{"id":21292,"date":"2024-02-06T17:52:55","date_gmt":"2024-02-06T12:22:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=21292"},"modified":"2024-02-07T12:05:07","modified_gmt":"2024-02-07T06:35:07","slug":"daily-current-affairs-06-02-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/06-02-2024\/daily-current-affairs-06-02-2024","title":{"rendered":"Daily Current Affairs 06-02-2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Increase in Gender Budgeting&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS1\/Society, GS3\/Economy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Interim Budget 2024-25 has increased the Gender Budget.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The quantum of Gender Budget reported in <strong>2024-25 is 38.6%<\/strong> more than budget estimates of 2023-24.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The share of Gender Budget in the total Union Budget increased to <strong>6.5% in 2024-25 <\/strong>from 5% in 2023-24.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is Gender Budgeting?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Gender Budgeting<\/strong> is a strategy with gender responsive formulation of legislation, policies, plans, programmes, and schemes; resource allocation; implementation; tracking of expenditure, audit, and impact assessment.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>It aims<\/strong> to ensure that public resources are collected and spent efficiently based on differing gender needs and priorities.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Gender Budgets are not separate budgets<\/strong> for women; neither do they imply that funds be divided into half for men and women or that budgets should be divided into half.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>They are attempts to disaggregate the government\u2019s budget according to its differential impact on different Genders, and reprioritize allocations to bridge gender gaps.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gender-responsive budgeting in India was adopted in <strong>2005.<\/strong> It comprises <strong>two parts:&nbsp;<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Part A: <\/strong>It encompasses schemes that allot<strong> 100 percent<\/strong> of the funds for women (such as maternity benefits).&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Part B: <\/strong>It consists of schemes that allocate <strong>at least 30 percent<\/strong> of funds for women (such as the Mid-Day Meal scheme).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Need for Gender budgeting<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Addressing Gender Inequality:&nbsp; <\/strong>The Gender Gap Report 2023 ranked India at <strong>127 out of 146 <\/strong>countries.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Gender budgeting provides a systematic framework for addressing these inequalities by allocating resources towards programs and initiatives that promote gender equality.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Enhancing Development Outcomes: <\/strong>Gender equality yields significant development benefits, including poverty reduction, improved health outcomes, and enhanced economic growth.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Gender budgeting helps in mainstreaming gender considerations across all sectors of the economy, thereby contributing to more inclusive and sustainable development outcomes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>International Commitments:<\/strong> India is a signatory to various international agreements and conventions that mandate the promotion of gender equality and women&#8217;s rights, including the <strong>Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)<\/strong> and the <strong>Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)<\/strong>. Gender budgeting is necessary to fulfill these commitments.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ensuring Targeted Interventions:<\/strong> Gender budgeting helps in identifying and prioritizing the specific needs and priorities of women and girls.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Challenges<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Data Availability and Quality: <\/strong>Gender budgeting relies on accurate gender-disaggregated data to identify specific needs and assess the effectiveness of interventions.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>However, data collection mechanisms lack gender disaggregation, making it challenging to formulate evidence-based policies and allocate resources efficiently.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fragmentation of Initiatives:<\/strong> Gender-related initiatives in India are fragmented across different ministries and departments, leading to duplication of efforts, inefficiencies, and gaps in service delivery.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Regular monitoring:<\/strong> Absence of robust monitoring mechanisms to evaluate the accountability and progress of gender budgeting initiatives reduces its effectiveness.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Way Forward<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Gender budgeting is a critical tool for advancing gender equality, promoting women&#8217;s empowerment, and achieving inclusive and sustainable development in India.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>By addressing the challenges in implementation of gender budgeting&nbsp; India can address the root causes of gender disparities and work towards creating a more equitable and just society.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: TH<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Dealing With the High Government Debt<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Indian Economy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dealing with the huge public debt seems to be a challenge for the government.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About the Public Debt<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is also known as <strong><em>Sovereign Debt,<\/em><\/strong><strong> <\/strong>and sometimes<strong> <\/strong><strong><em>National Debt<\/em><\/strong>, an important way for governments to finance investments in growth and development.