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Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for August 29, 2024. If you missed the August 28th, 2024 UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here.
UPSC Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development
Mains Examination: GS-II, GS-III: Government policies and interventions; Economic development, Government Schemes
What’s the ongoing story- As the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) completed 10 years on Wednesday (August 28), Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the “momentous” achievement of the scheme that has been “paramount in boosting financial inclusion and giving dignity to crores of people, especially women, youth, and the marginalised communities”
Prerequisites:
— What is the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) and its objectives?
— What do you understand by the term “financial inclusion”?
— What is JAM trinity?
Key takeaways:
From Explained “10 years of Jan Dhan”
— The PMJDY was launched on August 28, 2014, as a national mission for financial inclusion. Over the last decade, 53.13 crore Jan Dhan accounts have been opened, with 29.56 crore women beneficiaries, more than the population of the European Union, and almost the same as the population of the United States respectively, the government said.
— The foremost objective of the PMJDY was to open a Basic Savings Bank Account for unbanked individuals. There was no requirement to maintain any minimum balance in PMJDY accounts, and these accounts earned interest on deposits like regular accounts.
— PMJDY account-holders were given RuPay debit cards.
— An accident insurance cover of Rs 1 lakh was available with RuPay cards issued to PMJDY account holders. The cover was enhanced to Rs 2 lakh for new PMJDY accounts opened after August 28, 2018.
— Eligible PMJDY account holders can avail overdraft (OD) facility up to Rs 10,000.
— PMJDY accounts are also eligible for Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), Atal Pension Yojana (APY), and the Micro Units Development & Refinance Agency Bank (MUDRA) scheme.
— The scheme, which is one of the components of the JAM trinity of PMJDY, Aadhaar, and mobile, has had a transformative impact on the financial and banking sectors of the economy.
— First, the opening of more than half a billion bank accounts has fuelled demand for banking services, encouraging commercial banks to expand their infrastructure in recent years.
— Second, the rollout of payment solutions such as UPI — launched two years after the PMJDY has eased and increased banking transactions.
— Third, PMJDY accounts have become the bedrock of the government’s DBT architecture.
For Your Information:
From the Editorial Page “For the Underserved”
— The Jan Dhan Yojana has not only helped narrow the gap in access to the formal banking system that existed between rural and urban areas — of all the accounts opened under the scheme, around 67 per cent are in rural/semi-urban areas — but has also helped bridge the gender gap. Roughly 56 per cent of the new account holders are women. The benefits that have accrued from this scheme extend beyond the bank account.
— The JAM trinity (Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and mobile) has enabled the government to shift to a more efficient system for transferring benefits directly to beneficiaries. It has helped ensure more accurate targeting, while at the same time helping reduce leakages from the system.
— The JAM framework also forms an integral part of the Unified Payments Interface which has transformed the payment systems in the country, leading to significant economic gains.
— The challenge for the banking system has been to manage the costs associated with the opening and servicing of these accounts. There is also a need to focus on financial products and services that are tailored to the needs of households at the lower end of the income distribution, keeping in mind their irregular and uncertain income streams and the lack of collateral. In this regard, the new architecture — Unified Lending Interface — could serve the segments that are still left out.
Points to Ponder:
— What are the benefits of PMJDY?
— What are the issues and challenges faced by the Indian Banking System?
— What is Unified Lending Interface?
— What initiatives have been taken by the government to promote financial inclusion?
Post Read Question:
Prelims
(1) With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), consider the following statements:
1. The scheme provided an unprecedented boost to the government’s campaign for financial inclusion.
2. It was launched in 2016.
3. The objective of the PMJDY was to open a Basic Savings Bank Account for unbanked individuals.
4. These accounts are required to maintain any minimum balance in PMJDY accounts.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four
Mains
Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) is necessary for bringing unbanked to the institutional finance fold. Do you agree with this for financial inclusion of the poorer section of the Indian society? Give arguments to justify your opinion. (UPSC CSE 2016)
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
Knowledge nugget of the day: PM Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)
UPSC Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance, Indian Polity and Governance- Constitution, Rights Issues
Mains Examination: GS-II: Polity and Constitution
What’s the ongoing story- The Supreme Court reiterated Wednesday that the legal principle “bail is the rule and jail is the exception” will apply even in cases registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2002.
Prerequisites:
— Read about the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2002.
— What are the different kinds of bail?
