Daily News Bytes
PAPER ARTICLES Topics
GS-II Growth charts — WHO standards versus India crafted International Organization
Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) Government Policies & Interventions for Development
Water Governance Important Aspects of Governance, Transparency & Accountability
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare – YEAR REVIEW Ministries and Departments of the Government
GS-III Asset quality of Indian banks improves to decadal high: RBI Indian Economy & Issues Related to Mobilization of Resources
The New York Times sues OpenAI and Microsoft for using its stories to train chatbots Issues Relating to Intellectual Property Rights
First account of Indian scientists on winter expedition to Arctic Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology
Credit Rating Agencies and INDIA Indian Economy & Issues Related to Mobilization of Resources
Regulation of Virtual Digital Asset Internal Security
GS PT Facts PM interacts with beneficiaries of Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra Social Empowerment
Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) portal Social Empowerment
Sweden moves a step closer to NATO membership after Turkey's parliamentary committee gives approval International Organization
Ennore ammonia gas leak | NGT takes suo motu cognisance Environmental Pollution & Degradation
Seperate Toilets for women in district courts Important Aspects of Governance, Transparency & Accountability
PM Vishwakarma Government Policies & Interventions for Development
Important Editorials How the PM JANMAN scheme can help Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups Government Policies & Interventions for Development
India must strengthen ties with Vietnam Bilateral, Regional & Global Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests

PM interacts with beneficiaries of Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra

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Context: Since its launch on 15th November, 2023, Prime Minister has regularly interacted with the beneficiaries of the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra all across the country.  The interaction has happened thrice through video conferencing (30th November, 9th December and 16th December). Also, Prime Minister has interacted with Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra beneficiaries physically on two consecutive days (17th-18th December) during his recent visit to Varanasi.

Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra: Key Points

  • Government initiative: Aims to raise awareness and track implementation of flagship central schemes like Ayushman Bharat, Ujjwala Yojana, etc.
  • Four main objectives:
    •  
    • Reach the unreached - identify and assist eligible beneficiaries who haven't utilized these schemes.
    • Spread information and increase awareness about the schemes.
    • Encourage experience sharing among beneficiaries through personal stories.
    • Enroll potential beneficiaries based on data collected during the Yatra.
  • Nationwide involvement: Union ministries and state governments actively participate.
  • Recent focus: Launched in Rajasthan, MP, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Mizoram after elections ended.
  • Overall progress:
    • Reached over 2.5 crore citizens across 68,000 Gram Panchayats in a month.
    •  
    • 2 crore individuals took the "Sankalp" pledge.
    • 2 crore beneficiaries shared their experiences through "Meri Kahani Meri Zubani".
  • Taking the pledge: Anyone can pledge online on the website and download a certificate.

Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) portal

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Context: Registration of youth on the Mera Yuva Bharat portal has crossed 35 Lakhs

About the portal:

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has launched a tech-driven platform Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) portal, aimed at fostering youth development and empowering young people to lead positive change.

Key Goals:

  • Developing Youth Leaders: To nurture leadership skills and equip young people for impactful roles in their communities.
  • Bridging Aspiration and Need: Connecting youth aspirations with community needs, ensuring initiatives address relevant challenges and opportunities.
  • Boosting Efficiency: Streamlining existing youth programs and projects for better Resource allocation and impact.
  • One-Stop Shop for Youth: Offering a centralized platform for accessing information and Resources related to diverse youth programs and government initiatives.
  • Comprehensive Youth Data: Building a central database to gain insights into youth trends and tailor programs accordingly.
  • Enhancing Communication: Connecting young people with government programs and initiatives while facilitating knowledge exchange with other stakeholders involved in youth development.
  • Phygital Ecosystem: Creating a blend of physical and digital experiences to ensure accessibility and cater to diverse preferences.

Who Benefits?

  • Primarily caters to youth aged 15-29, aligning with the national youth definition.
  • Specific components may target younger audiences, such as those between 10-19 years old.

Impact: This platform holds immense potential to:

  • Empower Youth: By equipping them with skills, knowledge, and opportunities to thrive and contribute meaningfully to society.
  • Engage Youth: Encourage active participation in community development and social impact initiatives.
  • Strengthen Communities: Drive positive change at the grassroots level through youth-led solutions and leadership.

Sweden moves a step closer to NATO membership after Turkey's parliamentary committee gives approval

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Context: Sweden’s NATO bid had been stalled amid opposition from Turkiye and Hungary

  • A crucial committee in the Turkish Parliament, on December 26, granted approval for Sweden's NATO membership bid after facing delays.
  • The approval comes amid obstacles posed by Turkey and Hungary against Sweden's NATO accession.
  • The Turkish parliament's foreign affairs committee gave the green light, advancing the process for a vote in the full parliament, where President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's alliance holds the majority.
  • The exact date for the full parliament's vote remains unclear.
  • The delays in Sweden's NATO membership had caused frustration among other NATO allies, eager to welcome Sweden and Finland into the alliance.

      NATO:

  • NATO, established in April 1949 through the North Atlantic Treaty, is a military alliance formed by the United States, Canada, and various Western European nations to ensure collective security against the Soviet Union.
  • The alliance currently consists of 30 member states.
  • Original members include Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
  • Greece and Turkey joined in 1952, followed by West Germany in 1955 (later referred to as Germany from 1990), Spain in 1982, and the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland in 1999.
  • Further expansions occurred in 2004 with the inclusion of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia, and in 2009 with Albania and Croatia joining.
  • Montenegro became a member in 2017, followed by North Macedonia in 2020.
  • France withdrew from NATO's integrated military command in 1966 but remained a member, resuming its position in NATO's military command in 2009.
  • Recently, Finland and Sweden have expressed interest in joining NATO.
  • NATO's headquarters is situated in Brussels, Belgium.

The headquarters of Allied Command Operations is located in Mons, Belgium.

 

How the PM JANMAN scheme can help Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups

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BACKGROUND: The Union Cabinet granted approval on November 29 for the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN). This initiative is designed to furnish households and habitations belonging to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) with fundamental amenities, including secure housing, clean drinking water, sanitation facilities, enhanced access to education, health, and nutrition, improved road and telecom connectivity, and opportunities for sustainable livelihoods.

PM-JANMAN Scheme

PM-JANMAN is a government initiative targeting tribal communities to integrate them into the mainstream.

Implementation Authority:

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs will implement the scheme in collaboration with State governments and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) communities.

Key Interventions:

Focuses on 11 critical interventions overseen by 9 line Ministries to ensure effective implementation of existing schemes in PVTG-inhabited villages.

Sectors Covered:

Encompasses various sectors such as safe housing (under PM-AWAS Scheme), access to clean drinking water, improved healthcare, education, nutrition, road and telecommunications connectivity, and sustainable livelihood opportunities.

Specific Initiatives:

Includes the establishment of Van Dhan Vikas Kendras for trading in forest produce, off-grid solar power systems for 1 lakh households, and solar street lights.

Overall Impact:

Aims to improve the quality of life and well-being of PVTGs by addressing discrimination and exclusion, recognizing their unique contributions to national and global development.

Challenges in implementation

Data Challenges:

An essential challenge is the absence of current and accurate data on Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). The latest census data available dates back to 2001, with approximately 27.6 lakh individuals in PVTGs. Despite efforts by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to conduct baseline surveys, a precise and up-to-date dataset for PVTG populations is still pending.

Incomplete Census Data:

The population data submitted to the Parliamentary Standing Committee in 2022 was derived from the 2011 Census and excluded PVTG populations in Maharashtra, Manipur, and Rajasthan.

This lack of contemporary data impedes the accurate assessment of the needs and developmental progress of PVTG communities.

Census Recommendation and Information Gap:

The absence of a dedicated Census for PVTG communities, as suggested by the National Advisory Council in 2013, compounds the challenge of obtaining comprehensive information on their education, health, and housing status.

Diversity and Customized Approaches:

The diverse needs and capacities of PVTGs across regions and states pose a challenge, necessitating tailored and flexible approaches and interventions.

