current affairs upsc chennai Bold Ias academy
- Indian Heritage
- Culture
- Modern Indian history
- The Freedom Struggle
- Post-independence
- Indian Society
A. population and associated issues
B. poverty and developmental issues
C.urbanization
7. Geographical features
8.Indian Constitution
9. Polity
10. Governance
A. institutions
B. regulatory
C. Government policies
D. role of NGOs
E. measures
11. Social Justice
A. Welfare schemes
NARI SHAKTI: From Women Development to Women led Development
Nari Shakti Adhiniyam – Amrit Peedi’s Moment
A milestone in this journey has been achieved by the passing of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023) which seeks to reserve one-third of the total number of seats for women in Lok Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies and Delhi Assembly.
Another notable feature was that the Women’s Reservation Bill, called was the first to be considered in the new parliament building setting the tone for India’s Amrit Kaal.
Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao – A step towards gender empowerment
One of the key initiatives is the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme, which has generated significant mass mobilization to combat gender discrimination and promote the value of the girl child. At every level, the scheme has worked diligently to raise awareness about the rights of girl children through community engagement. By advocating against sex selection at birth and encouraging positive action to support their educational growth, BBBP has brought about a positive change. Over the years, there has been a commendable improvement in the sex ratio at birth, with a rise of 19 points from 918 (2014-15) to 937 (2020-21). Additionally, the enrolment of girls in secondary education has increased from 75.51% in 2014-15 to 79.46% in 2020-21, marking significant progress. Further, for the first time in the country, the Sex Ratio of the total population (females per 1000 males) has reached 1020 (NFHS-5, 2019-21).
Celebrating motherhood
In the pursuit of a malnutrition-free India, the government launched the POSHAN Abhiyaan on March 8, 2018. This mission is a convergence platform for various stakeholders to address malnutrition comprehensively. With the aid of the POSHAN Tracker, a robust ICT-enabled platform, real-time monitoring of supplementary nutrition and prompt supervision and management of services are ensured. The engagement of over 14 lakh Anganwadis and the coverage of approximately 10 crore beneficiaries exemplify the scale of impact achieved through this initiative.
The paid maternity leave has been extended from 12 weeks to 26 weeks. The amendment to the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 was passed by the Indian government to provide better support and protection for working mothers. This significant policy change recognizes the importance of allowing new mothers sufficient time to recover from childbirth, bond with their infants, and ensure their overall well-being.
PM Awas Yojana – Gramin
Recognizing the importance of secure housing and financial decision-making for women, the government introduced the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Grameen (PMAY-G). Impressively, more than 72% of these houses are either solely or jointly owned by women. By granting ownership of houses to women, PMAY-G has fulfilled their aspirations and empowered them to actively participate in household decision-making.
PM Ujjwala Yojana
To address the health and safety concerns of women, the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) was launched in May 2016. This initiative aims to provide clean cooking fuel, (LPG), to rural and underprivileged households. The distribution of over 10 crores LPG connections under PMUY has safeguarded the health of millions of women, freeing them from the hazards of using traditional biomass fuels like firewood, dried cow dung, etc, as cooking fuels and the consequent indoor air pollution.
Swaccha Bharat Mission
Another critical aspect of women’s empowerment is access to sanitation. Realizing the challenges faced by women due to inadequate sanitation facilities, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) on October 2, 2014. This mission aimed to provide toilets to all households in the country, thus ensuring improved sanitation and hygiene. And on 2nd October 2019, 11 years ahead of the SDG-6 target set by the United Nations, rural India became open defecation-free (ODF). As per the report titled “Access to toilets and the safety, convenience and self-respect of women in rural India”, after the construction of toilets, 93% of women said they were no longer afraid of being harmed by animals while defecating, contracting health infections and going to the toilet in the dark of night. The availability and regular usage of sanitation facilities have greatly contributed in ensuring the well-being and dignity of women, marking a significant achievement in India’s journey towards a cleaner and healthier nation.
Jal Jeevan Mission
Access to clean drinking water is vital for the well-being of communities, particularly women. With this understanding, the government launched the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) on August 15, 2019. With primary objective to provide clean tap water to every rural household and public institution, tap water connection has been provided to 14.45 crore households under the mission. By ensuring the availability of safe drinking water, the mission aims to alleviate the burdens faced by women in fetching water over long distances. This transformative initiative has empowered women and contributed to the enlightenment of villages with regard to water, sanitation, and hygiene practices.