— What is Article 21?
— What are the bail provisions under PMLA?
Key takeaways:
— Granting bail to Prem Prakash, named as an accused by the Enforcement Directorate in a PMLA case in Jharkhand, the bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan referred to the Supreme Court’s ruling in the July 27, 2022 ruling in Vijay Madanlal Choudhary and Ors. Vs Union of India and Ors, upholding the constitutional validity of PMLA, and the powers of the ED under it.
— Writing for the bench, Justice Viswanathan said in the Madanlal Choudhary judgment, the Court had “categorically held that while Section 45 of PMLA restricts the right of the accused to grant of bail, it could not be said that the conditions provided under Section 45 impose absolute restraint on the grant of bail”.
— He said “these observations are significant and if read in the context of the recent pronouncement of this Court dated 09.08.2024” granting bail to former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the CBI and ED cases against him, “it will be amply clear that even under PMLA, the governing principle is that ‘Bail is the Rule and Jail is the Exception’.”
— The bench, in its ruling Wednesday, said, “all that Section 45 of PMLA mentions is that certain conditions are to be satisfied. The principle that, ‘bail is the rule and jail is the exception’ is only a paraphrasing of Article 21 of the Constitution of India, which states that no person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to the procedure established by law. Liberty of the individual is always a Rule and deprivation is the exception. Deprivation can only be by the procedure established by law, which has to be a valid and reasonable procedure”
— It said while applying Section 45 of PMLA, “Article 21 being a higher constitutional right, statutory provisions should align themselves to the said higher constitutional edict”.
For Your Information:
From the Ideas Page “A Punishing Process”
— Yashovardhan Azad Writes— “A clutch of recent Supreme Court judgments has established that the principle “bail is the rule, and jail is the exception” shall apply to special laws like the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA) or the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA). In the case of B R S leader K Kavitha too, the court observed on Tuesday, “Undertrial custody should not turn into a punishment”.
— “The ED, the PMLA has been framed in consonance with the directives of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an intergovernmental organisation formed to combat money laundering and terror financing. Most countries have laws similar to India.”
— “PMLA was framed under FATF directives, but it cannot go against the spirit of the Constitution. The ED needs to ensure that for legitimate relief enshrined in the PMLA, the accused does not have to approach the courts. The SC is due to review the harsh provisions of the Act later this year.”
Points to Ponder:
— What are the recent amendments to the PMLA?
— What are the criticisms of the PMLA?
— What are the rights provided to the person under the arrest?
Post Read Question:
Prelims
(2) Consider the following:
1. Exchange between virtual digital assets and fiat currencies.
2. Exchange between one or more forms of virtual digital assets.
3. Transfer of virtual digital assets.
4. Safekeeping or administration of virtual digital assets or instruments enabling control over virtual digital assets.
How many of the above are covered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four
Mains
Discuss how emerging technologies and globalisation contribute to money laundering. Elaborate measures to tackle the problem of money laundering both at national and international levels. (UPSC CSE 2021)
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
PMLA bail: Supreme Court follows rulings to rein in ED powers
How anti-money laundering law came to have a vast scope, granting police powers to ED
UPSC Essentials: One word a day- Money laundering
UPSC Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance
Mains Examination: GS-II: Polity, Constitution and Rights Issues.
What’s the ongoing story- Disposing of a public interest litigation (PIL) by lawyer Gantavya Gulati highlighting the absence of an equivalent to Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 377 (unnatural offences) in the newly enacted Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed the Union government to treat the plea as a representation and decide on the same “as expeditiously as possible, preferably in six months”.
Prerequisites:
— Read about the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
— What is the rationale behind the introduction of new criminal laws?
— Know about Section 377 of the IPC.
Key takeaways:
— A bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela observed that “prima facie, to this court, while the perpetrator has been made gender neutral thereby permitting any gender be recognised as the wrongdoer, the gender of the victim remain specified as a woman”.
— While a 2023 Home Affairs’ Parliamentary Standing Committee report on the BNS had recommended retaining Section 377 in the BNS, the same was not explicitly included in the new legislation that replaced IPC from July 1.
For Your Information:
— The Supreme Court in Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India decriminalised homosexuality by ruling that Section 377 (unnatural offences) of the IPC does not punish people in same-sex relationships. This provision punished anyone who “voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal”. Though the SC reinterpreted the provision, Section 377 remained in the text of the IPC until the BNS came into force — where it was deleted entirely.