Stigma and Discrimination:

PVTGs face stigma and discrimination in both mainstream society and the state. There is a need for sensitization and awareness initiatives among stakeholders and the public.

Coordination and Convergence:

Ensuring effective coordination and convergence of the scheme with existing programs of central and state governments is crucial. It requires efficient delivery and utilization of Resources and services to meet the needs of PVTGs.

PVTGs:

In 1973, the Dhebar Commission introduced the term Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) to categorize tribal communities marked by a declining population, pre-agrarian technology usage, economic backwardness, and low literacy.

Renaming and Characteristics:

In 2006, the Indian government renamed PTGs as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).

PVTGs are identified as less developed among tribal communities and reside in remote, inaccessible areas, facing challenges due to poor infrastructure and administrative support.

Geographical Distribution:

There are 75 PVTG communities located across 18 States and Union Territories in India.

Odisha has the highest number of PVTGs (15), followed by Andhra Pradesh (12), Bihar and Jharkhand (9), Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh (7), Tamil Nadu (6), and Kerala and Gujarat (5 each).

Other communities are spread across Maharashtra, West Bengal, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Tripura, Manipur, and include four tribal groups in the Andaman and one in the Nicobar Islands.

Socio-Economic Challenges:

PVTGs face socio-economic challenges, including limited development, inadequate infrastructure, and administrative support in their remote habitats.

Challenges in their development

  • Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) face severe marginalization due to factors such as isolation, low population, and unique socio-economic and cultural characteristics.
  • Their challenges include limited access to essential services, social discrimination, and susceptibility to displacement caused by both developmental projects and natural disasters. Political underrepresentation further hampers their involvement in decision-making processes.
  • These communities often find their traditional knowledge and practices overlooked by the mainstream society, and stereotypes portraying them as backward persist.
  • Additionally, PVTGs struggle against the loss of traditional livelihoods, challenges in securing Resource rights, a lack of market awareness for Non-Timber Forest Produce, and exploitation by middlemen. These issues collectively pose threats to their traditional occupations and well-being.

Schemes for PVTGs

Several schemes have been implemented by both the central and state governments to support Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).

  • The PVTG Development Plan is one such initiative, offering education, healthcare, and livelihood opportunities while preserving traditional knowledge.
  • The Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM) concentrates on establishing market linkages and procuring Minor Forest Produce (MFP) at Minimum Support Prices.
  • Other notable schemes include the Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana, Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP), and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP), collectively aiming for the comprehensive development of tribal areas.
  • Additional measures, such as the establishment of Eklavya Model Residential Schools, granting land titles under the Forest Rights Act 2006, implementing the Support to Tribal Research Institute (STRI) scheme, enforcing the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989, The Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act 1996, and facilitating direct recruitment through reservations, contribute to education, self-governance, and protection against discrimination.

However, challenges in implementation, including Resource constraints, lack of awareness, and unequal treatment among various PVTG groups, have impacted the efficacy of these schemes.

How does PM-JANMAN differ from other schemes?

  • Identification and acknowledgment: Criticism has been directed at the outdated criteria used to identify Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). In certain states, some PVTGs are not recognized as Scheduled Tribes, and confusion and exclusion arise from repetitive names on the list. Reports by Dr. Hrusikesh Panda in 2014 and Virginius Xaxa in 2015 raised concerns, emphasizing the need for an updated list and targeted development planning. The government's initiative to establish a Human Development Index for PVTGs is a significant step in addressing these concerns.
  • Participatory bottom-up approach: Unlike the 'one-size-fits-all' approach, PM-JANMAN adopts customised strategies that respect the unique needs and priorities of PVTGs. It actively involves these groups in decision-making processes, addressing land rights, social inclusion, and cultural preservation. This community-based strategy ensures their participation in planning, implementing, and monitoring development projects
  • Livelihood promotion: Sustainable livelihoods are promoted through skills training, Resource provision (such as land and credit), and implementation of the Forest Rights Act to secure access to forest Resources. Encouraging traditional technologies and skill enhancement through industry partnerships is prioritized to preserve cultural heritage while promoting sustainable development.
  • Health, nutrition, and education: Targeted outreach strategies, like Mobile Medical Health Units, are crucial for providing healthcare in remote areas. Strategies need to be tailored for specific health issues, overcoming language and cultural barriers, and collaborating with traditional healers to address complex health issues. Education accessibility is enhanced by incorporating culture and language into the curriculum, providing transportation, training teachers about PVTG cultural contexts, offering incentives for personnel working in PVTG areas, and establishing special educational institutes focused on PVTG needs.
  • Infrastructure development: Relaxation of guidelines for infrastructure schemes, such as the Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, and Jal Jeevan Mission, addresses the unique challenges faced by PVTGs. A tola-based (habitation) approach is adopted for development planning, ensuring a more accurate reflection of the specific needs of these communities.

India must strengthen ties with Vietnam

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Background: India set up its Consul General's office in Hanoi in 1956, while Vietnam established its diplomatic mission in 1972. During the Vietnam War, India supported Vietnam against U.S. intervention, despite the strain it caused in Indo-U.S. relations. The ties were reinforced in the early 1990s when India launched its "Look East Policy," focusing on economic integration and political collaboration with Southeast Asia and East Asia.

News:

India must learn from Vietnam’s journey:

Vietnam's Historical Struggles:

Vietnam's history is recounted, starting with its fight against French colonial rule and subsequent engagement in the Vietnam War against the United States. The devastation caused by wars, including the use of Agent Orange, is highlighted.

Transformation and Reconciliation:

Despite the harrowing past, Vietnam has undergone a miraculous transformation, achieving independence and unity. The nation has moved beyond bitterness, fostering friendly relations with both the US and China. The emphasis is on reconciliation and looking towards a bright future.

Vietnam's Wisdom and Defence Policy:

The article shares insights from Ton Sinh Thanh, Vietnam's ambassador to India, who emphasizes the Vietnamese approach of not forgetting but forgiving. Vietnam's wise defence policy, articulated as the "Four Nos," underscores its commitment to peace, non-alignment, and cooperation.

Economic Success and Grievances:

Vietnam's economic reforms, known as 'Doi Moi,' have yielded remarkable results, with impressive growth in per capita income and exports. However, the article notes grievances among Vietnamese officials regarding India's perceived lack of attention to expanding trade relations.

Call for Swift Action by India:

The article concludes with a call for India to "Act East" promptly, urging New Delhi to capitalize on the vast opportunities Vietnam presents. The need for India to respond positively to Vietnam's interest in a Free Trade Agreement is underscored for mutual economic benefit and enhanced regional influence.

Areas of cooperation

Strategic Partnership:

  • India and Vietnam aim to enhance their strategic partnership aligned with India's Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative and ASEAN's Outlook on Indo-Pacific for shared security and prosperity in the region.

Economic Cooperation:

  • Trade and economic ties have improved, especially after the signing of the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement.
  • India acknowledges Vietnam as a potential regional power with political stability and substantial economic growth.
  • India invests in Vietnam through projects in water Resource management, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and digital connectivity.

Trade Relations:

  • Bilateral trade for FY 2020-2021 reached USD 11.12 billion.
  • Indian exports to Vietnam amounted to USD 4.99 billion, while imports from Vietnam stood at USD 6.12 billion.

Defence Cooperation:

  • Vietnam seeks modernization of its armed forces, and India is interested in enhancing the defence capabilities of its Southeast Asian partners.
  • Areas of cooperation include the procurement of India's Akash surface-to-air systems, Dhruv advanced light helicopters, and Brahmos missiles.
  • Defence collaboration involves capacity building, addressing common security concerns, personnel training, and joint efforts in defence research and development.
  • Indian Naval Ship INS Kiltan provided flood relief materials during a visit to Ho Chi Minh City in 2020 and engaged in the PASSEX Exercise with the Vietnam People’s Navy.

China Factor:

  • Both India and Vietnam, having historical issues with China, naturally come closer to jointly address concerns related to China's aggressive actions.

Cooperation at Multiple Fora:

  • Both nations concurrently serve as non-permanent members at the UN Security Council in 2021.
  • Collaboration extends to regional forums such as the East Asia Summit, Mekong Ganga Cooperation, and Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM).

