GS Paper 2

Indo-China Border Management: 3 years after Galwan clash

Context: The Galwan clash of June 15-16, 2020 marked a watershed in India-China ties, which were already tense after the Chinese in April intruded into several places in Eastern Ladakh that are claimed by India. The Foreign Minister of India said despite many rounds of negotiations and engagement at multiple levels, the military tensions continue. India has said there can be no normal ties if China breaches border agreements.

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About Galwan Clash

  • A clash in Galwan in June 2020 happened when the Chinese People’s Liberation Army pitched tents and an observation post on India’s side of the LAC. 
  • After a general agreement on disengaging in the Galwan sector earlier in June, the Chinese agreed to withdraw. 
  • But on the night of June 15, 2020, a disagreement over the continued presence of the Chinese led to the bloodiest clash between India and China since 1975 resulting in the deaths of 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers.

Border dispute between India-China

  • The Line of Actual Control (LAC) is the demarcation that separates Indian-controlled territory from Chinese-controlled territory. 
  • India considers the LAC to be 3,488 km long, while the Chinese consider it to be only around 2,000 km. 
  • It is divided into three sectors: the eastern sector which spans Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, the middle sector in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, and the western sector in Ladakh.
  • Disputes:
  • Western sector (China is seeking claims): Trig Heights in the Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) area, Demchok, Depsang Bulge, Galwan, Pangong Lake, and Hot Springs.
  • Middle sector: Barahoti pasture north of Chamoli in Uttarakhand.
  • Eastern sector: The 1914 McMahon Line serves as the alignment of the LAC in the eastern sector, although minor disagreements exist over the ground locations in accordance with the high Himalayan watershed principle. This also applies to specific regions of India's international border, such as Longju and Asaphila.

Border Agreement between India-China

  • In 2012, India and China agreed to establish a Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination to “study ways and means to conduct and strengthen exchanges and cooperation between military personnel and establishments in the border areas.
  • The 2013 Border Defence Cooperation Agreement lists several mechanisms to reduce misunderstandings and improve communication. 
  • It covers border stability and security, information asymmetry, smuggling, socio-economic reconstruction, environment, and disease transmission along the line of actual control.
  • The agreement prohibits either side from tailing the patrols of the other in areas where there is no common understanding of the line of actual control.
  • BDCA mentions the "India-China Strategic and Cooperative Partnership for Peace and Prosperity" and four previous border agreements:
  • Border Peace and Tranquility Agreement, 1993: Agreement on the Maintenance of Peace and Tranquility along the Line of Actual Control in the India–China Border Areas) to maintain the status quo on their mutual border pending an eventual boundary settlement.
  • Agreement on Confidence Building Measures, 1996: It limits the deployment of major categories of armaments close to the LAC, including tanks, infantry combat vehicles, guns with 75-mm or bigger calibre, mortars with 120-mm or above, and various missiles. It also limits combat aircraft from flying within 10 km of the LAC.
  • Protocol for the Implementation of Military Confidence Building Measures, 2005: It seeks to implement the 1993 and 1996 agreements by further detailing the confidence-building measures.
  • Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs, 2012: For improved institutionalized information exchange on border-related issues.

Relations thereafter

  • Three years on, the military tensions continue. India has more than 50,000 troops in Eastern Ladakh, with deployment at forward posts throughout the year.
  • Communication between the two sides had not broken down.

Border management after Galwan Clash

  • 5-point statement: On the ground, after 18 rounds of military level talks India and China have disengaged at five so-called “friction points”, a term favoured by the government to describe the unilateral changes made by the Chinese to the LAC in April 2020.
  • Both sides should take guidance from the consensus of the leaders on developing India-China relations, including not allowing differences to become disputes.
  • The current situation in the border areas is not in the interest of either side and therefore the border troops of both sides should continue their dialogue, quickly disengage, maintain proper distance and ease tensions.
  • The two sides shall abide by all the existing agreements and protocols on China-India boundary affairs and maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas and avoid any action that could escalate matters.
  • The two sides will continue communications through the Special Representatives mechanism, and meetings of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on border affairs will continue.
  • As the situation eases, the two sides should expedite work to conclude new confidence-building measures to maintain and enhance peace and tranquillity in the border areas.
  • Demilitarised “buffer zones” have been established at disputed places such as the north and south banks of Pangong Tso, Patrolling Point (PP) 17 in the Gogra-Hot Springs area etc. There is no clarity about how much land has been converted into buffer zones over the disengagement process.
  • China is also creating infrastructure in the region, including two bridges on its side of Pangong Lake for easier movement from the north bank to the southern bank, and roads and accommodation. India too has been rapidly developing infrastructure on its side building.

