• Administrative Control: Currently, the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN) operates under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
• Debate for Ownership: There is an ongoing discussion between the Ministry of Information Technology (IT) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) regarding the control of CERT-IN. Each ministry presents distinct arguments for their preferred oversight.

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Perspective:

• Enhanced Law Enforcement: The MHA advocates for the transfer of CERT-IN to its control to bolster law enforcement capabilities in cyberspace. The MHA argues that integrating CERT-IN under its jurisdiction would streamline cybercrime investigations by leveraging the MHA's existing enforcement powers and CERT-IN's technical expertise.
• Streamlining Investigations: The MHA believes that this integration would enhance coordination between technical responses and investigative processes, potentially improving the efficacy of handling cybercrimes.

Ministry of Information Technology (IT) Perspective:

• Technical Focus: The IT Ministry argues that CERT-IN's core functions are technical rather than investigative. CERT-IN's role involves incident reporting, issuing malware alerts, and advising on the improvement of security infrastructure.
• Distinct Functions: According to the IT Ministry, the technical functions of CERT-IN are separate from law enforcement activities. They emphasize that CERT-IN's primary responsibilities include responding to security incidents and enhancing communication infrastructure security, which are distinct from the investigative functions managed by the MHA.

About CERT-IN:

• Established: CERT-IN was established in 2004 under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
• Legal Framework: It operates under the Information Technology Amendment Act, 2008, which designates CERT-IN as the national nodal agency for responding to computer security incidents and enhancing the security of India’s communications and information infrastructure.

Notable Works of CERT-IN:

• High-Profile Investigations: CERT-IN has been involved in significant investigations, such as the 2022 cyberattack on AIIMS Delhi.
• Cybersecurity Directive: In 2022, CERT-IN issued a directive requiring VPN and cloud service providers to store customer information for five years.
• Incident Handling: In 2022, CERT-IN managed approximately 1.4 million cybersecurity incidents, with the majority involving the mitigation of vulnerable services.

About PARAKH

National Assessment Centre-PARAKH:

• Establishment: Set up in 2023 under the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).
• Objective: To set norms, standards, and guidelines for student assessment and implement activities as mandated by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
• Focus Areas:
• Capacity Development in Competency-Based Assessment:
• Project Vidyasagar: In partnership with the PhD Chamber of Commerce, PARAKH organizes workshops across India to familiarize educators with new pedagogical and policy changes under the National Curriculum Framework 2023.
• Goal: To bridge gaps in implementing competency-based learning and teaching.
• Large-Scale Achievement Survey:
• Survey: Conducted the State Educational Achievement Survey in November 2023.
• Scope: Assessed students in Grades 3, 6, and 9 across 30 States/UTs on foundational literacy, numeracy, language, and mathematics.
• Equivalence of School Boards:
• Objective: Standardize examination reforms across all Indian school boards.
• Process: Regional workshops were held to gather data on administration, curriculum, assessments, and infrastructure.

Holistic Progress Cards (HPC)

About Holistic Progress Cards:

• Purpose: To shift from traditional marks and grades to a 360-degree evaluation of a student's academic performance.
• Approach: Regular assessment through class activities that engage students actively rather than passively.
• Features:
• Assessment Metrics: Evaluation includes students' ability to collaborate, follow instructions, show creativity, and empathy.
• Identifying Weaknesses: Teachers can identify areas where students need help, such as attention issues or lack of preparation.
• Self and Peer Evaluation: Students evaluate their own and classmates’ performance using simple responses like ‘Yes’, ‘No’, or ‘Do not know’.
• Parental Input: Incorporates feedback from parents on their child’s homework abilities, classroom engagement, and extracurricular balance, making them a part of the learning process.

Implementation:

• Timeline: The HPC will not be used in the ongoing 2024-25 academic session. However, training for teachers and officials will begin.
• State Flexibility: States can choose to implement the HPC as released or adapt it to their specific needs.
• Board Exams: HPC results are expected to be considered in board exams for Classes 10 and 12.
• Pilot States: States like Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh are preparing to implement HPCs for Classes up to 8 from the 2024-25 academic session onwards.

