Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for October 30, 2024. If you missed the October 29, 2024 UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here

FRONT PAGE

Govt rolls out health cover for all aged 70 years and above, 6 crores to benefit

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: General Studies II: Government policies and interventions

What’s the ongoing story: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched health cards under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) to provide health coverage to people aged 70 years and above, regardless of their income and economic status

Key Points to Ponder:

• Describe the main objectives of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). How does it aim to transform healthcare in India?

• Examine the provisions of AB PM-JAY in offering health insurance coverage to senior citizens. What are the specific benefits extended to citizens above 70 years under this scheme?

• Discuss the eligibility criteria under AB PM-JAY. How does the scheme address the healthcare needs of economically vulnerable senior citizens?

• Analyse the impact of AB PM-JAY on senior citizens and how it mitigates healthcare expenses for this demographic. What challenges does it face in reaching its goals?

• Compare AB PM-JAY with other global health insurance models aimed at senior citizens. What unique features does AB PM-JAY offer, and what improvements could enhance its efficiency?

• Critically evaluate the role of digital health cards in AB PM-JAY for senior citizens. How do these cards improve accessibility and transparency in healthcare services?

• Explain the funding structure of AB PM-JAY and the role of state and central governments in the successful implementation of this scheme. How does this impact healthcare delivery to senior citizens?

• Discuss the measures taken under AB PM-JAY to ensure quality healthcare services in remote and rural areas for senior citizens.

Key Takeaways:

• The scheme will cover almost 6 crore individuals from 4.5 crore families. Of them, 1.78 crore are already covered by the scheme.

• Among the rest, around 80 lakh people are separately covered under various government health schemes — the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme, or cover provided to family members of defence and railway personnel.

• Those covered under existing government health schemes will have the option of choosing either Ayushman Bharat or continuing with their existing coverage.

• People who are covered under the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), however, will be eligible to have both their existing cover and Ayushman Bharat. This is because premiums for ESIC are paid by the insured and their employer, not the government. People who have their own privately purchased insurance cover will be eligible to have the Ayushman Bharat cover as well.

• Members over the age of 70 years in families already covered in accordance with their economic status will get a top-up cover of Rs 5 lakh — to be used only for the elderly. These elderly beneficiaries will have to re-register to receive the top-up cover

Do You Know:

• In a landmark decision, the Union Cabinet approved an expansion of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) on September 11, 2024, offering comprehensive health insurance to senior citizens aged 70 and above.

• The Ayushman Vaya Vandana card marks the beginning of the expanded scheme that is expected to change the face of public healthcare as India’s rapidly growing ageing citizens can now access treatment, which had been out of their reach because of high costs.

• Everyone of age 70 or more will be entitled to a cover of Rs 5 lakh annually, shared within the family. This means if there are two elderly beneficiaries in the household, the cover will be split among them.

• Making health cover universal over the age of 70 is very significant as India’s population ages. At the time of the 2011 census, only 8.6 per cent of India’s population was over the age of 60 years. This is expected to increase to 19.5 per cent by 2050, according to the government’s Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI). In terms of numbers, Indians over the age of 60 are likely to be 319 million in 2050 — up more than three times from the 103 million in 2011.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

????All about AB PM-JAY, the universal health cover for Indians aged over 70

????Five years of Ayushman Bharat: A shield for the vulnerable

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

1. With reference to the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE Prelims, 2022) 1. Private and public hospitals must adopt it. 2. As it aims to achieve universal, health coverage, every citizen of India should be part of it ultimately. 3. It has seamless portability across the country. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

Panel after leak: Send test paper digitally, answers on OMR sheet

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development-Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.

Mains Examination: General Studies II:Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

What’s the ongoing story:Holding entrance exams online wherever possible and using a hybrid model, where question papers are transmitted digitally but answered on paper, if needed; conducting a multi-stage exam for medical aspirants; rationalising the choice of subjects under the Central University Entrance Test (CUET); and staffing the National Testing Agency (NTA) with more permanent personnel to manage these changes effectively.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Identify the key recommendations of the Dr. K. Radhakrishnan-led committee to enhance the integrity and transparency of national-level exams. How do these recommendations address issues in data security and prevent future paper leaks?

• Explain the role and mandate of the National Testing Agency (NTA). Discuss the primary challenges it faces in conducting high-stakes exams like NEET and the JEE in India.