Way forward

  • All issues at the LAC need to be resolved in accordance with existing bilateral agreements and commitments.
  • Both countries should take a long-term view, place the border issue in an appropriate position in bilateral relations and promote the transition of the border situation to normalised management.
  • Since the Galwan incident, the two sides have disengaged at multiple friction points even as military and diplomatic talks continue to find a way out of the impasse at Depsang and Demchok.
  • India should boost security forces and border infrastructure in the border areas as the Chinese side has an edge over India in terms of infrastructure and forces in the region.
  • People living in the border areas should be integrated into the developmental mainstream so that they do not feel left behind and leave their homes. This can be done through schemes like Vibrant Villages Program and promoting tourism in the region.
  • Trade and other linkages should be promoted along the land borders with China. This can be done by establishing more trading points and establishing land border trading points.
  • The long-term solution lies in permanently settling the border dispute once and for all. The mechanisms established for settling borders should be taken seriously and both countries should look to settle their differences.

The Vaishvik Bhartiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV) fellowships programme

Context: Recently the Government of India has launched a new fellowship programme to connect the Indian STEMM diaspora with Indian academic and R&D institutions for collaborative research work leading to sharing of knowledge, wisdom, and best practices in the frontier areas of science & technology.

About The Vaishvik Bhartiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV)

About The Vaishvik Bhartiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV)
  • The Vaishvik Bhartiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV) fellowships programme is to be implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
  • Ministry of Science and Technology would be award to outstanding scientists/technologists of Indian origin (NRI/OCI/PIO) who are engaged in research activities in their respective countries.
  • The fellowship programme launched as a step to further those efforts by shaping and implementing the VAIBHAV programme, envisages collaboration between scientists of the Indian Diaspora with Indian Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs), Universities, and/ or public funded Scientific Institutions.
  • The VAIBHAV Fellow would identify an Indian Institution for collaboration and may spend up to two months in a year for a maximum of 3 years.
  • The fellowship would include a fellowship grant (INR 4,00,000 per month), international and domestic travel, accommodation and contingencies.
  • The VAIBHAV fellows are expected to collaborate with their Indian counterparts and help initiate research activities in the host institution in the cutting-edge areas of Science and Technology.
  • The 75 selected fellows would be invited to work in 18 identified knowledge verticals including
    • Health
    • Pharma
    • Electronics
    • Agriculture
    • Quantum technology
    • Energy
    • Computer sciences and
    • Material sciences amongst others.

Integrated Child Development Scheme(ICDS)

About ICDS

  • Launched in 1975, Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) is a unique early childhood development programme.
  • It aims to address malnutrition, health and development needs of children (0 to 6 years), and pregnant and lactating mothers.
  • The Centrally Sponsored Scheme is anchored by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD).
  • ICDS consists of 4 different components as shown in the following figure
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  • The Anganwadi Services (under ICDS) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme and the Government of India releases grants-in-aid to the States / UTs s presently on the following cost-sharing ratio between Centre and States/UTs:
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Objectives of the Scheme

