UPSC DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS (6TH FEBRUARY, 2024)

Increase in Gender Budgeting 

Syllabus: GS1/Society, GS3/Economy

Context

• The Interim Budget 2024-25 has increased the Gender Budget.

About

• The quantum of Gender Budget reported in 2024-25 is 38.6% more than budget estimates of 2023-24.
• The share of Gender Budget in the total Union Budget increased to 6.5% in 2024-25 from 5% in 2023-24.

What is Gender Budgeting?

• Gender Budgeting is a strategy with gender responsive formulation of legislation, policies, plans, programmes, and schemes; resource allocation; implementation; tracking of expenditure, audit, and impact assessment. 
• It aims to ensure that public resources are collected and spent efficiently based on differing gender needs and priorities. 
• Gender Budgets are not separate budgets for women; neither do they imply that funds be divided into half for men and women or that budgets should be divided into half.
  • They are attempts to disaggregate the government’s budget according to its differential impact on different Genders, and reprioritize allocations to bridge gender gaps. 
• Gender-responsive budgeting in India was adopted in 2005. It comprises two parts: 
  • Part A: It encompasses schemes that allot 100 percent of the funds for women (such as maternity benefits). 
  • Part B: It consists of schemes that allocate at least 30 percent of funds for women (such as the Mid-Day Meal scheme).

Need for Gender budgeting

• Addressing Gender Inequality:  The Gender Gap Report 2023 ranked India at 127 out of 146 countries.
  • Gender budgeting provides a systematic framework for addressing these inequalities by allocating resources towards programs and initiatives that promote gender equality.
• Enhancing Development Outcomes: Gender equality yields significant development benefits, including poverty reduction, improved health outcomes, and enhanced economic growth.
  • Gender budgeting helps in mainstreaming gender considerations across all sectors of the economy, thereby contributing to more inclusive and sustainable development outcomes.
• International Commitments: India is a signatory to various international agreements and conventions that mandate the promotion of gender equality and women’s rights, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Gender budgeting is necessary to fulfill these commitments.
• Ensuring Targeted Interventions: Gender budgeting helps in identifying and prioritizing the specific needs and priorities of women and girls.

Challenges

• Data Availability and Quality: Gender budgeting relies on accurate gender-disaggregated data to identify specific needs and assess the effectiveness of interventions.
  • However, data collection mechanisms lack gender disaggregation, making it challenging to formulate evidence-based policies and allocate resources efficiently.
• Fragmentation of Initiatives: Gender-related initiatives in India are fragmented across different ministries and departments, leading to duplication of efforts, inefficiencies, and gaps in service delivery.
• Regular monitoring: Absence of robust monitoring mechanisms to evaluate the accountability and progress of gender budgeting initiatives reduces its effectiveness.

Way Forward

• Gender budgeting is a critical tool for advancing gender equality, promoting women’s empowerment, and achieving inclusive and sustainable development in India. 
• By addressing the challenges in implementation of gender budgeting  India can address the root causes of gender disparities and work towards creating a more equitable and just society.

Dealing With the High Government Debt

Syllabus: GS3/Indian Economy

Context:

• Dealing with the huge public debt seems to be a challenge for the government.

About the Public Debt

• It is also known as Sovereign Debt, and sometimes National Debt, an important way for governments to finance investments in growth and development.
• It is usually the amount of debt that a government has accumulated over many years of running fiscal deficits and borrowing to bridge the deficits.
  • It includes the budgetary central government, state and local government, extrabudgetary units, and social security funds etc plus other liabilities, including against small savings schemes, provident funds and special securities issued to the Food Corporation of India, fertiliser firms and oil marketing companies.
• Public debt is considered when the government’s expenditure exceeds its revenues, leading to borrowing or selling assets to fund the deficit.
  • The fiscal deficit target (gap between the government’s revenue and expenses) is often expressed as a percentage of the gross domestic product (GDP).