• Analyse the impact of paper leaks on students and educational institutions. In light of the NEET leak, discuss the measures suggested by the expert committee to reform the examination process and restore credibility.

• The Radhakrishnan Committee has proposed structural reforms in the NTA’s operational framework. Discuss these structural changes and how they aim to prevent malpractice in examinations.

• Discuss the role of data security in conducting fair exams. What are the proposed technological interventions by the Radhakrishnan Committee to secure examination processes?

• Given the repeated cases of paper leaks in competitive exams in India, evaluate the effectiveness of existing laws and policies. How might the recommendations of the committee impact legislative and operational aspects of exam governance?

Key Takeaways:

• The seven-member committee, headed by former ISRO head Dr K Radhakrishnan was tasked with suggesting reforms to strengthen data security protocols, improve the examination process, and review the structure and operations of the NTA. It submitted its report to the Education Ministry recently.

• The committee has not limited its recommendations to reforms for NEET but has proposed long-term measures to secure all entrance tests conducted by the Centre.

• The panel has advocated for greater government control over exam administration. This would include increasing the number of its own examination centres instead of outsourcing the conduct of exams to service providers and employing more permanent staff for the NTA which relies heavily on contractual personnel.

• Currently, examinations conducted by the NTA are typically held in government-run schools and colleges. When these venues are insufficient, the agency enlists AICTE-recognised institutes and colleges.

• The panel has advocated for conducting entrance tests online as much as possible, it has suggested a hybrid mode for cases where this is not feasible.

• In the hybrid mode, the question paper will be transmitted digitally to the exam centre but candidates will mark their answers on an OMR sheet.

Do You Know:

• The Radhakrishnan panel is said to have argued against the logic behind so many tests. “Why should a science student, who has already appeared for Board exams, have to sit for another test in the same subjects? The role of subjects should primarily be to determine eligibility, while CUET should assess general aptitude and some subject knowledge to prepare a merit list for college admissions. Why should students take up to six papers if they have already completed their board exams?” said a source.

• The Radhakrishnan panel is also reported to have recommended that NEET-UG be conducted in multiple stages, preferably two, similar to the Joint Entrance Exam, which includes JEE Main and JEE Advanced, due to the large number of aspirants. Nearly 20 lakh medical aspirants have registered for NEET-UG this year. Additionally, the panel suggested capping the number of attempts for NEET-UG, as currently, candidates can take the exam as many times as they wish.

• With Radhakrishnan, the expert committee includes former AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria; Hyderabad Central University Vice-Chancellor B J Rao; Professor Emeritus in the Department of Civil Engineering at IIT Madras, Ramamurthy K; Karmayogi Bharat Board Member, Pankaj Bansal; IIT Delhi Professor Aditya Mittal; and Joint Secretary in the Education Ministry Govind Jaiswal.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

????NEET, NET irregularities: Radhakrishnan committee seeks suggestions on NTA exam reforms, functioning

THE CITY

77% women feel unsafe in bus after 5 pm, 88% feel ‘pink ticket’ scheme impactful: Report

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies II: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.

What’s the ongoing story: A recent report on the free public bus transport in Delhi shows that 45 per cent of women in Delhi never use the bus while 35 per cent of women ride a bus daily or three to five days a week.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Discuss the key findings of the “Pink Ticket” report related to women’s safety in public transport in Delhi. What does the reported 77% of women feeling unsafe on buses after 5 pm indicate about the current safety conditions?

• Analyse how safety concerns impact women’s mobility in urban and rural areas in India. What are the implications for women’s participation in the workforce and their overall empowerment?

• Discuss the role of public transport safety in enhancing or restricting women’s mobility in India. How do safety concerns influence their access to educational and employment opportunities?

• Examine the social, economic, and psychological consequences of limited mobility for women due to safety concerns. How does restricted mobility affect gender equality in various sectors?

• What role does infrastructure play in ensuring safe mobility for women? Suggest urban planning strategies and technological interventions that can improve women’s safety in public spaces and transport.

• Critically assess the effectiveness of current government schemes and policies aimed at improving women’s safety in public transport. What additional measures could address existing gaps?

• Discuss the impact of restricted mobility on women’s mental and physical health. How do societal attitudes and public policy need to evolve to address these issues?