  • Institutionalise essential services and strengthen structures at all levels:
    • Implementing ICDS in Mission mode to prevent undernutrition
    • Strengthen ICDS- AWC as the first village post for health, nutrition and early learning
    • Focusing on children under 3 years
    • Focusing on early child care and learning environment
    • Moving from outlays to child-related outcomes
    • Fostering decentralisation and community based locally responsive childcare approaches –
  • Enhance capacities at all levels:
    • Vertical integration of training of all functionaries to strengthen field-based joint action and teamwork to achieve desired results and objectives
    • Establish national training resources centres at Central & State levels
  • Ensure appropriate inter-sectoral response at all levels:
    • Ensure convergence at the grassroots level by strengthening partnerships with PRIs, Communities, and Civil Societies to improve Child development services
    • Coordinate and network with all Government & Non- Government Organisations providing services for children
  • Raise public awareness and participation:
    • Strengthen maternal and child care, nutrition and health education
    • Raise public awareness at all levels about the vulnerabilities of children
    • Inform beneficiary groups and the public about the availability of core services
    • Promote social mobilisation and voluntary action
  • Create a database and knowledge base for Child development services:
    • Strengthen ICDS Management Information System (MIS)
    • Use Information, Communication Technology (ICT) to strengthen the information base and share & disseminate information
    • Undertake Research and Documentation

Convergence of Different Ministries & Schemes

The Ministries involved in convergence with ICDS are given in the figure below

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Issues associated with ICDS

  • Poor Utilisation of Services: as per NFHS 3, only 32.9% of children used any AWC services. Only 26.5% of children had received Supplementary Nutrition and only 12% regularly received it.
  • Inadequate Anganwadi workers: most of the Anganwadi centres are being handled by only one Anganwadi worker
  • Pooer infrastructure: A disconcerting 2.5 lakh centres operate without functional sanitation facilities and 1.5 lakh centres lack access to potable water. Approximately 4.15 lakh Anganwadi centres do not possess their own pucca building.

Way forward

  • Two worker norm for each Anganwadi centre
  • Improve reporting mechanism
  •  Abn packaged food for the 3-6 year group
  • Increase the involvement of Panchayats/mothers’ group
  • Grading AWCs 
  • Learn from the international experience of Thailand which succeeded in improving child nutrition between 1980 and 1988 and reduced child malnutrition (underweight) from 50 per cent to 25per cent.

Next Generation administrative reforms to be the Focus at International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS) Conference 2025

Context: India expressed its willingness to host the 2025 IIAS (International Institute of Administrative Sciences) Annual Conference at Kochi, Kerala, in February 2025, with the theme “Next Generation Administrative Reforms – Empowering Citizens and Reaching the Last Mile”.

About Next Generation Administrative Reforms

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  • Prime Minister Modi has given a clarion call for adopting Next Generation Reforms by bridging the gap between government and citizens under the theme Viksit Bharat.
  • The Next Generation Administrative Reforms include
    •  Secretariat Reforms
    • Benchmarking of Governance
    • Redressal of Public Grievances & Improving Service Delivery
    • Recognizing Meritocracy and
    • Replication of good governance practices forms the core of India’s good governance model.
  • The organisational reforms coupled with significant reforms in Personnel Administration represent a paradigm shift in India’s governance models.
  • The adoption of e-governance practices best symbolizes New India’s strong institutions.
  • The best manifestation of the “Maximum Governance – Minimum Government” policy is a “Digitally Empowered Citizen” and a “Digitally Transformed Institution”.

About IIAS

  • The IIAS established in 1930, is a federation of member States, national sections and academic research centres jointly elaborating public administration solutions to the policy challenges of the day with headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.
  • The 2025 Annual Conference of IIAS would be attended by 30 Member Countries, 18 National Sections and over 50 IIAS Universities/ Institutes of Public Administration in Member Countries.
  • The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances is an institutional member of the International Institute of Administrative Sciences IIAS since 1998.

Pradhan Mantri Primitive Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PM-PVTG) Development Mission and HDI for PVTG

Context: The Union government is now looking to design a survey that can gauge the Human Development Index (HDI) specifically for about 28 lakh people of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) living in over 22,000 villages across the country.

image 98

About Pradhan Mantri Primitive Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PM-PVTG) Development Mission

  • In the Budget of 2023-24, a ₹15,000-crore expenditure outlay (to be spent in three years) for the Pradhan Mantri Primitive Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PM-PVTG) Development Mission was announced for the development of PVTG.
  • The programme envisions connecting all 22,544 PVTG villages to basic government services like communications, electricity, public education, healthcare, water supply, and connectivity.
  • HDI for PVTG is a part of the Pradhan Mantri Primitive Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PM-PVTG) Development Mission
  • HDI for PVTG  aimed at:

o   To see how their purchasing capacity is increasing

o   How their economic activities are changing and

o   Whether and what government services and facilities are reaching them.

o   To collect information about the changes in the lives of PVTG and document it simply, make a database from it at the village level.

o   To quantify how government policies are changing their lives.