People-to-People Contacts:

  • The year 2019 marked the ASEAN-India Year of Tourism, promoting bilateral tourism through a simplified visa regime.
  • Events like Mahatma@150 celebrations and artificial limb fitment camps in Vietnam fostered people-to-people contacts and humanitarian initiatives.

Facts about Vietnam:

Location:

Vietnam is situated in Southeast Asia, sharing borders with China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea to the east and south.

Capital:

The capital of Vietnam is Hanoi.

Largest Rivers:

Vietnam is home to significant rivers, with the Mekong in the south and the Red in the north, both culminating at the South China Sea.

Currency:

The official currency used in Vietnam is the Vietnamese Dong (VND).

Independence:

Vietnam declared its independence on September 2, 1945, liberating itself from French colonial rule.

Historical Events:

  • The Vietnam War (1955-1975) unfolded, involving the US and both North and South Vietnam.
  • The reunification of North and South Vietnam occurred in 1976.

Festivals:

  • Tet Nguyen Dan, also known as Lunar New Year, is a significant festival in Vietnam.
  • Vu Lan, the Hungry Ghost Festival, is also celebrated in the country.

Growth charts — WHO standards versus India crafted

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Background: Child undernutrition has been a persistent issue in India, and its determinants are diverse, encompassing factors such as food intake, dietary diversity, health, sanitation, women's status, and the overarching context of poverty. The primary measures for childhood undernutrition, including stunting (chronic undernutrition) and wasting (acute undernutrition), rely on anthropometric standards such as height-for-age and weight-for-height. Monitoring these indicators is crucial for assessing actual progress. India, like many other nations, adopts the World Health Organization (WHO) Growth Standards as a global benchmark for measuring malnutrition. However, there is an ongoing debate regarding various aspects of using these growth standards in the Indian context.

Issues:

MGRS as the base

  • The MGRS aimed to establish growth standards for children (from birth to five years) in healthy environments, as opposed to growth references based on U.S. children, many of whom were formula-fed.
  • The MGRS sample for India was drawn from privileged households in South Delhi, meeting specific criteria like a favorable growth environment, breastfeeding, and non-smoking mothers.
  • Some researchers argue that MGRS standards may overestimate undernutrition in India, but valid comparisons require datasets meeting MGRS criteria, challenging due to inequality and underrepresentation of the rich in large-scale surveys.
  • Even among children in the highest quintile households, only a small percentage meets the WHO-defined 'minimum acceptable diet.'
  • Comparisons with MGRS could be misleading as it involved counseling for appropriate feeding practices, absent in other surveys like NFHS or Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey.

Genetic growth and other concerns

  • Issues with MGRS standards include differences in genetic growth potential among Indians and the influence of maternal heights on child growth.
  • Maternal height is a non-modifiable factor influencing child growth, reflecting intergenerational transmission of poverty and women's poor status.
  • Stunting, as an indicator of a deficient environment, should capture deprivation, but questions arise regarding the plasticity and usefulness of the standard.
  • Some countries with similar or poorer economic conditions show higher improvements in stunting prevalence using WHO-MGRS standards.
  • Regional differences within India, as well as shifts in gene pools with socioeconomic development, challenge the immutability of genetic potential.
  • Concerns about inappropriately high standards leading to misdiagnosis and potential overfeeding under government programs are raised, but improving meal quality can address these fears.
  • Dietary gaps, poor coverage of nutritional programs, and the need for diverse interventions like better sanitation, healthcare, and childcare services are emphasized.
  • Distal determinants of stunting, such as livelihoods, poverty, education, and women's empowerment, require attention for overall development and equitable Resource distribution.
  • Acknowledgment that individual children grow uniquely, and trained health personnel can interpret growth charts for individual care, while population trends are understood using appropriate standards for international and intra-country comparisons.

Recommendations of ICMR

  • The Indian Council of Medical Research has formed a committee to update the growth references for India. Reports indicate that this committee proposes a comprehensive and thorough study nationwide to assess child growth, aiming to create national growth charts if deemed necessary.
  • While obtaining more accurate and recent data on child growth is a positive step—especially in light of ambitious developmental goals to reach every individual by 2047 and the benefits of comparability—it appears reasonable to adhere to the aspirational yet attainable standards put forth by the WHO-MGRS.
  • Therefore, while gathering detailed national data is a positive step, retaining the WHO-MGRS as a temporary reference point seems prudent. This ensures continued focus on ambitious but achievable goals for child health and development, aligning with India's vision for the future.

 

World Health Organization (WHO)

  • The World Health Organization (WHO), established in 1948 as the specialized health agency of the United Nations, has its headquarters located in Geneva, Switzerland.
  • With 194 Member States, six regional offices, and 150 country offices, WHO operates as an inter-governmental organization. It collaborates with its member states, typically through their Ministries of Health.
  • WHO plays a crucial role in global health by offering leadership, shaping health research priorities, establishing norms and standards, formulating evidence-based policy recommendations, providing technical assistance to countries, and monitoring and evaluating health trends.
  • World Health Day, celebrated annually on April 7, marks the commencement of WHO's operations.

Multicentre Growth Reference Study (MGRS)

  • The WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study (MGRS) was undertaken between 1997 and 2003 to generate new growth curves for assessing the growth and development of infants and young children around the world.
  • The MGRS collected primary growth data and related information from approximately 8500 children from widely different ethnic backgrounds and cultural settings (Brazil, Ghana, India, Norway, Oman and the USA).
  • The new growth curves are expected to provide a single international standard that represents the best description of physiological growth for all children from birth to five years of age and to establish the breastfed infant as the normative model for growth and development.

Asset quality of Indian banks improves to decadal high: RBI

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Background: As per the Financial Stability Report by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the Gross Non-Performing Assets (GNPA) ratio reached 5% in September 2022. Concurrently, the ratio of Net Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) to net advances has decreased to 1.3% in September 2022, marking the lowest point in the last decade.

The NPAs had experienced an increase from 3.8% in 2014 to 11.4% in 2018. However, a subsequent decline in NPAs has been observed, attributed to reduced slippages, increased write-offs, and a rise in credit growth.

News:

Status of NPAs

Commercial Banks:

  • In 2022-23, the combined balance sheets of commercial banks grew in double digits due to sustained credit growth.
  • Higher lending rates and lower provisioning requirements boosted bank profitability and strengthened capital positions.
  • The capital to risk-weighted assets ratio (CRAR) of scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) was 16.8% at end-September 2023, meeting regulatory requirements.

Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs):

  • The combined balance sheet of UCBs expanded by 2.3% in 2022-23, driven by loans and advances.
  • UCBs witnessed improved capital buffers and profitability during 2022-23 and Q1:2023-24.

Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs):

  • The consolidated balance sheet of NBFCs expanded by 14.8% in 2022-23, led by double-digit credit growth.
  • Profitability and asset quality of the NBFC sector improved in 2022-23 and H1:2023-24, with CRAR higher than regulatory requirements.

Unsecured Retail Segment:

  • The unsecured retail segment's growth rate outpaced total bank credit growth in the recent period.
  • The asset quality of unsecured retail loans has not deteriorated.

Non-Performing Assets (NPAs)

Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) refer to loans or advances where the borrower has failed to make the principal or interest payment for a duration exceeding 90 days.

Classification of NPAs by Banks:

Banks are obligated to categorize NPAs into Substandard, Doubtful, and Loss assets based on specific criteria.

  • Substandard Assets: Assets classified as substandard if they have remained as NPAs for a period up to 12 months.
  • Doubtful Assets: An asset transitions to the doubtful category if it has been classified as substandard for a continuous period of 12 months.
  • Loss Assets: As per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), a loss asset is deemed uncollectible, possessing minimal value to warrant its continuation as a bankable asset. Despite potential salvage or recovery value, its status as a viable asset is not justified.