• Examine the role of law enforcement in mitigating safety concerns for women in public spaces. What reforms are needed within policing and community engagement to foster a safer environment?

• With reference to global best practices, discuss the initiatives that could be adapted to Indian cities to create a safer public transport system for women. What lessons can be learned from international models of gender-sensitive mobility?

Key Takeaways:

• Titled ‘Riding The Justice Route’, the report was released by Greenpeace India on Tuesday, the fifth anniversary of the Delhi government’s ‘pink ticket’ policy that made commuting on public buses free for women, after surveying the participants and assessing the impact of the scheme on their lives.

• As per the report, one in four women have started using buses after travel was made fare-free. After the scheme’s introduction, 23 per cent of women have started using buses at least four times a week, and 15 per cent of women, who rarely or never used buses before the scheme, now use them regularly.

• When it comes to challenges faced by women, the survey says that a little less than 50 per cent of women bus users feel “mostly safe” while travelling to the bus stop, waiting there, and riding a bus. The survey also suggests that 77 per cent of women feel unsafe while travelling by bus after 5 pm and two in three women find the lighting at the bus stop inadequate.

• Frequency also remains a challenge as 87 per cent of the women reported waiting more than 10 minutes, while a good 13 per cent waited more than 30 minutes for the bus.

Do You Know:

• The impact of the scheme on the perception of women towards public transport across income groups is noteworthy. After the ‘pink ticket’ was introduced, 88 per cent of women surveyed perceived the scheme as impactful in promoting bus use among women.

• More than 75 per cent of women bus users in the lowest-income households use the bus at least three to five days a week, whereas 60 per cent of women bus users in middle-income households travel by bus that often. Interestingly, 57 per cent of women in the monthly household income bracket of Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh ride a bus daily, the highest among all income groups.

• The survey shows that when asked how often women currently (in the past month) use the fare-free public bus transport in Delhi, 45 per cent said they did not use it even once.

• The survey also notes that only 75 per cent of women in Delhi said they can use the bus when they typically need to travel. More than two in three (69 per cent) women can use the Delhi Metro when they generally need to travel, and shared auto rickshaws and e-rickshaws are estimated to be the most commonly available mode of transport for women, considered available by 64 per cent of the women in Delhi.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

????‘Women are travelling like they are possessed… Where are they going?’: Bus journeys through poll-bound Karnataka

GOVT & POLITICS

PM gives out 51,000 job letters: Govt committed to employment of youth

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development-Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.

Mains Examination: General Studies II: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.

What’s the ongoing story: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday stated that the government is committed to providing the youth with maximum employment opportunities and has already offered lakhs of permanent government jobs.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Discuss the objectives and significance of the Rozgar Mela programme initiated by the Government of India.

• Analyse the impact of Rozgar Mela on employment generation in both urban and rural areas of India.

• How does Rozgar Mela align with other government initiatives like Skill India and Make in India? Discuss the synergies and potential outcomes of integrating these programs.

• Critically assess the potential of Rozgar Mela in contributing to India’s demographic dividend. What additional steps can the government take to maximize the benefits of such employment fairs?

• Discuss the socio-economic implications of youth unemployment in India. How do government initiatives aimed at employment creation address these issues?

Key Takeaways:

• Addressing the government’s Rozgar Mela programme through videoconferencing, PM Modi distributed appointment letters to 51,000 newly appointed young employees in government departments and organisations.

• PM Modi said the government’s policies and decisions had a direct impact on employment. He said the construction of roads, railways, ports, airports, mobile towers, industrial cities, water pipelines, schools, and colleges was not only meant to provide convenience to the people but was also leading to “crores” of employment opportunities.

• He said the government was creating new opportunities for Indians to work abroad. He said India had signed agreements with 21 countries regarding migration and jobs for Indians in the past few years.

Do You Know:

• The India Employment Report 2024, brought out by the Institute for Human Development (IHD) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), highlights some major positive developments in the labour market.

• The employment quality, as shown by a robust Employment Condition Index, has improved in all states, albeit differently. This is also corroborated by the increase in the share of non-farm employment (and decline in agriculture employment) between 2000 and 2019, as happens with the increasing prosperity of a country, and implies a movement towards the structural transformation of the economy.