IEA to review all conditions for India’s membership

Context: International Energy Agency’s executive director, stated that the organization would evaluate membership requirements for India's entry, considering additional efforts or flexibility needed, during discussions with the Indian government.

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Criteria for Membership to IEA:

  • A candidate country to the IEA must be a member country of the OECD.
  • Crude oil and/or product reserves equivalent to 90 days of the previous year’s net imports, to which the government has immediate access (even if it does not own them directly) and could be used to address disruptions to global oil supply.
  • A demand restraint programme to reduce national oil consumption by up to 10%.

Special case of India:

  • India is presently the third largest consumer of oil in the world.
  • IEA believes that India can become a ‘superpower’ in green hydrogen production and should capitalize on the opportunity as the world makes a transition to clean fuels.

About International Energy Agency (IEA):

  • Established in 1974, the International Energy Agency (IEA) is an autonomous intergovernmental organization headquartered in Paris. 
  • The IEA family is made up of 31 member countries, 11 association countries, and 4 accession countries and it represents a significant portion of global energy demand, accounting for 75%. 
  • The organization was created within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) as a response to the 1973 oil crisis, aiming to address disruptions in global oil supplies.
  • It offer insights and statistics regarding the worldwide oil market and energy industry, promote energy conservation and efficiency, and foster international collaboration on innovative research and development. 
  • Mission: The IEA works with governments and industry to shape a secure and sustainable energy future for all.

The 15th Finance Commission Report

Context: The government will appoint a Finance Commission in the next few months to determine how much of the Centre’s tax revenue should be given away to States (the vertical share) and how to distribute that among States (the horizontal sharing formula).

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In the pre-reform period, the Finance Commission recommendations were not that critical because the Centre had other ways to compensate States, or indeed to play favourites, through plan financing and public sector undertaking (PSU) investments. Post-reforms, fresh PSU investments have thinned out and the Planning Commission was abolished in 2014 with the result that the Finance Commission remains virtually the sole architect of India’s fiscal federalism. Its responsibility and influence are, therefore, much larger.

Before going into details of the report which shall be extremely important from the perspective of Mains examination, Let us first understand the need for any such body at the first place? Specially given that states and centre both have been enabled to levy and collect taxes in their domains. 

Now finance commission is body to facilitate fiscal balance in the Indian federal structure and hence enabling Fiscal federalism. 

What is a Fiscal imbalance?

  • Fiscal imbalance occurs when the revenues of a unit are not appropriate to carry out the responsibilities allocated to it. 

Now there are two kinds of imbalances that can occur in Indian Federalism: 

  • vertical imbalance (between state and centre)
  • horizontal imbalance (among the states)

FINANCE COMMISSIONS – A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

image 96

Vertical and horizontal imbalances are common features of most federations and India is no exception to this.

So why does vertical imbalance (between state and centre) occur? 

  • Because there is a mismatch of responsibilities and revenue sources between the Union and the States? 
  • Now why is that?: mainly because of two reasons 
    1. Constitution assigned taxes with a nation-wide base to the Union (which earn higher revenues)
      • Why was this done? 
        • This was done to make the country one common economic space unhindered by internal barriers to the extent possible. 
    2. Constitution assigned functional responsibilities involving high expenditure disproportionate to their assigned sources of revenue 
      • Since the expenditures are incurred mainly in the executive branch, let us see the constitutional scheme for the same: 
Legislative responsibility  Executive responsibility  
LIST IUnion Union 
LIST IIState State 
LIST IIIBoth State 
  • So you can see that states take care of both List 1 and List II
  • Why was this done? 
    • States being closer to people and more sensitive to the local needs have been assigned 
  • These two factors have resulted in vertical imbalances.

So why does horizontal imbalance (among the states) occur? 

  • Unlike in most other federations, differences in the developmental levels in Indian States are very sharp. 
  • Horizontal imbalances across States are on account of factors, which include historical backgrounds, differential endowment of resources, and capacity to raise resources. 

