[Mission 2023] INSIGHTS DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS + PIB SUMMARY 30 January 2023

GS Paper 1

Syllabus: Modern India – National Movement, Ethics- Gandhian Ethics

Context: The nation paid homage to the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi on his 75th death anniversary (30th January 1948). The day is also observed as Martyrs’ Day.
 

Gandhiji’s role in Freedom Struggle:

Outside India:

• Natal protest – Gandhi organized Indian resistance, fought anti-Indian legislation in the courts and led large protests against the colonial government.
• Satyagraha Against registration certificates
• It was in South Africa that Mahatma Gandhi first forged the distinctive techniques of non-violent protest known as Satyagraha.

In India:

• Champaran Satyagraha (1917)
• Ahmedabad mill strike (1918)
• Kheda Satyagarha (1918)
• Rowlatt Satyagraha
• Khilafat and Non-cooperation movement
• Civil disobedience movement
• Protest against the Macdonald award
• Quit India Movement

Gandhian Ethics: Follow the link below
Gandhian Ethics and Its Relevance Now

Conclusion:

As we celebrate the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, let us also recall how the Gandhian values of non-violence, inclusiveness and communal harmony enabled India to establish a unique democracy achieving momentous economic and social transformation through the ballot box rather than through the barrel of the gun.

Insta Curious:

 World Leprosy Day always takes place on the last Sunday of January. This date was chosen by French humanitarian, Raoul Follereau as a tribute to the life of Mahatma Gandhi, who did much work with persons affected by leprosy and died at the end of January 1948.

Insta Links:

MK Gandhi

Mains Link:

Q. Throw light on the significance of the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi in the present times. (UPSC 2018)

Q. Highlight the difference in the approach of Subhash Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi in the struggle for freedom. (UPSC 2016)

GS Pape 2

Syllabus: Government programmes and policies, Education

Source: PIB, The Hindu

Direction: MoE has recently released the AISHE report – don’t get overwhelmed by the huge amount of data. Know the trend: whether it is increasing or decreasing. Note down one or two important data for Mains.

Context: The Union Ministry of Education released data from the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE), 2020-2021, which showed a 7.5% increase in student enrolments across the country compared to 2019-20.

About ASIHE Report:

• The All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) was initiated in 2011, during which data for the year 2010-11 was collected.
• The entire survey was conducted through electronic mode and a dedicated portal http://aishe.gov.in was developed for this purpose.

Key findings from the report:

For the first time, the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) of India have filled their data using an entirely online data collection platform through the Web Data Capture Format (Web DCF) developed by the Department of Higher Education and the National Informatics Centre (NIC).

Number of Institutions

• The number of Universities has increased by 70 during 2020-21, to 1,113 in 2020-21 from 1,043 in 2019-20.
• Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Telangana, and Kerala are the top 10 States in terms of the number of colleges.
• Among the districts, the maximum number of colleges (1058) is situated in Bangalore Urban followed by Jaipur (671). About 32% of colleges are situated in 50 districts.

Student Enrolment in Higher Education:

• Total enrolment in higher education: It has increased to nearly 4.13 crore in 2020-21 from 3.85 crore in 2019-20 (an increase of 28.80 Lakh).
• Female enrolment increased from 18.8 million in 2019-20 to 20.1 million in 2020-2021
• SC: There were 2 lakh more SC students who got enrolled in 2020-21 compared to the previous year.
• ST: The year also saw about 3 lakh more ST students and 6 lakh more OBC students getting enrolled for higher education.
• According to the survey report, at the undergraduate level, enrolment was highest in humanities ( nearly 33%), followed by science ( nearly 15%), commerce, and engineering & technology. At the postgraduate level, the maximum number of students opted for social science followed by science
• Gender Parity Index (GPI) has increased from 1 in 2017-18 to 1.05 in 2020-21. More women enrolled themselves on science courses than men
  • The Gender Parity Index is a socioeconomic index usually designed to measure the relative access to education of males and females. This index is released by UNESCO.
• The top 6 States in terms of Student Enrolment are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Rajasthan.

Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff in Higher Education:

• The number of teachers has increased by 47,914 in 2020-21 over 2019-20.
• There are 75 female teachers per 100 male teachers.

Out-Turn

• The total number of pass-outs has increased to 95.4 Lakh in 2020-21 as against 94 Lakh in 2019-20.

Significance of Higher Education:

• Atmanirbhar Bharat: Self-reliant India needs a continuous supply of trained, skilled human resources
• Demographic Dividend
• Better Employment opportunities
• Economic development
• Technological advancements
• Solving Societal Issues
• Plurality, Inclusivity & Diversity: To develop the horizons of the mind, it is important to provide a diversified, plural environment.
• Empowerment of Women

Initiatives for Higher Education in India:

• National Education Policy (NEP) 2020
• Rashtriya Ucchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA)
• Project Education Quality Upgradation and Inclusion Programme (EQUIP)
• Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF): Attract the talent pool of PhD programmes
• Paramarsh/Mentor-Mentee Relationship:Under this scheme, accredited institutions would help aspiring institutions that want to get accredited.
• Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC):It aims to improve the research ecosystem
• Global Initiative for Academic Network (GIAN):It aims to tap the talent pool of scientists and entrepreneurs from abroad.
• Formation of Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA): It aims to finance the creation of capital assets in premier educational institutions in India.
• Institutes of Eminence (IoE) Scheme: It aims to provide opportunities for a few chosen institutions to grow in the direction of being renowned globally for their excellence.
• SWAYAM Portal
   
  

Way Forward:

• There is a need to shift focus from enrolment to attendance.
• Multi-stakeholder approach: Extensive consultation involving parents, local self-governments, and civil society are key.

Insta Links:

Higher Education in India

Mains Link:

Q. “Commercialization of higher education in India is bound to create issues of access and exclusion”. Critically comment on the statement and suggest measures to address the related issues. (15M)

GS Paper 3

Syllabus: Science and Technology, Environment Conservation

Source: PIB

 Context: Coal India Ltd (CIL) has envisaged processing the fragmented rock (known as Overburden Rocks (OB) for sand production in mines.

• OB material contains about 60% sandstone by volume which is harnessed through crushing and processing of Overburden.

What is M Sand?

M sand is a form of artificial sand, manufactured by crushing large hard stones, mainly rocks or granite, into fine particles, which are then washed and finely graded. It is widely used as a substitute for river sand for construction purposes, mostly in the production of concrete and mortar mix.

Need for M Sand

• Due to high demand, regulated supply and a complete ban on sand mining during monsoon to protect the river ecosystem, finding an alternative to river sand became necessary.
• The Supreme Court banned illegal mining on riverbeds in 2017
• Sand Mining Framework (2018) prepared by the Ministry of Mines envisages alternative sources of sand in the form of Manufactured Sand (M-Sand) from crushed rock fines (crusher dust), and sand from Overburden (OB) of coal mines.

Why Coal India Ltd?

During Opencast mining of Coal India, the overlying soil and rocks are removed as waste to extract coal and the fragmented rock (Overburden or OB) is heaped in dumps. Most of the waste is disposed of at the surface which occupies a considerable land area and requires extensive planning and control to minimize the environmental impact of mining.

Difference between M Sand and Natural River sand 

Process of extraction of M-Sand:

Benefits of Manufactured Sand (M-Sand):

• Cost-effectiveness: As it can be produced in large quantities at a lower cost.
• Consistency: in grain size and shape, which can be beneficial for construction projects that require a specific type of sand.
• Environmental benefits: Helps reduce the need for mining natural sand, which can have negative environmental impacts.
  • Additionally, using the overburden from coal mines can help to repurpose materials that would otherwise be considered waste.
  • Lesser Sand extraction from the river will reduce erosion of channel beds & banks and protect the water habitat
  • Help maintain the water table

• Reduced water consumption: This helps reduce the amount of water required for construction projects, as it does not require washing before use.
• Better workability: Since it’s more angular and has a rougher surface, which makes it more workable for construction projects.