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is usually the amount of debt that a government has accumulated over many years of running fiscal deficits and borrowing to bridge the deficits.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It includes the <em>budgetary central government, state and local government, extrabudgetary units, and social security funds etc <\/em>plus <strong><em>other liabilities,<\/em><\/strong> including against <em>small savings schemes, provident funds and special securities issued to the Food Corporation of India, fertiliser firms and oil marketing companies<\/em>.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-us.googleusercontent.com\/cuElB3pK6AeKkeoIlwWyPYt0GE2Y7OvKHuqafyirgyJl7IAMZGUy7kuDNeUB2c2oFLkzdwtymgJCNKHNlCEmLxhSciME90zPK73ck0fh8dqAYcK2GXDNvSA5ZfS9-dHgohmAemg6GlburmEw3tF_e9M\" width=\"242\" height=\"43\"><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Public debt is considered when the g<strong>overnment\u2019s expenditure exceeds its revenues<\/strong>, leading to borrowing or selling assets <strong>to fund the deficit<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The fiscal deficit target (gap between the government\u2019s revenue and expenses) is often expressed <strong>as a percentage of the gross domestic product (GDP)<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Current Status (India)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>India\u2019s public debt-to-GDP ratio<\/strong> has barely increased from 81% in 2005-06 to 84% in 2021-22, and is back to <strong>81% in 2022-23<\/strong>.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-us.googleusercontent.com\/WK7oQ9VzwnkmBS_k4W7izKLwH0yP75_PLxrXp1zxzxJJ088pYysd1bMxkzvGa8I0U5rlh_9LH-jlQYsb4oAdNnpcHyFEy6tRaW3yzOPh5DOAyz2Jr3qRMPp4RGSBHLG4dwY01_2YssK9eA_rfRADrKQ\" width=\"199\" height=\"230\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It was at 75% in 2019-20 and<strong> peaked at 88.5% in 2020-21<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>As per the <strong>Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act 2003<\/strong>, the general government debt was supposed to <strong>be brought down to 60% of GDP by 2024-25<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Centre\u2019s own total outstanding liabilities were <strong>not to exceed 40% <\/strong>within that time schedule.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The IMF states that India\u2019s general government debt, including the Centre and States, could be 100% of GDP under adverse circumstances by fiscal 2028.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It has projected the ratio at 82% in the current fiscal and 82.4% for 2024-25.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Global Status of Debt<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Global public debt tripled since the mid-1970s to reach 92% of GDP (or just above $91 trillion) by end-2022.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Private debt also tripled to 146% of GDP (or close to $144 trillion), but over a longer time span between 1960 and 2022.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Over the past decade, the rise in the external debt stock of low- and middle-income countries has outpaced economic growth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Reasons for High Public Debt<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>High Borrowings: <\/strong>Governments borrow to meet various expenditures that they are unable to meet through tax and other revenues.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-us.googleusercontent.com\/aIzmvIGcLKdFtCnqaBQZZmBKp3wUyLgUhPX1LTkhNwMuLlgo0m5xxMXR4zs8758BAJTNoNIpcbh-7CXSrxLlh2CiUQko8OLS4apOH4e2lRkV4nnk7odtIk4JpMWzb-0zau21UvQNbsG5sNp4L9KWH6E\" width=\"201\" height=\"295\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Governments may also <strong>borrow to pay interest<\/strong> on the money that they have already borrowed to fund past expenditures.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Public debt in India is <strong>primarily contracted at fixed interest rates<\/strong>, with floating internal debt constituting only 1.9% of GDP at end-March 2022.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Expenditure related to Public Health and Social Safety: <\/strong>The most obvious reason is the <strong>Covid-induced disruptions<\/strong> that forced governments to borrow more \u2013 <strong>to fund additional public health and social safety net expenditure <\/strong>requirements \u2013 amid a drying up of revenues.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>High Inflation: <\/strong>Despite the economic growth rebound from 2020 and much higher-than-expected inflation, public debt remained high.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Fiscal deficits<\/strong> kept public debt levels elevated, as many governments spent more to boost growth and respond to food and energy price spikes even as they ended pandemic-related fiscal support.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Declining Tax Revenue: <\/strong>A major chunk of<strong> expenses<\/strong> (<em>interest payments, pensions, administrative expenses etc.,)<\/em> and <strong>rising subsidy<\/strong> burdens meant that <strong>States <\/strong>were <strong>overly dependent on Central transfers<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A decline in revenue and an increase in spending meant a sharp rise in debt.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Impacts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>On economic development:<\/strong> High public debt can act as a drag on development due to limited access to financing, rising borrowing costs, currency devaluations, and sluggish growth.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Government debt exceeding threshold levels exert upward pressures on the term premium and dampen growth.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>According to the <strong>United Nations<\/strong>, countries are facing the impossible choice of servicing their debt or serving their people.