Context: The modern sanitation system, designed to contain, convey, treat, and either dispose of or reuse the used water was built in London around the 1800s due to the emergence of  industrialization-driven modern cities.

About Sanitation System

• Definition: A sanitation system includes the capture, storage, transport, treatment and disposal or reuse of human excreta and wastewater.

Types of Sanitation System

Sanitation Systems are usually determined based on the density of the population it is meant to serve.

• On-site sanitation systems (OSS):
  • These systems serve as collection and storage structures that passively treat the used water and dispose of the liquid into the surrounding soil. 
  • The solid  residue that collects within the pits is called faecal sludge, or septage
  • Generally a feature of rural areas or spacious urban residences, these system includes twin pits, septic tanks and bio digester systems.

• Off site Sanitation system:The faecal sludge needs to be transported to a centralised plant for its treatment. Generally a feature of densely populated urban areas.

Need for Sanitation System

• The treated solids can be reused in agriculture or landscaping as organic manure when composted with organic municipal solid waste. 
• Pollution: Direct disposal of waste water will lead to pollution of the environment and cause public health issues. Also to protect our increasingly precious water bodies and groundwater aquifers.
• Odour and aesthetics: To maintain a safe standard of living free of disease outbreaks, care has to be given to maintain the air and aesthetics of city surroundings. For example, the Great Stink of England prompted the British Government to invest in sanitation systems.  

News Source: The Hindu

Must Read: Progress on Household Drinking Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) 2000-2022

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context: Scientists’ predictions about how much dark energy is in the universe, based on their theories, are way off.

What is Dark Energy?

• It’s a theoretical form of energy that produces a negative and repulsive force, acting in the direction opposite to that of gravity. 
• Impact: It causes the fabric of space itself to stretch and expand. It is thought to be responsible for the accelerating expansion of the universe.
• There are four fundamental forces in our universe, and speculative theories have proposed a fifth force – something that can’t be explained by the four forces. The four forces are: 
  • Gravitational force.
  • Electromagnetic force.
  • Strong nuclear force.
  • Weak nuclear force.

What is Dark Matter?

• It is made up of particles that do not have a charge — which means they do not interact through electromagnetic interactions. 
• Characteristics: These are particles that are “dark”, namely because they do not emit light, which is an electromagnetic phenomenon, and “matter” because they possess mass like normal matter and hence interact through gravity.

Dark Energy Vs Dark Matter

• Over 95% of the universe comprises dark matter and dark energy, with visible matter making up less than 5%.

Cosmological Constant

• The cosmological constant is a term introduced by Albert Einstein into his field equations of general relativity. 
• It represents a constant energy density that fills space homogeneously, even in the absence of matter or radiation. 
  • However, the value of the cosmological constant that would be needed to explain dark energy is much smaller than what is predicted by quantum mechanics.
• Einstein initially introduced the cosmological constant to allow for a static universe, but later abandoned it when the expansion of the universe was discovered by Edwin Hubble calling it his “biggest blunder”.

What is the Cosmological Constant Problem?

• The cosmological constant is a macroscopic parameter which controls the large-scale structure of the Universe. 
• All observations to date have shown that it is very small. 
• However, our modern microscopic theory of particle physics and gravity suggests that the cosmological constant should be very large. 
• This discrepancy between theoretical expectation and empirical observation constitutes the cosmological constant problem. 

Must Read: ISRO To Launch Chandrayaan 4 Mission

Source: The Hindu

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context: Experts are predicting that the disinvestment target for the current fiscal year is again likely to be missed due to the upcoming General Elections. 

India’s Disinvestment Targets

• Union Budget 2023-24 had set a target of Rs 51,000 crore from disinvestment. Of this, only about 20% or ₹10,049 crore has been collected.
  • Most of the collection this financial year has been through minority stake sales via IPO (Initial Public Offering) and OFS (Offer For Sale).
  • Big Privatization plans have not taken off in this Fiscal Year. 
•  Privatization Targets Failing: 
  • Privatization plans like Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL), Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) and CONCOR have been delayed, because of the upcoming elections. 
  • The government has canceled the privatization of Pawan Hans due to several legal cases. 
  • Strategic sales of a number of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs), including NMDC Steel Ltd, BEML and IDBI Bank, are in the pipeline. 
• Delay Despite Approval: 
  • IDBI Bank: The bidding process started in Jan 2023, but the bidders are yet to get the required approval from the Government and RBI. 
  • Other Cases: Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) and subsidiaries of AI Asset Holding Ltd (AIAHL), which have ‘in principle‘ approval by Cabinet have not been taken up by DIPAM.
• Challenges: 
  • Employee Union: In the strategic sale of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (RINL) and Vizag Steel, employee unions have opposed the move. 
  • Global Slowdown: Factors like extended regulatory processes, global economic volatility, political opposition and shifting government priorities have delayed the process. 
• Trends in Raising Money: 
  • Minority Stake Sales: Out of the around ₹4.20 lakh crore raised in the last 10 years from disinvestments, ₹3.15 lakh crore was realised from minority stake sales 
  • Strategic Sale: Rs 69,412 crore came from strategic transactions in 10 CPSEs— HPCL, REC, DCIL, HSCC, NPCC, NEEPCO, THDC, Kamarajar Port, Air India and NINL.
  • Other Sources: With direct tax and GST collections remaining buoyant, the focus has been less intense on privatization. 
• Impact on Economy: Experts say that as long as the government is meeting its fiscal targets and there isn’t a shortfall, missing divestment targets is fine.

