UPSC Key—10 August, 2023: Assam Rifles, Comptroller and Auditor General of India and Open Market Sale Scheme

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: General Studies III: Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story-THERE is disquiet in the scientific fraternity that for the first time since it was instituted in 1958, the country’s top annual science prize, the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Awards, that have celebrated and nurtured the best science talent under 45, have been put on hold. The list of awardees for 2022 — for work done between 2017-21 — had been decided but was not announced on September 26, the CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) Foundation Day, as it used to happen every year.

• Why the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Awards have been put on hold?

• What exactly government has said?

• The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar awards is an esteemed accolade that acknowledges which aspects?

• Sir Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar-Know his legacy

• Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar-Connect the dots

• For Your Information-Named after Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, the first director of CSIR, these awards are given every in seven scientific disciplines — physics, biology, engineering, mathematics, medicine, chemistry, and earth sciences. Each award — there cannot be more than two per discipline — carries a cash component of Rs 5 lakh and, since 2008, an honorarium of Rs 15,000 per month till the scientist is serving in a publicly funded institution. The award has a formidable track record of identifying future science leaders: According to an article published in Current Science some time ago, of the 500 plus Bhatnagar awardees (till 2020), 16 have been honoured with Padma Vibhushan; 49 with Padma Bhushan and 69 with Padma Shri. Seven Bhatnagar Awardees have been honoured with all three. CNR Rao is the lone Bharat Ratna. As many as 25 Bhatnagar awardees have become Fellow of the Riyal Society; 15 of them foreign associates of National Academy of Sciences in US, and 143 of them are fellows of The World Academy of Sciences.

• Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Know its role, vision and mission

• Do You Know-According to CSIR Website, the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology is named after the founder Director of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), the late Dr (Sir) Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar and is known as the ‘Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (SSB) Prize for Science and Technology’. The Prize is given each year for outstanding contributions to science and technology. SSB Prizes, each of the value of Rs 5,00,000 (Rupees five lakh) are awarded annually for notable and outstanding research, fundamental or applied, in the following disciplines: (1) Biological (2) Chemical (3)Earth-Atmosphere-Ocean-Planetary (4) Engineering (5) Mathematical (6) Medical and (7) Physical Sciences. Any citizen of India engaged in research in any field of science and technology up to the age of 45 years as reckoned on 31st December of the year preceding the year of the Prize. Overseas citizen of India (OCI) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) working in India are also eligible. The Prize is bestowed on a person who, in the opinion of CSIR, has made conspicuously important and outstanding contributions to human knowledge and progress – fundamental or applied – in the particular field of endeavour, which is his/her specialization. The Prize is awarded on the basis of contributions made through work done primarily in India during the five years preceding the year of the Prize.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize For Science and Technology

📍About CSIR

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

📍Consider the following statements in respect of Barat Ratna and Padma Awards: (UPSC GS1, 2021)
(1) Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards are titles under the Article 18(1) of the Constitution of India.
(2) Padma Awards, which were instituted in the year 1954, were suspended only once.
(3) The number of Bharat Ratna Awards is restricted to a maximum of five in a particular year.
Which of the above statements are not correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

THE CITY

Delhi floods caused by encroachment on floodplains: Probe panel

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian and World Geography

Mains Examination: 

• General Studies I: Urbanization, their problems and their remedies.

• General Studies III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story- Haryana government has suspended a chief-engineer level officer of state irrigation department posted in Delhi, Sandeep Taneja, apart from ordering a chargesheet to be filed against three officers of the department for dereliction of duty during the floods in parts of Haryana caused by rise in Yamuna levels due to excessive rains over a short period. Officials said a probe panel has found the flooding in Delhi occurred due to encroachment of floodplains up to ITO due to which water overflowed to Ring Road. The panel was formed to investigate into allegations that four gates of a Yamuna barrage near ITO in Delhi were not opened during the flood last month.

• What are major findings of the report?

• What is floodplain and how it is formed?

• What are the benefits of floodplains?

• Where are floodplains most often found?

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of floodplains?

• What are the dangers of living on the flood plains?

• How illegal encroachment of Floodplains of Yamuna River affecting the entire ecology?

• Map Work-Yamuna (Source, Major cities, destination and Tributaries)

• What were the National Green Tribunal on Yamuna Flood Plain in the past?

• What are the factors behind flooding in Delhi?