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Low quality of expenditure: <\/strong>In 2022, 3.3 billion people live in countries that spend <strong>more on interest payments than on education or health<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>High public debt can reduce investment and capital accumulation due to pressure on long-term interest rates.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Fiscal Responsibility Budget Management (FRBM) Act, 2003:<\/strong><br>&#8211; It sets targets for the government to achieve fiscal stability.<br>&#8211; It proposed that revenue deficit, fiscal deficit, tax revenue and the total outstanding liabilities be projected as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) in the medium-term fiscal policy statement.<br>&#8211; It provides the provisions for required flexibility for RBI to:<br>A. deal with inflation;<br>B. improve the management of public funds;<br>C. strengthen fiscal prudence and reduce fiscal deficits;<br>&#8211; It made mandatory to place annually:<br>A. Union Budget documents;<br>B. Medium Term Fiscal Policy Statement;&nbsp;<br>C. Macroeconomic Framework Statement; and&nbsp;<br>D. Fiscal Policy Strategy Statement in the Parliament.&nbsp;<br>&#8211; It requires the Union government to contain its fiscal deficit to just 3% of the nominal GDP.<br>A. However, barring 2007-08, India has never met this target.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Efforts for Minimizing the High Public Debt<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Fiscal consolidation:<\/strong> This involves reducing the fiscal deficit and public debt. The government can achieve this by increasing revenues or decreasing spending.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The government has opted for a <strong>new broad \u2018glide path\u2019 of fiscal consolidation<\/strong>. It aims to attain a fiscal deficit-to-GDP ratio of <strong>\u2018below 4.5%\u2019 by 2025-26.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>But given the high post-pandemic starting points in 2020-21 and 2021-22, the deficit ratios of 6.4%, 5.8%, 5.1% (Budget Estimate), and \u2018below 4.5%\u2019 for the following four years amount to fairly sharp reductions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Structural reforms:<\/strong> These are changes in fiscal, financial, or trade policies to improve the functioning of the economy. They can help increase economic growth and reduce public debt.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Monetary policy:<\/strong> The central bank can use monetary policy to manage inflation and stabilise the economy, which can indirectly help reduce public debt.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The IMF<\/strong> suggested that India needs more prudent management of debt in the medium term.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It also suggested that new and preferably concessional sources of financing are needed, as well as greater private sector investment and carbon pricing or equivalent mechanism.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Public Debt Management:<\/strong> It is a key function of the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The division handles coordination, compilation, and printing of the Detailed Demands for Grants and the Outcome Budget.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Way Forward<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>For restoring and recreating a policy environment conducive for private sector-led growth post-COVID, timely rebalancing of monetary and fiscal policies may become necessary given the current configurations of debt and liquidity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India probably needs a combination of both fiscal consolidation and growth (from output more than inflation) to deal with its current debt burden.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-economics\/three-ways-to-deal-with-the-high-govt-debt-9144329\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source: IE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Global launch of UPI in France<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/International Relations, GS3\/Economy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India launched UPI at the iconic Eiffel Tower in France.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>NPCI International Payments (NIPL)<\/strong>, a subsidiary of NPCI, partnered with French e-commerce and proximity payments provider, Lyra to ensure the acceptance of the UPI payment mechanism in France, starting with the Eiffel Tower.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is Unified Payments Interface (UPI)?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>UPI was designed and launched by the <strong>National Payments Corporation of India<\/strong> (NPCI) in <strong>2016.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is a system that powers multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application (of any participating bank), merging several banking features, seamless fund routing &amp; merchant payments into one hood.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It also caters to the \u201cPeer to Peer\u201d collect request which can be scheduled and paid as per requirement and convenience.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Internationalization of UPI<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Countries like UAE, Singapore, Bhutan, and Nepal have adopted UPI in the past.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In 2023, <strong>UPI and Singapore\u2019s PayNow<\/strong> signed an agreement, allowing users in either country to make cross-border transactions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>To enable cross-border transactions, the<strong> NIPL and Al Etihad Payments of UAE <\/strong>inked a Memorandum of Understanding in 2023.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Significance&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Global Financial Inclusion: <\/strong>The internationalization of UPI will provide access to fast, convenient, and low-cost payment services. This can help reduce the reliance on traditional banking infrastructure and facilitate economic participation for underserved populations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Remittances:<\/strong> It will streamline the process of sending and receiving remittances across borders, offering a faster, affordable, and secure alternative to traditional remittance channels.