Safety and Security
Mission Shakti is another noteworthy endeavour by the government, seeking to enhance women’s safety, empowerment, and participation in the workforce. This mission aims to address gender biases, discrimination, and the care burden on women through skill development, capacity building, financial literacy, and access to micro-credit. Integrated services provided under one roof, such as police, medical and legal aid, counselling, and psycho-social support through One-Stop Centres (OSCs), ensure comprehensive assistance for women affected by violence. A toll-free women’s helpline (181) further offers emergency and non-emergency support. Mission Shakti has created an enabling environment for women to thrive and actively contribute to society.
Abolition of Triple Talaq
The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019 was enforced in India on September 19, 2018. This Act renders the practice of instant divorce, commonly known as triple talaq, void and illegal when pronounced three times. It imposes penalties, including imprisonment for up to three years and a fine, on husbands who engage in the practice of instant triple talaq. By implementing the triple talaq law, the Indian government aimed to provide legal protection to Muslim women who had been subjected to this regressive practice for many decades. This significant reform has led to an improvement in the overall situation of Muslim women, enabling them to escape domestic violence and discrimination they previously endured within society.
From Women development to Women-led development
Over ten years, the government’s efforts have led to remarkable progress in women’s empowerment. The number of female police personnel has increased significantly, and women athletes have brought laurels to the country with their remarkable achievements. Enrolment of women in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) has also witnessed significant growth.
By shifting the narrative from women as recipients of welfare to agents of empowerment, the government has been successful in hugely transforming Indian women’s lives. From addressing gender discrimination to promoting education, health, housing, entrepreneurship, and safety, these initiatives have brought about tangible improvements in the lives of women and contributed to the nation’s overall progress. Today, it is not just about women’s development but women-led development.
B Health
C. Education
D. Human Resources
E. poverty and hunger
12. International relations
A. India and its neighbourhood
B. groupings and agreements
C.Indian diaspora
13. Economic Development
A. Government Budgeting
B. industrial
Ministry of Earth Sciences hosts Inter-Ministerial Joint Workshop on Blue Economy
Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) organised a consultative workshop in New Delhi today on the Blue Economy Pathways study report status. Experts from the World Bank, various line Ministries like the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Niti Aayog, Ministry of Port Shipping and Waterways, Ministry of Tourism and various state and national R&D organisations participated. During the workshop, the collaborative role of each line Ministry towards the preparation of the report was deliberated upon.
MoES has engaged with the World Bank as a knowledge partner to undertake a technical study and prepare a seminal report titled ‘India’s Blue Economy: Pathways for resource-efficient, inclusive and resilient growth in India’. The report outputs are expected to cover the areas related to global best practices in Blue Economy implementation, ocean accounting framework, institutional strengthening and innovative finance mechanisms towards implementing the Blue Economy Policy framework.
Today, the Blue Economy promises to be the next multiplier of economic growth and well-being, provided the strategy places sustainability and socio-economic welfare at the centre stage. It aims to significantly improve the lives of coastal communities, preserve our marine ecosystems and maintain the security of our marine areas. Blue Economy will generate a whole ecosystem of cutting-edge interest cutting-edge and futuristic scientific and technological research within India on all matters related to the Blue Economy, i.e. strategic, scientific, political, environmental and economic interest, in one composite package.
Revolutionizing Agriculture
The agricultural sector, which is estimated to constitute 18 percent of India’s GVA in FY24, is the bedrock of the nation’s economy. Despite challenges posed by the global health crisis and variability in climate conditions, the sector has demonstrated remarkable tenacity and resilience, contributing significantly to India’s economic recovery and development.
The total food grains production for FY23 was 329.7 million tonnes, marking a rise of 14.1 million tonnes compared to the previous year. The average food grain production per year was 289 million tonnes in FY15 to FY23, compared to 233 million tonnes in FY05 to FY14. Rice, wheat, pulses, Nutri/coarse cereals, and oilseeds witnessed record increases in production. India’s global dominance extends across agricultural commodities, making it the largest producer of milk, pulses, and spices worldwide.
Additionally, India ranks second-largest producer of fruits, vegetables, tea, farmed fish, sugarcane, wheat, rice, cotton, and sugar. The horticulture production was 355.25 million tonnes which is the highest ever for Indian Horticulture (as per third advance estimates).
