Current Affairs

All (4265)Current Affairs (4243)Mains Practice (77)Mains PYQs by Subjects (40)

Abortion Laws in India

Context: A District Judge in Texas, the US has suspended the approval of the abortion pill mifepristone, which will essentially make sales of the pill illegal in the US.

About Mifepristone

Mifepristone is a medication that is commonly used for medical abortion. It is a synthetic steroid compound that blocks the action of the hormone progesterone in the body.
- Progesterone is necessary for maintaining the lining of the uterus during pregnancy, so by blocking progesterone, mifepristone can effectively terminate an early pregnancy.
Mifepristone is typically used in combination with another medication called misoprostol. This is taken after mifepristone and helps to expel the pregnancy from the uterus by inducing contractions.
Both mifepristone and misoprostol are taken orally as pills and are typically used up to 10 weeks of pregnancy. Mifepristone’s popularity lies in the fact that:
- It is a non-surgical option for abortion, considered to be the safest option for aborting early-term pregnancies.
- Since it is a pill, it allows individuals to have more privacy and control over the abortion process.

Roe v. Wade

In 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Roe v. Wade recognized that the decision of whether to continue or end a pregnancy belongs to the individual, not the government.

Abortion Laws in India

Under Indian Penal Code, voluntarily causing a woman with a child to miscarry is an offence attracting a jail term of up to three years or fine or both unless it was done in good faith where the purpose was to save the life of the pregnant woman. Since this provision was highly restricting the reproductive rights of women, a law was passed to give exemptions from the above criminal provision.

Medical Termination of Pregnancy, Act (1971)

This act allowed voluntary termination of pregnancy under the following conditions:

Continuation of the pregnancy would involve a risk to the life of the pregnant woman or cause grave injury to her physical or mental health.

Substantial risk that the child if born, would be seriously handicapped due to physical or mental abnormalities.
Pregnancy is caused by rape.
Pregnancy is due to the failure of contraceptives in a married woman.
Maximum time limit to terminate the pregnancy – 20 weeks though the law granted abortion rights to some extent, there were some issues with it and there was a need for an amendment.

Need for amendment of MTP Act, 1971

Unsafe abortions: Rigid conditions and time-limit for termination of pregnancy legally forced many to resort to illegal unsafe abortions. E.g., According to a study published in Lancet Global Health, 15.6 million abortions occurred in India in 2015 of which 78% of these were outside health facilities.
Time delay at judiciary: Those who wish to terminate pregnancy beyond the legal time limit had to seek the court’s permission. This often leads to judiciary delay and prevents women from terminating their pregnancy at the right time.
Technological advancements: Most of the foetal anomalies that are detected late and the MTP Act, of 1971, had not kept pace with the changing times, needs and advancements in medical science. With the advancement of medical technology, there is a scope to increase the upper limit for terminating pregnancies, especially for vulnerable women, and in cases of severe foetal abnormality.
Discriminatory to unmarried women: Lack of choice for abortions to unmarried women due to failure of contraception.

Keeping in view of these challenges, an amendment was made to the Act in 2021.

MTP Amendment Act, 2021

Increased legal time limit: Increases the time for abortion from 12 weeks to 20 weeks with the advice of one registered medical practitioner (RMP) and allows abortion beyond 20 weeks for rape survivors and beyond 24 weeks in case of substantial foetal abnormalities thereby preventing illegal abortions beyond 20 weeks through quacks involving risk to maternal health
Equal rights to unmarried women: Replaces “any married woman” with “any woman” undergoing termination of pregnancies resulting from contraception failures, thus destigmatising pregnancies outside marriage and accepting modern-day relationships.
Reduces delay by setting up of medical boards: The amendment sets up state-level Medical Boards to decide if a pregnancy may be terminated after 24 weeks in cases of substantial foetal abnormalities.
Confidentiality: Medical practitioners are barred from revealing the identity of women who wants to terminate pregnancies thus ensuring their right to Privacy. However, there is still a long way to ensure full reproductive rights for pregnant women.

Limitations of Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2021

Section 19 of the POCSO Act requires any person aware of a minor engaging in sex to report the matter to the local police even if it was a consensual act as the law pegs the age of consent at 18 years. Often, they are denied safe and legal termination of pregnancy due to fear of police harassment.
It does not cover victims of marital rape under the category of rape survivors thereby limiting the right of women to terminate pregnancies.

There is no change in the process for terminating pregnancies due to rape that have crossed the 24-week limit and the only recourse left is to get permission from SC/HC through a writ petition.
Lack of government healthcare clinics or medical professionals in remote areas leads to the prevalence of illegal abortion facilities thereby defeating the purpose of the MTP Act.

National Mission in Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems

Context: Experts deliberated on ways to strengthen the National Mission in Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) at the National Workshop on Technology Innovation in Cyber-Physical Systems.

About National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical System

The Union Cabinet approved the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical System (NM-ICPS) in December 2018 at a total outlay of Rs. 3660 Crores for a period of five years.
Implemented by: Department of Science and Technology (DST)
The Mission aims at technology development, translational research and commercialization in Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) and associated technologies, adoption of CPS technologies to address India-specific National and regional issues, production of next-generation skilled manpower, and accelerating entrepreneurship and start-up ecosystem development in CPS technologies.
As part of the Mission implementation, 25 Technology Innovation Hubs (TIHs) have been established in advanced technologies in reputed institutes across the country.
- These Technology Innovation Hubs focus on technology development and translation, human resource and skill development, entrepreneurship and start-ups development, and international collaborative research.

