[Mission 2023] INSIGHTS DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS + PIB SUMMARY 7 December 2022

GS Paper 2

Syllabus: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Source: The Hindu

Context: The pendency in the adoption of children has come down to 644 from 905 over the last two months since the new Adoption Regulations were notified.

• The new rules empowered District Magistrates to issue adoption orders, which were exercised by the judiciary earlier.

Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Bill, 2021:

• Section 61 of the JJ Act:Authorizing District Magistrates and Additional District Magistrates to issue adoption orders by striking out the word “court”.

Reforms made in the Adoption Rules:

• Pre- and post-adoptive counselling sessions for prospective adoptive parents by counsellors trained with the help of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS).
• A complete health check-up is being done through the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the child before processing the adoption.
• Changes have also been made to the Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System (CARINGS) online platform for adoption.
• If the child adjusts well to the foster family, it can adopt the child after two years of fostering (earlier it was five years).

 Need for reforms:

• To prevent court-related delays during adoptions because of a large number of pending cases.

 Issues with Adoption in India:

• Conflict – There is an anomaly on the legislature front as adoption is being governed by the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act of 1956, which is under the Ministry of Law and Justice while the aspects of Orphans are dealt with by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
• Emotional trauma – Children face a lot of pressure in getting adjusted to a new family and culture.
• Trafficking: The trafficking of such children is a challenge, especially in the eastern part of the country like Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.

Laws governing adoptions in India:

• Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956 (HAMA): A “dattaka hom” ceremony or an adoption deed or a court order is sufficient to obtain irrevocable adoption rights.
• Juvenile Justice Act, 2015:Parents have to register on CARA’s portal after which a specialized adoption agency carries out a home study report.

 Way Forward:

• Changing behavioural mindset related to “my child being of my blood”, which was initiated by banning commercial surrogacy in India.
• Adoption rates will begin to increase both when there are enough children in the adoption pool, and when more parents are willing to adopt.

Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA)

• It has been set up as a statutory body of the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
• It functions as a nodal body for the adoption of Indian children and is mandated to monitor and regulate in-country and inter-country adoption.

Insta Link:

The tedious process of Adoption

Prelims Link:

• CARA
• Juvenile Justice Act
• CARINGS Online Platform
• Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act

Mains Link:

Q. Explain the rationale behind the recent Juvenile Justice (Amendment) Bill 2021 and account for its key features. 150 Words

GS Paper 2

Syllabus: Social Justice/Indian Society

Source: Economic Times

Context: According to ‘India Inequality Report 2022: Digital Divide’ released by the NGO Oxfam India – growing inequalities based on caste, religion, gender, class, and geographic location are being worryingly replicated in the digital space in India.

Key Highlights of the report:

• Gender Divide:
  • • Women constitute only one-third of internet users in India
    • 61% of men-owned mobile phones compared to just 31 % of women in 2021
• Rural-Urban Divide:
  • • Only 31 per cent of the rural population uses the Internet compared to 67 per cent of their urban counterparts
    • Maharashtra has the highest internet penetration, while Bihar has the lowest.
• Religion and Caste wise Divide:
  • • Sikhs have the highest likelihood of having a computer followed by Christians, Hindus and lastly Muslims.
    • The tendency to use formal financial services is lowest for ST households, followed by SC households and OBC households.
• Division because of poverty:
  • • The chances of having a computer are higher with higher levels of education as well as income.
    • The likelihood of a digital payment by the richest 60 per cent is four times more than the poorest 40 per cent in India.

About Digital Divide:

The digital divide is a term that refers to the gap between demographics and regions that have access to modern information and communications technology (ICT), and those that do not or have restricted access.
 

Determinants of Digital Divide:

• Low literacy and income levels.
• Geographical restrictions.
• Lack of motivation to use technology.
• Lack of physical access to technology.
• Digital illiteracy.

Tackling Digital Divide:

• Create awareness about digital platforms.
• Enhance digital skills among the population.
• Investment to bridge the digital divide – create better infrastructure.

Indian Government Initiatives to tackle digital divide:

• Jan-Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) trinity
• Bharat Net
• Digital Payments
• Optical Fibre Network (NOF-N)

Insta Link:

Digital Divide

Mains Link:

Q. What is the digital divide? What are its implications?  Examine how India and its states are faring in bridging the digital divide. 150 Words

GS Paper 3

Syllabus: Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Growth, Development and Employment

Source: TH 

Direction: The article covers issues faced by Indian labour policies, including 4 new labour codes and suggests measures and best practices to overcome the challenges. Kindly read y’day’s related article on Lingering crisis of Labour.