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Diplomatic and Strategic Relations:<\/strong>&nbsp; It will foster closer economic ties and cooperation between countries by promoting interoperability and collaboration in the realm of digital payments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>National Payments Corporation of India<\/strong><br>&#8211; It is an umbrella organization for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India, established by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and <strong>Indian Banks Association (IBA)<\/strong> in <strong>2008<\/strong> under the provisions of the <strong>Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.<\/strong><br>&#8211; It has been incorporated as a \u201cNot for Profit\u201d Company under the provisions of Section 25 of <strong>Companies Act 1956<\/strong> (now Section 8 of <strong>Companies Act 2013<\/strong>), with an intention to provide infrastructure to the entire Banking system in India for physical as well as electronic payment and settlement systems.&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/business\/Economy\/upi-gets-global-launch-at-eiffel-tower-in-france\/article67806988.ece#:~:text=Indian%20tourists%20can%20simply%20scan,space%20a\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>India- U.S. Nuclear Cooperation&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/India and Major Power Relations<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources recently said, <strong>India-U.S. nuclear cooperation<\/strong> envisaged under the <strong>nuclear deal<\/strong> two decades ago is <strong>\u201can important piece of unfinished business\u201d.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>More about the News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Speaking on clean energy and climate change,&nbsp; he stressed on <strong>getting away from Chinese domination of clean technology supply chains.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>He also emphasises using<strong> India\u2019s capacities in manufacturing and labour costs to build up a real alternative supply chain.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>India-U.S. Nuclear Cooperation<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>History and Milestones:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>1974: <\/strong>India conducts its first nuclear test, leading to U.S. sanctions and limited cooperation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2005:<\/strong> The landmark <strong>U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Agreement<\/strong> is signed, paving the way for civil nuclear trade and cooperation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2008:<\/strong> The U.S. Congress approves the agreement, allowing nuclear fuel and technology transfers to India.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2010: <\/strong>The first U.S.-built nuclear power plant in India begins construction in <strong>Kudankulam<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2015:<\/strong> The Westinghouse Electric Company signs an agreement to <strong>build six nuclear reactors in India <\/strong>in<strong> Kovvada, Andhra Pradesh<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Agreement<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Agreement, also known as the <strong>123 Agreement<\/strong>, is a landmark agreement signed in 2005 that marked a significant shift in the <strong>nuclear relationship between the two countries.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Provisions:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Separation of Programs: <\/strong>India agreed to separate its civilian and military nuclear facilities, placing civilian facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Nuclear Trade: <\/strong>The agreement allowed the U.S. to supply nuclear fuel and technology to India for its civilian nuclear program.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Non-proliferation Commitments: <\/strong>India reaffirmed its commitment to non-proliferation and agreed to additional safeguards against transferring sensitive nuclear technology or materials.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Expected benefits for India:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Energy Security: <\/strong>Reduced dependence on fossil fuels for electricity generation, which is crucial for a growing economy. Cleaner energy source with lower greenhouse gas emissions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Economic Growth:<\/strong> Creation of jobs in the nuclear power sector, potential for attracting investments and technology transfers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Strategic Partnership:<\/strong> Stronger relationship with the U.S., with implications for regional security and global non-proliferation efforts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Access to Advanced Technology:<\/strong> Acquisition of modern nuclear reactors and fuel, promoting technological advancements and improved safety standards.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Environmental protection: <\/strong>Reduced reliance on coal-fired power plants, contributing to lower air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Regional stability: <\/strong>Cooperation on nuclear energy could foster trust and collaboration between India and neighboring countries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Global leadership: <\/strong>Demonstrating responsible nuclear cooperation could set a positive example for other countries.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Current Status:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Even after eight years of announcing that the nuclear deal was done in 2015, <strong>there is still no techno-commercial offer.