Current Status (India)

• India’s public debt-to-GDP ratio has barely increased from 81% in 2005-06 to 84% in 2021-22, and is back to 81% in 2022-23.
  • It was at 75% in 2019-20 and peaked at 88.5% in 2020-21.
• As per the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act 2003, the general government debt was supposed to be brought down to 60% of GDP by 2024-25.
  • The Centre’s own total outstanding liabilities were not to exceed 40% within that time schedule.
• The IMF states that India’s general government debt, including the Centre and States, could be 100% of GDP under adverse circumstances by fiscal 2028.
  • It has projected the ratio at 82% in the current fiscal and 82.4% for 2024-25.

Global Status of Debt

• Global public debt tripled since the mid-1970s to reach 92% of GDP (or just above $91 trillion) by end-2022.
• Private debt also tripled to 146% of GDP (or close to $144 trillion), but over a longer time span between 1960 and 2022.
• Over the past decade, the rise in the external debt stock of low- and middle-income countries has outpaced economic growth.

Reasons for High Public Debt

• High Borrowings: Governments borrow to meet various expenditures that they are unable to meet through tax and other revenues.
  • Governments may also borrow to pay interest on the money that they have already borrowed to fund past expenditures.
  • Public debt in India is primarily contracted at fixed interest rates, with floating internal debt constituting only 1.9% of GDP at end-March 2022.
• Expenditure related to Public Health and Social Safety: The most obvious reason is the Covid-induced disruptions that forced governments to borrow more – to fund additional public health and social safety net expenditure requirements – amid a drying up of revenues.
• High Inflation: Despite the economic growth rebound from 2020 and much higher-than-expected inflation, public debt remained high.
  • Fiscal deficits kept public debt levels elevated, as many governments spent more to boost growth and respond to food and energy price spikes even as they ended pandemic-related fiscal support.
• Declining Tax Revenue: A major chunk of expenses (interest payments, pensions, administrative expenses etc.,) and rising subsidy burdens meant that States were overly dependent on Central transfers.
  • A decline in revenue and an increase in spending meant a sharp rise in debt.

Impacts

• On economic development: High public debt can act as a drag on development due to limited access to financing, rising borrowing costs, currency devaluations, and sluggish growth.
  • Government debt exceeding threshold levels exert upward pressures on the term premium and dampen growth.
  • According to the United Nations, countries are facing the impossible choice of servicing their debt or serving their people.
• Low quality of expenditure: In 2022, 3.3 billion people live in countries that spend more on interest payments than on education or health.
  • High public debt can reduce investment and capital accumulation due to pressure on long-term interest rates.

Efforts for Minimizing the High Public Debt

• Fiscal consolidation: This involves reducing the fiscal deficit and public debt. The government can achieve this by increasing revenues or decreasing spending.
  • The government has opted for a new broad ‘glide path’ of fiscal consolidation. It aims to attain a fiscal deficit-to-GDP ratio of ‘below 4.5%’ by 2025-26.
  • But given the high post-pandemic starting points in 2020-21 and 2021-22, the deficit ratios of 6.4%, 5.8%, 5.1% (Budget Estimate), and ‘below 4.5%’ for the following four years amount to fairly sharp reductions.
• Structural reforms: These are changes in fiscal, financial, or trade policies to improve the functioning of the economy. They can help increase economic growth and reduce public debt.
• Monetary policy: The central bank can use monetary policy to manage inflation and stabilise the economy, which can indirectly help reduce public debt.
• The IMF suggested that India needs more prudent management of debt in the medium term.
  • It also suggested that new and preferably concessional sources of financing are needed, as well as greater private sector investment and carbon pricing or equivalent mechanism.
• Public Debt Management: It is a key function of the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance.
  • The division handles coordination, compilation, and printing of the Detailed Demands for Grants and the Outcome Budget.

Way Forward

• For restoring and recreating a policy environment conducive for private sector-led growth post-COVID, timely rebalancing of monetary and fiscal policies may become necessary given the current configurations of debt and liquidity.
• India probably needs a combination of both fiscal consolidation and growth (from output more than inflation) to deal with its current debt burden.