Cyber-Physical Systems

Cyber-Physical Systems are complex engineered systems that link cyberspace with the physical world through a network of interconnected computational elements, such as sensors, computational processing units etc. These systems are highly automated, intelligent, and collaborative.
Applications of cyber-physical systems include energy-neutral buildings, zero-fatality highways, personalized medical devices, smart cities, and smart manufacturing.

Cyber Surakshit Bharat Initiative

Context: National e-Governance Division, under its Capacity Building scheme of MeitY, recently organised the 35th Chief Information Security Officers (CISO) Deep-Dive training programme under the Cyber Surakshit Bharat Initiative.

About Cyber Surakshit Bharat Initiative

Cyber Surakshit Bharat was launched in 2018 with the mission to spread awareness about cybercrime.
Initiative of: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
It envisions building capacities of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and frontline IT officials, across all government departments to ensure adequate safety measures to combat cyber-security threats.
The CISO training is the first-of-its-kind partnership between the Government and industry consortium under Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.
The training specifically aims at educating and enabling CISOs to understand cyber-attacks comprehensively and get necessary exposure to the latest technologies for safeguarding against attacks.

Future of India-U.S. Ties

Context: The United States has announced its next Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti. Mr. Garcetti, who is known to be a close confidante of Mr. Biden, in Delhi is a sign of things to come. While his appointment signifies the potential for greater partnership, there are also differences in opinion to be overcome in the U.S.-India relationship.

The U.S. may want India to change its stance on the Ukraine crisis, while India may seek to persuade the U.S. to have a stronger position against China.

While India would seek greater partnership with the U.S., it would also be reluctant to sever its stable relations with Russia. As Moscow has just released its foreign policy strategy in which it has identified China and India as its main allies. India is also the president of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization

Areas of convergence:

The India-U.S. Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology, launched in 2022, is expected to expand strategic technology partnership and defence industrial cooperation between the governments, businesses, and academic institutions of the two countries.
The indo-Pacific partnership is aimed at promoting security and economic growth, increasing trade and investment, and enhancing connectivity in the region. The partnership is based on the shared vision of a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region that is respectful of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries.
The partnership involves a range of initiatives, including joint military exercises, information-sharing on security issues, and collaboration on economic and infrastructure development projects. It also involves cooperation in areas such as counter-terrorism, cybersecurity, and maritime security.
One of the key objectives of the Indo-Pacific partnership is to counter the growing influence of China in the region. The U.S. and India share concerns about China’s aggressive actions in the South China Sea, its expanding military presence in the region, and its efforts to establish economic dominance through its Belt and Road Initiative.
Further India’s growing consumer market makes it an attractive destination for U.S. businesses looking to expand their customer base. India has a relatively low-cost labour force and an abundance of skilled workers in sectors such as Information Technology, engineering, and manufacturing. The government has also implemented policies aimed at attracting foreign investment and promoting economic growth.
In the past, the nuclear deal, liberalisation of markets, and the outsourcing of Indian techies for U.S. companies are a few key moments of the relationship. Indian Americans are among the most successful immigrants in the U.S
The U.S. also aided Green Revolution which transformed India from a shortage economy to one with surplus food. The U.S. has also played an important role in making India an IT superpower.
The U.S. and India are also partners in combating climate change. This involves a wide range of initiatives, including promoting renewable energy, joint research and development projects, and investment in renewable energy infrastructure. The two countries are also aligned on the importance of space technology.

Challenges/Impediments that are likely to be faced

Infrastructure, logistics, and regulatory systems in India are not as well developed as those in China. India also has a complex legal and bureaucratic system.
India also feels that the U.S. has not always lent support to it and has instead pivoted to supporting Pakistan. Moreover, the American pull-out from Afghanistan does not inspire confidence in the U.S. as a trusted partner.
The U.S. has been flagging issues related to terrorism, human rights and democracy in India.
In agriculture, India has been demanding enhanced market access for its agricultural products in the US market. India has opposed enhanced Phyto-sanitary standards being imposed by USA to curb imports from India.
For Intellectual property rights, US concerns include piracy of software, film, and music and weak patent protections. Despite the changes in the Patent act, US has raised concerns about insufficient patent protections, restrictive standards for patents, and threats of compulsory licensing.
Regarding the digital Economy there exist issues regarding data localization, data privacy and e-commerce. The E-commerce rules of India and the Data Equalisation levy have also been contentious trade issues between the two countries. The US feels that these hit global software giants adversely. For ex. Amazon, Apple, Microsoft and Google.
In the field of pharmaceuticals U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) expressed concern for years about customs duties on medical equipment and devices. Issues increased when the Indian government applied new price controls on coronary stents and knee implants.

India wants cooperation from the US in developing a secure pharmaceutical manufacturing base for augmenting global supply chains.

Conclusion

The U.S. and Indian governments in the past have taken steps to promote closer economic ties and facilitate investment. For example, the U.S.-India Strategic Energy Partnership, launched in 2020, aims to enhance cooperation in areas such as energy security and access, and climate change. Thus building on their strategic partnership, the two countries can slowly become stronger together. This is the time to take the relationship forward constructively and make it reach its potential as well as look for positive areas of collaboration.

Chennai and Kamaraja ports target 100 MT cargo

Context: Recently Chennai Port and its subsidiary Kamarajar Port have set a target to handle 100 million tonnes (MT) of cargo for FY24, against 92.45 million tonnes handled in the just-ended fiscal year.

