Daily News Analysis 2nd October 2018

Daily News Analysis (Prelims + Mains) – 2nd October 2018

General Study – II

Topic:

Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.

International Human Rights Conclave

The Vice President of India inaugurated the National Human Rights Conclave being organized as a part of the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of the National Human Rights Commission. The Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission, Justice H.L. Dattu and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

The National Human Rights Commission of India was also instituted by the Parliament on 12 October 1993. It was in keeping with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948 and the Paris Principles, adopted at the first international workshop on National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in Paris in October 1991 and endorsed by the General Assembly of the United Nations through its Resolution of 20 December 1993, that countries across the world established their respective National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs).

What is Paris Principles?

The United Nations Paris Principles provide the international benchmarks against which national human rights institutions (NHRIs) can be accredited by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI).

Adopted in 1993 by the United Nations General Assembly, the Paris Principles require NHRIs to:

Protect human rights, including by receiving, investigating and resolving complaints, mediating conflicts and monitoring activities; and
Promote human rights, through education, outreach, the media, publications, training and capacity building, as well as advising and assisting the Government.

The Paris Principles set out six main criteria that NHRIs require to meet:

Mandate and competence: a broad mandate, based on universal human rights norms and standards;
Autonomy from Government;
Independence guaranteed by statute or Constitution;
Pluralism;
Adequate resources; and
Adequate powers of investigation.

Topic:

Important International institutions, agencies and fora their structure, mandate

International Day of Older Persons

The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to observe 1st October 1999 as the International Year of Older Persons and to promote the theme “A society for All Ages”.

According to the Census of 2011, India has about 8.6 per cent of the total population is of the age of 60+ years. Based on the rate of growth, the population of the elderly in India is projected to reach about 19 percent of the total population, by the year 2050.

Indian Government is assisting in setting up Old age homes, Day care Homes for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients, physiotherapy clinics and Mobile Health Clinics for remote areas and villages.

“Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana” has been launched since 2017, for free distribution of physical aids and devices to senior citizens belonging to the BPL category.

Vayoshreshtha Samman Awards organized by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment were also given on this day.

Measures like avoiding the use of the word ‘Old’ and replace it with ‘Senior’, replace ‘Old age Homes’ with ‘Homes for the Elderly’, extend all affordable healthcare programs to the elderly can help.

UPSC allows facility of withdrawal of applications by candidates

It is announced by the Chairman of UPSC Shri Arvind Saxena, while speaking on the occasion of the 92^nd Foundation Day Celebration.

UPSC’s experience with the Civil Services Examination is that roughly 50% of the 10 lakh plus candidates who fill in the application forms for the Preliminary examination actually write the examination. The Commission has to book venues, print papers, hire invigilators and ship the documents for all the 10 lakh applicants – which turns out to be a 50% waste of energy and resources.

Topic

Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.

Union HRD Minister presents Swachhata Ranking Awards 2018 for Higher Educational Institutions

Swachhata Ranking Awards 2018 for higher educational institutions in New Delhi.

This year Online submission of details sought from HEIs, 6029 institutions applied, 205 institutions shortlisted based on cut-off. AICTE & UGC inspected all 205 institutions. Best 51 institutions selected in 8 categories:

Universities (Residential & Non-Residential)
Colleges (Residential & Non-Residential)
Technical Institutions (Universities – Residential)
Technical Colleges (Residential & Non-Residential)
Government Universities

General Study – III

Topic:

Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

Context: Up in the air

The onset of the winter season has come to be associated with toxic atmospheric pollution in north India.
Road dust and pollution from heavy vehicles are primarily responsible for the noxious pall that sets on Delhi and other urban centres.
The burning of paddy stubble by farmers to clear their fields for the next crop is considered to be responsible for 20% of the smog.

Measures:

The Supreme Court constituted Environment Pollution(Prevention and Control) Authority, or EPCA, the Centre is partnering with Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
It is to provide farmers with a range of mechanised implements to clear their fields of paddy crop residue to prepare for sowing wheat.
There is a 50% subsidy to farmers, and a 75% waiver to cooperative societies, agencies that rent out equipment, farmers’ interest groups or gram panchayats to buy such machines.
States have got nearly Rs 650 crore to help farmers buy subsidised equipment such as Happy Seeder, paddy straw choppers and Zero Till Drill.