So you can say that the creation of Finance commission is the recognition of the imbalance which exists in the federalism and hence mechanisms under article 280 and 281 have been created to ensure that these imbalances are minimized. 

Hence let us have a look at the constitutional provisions related to the finance commission as far as constitution of India is concerned:

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So as you read in article 280, the report of the Finance Commission has to be submitted for every five years and you also know that the report of the last FC (14th) was applicable for 2015-2020 period, then why did FC 15 not submit the final report for the period 2020-2025? 

  • At the formation of the 15th FC, It was required to submit the report by October 30, 2019 for five years for the period 2020-21 to 2024-25. 
  • However, due to various political and fiscal developments, its term was extended. 

So what are the reasons behind the extensions? 

  • Speak: the basic reason is that the reports of the FC are based on the projections of various parameters related to taxation, GDP and deficits. the current state of Indian economy makes it difficult for any panel to successfully do a projection. 

So why making medium-term projections in the current scenario would mean serious risks? 

  • Changes in the federal units 
    • the abolition of Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir required the Commission to make an estimation excluding the Union Territory. 
  • Historically low Nominal growth rate 
    • the deceleration in growth and low inflation has substantially slowed down the nominal GDP growth which is the main tax base proxy; making projections of tax revenues and expenditures based on this for the medium term could have posed serious risks. 
  • Issues related to Tax revenues 
    • Poor revenue performance of tax collection more particularly Goods and Services Tax 
    • Also the compensation agreement to the loss of revenue to the States is applicable only till 2022(which means  it will cover only two years of the period covered by the Commission’s recommendations hence posing uncertainties)

So these are the factors which have compelled the extension of the term of 15th FC as well as its submission of interim report. 

Let us now discuss the highlighting features of the report: 

14th FC15 FCRemarks
Vertical distribution 4241the Fifteenth Finance Commission continued with the recommendation of the previous Commission relating to vertical division of taxes, and adjusted the States’ share to 41% to exclude the share of Jammu and Kashmir.
Horizontal Distribution 
Population1971 (17.5%)
2011(10.0%)


  2011(15.0%)


Income Distance50.0%45.0%
Area15.0%15.0%
Forest cover7.50%10.0%
it has used two additional factors — demographic performance and tax effort.
Demographic PerformanceNA12.5%the inverse of fertility rate hence showing sensitivity to the concerns of these States.
Tax Efforts NA2.5%

So how have states fared after overall devolution? 

  • Major observations 
    • In terms of relative shares in tax devolution, among the major States the biggest loser is Karnataka followed by Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. 
  • Kerala and Andhra Pradesh have post-devolution gaps and hence qualify for revenue gap grants. 
  • Karnataka and Kerala have net loss after devolution. Why? 
    • The major reason for Karnataka and Kerala losing on devolution is that their per capita income growth has been faster than most other States. 
    • The difference from the highest per capita income in both Karnataka and Kerala is just about 10% now as compared to 34% and 23%, respectively, for the two States when the Fourteenth Finance Commission made the recommendation. 

What are recommendations of the 15th FC regarding Local body grants

Panchayats Municipalities 
Grants ₹60,750 crore₹29,250 crore₹9,229 – million plus cities ₹20,021 – rest of the cities 
Conditions 50% of the grant is tied to improving sanitation and supply of drinking water50% of the grant is tied to improving sanitation and supply of drinking water

Did 15th FC make any recommendations regarding Disaster management? 

  • For disaster management, a total of ₹28,183 crore has been determined of which the Central contribution will be ₹22,184 crore
  • The Commission has recommended the creation of Disaster Mitigation Fund at the Central and State levels.
  • But how is this remaining amount distributed among the states?
    • Inter-State allocation is made based on past expenditures, area and population and disaster risk index.

Are there any sectoral grants? 