About Chennai port

It is the second-largest container port in India
It is the largest port in the Bay of Bengal
It is an artificial and all-weather port with wet docks
Chennai became known as the gateway of south India due to Chennai port

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How democracy is influenced by the wealthy across the world?

Context: The research paper by Ruben B Mathisen compares the influence of the affluent on policy-making in Norway and the United States. The clear result of the study is that in a social democracy like Norway, the link between money and politics was much weaker than in the U.S.

A comparison of the democracy of Norway and the U.S

Comparison Factors	Norway	United States
Policy-making process	Targeted schemes: ‘Targeted schemes’ like the ones we have in India which only benefit the so-called ‘needy’ and tend to provoke resentment among the ‘non-needy’ about how their tax money is being frittered away in ‘freebies’.	Public policy decidedly favoured the preferences of the affluent, at the expense of the poor and the middle classes
Economic inequality	Low levels of income inequality	High levels of income inequality
Universal welfare schemes	‘Universal’ welfare measures: ones that benefit every citizen such as free education and free public healthcare. universality of social benefits has the effect of ensuring their legitimacy and endorsement across classes, including the affluent.	‘Universal’ welfare measures: ones that benefit every citizen such as free education and free public healthcare. the universality of social benefits has the effect of ensuring their legitimacy and endorsement across classes, including the affluent.
Wealth redistribution	Norway has one of the lowest levels of income inequality in the world, which essentially means “less of a resource advantage for the affluent to be used (in whichever way possible) to influence politics	Low levels of wealth redistribution
Political party funding	Parties get two-thirds of their financing from state subsidies and political advertising on television is banned	Historically strong trade unions have been able to influence economic and social policy
	Political advertising on television is banned in Norway, making the entire campaign process less vulnerable to private wealth	Television advertising is a huge campaign expense in American elections
Trade unions	Trade unions are no longer as politically powerful as they once were	Trade unions are no longer politically powerful as they once were
Energy reserves	Vast reserves of oil and natural gas have made it possible for the government to maintain generous welfare transfers while imposing lower tax rates	No such significant reserves of natural resources
Wealth of politicians	The country’s political class is not particularly wealthy. The median wealth among Norwegian MPs is zero, according to tax records, which means that it is unlikely for policies to be biased in favour of the rich just because the politicians are themselves rich.	There are laws requiring proportionate representation of women in government institutions. Since women on average have lower incomes than men, their higher levels of representation resulted in greater political influence for women, which, in turn, got translated into greater political influence for lower-income citizens.
Gender inclusiveness	There are laws requiring proportionate representation of women in government institutions. Since women on average have lower income than men, their higher levels of representation resulted in greater political influence for women, which, in turn, got translated into greater political influence for lower-income citizens.	No such institutional mechanism to engender the governance process.

The Norway example demonstrated two things

one, in a welfarist social democracy with low inequality, education was a stronger predictor of responsiveness than income;
and two, restricting how money can be used to influence elections, and strengthening countervailing forces (such as trade unions) might change the balance of power.

The authors however remark, that initiating such changes would be most difficult in precisely those democracies that need them the most, because it is in those countries that the affluent already wield the greatest influence on policy.

Learnings for a constitutional democracy all over the world based on the above study

Strong social welfare programs can lead to greater social equality and a higher standard of living for citizens.
A decentralized political system with strong state-level autonomy can lead to greater responsiveness to local needs and concerns.
A robust system of checks and balances between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government can prevent the concentration of power in any one branch.
A high degree of political transparency and accountability can help to maintain public trust in government institutions.
Political polarization and a lack of willingness to compromise can impede progress on important policy issues.
A commitment to protecting individual rights, such as freedom of speech and the press, is essential for a healthy democracy.
Economic policies that prioritize the interests of corporations and the wealthy can exacerbate inequality and undermine democratic values.
The presence of a strong civil society, including active NGOs and citizen advocacy groups, can help to hold politicians accountable and ensure that the needs of all citizens are represented.
A well-functioning electoral system, including fair and accessible voting procedures, can help to ensure that the voices of all citizens are heard.
A culture of civic engagement and political participation can strengthen democracy and promote a more informed and engaged citizenry.

Indian-American C.R. Rao wins Nobel Prize equivalent in statistics at the age of 102

Context: The Indian-American statistician Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao has been awarded the 2023 International Prize in Statistics — the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for statistics. It is awarded once every two years to an individual or team “for major achievements using statistics to advance science, technology and human welfare”.

More on news: The work of Professor Rao, 102, has influenced, in the words of the American Statistical Association, “not just statistics” but also “economics, genetics, anthropology, geology, national planning, demography, biometry and medicine”.

