Content :
- India’s Strategic Focus on West Africa
- ₹2.4 Lakh Crore Collected at Toll Plazas Since Inception
- Is the caste Census a useful exercise
- India Backs UN Resolution Calling for Israel’s Exit
- After Anomaly Alert, ISRO Sets PROBA-3 Launch for Today
India’s Strategic Focus on West Africa
Background
- Prime Minister Modi’s recent visit to Nigeria marks the first by an Indian PM in 17 years.
- Visit comes at a crucial time to strengthen India-West Africa bilateral relations.
Relevance: GS 2 (International Relations)
Warm Welcome:
- Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu conferred India’s PM with Nigeria’s second-highest national award.
- Highlights the strengthening diplomatic and cultural ties.
Economic and Strategic Partnership:
- Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy and democracy, critical for West Africa and African Union engagements.
- Stronger ties bring economic and geopolitical advantages for India.
Defence Cooperation:
- Visit follows the Indian defence delegation’s trip to Lagos.
- Emphasizes India’s growing role as a defence supplier to Africa.
Development Assistance:
- India offers concessional loans and capacity-building programs to Nigeria, strengthening development cooperation.
China’s Influence:
- Despite significant Chinese investments in Nigerian infrastructure, India remains a strategic partner.
Trade Dynamics:
- Recent decline in India-Nigeria trade due to India’s increased oil imports from Russia.
- Both nations continue cooperation in other sectors.
Global South Leadership:
- India and Nigeria, as leaders in the Global South, can drive collective progress for developing countries.
Future Prospects:
- Sustained efforts needed to transform the goodwill generated by the visit into tangible outcomes.
₹2.4 Lakh Crore Collected at Toll Plazas Since Inception
Context : India’s highways collected ₹2.4 lakh crore, huge contributions from FASTag tolling.
Relevance: GS 3 (Infrastructure, Economic Development)
Benefits of FASTag System
Convenience
- Automatic Payments: Enables seamless toll payment without stopping at plazas, reducing cash dependency.
- Prepaid Accounts: Easy online recharge options make toll management hassle-free.
Time-Saving
- Reduced Wait Times: Vehicles equipped with FASTags pass toll plazas faster, minimizing delays.
Transparency and Accountability
- Digital Records: Provides clear, tamper-proof records of toll transactions, enhancing accountability.
Challenges
Technical Issues
- Connectivity Problems: Disruptions between toll plazas and banks affect transaction reliability.
- Faulty Tags: Poor-quality tags lead to failed payments.
- Multiple Tags: Confusion arises when vehicles have more than one FASTag.
User Awareness
- Lack of Awareness: Limited understanding of FASTag usage reduces adoption in some regions.
Operational Challenges
- Queue Management: Long queues persist at plazas during peak hours or festive seasons despite FASTag adoption.
Way Forward
- Improving infrastructure .
- Awareness campaigns .
- Streamlining operational processes .
Is the caste Census a useful exercise?
Context : Various political parties and organisation are demanding caste census .
Relevance: GS-2 (Governance)
Historical Efforts:First caste Census: 1871-72.
- Last comprehensive Census: 1931, identifying over 4,000 castes with regional variations.
- 2011 attempt faced challenges due to classification complexities.
Benefits
Policy Formulation:
- Provides precise data for targeted welfare schemes.
- Helps in evidence-based planning for socio-economic upliftment.
Equitable Resource Allocation:
- Aids in fair distribution of government jobs, education, and other benefits.
- Ensures marginalized groups receive adequate representation.
Socio-Economic Analysis:
- Highlights disparities among communities.
- Helps address structural inequalities.
Better Governance:
- Strengthens the design of affirmative action policies.
- Improves monitoring of social justice initiatives.
Challenges
- Caste Mobility:
- Upward: Claims for higher status over time.
- Downward: Strategic claims for benefits post-independence.
- Misclassification: Similar-sounding castes and surnames leading to confusion.
- Sensitive Nature: Social discomfort in discussing caste impacts data accuracy.
- Proportional Representation Issues: Difficulty in implementing reservations at the individual caste level.
India Backs UN Resolution Calling for Israel’s Exit
Context:
India voted in favor of a UN General Assembly resolution urging Israel’s withdrawal from Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, occupied since 1967.
Relevance: GS 2 (International Relations)
- Resolution Title: “Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine.”
- India’s Vote: Voted in favor alongside 156 other nations.
- Opposition: 8 member states, including the U.S., voted against.
Resolution Goals:
- Israel’s withdrawal from occupied territories, including East Jerusalem.
- Support for a two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders.
- Rejection of any demographic or territorial changes in Gaza Strip.
- Call for an immediate cessation of all acts of violence.
Significance:
- Reflects India’s consistent support for Palestinian self-determination.
- Reinforces India’s stance for a peaceful resolution in West Asia.
After Anomaly Alert, ISRO Sets PROBA-3 Launch for Today
Background:
- ISRO had initially scheduled the PROBA-3 mission for 4:08 p.m. on December 4, 2024.
- An anomaly in the spacecraft’s propulsion system led to the rescheduling of the launch to the following day.
Relevance: GS 3 ( Space)
Mission Details:
- PSLV-C59 rocket (44.5 meters) to carry the European Space Agency’s (ESA) PROBA-3 satellites.
- Mission aims to place 550-kg PROBA-3 satellites into a highly elliptical orbit.
- 61st flight of PSLV, 26th using the PSLV-XL configuration.
Mission Objective:
- Study the Sun’s corona using two satellites in formation that block the solar disk, enabling detailed observation.
Significance:
- Collaborative mission between NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) and the ESA, supported by ISRO’s expertise.