Reasons for NPA Crisis in India:

  • Global Financial Crisis: The 2008 financial crisis had a ripple effect on the Indian economy, leading to a slowdown in growth and increased NPAs in sectors exposed to the global market.
  • Twin Balance Sheet Problems: Both banks and corporations faced financial stress due to the economic slowdown, leading to higher NPAs.
  • Forbearance Policies: Banks often postponed recognizing NPAs by restructuring loans, masking the true extent of the problem.
  • Stalled Judicial & Legislative Procedures: Delays in legal proceedings and land acquisition stalled infrastructure projects, leading to loan defaults.
  • Other Factors: Aggressive lending, loan frauds, and poor recovery mechanisms also contributed to the NPA crisis.

RBI Measures:

Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) Framework (2002):

  • Initiated by RBI to address NPA issues.
  • Reviewed in 2017 based on recommendations of the Financial Stability and Development Council's working group.

Schemes for Debt Restructuring:

  • Introduction of schemes like Scheme for Sustainable Structuring of Stressed Assets (S4A).
  • Asset Quality Review to assess and address stressed assets. Circular of February 12, 2018:
  • Granted banks the power to initiate insolvency proceedings.
  • Set a timeline of 180 days for resolution plans.

Government's 4R's Strategy:

  • Recognition:

Transparent recognition of NPAs.

  • Resolution and Recovery: Comprehensive strategy for the resolution and recovery of value from stressed accounts.
  • Recapitalization of PSBs: Infusion of capital in Public Sector Banks (PSBs) through the Indradhanush plan. Aimed at meeting regulatory capital norms and supporting growth capital.

Reforms in PSBs and Financial Ecosystem:

Implementing reforms in PSBs and the broader financial ecosystem. Aimed at fostering a responsible and clean system.

National Asset Reconstruction Company (NARCL):

  • Introduced in the Union Budget for 2021-2022.
  • Aims to resolve stressed loans totaling around INR 2 lakh crore in phases.

Indradhanush Plan:

  • Focuses on capital infusion in PSBs by the government.
  • Capital injection based on performance and potential to support growth.

Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016:

  • A legal framework for addressing financial failures and insolvency.
  • Provides an efficient mechanism for the resolution of insolvency for individuals and companies.

Tackling the NPA Crisis: Key Strategies for India

India's NPA crisis, with bad loans choking the banking system, demands immediate and effective action. Here are five crucial steps that can be taken:

1. Policy Alignment: Recognize the ripple effect: Government decisions outside banking can impact specific sectors. For example, mandatory renewable energy purchase obligations (RPOs) for state power utilities affect non-renewable project performance and contribute to NPAs.

Proactive evaluation: Implement time-bound assessments to evaluate project viability before financial commitments. This can shield banks from unintended NPA consequences of policy decisions.

2. Expedited NPA Resolution: Fast-track the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC): The 2016 IBC law provides a framework for swift NPA resolution, but delays in adhering to its timelines hinder effectiveness. Streamlining judicial processes and ensuring timely completion of bankruptcy proceedings are crucial.

3. Bank Governance Revamp: Implement Nayak Committee recommendations: The committee proposed reforms to improve bank board governance, including greater professionalism and expertise. These recommendations should be adopted to strengthen decision-making and risk management within banks.

4. Institutional Restructuring: Strengthen the Banks Board Bureau: This government body plays a role in appointing bank chiefs, but further reforms are needed. Consider options like establishing a state-owned Bank Investment Company or fully handing over bank chairperson selection to the Bureau.

5. Deeper Reforms: Move beyond piecemeal solutions: While initiatives like the Banks Board Bureau are positive, more comprehensive reforms are necessary. Address structural issues within public sector banks (PSBs) and consider bold steps like privatization or consolidation.

The New York Times sues OpenAI and Microsoft for using its stories to train chatbots

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Context: The Times says the companies are threatening its livelihood by effectively stealing billions of dollars worth of work by its journalists, in some cases spitting out Times' material verbatim to people who seek answers from generative artificial intelligence like OpenAI's ChatGPT. The newspaper's lawsuit was filed in federal court in Manhattan and follows what appears to be a breakdown in talks between the newspaper and the two companies, which began in April.

News:

The New York Times (NYT) filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging copyright infringement due to AI-generated content.

Claims by NYT:

Diverted Web Traffic:

AI chatbots' outputs divert web traffic from NYT's site, impacting advertising revenue and subscriptions.

Bots compete with the content they are trained on.

Incorrect Attribution:

OpenAI’s GPT-4 falsely attributed product recommendations to NYT's Wirecutter, harming its reputation.

Impact on Original SOURCE Visits:

AI-generated content makes users less likely to visit the original SOURCE for information.

 

Damage to Reputation:

Incorrect outputs, such as attributing incorrect product recommendations, can harm NYT's reputation.

Broader Legal Landscape:

Growing number of lawsuits against OpenAI for copyright infringement, including complaints from writers and public figures.

Comparison to Napster Case:

NYT compares the lawsuit to the Napster case from over two decades ago, highlighting potential impact on the industry.

NYT's Legal Demands:

Seeks to hold OpenAI and Microsoft responsible for billions of dollars in statutory and actual damages.

Requests the court to order the destruction of AI models or data sets incorporating NYT's work.

Background on Microsoft-OpenAI Partnership:

Microsoft's partnership with OpenAI involves substantial investments since 2019, and Microsoft integrates OpenAI's technology into its products.

OpenAI

OpenAI is a private research laboratory that aims to develop and direct artificial intelligence (AI) in ways that benefit humanity as a whole. The company was founded by Elon Musk, Sam Altman and others in 2015 and is headquartered in San Francisco. OpenAI was created in part because of its founders' existential concerns about the potential for catastrophe resulting from carelessness and misuse of general-purpose AI. The company has a long-term focus on fundamental advances in AI and its capabilities.

Chatbots:

Computer programs simulating conversation with users, often via text interfaces like messaging apps. Utilize natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning for human-like interaction.

Information Processing in AI-based Chatbots:

Some powered by neural networks, a type of AI using models inspired by the human brain. Neural networks consist of interconnected nodes learning patterns in data through exposure. Examples include Microsoft's Copilot and OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

Issues Associated with Chatbots:

Inaccuracy:

May provide inaccurate or incomplete information due to misunderstanding user intent or context. Can result in user frustration and a suboptimal experience.

Security and Privacy Concerns: 

Collection of sensitive user information poses risks of data breaches and security threats.

Ethical Considerations:

Risk of perpetuating bias or discrimination if not designed with inclusivity. Concerns in healthcare where misleading information could impact patients.

Way Forward:

Ethics and Inclusivity:

Design with ethical considerations to avoid bias and discrimination. Ensure inclusivity for users from diverse backgrounds.

Collaboration:

Collaborative efforts between humans and chatbots enhance accuracy and effectiveness. Aims to provide users with a more human-like experience.

 

Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM)

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Context: Recently, the Ministry of Rural Development signed a MoU with Reliance Retail’s JioMart, to onboard  Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM’s) SHGs.

News:

The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with JioMart, a venture of Reliance Retail, as part of its initiatives to expand the reach of products from Self-Help Groups (SHGs) affiliated with the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), thereby empowering artisans in rural SHGs.

About Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM):

  • Launch Date: June 2011.
  • Ministry: Ministry of Rural Development.
  • Objective: Reduce poverty by providing self-employment and skilled wage employment opportunities to poor households, leading to sustainable and diversified livelihood options.
  • Mission Target: Reach around 10 Crore rural poor households by 2022-23, impacting their livelihoods significantly.

Historical Background:

  • Launched in 2011, DAY-NRLM replaced the Swarnajayanti Grameen Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY).
  • The redesign drew insights from successful community-based projects in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
  • Renamed Deendayal Antayodaya Yojana (DAY-NRLM) in November 2015.

Salient Features:

  • A flagship poverty alleviation program, DAY-NRLM is the world’s largest initiative to improve rural poor livelihoods.
  • Core Values: Inclusion, transparency, accountability, community self-reliance, and self-dependence.

Components of the Mission:

Social Mobilization and Community Institution Strengthening:

  • Objective: Establish self-managed, financially sustainable community institutions among the rural poor.
  • Time-bound inclusion of at least one woman member from each household into Self Help Groups (SHGs).