C. R. Rao, the eminent Indian statistician

C. R. Rao was born on September 10, 1920 in Andhra Pradesh, India. He is considered the 'Father of Statistics' in India for his pioneering work in statistical theory and applications.
He studied mathematics at Andhra University and then at King's College in Cambridge, UK. He began his career as a lecturer in mathematics at Andhra University in 1941. He later served as Head of the Department of Statistics at the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Kolkata.
His research focused on statistical inference, multivariate analysis, design of experiments, statistical pattern recognition, entropy, and theoretical statistics. He developed concepts like Rao-Blackwell theorem, Fisher-Rao metric, Rao distance, and Rao-Cramer inequality which shaped modern statistics.
He advocated the use of statistics in fields like anthropology, economics, education, genetics, geology, medicine, psychology, etc. He pioneered applications of statistics in various branches of knowledge. Under his leadership, the ISI made significant contributions to research and training in statistics.
He has published over 400 papers and 20 books including Linear Statistical Inference and Its Applications. He has guided over 50 PhD students, many of whom became leading statisticians. He worked to put Indian statistics on the global map.
He was awarded India's highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna, in 2002 for his contributions to Indian statistics. He received many other prestigious awards like the Padma Vibhushan, Srinivasa Ramanujan Medal and the National Medal of Science.
He advocated for high standards of teaching and research in theoretical and applied statistics. He believed statistics as a discipline deserved to be studied separately rather than as a subordinate field of mathematics. This led him to establish the first Department of Statistics as an independent discipline in India at ISI Kolkata.
He was instrumental in the establishment of the Indian Society for Probability and Statistics to promote interaction and collaboration among statisticians. He worked to strengthen statistics education and research across India.
He continued his association with ISI Kolkata well into his 90s, devoting over 60 years of his life to building it into a world renowned center of excellence. His commitment to institution-building, promotion of statistics and passion for nurturing talent remain unparalleled.

C. R. Rao made seminal contributions to statistics through his research, teaching and leadership. His vision and dedication built a strong foundation for statistics in post-independence India. He continues to inspire generations of students and serves as a role model for statisticians worldwide.

Urban Local Bodies

Context: The Uttar Pradesh State Election Commission on Sunday announced that the Urban Local Body (ULB) polls will be held in two phases on May 4 and 11, and the counting of votes will be taken up on May 13.

In the first phase, 37 districts under nine administrative divisions of Agra, Jhansi, Saharanpur, Moradabad, Prayagraj, Lucknow, Varanasi, Devipatan and Gorakhpur will go to the polls on May 4, while on May 11 voting will be held in Chitrakoot, Ayodhya, Basti, Azamgarh, Meerut, Bareilly, Aligarh, Kanpur and Mirzapur administrative divisions, said State Election Commissioner Manoj Kumar in Lucknow.

General Studies- II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations.

Devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.

Urban local government institutions/municipalities are constituted for the maintenance and planned development of urban areas. The objective is to ensure that suitable levels of infrastructure and services are available to the citizens.

In many parts of India, the quality of life in urban areas is miserable and the citizens lead a difficult life. To overcome this problem, a series of reforms have been initiated by the Indian government to strengthen local-level governance.

In this line, we will be covering the topic in following ways:

Constitution (Seventy-fourth Amendment) Act Provisions
Powers, Authority and Responsibilities of Municipalities (Article 243 – W)
Reservation of Seats in Municipalities (Article 243 – T)
Challenges faced by urban local bodies in accessing finance
Steps taken to improve urban local bodies finances

Constitution (Seventy-fourth Amendment) Act Provisions

Constitution of Municipalities (namely, Municipal Corporation, Municipal Council, and Nagar Panchayat) in every Indian State;
Constitution of Wards Committees within the territorial area of a municipality, to ensure people’s participation in civic affairs at the grass-roots level;
Regular and fair conduct of municipal Elections by statutorily constituted State Election Commissions; no provision for supersession of municipal governments for more than 6 months;
Adequate representation of weaker sections (i.e., Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Backward Class) of the society and women in municipal governments through reservation of seats;
Specification by law, through the State Legislatures, of the powers (including financial) and functional responsibilities to be entrusted to municipalities and wards committees;
Constitution of State Finance Commissions, once in every 5 years, to review the financial position of municipalities and to make recommendations on the measures needed to improve their financial position;
Constitution of a District Planning Committee at the district level and a Metropolitan Planning Committee in metropolitan areas of every State, for the preparation and consolidation of development plans.

	Brief Characteristics
	Before 1992	After 1992
Municipal Corporation	Established in metropolitan areas or big cities Wider functions and larger powers than councils, enjoy more autonomy and have larger revenue resources Separation of deliberative from executive functions and vesting of all executive powers in an appointed authority who is independent of the elected body	Constituted in “large urban areas
Municipal Committee/Council	Most popular form of local government in urban areas Set up in cities and large townsExtent of State control is relatively larger than corporations	Constituted in “small urban areas”*
Nagar Panchayat	Constituted after 1992	Constituted in “areas in transition from rural to urban”*
Notified Area Committee		Abolished
Town Area Committee		Abolished

Powers, Authority and Responsibilities of Municipalities (Article 243 – W)

Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Legislature of a State may, by law, endow –
the Municipalities with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as institutions of self-government and such law may contain provisions for the devolution of powers and responsibilities upon Municipalities, subject to such conditions as may be specified therein, with respect to:
the preparation of plans for economic development and social justice;
the performance of functions and the implementation of schemes as may be entrusted to them including those in relation to the matters listed in the Twelfth Schedule;
the Committees with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to carry out the responsibilities conferred upon them including those in relation to the matters listed in the Twelfth Schedule.

Twelfth Schedule 1. Urban planning, including town planning; 2. Regulation of land-use and construction of buildings; 3. Planning for economic and social development; 4. Roads and bridges; 5. Water supply for domestic, industrial and commercial purposes; 6. Public health, sanitation, conservancy and solid waste management; 7. Fire services; 8. Urban forestry, protection of the environment and promotion of ecological aspects; 9. Safeguarding the interests of weaker sections of society, including the handicapped & mentally retarded; 10. Slum improvement and upgradation; 11. Urban poverty alleviation; 12. Provision of urban amenities and facilities, such as parks, gardens, playgrounds; 13. Promotion of cultural, educational and aesthetic aspects; 14. Burials and burial grounds; cremations, cremation grounds and electric crematoriums; 15. Cattle pounds; prevention of cruelty to animals; 16. Vital statistics, including registration of births and deaths; 17. Public amenities, including street lighting, parking lots, bus stops and public conveniences; and 18. Regulation of slaughterhouses and tanneries.