  • Nutrition: 

The Commission has worked out a framework for giving some sectoral grants as well.  For 2020-21, it has recommended ₹7,735 crore for improving nutrition based on the numbers of children in the 0-6 age group and lactating mothers

UNESCO

Context: UN cultural and scientific agency UNESCO announced that the United States is planning to re-join and pay more than $600mn in back dues after a decade long dispute sparked by the organisations move to include Palestine as a member. The decision was motivated by the concern that China is filling the gap left by US in UNESCO policy making. The US and Israel have stopped funding UNESCO after it voted to include Palestine as a member state in 2011 and Trump administration in 2017 decided to withdraw citing Anti-Israel bias and management issues . Before leaving the US contributed 22% of the total funding to UNESCO.

History of UNESCO

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As early as 1942, in wartime, the governments of the European countries, which were confronting Nazi Germany and its allies, met in the United Kingdom for the Conference of Allied Ministers of Education (CAME). World War II was far from over, yet those countries were looking for ways and means to rebuild their education systems once peace was restored.

Upon the proposal of CAME, a United Nations Conference for the establishment of an educational and cultural organization (ECO/CONF) was convened in London in November 1945.

Purpose of UNESCO

  • UNESCO was originally founded to focus on rebuilding schools, libraries, and museums that had been destroyed in Europe during World War 2. Since then its activities have been mainly facilitative, aimed at assisting, supporting, and complementing the national efforts of member states to eliminate illiteracy and to extend free education.
  • In 1972 UNESCO sponsored an international agreement to establish a World Heritage List of cultural sites and natural areas that would enjoy government protection. The sites are designated as having “outstanding universal value” under the Convention concerning the protection of the World Cultural and Natural heritage  Sites include hundreds of historic buildings and town sites, important archaeological sites, and works of monumental sculpture or painting.

UNESCO's Areas of Specialization

  1. EDUCATION 
  2. NATURAL SCIENCES
  3. OCEAN SCIENCES
  4. SOCIAL AND HUMAN SCIENCES
  5. CULTURE
  6. COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION
  7. AFRICA
  8. GENDER EQUALITY 

Membership of UNESCO

  • Membership of UNESCO is governed by Articles II and XV of the Constitution and by rules 98 to 101 of the Rules of Procedure of the General Conference
  •  Membership of the United Nations carries with it the right to membership of UNESCO. 
  • States that are not members of United Nations may be admitted to UNESCO, upon recommendation of the Executive Board, by a two-thirds majority vote of the General Conference. 
  • All Member States have established a National Commission for UNESCO. The UNESCO National Commissions are national cooperating bodies set up by the Member States for the purpose of associating their governmental and non-governmental bodies with the work of the Organization.
  • UNESCO gets its funding from contributions by member states, voluntary contributions, fundraising, and other, smaller sources of funding. 
  • Top three contributors being China, Japan and Germany presently.
  • UNESCO is funded by two principal means.  The first is a core budget based upon assessed contributions. This core budget is allocated to the biennial programme as agreed at the General Conference.  Each member state pays a percentage of the overall agreed budget, based upon their overall burden share set for the United Nations family of organisations as a whole.  This project covers the payment of the UK share, which is a legal obligation for members. 
  • Funding specifically for the conservation of World Heritage Sites includes the World Heritage Fund, composed of obligatory contributions from member countries and voluntary contributions, as well as publications and funds-in-trust donated by countries that have particular goals in mind.

World Heritage Fund

The fund  provides about US$4 million annually to support activities requested by States Parties in need of International assistance. It includes compulsory and voluntary contributions from the States Parties, as well as from private donations.

Rapid Response Facility

The Rapid Response Facility is a small grants programme jointly operated by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, the United Nations Foundation and Fauna & Flora International. It aims to protect natural World Heritage sites in times of crisis - and to do so quickly, flexibly and in real time.

IMPORTANT REPORTS 

  • Global Education Monitoring Report
  • Global Ocean Science Report
  • UNESCO State of Education Report for India: Children with Disabilities
  • World Trend in freedom of expression and media development

India and UNESCO

  • India joined the organisation in 1946 and currently participates in 19 of its conventions.
  • There are 40 UNESCO World Heritage Sites In India which belongs to cultural, natural and mixed slides.

Skill Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (“SANKALP”)

Context: Recently Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) certifies 98 Trainers trained in the cluster-based Training of Trainers project under the SANKALP programme.

