National Current Affairs – UPSC/IAS Exams- 27th November 2019

70^th Constitution Day

Topic: Polity and Governance

In News: Every year India celebrates 26 November as Constitution Day also known as Samvidhan Divas. The day is celebrated to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India on 26 November 1949 by Indian Constituent Assembly.

More on the Topic:

• In all the Government Offices or Institutions the celebrations will start by reading the ‘Preamble’ of the Constitution. National Campaign will also launch that focus on the fundamental duties an important feature of the Constitution. It will start on 26 November, 2019 and culminate on 26 November, 2020.

Objectives of celebrating constitution day:

• To publicize the glorious and rich composite culture and diversity of our nation.
• To create awareness of Fundamental Duties as enshrined in the Indian Constitution.
• To reiterate and reorient the citizens towards the values and principles expressed in the Indian Constitution.
• To encourage all Indians to play their rightful role in strengthening Indian Democracy.

History of Indian Constitution:

• In 1934, the demand of the Constituent Assembly was made. N. Roy, a communist party leader, was the first who mooted the idea.
• It was taken up by the Congress party and in 1940, the demand was accepted by the British government. Indians are allowed to draft the Indian Constitution in the August offer.
• On 9 December 1946, the Constituent Assembly for the first time met before independence.
• The first president of the Constituent Assembly was Sachchidananda Sinha. Further, on 29 August 1947, a Drafting Committee was constituted to prepare a Draft Constitution with Dr. B.R. Ambedkar as a Chairman.
• On 26 November, 1949, the Committee had finished their work. On 24 January 1950, the process was completed when the members signed two handwritten copies of the document one each in Hindi and English.
• The first meeting of the Assembly was in New Delhi on 9 December 1946 and last till 24 January, 1950. During this time total of 11 sessions were held and met for around 166 days. This is the period between the adoption and enforcement when thorough reading and translation from English to Hindi was done.
• On 26 January, 1950, the Constitution of India came into force and became the law of the land.

Source: PIB

Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli

Topic: Polity and Governance

In News: The government introduced a bill in the Lok Sabha to merge two Union Territories  Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli into one.

More on the Topic:

• The merger of the two UTs, located along the western coast near Gujarat, will be done for better administration and check duplications of various work.
• So far, both the Union Territories have separate budgets and different secretariats even though they are just 35 km apart. Dadra and Nagar Haveli has just one district while Daman and Diu has two.
• The country currently has nine Union Territories after the creation of the UTs of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. However, with the merger of Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, the number of UTs will come down to eight.

Source: Times of India

Water 4 Change Project

Topic: Resource Management

In News: The Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM), operating under the Government of Kerala has launched the “Water 4 Change” project.

More on the Topic:

• Under the project, six prominent institutions from Netherlands will perform a long-term research and field level action on urban water management systems along with Indian scientists.
• The project will bring solutions for water problems in the cities of Kozhikode, Shimla, Bhuj and Bhopal.
• It will also address issues related to sanitary engineering, governance, urban planning, ecology, hydrology and economics in water handling.
• The CWRDM was established by the Government of Kerala to cater the needs of research and development in water management of the state. The institution deals with environmental issues, drainage issues, water quality management and wet land management in the state.

Source: Hindu

Food Processing & Preservation Capacities (CEFPPC) scheme

Topic: Government Schemes

In News: An inter-ministerial approval committee, cleared projects worth Rs 271 crore to boost processing and preservation capacities through Creation/Expansion of Food Processing & Preservation Capacities (CEFPPC) scheme.

More on the Topic:

• The main objective of the Scheme is creation of processing and preservation capacities and modernisation/ expansion of existing food processing units with a view to increasing the level of processing, value addition leading to reduction of wastage.
• The processing activities undertaken by the individual units covers a wide range of post-harvest processes resulting in value addition and/or enhancing shelf life with specialized facilities required for preservation of perishables.
• While expansion of processing capacity is necessary to increase the level of processing and reduce wastage, the induction of modern technology is intended to make a clear difference in terms of process efficiencies as well as improving the quality of the end product.
• The setting up of new units and modernization/ expansion of existing units are covered under the scheme.
• Scheme is implemented through organizations such as Central & State PSUs/ Joint Ventures/ Farmer Producers Organization (FPOs)/ NGOs/ Cooperatives/ SHG’s/ Pvt. Ltd companies/ individuals proprietorship firms engaged in establishment/ upgradation/ modernization of food processing units.
• Proposals for seeking assistance under the scheme are invited through Expression of Interest from time to time.

Source: Business Standard

The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019

Topic: Social Justice

In News: The parliament passed the protection of rights of transgenders bill.