— The Indian Penal Code (IPC) of 1862 has been replaced by a new set of criminal laws known collectively as the BNS, ending 160 years of the code being in existence.
Points to Ponder:
— What are the major provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita?
— What is the stigma attached to homosexual relations even after the strike down of IPC Section 377?
— What is a civil union? How is it different from marriage?
Post Read Question:
(3) Which of the following cases is related to Section 377 of IPC?
(a) Lily Thomas v. Union of India
(b) Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India
(c) Puttuswammy Case
(d) M.C Mehta v. Union of India
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
Indian Penal Code to Nyaya Sanhita: What’s new, what is out, what changes
UPSC Syllabus:
Mains Examination: GS-IV: Human Values – Role of Family Society and Educational Institutions in Inculcating Values.
What’s the ongoing story– Ameeta Mulla Wattal writes: “The increase in violence against female caregivers — teachers, nurses, social workers, doctors — can be attributed to a complex interplay of social, cultural, economic, and systemic factors. Deep-rooted misogyny and sexism in society contribute to this: Female caregivers may be targeted simply because they are women in positions of authority. Many of them work without adequate support systems which makes them more vulnerable to aggression from patients, students and colleagues.”
Central Question: How to ensure that our boys grow into good men – to address violence against the vulnerable, communities, schools and leaders have to step up.
Prerequisites:
— Know about Kolkata doctor rape-murder case.
Key Takeaways:
— “From Rajni Bala, a teacher shot dead in Kashmir, to a trainee doctor in Kolkata who was raped and murdered, it is apparent that caregivers have become a target. But the nature of violence itself is changing in India. The last 10 years have seen crimes against women and children become more frequent and brutal.”
— “The belief that anyone implicated for sexual assault has led a dysfunctional life, has a history of mental illness and substance abuse, has been exposed to violent and hypersexualised environments, and lacks empathy and social skills is a stereotype.”
— “Casting individuals into good or bad backgrounds is not the answer. Many who have engaged in criminal offences come from affluent backgrounds and many who have faced violence have managed to overcome their challenges.”
— “A child’s development from ages three to 16 is marked by a significant growth in cognitive, emotional, social and physical domains. If we have to bring about a change, a revolution has to be brought into communities, families and schools, not only in urban, privileged India but in slums and villages too. These spaces too require gender sensitisation.”
Point to ponder:
— How can we create in children the ability to think with empathy and compassion so that they can become the conscionable adults of tomorrow?
Post Read Question:
Caregivers have an intrinsic role in keeping any society healthy. But still they have to face a lack of respect for professional boundaries and a higher likelihood of violence. Why?
What is the anatomy of a person who preys upon individuals weaker than them? How do we address it?
(Thought Process: Along with sensitivity training, we need leadership training. What is the role of our religious belief systems, sports culture, family structure, schools and colleges, the economy?)
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
Kolkata rape and murder: When the law fails women
UPSC Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national importance
Mains Examination: GS-III: Space technology
What’s the ongoing story- The Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO’s) uncrewed Gaganyaan mission in 2025 will carry the female half humanoid Vyomitra (literally “space friend”). The design for Vyomitra’s skull, fashioned by ISRO’s Inertial Systems Unit in the Vikram Sarabhai Space Center in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, was finalised recently.
Prerequisites:
— Read about ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission
— What are humanoids?
Key takeaways:
— Humanoids (or half-humanoids) are robotic systems designed to resemble humans — Vyomitra comes with movable arms, a torso, a face, and a neck — and function autonomously in space.
— In general, robotic devices let astronauts conduct monotonous and/or dangerous activities in space, like cleaning solar panels or repairing defective equipment outside the spacecraft. This safeguards astronauts while allowing them to focus on the scientific mission at hand.
— The mission for next year is largely intended to demonstrate the Vyomitra’s technological capabilities. The half-humanoid will utilise its robotic arms to operate the crew console, visually monitor various systems within the crew module, and interact with the mission control team on Earth.
— ISRO will assess the robot’s technology to determine the potential effects of space flight on humans before India’s first crewed mission, which is scheduled for later in 2025.
For Your Information:
How did ISRO design the humanoid skull for Vyomitra?