What is Disinvestment?

• Definition: Disinvestment is the action of the government of selling or liquidating an asset or subsidiary like a Public Sector Company. 
• Meaning: Disinvestment means the sale of Government Assets to generate financial resources and improve the Returns on Investment (RoI). 
• The three basic methods of disinvestment are:
  1. Majority Disinvestment: Government transfers the control and management to the private company while holding on to a portion of the company. Eg the sale of Modern Foods to Hindustan Lever, BALCO to Sterlite. 
  2. Minority Disinvestment: Here the government keeps a majority stake in the business (typically more than 51%) ensuring managerial control. Eg- Power Grid Corp. of India Ltd., Rural Electrification Corp. Ltd., NTPC Ltd., NHPC Ltd. 
  3. Complete Privatization: The private company receives complete ownership of the business. Eg- 8 hotel properties of ITDC and 3 hotel properties of HCI.

Policy for Strategic Disinvestment

Two-fold classification of economic sectors, to guide the policy for Disinvestment: 

• Strategic Sector: Bare minimum presence of the public sector in these sectors to anchor these strategic sectors. Following 4 sectors to come under it :
  • Atomic energy, Space and Defence
  • Transport and Telecommunications
  • Power, Petroleum, Coal and other minerals
  • Banking, Insurance and financial services
• Non- Strategic Sector : In this sector, CPSEs will be privatized or merged with other players. 

Must Read: Viksit Bharat @2047: Voice Of Youth Workshop

Source: The Hindu

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context: Veer Bal Diwas 2023: 26th December will be celebrated as ‘Veer Baal Diwas’ in honor of the 4 martyred sons of the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh to pay homage to their courage and martyrdom.

Veer Bal Diwas 2023

• Prime Minister to participate in a program to pay homage to the courage and martyrdom of the sons of Guru Gobind Singh on 26th December.

Continue Reading: Veer Bal Diwas 2023

As Part of the program:

• Motive: The programmes focuses on providing information  and educating the citizens, especially the young children, about the story of the exemplary courage of the ‘Sahibzades’.
• Participative programmes: A digital exhibition with details of  the life story and sacrifice of the ‘Sahibzades’ will  be displayed in schools and childcare institutions across the country.

News Source: The Hindu

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context: India and ASEAN will begin negotiations in February 2024 to modernize their old free trade agreement (FTA).

India and Asean FTA 

• Objective: The objective of the FTA modernization is to bring down the trade deficit for India. 
  • Trade Deficit: India’s trade deficit with the ASEAN region, which was $7.5 billion per annum when the pact was implemented, has since ballooned to $43.57 billion

• • India’s exports were $44 billion, while its imports were $ 87.57 billion.
• New Elements such as product specific rules and trade remedies will be brought in to make the FTA more efficient.
  • Trade Remedies: A chapter on trade remedies will provide a safety net for domestic industry against unfair trading practices or unforeseen surges in imports of goods
  • Changes in the Rules of Origin (ROO): It can work in favor of India by increasing market access. It will also block China’s possible re-routing of goods through the ASEAN countries into India. 
  • ROO is the criteria to determine the origin of a product and establish if it qualifies for duty cuts under an FTA.

• Focus Sectors: Chemicals and alloys, plastics and rubber, minerals, leather, textiles, gems and jewelry sectors will be revamped to balance the FTA. 
• Timeline: The first round of negotiations of the ASEAN India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITGA), will be on February 18-19 in New Delhi to wrap up by 2025.
  • ASEAN India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITGA) is the official name of the new FTA
• Same Scope: No new areas, such as environment, labor, MSMEs or gender, will be added to the AITGA.

About ASEAN

• It is a regional grouping in the Indo-Pacific region, to promote economic and security cooperation among its members. 
• Members: Ten-member includes Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia, 
• Trade with India: ASEAN accounted for 11.3 percent of India’s global trade in 2022-23.
• Established: Founded in 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand.
• Secretariat: Located in Jakarta, Indonesia. 

Read More about  ASEAN-India Trade 

Source: Business Line

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context: Chemical tanker MV Chem Pluto was hit by a drone attack roughly 200 nautical miles (370 km) off Gujarat coast.