Concerns:

Many farmers, particularly those with land holdings of less than 5 acres, remain sceptical of the efficiency of these machines , affect the productivity , could damage to the soil.

Way Forward:

The greater availability of machines and the zero tolerance policy need to be seen as works in progress to derive lessons on how to refine the crop clearing process in an ecologically sound manner.

General Study – III

Topic:

Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment

GST revenues collection trend

The GST revenues collected in September 2018 of Rs. 94,442 crore shows an upward trend as compared to August 2018 collection of Rs. 93,690 crores.

The chart shows trends in revenue during the current year.

General Study – III

Topic:

Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

Petroleum Minister launches SATAT initiative to promote Compressed Bio-Gas as an alternative, green transport fuel

Its innovative initiative here, with PSU Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) inviting Expression of Interest (EoI) from potential entrepreneurs to set up Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) production plants and make available CBG in the market for use in automotive fuels.

Titled SATAT, the initiative is aimed at providing a Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation as a developmental effort that would benefit both vehicle-users as well as farmers and entrepreneurs.

This initiative holds great promise for efficient municipal solid waste management and in tackling the problem of polluted urban air due to farm stubble-burning and carbon emissions.

Use of CBG will also help bring down dependency on crude oil imports and in realizing the Prime Minister’s vision of enhancing farmers’ income, rural employment and entrepreneurship.

Environment Ministry Sanctions River Pollution Abatement Project in Udhampur in Jammu & Kashmir

Pollution abatement of rivers Devika and Tawi in Udhampur, Jammu & Kashmir.

The project is scheduled for completion by March 2021. The project will have a significant and direct beneficial impact in terms of reduction of pollution load in the two rivers and improvement in their water quality.

As full sewerage system will be laid in the town and its entire sewage will be treated, the project will improve the aesthetics and sanitation conditions in Udhampur.

Facts for Prelims

Gir sees 21 lion deaths in 19 days.

Facts

Gir Forest is in Gujarat
The Asiatic lion restricted to Gir National Park
On the IUCN , Asiatic lion is listed under Endangered

IUCN- key facts:

IUCN was founded in October 1948 as the International Union for the Protection of Nature (or IUPN) following an international conference in Fontainebleau, France.
It was renamed as International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources in 1956 with the acronym IUCN.
IUCN is the world’s first global environmental organization. Today it is the largest professional global conservation network
The Union’s HQ is located in Gland, near Geneva, in Switzerland.
It demonstrates how biodiversity is fundamental to addressing some of the world’s greatest challenges such as climate change, sustainable development and food security.
The IUCN Red Listis set upon precise criteria to evaluate the extinction risk of thousands of species and subspecies. These criteria are relevant to all species and all regions of the world. The aim is to convey the urgency of conservation issues to the public and policy makers, as well as help the international community to try to reduce species extinction.
Species are classified by the IUCN Red List into nine groups, set through criteria such as rate of decline, population size, area of geographic distribution, and degree of population and distribution fragmentation.

Odisha starts its own food scheme

Facts:

The Odisha government will launch its own State Food Security Scheme (SFSS)
Funded By State Government
Over 18 lakh poor and eligible people left out under the National Food Security Act, 2013, (NFSA) will receive their quota of 5 kg of rice at the rate of ₹1 per kg.

National Food Security Act:

The Act provides for coverage of up to 75% of the rural populationand up to 50% of the urban population for receiving subsidized food grains under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), thus covering about two-thirds of the population
Under the Act, the eligible persons will be entitled to receive 5 kgs of food grains per person per month at subsidized prices of Rs. 3/2/1 per Kg for rice/wheat/coarse grains.
To ensure the food security of poorest of poor, the existing Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households will continue to receive 35 Kgs of foodgrains per household per month
Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a nutritious “take home ration” of 600 Calories, 18-20 grams of protein and a maternity benefit of at least Rs 6,000 for six months; Children 6 months to 14 years of age are to receive free hot meals or “take home rations”.
The Central Government will be responsible to provide funds to states in case of short supplies of food grains; the states are responsible for determining eligibility criteria & will provide a food security allowance to the beneficiaries in case of non-supply of food grains.

The U.S Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA) updates and replaces the nearly 25year old North American Free Trade Agreement.

UPSC allows facility of withdrawal of applications by candidates

It is announced by the Chairman of UPSC Shri Arvind Saxena, while speaking on the occasion of the 92^nd Foundation Day Celebration.