Way Forward for Holistic Progress Card Implementation

• Training and Capacity Building:
• Educator Training: Extensive training for teachers and school officials to understand and effectively implement the HPC framework.
• Customization and Adaptation:
• State-Specific Adaptation: States should consider their local contexts and educational needs while implementing or adapting the HPC.
• Monitoring and Evaluation:
• Feedback Mechanism: Establish a robust mechanism to collect feedback from schools, teachers, students, and parents to refine and improve the HPC.
• Integration with Existing Systems:
• Seamless Transition: Ensure that the HPC integrates smoothly with existing assessment and educational systems to avoid disruptions.
• Awareness and Engagement:
• Stakeholder Engagement: Engage all stakeholders, including students, parents, and educators, in understanding and supporting the new assessment system.
• Data Analysis and Utilization:
• Utilize Insights: Use data collected through HPC to gain insights into student development and areas needing intervention, informing policy decisions and educational practices.

The introduction of the Holistic Progress Card represents a significant shift towards a more comprehensive and engaging assessment approach, aiming to better capture and support students’ overall development beyond traditional academic measures.

What is Sampoornata Abhiyan?

Sampoornata Abhiyan (Campaign for Total Development) is an initiative launched by NITI Aayog aimed at driving comprehensive development in select districts and blocks across India. It is part of the broader Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) and the Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP).

Objectives

• Achieve Saturation in Key Indicators:
• The campaign focuses on achieving saturation in select developmental indicators in targeted districts and blocks. This means reaching a predefined threshold or level of achievement in specific areas crucial for development.
• Accelerate Development:
• By focusing on a set of key indicators, the campaign aims to accelerate the development of underperforming districts and blocks, ensuring that they make significant progress in various socio-economic areas.
• Enhance Participation:
• The campaign involves significant participation from citizens, which helps in building awareness and fostering community involvement in development activities.

Components of the Campaign

• Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP):
• Launched by NITI Aayog, this program aims to transform districts that are lagging in various development parameters. It focuses on improving infrastructure, health care, education, and economic outcomes.
• Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP):
• An extension of the ADP, this program targets specific blocks within the districts to ensure that even smaller administrative units receive focused attention and resources.

Key Indicators for Saturation

• Health: Indicators like immunization coverage, maternal and child health services.
• Education: Literacy rates, school infrastructure, and enrollment ratios.
• Infrastructure: Access to clean drinking water, sanitation facilities, and road connectivity.
• Economic Development: Livelihood opportunities, access to financial services, and entrepreneurial activities.

Implementation Strategy

• Data-Driven Approach:
• The campaign uses data to identify gaps and monitor progress. Real-time data collection and analysis help in assessing the impact of various interventions.
• Collaboration with State Governments:
• NITI Aayog collaborates with state governments and local administrations to implement the campaign’s strategies effectively.
• Community Engagement:
• Engaging with local communities ensures that the development efforts are aligned with their needs and priorities. It also helps in mobilizing local resources and support.
• Monitoring and Evaluation:
• Regular monitoring and evaluation are integral to the campaign. This helps in assessing the effectiveness of interventions and making necessary adjustments.

Impact

• Enhanced Development:
• By achieving saturation in key indicators, the campaign aims to improve the overall development status of targeted districts and blocks.
• Reduced Regional Disparities:
• The campaign helps in reducing disparities between different regions, ensuring more equitable development across the country.
• Increased Citizen Participation:
• The active involvement of citizens in the development process fosters a sense of ownership and accountability, leading to more sustainable outcomes.

Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) vs. Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP)

Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP)

Launched: 2018

Objective: The primary aim of the ADP is to improve the socio-economic status of 117 districts across 28 states in India. The program focuses on driving progress through:

• Convergence: Coordinating efforts between Central and State Schemes.
• Collaboration: Encouraging teamwork among citizens, local functionaries, and government teams.
• Competition: Using monthly delta rankings to foster healthy competition among districts.

Themes: The program prioritizes five major socio-economic themes and evaluates districts based on 49 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

• Health & Nutrition (30%)
• Education (30%)
• Agriculture & Water Resources (20%)
• Financial Inclusion (10%)
• Skill Development and Infrastructure (10%)

Ranking System: Districts are ranked monthly based on their performance in the aforementioned themes to measure progress and identify areas needing improvement.

Approach:

• Focus: Driven primarily by state governments, leveraging local strengths, and prioritizing attainable outcomes.
• Monitoring: Regular assessments and updates on district performance to guide policy and implementation efforts.

Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP)

Launched: 2023

Objective: The ABP aims to enhance governance and improve the quality of life in 500 of the remotest and less developed blocks (329 districts) in India. The focus is on improving service delivery through:

• Convergence: Integrating existing schemes.
• Defining Outcomes: Setting clear goals for each block.
• Monitoring: Ongoing evaluation of progress to address gaps and ensure effective implementation.

Themes: The ABP is centered around five key socio-economic themes:

• Health and Nutrition
• Education
• Agriculture and Allied Services
• Basic Infrastructure
• Social Development

Role of Block Officials: Block officials, designated as Leaders of Change, are tasked with driving transformation within their blocks. They are equipped with the necessary skills and competencies to oversee and implement development activities effectively.

Approach:

• Focus: Emphasizes governance and service delivery improvements.
• Monitoring: Utilizes defined outcomes and regular assessments to track progress and make adjustments as needed.

Comparison

• Scope:
• ADP: Targets entire districts with a broader focus on socio-economic development across various indicators.
• ABP: Focuses on specific blocks within districts, emphasizing governance and localized development efforts.
• Implementation:
• ADP: Relies on monthly rankings and a competitive approach to drive improvements.
• ABP: Implements a more hands-on approach with block officials playing a critical role in steering local development.
• Monitoring and Evaluation:
• ADP: Uses a detailed KPI-based ranking system for districts to measure performance.
• ABP: Emphasizes outcome-based monitoring to assess improvements in service delivery and governance.

The primary goal of the Sampoornata Abhiyaan is to bridge developmental gaps in selected aspirational districts and blocks and bring about transformative changes. This will be achieved by:

• Converging existing schemes.
• Defining clear outcomes.
• Implementing constant monitoring.

The campaign aims to ensure rapid and substantial improvements in health, nutrition, agriculture, and education over a three-month period.

Duration

• Operational Period: July to September (3 months)

Focus Area

The campaign will target:

• Twelve Indicators: Six indicators each from the Aspirational Districts and Aspirational Blocks.
• Objective: Achieve complete saturation of these indicators to bring tangible improvements and lay a foundation for long-term growth.

Benefits

• Foster Sustainable Development:
• By focusing on key indicators, the campaign aims to deliver rapid improvements that are crucial for sustainable development.
• Enhances quality of life and creates opportunities for economic growth.
• Model for Holistic Development:
• Demonstrates an integrated approach to development by addressing multiple socio-economic indicators simultaneously.

NITI Aayog Indices

NITI Aayog has released several indices to support and monitor various development aspects:

• Education Quality Index
• Agricultural Marketing & Farmer Management Index
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) India Index
• Good Governance Index
• Water Index
• Export Preparedness Index
• State Health Index
• e-Amrit Portal (Electric Vehicles)

Important Initiatives of NITI Aayog

• Vocal for Local in ADP:
• Promotes grassroots entrepreneurship and self-reliance.
• Sustainable Action for Transforming Human Capital (SATH):
• Focuses on transforming health and education sectors by providing technical support to states.
• Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat:
• Encourages inter-state cultural exchanges and education to foster unity and excellence.
• Development Support Services to States (DSSS):
• Aims at de-risking projects and addressing structural issues in project development.
• Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE):
• Encourages individuals to adopt eco-friendly practices in daily life to contribute to global climate change mitigation.
• National Data and Analytics Platform (NDAP):
• Improves access to government data and enhances data visualization and usage.
• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM):
• Promotes innovation and entrepreneurship through initiatives like Atal Tinkering Labs, Atal Incubation Centers, and Atal New India Challenges.
• E-Amrit:
• Provides comprehensive information on electric vehicles and promotes their adoption.
• Women Entrepreneurship Platform:
• Empowers women by supporting their business aspirations through a framework based on Iccha Shakti, Gyan Shakti, and Karma Shakti.
• Methanol Economy Programme:
• Focuses on reducing oil imports and greenhouse gas emissions by converting coal and waste into methanol.
• Transforming India’s Gold Market:
• Aims to stimulate exports, economic growth, and employment in the gold sector.
• Strategy for New India at 75:
• Outlines a detailed plan for 41 crucial areas for India's development.

By leveraging these initiatives and the Sampoornata Abhiyaan, NITI Aayog aims to drive comprehensive and effective development in India's most aspirational regions, setting a model for national progress and sustainable growth.