Financial Inclusion of the Rural Poor:

  • Addresses both demand and supply sides of financial inclusion.
  • Promotes financial literacy and provides catalytic capital to SHGs and their federations.

Sustainable Livelihoods:

  • Focuses on stabilizing and enhancing the existing livelihoods of the poor.
  • Three pillars: vulnerability reduction, livelihood enhancement, and employment.

Social Inclusion, Social Development, and Convergence:

  • Emphasizes convergence with other programs of the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) and other Central Ministries.

First account of Indian scientists on winter expedition to Arctic

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Context: India embarks on its first-ever winter expedition to the Arctic. With this initiative, India’s Himadri becomes the fourth research station in the Arctic to be manned year-round.

India's Winter Expedition Plan:

Expedition Team:

A team comprising four scientists, financially supported by the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences, is scheduled to carry out the expedition. The expedition is set to take place from December 19, 2023, to January 15, 2024.

Research Areas:

The primary focus of the expedition encompasses atmospheric sciences, astronomy, astrophysics, climate studies, and related fields.

Himadri Station:

The expedition team will operate from Himadri, which stands as India's exclusive research station in Ny-Ålesund. Ny-Ålesund is situated 1,200 kilometers away from the North Pole.

Special Preparations:

Himadri has undergone preparations tailored for polar night observations. These preparations have been facilitated with the support and collaboration of Norwegian agencies.

Evolution of India's Interest in the Arctic:

Historical Treaty (1920):

India became a signatory to the Svalbard Treaty in 1920. The treaty granted permission for operations in the Svalbard archipelago, which falls under Norwegian sovereignty.

Initial Arctic Expeditions (2007-2008):

India initiated its first expedition to the Arctic in 2007. This led to the establishment of Himadri in 2008, marking India's early involvement in Arctic exploration.

Research Developments:

In 2014, India established the IndArc observatory in the Svalbard archipelago. The Gruvebadet Atmospheric Laboratory was set up in 2016, showcasing India's commitment to scientific research in the Arctic region.

Formulation of India’s Arctic Policy (May 2022):

Released in May 2022, India's Arctic Policy outlines key principles and strategies. The policy is structured around six pillars, emphasizing areas such as scientific research, environmental protection, and fostering international cooperation.

Global Research Presence in the Arctic:

First Research Station:

The initial research station in Ny-Ålesund was established by Japan's National Institute of Polar Research in the year 1990.

International Collaboration:

Ny-Ålesund, located in Svalbard, hosts a total of eleven permanent research stations. This collaborative effort involves ten nations, with India being one of the contributing countries.

Year-Round Human Presence:

Historically, only three Arctic stations have maintained a year-round human presence.

Challenges in Arctic Expeditions:

Harsh Environmental Conditions:

The Arctic region presents extreme cold conditions, with average temperatures in February reaching as low as minus 14 degrees Celsius in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard. These severe temperatures pose considerable challenges to conducting expeditions and research activities.

Limited Research Stations:

Currently, only three Arctic research stations have maintained permanent staff throughout the year. The scarcity of such facilities adds to the difficulties faced during Arctic expeditions, limiting the infrastructure available for continuous scientific endeavors.

Geopolitical Constraints:

The presence of multiple state jurisdictions in the Arctic region introduces geopolitical complexities. Ongoing geopolitical tensions, such as the Ukraine-Russia conflict, contribute to the challenges associated with Arctic exploration and may impact international collaborative efforts in the area.

Arctic Region and Its Global Impact:

Geographical Location:

The Arctic Circle is situated to the north of latitude 66° 34’ N, covering the Arctic Ocean.

Climate Change Concerns:

Scientific investigations emphasize the Arctic's impact on global sea levels and atmospheric circulations, primarily due to the melting of ice.

Rising Temperatures:

Over the last century, the Arctic region has encountered an average temperature increase of 4 degrees Celsius.

Declining Sea Ice:

The extent of Arctic sea ice is diminishing at a rate of 13% per decade, potentially resulting in an ice-free Arctic Ocean by the summer of 2040.

Ennore ammonia gas leak | NGT takes suo motu cognisance

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Context: Based on media reports of several people from Periakuppam, Ernavur, Burma Nagar experiencing breathlessness and eye and skin irritation after leakage of ammonia from gas pipelines of the unit, the NGT on December 27 issued directions to the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) to file a report on the incident. 

News:

  • A gas leakage occurred in the subsea pipeline of Coromandel International Ltd, a company specializing in the production of Ammonium Phosphate Potash Sulphate (APPS), primarily utilized as a fertilizer.
  • The concentration of Ammonia in the surrounding air escalated to approximately 2090 micrograms/m3, exceeding the safe level mandated by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which is set at 400 micrograms/m3 for a 24-hour average.
  • Responding to the situation, the Environment Minister of Tamil Nadu has issued an order for the temporary shutdown of Coromandel International Limited until further notice.

 Ennore:

Ennore, situated in Chennai, is delineated by the Korttalaiyar River, Ennore Creek, and the Bay  of Bengal. This neighborhood is demarcated by the creek, with the southern

  • part encompassing notable areas like the North Chennai Thermal Power Station and Ennore Port. Ennore Creek, situated in the Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu, is a backwater region. Its northern boundary is formed by Pulicat Lake, while the southern limit is defined by the Manali marshlands.

About ammonia

Ammonia, represented as NH3, is a compound comprising Nitrogen and Hydrogen, presenting as a colorless gas with a strong and penetrating odor. It exhibits high reactivity and dissolves readily as an alkaline gas.

Production:

Natural: Formed in soil through bacterial processes, natural production occurs during the decomposition of organic matter, including plants, animals, and animal wastes. Bacteria in the intestines and lightning strikes can also contribute. Commercial: Produced through processes like steam reforming of natural gas and coal gasification.

Uses:

  • Serves as a precursor for various commercially significant nitrogen compounds, notably in fertilizer production, with urea being a widely utilized nitrogen source.
  • Applied in household and industrial cleaning products.
  • Utilized in the form of ammonium salts such as ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, and various ammonium phosphates.
  • Employed in the manufacture of commercial explosives.
  • Acts as a refrigerant and coolant.

Ammonia as a Pollutant:

  • Emission Sources: Agriculture, including NH3-based fertilizer applications, industrial processes, vehicular emissions, and volatilization from soils and oceans.
  • Effects: Contributes to increased Biological Oxygen Demand in water, reducing oxygen availability for aquatic life. Causes nutrient pollution and eutrophication in water bodies due to excessive agricultural runoff. Excessive urea usage leads to soil acidification. Containers exposed to fire or heat may violently rupture.

Ammonia as a Toxic Gas:

  • Causes direct toxic damage to leaves and modifies plant susceptibility to frost, drought, and pathogens.
  • Prolonged exposure to low concentrations or short-term exposure to high concentrations may result in adverse health effects from inhalation, including burning nose, throat, and respiratory tract irritation.

NGT

  • The National Green Tribunal, formed under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010, has its principal sitting location in New Delhi, with additional sitting places in Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata, and Chennai.
  • The tribunal is responsible for conclusively resolving applications or appeals within six months of their filing.

Composition

  • The composition of the NGT includes the Chairperson, Judicial Members, and Expert Members, each serving a non-renewable term of five years.
  • The Chairperson is appointed by the Central Government in consultation with the Chief Justice of India, while a Selection Committee is established for appointing Judicial and Expert Members.
  • The tribunal can have a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 20 full-time members.

Powers and jurisdiction

  • The NGT's powers and jurisdiction are aimed at the efficient resolution of cases related to environmental protection and the conservation of forests and natural Resources.
  • It holds appellate jurisdiction and is not strictly bound by the procedures of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, but operates based on principles of natural justice.

Credit Rating Agencies and INDIA

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Recently, India released a document titled ‘Re-examining Narratives: A Collection of Essays’ to present alternate perspectives on economic policy that have long-term implications for India’s growth and development priorities.

What are credit rating agencies?