About SANKALP

  • Skill Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (“SANKALP”) is a Ministry of Skill Development programme with loan assistance from the World Bank.
  • It aims to improve short-term skill training qualitatively and quantitatively through strengthening institutions, bringing in better market connectivity and including marginalised sections of society.
  • SANKALP was launched on 19th January 2018 and has a tenure till March 2023.
  • The outcomes in the project are measured through the Results Framework, and Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs) agreed between MSDE and World Bank. 
  • SANKALP has three key result areas namely

(i)     Institutional Strengthening at Central, State and District levels;

(ii)    Quality Assurance of skill development programmes; and

(iii)   Inclusion of marginalised population in skill development programmes."

Interventions under SANKALP are categorised as follows:

  • RESULT AREA 1: INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING
  • RESULT AREA 2: ENHANCING MARKET RELEVANCE AND QUALITY
  • RESULT AREA 3: INCLUSION AND ACCESS OF MARGINALISED COMMUNITIES
  • PROJECTS ACROSS MULTIPLE RESULT AREAS

Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIS)

Each DLI is supplemented with a verification protocol against which achievements.

  • DLI 1: Trainees who have successfully completed the NSQF-aligned, short-term Skill Development (SD) programs, and been certified.
  • DLI 2: Percentage of graduates who are wage-employed or self-employed within six months of completing short-term SD programs.
  • DLI 3: NSQF-aligned QPs translated into the model curriculum, trainers’ guide, and teaching-learning resource packs.
  • DLI 4: Number of trainers and assessors trained/retrained.
  • DLI 5: Improved performance of states on institutional strengthening, market relevance of SD programs, and access to and completion of training by marginalised populations.
  • DLI 6: Increase in the percentage of women participating in SD programs.
  • DLI 7: Improved Gram Panchayat (GP) service delivery for linking unemployed youth to local markets.
  • DLI 8: Strengthened District Skill Committee's (DSC) capacity to implement short-term skill programs.

United Nations Peacekeeping

Context: The United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial 2025 concluded in Berlin, Germany in May 2025. More than 130 member states and international partners came together to reaffirm their support for UN Peacekeeping and pledged military and police units. 

Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts about the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission

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United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial 2025: 

  • The Berlin Ministerial is the latest in a series of high-level meetings aimed at galvanising political support and generating tangible commitments to improve UN Peacekeeping. 
  • The 2025 Ministerial coincides with the 80th anniversary of the United Nations and the 10-year anniversary of the Leaders’ Summit on Peacekeeping.
  • Presently, there are over 61,000 military and police peacekeepers from 119 countries and more than 7,000 civilian personnel serve across 11 Peacekeeping Missions. 

India and UN Peacekeeping Mission: 

  • India is currently the fourth largest troop-contributing nation to the UN Peace Keeping missions with 5,375 personnel, after Nepal, Rwanda and Bangladesh.
  • In the latest ministerial, India has pledged one Quick Reaction Force Company, one male armed police (Central Reserve Police Force or mixed armed police), one women-led Police Unit, one Counter-Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit IED/EOD Unit, one K9 Unit, and a SWAT Police Unit. 

About UN Peacekeeping

  • United Nations Peacekeeping is an essential part of the United Nation’s efforts to maintain international peace and security. It is a unique instrument developed by the UN to help countries torn by conflict create the conditions for lasting peace.
  • The primary purpose of missions is to facilitate the implementation of peace agreements, protect civilians, promote human rights, and support the political and peacebuilding processes in post-conflict societies. 
  • Peacekeeping operations are deployed to areas where armed conflict has recently ceased or where the threat of renewed conflict exists.
  • Peacekeeping missions can include tasks such as monitoring ceasefires, facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid, promoting human rights, supporting the disarmament and demobilization of former combatants, and helping to rebuild institutions and governance structures.
  • It is guided by three basic principles:
  • Consent of the parties;
  • Impartiality;
  • Non-use of force except in self-defence and defence of the mandate.

