 75% rural and 50% of the urban population are entitled for three years from enactment to five kg food grains per month at 3 Rupees , 2 Rupees, 1 Rupee per kg for rice, wheat and coarse grains (millet), respectively.
- The states are responsible for determining eligibility.
- Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a nutritious “take home ration” of 600 Calories and a maternity benefit of at least Rs 6,000 for six months.
- Children 6 to 14 years of age are to receive free hot meals or “take home rations”.
- The central government will provide funds to states in case of short supplies of food grains.
- The state government will provide a food security allowance to the beneficiaries in case of non-supply of food grains.
- The Public Distribution System is to be reformed.
- The eldest woman in the household, 18 years or above, is the head of the household for the issuance of the ration card.
- There will be state- and district-level redress mechanisms and State Food Commissions will be formed for implementation and monitoring of the provisions of the Act.
- The poorest who are covered under the Antodaya yojana will remain entitled to the 35 kg of grains allotted to them under the mentioned scheme.
- The cost of the implementation is estimated to be $22 billion(1.25 lac crore), approximately 1.5% of GDP.
No mining, polluting units in eco-sensitive zones, says Javadekar
Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar recently held a review meeting with State Environment and Forests Ministers to review the progress of demarcation of Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA) in the Western Ghats region.
- He also discussed the further course of action in keeping with the recommendations of the 2013 Kasturirangan Committee report. As per the report, commercial mining and polluting industries would be strictly banned in areas identified as eco sensitive zones.
- The environment Ministers of six States viz. Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat attended the meeting.
Kasturirangan Report:
The Kasturirangan panel was set up to study the Gadgil committee report on the Western Ghats. The Gadgil panel report had faced unanimous opposition from state governments for recommending that almost three-fourth of the hills, including plantations, cultivated lands and large habitations, be turned into a restricted development zone with an over-arching authority to regulate the region superseding the elected authorities’ role.
Recommendations made:
- Around 60,000 sq km of Western Ghats, spread across six states, should be turned into a no-go area for commercial activities like mining, thermal power plants, polluting industries and large housing plans.
- It has suggested that 90% of the natural forests left in the Western Ghats complex – adding upto 60,000 sq km and constituting 37% of the entire hilly belt — be conserved under the Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) provisions of the green law. The forest area falling within the ESA would also cover 4,156 villages across the six states.
- The panel has said, “The villages falling under ESA will be involved in decision making on the future projects. All projects will require prior-informed consent and no-objection from the gram sabha (village council) of the village.”
- The panel has recommended that there should be a complete ban on mining activity in this zone and current mining activities should be phased out within five years, or at the time of expiry of the mining lease. It has banned development of any township or construction over the size of 20,000 sq m in the ESA zone.
- It has not recommended a ban on hydroelectric projects in the zone, but put a regime of stricter clearances for dams and other projects.
- The report suggests doing away with the complete moratorium on industrial and mining activity in the two Maharashtra districts of Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri. It has suggested persisting with the ban only on the area of the two districts falling within the ESA and a strict regulation in the rest.
- The report has steered clear from demanding a strict ecological control over the Western Ghat complex requiring changes and regulations on agricultural practices the way Gadgil committee report had suggested.
Fergusson College wins heritage status
Pune’s Fergusson College has been accorded the special heritage status by the University Grants Commission (UGC). It was founded in 1885.
- With this status comes financial assistance for its upkeep.
- The college, with buildings of gothic architecture on its leafy, 65-acre campus, has long been regarded as a landmark educational institution in Maharashtra.
- The college, named after James Fergusson, the then Governor of Bombay Presidency, had been moulded by Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Gopal Ganesh Agarkar, R.G. Bhandarkar and M.G. Ranade.
- The alumni include two Prime Ministers, theatre and film artists and writers.
- The college is among the 19 institutions in the country to get the heritage status.
- The idea of granting the heritage tags was mooted by the Centre in 2013 to enable the universities to receive financial grants worth Rs 8-10 crore per annum from the government for the improvement and upgradation of their respective campuses and other academic disciplines.
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