Provisions of the bill:

• Definition of a transgender person: The Bill defines a transgender person as one whose gender does not match the gender assigned at birth. It includes trans-men and trans-women, persons with intersex variations, gender-queers, and persons with socio-cultural identities, such as kinnar and hijra.  Intersex variations is defined to mean a person who at birth shows variation in his or her primary sexual characteristics, external genitalia, chromosomes, or hormones from the normative standard of male or female body.
• Prohibition against discrimination: The Bill prohibits the discrimination against a transgender person, including denial of service or unfair treatment in relation to: (i) education; (ii) employment; (iii) healthcare; (iv) access to, or enjoyment of goods, facilities, opportunities available to the public; (v) right to movement; (vi) right to reside, rent, or otherwise occupy property; (vii) opportunity to hold public or private office; and (viii) access to a government or private establishment in whose care or custody a transgender person is.
• Right of residence: Every transgender person shall have a right to reside and be included in his household. If the immediate family is unable to care for the transgender person, the person may be placed in a rehabilitation centre, on the orders of a competent court.
• Employment: No government or private entity can discriminate against a transgender person in employment matters, including recruitment, and promotion. Every establishment is required to designate a person to be a complaint officer to deal with complaints in relation to the Act.
• Education: Educational institutions funded or recognised by the relevant government shall provide inclusive education, sports and recreational facilities for transgender persons, without discrimination.
• Health care: The government must take steps to provide health facilities to transgender persons including separate HIV surveillance centres, and sex reassignment surgeries. The government shall review medical curriculum to address health issues of transgender persons, and provide comprehensive medical insurance schemes for them.
• Certificate of identity for a transgender person: A transgender person may make an application to the District Magistrate for a certificate of identity, indicating the gender as ‘transgender’. A revised certificate may be obtained only if the individual undergoes surgery to change their gender either as a male or a female.
• Welfare measures by the government: The Bill states that the relevant government will take measures to ensure the full inclusion and participation of transgender persons in society. It must also take steps for their rescue and rehabilitation, vocational training and self-employment, create schemes that are transgender sensitive, and promote their participation in cultural activities.
• Offences and penalties: The Bill recognizes the following offences against transgender persons: (i) forced or bonded labour (excluding compulsory government service for public purposes), (ii) denial of use of public places, (iii) removal from household, and village, (iv) physical, sexual, verbal, emotional or economic abuse. Penalties for these offences vary between six months and two years, and a fine.
• National Council for Transgender persons (NCT): The NCT will consist of: (i) Union Minister for Social Justice (Chairperson); (ii) Minister of State for Social Justice (Vice- Chairperson); (iii) Secretary of the Ministry of Social Justice; (iv) one representative from ministries including Health, Home Affairs, and Human Resources Development. Other members include representatives of the NITI Aayog, and the National Human Rights Commission.  State governments will also be represented.  The Council will also consist of five members from the transgender community and five experts from non-governmental organisations.
• The Council will advise the central government as well as monitor the impact of policies, legislation and projects with respect to transgender persons. It will also redress the grievances of transgender persons.

Criticisms:

• The Bill is silent on granting reservations to transgender persons.
• The bill has prescribed punishments for organised begging. However, the Bill doesn’t provide anything to better to condition in those areas, it doesn’t provide for reservation.
• The Transgender Bill does not mention any punishments for rape or sexual assault of transgender persons as according to Sections 375 and 376 of the Indian Penal Code, rape is only when a man forcefully enters a woman.

Source: Hindu, PRS

Carto Sat 3

Topic: Science and Technology

In News: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched its earth imaging and mapping satellite CARTOSAT-3 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota.

More on the Topic:

• CARTOSAT-3 satellite is a third generation agile advanced satellite having high resolution imaging capability. The satellite will replace the IRS series.
• The satellite will address the increased user demand for large-scale urban planning, rural resource and infrastructure development, coastal land use and land cover.
• The Cartosat series is a part of the Indian Remote Sensing Programme. They were specifically launched for Earth’s resource management and monitoring.
• The first Cartosat satellite was Cartosat-1 which was launched by PSLV-C6 in 2005.
• Each of the Indian Remote Sensing satellite missions ensured data continuity while introducing improvements in the spatial, spectral and radiometric resolutions.

Source: PIB

NPA-MUDRA Loan

Topic: Economy

In News: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has asked banks to monitor loans under the Mudra scheme over concerns of growing levels  of non-performing assets (NPAs) in that category.

More on the Topic:

• Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) was launched in April 2015 for providing loans up to ₹ 10 lakh to non-corporate, non-farm small/micro enterprises.
• These advances are classified as Mudra loans and given by commercial banks, regional rural banks (RRBs), small finance banks, cooperative banks, micro finance institutions (MFIs) and NBFCs.
• Mudra Loans are available for non-agricultural activities upto Rs. 10 lakh and activities allied to agriculture such as Dairy, Poultry, Bee Keeping etc, are also covered.
• Mudra’s unique features include a Mudra Card which permits access to Working Capital through ATMs and Card Machines.

NPA Statistics:

• Data showed that non-performing assets ratio or bad loans as a percentage of MUDRA loans were at 2.68% in 2018-19, up 16 basis points from 2.52% in the previous year. Interestingly, MUDRA loan NPAs were at 2.89% in 2016-17. Of the 182.60 million MUDRA loans sanctioned, 63 million accounts defaulted as on 31 March.

Risks Associated with MUDRA Loan:

• These loans are targeted to improve working capital access and bring the historically underbanked SME section under the formal credit structure.
• These loans are unsecured, often without collateral, and lower-priced to reduce the access barrier since most applicants are first-time borrowers and without any credit history.
• These loans are also risky because they are taken for consumption rather than production purposes. But what PSBs intrinsically need is to develop a better recovery mechanism

Model Mains Question: Examine the rise of NPAs in India and suggest measures to tackle the same.

Source: Business Standard