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GS Paper 2: Indian Polity and Constitution; Federal Provision, Center State Relation.
Context-:
Beyond Jammu and Kashmir, many states in India enjoy special provisions under 371 of the constitution shows evidence of Asymmetric Federalism in India.
Details-:
India’s plurality necessitates such an arrangement and the Constitution provides for differentiated equality for states depending on various factors, ranging from fiscal, political, and administrative.
However, an argument is made against asymmetric federalism, that the so-called special statuses sow seeds of regionalism and separatism and that it impacts ‘national integration.’
About Asymmetric Federalism-:
Asymmetric federalism refers to a system in which different constituent units of a federation enjoy distinct powers, privileges, and relationships with the central government.
Asymmetry may arise due to historical, cultural, linguistic, or geopolitical reasons, reflecting the unique circumstances of specific regions or states.
States or regions with special status within an asymmetric federal structure often have unique constitutional provisions that grant them specific rights and privileges.
India: Asymmetric Federalism-:
India is often characterized as having elements of asymmetric federalism due to the presence of special provisions and varying degrees of autonomy granted to different states.
Here are some reasons why India is considered to exhibit asymmetric federalism:
Article 370:
Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, though abrogated in 2019, historically granted special autonomy to the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
This provision allowed the state to have its constitution, flag, and greater decision-making powers compared to other states.
Article 371:
Article 371 and its sub-sections provide special provisions for certain states in India.
These provisions recognize the unique circumstances of different regions, allowing for specific arrangements based on historical, cultural, or regional considerations.
Negotiated Autonomy:
Some states, like Nagaland and Mizoram, have negotiated autonomy, allowing them special protections in areas such as religious and social practices and control over land and natural resources.
Unique Arrangements:
Delhi, the national capital territory, has a unique arrangement under Article 239AA, allowing it legislative powers on state and concurrent list subjects despite not being classified as a state.
Differential Treatment:
States in India are not uniform in terms of administrative, political, and fiscal powers.
The Constitution acknowledges and accommodates this diversity, leading to differentiated treatment based on the specific needs and historical context of each state.
Pros-:
Asymmetric federalism allows for flexibility in addressing the diverse needs and circumstances of different regions or states within a country.
It accommodates and recognizes the cultural, linguistic, historical, and regional diversity present within a nation, promoting a more inclusive and responsive governance structure.
It can help in resolving historical conflicts and addressing the specific demands of distinct communities, fostering a sense of local ownership.
It can help in preserving the unique identity and character of certain regions or states, allowing them to retain distinct features, such as language, culture, and traditions.
Cons -:
Critics argue that asymmetric federalism can contribute to regionalism, where certain regions may develop a stronger sense of identity and autonomy, potentially undermining national unity.
Granting varying degrees of autonomy may result in unequal treatment among states, leading to disparities in development, resources, and opportunities.
Some argue that asymmetric federalism may sow seeds of separatism, especially if certain regions feel that their special status is not adequately recognized or respected.
Related Search-:
India's Federal System
Seventh Schedule of Constitution.
Prelims Specific-:
Asymmetric Federalism
Article 370, 371
371A through 371 J
Article 239AA
GS Paper 2: Issues Relating to Poverty & Hunger, Issues Related to Children
Context:
Over 56,000 children under five years in India are suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) with medical complications.
Details-:
The children are admitted to the 1,129 Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs) across 29 states and union territories.
In 2022-23, the number of children in NRCs was 1.89 lakh, while in 2021-22, the figure stood at 1.32 lakh.
State-wise cases-:
Madhya Pradesh reports the highest number of SAM children admitted to NRCs at 16,276.
It is followed by Gujarat (5,694), which last year reported 18,978 SAM children admitted to NRCs.
The other states reporting the highest number of SAM children needing care are Odisha (4,465), Uttar Pradesh (4,258) and Jharkhand (4,004).
Among the southern states, Karnataka has reported the highest number of SAM children admitted in NRCs this year till June.
About 1,822 children were in NRCs in the state, of Telangana (1,379), Andhra Pradesh (1,330), Tamil Nadu (740), and Kerala (51).
What are Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs)?
It is to provide facility-based care for children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and medical complications.
Regular and periodic review of NRC functionality is carried out under the child health programme.
It is done by central and State Government teams including through Common Review Mission visits.
NCRs Services:
The services and care provided for the in-patient management of SAM children in NRCs include-
24-hour care and monitoring of the child;
Treatment of medical complications;
Therapeutic feeding; providing sensory stimulation and emotional care;
Social assessment of the family to identify and address contributing factors; Counselling on appropriate feeding, care, and hygiene and follow-up of children discharged from the facility.
What is Severe Acute Malnutrition?
As Per WHO:-
Severe acute malnutrition is defined by a very low weight-for-height/weight-for-length, or clinical signs of bilateral pitting oedema, or a very low mid-upper arm circumference.
Severe Acute Malnutrition is both a medical and social disorder.
Oedema:- Oedema is swelling from excess fluid in the tissues.
Oedema is usually seen in the feet and lower legs.
Possible reasons:
Lack of exclusive breast feeding, late introduction of complementary feeds, feeding diluted feeds containing less amount of nutrients, repeated enteric and respiratory tract infections, ignorance, and poverty are some of the factors responsible for Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM).
Government Initiatives- :
- Mid-day Meal (MDM) scheme-: Its objective is to enhance the nutritional standards for school children, directly contributing to increased enrollment, better retention rates, and improved attendance in schools.
- Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)-: An amount of Rs. 6,000 is directly deposited into the bank accounts of expectant mothers, enabling them to access improved facilities for their deliveries.
- POSHAN Abhiyaan-: India's government initiated the National Nutrition Mission (NNM) or POSHAN Abhiyaan with the goal of achieving a "Malnutrition Free India" by 2022.
- The National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013-: Its objective is to guarantee food and nutrition security for the most vulnerable populations by implementing associated schemes and programs, thereby establishing access to food as a legal entitlement.
GS Paper 2 & 3: Government Policies and Intervention, Scientific Development, Artificial Intelligence, Robotic
Context-:
The Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI), an alliance of 29 members, has unanimously adopted the New Delhi declaration.
Details-:
The declaration stands out as a contrast to the agreement signed at the United Kingdom AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire, a month ago.
Where countries had committed to first tackle the risks emanating from AI systems.
The New Delhi declaration has attempted to find a balance between innovation and the risks associated with AI systems.
While it is largely upbeat about the economic benefits that AI can bring, it also flags issues around fairness, privacy, and intellectual property rights that will have to be taken into consideration.
GPAI New Delhi declaration on AI-:
The declaration said “We recognize the rapid pace of improvement in advanced AI systems and their potential to generate economic growth, innovation, and jobs across various sectors as well as to benefit societies.
The declaration said that a global framework for the use of AI should be rooted in-
GS Paper 2: Health, Issues Related to Children, Growth & Development
Context:
The 2023 report on food security and nutrition was released by five UN agencies released, recently.
Report Findings:
74.1% of Indians, or 1.043 billion people, were unable to afford a healthy diet in 2021.
Out of the 1.4 billion people in India, over a billion could not afford a healthy diet in 2021.
Afghanistan, Haiti and 12 sub-Saharan countries performed worse than India on the GHI. India’s proportion of undernourished population at 16.6 per cent during 2020-2022.
Countries lower than India-:
Mozambique, Afghanistan, Haiti, Liberia, Chad, Niger, Lesotho, Yemen, Madagascar, and Somalia.
Every other assessed country, besides these nations, had better outcomes than India.
Undernourishment in India:-
With about 16.6% of the overall population undernourished, India’s levels of undernourishment have been marked as of ‘medium’ risk.
And, in under-5 mortality, India has been categorised as a country with ‘low risk’, with about 3.1% of children dying before the age of five.
Anaemia in Women-:
The prevalence of anaemia among women aged 15-24 has been reported as a major problem for the country.
More than 50% of women and adolescents are anaemic in India – one of the highest across the world.
Children undernourishment-:
India has the highest child ‘wasting’ (low weight for height) rate across the world, at 18.7%, reflecting acute undernutrition.
In fact, ‘wasting’ is considered the worst form and indicator of children's undernutrition.
If a country has more than 15% of the children ‘wasted’, it has been marked as a ‘very high’ level of concern in the report.
India is the only country, thus, where the wasting has been put in the category of ‘very high’.
As far as childhood stunting (low height for age) goes, India, again, comes in the category of ‘very high’ risk countries.
More than 35% of kids have been marked stunted in the country, although several other African countries and some East-Asian countries perform worse than India on this parameter.
Aspects of GHI:
The GHI came out with a study based on four factors to understand the issue at hand.
1. Undernourishment (refers to the entire population – both children and adults)
2. Child stunting (share of children who have low height for their age)
3. Child under-5 mortality and
4. Child wasting (children who have low weight for their height).
Its Calculation:
The GHI score is calculated on a 100-point scale reflecting the severity of hunger, where zero is the best score (no hunger) and 100 is the worst.
India’s score of 29.1 places it in the ‘serious’ category.
Related Search:
National Family Health Survey (NFHS)
Anaemia
Prelims Specific:
About Global Hunger Index
Its indicators
Its Calculation
Performance of Countries
India's Performance
Context:
Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB), a joint initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), launched a programme in Saint Lucia on 14th December, 2023.
Context:
Dare to Dream (D2D) 1.0 (2019), D2D 2.0 (2020) and D2D 3.0 (2021) have been successfully conducted, wherein, more than 5,600 applications were received.
Eligibility:
Context:
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will interact with beneficiaries of the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra on 16th December 2023.
About:
Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra is being undertaken across the country.
It aims to attain saturation of flagship schemes of the government by ensuring that the benefits of these schemes reach all targeted beneficiaries in a time-bound manner.
The country covers all Gram Panchayats, Nagar Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies.
The campaign is being taken up by adopting a whole of government approach with active involvement of various Ministries/Departments of Government of India, State Governments, Central Govt. Organizations and Institutions.
It is to ensure the widest possible participation of all concerned for the benefit of the Citizens of the country and to realize the vision of Viksit Bharat.
Its objectives are:-
- Reaching the unreached - reach out to the vulnerable who are eligible under various schemes but have not availed of benefits so far
- Dissemination of information and generating awareness about schemes
- Learning from the citizens - Interaction with beneficiaries of government schemes through their personal stories/ experience sharing
- Enrolment of potential beneficiaries through details ascertained during the Yatra.
Context:
Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Tribal Affairs visited the exhibition of the ASEAN-India Millet Festival.
About ASEAN-India Millet Festival-:
The Indian Mission to ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) in association with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
It is organizing the two-day ASEAN-India Millet Festival 2023.
In line with the International Year of Millets, the festival aims to increase awareness and establish a larger market for millet and millet-based products.
Aim-:
The exhibition aims to foster collaboration between ASEAN countries, celebrate cultural and culinary diversity and promote sustainable millet practices for a healthier future.