Drone Attack On Ship Off Gujarat Was Fired From Iran: Report

• MV Chem Pluto is a Liberia-flagged, Japanese-owned, and Netherlands-operated chemical tanker carrying crude oil from Saudi Arabia to the new Mangalore coast.
• The drone attack is being attributed to the Yeman-based Houthi group who have recently carried out a spate of drone and rocket attacks on Israel-linked ships citing Israel’s continued aggression in Gaza as their reason.

Houthi Attacks On Ships In The Red Sea Disrupt Global Supply Chains

• Location: The Houthi attacks are mostly concentrated  in the Red Sea area, and the Bab el-Mandeb straits off the Yemeni coast.
  • The nearly 2,000-km Red Sea connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Indian Ocean via the narrow Suez Canal
• Impact: About 15% of world shipping traffic including roughly 30% of global container trade passes through the Suez Canal.
  • War risk surcharge: Every ship plying on this route risks attracting a “war risk” surcharge.
  • In light of the houthi attacks, British Petroleum paused their movements through this route,  and is taking a longer, more fuel-intensive and time-consuming route (around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope taking 34 days).
• Escalation: The Houthi rebel issued a warning “Red Sea will burn”, in response to Operation Prosperity Guardian.

Continue Reading: How Are Houthi Attacks On Ships In The Red Sea Affecting Global Economy?

About Houthis

• About: The Houthi movement (Ansar Allah movement)  is a Shia Islamist political and military organization in Yemen. 
• It predominantly comprises Zaidi Shias, with their namesake leadership drawn largely from the Houthi tribe.
• Official slogan: “God is the Greatest, Death to America, Death to Israel, A Curse Upon the Jews, Victory to Islam. They are influenced by the  Lebanese Shia political and military organization Hezbollah
• Yemen Civil war: It has been fought between The Houthis backed by Iran and Hezbollah and the Yemen government backed by Saudi Arabia and the West for over a decade.  Houthis control much of northern and western Yemen, including the official capital, Sanaa.

News Source: Indian Express

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context: First Rupee Payment for Oil to UAE: Recently, the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) paid Indian rupees for the purchase of a million barrels of crude oil from Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC).

First Rupee Payment for Oil to UAE and India-UAE Agreement on Settle Trade in Rupees

• India signed an agreement with the UAE for a rupee settlement in July 2023. 
• To boost the rupee’s role in cross-border payments, the Reserve Bank of India allowed more than a dozen banks to settle trades in rupees with 18 countries. This is seen as a step towards the Internationalisation of the Rupee.
• Three-pronged strategy of India: Buying from the cheapest available source, diversifying sources of supply and not breaching any international obligation like the price cap in the case of Russian oil.

About Internationalisation Of Rupee

• It is a process that involves increasing the use of the rupee in cross-border transactions – between residents in India and non-residents.
• It involves promoting the rupee for
  • Import and export trade 
  • Current account transactions.
  • Capital account transactions.

Internationalisation of Rupee: Benefits for India

• Reduced Import Bill: 85% of India’s Oil needs are met from Imports.
  • Reduced dependency on the Dollar: The dollar accounts for 88.3% of global foreign exchange market turnover, followed by the euro, Japanese Yen and Pound Sterling; the rupee accounts for a mere 1.7%.
• Savings on foreign exchange transactions for Indian residents.
• Reduced foreign exchange exposure for Indian corporations.
• Reduction in dependence on foreign exchange reserves for balance of payment stability.
• Appreciation of currency value.
• Mitigation of exchange rate volatility.

What challenges does India face in the internationalisation of Rupee?

• Lack of international demand: The daily average share for the rupee in the global foreign exchange market is ~1.6%, while India’s share of global goods trade is ~2%.
  • Parliamentary standing committee report stated that there were few takers for the Indian rupee.
  • During FY 2022-23, no crude oil imports by oil PSUs were settled in Indian rupee. 
• Full capital account convertibility is not permitted in India: It is driven by past fears of capital flight (outflow of capital from India due to monetary policies/lack of growth) and exchange rate volatility, given significant current and capital account deficits.

Continue Reading: Internationalisation Of Rupee

Way Forward

• Ensure Free convertibility of Rupee, with a goal of full convertibility by 2060.
• To give foreign investors and Indian trading partners additional rupee investment options, the RBI should work to create a more extensive and liquid rupee bond market.
• Indian importers and exporters should be encouraged to issue rupee invoices for their transactions.
• Currency swap agreements would further allow India to settle trade and investment transactions.
• Tax incentives to foreign businesses to utilise the rupee in operations in India would also help.
• The Tarapore Committees’ (in 1997 and 2006) recommendations:–
  • A push to reduce fiscal deficits lower than 3.5%,
  • A reduction in gross inflation rate to 3%-5%, and
  • A reduction in gross banking non-performing assets to less than 5%.

News Source:  Financial Express

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context: Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh launched the Extended Version of Mission Karmayogi on Good Governance Day.