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The progress has been slower than initially expected<\/strong> due to various <strong>Challenges<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Domestic challenges in India: <\/strong>Complex regulatory procedures, limited infrastructure, and liability concerns.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Geopolitical considerations:<\/strong> Evolving global nuclear landscape and concerns about technology transfer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>U.S. domestic politics: <\/strong>Concerns about non-proliferation and Congressional approval processes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Measures\/Suggestions:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India and the U.S. needs to make <strong>fresh efforts for practical cooperation in the civil nuclear energy sector.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Also, India needs to <strong>revise laws to enable private companies to participate in the civil nuclear sector<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Further, there is a \u201cshared interest\u201d to move forward, both on the <strong>large traditional reactors<\/strong> which were foreseen as part of the nuclear deal and also on <strong>Small and Modular Reactor (SMR) technology.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Way Ahead:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Despite the challenges, <strong>both countries remain committed to the agreement<\/strong> and continue to work towards expanding cooperation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The success of the agreement will depend on <strong>addressing outstanding challenges and building mutual trust<\/strong> to unlock its full potential.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/india-us-civil-nuclear-cooperation-an-important-piece-of-unfinished-business-us-official\/article67815351.ece#:~:text=Terming%20the%20India%2DU.S.%20nuclear,can%20move%20forward%2C%20both%20on\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TH<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Bill, 2024<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Natural Resources; Conservation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Recently, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Bill, 2024 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha aiming to <strong>amend the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Features of the Bill<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Appointment of Adjudication Officers:<\/strong> The bill proposes the appointment of an \u2018adjudication officer\u2019 who will decide on the penalty in cases of environmental violations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Uniformity in appointment of Chairman of SPCBs:<\/strong> The 1974 Act states the Chairman of the State Pollution Control Board was nominated by the State government, to which the<strong><em> Bill adds \u2018in such a manner as may be prescribed by the Central Government\u2019.<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Applicability:<\/strong> The Bill would be <strong>applicable to Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan,<\/strong> and any other state that passes a resolution under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Decriminalisation of Minor Offences:<\/strong> The bill aims to decriminalise the existing provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, which means that instead of imprisonment, violators would be<strong> required to pay a fine.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Changes in Punishment:<\/strong> The 1974 Act currently prescribes imprisonment of up to three months for not informing the State Board about abstraction of water from a stream or well in a substantial volume and not providing information about construction, installation, or operation of disposal system.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Bill amends it to a <strong>fine between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15 lakh<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Exemption for Certain Industrial Units:<\/strong> The Bill enables the Centre to \u2018exempt certain categories of industrial plants\u2019 from the restrictions on new outlets and discharges.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Guidelines for Grant and Establishment of Industries:<\/strong> The Bill also enables the Centre to \u2018issue guidelines\u2019 on matters relating to grant, establishment of any industry, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Water Pollution: A Growing Concern<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Water pollution is a pressing issue that poses significant threats to the environment and human health. It occurs when harmful substances, often due to human activities, enter water bodies and degrade the quality of water.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Causes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>primary cause<\/strong> of water pollution is the discharge of waste from urban areas, which account for <strong>70% of India\u2019s water pollution<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These wastes, often <strong>untreated due to inadequate infrastructure,<\/strong> end up in rivers and other water bodies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Industrialization and increasing urbanisation<\/strong> have exacerbated the situation, creating large point sources of it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Heavy metals<\/strong> are another significant source of water pollution. They contaminate India\u2019s rivers, posing severe health risks.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)<\/strong> identified 351 polluted river stretches in India, with Maharashtra having the highest number of polluted rivers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Impact on Health and Environment<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pollution has severe impacts on both human health and the environment. In 2019, pollution resulted in more than <strong>23 lakh premature deaths in India<\/strong>, <strong>the highest in the world<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The majority of these deaths were due to air pollution, but water pollution also contributed significantly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Water pollution affects the environment by degrading freshwater supplies and ecosystems.