Credit Rating Agencies (CRA) – According to IMF, they are private companies that assess credit risk of borrowers that seeks loans and issue fixed-income securities, such as bonds.

Beneficiary – Individuals, corporation, State or provincial authority, or sovereign government.

  • Prospective borrowers often must obtain a credit rating before they try to raise money in capital markets.

Lending parameters – Ratings contributes to the determination of the interest rate, or price, the borrower must pay for financing.

  • In India, CRAs are regulated by SEBI (Credit Rating Agencies) Regulations, 1999 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992.

6 Credit Rating Agencies (CRA) registered under SEBI are CRISIL, ICRA, CARE, SMERA, Fitch India and Brickwork Ratings.

sovereign credit rating?

  • An independent assessment of the creditworthiness of a country or sovereign entity.
  • Determining factors
    • Per capita income
    • GDP growth
    • Rate of inflation
    • Short-term external debt as a % of GDP
    • Economic development
    • History of defaults
    • Political stability.
  • By allowing external credit rating agencies to review its economy, a country shows that it is willing to make its financial information public to investors.

Why do sovereign ratings matter?

  • Marker for investors – They provide about the creditworthiness of governments around the world and their ability and willingness to pay back debt.
  • Impact borrowing capacity – A poor sovereign rating can inhibit the country’s ability to borrow money from rich investors.
  • Governments with lower sovereign ratings have to pay higher interest rates when they borrow.
  • Influence businesses – If the sovereign rating of a country’s government is low, the businesses of that country end up with even higher interest rate when they borrow from global investors.
  • Supports development – A good rating can make developing countries (which lack capital) easier to become more productive and remove mass poverty.

Which are the main rating agencies?

  • Sovereign credit ratings predate the Bretton Woods institutions, i.e., the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
  • 3 main agencies – Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch are globally recognised credit rating agencies.
  • Moody’s is the oldest which was established in 1900 and issued its 1st sovereign ratings just before World War I.
  • In the 1920s, Poor’s Publishing and Standard Statistics, the predecessor of S&P, started rating government bonds.

While S&P and Fitch rate India at BBB, Moody’s rates the South Asian country at Baa3, which indicates the lowest possible investment grade, albeit with a stable outlook.

  • While the US and European countries have enjoyed a good record, ratings have been affected by global events.
    • For instance, sovereign defaults spiked during the 1930s Depression, and most ratings were downgraded.

What is the government’s criticism?

  • The Finance Ministry has pointed out issues with the methodologies used by the rating agencies.
  • External influences - According to the document from ‘Fitch’, the rating agency takes comfort from high levels of foreign ownership in the banking sector
  • Bias over public banks – It discriminates developing countries where the banking sector is primarily run by the public sector.
  • It also ignores the public banks’ welfare and development functions including their role in promoting financial inclusion.
  • Opaqueness – Non transparent manner of selection of the experts consulted for the rating assessments.
  • Weightage issues – Agencies do not convey clearly the assigned weights for each parameter considered.
  • Composite governance indicator (weight of 21.4) is only based on the World Bank’s Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI)that uses indices such as freedom of expression, freedom of media, rule of law, corruption, quality of regulation, etc. but does not capture hard economic data.

Regulation of Virtual Digital Asset

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Recently, the Financial Intelligence Unit India (FIU IND) issued show-cause notices to 9 offshore virtual digital asset service providers (VDA SPs) like Bitfinex and MEXC Global, among others.

What is FIU-IND?

  • Established in – 2004 under the Finance Ministry.
  • Aim – To act as a nodal agency for receiving, analysing and disseminating information relating to suspected financial transactions
  • Function – It receives reports from private and public sector banks every month which are
    • Cash transaction reports (CTRs)
    • Suspicious transaction reports (STRs)
    • Cross border wire transfer reports
  • It is based on the mandate of Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA).

Cash transaction reports – It is mandatory for banks in India to furnish a monthly CTR to the FIU on

    • All transactions over Rs. 10 lakh or its equivalent in foreign currency or
    • A series of integrally connected transactions that add up to more than Rs. 10 lakh or its equivalent in foreign currency

What are Virtual Digital Assets (VDA)?

According to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a virtual asset service provider (VASp) can be any natural or legal person who conducts activities like carrying out transfer of virtual assets, administer them, or oversee their sale by an issuer’s office.

  • India’s Union Budget for 2022-23 for the 1st time defined VDA in the newly-inserted clause (47A) under Section 2 of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

VDA – It refers to

    • any information or code or number or token
    • generated through cryptographic means
    • providing a digital representation of value exchanged  with the promise of having inherent value
    • or functions as a store of value or a unit of account
    • can be transferred, stored or traded electronically
  • Thus it includes cryptocurrencies, DeFi (decentralised finance) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

Indian currency and foreign currency as defined under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, have been excluded from the ambit of VDAs.

  • Tax in India – 30% income tax on gains made from cryptocurrencies and also rules regarding 1% tax deducted at source on cryptocurrency came into effect.
  • Compliance – Entities dealing in VDAs, crypto exchanges and intermediaries are considered as reporting entity’ under PMLA and thus brought under anti-money laundering/counter financing of terrorism regulations.
  • Obligations – To verify the identities of on boarded clients, and maintain records of their financial positions and potentially suspicious transactions.
  • Applicability – To all VDA SPs operating in India irrespective of physical presence.
  • The entities though catering to a substantial part of Indian users were not getting registered and coming under the Anti Money Laundering (AML) and Counter Financing of Terrorism Network (CFT) framework’.

Currently, 31 VDA SPs have registered with FIU IND.

  • Significance – It would ensure lack of anonymity and businesses not encountering multiple hurdles.

Some global regulations of VDA SPs are Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) in Dubai and Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) in European Union.

What approaches emerge when looking to regulate VDAs?

  • The Bureau for International Settlements (BIS), has considered provisions to regulate VDA in its report about financial stability from crypto assets in emerging economies.
  • Policy options under consideration are outright ban, containment and regulation. 
    • An outright ban – It may not prove enforceable because of the pseudo-anonymous nature of crypto markets and there could be a possibility that regulators become non transparent.
    • Containment – It would imply controlling the flows between crypto markets and traditional financial systems or limiting their connections.
    • But it would not address the vulnerabilities inherent in the crypto markets and could result in financial stability risks. 
    • Regulation –The report holds that it must be ensured that benefits of regulating and supervising are greater than the costs involved.
  • Challenges – Issues for emerging market economies (EMEs) are
    • Defining the (regulatory) authority or entity
    • Defining their scope of regulation
    • Filling in the data gaps to understand the technology and interconnections

 Bank of International Settlements (BIS)

  • Established in – 1930
  • Owned by – 63 central banks including RBI that account for 95% of the GDP
  • Office – Head office is in Basel, Switzerland and it has 2 representative offices in Hong Kong and Mexico City
  • Mission – To support central banks' pursuit of monetary and financial stability through international cooperation, and to act as a bank for central banks
  • Basel Committee on Banking Supervision of BIS provides the Basel norms

Water Governance

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Water Governance poses one of the biggest challenges in modern-day India that looks out for definitive solutions.

Every place and every community have their unique stories and problems associated with water, wherein the governance addresses complications of the governor than the benefits of the governed.

How this scare water resource is to be allocated? How to generate livelihood in the food-energy nexus? How to keep the order of the biosphere balanced.

Key aspects of water governance:

The key aspects of an effective system of water governance in a water blessed country which includes a comprehensive policy followed by an Action Plan to formulate the policy.

Need to emphasized on the importance of resource literacy on water and building institutions in line with framed policies.

Experts prescribed the top-down approach and definition of ‘per capita availability’ to be rechecked and substituted with a bottom-up approach and relevant definitions, that is, a more localized treatment of governing water.

India aspires to become the 2nd largest economy by 2047 which will have an enormous impact on the use of water resources and thus highlights the need for effective water governance.

  • Water governance – The OECD define water governance as the set of rules, practices, and processes through which decisions for the management of water resources and services are taken and implemented, and decision-makers are held accountable.
  • Actors involved – Central and local governments, regulators, NGOs, communities, and the private sector.