Three new features of iGOT Karmayogi platform

• The Extended Version of Mission Karmayogi includes three new features launched on the iGOT Karmayogi platform: 
  • My iGOT, 
  • Blended Programs and 
  • Curated Programs
• VIKAS (Variable & Immersive Karmayogi Advanced Support), a new blended learning programme and 12 domain specific capacity building e-learning courses was also launched.

Details of new features launched on the iGOT Karmayogi platform

• My iGOT: It delivers targeted training courses on the home page of individual officers that directly address the capacity-building needs of the officer as identified in the Capacity-Building Plan for their Ministries/Departments, thereby facilitating a highly personalized experience.
  • More than 28 lakh users have been onboarded on the platform till now, with about 830 high-quality e-learning courses being made available. 
• Blended Programs on iGOT-Karmayogi platform:  Blended Programs integrate traditional offline (in-person) classroom courses with online learning components. 
  • It enables officers and faculty to leverage the flexibility and convenience of online courses while retaining the invaluable benefits of face-to-face classroom interactions. 
• Curated Programs on iGOT Karmayogi: They are designed to cater to the diverse learning needs of the Ministries/Departments and Training Institutions. 
• VIKAS (Variable & Immersive Karmayogi Advanced Support): It is a new blended learning programme for capacity building of Middle management civil servants in the Central Secretariat. 
  • VIKAS is a blended programme with iGOT Karmayogi platform consisting of 33 hours complemented by 30 hours of offline training focusing on the development of functional, behavioural and technological competencies required in the Central Government. 

News Source: PIB

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context: In a research paper recently published by RBI officials, they have claimed that the risk of stagflation in India has further lowered to 1%, compared to 3% in August. 

Risk of Stagflation in India: Data, Methods, and Risk Factors

• Empirical Data: The officials used two methods to conclude, both of which indicated a decline in stagflation risk. 
  • First method: Stagflation risk was assessed based on phases of lower economic growth coinciding with high inflation. 
  • Second Method: ‘At-risk’ frameworks were used i.e., “Inflation at Risk” (IaR) and “Growth at Risk” (GaR) were determined by employing quantile regression to assess the likelihood of stagflation.
• Factors: As per the research, Supply Side shocks, such as spikes in commodity prices along with tighter financial conditions and relatively higher depreciation of the Indian currency are the major determinants of stagflation risk in India. 
• Why the fear: Higher commodity prices globally and the appreciation of the U.S. dollar post-pandemic raised stagflation concerns. 
• Risk: Government-regulated fertilizer prices and weak pass-through of crude oil prices to the domestic market have limited the predictive power for stagflation. 

What is Stagflation?

• Definition:  Stagflation refers to a situation where there is a simultaneous increase in prices along with a stagnation in the economy. 
  • The high unemployment due to a slow and stagnated economy coupled with high prices makes it a difficult condition to get out of through traditional monetary or fiscal policies. 
• Challenge: Contrary to the popular understanding, when the economy slows, the demand reduces and price falls. 
  • It also belies the prediction of Phillips Curve, which claims that with high inflation, there should be low unemployment. 
    • The Phillips Curve shows the inverse relationship between the rate of inflation and unemployment. 
• Causes: 
• • Supply-side shock: Sharply rising oil prices, Supply Chain Disruption 
  • Poor economic policies:  Too-high government spending or too-low interest rates.
  • Demand Pull Inflation: Strong Demand coupled with low capital investment, can result in stagnant growth leading to stagflation. 
  • Poor Monetary Policy: When cheap money policy is coupled with a stagnant economy. 
• Therefore, to avoid stagflation, steps like fiscal stimulus and structural reforms are essential to make sure that production capacity and the demand in the economy are matched. 

Must Read: RBI Monetary Policy Committee’s Status Quo on Repo Rates and Policy Stance

Source: The Hindu

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context: Tiger Deaths in India 2023: According to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), 168 tigers died in India in 2023, till December 15, 2023.

Tiger Deaths in India 2023

• Record Tiger Deaths in India 2023: The year 2023 witnessed the highest number of tiger deaths over the past 12 years. 
• Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI): It reported an increase in tiger deaths in India to 201 in 2023, compared to 143 in 2022.
• Fifth cycle of the All India Tiger Estimation (2022):  According to it, although India witnessed a loss of approximately 200 tigers in 2023, the tiger population had shown an increase of 200 from 2018 to 2022. 
• Status of Unique Tiger: The number of unique tigers photographed in 2022 was 3,080, while in 2018 there were 2,461 unique tigers captured.
  • The number of tigers in India increased to 3,167 in 2022 from 2,967 in 2018.
• Average Number of Tigers: According to data reported by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the average number of tigers in India is estimated at 3,682.
• Cheetah Mortalities: As per the Project Cheetah Annual Report 2023, out of the 20 cheetahs imported from Southern Africa and Namibia, six of them died since March this year. 
• • The first mortality was that of a Namibian female cheetah named Sasha. 
  • The second death was of a South African male cheetah named Uday. 
  • The third casualty was a South African female cheetah named Daksha.
  • The remaining three mortalities were cubs born within Kuno in Madhya Pradesh.