• Unemployment and underemployment rates increased till 2018 but declined thereafter. The unemployment rate has declined from 6 per cent 2018 to 3.2 per cent in 2023. This also holds for the youth unemployment rate, which also decreased from 17.8 per cent to 10 per cent over this period.

• The India Employment Report 2024, brought out by the Institute for Human Development (IHD) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) says, Youth unemployment is the principal challenge.

• With the massive increase in educational attainment, the unemployment problem in India is becoming centred around educated youth, who account for nearly two-thirds of total unemployment. This process has been continuing for the last several decades.

• The unemployment rate rises with a rise in education levels — 28 per cent among graduates and above (the proportion of women being higher). This has declined from 35.4 per cent in 2018. The report notes the qualifications and skills mismatches, particularly at higher levels of education.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

????ExplainSpeaking: Will Rozgar Mela solve India’s unemployment crisis?

EXPRESS NETWORK

Health risk from excessive heat rising in India: Lancet report

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination:Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies II: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

What’s the ongoing story: Targeted interventions for vulnerable populations and changes in working hours, particularly for those working outdoors, are some of the essential measures that India needs to take to arrest the increasing risk of heat-related health impacts on its people, says a new Lancet report on climate change and health.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Discuss the health impacts of rising temperatures and extreme heat on vulnerable populations in India. How does this trend impact public health systems?

• Examine the findings of the Lancet report on climate change and health. What are the key health risks identified, and how might they affect urban and rural communities differently?

• Analyse the correlation between climate change and rising temperatures in India. How does excessive heat affect mortality and morbidity rates, and what public health interventions are needed?

• Evaluate the role of government policies in mitigating health risks associated with excessive heat. What specific measures can be adopted at the local and national levels?

• Discuss the implications of excessive heat for occupational health in India, especially for outdoor workers. How can policies be tailored to protect workers in heat-sensitive industries?

• How can India’s healthcare infrastructure be strengthened to cope with the increasing health risks due to climate-related heat exposure? What role can technology and early warning systems play?

Key Takeaways:

• The report, an annual publication that tracks climate impacts on human health at the global level, has pointed out that health-threatening temperatures are getting increasingly prolonged in India. In 2023, every person in the country was exposed to at least 2,400 hours of heat, equivalent to 100 days, that could have resulted in moderate to serious heat-related diseases, says the report.

• The 2024 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change notes that 10 of the 15 indicators it uses for monitoring climate change-related health hazards globally have reached “concerning new records”.

• In India, besides the risk of heat-related diseases, the report has flagged potential health impacts from rising instances of flooding, increasing vulnerability from infectious diseases, and high levels of air pollution, all of which are getting exacerbated due to climate change.

• The biggest risk, according to the report, is from heat because of which about 181 billion potential labour hours were lost last year, an increase of 50% from the 1990-1999 annual average.

• The report says that about 38% of the nearly 1.6 million deaths that were attributable to air pollution in 2021 could be blamed on high usage of fossil fuels. It notes the rising share of renewable energy in India’s energy mix, but says more needs to be done.

Do You Know:

• Climate change is the greatest global health threat facing the world in the 21st century, but it is also the greatest opportunity to redefine the social and environmental determinants of health. In 2015, countries committed to limit global warming to “well below 2°C” as part of the landmark Paris Agreement to limit the harm caused by climate change.

• Published annually, the Lancet Countdown is an international, multidisciplinary collaboration, dedicated to monitoring the evolving health profile of climate change, and providing an independent assessment of the delivery of commitments made by governments worldwide under the Paris Agreement.

• The Lancet Countdown tracks 53 indicators across five key domains: climate change impacts, exposures, and vulnerability; adaptation, planning, and resilience for health; mitigation actions and health co-benefits; economics and finance; and public and political engagement.

• The Lancet Countdown was established following the 2015 Lancet Commission on Health and Climate Change. The annual Countdown report is published by The Lancet, following independent peer review. Throughout the year, the Lancet family of journals publish additional papers offering country-level analyses related to the Countdown indicators, as well as numerous other landmark papers on climate change and health. The Lancet is also a member of the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

????Climate change amplifying health impacts of multiple crises, says The Lancet report ahead of COP27

THE WORLD

Brazil second BRICS nation after India to say no to China’s BRI

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

What’s the ongoing story: In a major setback to China’s BRI, Brazil has decided against joining Beijing’s multi-billion-dollar initiative becoming the second country after India in the BRICS bloc not to endorse the mega project.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What is Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)?