— The recently designed Vyomitra skull will store the robot’s vital components. It is made of an aluminium alloy (AlSi10Mg) noted for its excellent flexibility, low weight, heat resistance, and mechanical qualities. This alloy is extensively used to manufacture automotive engines and aeronautical components.
— The skull has been intended to be extremely strong, capable of withstanding the tremendous vibrational pressures that occur during a rocket launch. The aluminium alloy’s strong strength allows for a yield strength of more than 220 MegaPascals. Yield strength is the greatest stress that a material can withstand before it irreversibly deforms.
— The humanoid skull model is 200mm x 200mm and weighs only 800 grams.
— AlSi10Mg is also suitable for additive manufacturing (AM). This is how the humanoid skull was formed. AM facilitates the induction of lattice structures, as seen in the humanoid skull design. Importantly, it contributes to a significant reduction in the overall weight of the finished product. Unlike traditional manufacturing techniques, AM uses a layered process to generate a desired part or product, which is a frequent mechanism in 3D printing.
Points to Ponder:
— Why aluminium as a metal is not used and it is used in the form of an alloy?
— Read about 3-D printing and its applications
Post Read Question:
(4) AlSi10Mg, an aluminium alloy used for designing Vyomitra skull known for its:
1. Low heat resistance
2. Heavy weight
3. High flexibility
4. High yield strength
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2 and 4 only
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
ISRO finalises design of skull for the humanoid on Gaganyaan mission
UPSC Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national importance
Mains Examination: GS-II: Government policies and interventions
What’s the ongoing story- The Himachal Pradesh Assembly passed a Bill to raise the minimum age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 years. The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Himachal Pradesh Amendment) Bill, 2024, was passed by voice vote. The Bill amended the Prohibition of Child Marriage (PCM) Act, which was passed by Parliament in 2006.
Prerequisites:
— Read about the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006
— How is a bill passed by voice vote?
— The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Himachal Pradesh Amendment) Bill, 2024
Key takeaways:
— While presenting the Bill in the Assembly on Tuesday, Health, Social Justice, and Empowerment Minister Dhani Ram Shandil said raising the minimum age of marriage for women would provide them with opportunities.
— The minister also highlighted that early marriage and motherhood often severely impact the health of women. According to the ‘Statement of Objects and Reasons’ provided with the Bill, “The early marriages…act as a hindrance not only in the progress of their (women’s) career but also in their physical development.”
What amendments have the Bill introduced to the Prohibition of Child Marriage (PCM) Act?
— Section 2(a) of the PCM Act defines a “child” as someone “who, if male, has not completed twenty-one years of age, and if a female, has not completed eighteen years of age”. The Himachal Bill eliminates this distinction on the basis of age between “males” and “females”. It defines a “child” as “a male or female who has not completed twenty-one years of age”.
— The Bill also amends Section 2(b) of the PCM Act, which defines “child marriage” as “a marriage to which either of the contracting parties is a child”. The Bill has added a clause giving it an overriding effect over “anything contrary or inconsistent therewith contained in any other law…including any custom or usage or practice governing the parties”.
— The Bill introduces Section 18A to the PCM Act, which gives the same overriding effect to the entire central law and its provisions.
— The Bill increases the time-period for filing a petition to annul a marriage. Under Section 3 of the PCM Act, the “contracting party who was a child at the time of the marriage” can file a petition to annul the marriage within two years of attaining majority (before they turn 20 for women, and 23 for men). The Bill increases this period to five years, allowing both women and men to file petitions to annul the marriage before they turn 23 years old (the minimum age for marriage at 21 years is higher than the age of majority at 18 years).
For Your Information:
How will the Bill’s amendments to the PCM Act come into force?
— The Concurrent List — or List III under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India — contains a list of subjects that both the central and state governments can pass laws on.
— Entry 5 of the Concurrent List comprises a number of subjects including “ marriage and divorce; infants and minors;…all matters in respect of which parties in judicial proceedings were immediately before the commencement of this Constitution subject to their personal law”. This allows both the Centre and states to enact laws to address child marriage.
— Under Article 200 of the Constitution, a Bill passed by a state Assembly will be handed over to the Governor of that state for her assent. The Governor can then declare that she assents to the Bill (making it a law), return the Bill for reconsideration, or “reserve” it for consideration by the President. The President can then declare that she assents or withholds assent to the Bill, or direct the Governor to send it back for reconsideration.