• Do You Know-“The Yamuna used to be where the Ring Road is. That’s why the Red Fort was built here… the Yamuna was to be a defence of the fort. The river began to move away, as rivers do, in the time of Muhammad Shah ‘Rangila’ (in the 18th Century). In 1911, when the decision to shift the capital to Delhi was taken, the territory was surveyed to identify the place where the capital will be located. The original location suggested was the Coronation Park area. But that year, 1911, in the monsoon, quite a lot of area in the Coronation Park and Kingsway Camp area was flooded. That’s why the decision was taken to locate the capital at Raisina Hill. In 1911, this area, parts of Civil Lines, Model Town, were flooded. This is part of the floodplain,” said writer Sohail Hashmi.

• With the Yamuna rising to a 45-year record in Delhi and cities across North India facing flooding this week, what experts are saying?

• Why is the Yamuna flooding?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Why water entered key roads: Broken regulator, barrage clogged with silt

📍For a few hours, a river flowed along Red Fort

📍Yamuna rising: Experts call for better urban planning, governance

Previous year UPSC prelims Question Covering similar theme:

📍Contour bunding is a method of soil conservation used in: (UPSC GS1, 2013)
(a) desert margins, liable to strong wind action
(b) low flat plains, close to stream courses, liable to flooding
(c) scrublands, liable to spread of weed growth
(d) None of the above

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:
📍Account for the huge flooding of million cities in India including the smart ones like Hyderabad and Pune. Suggest lasting remedial measures. (UPSC GS2, 2020)
📍Major cities of India are becoming more vulnerable to flood conditions. Discuss. (UPSC GS2, 2016)

POCSO Act is gender neutral, misleading to say it’s misused: HC

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.

Main Examination: General Studies II: Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story-To say that the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act is a gender-based law and is being misused is “not only inappropriate but misleading too”, the Delhi High Court has said. On the argument of an accused that the act is gender-based and is being misused, a single-judge bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma in its July 31 order observed: “To say the least, POCSO Act is not gender-based and is neutral as far as victim children are concerned. Moreover, to argue that the legislation is being misused and using the language such as ‘as the complainant by keeping a gun on her minor daughter’s shoulder had implicated the applicant in the present case so as to coerce him to re-pay a friendly loan that he had taken from her husband’ (as mentioned in the petition) have been found to be most insensitive by this Court”.

• What exactly Delhi High Court said in this regard?

• Is the POCSO act gender neutral?

• What is gender neutrality in the Constitution of India?

• What is the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act?

• Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012- Know the Salient features of the Act and its amendment

• Who is regarded as child as per the provisions of POCSO Act, 2012?

• Why Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012?

• What are the challenges associated with child sexual abuse?

• What are the Initiatives, legislations and laws taken by the Government of India in this direction?

• What are the Rights of a child in India as per the Indian Constitution?

• What the 22nd Law Commission of India said on POCSO?

• Why the Law Commission is of the view that lowering the age of consent may be counterproductive for women?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Explained: How the POCSO Act has been amended

GOVT & POLITICS

Centre to offload 50 LMT of wheat to open market

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development

Mains Examination: General Studies III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation of resources, growth, development and employment, Major crops-cropping patterns in various parts of the country

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story- As wheat and rice prices continuously rise, the Union food ministry on Wednesday announced the offloading of 50 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of wheat in the open market in a phased manner under the Open Market Sale Scheme – Domestic (OMSS-D) for sale through e-auction.

• What is open market sale scheme domestic?

• What are the objectives of open market sale scheme?

• How does the government procure wheat and rice?

• For Your Information-The Open Market Sale Scheme entails the periodic sale of excess food grains, particularly wheat and rice, from the central pool by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to various entities such as dealers, bulk consumers, and retail chains. These sales are conducted at predetermined prices. The Corporation use e-auctions as a means to facilitate the purchase of specified quantities by open market bidders, with prices initially established at the commencement of a cycle and subject to periodic revisions. Typically, states possess the authority to acquire food grains via the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) without engaging in auctions, in order to fulfil their requirements beyond the allotment received from the central pool for distribution among beneficiaries of the National Food Security Act (NFSA). The procurement of food grains, such as wheat and paddy, for the central pool is conducted throughout the Rabi and Kharif marketing seasons by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and State corporations. This process is carried out in accordance with procurement estimates that are determined by the government of India prior to the commencement of these seasons. These purchases are made in accordance with the Minimum Support Price. The government is required to allocate a portion of the central pool to reserve wheat and rice for the 80 crore beneficiaries who are entitled to receive free food grains under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). Additionally, the government must maintain a buffer stock and ensure the availability of surplus food grains for commercial purposes. The proposed concept entails the activation of the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) during the lean season, which refers to the period between harvests. The primary objective is to enhance and manage the domestic supply and availability of the two grains, hence reducing their prices in the open market. Consequently, this scheme serves as a strategy to mitigate food grain inflation.