Global launch of UPI in France

Syllabus: GS2/International Relations, GS3/Economy

Context

• India launched UPI at the iconic Eiffel Tower in France.

About

• NPCI International Payments (NIPL), a subsidiary of NPCI, partnered with French e-commerce and proximity payments provider, Lyra to ensure the acceptance of the UPI payment mechanism in France, starting with the Eiffel Tower.

What is Unified Payments Interface (UPI)?

• UPI was designed and launched by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in 2016.
• It is a system that powers multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application (of any participating bank), merging several banking features, seamless fund routing & merchant payments into one hood. 
• It also caters to the “Peer to Peer” collect request which can be scheduled and paid as per requirement and convenience.

Internationalization of UPI

• Countries like UAE, Singapore, Bhutan, and Nepal have adopted UPI in the past.
  • In 2023, UPI and Singapore’s PayNow signed an agreement, allowing users in either country to make cross-border transactions.
  • To enable cross-border transactions, the NIPL and Al Etihad Payments of UAE inked a Memorandum of Understanding in 2023.

Significance 

• Global Financial Inclusion: The internationalization of UPI will provide access to fast, convenient, and low-cost payment services. This can help reduce the reliance on traditional banking infrastructure and facilitate economic participation for underserved populations.
• Remittances: It will streamline the process of sending and receiving remittances across borders, offering a faster, affordable, and secure alternative to traditional remittance channels. 
• Diplomatic and Strategic Relations:  It will foster closer economic ties and cooperation between countries by promoting interoperability and collaboration in the realm of digital payments.

India- U.S. Nuclear Cooperation 

Syllabus: GS2/India and Major Power Relations

In News

• The U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources recently said, India-U.S. nuclear cooperation envisaged under the nuclear deal two decades ago is “an important piece of unfinished business”.

More about the News

• Speaking on clean energy and climate change,  he stressed on getting away from Chinese domination of clean technology supply chains. 
• He also emphasises using India’s capacities in manufacturing and labour costs to build up a real alternative supply chain.

India-U.S. Nuclear Cooperation 

History and Milestones:

• 1974: India conducts its first nuclear test, leading to U.S. sanctions and limited cooperation.
• 2005: The landmark U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Agreement is signed, paving the way for civil nuclear trade and cooperation.
• 2008: The U.S. Congress approves the agreement, allowing nuclear fuel and technology transfers to India.
• 2010: The first U.S.-built nuclear power plant in India begins construction in Kudankulam.
• 2015: The Westinghouse Electric Company signs an agreement to build six nuclear reactors in India in Kovvada, Andhra Pradesh.

The U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Agreement

• The U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Agreement, also known as the 123 Agreement, is a landmark agreement signed in 2005 that marked a significant shift in the nuclear relationship between the two countries.

Key Provisions:

• Separation of Programs: India agreed to separate its civilian and military nuclear facilities, placing civilian facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards.
• Nuclear Trade: The agreement allowed the U.S. to supply nuclear fuel and technology to India for its civilian nuclear program.
• Non-proliferation Commitments: India reaffirmed its commitment to non-proliferation and agreed to additional safeguards against transferring sensitive nuclear technology or materials.

Expected benefits for India:

• Energy Security: Reduced dependence on fossil fuels for electricity generation, which is crucial for a growing economy. Cleaner energy source with lower greenhouse gas emissions.
• Economic Growth: Creation of jobs in the nuclear power sector, potential for attracting investments and technology transfers.
• Strategic Partnership: Stronger relationship with the U.S., with implications for regional security and global non-proliferation efforts.
• Access to Advanced Technology: Acquisition of modern nuclear reactors and fuel, promoting technological advancements and improved safety standards.
• Environmental protection: Reduced reliance on coal-fired power plants, contributing to lower air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
• Regional stability: Cooperation on nuclear energy could foster trust and collaboration between India and neighboring countries.
• Global leadership: Demonstrating responsible nuclear cooperation could set a positive example for other countries.