• Analyse the strategic implications of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for participating countries. What are the potential risks and benefits associated with joining the initiative, especially for developing nations?

• Discuss the role of Brazil in BRICS organisation. How might Brazil’s recent decision for the BRI influence BRICS?

• Examine the objectives and impact of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on global geopolitics. What are the implications for BRICS countries, especially India, as they navigate relations with China under the BRI framework?

• Discuss India’s stance on the BRI and the strategic reasons behind its decision not to join. How does this position influence India’s role within BRICS and its regional partnerships?

• Evaluate the strategic significance of BRICS as an economic and political bloc. How can BRICS serve as a platform for India to address global challenges while balancing its interests with those of China?

• Analyse the potential benefits and challenges of India’s collaboration with other BRICS nations on infrastructure and development projects. How does the presence of BRI initiatives impact these collaborations?

Key Takeaways:

• Brazil, headed by President Lula da Silva, will not join the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and instead seek alternative ways to collaborate with Chinese investors, Celso Amorim, special presidential adviser for international affairs, said on Monday.

• Brazil wants to “take the relationship with China to a new level, without having to sign an accession contract”, he told Brazilian newspaper O Globo.

• According to Amorim, the aim is to use some of the Belt and Road framework to find “synergy” between Brazilian infrastructure projects and the investment funds associated with the initiative, without necessarily formally joining the group, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post quoted him as saying.

Do You Know:

• BRICS originally consisted of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have been admitted as new members.

• Brazil will be the second member of the BRICS after India not to endorse the BRI.

• India was the first country to voice reservations and stood steadfast in its opposition to BRI, a pet project of Chinese President Xi Jinping to further the global influence of China with investments to build infrastructure projects.

• India has protested against China for building the USD 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), stated to be the flagship project of the BRI through the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) in violation of its sovereignty.

• India is also vocal about its criticism of BRI projects stating they should be based on universally recognised international norms, good governance, and the rule of law and follow principles of openness, transparency and financial sustainability.

• China subsequently faced criticism that the BRI projects in smaller countries like Sri Lanka, especially for its take-over of the Hambantota for a 99-year lease as a debt swap turned out to be debt traps resulting in a deep financial crisis in both smaller countries.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

????An Expert Explains | 10 years of China’s Belt and Road Initiative: The project, its aims and where it stands now

EXPLAINED

Delimitation, women’s quota

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.

Mains Examination: 

• General Studies I: population and associated issues

• General Studies II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

What’s the ongoing story: The Centre has indicated that the much delayed Census could now start as early as next year — and be completed by 2026. There are two very important upshots of the exercise — the delimitation of constituencies, and the implementation of the reservation for women in elected bodies.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Discuss the significance of the census in the context of delimitation and representation in the Indian Parliament. How does accurate demographic data influence electoral processes?

• Examine the implications of the women’s reservation bill for increasing female representation in Parliament. What are the potential challenges in implementing this reservation effectively?

• Analyse the relationship between census data and the delimitation process. How does the delimitation impact political representation, especially for marginalized groups?

• Critically assess the role of the government in conducting timely censuses and how delays can affect electoral reforms, particularly with respect to the women’s quota.

• Discuss the potential impact of women’s reservation in Parliament on policy-making and governance in India.

• Evaluate the arguments for and against the implementation of a women’s quota in Parliament. How do these arguments reflect broader societal attitudes toward gender representation?

• Analyse the role of civil society and advocacy groups in pushing for women’s representation in Indian politics. What strategies have been effective in advocating for the women’s reservation bill?

• Discuss the historical context of delimitation in India. How have previous delimitation exercises shaped the current political landscape and representation of women?

Key Takeaways:

• Since senior government sources have said that the Census process is expected to be completed by 2026, it would imply that the government is hoping to wrap up the process in time for the 2029 Lok Sabha election. The timeline is significant since it also involves the delimitation exercise. Delimitation is the process of fixing or redrawing the boundaries of territorial constituencies. A Delimitation Commission is appointed for carrying out the exercise.

• Though the decadal Census has been conducted seven times since Independence (1951 to 2011), the delimitation exercise has been carried out only four times (in 1952, 1953, 1973, and 2002).