Composition of Urban Local Governments

Category	Type of Municipality
Elected Members	Municipal Corporation	Municipal Council/Nagar Panchayat
Ex-officio Members	Mayor; Deputy Mayor Councillors/Elected Ward Representatives	Chairperson/President; Vice-President Councillors/Elected Ward Representatives
Appointed Staff	MPs MLAs MLCs	MPs MLAs MLCs
Nominated Members	Municipal Commissioner Subordinate Staff	Executive Officer Subordinate Staff
Nominated Members	Selected Citizens	Selected Citizens

Reservation of Seats in Municipalities (Article 243 – T)

Seats shall be reserved for the SCs and STs in every Municipality and the number of seats so reserved shall bear, as nearly as may be, the same proportion to the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in that Municipality as the population of the SCs in the Municipal area or of the STs in the Municipal area bears to the total population of that area and such seats may be allotted by rotation to different constituencies in a Municipality. Not less than one-third of the total number of seats reserved under clause (1) shall be reserved for women belonging to the SCs or as the case may be, the STs. Not less than one-third (including the number of seats reserved for women belonging to the SCs and the STs) of the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in every Municipality shall be reserved for women and such seats may be allotted by rotation to different constituencies in a Municipality.The offices of Chairpersons in the Municipalities shall be reserved for the SCs, the STs and women in such manner as the Legislature of a State may, by law, provide. The reservation of seats under clauses (1) and (2) and the reservation of offices of Chairpersons (other than the reservation for women) under clause (4) shall cease to have effect on the expiration of the period specified in Article 334.
Nothing in this Part shall prevent the Legislature of a State from making any provision for reservation of seats in any Municipality or offices of Chairpersons in the Municipalities in favour of backward class of citizens.

Challenges faced by urban local bodies in accessing finance

Party politics exists at the municipal level.
- The members affiliated to the largest political parties strongly influence decisions during the meetings of the local government.
- Furthermore, it is mentioned that the appointed authorities often work under pressure created by the municipal members. In the past, several authorities have been transferred to other areas because of not cooperating with the decisions taken by the local political leaders
Ineffective Women’s Participation in Decision-making
- This group is unable to make a meaningful contribution on municipal matters discussed in the meetings
- Yet another reason for ineffective participation by the women members in the decision-making process is the presence of their husbands in municipal meetings.
Attitude of state goverments:
- While State governments had devolved only a limited number of taxes to the ULBs to begin with, in several states, most local taxes, other than property tax, have been taken over by the state governments over the years.
Poor cost recovery of services by urban local governments:
- In India user charges and service provision seem to be caught in a vicious circle with poor quality of services leading to a lack of willingness to pay for these and hence poor collection of user charges and fees.
Improper Maintenance of Accounts:
- CAG reports on local governments point out several lacunae in the preparation of municipal accounts related to lack of budget preparation etc.
Shortcomings of State Finance Commissions:
- Inefficient functioning of SFCs has affected their ability and that of CFCs to augment financial resources of ULBs.
Inability to borrow from market sources:
- Most municipal bodies require the state governments’ permission to borrow from market sources. Growth in market financial instruments such as Municipal bonds has largely been inadequate.
Impact of GST:
- Introduction of the GST has taken away critical sources of tax revenue such as octroi, local body tax, entry tax and advertisement tax for urban local governments.
Hidden Urbanization due to unplanned urbanization in India and a large number of settlements becoming part of urban agglomerations beyond the municipal boundaries.

Steps taken to improve urban local bodies finances

Recommendations of 15th finance commission: The total grants recommended for urban local bodies for 2020-21 were enhanced to Rs 29,250 crore against Rs 26,665 crore recommended for the year 2019-20 by the 14th FC.
Performance based grants: Successive FCs have put in conditionalities on the disbursement of grants for improving fiscal position of ULBs.
National Municipal Accounts Manual (NMAM): The Manual comprehensively provide details to all States/UTs in relation to the accounting policies, procedures and guidelines to ensure correct, complete timely recording of municipal transactions produce accurate relevant financial reports.
Allocation of funds through Schemes: Several schemes of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs provide financial support to ULBs for undertaking projects for development of urban infrastructure and services etc. E.g. Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Smart City Mission.
Promotion of Municipal Bonds: In 2015, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) had released the Issue and Listing of Debt Securities by Municipalities (ILDM) Regulations and since then seven municipalities have raised nearly Rs 1,400 crore by issuing their debt securities (commonly known as 'muni bonds').

PM-DeVINE (Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East)

Context: Recently, the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region (MDoNER) provided the details of developmental projects in the North East region under the PM DevINE scheme to the Rajya Sabha.

About PM-DeVINE Scheme

Launched in Union Budget 2022-23
It is a central sector scheme means fully funded by Union Government
It is to be implemented for 4 years between 2022-23 to 2025-26
PM-DevINE will enable livelihood activities for youth and women by filling the gaps in various sectors, but it will not be a substitute for existing Central or State schemes.

The objectives of PM-DevINE

Fund infrastructure convergently, in the spirit of PM Gati Shakti;
Support social development projects based on the felt needs of the NER;
Enable livelihood activities for youth and women; and
Fill the development gaps in various sectors.

