Funds allotted for ongoing MPLADS projects lapse
Context: Virtually half of a belated Rs. 2,200 crore allotted for completing ongoing MPLADS projects in 2020-21 simply lapsed. Relevance: GS-II: Social Justice and Governance (Central Sector Schemes, Government Policies & Interventions) Dimensions of the Article: Members of Parliament Local Area Development (MP-LAD) Features of MPLADS scheme Release of Funds under MPLADS About the recent […]
RTE entitlements to be paid through cash transfer
Context: The Centre plans to pay students their Right to Education entitlements in the form of cash transfers, as part of a revamp and extension of its flagship Samagra Shiksha scheme that was approved by the Cabinet. Relevance: GS-II: Social Justice and Governance (Welfare Schemes, Government Policies and Interventions) Dimensions of the Article: About Samagra […]
Poverty in India is on the rise again
Context: India has not released its Consumption Expenditure Survey (CES) data since 2011-12. Normally a CES is conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSO) every five years. But the CES of 2017-18 (already conducted a year late) was not made public by the Government of India. Now, we hear that a new CES is […]
Concerns over mandatory fortification of food items
Context: In a pushback against the Centre’s plan to mandatorily fortify rice and edible oils with vitamins and minerals, a group of scientists and activists have written to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), warning of the adverse impacts on health and livelihoods. Relevance: GS-II: Social Justice (Issues Relating to Poverty & […]
Government’s denial of manual scavenging deaths
Context: India’s Social Justice Minister, in a writer reply in the Rajya Sabha, said that no deaths have been reported due to manual scavenging in the last five years. Activists have refuted this statement as “inhuman and cruel”, saying that said 472 people had died in five years due to manual scavenging. Relevance: GS-II: Social […]
Over 9 lakh severely malnourished children in India
Context: As per ICDS-RRS (Rapid Reporting System) Portal, as on November, 2020, there were 9.27 lakh severely acute malnourished children in the country. It is also important to note that more than 40% of funds released to State governments since the launch of Poshan Abhiyaan in 2017 remains unutilised, government data shows. Relevance: GS-II: Social […]
Reservation for OBCs and EWS in national medical seats
Context: The Union Health Ministry has announced reservation for the OBCs (Other Backward Classes) and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in the All India Quota (AIQ) for medical / dental courses. Relevance: GS-II: Social Justice and Governance (Social Sector & Social Services, Education and Health related Issues, Government Policies and initiatives) Dimensions of the Article: The […]
Juvenile Justice Amendment Bill, 2021
Context: In the Rajya Sabha, the important Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Bill, 2021 (without any discussions due to disruptions). Relevance: GS-II: Social Justice and Governance (Issues Related to Children, Governance and Government Policies, Issues Arising Out of Design & Implementation of Policies) Dimensions of the Article: Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection […]
PM to roll out academic credit bank
Context: PM Narendra Modi will launch the academic bank of credit that will provide multiple entry/exit options for students in higher education, first-year engineering programmes in regional languages and guidelines for internationalization of higher education. Relevance: Prelims, GS-II: Social Justice (Issues related to education, Government Policies and Initiatives) Dimensions of the Article: Various Initiatives regarding […]
Needed: an anti-trafficking law
Context: The Government of India has proposed the Trafficking in Persons (Prevention, Care and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2021. This Bill aims to tackle all aspects of trafficking including the social and economic causes of the crime, punishment to traffickers, and the protection and rehabilitation of survivors. Relevance: GS Paper 2: Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections of […]