The improved performance is also reflected in a substantial surge in agriculture exports, reaching ₹4.2 lakh crore in FY23, surpassing the previous year’s records. Given opportunities and an appropriate policy setting, India’s farmers have demonstrated their capability to meet the food demands of the rest of the world. The potential is still huge.[1]
The policy initiatives, such as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maandhan Yojana (PM-KMY), Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), and Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), have been instrumental in offering financial and income assistance to farmers.
E.issues
14. Technology
41st Steering Committee Meeting of the International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy holds Industry Outreach Programme
The fourth day of the 41st Steering Committee Meeting of the International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy (IPHE), being hosted by India in New Delhi during March 18 – 22, 2024, has been organized as a Stakeholders’ Consultation Day, as part of the Industry Outreach Programme of the Steering Committee Meeting. The Programme, held at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in New Delhi on March 21, 2024, aimed to foster collaboration and dialogue among key stakeholders to advance the development of clean and green hydrogen technologies.
“Green Hydrogen can drastically alter the nation’s energy supply chain over the next 20 years”
Addressing the gathering at the inaugural session of the Industry Outreach Programme, Special Secretary (Economic Relations and Development Partnership Administration), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, Shri P. Kumaran, stated that Green Hydrogen is emerging globally as a solution for the journey towards Clean Energy transition, as it is well-placed to contribute more effectively than other options, in hard-to-abate sectors, long-term energy storage and mobility. He added that given India’s abundant renewable resources and a favourable ecosystem, Green Hydrogen has the potential to drastically alter the structure of the nation’s energy supply chain over the next 20 years, with a substantial positive impact on the economy.
“Green Hydrogen can help decarbonize economy and address Climate Change”
Additional Secretary, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Shri Sudeep Jain pointed out the adverse impacts of climate change and highlighted the need for immediate actions to address the challenge. He mentioned that decarbonisation of the economy including through the application of Green Hydrogen will help in overcoming these challenges.
“If India achieves National Green Hydrogen Mission targets, it will put the country at the forefront of global hydrogen development”
Vice Chair, IPHE, Dr. Noe Van Hulst appreciated the efforts being made by India in promoting green hydrogen and stated that the participating countries of IPHE are impressed by India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission, its ambitious targets and the policies and regulatory framework being implemented to achieve it. He said that if India achieves these targets, it will put the country at the forefront of global hydrogen development. He expressed his gratitude to his Indian counterpart for the hospitality and successful organisation of the Steering Committee Meeting.
“WTO and UN need to play supporting role in facilitating Green Hydrogen adoption”
Chairperson, CII Taskforce on Green Hydrogen and Chairperson, Avaada Group, Shri Vineet Mittal lauded the role of IPHE in promoting Hydrogen economy. He added that the WTO and the UN need to play a supporting role to facilitate adoption of Green Hydrogen. He stressed that India needs policy autonomy to pursue the path of decarbonisation.
15. Environment
National Zoological Park celebrates International Day of Forests on 21st March, 2024
National Zoological Park, New Delhi (Delhi Zoo) has celebrated International Day of Forests on 21st March, 2024. The theme for this year’s International Forest Day is “Forests and innovation: new solutions for a better world”. The purpose of this event is to create awareness among visitors about plants and their importance in our lives.
The event was started with doodle art activity at the Education Centre of National Zoological Park, where the visitors were encouraged to participate in the activity after which a film was showcased on Mission-LiFE. After these activities for visitors plantation drive was conducted in the surroundings of recently rejuvenated water body, where staff members of National Zoological Park planted the trees.
An Illustrated Guide on the Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) of India
The Zoological Survey of India published a book entitled, ‘An illustrated guide to the Lepidoptera of India: taxonomic procedures, family characters, diversity and distribution’. The Book is authored by Dr. Dhriti Banerjee, Director, Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) along with Dr. Navneet Singh, Dr. Rahul Joshi and Dr. P. C. Pathania, Scientists of ZSI and a Lepidoptera expert from Hong Kong, Dr. R.C. Kendrick.
The present work is one of the outputs from the 6th Asian Lepidoptera Conservation Symposium, hosted by Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) in 2019, where a dire need was broadly discussed for a book which can guide both amateurs and professionals in the field of lepidopterology. The project was initiated during the lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic. Subsequently, the authors continually updated the information for four years and finally the outcome in form of this book.
16. Security
17. Disaster Management