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This degradation increases the <strong>vulnerability of small-scale producers<\/strong> to climate shocks and land degradation in some of the world\u2019s most fragile ecosystems.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Measures to Control<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Indian government has implemented various Acts and rules to control water pollution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <em>Water (Prevention &amp; Control of Pollution) Act and the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986<\/em>, aim to prevent pollution in water bodies.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>However, effective implementation and enforcement of these laws remain a challenge.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>CPCB performs functions as laid down under the Water (Prevention &amp; Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Water pollution is a grave issue that needs immediate attention. While laws and regulations are in place, their effective implementation is crucial. Moreover, there is a need for increased awareness and individual responsibility towards the conservation and protection of our water bodies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/india\/water-pollution-curbs-bill-allowing-exemption-to-industrial-units-tabled-9145977\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source: IE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>News in Short<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus :GS 2\/Polity and Governance&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The Centre introduced a Bill in the Lok Sabha titled &#8220;<strong>The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024<\/strong>\u201d to curb leaks, malpractices as well as organized malpractices in recruitment examinations<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About the bill<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It outlines<strong> 15 unfair practice<\/strong>s, such as leaking question papers, colluding to leak them, unauthorised possession of materials such as question paper or an Optical Mark Recognition response sheet, providing answers by unauthorised individuals, assisting candidates without authorisation, manipulating exam conditions, conducting fake exams, issuing fraudulent admit cards, and more.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Coverage : <\/strong>It will cover entrance examinations held by the Union Public Service Commission, the Staff Selection Commission, the Railways, banking recruitment examinations and all computer-based examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It will also cover entrance tests such as NEET, JEE, and CUET.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Punishment <\/strong><strong>: \u201c<\/strong>All offences under this Act, shall be cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable<strong>.&nbsp;<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It proposes a punishment of a minimum of <strong>three to five years of imprisonment <\/strong>to curb cheating and for those involved in organised crimes of cheating will face five to <strong>10 years of imprisonment<\/strong> and a <strong>minimum fine of Rs 1 crore.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In case of institution found guilty, attachment and forfeiture of property and proportionate cost of examination to be recovered from it<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Objectives and Need : <\/strong>In the last few years, leaks of question papers and organised cheating had affected the interests of lakhs of student due to cancellation of tests and examinations\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The bill is aimed at <strong>preventing organised <\/strong>gangs and institutions that are involved in unfair means for monetary gains, but it protects candidates from its provisions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is aimed to bring greater transparency, fairness and credibility to the public examination systems and to reassure the youth that their sincere and genuine efforts will be fairly rewarded and their future is safe.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Source:<a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-law\/new-bill-to-stop-cheating-in-exams-explained-9145994\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>OBC Quota in J&amp;K Local Bodies<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/Policies and Interventions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Union government recently introduced the <strong>Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024<\/strong> to provide reservation to OBCs in local bodies in J&amp;K.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Features of the Bill<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The bill <strong>seeks to amend<\/strong> certain <strong>provisions <\/strong>of the <em>Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989, the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Act, 2000, and the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Corporation Act, 2000 <\/em>in consonance with the provisions of <strong>Part IX and Part IXA of the Constitution of India<\/strong><em>.<\/em>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is intended to bring consistency in the local bodies\u2019 laws of the Union Territory of J&amp;K with the provisions of the Constitution of India.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><em>Clause (6) of Articles 243D and 243T<\/em><\/strong> of the Constitution empowers the Legislature of a State to make provision for reservation of seats in any <strong>\u2018Panchayat\u2019 and \u2018Municipality\u2019<\/strong> in favour of backward classes of citizens.