• The last delimitation, however, only readjusted the boundaries of constituencies based on population, and did not lead to an increase in the number of seats, which have remained constant since 1976.

• The number of seats in Lok Sabha is currently 543, and in all state Assemblies taken together, 4,123. These numbers were decided on the basis of the 1971 Census for Lok Sabha and 2001 Census for state constituencies, when the country’s population was 54.81 crore and 102.87 crore respectively. The numbers of seats are likely to increase substantially, going by the expected population of around 1.5 billion when the 2021 Census is eventually conducted.

Do You Know:

• The 42nd Constitution Amendment brought in 1976 amended Article 170, and froze the delimitation exercise until the results of the first Census after 2000 were published. In 2001, this was further extended for 25 years. And now, delimitation will happen only after the results of the first Census after 2026 are published.

• Article 170 deals with the composition of legislative Assemblies, and contains an explanation to the provision defining the word “population” which is the basis for dividing territorial constituencies.

• In September 2023, Parliament amended The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Amendment) to provide 33 per cent reservation to women in Lok Sabha and state legislative Assemblies. A crucial provision in the law makes the implementation of women’s reservation contingent upon the delimitation process.

• One of the reasons women’s reservation did not become a reality in the last 35 years was the fear among male politicians of having to let go of their seats. A 33 per cent reservation in the current 545-member Lok Sabha would mean 182 seats being kept for women. Only 363 seats would be available for men. The current Lok Sabha has 467 men. But delimitation could preserve the political fortunes of the current group of male politicians.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

????How exactly is the Census carried out, its links to delimitation, women’s Parliament quota

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:

????“The reservation of seats for women in the institutions of local self-government has had a limited impact on the patriarchal character of the Indian Political Process.” Comment. (UPSC CSE, GS2, 2019)

What is the UN agency for Palestinian refugees that Israel has banned?

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: 

• General Studies II: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.

• General Studies II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests

What’s the ongoing story: Israel’s parliament on Monday passed two Bills to ban the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) from operating in Israel and the Palestinian territories. The Knesset also voted to designate UNRWA a terrorist organisation, cutting all ties with the agency. The vote could result in the collapse of the already fragile aid distribution mechanism in Gaza, where almost 2 million Palestinians have been displaced, and food, water, and medicine are in short supply.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What is UNRWA?

• What has Israel accused UNRWA of?

• What are the two Bills that Israel has passed?

• How has UNRWA responded?

• What can be the impact of these measures?

Key Takeaways:

• Israel has argued for decades that the UNRWA’s role is obsolete, and its work to aid Palestinian refugees and their descendants has been an impediment to a peace settlement. However, critics have blamed Israel’s own actions, such as not meaningfully recognising the foundation of a Palestinian state, as having perpetuated the longstanding territorial conflict.

• Israel has also accused some of UNRWA’s 13,000 employees in Gaza of participating in the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel by Hamas that triggered the war. Israel has given the US a dossier identifying 12 UNRWA staffers who it says took part in the October 7 attacks. According to Israel, most of these alleged attackers worked as teachers in UNRWA schools. It claims to have evidence that UNRWA employed 190 Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants.

Do You Know:

• UNRWA stands for UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East. It was founded in 1949 to provide aid to about 700,000 Palestinians who were forced to leave their homes in what is now Israel during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.

• The UNRWA definition of “refugee” covers Palestinians who fled or were expelled from their homes during the 1948 War.

• The UN agency operates in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank, as well as Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan — countries where the refugees took shelter after their expulsion.

• According to UNRWA’s website, it runs education, health, relief and social services, microfinance and emergency assistance programmes inside and outside refugee camps based in the aforementioned areas.

• Currently, around 5.9 million Palestine refugees — most of them are descendants of original refugees — access the agency’s services. The Associated Press reported that in Gaza, where some 85% of the enclave’s 2.3 million people have fled their homes after the latest Israel-Hamas conflict, over 1 million are sheltering in UNRWA schools and other facilities. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions by donor states like the US. It also gets a limited subsidy from the UN, which is used only for administrative costs, the agency’s website said.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

????Why some nations have paused UNRWA funding

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NOTE: There will be no UPSC key on October 31, 2024, on the eve of Diwali. Wish you all a wonderful Diwali!

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