• How has the Centre decided the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS)?

• Wheat Production in India-Rabi or Kharif Crop?

• What is the procurement scale against the total production of wheat in India?

• From how many states is wheat procured for the central pool?

• How much wheat is procured for the central pool by the FCI every year?

• What is the procurement scale against the total production of wheat in India?

• What is the share of wheat contribution of various states to the central pool?

• Wheat production in India-Know the statistics

• Wheat Production in India-Know all the facts like Highest producing States, Geography and Environment associated with Wheat Production like Soil, temperature, Rainfall and Humidity etc.

• MSP (minimum support price) and effectiveness of MSP implementation

• How MSP is calculated (paid out costs, labour etc.) and Crops covered under the MSP

• Food Corporation of India (FCI)-About, Role, Functions

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Explained: How the govt procures wheat, why and for whom, and at what price

📍Express View on Centre’s grain policy: Rice and fall

Previous year UPSC prelims Question Covering similar theme:

📍Which of the following factors/policies were affecting the price of rice in India in the recent past? (UPSC GS1, 2020)
(1) Minimum Support Price
(2) Government’s trading
(3) Government’s stockpiling
(4) Consumer subsidies
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 4 only
(b) 1, 3 and 4 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
📍The economic cost of food grains to the Food Corporation of India is Minimum Support Price and bonus (if any) paid to the farmers plus (UPSC GS1, 2019)
(a) transportation cost only
(b) interest cost only
(c) procurement incidentals and distribution cost
(d) procurement incidentals and charges for godown
📍In India, which of the following can be considered as public investment in agriculture? (UPSC GS1, 2020)
(1) Fixing Minimum Support Price for agricultural produce of all crops
(2) Computerization of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies
(3) Social Capital development
(4) Free electricity supply to farmers
(5) Waiver of agricultural loans by the banking system
(6) Setting up of cold storage facilities by the governments.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 5 only
(b) 1, 3, 4 and 5 only
(c) 2, 3 and 6 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:
📍What do you mean by Minimum Support Price (MSP)? How will MSP rescue the farmers from the low income trap? (UPSC GS3, 2018)
📍How do subsidies affect the cropping pattern, crop diversity and economy of farmers? What is the significance of crop insurance, minimum support price and food processing for small and marginal farmers? (UPSC GS3, 2017)
📍Explain various types of revolutions, took place in Agriculture after Independence in India. How these revolutions have helped in poverty alleviation and food security in India? (UPSC GS3, 2017)

EXPRESS NETWORK

CAG: Govt diverted funds of pension schemes for publicity of other schemes

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.

Main Examination: General Studies II: Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story– THE MINISTRY of Rural Development (MoRD) diverted funds from the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), which includes old age pension schemes, for publicising some of its other schemes, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has said.

• What is National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) for?

• What exactly CAG has said in its report?

• What are the schemes under National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP)?

• For Your Information- The NSAP, launched on August 15, 1995, comprises three pension schemes – IGNOAPS, IGNDPS and Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) — and two other schemes – NFBS, which is a one-time assistance to a bereaved family in case of death of its breadwinner, and Annapurna scheme, which provides food security to the elderly who are not covered under IGNOAPS. “The allocation under NSAP to the states/ UTs were meant for disbursal of pension under various sub-schemes of NSAP. Out of the total allocation to a state/ UT, three per cent fund was meant for administrative expenditure. During audit, instances of diversion of funds by ministry and states/ UTs out of allocated funds for NSAP were noticed,” the report said. “The Ministry of Rural Development in January 2017 decided to campaign through hoardings in states and UTs for giving due publicity to all programmes/ schemes of the ministry. Administrative approval and financial sanction of Rs 39.15 lakh was taken (June 2017) for publicity campaign through hoardings, with a limit of 10 hoardings at each capital city of the state and UT. Administrative approval and expenditure sanction of Rs 2.44 crore was taken (August 2017) for campaigning (for) Gram Samriddhi, Swachh Bharat Pakhawada and publicity material of multiple schemes of the ministry through five hoardings in each district of 19 states,” it said.

• What is work of Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG)?

• What Article 148 of the Constitution says?

• The CAG is appointed by whom?

• The Article 149 of Constitution authorises the Parliament to prescribe the
duties and powers of the CAG. What are the duties and functions of the CAG as laid down by the Parliament?

• Comptroller and Auditor-CAG India exactly performs what?