Need for water governance – India is a water stressed country due to erratic rainfall and excess removal of groundwater

  • The data (1990-2021) show that about 30% of the districts received less than normal South-west monsoon rainfall in 20 out of 32 years.
  • Out of 766 districts256 districts are water stressed.
  • By 2050, India is likely to experience water scarcity.
  • There are bureaucratic hurdles like Easement Act 1882, is still followed which gives unlimited power of groundwater withdrawal to the owner of land.
  • There is a lack of equity in water access.

At 1.4 billion, India accounts 17.5% of the world’s population but has only 4% of the fresh water resources. The per capita annual fresh water availability has gone down from 5177 cu m (1951) to 1486 cu m (2019).

What is the significance of water governance?

  • It ensures the sustainable and efficient use of water resources, address water-related challenges.
  • It promotes equitable access to water services.
  • It is also essential to address water-related challenges, such as water scarcity, water quality degradation, and climate change.

 Top performers of G20 in Water Management

  • Water use efficiency – Turkey, UK, Saudi Arabia and India.
  • River rejuvenation – Australia, China, France, India, South Africa.
  • Climate resilient infrastructure – UK and US.
  • Safe drinking water – Germany, India, Mexico.
  • Water supply augmentation – Saudi Arabia.
  • Efficient water governance – Japan, Saudi Arabia.
  • Waste water management – India and Saudi Arabia.
  • Watershed management – Australia and Saudi Arabia.
  • Groundwater management – China and Slovakia.

What are challenges in water governance?

  • Fragmented policies – Owing to different jurisdiction and control of States, the interconnectedness of surface and groundwater systems resulted in fragmented policies.
  • Data gaps – Data is scattered across multiple agencies, and inadequate for sound decision-making.
  • Looming Water Crisis – A NITI Aayog report held that 21 major cities are expected to run out of groundwater as soon as 2020 which may affect nearly 100 million people.
  • Absence of River Boards – While the River Boards Act was passed in 1956, no river board was ever created till this date.
  • Federal issue – In India, water is a State subject except inter-State regulation of rivers which is under Central purview

Water – 7th Schedule of Indian Constitution

 

Union List

State List

Shipping and Navigation

On inland, tidal and national waterways

On inland waterways

Carriage of goods & passengers

By sea or in national waterways

By inland waterways

Fishing & fisheries

Beyond territorial waters

Within state boundary

Regulation on

Training and education of mercantile marines by states and other agencies and develop interstate rivers and river valleys

Taxes on goods and passengers carried by road/ inland waterways

What is the agenda for action?

  • To work for cooperative federalism in water governance.
  • To revamp existing National Water Resource Council.
  • To introduce an overarching institution for regulating the entire water sector at the State level.At present, only 5 states have water regulators in India.
  • To develop a model water regulatory framework for adoption by various States.
  • To restructure the CWC (Central Water Commission) and CGWB (Central Ground Water Board).
  • To adopt multidisciplinary expertise, bridging silos in water sector, and building multi-stakeholder partnership.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare – YEAR REVIEW

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The Ministry is charged with health policy in India, which is also responsible for all government programs relating to family planning in India.

Departments

  • Department of Health and Family Welfare
  • Department of Health Research

Union Minister- Mansukh L. Mandaviya

Health Missions

  • National Health Mission (NHM) – It was launched in 2005 to provide accessible, affordable and quality health care to the rural population, especially to the vulnerable groups.

Components

  • Health System Strengthening
  • Reproductive- Maternal- Neonatal - Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A)
  • Control of Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases

 Sub Mission

 Launch Year

 National Rural Health Mission

 2005

 National Urban Health Mission

 2013

Ayushman Bharat- It is a flagship scheme recommended by National Health Policy 2017 to achieve the vision of Universal Health Coverage. It has two components

  • Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs)
  • Pradhan Mandri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM- JAY)

PM-JAY is the world’s largest health insurance scheme fully financed by the government.Launched in 2018, it offers a sum insured of Rs.5 lakh per family for secondary care and tertiary care.Health Benefit Packages covers surgery, medical and day care treatments, cost of medicines and diagnostics.

Beneficiaries:It is an entitlement-based scheme that targets the beneficiaries as identified by latest Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) data.The National Health Authority (NHA) has provided flexibility to States/UTs to use non- Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) beneficiary family databases with similar socio-economic profiles for tagging against the leftover (unauthenticated) SECC families.

Funding:The funding for the scheme is shared – 60:40 for all states and UTs with their own legislature, 90:10 in Northeast states and Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal and Uttarakhand and 100% Central funding for UTs without legislature.

Nodal Agency:The National Health Authority (NHA has been constituted as an autonomous entity under the Society Registration Act, 1860 for effective implementation of PM-JAY in alliance with state governments.The State Health Agency (SHA) is the apex body of the State Government responsible for the implementation of AB PM-JAY in the State.

 

Key Highlights of the AB PM-JAY Statistics?

  • Ayushman Cards:
    • Women account for approximately 49% of the total Ayushman cards created and approximately 48% of total authorised hospital admissions.
    • As of December 2023, approximately 28.45 Crore Ayushman Cards have been created since the inception of the scheme, out of which, approximately 9.38 crore Ayushman Cards have been created during the year 2023.
  • Health Coverage:
    • 55 crore individuals corresponding to 12 crore families are covered under the scheme and many states and union territories implementing AB PM-JAY have further expanded the beneficiary base, at their own cost.
  • Hospital Admissions:
    • A total of 6.11 crore hospital admissions amounting to Rs 78,188 crores were authorised of which 1.7 crore hospitals admissions worth over Rs 25,000 crores were authorised during the year 2023 (Jan-Dec 2023).

 

  • Ayushman Arogya Mandir- The Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centre is renamed as Ayushman Arogya Mandir by upgrading the Sub Health Centres (SHCs) and rural and urban Primary Health Centres (PHCs), in both urban and rural areas.
  • Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission- Launched in 2021, it is the largest pan-India Centrally Sponsored Scheme for strengthening healthcare infrastructure across the country.
  • Swachh Swasth Sarvatra- It is a joint initiative along with Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation in 2016 to achieve better health outcomes through improved sanitation and increased awareness on healthy lifestyle.
  • Kayakalp programme- It was launched in 2015 under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan to maintain cleanliness in the public health sector by rewarding their performances.
  • Rogi Kalyan Samiti- It is a patient welfare committee which is a registered society that acts as a group of trustees for the hospital to manage the affairs of the hospital.
  • SaQushal: Safety and Quality, Self-Assessment tool for Health Facilities- Launched in 2022 to implement patient safety framework.

 

Maternal and Adolescent Health Care

Maternal Mortality Ratio of India has registered a decline from 130 per 1 lakh live birth in Sample Registration System (SRS) 2014-16 to 97 per 1 lakh live birth in SRS 2018-19.

  • Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN)- To provide quality healthcare at no cost and zero tolerance for denial of services for every woman and newborn visiting the public health facility to end all preventable maternal and newborn deaths.
  • Maternal Perinatal Child Death Surveillance Response- It is a software launched in 2021 which measures and track all the maternal and perinatal deaths in real time.
  • Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan- It was launched in 2016 which provides fixed day assured, comprehensive and quality antenatal care by gynaecology specialists to pregnant women on 9th of every month at government health facilities.
  •  LaQshya- It aims to improve the quality of care in Labour Room and Maternity Operation Theatres.
  • Janani Suraksha Yojana- It provides Direct Benefit Transfer to pregnant women for institutional deliveries in order to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality.
  • Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram- It entitles all pregnant women delivering in public health institutions to absolutely free and no expense delivery including C-section.
  • Midwifery Initiative- It is a program aimed at creating a dedicated cadre of Nurse Practitioners in Midwifery (NPMs) in India.
  • Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram- It was launched in 2014, with the key principles of adolescent participation and leadership, equity and inclusion, gender equity and strategic partnerships with other sectors and stakeholders.
  • Ayushman Bharat School Health and Wellness Program- It is a school based health promotion activities that combines health education, health promotion, disease prevention and improved access in an integrated manner at the school level.