About Project Tiger

• About: It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched on April 1, 1973 from Jim Corbett National Park.
• Objective: To promote the conservation of the tiger and ensure the preservation of their natural habitat as tigers are at the top of the food chain. 

Must Read: 50th Anniversary Of Project Tiger

Protection Status of Tigers

• Schedule I: Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
• Endangered: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List
• Appendix I: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) 

Protection Status of Cheetah

• Schedule I: Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
• Critically Endangered: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List
• Appendix I: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

To Read more about Aftermath of Cheetah Relocation, here.

News Source: Live Mint

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context: Recently, the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh inaugurated the newly-constructed Sanjauli-Dhalli tunnel.

About Sanjauli-Dhalli Tunnel

• New Sanjauli-Dhalli Tunnel: It is a double-lane tunnel spanning around 150 meters built with an estimated cost Rs 47 crore.
  • Existing Dhalli tunnel: It was constructed in 1852 as a single-lane passage. It had surpassed its design life, causing persistent traffic congestion. 

• Location: New Sanjauli-Dhalli Tunnel is strategically positioned on the route to popular tourist destinations, such as Kufri, Naldehra, Tattapani, Narkanda and Chail. 
• Importance of the Sanjauli-Dhalli Tunnel: 
  • Address the Needs of both Residents and Visitor: It will ease the movement and contribute to the region’s economic growth. Tourism will benefit significantly from the improved connectivity. 
  • Modernize Infrastructure: New tunnel is the most viable and sustainable solution to reduce congestion on Shimla’s circular road.
• Promotes Culture: Inside the tunnel, 210 paintings depicting culture of Himachal Pradesh have been designed and wide footpaths have been built on both sides.
  • The paintings in the tunnel are on the theme of the Jatar (Devta) procession of Shimla.
  • The tunnel was hand- painted and the Choltu dance form depicted in the paintings is an important form of “Pahari” dance, especially in upper Himachal areas like Theog, Rohru, Rampur, Kotkhai.
    • The dance is performed in the devotion of local deities on special occasions.

Also Read: Analysis Of The Uttarakhand Silkyara Tunnel Collapse

News Source: Pioneer

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context: This article is based on the news “Govt suspends new wrestling panel: Being run from Brij Bhushan’s premises” which was published in the Indian Express. The Union Sports Ministry suspended the newly-elected committee of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). 

Govt Suspends New Wrestling Panel

• Reason for suspension: WFI’s former president has been charged by Delhi Police with sexual harassment of six women wrestlers.
  • The renowned wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sangeeta Phogat protested against him, demanding his arrest for sexual harassment of female wrestlers, including a minor.
  • Thus, he will not be involved in decision-making until further orders.
  • This raises serious concerns about the governance and integrity of the WFI.
• Authority to IOA: The government has given the authority to  Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to manage the WFI’s day to day affairs “until further orders.” 

Must Read: National Sports Awards 2023

What is Sports Governance?

• Sports governance can be defined as the oversight and direction of a sports organisation. 
  • Oversight: It refers to ensuring that an organisation is run by the relevant rules and policies.
  • Direction: It refers to the mission, objectives, and strategies of an organisation 

About Indian Model of Sports Governance

• Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS): The administration of sports in India is carried out by several sporting associations and federations operating under the MYAS.

• • Department of Sports (DOS):  Under the aegis of MYAS, it is mandated with formulating policies and guidelines, laying down eligibility conditions for national sport federations (NSFs) and determining the quantum of grants and financial assistance available to them.
  • DOS also oversees the participation of Indian sports teams in abroad tournaments, and the participation of foreign sports teams in international tournaments in India.
  • Sports Authority of India (SAI): It is an autonomous body under the DOS. Its objectives include talent scouting, training and preparation for national teams, sports infrastructure development, international events and implementing various schemes of the DOS.
• Indian Olympic Association (IOA): The IOA is an autonomous body that oversees the representation of athletes or teams in the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and other international multi-sport competitions.
  • It is the governing body for the Olympic movement in India and is registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act 1860.

Sports Governance in India: Challenges 

• Lack of Standardization in Sports Governance:  There are no strong sports laws, making sport regulatory bodies opaque and unaccountable.
  • The existing governance structure for sports complexes in India is unclear and lacks coherence. This ambiguity regarding authority and jurisdiction creates confusion at the grassroots level.
• Duplication of Policy: In India, the different levels of government, sport organisations, and the private sector provide similar services such as coaching, academies, and events while strategy and compliance are given inadequate attention. 
  • This duplication of services leads to confusion among organisations and athletes regarding accountability and leave gaps in the sport development system.
  • Example: Both the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyaan and Fit India Movement are required to provide sports equipment to government schools. 
  • This creates questions about who these schools will report to and if they will receive funds from both schemes.
• Under Budgeting of Sports: In India, per capita sport expenditure is minimal as compared to other leading sport nations.
  • The sports budget for India for 2023 was Rs 3397.32( Rs 24 per year for every Indian) while for the UK, it  was 491.8 million (Rs 4,898 per citizen for the country’s population of 6.73 crore).
• Sexual Harassment:  There is rampant sexual harassment of women athletes in India because of a sense of impunity enjoyed by men in power.
• In an RTI reply, it was reported that between the period of 2010 and 2020, there were 45 complaints of sexual harassment to SAI, of which 29 were against coaches.