• Comptroller and Auditor General of India is more of an auditor and less Comptroller-discuss

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍PMJAY registration: CAG reports 7.5 lakh recipients linked to single number

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:

📍“The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has a very vital role to play.” Explain how this is reflected in the method and terms of his appointment as well as the range of powers he can exercise. (UPSC GS2, 2018)

ECONOMY

Graded approach for data protection law transition, Big Tech first in line, says MoS IT

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: 

• General Studies II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

• General Studies II: Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story- The Centre will follow a graded approach in the way the data protection Bill – which is on the verge of becoming law – will be implemented for different entities. The government will implement the law first for big tech companies such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon and Apple, and offer a longer transition timeline for smaller entities and start-ups, Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar told The Indian Express.

• Do You Know-The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023 was passed in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday and will become law once it receives the President’s assent. This is India’s second attempt at framing a privacy legislation, and comes after at least three previous iterations of a data protection law have been considered, and shelved, by the government.

• The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023-Key features

• What are the concerns around the draft Bill?

• What changes are likely?

• How does India’s proposal compare with other countries?

• For Your Information- The Bill has retained the contents of the original version of the legislation proposed last November, including those that were red-flagged by privacy experts, such as exemptions for the Centre. In its new avatar, the proposed law has also accorded virtual censorship powers to the Centre. The Bill, however, does not offer any implementation timelines on when its provisions will be operationalised for entities that collect users’ personal data. “Big tech companies will certainly have to comply with the law first, followed by start-ups and less digitised entities such as MSMEs,” Chandrasekhar told this paper. The timelines will be decided after consultation with the industry, he said. He said that the timelines will be decided in a way that they do not disrupt ongoing operations of businesses. The European Union’s privacy law, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) , had allowed entities a time period of two years before it was to start applying to them. The GDPR was approved by the European Parliament in 2016 and came into effect in 2018. Chandrasekhar said that India’s timeline would be much shorter than two years.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍What data protection Bill says on privacy, Centre’s powers, right to info

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:

📍Examine the scope of Fundamental Rights in the light of the latest judgement of the Supreme Court on Right to Privacy. (GS2, 2017)

EXPLAINED

Why Assam Rifles personnel are facing increased hostility in Manipur

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: General Studies III: Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story- Tasked with manning “buffer zones” between Meitei- and Kuki-Zomi-dominated territories in Manipur, the Assam Rifles is facing heat from the Meiteis, with some even demanding its removal from the state. Most recently, the Assam Rifles was embroiled in a row when its vehicles blocked state police personnel from the Meitei-dominated Bishnupur district from crossing over into a Kuki-Zomi-dominated territory. Police claimed they were pursuing “suspected Kuki militants” who had killed three Meitei men that day, and actions of the Assam Rifles personnel allowed them to flee. The police also filed an FIR against the central force.

• What is happening with the Assam Rifles in Manipur?

• What the Meiteis say?

• What Assam Rifles are saying?

• Assam Rifles (AR)-Know in detail

• Who are the Assam Rifles, and what is their role?

• For Your Information- The Assam Rifles are a central armed police force. The AR is one of the six central armed police forces (CAPFs) under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The other five forces are the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). The AR is tasked with maintaining law and order in the Northeast along with the Indian Army. It also guards the Indo-Myanmar border. The AR have a sanctioned strength of more than 63,000 personnel, organised in 46 battalions, apart from administrative and training staff. It is the only paramilitary force with a dual control structure. While the administrative control of the force is with the MHA, its operational control is with the Indian Army, which is under the Ministry of Defence (MoD). This means that salaries and infrastructure for the force is provided by the MHA, but the deployment, posting, transfers, and deputation of AR personnel is decided by the Army. All its senior ranks, from DG to IG and sector headquarters are manned by officers from the Army. The force is commanded by a Lieutenant General of the Indian Army. The AR is in effect a central paramilitary force (CPMF) — its operational duties and regimentation are on the lines of the Indian Army. However, being a CAPF under the MHA, the recruitment, perks, and promotion of AR personnel, and their retirement policies are governed according to rules framed for CAPFs by the MHA.

• The Assam Rifles have a long and illustrious history-Know the legacy of Assam Rifles

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Story of the Assam Rifles, against whom Manipur Police have filed an FIR

Also Read

UPSC Essentials | Get Inspired: B K Singh, former forest officer on Veera...

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz : August 05 to August 12, 2023

UPSC Essentials | Weekly news express : Major Bills of Monsoon Session 2023

UPSC Essentials | Society & Social Justice : Urbanisation and associated ...

For any queries and feedback, contact priya.shukla@indianexpress.com
The Indian Express UPSC Hub is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest Updates.