Context: At the 17th Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting (APRM) of the ILO in Singapore, international workers’ groups criticised the Indian government’s labour policies, including 4 new labour codes.

About the 4 Labour Codes:

• The Indian Parliament enacted 4 labour codes – the Industrial Relations Code, 2020; the Code on Social Security, 2020; the Code on Occupational Safety, Health, and Working Conditions, 2020; and the Code on Wages, 2020.
• These codes aim to consolidate and simplify the country’s current and overlapping labour laws by combining 29 pre-existing labour laws into 4.
• Because labour is a concurrent subject, states must develop their own rules and only then can the codes be fully implemented.
• There are suggestions of a phased implementation as the Ministry of Labour and Employment lays the groundwork for the 4 new labour laws.

Criticism of labour codes:

• Violate the tripartite agreements: Between workers, employers and the government and give a free hand to employers. For example, the power of inspection has been left to employers.

• The provisions given in the Industrial Relations Code Bill will dilute the labour rightsof workers in small establishments having less than 300 workers
• Mandatory compliance of registration of all workers (with Aadhaar cards) on the Shram Suvidha Portal may lead to exclusion of many beneficiaries.
• The Code does not emphasize social security as a right, nor does it make reference to its provision as stipulated by the Constitution.

Other issues:

• 90% of India’s workforce belongs to the unorganised sector and there are persistent challenges of low-paid jobs and poor working conditions.
• Declining productivity growth has a negative impact on workers, and on the sustainability of enterprises – especially MSMEs.

 Measures of the Indian government to extend universal social security:

• E-Shram portal: Helps in identifying workers in the unorganised sector and prioritising their needs.
• Extending health coverage through ESIC.
• Care for migrantsg. Government scheme of One Nationa One Ration card

 Opportunities: India has the largest youth population in the world and the country is observing a technological and entrepreneurial boom with start-ups mushrooming across the country.

 Way ahead:

• Need for a new social contract, which is based on the availability of decent jobs for all, fair wages, social protection, etc.
• Enhancing productivity will be critical to economic growth. For this, it is critical to harness digital, entrepreneurial skills.
• Recognizing Invisible Labour: A national policy for domestic workers needs to be brought in at the earliest to recognize their rights and promote better working conditions.

 Best practice – Singapore’s Progressive Wage Model. This approach provides for raising wages in tandem with productivity growth achieved through upskilling workers and transforming businesses.

Insta Links:

Labour Codes

Prelims Links:

GS Paper 3

Syllabus: Economics of Animal-Rearing

Source: DTE

 Direction: The article highlights the relevance of fish production for the economy and filling nutritional gaps. It also gives an overview of India’s fisheries sector.

 Context: According to a new study, small fish captured in lakes and the oceans of low and middle-income countries (LMIC) of Africa, Asia and the Pacific can help fill nutritional gaps.

Background:

• Over a billion people across the world depend heavily on fish and other aquatic foods for nutrition.
• The majority of these people reside in the LMIC of Africa, Asia and the Pacific, often near rivers, lakes or the ocean.

Highlights of the study – Small Pelagic Fish Supply Abundant and Affordable Micronutrients to LMIC:

• Pelagic fish (herring, sardines and anchovies), which live in the upper layers of open water, are the –
  • Least expensive,
  • Most nutrient-dense (in selenium, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, iron and calcium) and
  • Readily available fish.
• Cold-water species that are found close to the ocean floor, such as cod and flounder, are the most expensive.

Significance:

• These superfoods are incredible sources of the micronutrients needed for human health and cognitive growth.
• Small fish could provide environmental, social and economic benefits and help fill nutrient gaps in LMIC.
• The findings will help inform public health and fisheries strategies in areas with inadequate information on fish nutrition.

Challenges to the availability of these small fish: Overfishing, trade and the growing international demand for fish oil.

Way ahead: Creating equitable and sustainable regulations for managing small-scale fisheries.