Initiatives under the scheme

Establishment of Dedicated Services for the Management of Paediatric and Adult Haematolymphoid Cancers in North East India, at Dr B. Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI), Guwahati
NECTAR Livelihood Improvement Project (Multi-State): Value Chain on Utilization of Banana Pseudo Stem for Value-Added Products.
Promoting Scientific Organic Agriculture in North East India, using Improved Farming Techniques & Digital Data Management through Capacity Building of Farmers and Facilitating Certification. (Multi-State)
Construction of Aizawl By-pass on the Western Side of Mizoram
Construction and upgradation of Bamboo Link Roads- from Tuirial Airfield to North Chaltlang (18 km) and from Lengpui to Saiphal Bamboo Plantation (41 km) in Mizoram
Gap funding for Passenger Ropeway System from Pelling to Sanga-Choeling in West Sikkim
Gap funding for Passenger Ropeway from Dhapper to Bhaleydunga in South Sikkim
Transformation of 20 schools as Centre of Excellence in the Kamrup District of Assam by Public Works Department, Government of Assam
Construction of a new four-lane road and conversion of an existing two-lane road into a four-lane with cycling tracks, utility ducts, footpaths, etc. at New Shillong Township by Directorate of Urban Affairs, Government of Meghalaya
Livelihood projects relating to Special Development of Eastern Nagaland by the Department of Under Developed Areas (DUDA), Government of Nagaland
Establishment of Solar Micro Grid for the supply of reliable power to Remote Habitations in Tripura by the Department of Power, Government of Tripura

Chidambaram says 83% of MUDRA loans too small for business

Context: Recently Prime Minister MUDRA (Micro Units Development Refinance Agency) Yojana completed 8 years. Reports say that 83% of loans given under the scheme were under Rs. 50000.

About PM MUDRA Yojana

The scheme aimed to provide loans up to 10 lacks to non-corporate, non-farm small/micro enterprises.
Under the aegis of PMMY, MUDRA has created three products namely '

1. ‘Shishu' covers loans upto Rs. 50000

2. 'Kishore' covers loans above Rs. 50000 and upto Rs. 5 lakhs

3. 'Tarun’ Covers loans Above 5 lakhs and upto 10 lakhs

These loans are given by Commercial Banks, RRBs, Small Finance Banks, MFIs and NBFCs.
MUDRA Bank is nodal agency to implement the scheme

What is MUDRA Bank?

It is a refinancing institution and regulator for micro-finance institutions.
It would be in charge of developing and refinancing the micro-enterprise sector by assisting finance institutions that lend to micro/small business entities engaged in manufacturing, trading, and service activities.
It would collaborate with banks, microfinance institutions, and other lending institutions at the state and regional levels to provide microfinance support to the country's microenterprise sector.

Achievements under PM MUDRA Yojana

A total of 60827414 beneficiaries have taken the loan up to the financial year 2022-23
A total of Rs. 442296.46 Crore have been disbursed upto the financial house 2022-23

Limitations of MUDRA Yojana

There are a number of already existing refinancing agencies
There is a potential conflict of interest due to the nature of the roles and responsibilities of Mudra Bank.
Mudra Bank seems to promote shadow banking.
There is a better solution to finance micro and small businesses in the form of Microfinance institutions
It will lead to an increase in the number of regulators for MFIs

Awaiting lift-off into the Second Space Age

Context: The Space Age began in 1957 with the launch of satellite Sputnik 1, and in 1961, cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the world’s first person in space. Neil Armstrong made history by walking on the moon in 1969. The First Space Age became reality..

Some of the key highlights of space exploration include

The first artificial satellite Sputnik 1 launched by Soviet Union in 1957. This marked the beginning of the space age and the space race between the Soviet Union and the United States.
The first human spaceflight by Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin in 1961. This demonstrated the possibility of safe space travel and return to Earth.
The Apollo 11 mission in 1969 which landed the first humans on the Moon. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first men to walk on the lunar surface. This remains one of the greatest technological and scientific achievements in human history.
The launch of space stations like Salyut 1, Skylab and Mir that allowed long-duration human habitation in space. This paved the way for today's International Space Station.
The exploration of the solar system using robotic spacecraft like the Voyager probes which revealed mysteries of the outer planets. Spacecraft have explored Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
Major space-based observatories like the Hubble Space Telescope that have expanded our understanding of the universe. Astronomers have discovered new exoplanets, black holes, dark matter and distant galaxies with these observatories.
Commercial spaceflight has now become a reality with companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin developing reusable rockets and spaceships. Space tourism may soon become available to more people.

Today, the Second Space Age is here. Though there is no precise date for its beginning, the contrast in today’s space domain is stark. Between the 1950s to 1991, a period dominated by the Cold War, 60 to 120 space launches took place annually and 93% of these were by the United States and the erstwhile Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) governments.

Three decades later, there are not only many more actors in the space scene, but a majority are also private companies. Last year, there were 180 rocket/space launches, 61 by Elon Musk’s Space X; 90% of global space launches since 2020 are by and for the private sector.

