Current Affairs for UPSC IAS Exam – 28 September 2021 | Legacy IAS Academy

Contents

1. Institution’s right to govt. aid: Not Fundamental Right
2. Jobs increased by 29% since 2013, says survey
3. National Health ID announced by PM Narendra Modi
4. DRDO tests Akash Prime missile

Institution’s right to govt. aid: Not Fundamental Right

Context:

The right of an institution, whether run by a majority or minority community, to get government aid is not a fundamental right. Both have to equally follow the rules and conditions of the aid, the Supreme Court held in a judgment recently.

Relevance:

GS-II: Polity and Constitution (Constitutional Provisions, Important Judgements, Fundamental Rights)

Dimensions of the Article:

1. About the recent ruling on Right to Government Aid
2. Key takeaways from the Judgment
3. Various grounds discussed

About the recent ruling on Right to Government Aid

• In a recent ruling, the SC held that the right of an institution, whether run by a majority or minority community, to receive government aid is not a fundamental right.
• It said that all conditions that have relevance to the proper utilisation of the grant-in-aid by an educational institution can be imposed by the government. It also asserted an institution receiving aid is bound by the conditions imposed and therefore expected to comply with the rules.
• The Bench said that if the government made a policy call to withdraw aid, an institution cannot question the decision as a matter of right.
• The court added that an institution can never be allowed to say that the grant of aid should be on its own terms.
• It added that when an institution is not satisfied with the government’s aid, it can deny the grant and move forward on its own. But it is not allowed to ask for a grant of aid on its own terms.

Key takeaways from the Judgment

• The SC has clarified that if the government made a policy call to withdraw aid, an institution cannot question the decision as a “matter of right”.
• Whether it is an institution run by the majority or the minority, all conditions that have relevance to the proper utilisation of the grant-in-aid by an educational institution can be imposed.
• All that Article 30(2) states is that on the ground that an institution is under the management of a minority, whether based on religion or language.
• The grant of aid to that educational institution cannot be discriminated against, if other educational institutions are entitled to receive aid.

Basis of the Judgment

• A grant of government aid comes with accompanying conditions.
• An institution is free to choose to accept the grant with the conditions or go its own way.
• If an institution does not want to accept and comply with the conditions accompanying such aid, it is well open to it to decline the grant and move in its own way.
• On the contrary, an institution can never be allowed to say that the grant of aid should be on its own terms, the Bench observed.

Various grounds discussed

The court explained why institutions cannot view government aid as a “matter of right”.

1. Government aid is a policy decision: It depends on various factors including the interests of the institution itself and the ability of the government to understand the exercise. Therefore, even in a case where a policy decision is made to withdraw the aid, an institution cannot question it as a matter of right.
2. Financial constraints and deficiencies: These are the factors which are considered relevant in taking any decision qua aid, including both the decision to grant aid and the manner of disbursement of an aid.
3. Not arbitrary decision: The bench said that a policy decision is presumed to be in public interest, and such a decision once made is not amenable to challenge, until and unless there is manifest or extreme arbitrariness, a Constitutional court is expected to keep its hands off.

-Source: The Hindu

Jobs increased by 29% since 2013, says survey

Context:

The All-India Quarterly Establishment-based Employment Survey (AQEES), in a report released recently, said that the overall employment numbers had increased by 29% from the base year of 2013-14.

Relevance:

GS-III: Indian Economy (Human Resource, Employment and related issues)

Dimensions of the Article:

1. About the QES report
2. Highlights of the Labour and Employment Minister’s QES report

About the QES report

• The Quarterly Employment Survey (QES) is a report of the All-India Quarterly Establishment-based Employment Survey (AQEES) prepared by the Labour Bureau.
• There are two components under AQEES, Quarterly Employment Survey (QES) and Area Frame Establishment Survey (AFES).
• The QES report covers about 10,500 firms that employed more than 10 workers and were spread over nine sectors that account for 85% of the total employment in such establishments.
• The nine selected sectors are 1- Manufacturing, 2- Construction, 3- Trade, 4- Transport, 5- Education, 6- Health, 7- Accommodation and Restaurant, 8- IT/BPO and 9- Financial Services. These sectors altogether account for a majority of the total employment in the non-farm establishments.
• The AQEES has been taken up by the Labour Bureau to provide frequent (quarterly) updates about the employment and related variables of establishments, in both organised and unorganised segments of nine selected sectors.

Highlights of the Labour and Employment Minister’s QES report

• The report says that the overall employment numbers had increased by 29% from the base year of 2013-14.
• In the first quarter of this fiscal (April-June 2021), 27% of the establishments surveyed reported pandemic-related retrenchment.
• Overall, employment stood at 3.08 crore in the first quarter, up from 2.37 crore as reported in the Sixth Economic Census (2013-2014).
• All but two sectors — trade and accommodation & restaurants — saw an increase in employment over the period.
• The number of female workers showed a decline too, from 31% in the Sixth Economic Survey to 29% as of the first quarter of the quarterly employment survey.