Insta Links:

Fishing Industry in India

Mains Links:

Q. Examine the potential of and problems faced by India’s fisheries sector and measures taken to address these problems. (250 Words)

GS Paper 3

Syllabus: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation

Source: DTE

 Direction: The article highlights the groundwater situation across the world and in India and efforts to conserve groundwater.

Context: The importance of groundwater protection and techniques for its sustainable use will be highlighted during the United Nations-Water Summit on Groundwater 2022 in Paris, France.

Groundwater:

• Water seeps through rocks and soil and is stored beneath the ground. Aquifers are the rocks in which groundwater is stored.
• This untapped resource accounts for only 0.62% of the total water and 30% of freshwater accessible on the planet.
• It is a vital resource that provides almost half of drinking water, 40% of water for irrigation and a third of water required for the industry worldwide.
• The role of groundwater in human development becomes bigger in the face of water scarcity affecting about 2.7 billion people around the world.

 Background:

• Groundwater management is imperative to meet the UN-mandated SDG 6 of providing clean water and sanitation for all.
• The UN World Water Development Report (UN WWDR 2022) titled ‘Groundwater: Making the invisible visible’ describes the challenges and opportunities associated with the development, management and governance of groundwater across the world.

About the United Nations-Water Summit on Groundwater 2022:

• Organised by: UN-Water, UNESCO and the International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre.
• Objective:
  • To raise awareness on groundwater conservation and to highlight the opportunities and challenges of groundwater management.
  • To mark the completion of the “Groundwater: Making the invisible visible” campaign run by UN-Water throughout 2022.
• Main themes of the discussions: The 5 pillars of the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework – data and information, capacity development, innovation, finance and governance.

About the “Groundwater: Making the invisible visible” campaign: It highlighted the role of groundwater in alleviating poverty, food and water insecurity and other socio-economic development hurdles.

Groundwater situation in India:

• Groundwater is India’s most used water resource, accounting for a quarter of total global groundwater extraction.
• According to the 2021 CAG report, groundwater extraction in India has exceeded the recharge rate, threatening 80% of potable water over the next two decades.

Legal/constitutional framework in India:

• The archaic Indian Easement Act, 1882: Does not establish groundwater ownership and rights clearly
• The fundamental right to water is recognised under Article 21 (right to life) of the Indian constitution.
• Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) is empowered by the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, to frame groundwater policies and programs.
• Supreme Court: ‘Public trust doctrine’ – Making groundwater a matter of private ownership would be unfair.

Challenges ahead: Climate change impacts pose a significant danger to equitable, healthy, and pollution-free groundwater access.

Steps taken by the Indian government:

• Atal Bhujal Yojana is a groundwater management scheme launched in 2019.
• Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) (2019):It was launched in 256 water-stressed districts in the country to improve water availability including groundwater conditions in these areas.
• Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme

Insta Links:

Making groundwater visible

Mains Links:

Q. Discuss the Status of Groundwater Depletion in the country and account for the associated problems and suggest measures on the lines of groundwater extraction norms that have been notified recently. (250 words)

GS Paper 3

Syllabus: Security challenges and their management in border areas – linkages of organized crime with terrorism.

Source: PIB

 Context:  Union Information and Broadcasting Minister said that India will become a hub of drone technology and will require at least 1-lakh drone pilots by next year while addressing the gathering after flagging of the ‘Drone Yatra 2.0’.

About Drones:

• A drone or UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) is a remotely controlled flying device.
• Drones have been divided into five categories based on their weight (existing rules) –
  • Nano: Less than or equal to 250 grams,
  • Micro: From 250 grams to 2kg, Small: From 2 kg to 25kg,
  • Medium: From 25kg to 150kg,
  • Large: Greater than 150kg.

Rules regulating drones in India:

• In India, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) governs the use of all (manned or automated) aerial vehicles. 
• ‘The Drone Rules, 2021’, to regulate the use and operation of Drones or Unmanned Aerial Systems.

Application of Drones:

Risks associated with drones:

• Drones can be misused as weapons of Mass Destruction.
• Increased Risk of Armed Attacks.
• To smuggle arms, ammunition and drugs.

Way Forward:

• Balancing security and benefits associated with drones.
• Increase Investments in developing drones, which are safer and cheaper.

Insta Links:

Use of Drones

Mains Link:

Q. Elaborate upon the security threats emerging from drones and suggest some measures to counter hostile drones. (150Words)