• According to the Mary Com Committee. there is no Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) in the WFI as mandated by the 2013 Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Act.
• Corruption: At the governance level, the sports organisation suffers from corruption, lack of transparency and financial irregularities.
  • Example- Financial corruption scandal of Women’s Hockey World Cup (India) involving the Federation of International Hockey (FIH), Indian Olympic Association (IOA). 
  • In 2012, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) was suspended from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for electing members with pending criminal cases against them in its governing body. 
• Drug usage: As per the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), in 2019, India accounted for 152 anti-doping rules violations placing it third behind Russia (167) and Italy (157).
• Less Push for Other Sports: Sports like khokho, kabaddi, wrestling, gymnastics, etc., have not received the same attention as cricket due to a lack of school-level promotion, cultural upbringing, and connected career insecurity.

Also Read: Doping In Indian Sports: NADA’s Ineffectiveness Exposed

Way Forward to better Sports Governance

• Need for Legislation: A legal backing should be given for sports governance, which will help check the accountability and actions of stakeholders and agencies involved with managing sports. 
• Structural changes in Sports Governance:  Different authorities need to be held accountable to higher authorities for their activities, and there must be a free and fair selection of people who run these associations. 
  • Including athletes in decision making, free and fair elections to the sports organisations will help revive a better sports culture and create a culture of accountability and transparency.
  • Example-The Olympic Charter has a provision for the election of athlete representatives as members of the National Olympic Committee and their boards.
• Creation of Autonomous Bodies for better Sports Governance: An autonomous body should be created with a complete view of the functioning of the sports federations. 
  • Moreover, there should be a law to govern each and every one of these associations. 
  • Each district, state, and national sports body should have athlete commissions with adequate athlete representation, ensuring their active involvement in decision-making processes.
• Grassroots Level Reforms in Sports Governance: Restructuring of district and state bodies that contribute to the national sports governance pyramid needs to be done. 
  • The emphasis should be on training both athlete and non-athlete sports governors and administrators.
  • Proper alignment and database creation will help talent at the grassroots by ensuring the lowering of entry barriers for younger talent..
  • Example- All India Chess Federation functions has established a working calendar, and provides a detailed database of all registered players.
• Gender Parity in Sports Governance: Women must be provided with increased representation in sports organisations and efforts need to be made to provide them with a gender-neutral sports environment providing parity in pay, equipment and other infrastructure, etc.
  • Ex-The appointment of a woman chief of the WFI and other sport organisations.
• Sports Awareness: Provisions for developing the infrastructure which helps the children to choose sports as a career.
  • All sports should be acknowledged and given attention on a national level. Schools can make a difference by mandating the teaching of various sports.

Conclusion:

Respecting sports governance standards is essential to guaranteeing accountability, openness, and fair play. Building trust with athletes, stakeholders, and the general public depends on them. Thus, immediate and stringent corrective measures are needed to uphold the principles of good governance in sports organisations.

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context: This article is based on the news “Global equations have a symbolic role in building a developed India by 2047” which was published in the Live Mint. In early 2024, the Indian Prime Minister is expected to unveil the Vision India@2047 document to transform India into a developed nation with a $30 trillion economy by 2047. 

Vision India@2047: India’s Economic Aspirations for 2047

• India’s Economic Growth: India’s rise from 1991, when it accounted for 1.1% of the global economic output, to 3.5% and currently as the world’s fifth largest economy, has been driven by reforms and liberalization agenda. 
  • Further, India is aiming for a 9% growth rate between 2030 and 2047.
• Rising India’s Importance: India is a critical player in almost every major issue facing the planet. 
  • The Ukraine crisis has shown that great powers are desperate to count on India as an ally. 
  • Further, there will be no successful solution to climate change without India. 
• Need for Vision India@2047 Document: This Vision India@2047 document is under development to ensure that India does not slip into a middle-income trap in the future. 

What is Vision India@2047?