The 'Second Space Age' refers to the period from the 1990s onwards which saw increased private sector involvement in space exploration. Some key aspects of the Second Space Age:

Commercialization of space: Private space companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, etc. have emerged that offer launch services and space tourism. They are developing reusable rocket technology to lower the cost of access to space. SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft have transformed space transportation.
Space mining: Companies like Planetary Resources and Deep Space Industries aim to mine asteroids for resources like water and precious metals. Space mining could revolutionize space-based industries if it becomes economically viable.
Space tourism: Companies like Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin are developing spacecraft for suborbital space tourism. SpaceX has also announced plans to send tourists on a flight around the Moon aboard its Starship spaceship. Space tourism can make space accessible to more people.
Advancements in robotics: Robotic spacecraft have explored much of the solar system. Robotic probes like New Horizons explored Pluto, Dawn explored Ceres and Hayabusa2 explored asteroid Ryugu. Robotic spacecraft can reach distant and harsh environments where humans cannot easily go.
Private space stations: Companies like Axiom Space and Bigelow Aerospace are developing private space stations. Axiom Space aims to build a commercial module for the ISS and eventually a free-flying space station. Private space stations can provide more opportunities for tourism, research and manufacturing in space.
Space-based solar power: Concepts like space solar power satellites that can harness solar energy in space and transmit it to Earth have been proposed. They could provide a constant source of renewable energy but face major technical and economic hurdles.
Space mining and space-based economy: If space mining and space-based solar power become viable, it could lead to a space-based economy with space resources and space-based products. However, we are still far from developing a strong space-based economy.
Deep space exploration: Robotic and manned missions are envisioned to destinations like Mars, Venus, asteroids, etc. SpaceX's Starship aims to send humans to Mars. Robotic probes could explore ice giants like Neptune and Uranus. Future space telescopes could study exoplanets and distant galaxies.

India’s space journey begins

India's space program began in the 1960s and has made tremendous progress in the decades since. Some key highlights of India's space journey:

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was established in 1969 to develop space technology and its application to national development. It replaced the erstwhile Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) set up in 1962.
India's first satellite Aryabhata was launched by the Soviet Union in 1975. This marked the beginning of India's space program.
The Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV) program in the 1980s aimed to develop indigenous satellite launch capability. The first SLV rocket successfully launched the Rohini RS-1 satellite in 1980.
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) program began in the 1990s. PSLV rocket is capable of launching payloads into the Earth’s polar orbit. It has had over 50 successful missions.
The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) program aims to launch payloads into geostationary orbit. GSLV Mk III, India's most powerful rocket, successfully launched Chandrayaan-2 in 2019.
The Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) program has launched several remote sensing satellites used in fields like agriculture, water resources, forestry and disaster management.
Chandrayaan-1, launched in 2008, was India's first lunar mission. It provided evidence for water molecules on the Moon's surface.
The Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) or Mangalyaan, launched in 2013, made India the first Asian nation to reach Mars orbit. It is studying the Martian surface and atmosphere.
Chandrayaan-2 and Gaganyaan are upcoming missions. Chandrayaan-2 will land a rover on the lunar surface. Gaganyaan aims to send Indian astronauts to space by 2021.
Applications of space technology have led to advances in fields like telemedicine, teleeducation, weather forecasting, GIS and navigation. Space technology has become deeply linked with serving societal needs.

India has one of the world's most successful space programs despite its limited resources. Ambitious future goals include human spaceflight, space station, crewed missions to the Moon and Mars, and developing reusable rocket technology. The increasing commercialization of space may provide new opportunities for international collaboration. India's progress in space has established it as a leader in space science and technology across the globe.

Space potential

The origins of the Second Space Age can be traced to the Internet. In India, the process began accelerating as the 1990s saw the emergence of private TV channels, together with cable TV followed by direct-to-home transmissions.

The demand for satellite transponders and ground-based services exploded. Today, more than half the transponders beaming into Indian homes are on foreign satellites.

The last 15 years witnessed another transformation, and this time India was in lockstep with the developed world. The age of mobile telephony, followed by smartphones has shown the world what a data-hungry and data-rich society India is.

Broadband, OTT and now 5G promise a double-digit annual growth in demand for satellite-based services.

In 2020, the global space economy was estimated at $450 billion, growing to $600 billion by 2025. The Indian space economy, estimated at $9.6 billion in 2020, is expected to be $13 billion by 2025. However, the potential is much greater with an enabling policy and regulatory environment. The Indian space industry could easily exceed $60 billion by 2030, directly creating more than two lakh jobs.

Potential of space exploration and space-based technologies

Space mining: Asteroids contain precious metals like gold, platinum, cobalt, etc. and water in the form of ice. Space mining could provide resources for space-based industries and space exploration. However, it remains technologically and economically challenging.
Space-based solar power: Giant solar panels in geostationary orbit could collect solar energy and beam it to Earth as microwaves. This could provide a constant source of renewable energy. But it requires major technological capabilities and high costs.
Space tourism: Suborbital and orbital space tourism could make space accessible to more people. SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin, etc. are developing spacecraft for space tourism. While suborbital tourism is emerging, orbital space tourism remains expensive.
Private space stations: Companies are developing private space stations, either modules attached to ISS or independent space stations. They aim to host tourists, researchers, manufacturers, etc. But space stations require huge investments and the demand for their services is still not proven.
Space colonization: Establishing long-term human habitation beyond Earth, on the Moon, Mars, space colonies, etc. This could hedge against threats to humanity on Earth and eventually "backup" our species. But space colonization faces daunting technological, economic and physiological challenges.
Asteroid mining robots: Robotic spacecraft could explore and mine asteroids to extract resources useful for space-based or Earth-based applications. Robots can reach harsh space environments, but robotic manipulation of resources and transportation back to Earth requires major advancements.
Space-based solar power satellites: Satellites in geosynchronous orbit could capture and transmit solar energy as microwaves to receiver stations on Earth. They could provide a constant renewable energy source. But technology for efficient energy conversion, transmission and receival does not yet exist.
Space manufacturing: Microgravity environment enables production of materials, composites and biological tissues difficult or impossible to create on Earth. ZBLAN fibers for telescopes and organs grown from stem cells are examples. But space manufacturing and transportation back to Earth needs to become more economically viable.
Space resources for deep space exploration: Access to space resources like water, oxygen, hydrogen, etc. on the Moon and asteroids could make deep space exploration more feasible by reducing the amount of supplies launched from Earth. But we have a long way to go to utilize space resources for human missions into deep space.