Structure of UN Peacekeeping

  • United Nations Security Council has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. It authorizes the establishment of peacekeeping missions, determines their mandates, and decides on the deployment of peacekeepers.
  • Department of Peace Operations (DPO) is responsible for the overall planning, management, and coordination of UN peacekeeping missions. It is headed by the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations.
  • Peacekeeping missions typically consist of military, police, and civilian personnel from contributing countries.
  • Special Representatives of the Secretary-General (SRSGs) are appointed by the Secretary-General to lead peacekeeping missions and serve as his/her representatives on the ground. SRSGs have overall authority and responsibility for the mission's implementation and coordination.

Financing of UN Peacekeeping

  • The financing of United Nations Peacekeeping operations is a collective responsibility shared by all member states of the United Nations. The expenses of peacekeeping missions are funded through the UN's regular budget and assessed contributions from member states.
  • The peacekeeping budget is separate from the UN's regular budget and is based on the estimated costs of individual missions.
  • The UN also relies on voluntary contributions from member states and regional organisations to support peacekeeping activities.

Deployment of UN Peacekeeping

  • Peacekeeping is flexible and over the past two decades has been deployed in many configurations. There are currently 12 UN peacekeeping operations deployed on continents: Africa, Asia, and Europe.
  • For Example: 
  • United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) – Africa
  • UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) – Africa
  • UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) – Africa
  • UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) – Africa
  • UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) – Africa
  • UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) – Asia
  • UN Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS) – Africa
  • UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) – Europe
  • UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) – Europe
  • UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) - Middle East
  • UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) - Middle East
  • UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) – Africa

India and UN Peacekeeping

  • India has a rich legacy of contribution to UN Peacekeeping operations and is one of the largest contributors of troops. Indian peacekeepers have served in various missions worldwide, including in countries such as Congo, South Sudan, Lebanon, Cyprus, Haiti, and many others.
  • It has contributed approximately 2.75 lakh troops to peacekeeping missions so far and making us the largest contributor to UN peacekeeping efforts, both in terms of personnel and resources
  • The first commitment was in Korea in 1950. 
  • India has actively supported the inclusion and deployment of female peacekeepers for example female engagement teams in the UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in Congo (MONUSCO) and UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), besides women staff officers and military observers.

Unsolicited Commercial Communication (UCC) 

Context: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has directed all Access Providers to deploy Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning based Unsolicited Commercial Communication (UCC) Detect systems to detect, identify and act against senders of Commercial Communication who are not registered in accordance with the provisions of Telecom Commercial Communication Customer Preference Regulations, 2018 (TCCCPR-2018).

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About UCC

  • It means any commercial communication that is neither as per the consent nor as per registered preference(s) of the recipient.
  • It shall not include:
  • Any transactional message or transactional voice call; 
  • Any service message or service voice call; 
  • Any message or voice calls transmitted on the directions of the Central Government or the State Government or bodies established under the Constitution when such communication is in the Public Interest; 
  • Any message or voice calls transmitted by or on the direction of the Authority or by an agency expressly authorized for the purpose of the Authority.

Direction of TRAI to detect UCC

  • TRAI has directed all Access Providers to deploy Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning based UCC Detect systems capable of constantly evolving to deal with new signatures, new patterns, and new techniques used by unregistered telemarketers (UTMs). 
  • Access Providers have also been directed to share intelligence with other Access Providers using the Distributed ledger technology (DLT) platform. 
  • Access Providers have further been directed to ensure that such UCC Detect System shall detect senders who are sending Unsolicited Commercial Communications in bulk and not complying with the provisions of the regulations. 

Poshan Abhiyaan

Context: Over 57,000 migrant workers have enrolled in the One Nation, One Anganwadi program, allowing them to access government benefits for children under six and pregnant/lactating women even if they relocate.

About Poshan Abhiyan:

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  • Launched in 2018 with the objective of improving the nutritional status of Children under 6 years, Adolescent Girls, Pregnant Women, and Lactating Mothers through a time-bound approach. 
  • Implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme by States/UTs.
  • Addresses malnutrition issues nationwide through various components such as ICT Application, Convergence, Community Mobilization, Behavioural Change & Jan Andolan, Capacity Building, Incentives and Awards, and Innovations. 
  • Poshan Vatikas or Nutri-gardens are being established across the country to facilitate affordable and convenient access to fruits, vegetables, medicinal plants, and herbs, promoting the right kind of nourishment.