• Vision India@2047 Document: Vision India@2047 will cover government process re-engineering, global engagement, implementation roadmaps, and measures to avoid the middle-income trap. 
  • The document will also include plans for creating global leaders, addressing regional disparities, and developing human capital. 
  • Middle-Income trap: According to the World Bank, the middle-income trap refers to a situation whereby a middle-income country is failing to transition to a high-income economy due to rising costs and declining competitiveness. 
• Formulation: The strategy for achieving the objective was started in December 2021 and is being prepared by NITI Aayog. 
• Major Themes for 2047: These include infrastructure, welfare, commerce and industry, technology, and governance.
• Adaptability: This document will outline the necessary changes and reforms to achieve the goal. 
• Timeframe: The Vision India@2047 document has action points and outcome goals into two periods viz. 2030, and the 17 year-period from then till 2047.
• Opinions: The NITI Aayog will soon share its central ideas and goals past top minds including World Bank President, Apple chief, as well as Indian industrialists and thought leaders, to make it more better. 

Continue Reading: Viksit Bharat @2047: Voice Of Youth Workshop

What are the Strengths of India?

• Significant Demographic Dividend: India is home to more than 600 million people aged between 18 and 35, with 65% under the age of 35. 
  • India’s demographic dividend is expected to persist until 2055–56 and peak around 2041.
• Vibrant Democracy:  India is the largest democracy in the world with a population of around 1.44 billion people, of which around 945 million voters.
  • In a world where big and small nations are breaking into micro-entities, India has demonstrated its inherent resilience. This strength comes from its composite culture, making India a vibrant democracy.
• Resilient Economy: Resilient economies are flexible at both macro and micro levels, and there is abundant evidence that the Indian economy has become more resilient since liberalization 30 years ago.
  • The multiple shocks suffered by the global economy in the last 15 years have generated considerable international discussion of resilience. India’s rapid post-COVID recovery also provides some encouraging pointers.  
  • NITI Aayog has forecasted that India’s economy will be worth $30 trillion in 2047, with a per capita GDP of $17,590. 
  • According to the World Bank’s latest India Development Update (IDU), India was one of the fastest-growing major economies in FY22/23 at 7.2% despite significant global challenges.
• Diplomacy: In this digital age, it becomes important for countries like India to employ public diplomacy as a responsible power. 
  • India is adopting a public diplomacy policy that can effectively communicate the nation’s story to foreign audiences.
  • India was ranked 28th in the Global Soft Power Index 2023 report making it the second year in which the country has featured in the top 30 countries. 
  • According to the State of Southeast Asia Survey 2023, India has also gained trust among the ASEAN countries, recording an improvement in trust ratings from 16% in 2022 to 25% in 2023.
  • Bloomberg has also highlighted India’s soft power, reinforced through the country hosting the G20 and SCO in 2023.
• Sustainable and Inclusive Development: Over the last decade, India has been a frontline contributor to the fight against climate change and has surfaced as a global economic power. 
  • For instance, at the COP26 summit, India committed that it would achieve ‘net zero’ carbon emissions by 2070. 
  • The launch of ‘Mission LiFE’- Lifestyle for Environment, further pushed all Indian citizens to come forward and take steps towards an environmentally conscious life setting.  
  • New India also professes equality of all genders with the nation’s leaders promoting equal participation and representation of women at all workplaces by providing them fair and equal opportunities and ensuring their upliftment through various schemes and programs such as ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’. 
• Technology and Innovation: India is making advances in healthcare not only through infrastructure development but also by employing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to its best use. 
  • The use of AI in agriculture has proved to be a game-changer with over 7000 farmers using AI to monitor the health of their crops, control quality and test their yield.
  • A robust digital public infrastructure (DPI), comprising distinctive digital identification, a payments system (Unified Payments Interface), and a data exchange layer, is significant for driving economic transformation and fostering inclusive growth.

What are the Challenges Faced by India?

• Lack of Inclusivity: According to the 2024 Asia-Pacific Human Development Report, India has persistent disparity and widespread disruption.
  • Amidst rapid growth but persistent disparity, the income distribution has become skewed. 
  • For instance, the top 10% of the population gets 57% of national income and the top 1% gets 22%.
  • Various factors drive this persistent wealth divide. For example, globalization and technological advances have created new opportunities for some groups while leaving others behind. 
  • Further, the legacy issues are a high proportion of the non-agricultural labor force in the unorganized sector and the proportion of women’s time devoted to the care economy. 
• Global Uncertainty: Shocks arising from geopolitical conflicts (Eg. Israel- Hamas conflict), structural changes like the energy transition, etc. will limit greater labor market flexibility and mobility. This has implications for everything from transport infrastructure to housing markets. 
  • Lack of Trade Openness: Protectionism in rich countries under the guise of environment leakage is an emerging risk, even as traditional supporters of a rules-based trading system are less interested in defending it.
  • Further, India’s economy is expected to face constraints in FY 2023-24, with weak global demand and monetary policy tightening to manage inflationary pressures. This will limit real GDP growth to 6%.
• Breaking Lower Middle-Income Country Status: India continues to grow but this current trend growth will not be sufficient to reach its goals to reach middle-income and eventually high-income status. 
  • For instance, to become a middle-income country, India needs  80% high prosperity (measured at PPP terms) compared to where the country is today. It means a $7 trillion economy, 2.5 times the size of today. 
  • To become a high-income country, India would need to become a $60 trillion economy, 20 times the size of today. 
• Other Challenges: Risks to positive GDP growth projections are predominantly hindered by challenges which include potential deterioration of banks’ asset quality, delays in fiscal consolidation, difficulties in trade agreements, and the impact of below-normal monsoon seasons, etc.