Current Status:

• Even after eight years of announcing that the nuclear deal was done in 2015, there is still no techno-commercial offer.
• The progress has been slower than initially expected due to various Challenges.
  • Domestic challenges in India: Complex regulatory procedures, limited infrastructure, and liability concerns.
  • Geopolitical considerations: Evolving global nuclear landscape and concerns about technology transfer.
  • U.S. domestic politics: Concerns about non-proliferation and Congressional approval processes.

Measures/Suggestions:

• India and the U.S. needs to make fresh efforts for practical cooperation in the civil nuclear energy sector.
• Also, India needs to revise laws to enable private companies to participate in the civil nuclear sector.
• Further, there is a “shared interest” to move forward, both on the large traditional reactors which were foreseen as part of the nuclear deal and also on Small and Modular Reactor (SMR) technology.

Way Ahead:

• Despite the challenges, both countries remain committed to the agreement and continue to work towards expanding cooperation.
• The success of the agreement will depend on addressing outstanding challenges and building mutual trust to unlock its full potential.

The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Bill, 2024

Syllabus: GS3/Natural Resources; Conservation

Context

• Recently, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Bill, 2024 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha aiming to amend the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.

Key Features of the Bill

• Appointment of Adjudication Officers: The bill proposes the appointment of an ‘adjudication officer’ who will decide on the penalty in cases of environmental violations.
• Uniformity in appointment of Chairman of SPCBs: The 1974 Act states the Chairman of the State Pollution Control Board was nominated by the State government, to which the Bill adds ‘in such a manner as may be prescribed by the Central Government’.
• Applicability: The Bill would be applicable to Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan, and any other state that passes a resolution under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
• Decriminalisation of Minor Offences: The bill aims to decriminalise the existing provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, which means that instead of imprisonment, violators would be required to pay a fine.
• Changes in Punishment: The 1974 Act currently prescribes imprisonment of up to three months for not informing the State Board about abstraction of water from a stream or well in a substantial volume and not providing information about construction, installation, or operation of disposal system.
  • The Bill amends it to a fine between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15 lakh.
• Exemption for Certain Industrial Units: The Bill enables the Centre to ‘exempt certain categories of industrial plants’ from the restrictions on new outlets and discharges.
• Guidelines for Grant and Establishment of Industries: The Bill also enables the Centre to ‘issue guidelines’ on matters relating to grant, establishment of any industry, etc.

Water Pollution: A Growing Concern

• Water pollution is a pressing issue that poses significant threats to the environment and human health. It occurs when harmful substances, often due to human activities, enter water bodies and degrade the quality of water.

Causes

• The primary cause of water pollution is the discharge of waste from urban areas, which account for 70% of India’s water pollution.
• These wastes, often untreated due to inadequate infrastructure, end up in rivers and other water bodies.
• Industrialization and increasing urbanisation have exacerbated the situation, creating large point sources of it.
• Heavy metals are another significant source of water pollution. They contaminate India’s rivers, posing severe health risks.
  • The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) identified 351 polluted river stretches in India, with Maharashtra having the highest number of polluted rivers.

Impact on Health and Environment

• Pollution has severe impacts on both human health and the environment. In 2019, pollution resulted in more than 23 lakh premature deaths in India, the highest in the world.
  • The majority of these deaths were due to air pollution, but water pollution also contributed significantly.
• Water pollution affects the environment by degrading freshwater supplies and ecosystems.
  • This degradation increases the vulnerability of small-scale producers to climate shocks and land degradation in some of the world’s most fragile ecosystems.

Measures to Control

• The Indian government has implemented various Acts and rules to control water pollution.
• The Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act and the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, aim to prevent pollution in water bodies.
  • However, effective implementation and enforcement of these laws remain a challenge.
• CPCB performs functions as laid down under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.