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>power to prepare and conduct local body polls<\/strong> should be with the <strong>State Election Commission<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Articles 243K and 243ZA:<\/strong> The superintendence, direction, and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of all elections to the Panchayats and Municipalities is vested in a \u2018<strong>State Election Commission<\/strong>\u2019 consisting of a <strong>\u2018State Election Commissioner\u2019<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The number of seats reserved for OBCs will be<strong> decided by a Commission<\/strong> that will be formed after the legislation has been <strong>passed by the Parliament.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/centre-moves-bill-to-provide-reservation-to-obcs-in-local-bodies-in-jk\/article67814697.ece#:~:text=The%20legislation%20aims%20to%20provide,the%20provisions%20of%20the%20Constitution&#039;&amp;text=The%20Union%20government%20on%20Monday,bodies%20of%20Jammu%20and%20Kashmir\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source: TH<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/International Relations<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Recently, American envoy Garcetti said that the Quad summit is more likely after the U.S. Elections.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad)<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is an <strong>informal strategic forum<\/strong> comprising the <strong>United States, India, Australia, and Japan.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>core objective<\/strong> of the Quad is <em>to secure a rules-based global order, freedom of navigation, and a liberal trading system<\/em>, along with <em>to work for a free, open, prosperous, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.<\/em>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is seen as to reduce Chinese domination in the Indo- Pacific region.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Quad leaders held their <strong>first formal summit in 2021.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti informed that the Quad can be the \u2018<strong>model for the world\u2019 <\/strong>as it is <strong>\u2018very strong and stable\u2019.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/quad-summit-more-likely-after-the-us-elections-in-november-american-envoy-garcetti\/article67815260.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source: TH<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>High-Speed Expendable Aerial target (HEAT)- ABHYAS<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus:GS3\/Defence<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India successfully flight-tested the high-speed expendable aerial target, Abhyas, from the integrated test range in Chandipur off the Odisha coast.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>ABHYAS<\/strong> is developed indigenously by the DRDO\u2019s Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE).&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is designed for autonomous flying with the help of an autopilot and offers a realistic threat scenario for practice of weapon systems.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Features<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It has Radar Cross Section, Visual and Infrared augmentation system required for weapon practice.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It has a laptop-based Ground Control System with which the aircraft can be integrated and pre-flight checks, data recording during the flight, replay after the flight and post-flight analysis can be carried out.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ABHYAS requires minimum logistics and is cost effective compared to imported equivalents.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/pib.gov.in\/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2002709\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PIB<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>National Credit Framework&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus :GS 2\/Education&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is planning significant changes to the academic framework of Classes 9, 10, 11, and 12 as part of its plan to implement <strong>creditisation<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>National Credit Framework (NCrF)<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Background: <\/strong>Creditisation aims to establish<strong> academic equivalence<\/strong> between <strong>vocational and general education<\/strong>, facilitating mobility between the two education systems, as proposed by the NEP 2020.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>To implement this, the University Grants Commission had come up with the <strong>National Credit Framework <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/20-10-2022\/draft-national-credit-framework\"><strong>(NCrF) <\/strong><\/a><strong>in 2022.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Overview : <\/strong>NCrF is a <strong>unified credit framework<\/strong> for the <strong>integration of training and skill development<\/strong> into <strong>schools and higher education<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>For a student in <strong>Class 9 to advance to Class 10<\/strong>, they will need to earn a specified number of credits.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Eventually, the student will earn enough credits to be eligible to enrol in an undergraduate programme in a university.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The credits earned by a student will be digitally stored in the Academic Bank of Credits and accessible through a linked Digilocker account.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Implementation status :&nbsp; <\/strong>To implement this in its affiliated schools, the CBSE formed a subcommittee in 2022 that suggested how the current academic framework should be redesigned to align it with NCrF.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Recent Proposal : <\/strong>The CBSE has urged principals of schools affiliated to the board to start contemplating the pattern for allocating credits to students for subjects, in line with the <strong>National Credit Framework.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The CBSE has proposed that <strong>Class 10 and 12 students<\/strong> study more subjects, especially more native Indian languages.