Way forward: Road Map for the Vision India@2047

• Harnessing Demographic Dividend: Efforts are needed to upskill millions of our working-age youth nationwide to make them industry-ready and future fit for the new sets of jobs that are being created owing to the disruption of existing business models. 
  • Acquiring relevant skill sets aligned to futuristic goods and services such as servicing robots, repairing augmented reality (AR)/virtual reality (VR) devices, and manufacturing chips would also be useful going forward.
  • This goal may be achieved through close cooperation between private, public and civil society organizations. One district one skill (ODOS) could be a starting point, mirroring the one district one product (ODOP) scheme. 
• Increase Spending in Education Sector: The Government spending in the education sector in India has been under 3.5% of the GDP, compared to a global mean of about 4.5% of the GDP. India needs a calibrated increase of the education sector’s budget from the current levels to match global levels with a focus on spending efficiency. 
  • The new National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is an effort in this direction, and implementing this policy is the need of the hour. 
  • Further, the announcement of the Combined University Entrance Test (CUET) for admission to central universities instead of students’ admissions only on the basis of marks is a step in the right direction.
• Inclusive Growth: The labor force participation rate (LFPR) in India is around 40% compared to over 74% in Spain and around 75% in Portugal. The primary reason for this low LFPR is the absence of women from the workforce in India, which has a female LFPR of around 20%.
  • Women earning and proactively participating in the workforce positively impact a family’s prosperity, can help eradicate poverty and strengthen the journey  towards building a prosperous, safe and healthy India@2047.
• Unlocking Manufacturing Potential: India has been aspiring to grow its manufacturing sector to account for 25% of the economy from the current levels of around 15%. The recent supply chain shocks owing to the pandemic and fractured geopolitics present a unique opportunity to India to dominate this space. 
• • The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme has been launched to benefit from this growth wave. 
  • Simultaneously, India needs to focus on new-age manufacturing in the areas of space, telecom, renewables and metaverse devices. 
  • The National Skill Development Mission should also work towards making such skills available for the new-age manufacturing sector.

Must Read: Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Annual Report 2022

Conclusion:

Vision India@2047 presents a comprehensive roadmap for transforming India into a developed nation with a $30 trillion economy, addressing challenges through strategic planning, inclusive growth, and harnessing the nation’s strengths for a prosperous future.

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context: The Veerashaiva Mahasabha has urged the community members not to describe themselves as Hindu in the forthcoming population census. 

About Veerashaivas

• A Sect Within Shaivism: Veerashaivas are worshippers of Lord Shiva. It is one sect within Shaivism. 
  • Shaivism is one of the major traditions within Hinduism, and it primarily focuses on the worship of Lord Shiva as the supreme deity.
• Geographical Presence: Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. 
• Holy Places for Veerashaiva Community: Kashi mutt, Rameshwaram Mutt, Ujjaini Mutt, Rambhapura Mutt and Srishaila Mutt

Also Read: Sister City Relationship Between Janakpur And Ayodhya

News Source: The Hindu

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context: In the first evidence of rapid evolution, scientists have discovered a flower growing in Paris, France, is producing less nectar and smaller flowers to attract fewer pollinators.

Study: Flowers are Starting to Self Pollination Due to Fewer Insects

• The researchers used the “resurrection ecology” method, wherein they planted seeds from the 1990s and 2000s, which were 20-30 years old, against their contemporary descendants from 2021.

• Findings: According to scientists, the flowers of the Parisian pansies (scientifically known as Viola arvensis) grown in Paris produced 20% less nectar and were 10% smaller compared to 20-30 years ago. 
• Evolution: Scientists discovered that the plant evolved to self pollination to attract fewer pollinators due to the decreasing availability of insects. 
• Problem: Scientists warned that the move may benefit plants in the short term but may threaten their existence owing to climate change and other environmental changes. 

About Pollination

• Pollination: It is the act of transferring pollen grains from the male anther of a flower to the female stigma. 
• Objective of Pollination: The goal is to create offspring for the next generation. 
  • One of the ways that plants can produce offspring is by making seeds.
• Types of Pollination: 
  • Self pollination: The pollination of a flower by pollen from the same flower or from another flower on the same plant. 
  • Cross Pollination: The pollination of a flower by the transfer of pollen grains from the anther of one plant to the stigma of another different plant.
• Role of Nectar:  Plants produce nectar(sugary fluid) to attract insects, which collect nectar for food and transport pollen between plants in nature. 
  • The interlinked give-and-take relationship has evolved over 100 million years of coevolution. 

Also Read: Plants Can Listen Damage To Other Plants

News Source: DTE

DOWNLOAD PDF