Context:

• According to the Crisil, social welfare spending of 11 states is to hit a 10 year high of Rs 4 lakh crore.
  • However, these do not include spending on education, agriculture, public health and other key sectors, which are budgeted separately.

Social Welfare Spending

• The top 11 Indian states account for 75-80 percent of aggregate gross state domestic product (GSDP).
  • It is expected to reach a decadal high of over Rs 4 lakh crore, according to the budget estimates of these states for fiscal year 2024.
• Committed Expenditure:
  • Includes salaries, pension, and interest payments are estimated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9 percent between fiscal years 2018 and 2024.
• Non-Committed Expenditure:
  • Includes outlays on education (10-11 percent of revenue expenditure), power sector (6-7 percent), agriculture (6-7 percent), public health (4-5 percent), and social welfare schemes (13 percent).
• Expenditure on social welfare schemes is estimated to clock 16 percent CAGR between fiscals 2018 and 2024, much faster than 11 percent growth in overall revenue expenditure. 

Legislators Qualification

Context: 

• Recently, a teacher on the Edtech platform was sacked due to a viral video in which he appealed to students to vote for educated candidates.

Educational Background of MPs in Lok Sabha:

• Completed Graduation: 72% of the current MPs.
  • Graduates also includes those who are post graduates. 
• At least completed fifth grade in school: About 23.5% of the current MPs. 
  • At least 5th grade pass includes 5th, 8th, 10th and 12th grade but not college.
• Information about the educational qualifications of 4% of the MPs is not available.
• This means that only less than 0.5% are recorded as illiterate or just literate in the current Lok Sabha.

17th Lok Sabha and MPs with Criminal Charges:

• According to Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), the 2019 Lok Sabha polls saw the participation of 67 MPs and four Union Ministers who have declared criminal charges against them.
  • They face charges as serious as abduction, dacoity and attempts to cause death or grievous injury.
• On average, the criminal cases faced by MPs, against whom charges have been framed, have been pending for 7 years.
  • 24 Lok Sabha MPs have a total of 43 criminal cases pending against them for 10 years or more.

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