— However, the Bill passed by Himachal Pradesh changes the PCM Act by adopting a different marriage age for women, rendering it incompatible with the Act passed by Parliament. According to Article 254(1) of the Constitution, if a state legislature enacts a law dealing with a matter on the Concurrent List that is “repugnant” — inconsistent or contradictory — with a central law, the repugnant element of the state law is “void”.
— The exception is allowed in Article 254(2). If the Bill in question conflicts with an earlier or existing law passed by Parliament, it must be reserved for the President’s consideration and acquire her assent under Article 201. Only then would the repugnant provision of state law be legitimate. So, for the Himachal Pradesh Bill to take effect, Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla must reserve it for President Droupadi Murmu’s consideration, after which she must determine whether to give her approval to the Bill.
Points to Ponder:
— What options does the president have when the bill is reserved for consideration by the President?
— Read about how bills are passed
— Role of governor in passing of state bills/amendment acts.
Post Read Question:
(5) When a bill is reserved by the governor for consideration by the President, then the president can:
1. give assent to the bill
2. cannot withhold the bill
3. cannot sent back to the governor for reconsideration
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
Himachal Assembly passes bill raising marriage age for women to 21 years
UPSC Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development
Mains Examination: GS II, GS III: Government policies and interventions, Agriculture, Infrastructure
What’s the ongoing story– The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved setting up of 12 industrial smart cities under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP) with an estimated investment of Rs. 28,602 crore.
Prerequisites:
— What are greenfield smart cities?
— What are ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, PM GatiShakti, Smart Cities Mission and ‘Viksit Bharat’?
Key Takeaways:
— The project spans across 10 states and is strategically planned along six major corridors. These industrial areas will be located in Khurpia in Uttrakhand, Rajpura-Patiala in Punjab, Dighi in, Maharashtra, Palakkad in Kerala, Agra and Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, Gaya in Bihar, Zaheerabad in Telangana, Orvakal and Kopparthy in Andhra Pradesh and Jodhpur-Pali in Rajasthan.
Highlights of NICDP
— Strategic investments- to foster a vibrant industrial ecosystem by facilitating investments from both large anchor industries and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
— Smart cities and modern infrastructure- greenfield smart cities of global standards to be built “ahead of demand” on the ‘plug-n-play’ and ‘walk-to-work’ concepts.
— Area approach on PM GatiShakti- the projects will feature multi-modal connectivity infrastructure, ensuring seamless movement of people, goods, and services.
— Vision for a ‘Viksit Bharat’- positioning India as a strong player in the Global Value Chains (GVC) and aligns with the broader objective of creating an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ or a self-reliant India
— Economic impact and employment generation- an estimated 1 million direct jobs and up to 3 million indirect jobs being created through planned industrialization
— Commitment to sustainable development- designed with a focus on sustainability, incorporating ICT-enabled utilities and green technologies to minimize environmental impact.
For Your Information
— The Union Cabinet expanded the scope of the credit scheme at subsidised interest rate under the ₹1 lakh crore Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF). It will strengthen the farm related infrastructure facilities in the country.
Points to ponder:
— ‘To measure economic growth, India must look at jobs, not products.’ Do you agree?
Post Read Question:
The government aims to create industrial cities that are not just hubs of economic activity. Discuss how India envisions its industrial growth?
| ALSO IN NEWS | |
| Bhatti appointed new CISF DG; Chaudhary named BSF chief | Senior IPS officers Rajwinder Singh Bhatti and Daljit Singh Chaudhary were on Wednesday appointed as the chiefs of the Central Industrial Security Force and the Border Security Force. |
| UPSC authorised to authenticate Aadhaar cards of examinees: Govt | The government on Wednesday authorised the Union Public Service Commission to perform Aadhaar authentication of candidates for the 14 examinations conducted by it, including the Civil Services Examination.
Last month, the UPSC had floated a tender for “Aadhaar-based authentication and facial recognition of candidates, QR code scanning of e-Admit cards and live AI-based CCTV surveillance”. |
| Yunus led Bangladesh’s interim govt lifts ban on Jamaat e Islami Party | The interim government of Bangladesh on Wednesday lifted the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami, the country’s largest Islamist party. The ban had been imposed by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted amid widespread protests.
To know more read Who are the Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, the country’s largest Islamist party? |
| Prelims Answer Key |
| 1. (b) 2. (d) 3. (b) 4. (c) 5. (b) |
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