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>As per the existing regulations, a student has to pass in 5 subjects (two languages and three main subjects &#8211; maths, science and social science) to pass.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>a Class nine student passing with five compulsory subjects and completing internal assessment of remaining mentioned subjects will earn at least 40 credits<strong>.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In case the student opts for a sixth or seventh subject, and passes the five compulsory subjects, extra credits totalling up to 54 can be earned.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Source:<a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/changes-cbse-has-proposed-for-class-10-and-12-why-9143822\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>2024 Grammy Awards<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus:<\/strong> Miscellaneous&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Indian jazz band Shakti<\/strong> bagged <strong>Best Global Music Album for \u2018This Moment&#8217; <\/strong>in the <strong>2024 Grammy Awards.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The recently reunited fusion band, once named <strong>\u201cTuriyananda Sangit,<\/strong>\u201d was originally founded by British guitarist <strong>John McLaughlin<\/strong>, Indian tabla maestro <strong>Zakir Hussain,<\/strong> and percussionist <strong>Vikku Vinayakram in 1973<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>They were joined later by violinist <strong>L. Shankar<\/strong> and the late mridangam maestro <strong>Ramnad Raghavan.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The band was <strong>regrouped in 2020<\/strong> with <strong>McLaughlin, Hussain, <\/strong>vocalist <strong>Shankar Mahadevan<\/strong>, percussionist V. <strong>Selvaganesh,<\/strong> and violinist<strong> Ganesh Rajagopalan.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Mahadevan, Selvaganesh, and Rajagopalan<\/strong> secured the band\u2019s Grammy award alongside founding members <strong>McLaughlin and Hussain.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Grammy Awards<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Grammy Awards, officially known as the <strong>GRAMMYs,<\/strong> are the <strong>premier music awards<\/strong> in the United States and among the <strong>most prestigious globally.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Objective:<\/strong> To recognize outstanding achievements in the music industry across various genres and categories.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Awarded by:<\/strong> The Recording Academy, a voting membership body of music professionals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>When?:<\/strong> Held annually, typically in February.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Where?: <\/strong>Location varies, usually major cities like <strong>Los Angeles or New York City.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Categories and Awards:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Over <strong>80 categories <\/strong>spanning various genres like <strong>pop, rock, country, rap, R&amp;B, classical, jazz, and more.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>General Field awards<\/strong> recognize overall achievements like <strong>Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best New Artist.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2024 GRAMMYs<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The 66th ceremony<\/strong> took place on <strong>February 5th, 2024<\/strong>, in <strong>Los Angeles.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It saw <strong>Taylor Swift<\/strong> winning her fourth <strong>Album of the Year award for &#8220;Midnights<\/strong>,&#8221; and <strong>Miley Cyrus<\/strong> taking <strong>Record of the Year for &#8220;Flowers.&#8221;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Other awards: <\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Song of the year <\/strong>&#8211; Billie Eilish \u2013 What Was I Made For? from Barbie<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Best pop vocal album <\/strong>&#8211; Taylor Swift \u2013 Midnights<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Best pop solo performance<\/strong> &#8211; Miley Cyrus \u2013 Flowers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Best rap album <\/strong>-Killer Mike \u2013 Michael&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Best African music performance<\/strong> &#8211; Tyla \u2013 Water<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Best rock album<\/strong> &#8211; Paramore \u2013 This Is Why&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Best country duo\/group performance<\/strong> &#8211; Zach Bryan featuring Kacey Musgraves \u2013 I Remember Everything<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/entertainment\/music\/what-are-the-major-takeaways-of-grammy-2024\/article67816954.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/DCA_6-02-2024.pdf\">Download PDF<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Increase in Gender Budgeting&nbsp; Syllabus: GS1\/Society, GS3\/Economy Context About What is Gender Budgeting? Need for Gender budgeting Challenges Way Forward Source: TH Dealing With the High Government Debt Syllabus: GS3\/Indian Economy Context: About the Public Debt Current Status (India) Global Status of Debt Reasons for High Public Debt Impacts Fiscal Responsibility Budget Management (FRBM) Act, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21292","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21292","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21292"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21292\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21305,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21292\/revisions\/21305"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21292"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21292"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21292"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}