-Source: The Hindu

National Health ID announced by PM Narendra Modi

Context:

The PM launched the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission under which every citizen would now get a digital health ID and health records digitally protected.

Relevance:

GS-II: Social Justice and Governance (Issues Related to Health, Government Policies and Initiatives, Welfare Schemes)

Dimensions of the Article:

1. What is Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission?
2. Key Facilities of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission
3. Key points regarding Digital Health ID card
4. Benefits of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission

What is Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission?

• Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission will create a seamless online platform through the provision of a wide-range of data, information, and infrastructure services, duly leveraging open, interoperable, standards-based digital systems.
• The Mission will ensure the security, confidentiality, and privacy of health-related personal information, and enable access and exchange of longitudinal health records of citizens with their consent.
• The Mission is based on the foundations laid down in the form of Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and Mobile (JAM) trinity, and other digital initiatives of the government.
• It aims to create interoperability within the digital health ecosystem, similar to the role played by the Unified Payments Interface in revolutionizing payments.
• Citizens will be a click away from accessing healthcare facilities.
• The pilot scheme is currently being implemented across 6 union territories namely Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, and Daman & Diu, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry.

Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission Sandbox

• As a part of the Mission, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission Sandbox will act as a framework for product testing and technology.
• The Sandbox will help organizations, including private players, who want to be a part of the National Digital Health Ecosystem.
• Organizations, private players, citizens can become Health Information Provider or Health Information User or efficiently link with Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.

Key Facilities of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission

1. Health ID: Every citizen will be allotted a health ID that will be used as their health account. The personal health records of the citizen will be linked to their respective Health ID. These records can be viewed with the help of a mobile application.
2. Healthcare Professionals Registry (HPR): A repository of registered nurses, doctors, paramedical with their qualifications, experience, and other relevant details.
3. Healthcare Facilities Registry (HFR): A repository of all public and private healthcare facilities across both traditional and modern systems of medicine. This will ensure ease of doing business for doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare service providers.
4. Personal Health Record Application: A self-managed health record of an individual linked to the Aarogya Setu App.

Key points regarding Digital Health ID card

• Under National Digital Health Mission, every Indian will get a Health ID card that will work as a unique health account.
• The health ID will be completely technology-based and will include a unique 14-digit health identification number- for every citizen.
• The digital health ID card will work as a repository of all health-related information of the person such as the person’s past medical conditions, treatment and diagnosis.
• The digital Health ID will have details of every disease, every test and all doctor visits along with results of all diagnostic tests and prescribed medicines. Each time, a person will visit the doctor or a pharmacy, the details including prescriptions will be logged in the health ID card.
• The unique digital health IDs will enable Indian citizens to get hassle-free access to healthcare across the country.
• The digital health card will create interoperability within the digital health ecosystem. It will also create a seamless online platform that will also be secure and will protect the confidentiality and privacy of health-related personal information.
• The health ID will be voluntary and it will be free of cost. It is a hassle-free initiative as citizens will only be a click away from accessing healthcare facilities using it.
• The digital health id card will make all the health-related information portable and easily accessible even if the patient shifts to a new place or visits a new doctor. All person health records can be viewed with the help of a mobile app.
• The health ID can be used to access the health records of the citizens only with their consent. It cannot be accessed without their permission so it would be a reliable repository.

Benefits of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission

1. Empowering citizens with a modern healthcare system
2. Easy access to health records of citizens and healthcare professionals
3. Enabling the private healthcare sector to participate
4. Making healthcare providers and doctors to be more accessible and accountable
5. Providing efficient healthcare services for the benefit of people
6. Help people with medical services in remote and urban areas
7. Provide affordable health facilities at the grassroots level
8. Giving highest importance to the privacy of the personal data of the citizens

-Source: The Hindu

DRDO tests Akash Prime missile

Context:

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully tested a new version of Akash Surface to Air missile Akash Prime from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Odisha.

Relevance:

Prelims, GS-III: Science and Technology (Defence Technology)

Dimensions of the Article:

1. About Akash missile system
2. About the recently tested Akash Prime
3. About IGMDP

About Akash missile system

• The development of the Akash SAM was started by the DRDO in the late 1980s as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).
• Akash is India’s first indigenously produced medium range SAM that can engage multiple targets from multiple directions and has nearly 90% kill probability even while being launched from mobile platforms like battle tanks or wheeled trucks.
• The Akash missile system is unique in the way that It can simultaneously engage multiple targets in group mode or autonomous mode.
• The missile is supported by the indigenously developed radar called ‘Rajendra’.
• The missile is reportedly cheaper and more accurate than US’ Patriot missiles due to its solid-fuel technology and high-tech radars.

About the recently tested Akash Prime

• In comparison to the existing Akash system, Akash Prime is equipped with indigenous active RF (Radio Frequency) seeker for improved accuracy, which makes sure that the target at which the missile is fired is hit.
• Akash Prime was developed by Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories under the Missiles and Strategic Systems (MSS).
• Other improvements were also incorporated in Akash Prime like ensuring reliable performance under a low-temperature environment at higher altitudes.

Click Here to read about the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP)

-Source: The Hindu