Concerns regarding M Sand:

• Due to its smooth and angular textures, it leads to more water and cement requirements to achieve the expected workability, thereby increase in overall costs.
• If the M Sand contains a large number of micro fine particles, it can affect the strength and workability of concrete.

About Sand:

Sand is a mixture of small grains of rock and granular materials which is mainly defined by size, being finer than gravel and coarser than silt.

• Sand is classified as a “minor mineral”, under The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulations) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act)
• Administrative control over minor minerals vests with the State Governments

Insta Links

M Sand

Mains Links

Q. Is sand mining illegal in India? Discuss the impacts of sand mining and suggest the way forward. (250 words)

Prelims links

GS Paper 4

Syllabus: Ethics and Human Interface

Source: Indian Express

 Direction: The article highlights the difference between science & religion & how they can co-exist for the development of all.

Context: The Covid-19 pandemic saw widespread use of science, but it also provided a fertile ground for promoting faith and questioning science. 

Difference between Science and Religion:

• Freedom to Question vs. Blind Acceptance: In a science-based society, unlike in a faith-based society, people have the freedom to question, seek answers and then choose their way forward based on their own understanding & assessment.
• Acceptance of Change: Another important difference pertains to the acceptance of the change. Science thrives on change. Whereas, faith and dogma are constants and don’t accept questioning.
• Constant change in Science vs. Constancy in Tradition: What was scientifically appropriate at a given time and has become a tradition, may change at a later stage. This constant change in scientific thinking is often pointed out as its weakness, and constancy as a strength of tradition.

Etymology of Pranam and Pramana:

• Pranam: derived from Sanskrit- “pra” means “forward, outward, in front, before” while “ānama” means “bending or stretching”. Together, pranama means “bending, bowing in front” or “prostration”. It’s a common Hindu traditional custom of greeting a person.
• Pramana(Sanskrit word), means “proof” and adds “mā” which means measurement to the “pra” and alludes to the concept of objectivity and science. It’s the means that can lead to knowledge. Three of the many pramanas are pratyakṣa (eyewitness/personal experience), anumāna (logical inference), and śabda (expert opinion).

Examples of how faith undermines Science:

• Taboos related to menstruation: Rather than treating it as a biological phenomenon, a lot of semi-religious customs have been built around it, all adversely affecting a girl’s health.
• Health issues around childbirth, breastfeeding, and contraception. New mothers often find it difficult to navigate when caught between a doctor’s scientific advice on breastfeeding (as early as possible, giving of colostrum, exclusivity, no pre-lacteal feed) and traditional customs recommended by the elders(waiting till a family member washes breast, use of ghutti, jaggery water, discarding of colostrum).
• Access to safe abortions: a fight between faith and science.
• Heliocentric vs Geocentric theory: The latter says that the earth is at the centre of the universe, and the planets, the sun, the moon, and the stars circle around it. While, heliocentric models consider the sun as the centre, and the planets revolve around the sun.
• The banned practice of Sati.
• Racism – Aryan theory to be superior.
   
  

Examples of when science prevails:

• Acceptance of vaccines and modern contraceptive methods
• A scientific theory is that all humans are the same species – everyone has red blood and the same internal organs.

Platforms for dialogue & harmonious coexistence between the 2 critical pillars of society:

• Teachers or parents, should encourage children to ask questions and give them access to resources to enable them to decide for themselves.
• Health professionals must not belittle faith.
• We need to understand the need for both for our societal well-being. & have more faith in science as a solver to our pressing problems.

InstaCurious:

In today’s society, the 3 forms of pramana are under threat due to the rise of:

• Confirmation Bias
• Echo Chambers & filter bubbles.
• Post-Truth society