Conclusion

• Water pollution is a grave issue that needs immediate attention. While laws and regulations are in place, their effective implementation is crucial. Moreover, there is a need for increased awareness and individual responsibility towards the conservation and protection of our water bodies.

Facts In News

Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill

Syllabus :GS 2/Polity and Governance 

In News

The Centre introduced a Bill in the Lok Sabha titled “The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024” to curb leaks, malpractices as well as organized malpractices in recruitment examinations

About the bill

• It outlines 15 unfair practices, such as leaking question papers, colluding to leak them, unauthorised possession of materials such as question paper or an Optical Mark Recognition response sheet, providing answers by unauthorised individuals, assisting candidates without authorisation, manipulating exam conditions, conducting fake exams, issuing fraudulent admit cards, and more.
• Coverage : It will cover entrance examinations held by the Union Public Service Commission, the Staff Selection Commission, the Railways, banking recruitment examinations and all computer-based examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency.
  • It will also cover entrance tests such as NEET, JEE, and CUET.
• Punishment : “All offences under this Act, shall be cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable. 
  • It proposes a punishment of a minimum of three to five years of imprisonment to curb cheating and for those involved in organised crimes of cheating will face five to 10 years of imprisonment and a minimum fine of Rs 1 crore.
  • In case of institution found guilty, attachment and forfeiture of property and proportionate cost of examination to be recovered from it
• Objectives and Need : In the last few years, leaks of question papers and organised cheating had affected the interests of lakhs of student due to cancellation of tests and examinations
  • The bill is aimed at preventing organised gangs and institutions that are involved in unfair means for monetary gains, but it protects candidates from its provisions.
  • It is aimed to bring greater transparency, fairness and credibility to the public examination systems and to reassure the youth that their sincere and genuine efforts will be fairly rewarded and their future is safe.

OBC Quota in J&K Local Bodies

Syllabus: GS2/Policies and Interventions

Context

• The Union government recently introduced the Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024 to provide reservation to OBCs in local bodies in J&K.

Key Features of the Bill

• The bill seeks to amend certain provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989, the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Act, 2000, and the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Corporation Act, 2000 in consonance with the provisions of Part IX and Part IXA of the Constitution of India.
  • It is intended to bring consistency in the local bodies’ laws of the Union Territory of J&K with the provisions of the Constitution of India.
  • Clause (6) of Articles 243D and 243T of the Constitution empowers the Legislature of a State to make provision for reservation of seats in any ‘Panchayat’ and ‘Municipality’ in favour of backward classes of citizens.
• The power to prepare and conduct local body polls should be with the State Election Commission.
  • Articles 243K and 243ZA: The superintendence, direction, and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of all elections to the Panchayats and Municipalities is vested in a ‘State Election Commission’ consisting of a ‘State Election Commissioner’.
• The number of seats reserved for OBCs will be decided by a Commission that will be formed after the legislation has been passed by the Parliament.

Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad)

Syllabus: GS2/International Relations

Context

• Recently, American envoy Garcetti said that the Quad summit is more likely after the U.S. Elections.

About the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad)

• It is an informal strategic forum comprising the United States, India, Australia, and Japan.
• The core objective of the Quad is to secure a rules-based global order, freedom of navigation, and a liberal trading system, along with to work for a free, open, prosperous, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.
  • It is seen as to reduce Chinese domination in the Indo- Pacific region.
• The Quad leaders held their first formal summit in 2021.
• US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti informed that the Quad can be the ‘model for the world’ as it is ‘very strong and stable’.

High-Speed Expendable Aerial target (HEAT)- ABHYAS

Syllabus:GS3/Defence

Context

• India successfully flight-tested the high-speed expendable aerial target, Abhyas, from the integrated test range in Chandipur off the Odisha coast.

About

• ABHYAS is developed indigenously by the DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE). 
• It is designed for autonomous flying with the help of an autopilot and offers a realistic threat scenario for practice of weapon systems.