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1843841#:~:text=Janani%20Shishu%20Suraksha%20Karyakaram%20(JSSK,other%20consumables%2C%20diet%20and%20blood.

 

Child Health Program

  • Rasthriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram- It aims at early identification and intervention for children from birth to 18 years to cover 4 ‘D’s namely
    • Defects at birth
    • Deficiencies
    • Diseases
    • Developmental delays including disability
  • SAANS- It was launched in 2019, which is a Social Awareness and Actions to Neutralize Pneumonia Successfully initiative to reduce deaths due to childhood pneumonia for rural and urban areas.
  • IDCF campaign- The goal of Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight campaign is to attain zero child death due to childhood diarrhoea.
  • Anaemia Mukt Bharat- It was launched in 2018 in a 6x6x6 strategy to reduce anaemia prevalence among children, adolescents and women in reproductive age group.
  • Mother’s Absolute Affection program- It attempts for the promotion of breastfeeding and provision of counselling services for supporting breastfeeding through health systems.

 

Immunization

Universal Immunization Program- It is one of the largest public health programs in the world launched in 1978, to provide vaccination at free of cost against 12 preventable diseases.

Nationally against 9 diseases

Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, Rubella(a severe form of Childhood Tuberculosis), Hepatitis B, and Meningitis & Pneumonia which is caused by Hemophilus Influenza type B

Sub-nationally against 3 diseases

Rotavirus diarrhoea, Pneumococcal Pneumonia, and Japanese Encephalitis

Mission Indradhanush- It is a targeted approach focused to reach all left-out and dropped out children in pockets of low immunization coverage.

  • Mission Indradhanush 5.0- It is a catch-up vaccination campaign rolled out for children upto 5 years of age and pregnant women in 2023, who were left out of routine immunization with the special focus on Measles Rubella Elimination goal.
  • Measles Rubella Elimination- India is committed to Measles Rubella Elimination by 2023.
  • Pulse Polio Immunization- It was launched in 1995 with an objective of achieving 100% coverage in Oral polio Vaccine.

India was declared Polio free country in 2014.

  • U-Win digital platform- Launched in 2023, it is a pilot project and an online case-based tracking and reporting system for the universal immunization program for children and pregnant women.

 

Family planning

As per NFHS-5(2019-21) India has achieved replacement fertility rate (Total Fertility Rate (TFR) =2.0)

  • Mission Parivar Vikas- It was launched in 2016 for increasing access to contraceptives and family planning services in 146 high fertility districts with TFR of 3 and above in 7 high focus states.
  • ASHA Schemes- Ensuring spacing at birth, home delivery of contraceptives and pregnancy testing kits would promote family planning.
  • New Contraceptive Choices- New contraceptives such as Injectable contraceptive and Centchroman have been added to the existing basket of choices.
  • Family Planning Logistic Management and Information System- A dedicated software to ensure smooth forecasting, procurement and distribution of family planning commodities across all the levels of health facilities.
  • National Family Planning Indemnity Scheme- The clients are insured in the eventualities of death, complication and failure following sterilization.

Health Insurance Schemes

  • Ayushman Bharat- Prandhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana-It is the largest publicly funded health assurance scheme in the world which provides health cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization.
    • Ayushman Bhava- It was launched to ensure the saturation of various healthcare schemes at the village level, ultimately reaching the last mile beneficiaries.
    • Ayushman App- It has been launched by National Health Authority, self-verification feature for beneficiaries has been enabled.
  • Central Government Health Schemes- It is mainly for serving or retired Central Government employees and their families.
  • Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi- It is a central sector scheme which provides one-time financial assistance to poor patients living below threshold poverty line and suffering from major identified life threatening diseases for medical treatment at government hospitals/institutes. It has 3 components namely
    • Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) - Financial assistance for treatment of life-threatening diseases providing maximum financial assistance up to Rs. 15 lakhs
    • Health Minister’s Cancer Patient  - Financial assistance for treatment of cancer at Regional Cancer Centres / Tertiary Care Cancer Centres and State Cancer Institutes
    • Financial assistance for poor patients suffering from rare diseases - Maximum financial assistance is Rs 20 lakhs.

Disease Control Programmes

  • National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme- It is an umbrella programme for prevention and control of vector borne diseases namely Malaria, Japanese Encephalitis, Dengue, Chikungunya, Kala azar, and Lymphatic Filariasis.

 Diseases

 Elimination target year

 Malaria

 2030

 Kala Azar

 2023

 Lymphatic Filariasis 

2027

  • National Leprosy Eradication Programme- It aims to detect cases of leprosy at an early stage and provide complete treatment, free of cost, in order to prevent the occurrence of Grade II Disability (G2D) in affected persons.

The programme has achieved the elimination of leprosy as a public health problem as per WHO criteria of less than 1 case per 10,000 population at the National level in 2005.

  • National TB Elimination Program- It is launched with the goal of achieving Sustainable Development Goals related to TB by 2025, five years ahead of the global target of 2030.
  • Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan- It was launched in 2021 to provide additional support to TB patients in order to improve treatment outcomes, augment community involvement and leverage Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities.
  • Nikshay Poshan Yojana- It was launched in 2018 for providing Rs 500/month as Direct Benefit Transfer to support the nutrition of TB patients for the entire duration of treatment.
  • National AIDS and STD Control Programme (Phase-V)- It is a Central Sector Scheme with the focus on UN SDG 3.3 of ending HIV/AIDS epidemic as a public health threat through a comprehensive package of prevention, detection, and treatment.

E-Initiatives

  • Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission- It was launched to create a seamless online platform through the provision of a wide-range of data and infrastructure services through digital systems.
  • National Telemedicine Service (e-sanjeevani)-It provides access to specialized medical healthcare across the country by providing facility for doctor-to- doctor consultation and patient-to-doctor consultation. 
    • e-Sanjeevani AB-HWC- Doctor to doctor tele consultation
    • e-Sanjeevani OPD- Patient to doctor tele consultation
  • Global Initiative on Digital Health- It was introduced during G20 India’s presidency in 2023 to create a common platform’to converge global efforts for digital health and bridge the digital divide by promoting equitable access to technological tools.
  • Mera Aspataal- It is a patient feedback system launched in 2016 with the mandate to integrate Central Government Hospitals and District Hospitals on the feedback portal.
  • Tele-evidence- It is a modality through which doctors can testify in the judicial process utilizing the video conferencing facility without visiting the courts.
  • CoWIN- It is a cloud based IT solution for COVID vaccination that allows user to register, verify and monitor their registration status online.
  • Tele MANAS- It provides universal access to equitable, accessible, affordable and quality mental health care through 24X7 tele-mental health services.
  • National Digital Health Blueprint- It is a policy document launched in 2017 that outlines the vision of creating a national digital health eco-system that supports universal health coverage.

Other key initiatives

  • Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra- To raise awareness about the government's policies and schemes among the people and foster an atmosphere of trust and collaboration.
  • National COVID 19 Vaccination Programme- It is the world’s largest vaccination programme launched in 2021, initially to cover the adult population in the shortest possible time.
  • National Programme for Tobacco Control and Drug Addiction Treatment- To regulate tobacco use depiction on Over-The-Top (OTT) media platforms, it conducts tobacco youth free campaign among other activities.
  • Swasthya Nagrik Abhiyaan- To conduct campaign which will lead to generation of demand for health services and promote health seeking behaviour.

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1990674

 

Seperate Toilets for women in district courts

stylish_lining
  • Nearly 1/5th of the district courts in India lack separate toilets for women, according to a report published by the Centre for Research and Planning of the Supreme Court recently.

The Centre for Research and Planning will serve as a bridge between academic research, legal and judicial education and the judicial systems.

PM Vishwakarma

stylish_lining
  • Jammu and Kashmir has become the first Union Territory (UT) to implement the PM VishwakarmaYojana (PMVY) recently.
  • It is an initiative that aims to empower and enhance the skills of the craftsman community (Vishwakarmas).

18 traditional trades will be covered in the first instance under PM Vishwakarma.

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