In summary, while space offers exciting possibilities, most space-based technologies and concepts remain at an early stage and require major advancements before providing tangible and economically sustainable services. Government and private sector support for space technology development and space exploration will be crucial to harnessing these opportunities. Overall, the potential of space is promising but much work lies ahead to unlock the promise.

Creating an enabling environment

The Indian space start-up industry is growing rapidly with increasing investment and number of start-ups. It has the potential to boost the space sector like the IT industry did for the economy.
ISRO currently manages limited launches and satellites compared to other space agencies like China. While ISRO has worked with private companies, they were mainly vendors. Space start-ups need a different relationship as their business depends on space.
ISRO plays multiple roles as an operator, user, service provider, licensor, regulator and incubator. It needs to now focus on research based on its expertise and resources. The government has taken some steps to promote private participation like draft space laws, NSIL, IN-SPACe, etc.
Specific policies for satcom, earth observation and FDI have been proposed but legislation like a space act is needed to provide a legal framework, set up a regulator and enable venture funding for space start-ups.
India has an opportunity to be part of the Second Space Age with increased private sector involvement but it needs to act fast before the opportunity is lost.
A space act should provide guidelines for licensing of space activities, a regulatory body to oversee compliance, and set the overall framework for public-private partnership in space sector. It can boost investment in space start-ups by providing clarity.
The existing and proposed government initiatives show there is willingness to bring private companies into space sector. But a comprehensive space act is vital to give shape to these efforts and transition ISRO's role to open up the space sector.
Space start-ups in India want to do more than just build to ISRO's specs. They need freedom and incentives to innovate which can be enabled by a progressive space policy and regulatory environment. Partnership with ISRO remains key but needs to evolve.
There is significant interest and talent within the private sector to take up new opportunities in space. An enabling policy and regulatory environment can unleash the potential of space start-ups to support the growth of India's space sector. But the window to do so may be limited.
India's space sector is poised for major transformation with increased private participation. ISRO and government's role in providing an enabling environment through policy, regulation and partnership will influence the pace and scope of this transformation. Overall support for innovation and risk-taking can power India's journey to the forefront of the global space race.

Telecom authorities have blocked as many as 120 headers operated by a group linked to a Chinese entity

Context: Telecom authorities have blocked as many as 120 headers operated by a group linked to a Chinese entity in the past two months based on information provided by the Union Home Ministry.

What is a header?

A header, also known as sender ID, is a unique combination of characters or numbers representing the brand or company name of the message sender.
Headers are used by banks, marketing companies, utility providers and even government offices to send bulk messages (SMS) to consumers and customers.

Current Issue?

An investigation by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) found that the headers were hosted from China.

The particular example in this case was the header of West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd. WBSEDC was compromised and taken over by a Chinese host.
The header was misused to dupe consumers who received messages pertaining to outstanding electricity bills. These SMS contained malicious links, which when clicked would lead to financial loss for the consumer as the hacker would get access to the person’s phone.
Consumers would fall for it as the header genuinely belongs to the electricity distribution company.
Further it is for the Threat Analytical Unit (TAU) of the I4C, that analyses the pattern of financial crimes and frauds and sends reports to central agencies such as the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Enforcement Directorate or State police forces.

About Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C)

Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) is an initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India to deal with cybercrime in the country in a coordinated and comprehensive manner.

I4C focuses on tackling all the issues related to Cybercrime for the citizens, which includes improving coordination between various Law Enforcement Agencies and the stakeholders, driving change in India's overall capability to tackle Cybercrime and to improve citizen satisfaction levels.

Objectives of I4C

To act as a nodal point to curb Cybercrime in the country.
To strengthen the fight against Cybercrime committed against women and children.
Facilitate easy filing Cybercrime related complaints and identifying Cybercrime trends and patterns.
To act as an early warning system for Law Enforcement Agencies for proactive Cybercrime prevention and detection.
Awareness creation among public about preventing Cybercrime.
Assist States/UTs in capacity building of Police Officers, Public Prosecutors and Judicial Officers in the area of cyber forensic, investigation, cyber hygiene, cyber-criminology, etc.

The Components of the I4C Scheme

National Cybercrime Threat Analytics Unit (TAU)
National Cybercrime Reporting
Platform for Joint Cybercrime Investigation Team
National Cybercrime Forensic Laboratory (NCFL) Ecosystem
National Cybercrime Training Centre (NCTC)
Cybercrime Ecosystem Management Unit
National Cyber Crime Research and Innovation Centre

About National Cybercrime Threat Analytics Unit (NCTAU)

It is a platform for Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs), persons from private sector, academia and research Organisations to work collaboratively in order to analyse all pieces of information relating to Cybercrime.
This unit collects Cybercrime feeds from open sources, National Cybercrime Reporting Portal, CERT-In, and other agencies working in this field, analyse it and further disseminates it to the concerned agencies for taking further appropriate action.