Features

• It has Radar Cross Section, Visual and Infrared augmentation system required for weapon practice. 
• It has a laptop-based Ground Control System with which the aircraft can be integrated and pre-flight checks, data recording during the flight, replay after the flight and post-flight analysis can be carried out. 
• ABHYAS requires minimum logistics and is cost effective compared to imported equivalents.

National Credit Framework 

Syllabus :GS 2/Education 

In News

• The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is planning significant changes to the academic framework of Classes 9, 10, 11, and 12 as part of its plan to implement creditisation

National Credit Framework (NCrF)

• Background: Creditisation aims to establish academic equivalence between vocational and general education, facilitating mobility between the two education systems, as proposed by the NEP 2020.
  • To implement this, the University Grants Commission had come up with the National Credit Framework (NCrF) in 2022.
• Overview : NCrF is a unified credit framework for the integration of training and skill development into schools and higher education.
  • For a student in Class 9 to advance to Class 10, they will need to earn a specified number of credits. 
  • Eventually, the student will earn enough credits to be eligible to enrol in an undergraduate programme in a university. 
  • The credits earned by a student will be digitally stored in the Academic Bank of Credits and accessible through a linked Digilocker account.
• Implementation status :  To implement this in its affiliated schools, the CBSE formed a subcommittee in 2022 that suggested how the current academic framework should be redesigned to align it with NCrF.
• Recent Proposal : The CBSE has urged principals of schools affiliated to the board to start contemplating the pattern for allocating credits to students for subjects, in line with the National Credit Framework.
  • The CBSE has proposed that Class 10 and 12 students study more subjects, especially more native Indian languages.
  • As per the existing regulations, a student has to pass in 5 subjects (two languages and three main subjects – maths, science and social science) to pass.
    • a Class nine student passing with five compulsory subjects and completing internal assessment of remaining mentioned subjects will earn at least 40 credits. 
    • In case the student opts for a sixth or seventh subject, and passes the five compulsory subjects, extra credits totalling up to 54 can be earned.

2024 Grammy Awards

Syllabus: Miscellaneous 

Context

• Indian jazz band Shakti bagged Best Global Music Album for ‘This Moment’ in the 2024 Grammy Awards.

About

• The recently reunited fusion band, once named “Turiyananda Sangit,” was originally founded by British guitarist John McLaughlin, Indian tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, and percussionist Vikku Vinayakram in 1973.
  • They were joined later by violinist L. Shankar and the late mridangam maestro Ramnad Raghavan.
• The band was regrouped in 2020 with McLaughlin, Hussain, vocalist Shankar Mahadevan, percussionist V. Selvaganesh, and violinist Ganesh Rajagopalan.
  • Mahadevan, Selvaganesh, and Rajagopalan secured the band’s Grammy award alongside founding members McLaughlin and Hussain. 

Grammy Awards

• The Grammy Awards, officially known as the GRAMMYs, are the premier music awards in the United States and among the most prestigious globally.
• Objective: To recognize outstanding achievements in the music industry across various genres and categories.
• Awarded by: The Recording Academy, a voting membership body of music professionals.
• When?: Held annually, typically in February. 
• Where?: Location varies, usually major cities like Los Angeles or New York City.
• Categories and Awards:
  • Over 80 categories spanning various genres like pop, rock, country, rap, R&B, classical, jazz, and more.
  • General Field awards recognize overall achievements like Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best New Artist.

2024 GRAMMYs

• The 66th ceremony took place on February 5th, 2024, in Los Angeles.
• It saw Taylor Swift winning her fourth Album of the Year award for “Midnights,” and Miley Cyrus taking Record of the Year for “Flowers.”
• Other awards:
  • Song of the year – Billie Eilish – What Was I Made For? from Barbie
  • Best pop vocal album – Taylor Swift – Midnights
  • Best pop solo performance – Miley Cyrus – Flowers
  • Best rap album -Killer Mike – Michael 
  • Best African music performance – Tyla – Water
  • Best rock album – Paramore – This Is Why 
  • Best country duo/group performance – Zach Bryan featuring Kacey Musgraves – I Remember Everything