Inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution
Context: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was detained on the Delhi border on Monday night while leading a protest. The demonstration aimed to petition the Central government for the inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, along with other autonomy-related demands for the region. Similar autonomy demands have also been voiced in […]
Caste-Based Segregation in India’s Manual Scavenging Workforce
Context: Recent data from the NAMASTE scheme involving over 3,000 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) shows that 92% of the 38,000 workers engaged in manual scavenging and hazardous cleaning tasks in India’s cities are from Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Other Backward Class (OBC) communities. This significant statistic not only underscores the prevalence of […]
About The Samajik Adhikarita Shivir
Context: Recently, a Samajik Adhikarita Shivir was organised at 75 locations across India for distribution of aids and assistive devices to over 9000 pre-identified Divyangjan beneficiaries under the ADIP (Assistance to Disabled Persons) Scheme. Relevance: GS II: Government policies and Interventions Samajik Adhikarita Shivir The Samajik Adhikarita Shivir (Social Empowerment Camps) is an initiative launched to assist people with disabilities and senior […]
Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan
Context: Prime Minister recently launched the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan in Jharkhand with an outlay of around Rs 80,000 crore. Relevance: GS II: Government Policies and Interventions About Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan: The Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan is a government initiative aimed at promoting comprehensive development in tribal villages, aiming for socio-economic […]
An Obsession with Rankings is Harming India’s Universities
Context:The increasing focus on global and national rankings has negatively impacted the core purpose of Indian universities, shifting attention from holistic education and research to metrics-driven outputs. With the rise of global ranking agencies and India’s National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), universities prioritize boosting research publications, citations, and quantifiable metrics at the expense of teaching […]
NITI Aayog’s Roadmap for Future Pandemic Preparedness
Context: The COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant gaps in healthcare systems worldwide. In response, the Indian government and NITI Aayog have outlined a roadmap titled “Future Pandemic Preparedness and Emergency Response” to build a resilient public health system. The report emphasizes the need for preparedness, effective coordination between the public and private sectors, and data-driven health […]
A Case of Nothing But Patent Censorship
Context: On September 20, 2024, the Bombay High Court ruled that an amendment to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, was unconstitutional. The ruling struck down a provision that would have allowed the government’s Fact Check Unit (FCU) to identify “fake, false, or misleading” information related to government business, […]
Cruise Bharat Mission Overview
Context: Recently, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) launched the ‘Cruise Bharat Mission’ from the Mumbai port. Relevance: GS II: Government Policies and interventions Cruise Bharat Mission Overview: Implementation Phases: Strategic Pillars:
National Mission for Clean Ganga Advances Conservation Efforts
Context: In its 57th Executive Committee meeting, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) approved several pivotal projects across various states, focusing on the conservation and cleanliness of the Ganga River. These initiatives are particularly geared towards supporting Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) activities planned for the upcoming Mahakumbh in 2025. Relevance: GS II: Government […]
An Opportunity to Rethink India’s Pension System
Context: India’s pension system has evolved through three major schemes: the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), the New Pension Scheme (NPS), and the proposed Unified Pension Scheme (UPS). Each system impacts retirees differently, with the NPS exposing retirees to market risks, while the OPS provided greater financial security. The global shift toward welfare policies amid economic uncertainties […]