Current Affairs

15 th July - 21 st July
 G. S. 1

Sr.No. Topics

1 Nalanda University

2 Mashco Piro Tribes - Peru

3 Rwanda

4 National Waterways 101

Context: The article discusses the historical and modern significance of Nalanda, as recently, the
PM inaugurated the New Nalanda University Campus in Rajgir, Bihar.

About Nalanda University:

● Nalanda, an ancient center of learning and a revered

Buddhist site was rediscovered in the 19th century.

● Founded around 427 AD by Emperor Kumaragupta-I of the

Gupta dynasty, it flourished with the support of the Pala kings
and the monks of Nalanda, who were patronized by the
Pithipatis of Bodh Gaya.

● The university offered studies in various fields such as music,

Sanskrit, astronomy, yoga, Ayurveda, and philosophy, and
was home to renowned scholars of Hinayana and Mahayana
Buddhism, including Aryabhata and Hiuen Tsang.

● Hiuen Tsang documented Nalanda’s rigorous admission

tests and scholarly environment during his five-year stay in
the 7th century.

● Nalanda faced decline and was reportedly attacked and ransacked by Bakhtiyar Khalji around 1200 AD,
resulting in the destruction of its vast collection of books.
Context: The recent sighting of more than 50 Mashco Piro tribes people, one of the largest
uncontacted tribes in the world, is raising concerns.

● The Mashco Piro, who live deep in the Amazon rainforest of southeastern Peru, are being
pressured by logging activities close to their territory.

● The Peruvian government has forbidden contact

with the tribe to prevent disease transmission,
but large parts of their land have been sold for
logging.

About Peru:

It is a country in South America that’s home to a

section of the Amazon rainforest and Machu Picchu,
an ancient Incan city high in the Andes mountains.

The region around Machu Picchu, including the Sacred

Valley, Inca Trail and the colonial city of Cusco, is rich
in archaeological sites.
Context: Rwandan President Paul Kagame has won a fourth term, securing 99.15% of the vote
according to partial results from the recent election.
Context: The government has announced initiatives for the economic development of Nagaland

through the harnessing of Tizu and Zungki rivers (National Waterways 101)

About Tizu and Zungki River:

● Tizu River: Originates near Longkhim in

Tuensang district, Nagaland. It flows into

the Chinwin River (also known as Ningthi

River) in Myanmar, a major tributary of

the Irrawaddy River.

● Main Tributaries: Include Zungki, Lanye,

and Likimro rivers.

● Zungki River: The largest tributary of the

Tizu River within Nagaland.

 G. S. 2

Sr.No. Topics

1 Foreign Tribunals

2 KIRTI Program

3 Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana

4 Local reservation in Industries

5 Art 341
Context: The Foreigners Tribunals (FTs) in Assam are quasi-judicial bodies formed under the Foreigners
(Tribunals) Order of 1964.

● They are designed to determine whether a person is an Indian citizen or a foreigner.

Formation and Structure:

● Established through the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order of 1964, linked to the Foreigners’ Act of 1946.

● Although 300 FTs are sanctioned, only 100 are currently operational.

● The Assam government has recently instructed the Border police not to refer cases of non-Muslims
who entered India before 2014 to the FTs, aligning with the Citizenship (Amendment) Act of 2019.

● This Act offers a citizenship application window for non-Muslims fleeing persecution from
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.

The FTs are quasi-judicial bodies formed by the central government through the Foreigners (Tribunals)
Order of 1964 under Section 3 of the Foreigners’ Act of 1946, to let local authorities in a State refer a person
suspected to be a foreigner to tribunals.
Context: The Union Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs inaugurated the second phase of the
Khelo India Rising Talent Program (KIRTI).

About KIRTI programme:

● The KIRTI Programme is aimed at school children aged 9 to 18, with two main objectives:
discovering talent nationwide and using sports to reduce drug addiction and gadget
distractions.

● It plans to conduct 20 lakh assessments through Talent Assessment Centres to identify

potential athletes.

● The programme aims to reach every block in India to connect with children interested in
sports.

● KIRTI launched across 50 centres, assessing 50,000 applicants in its first phase across 10
sports, including athletics, boxing, and hockey.

● It features a transparent selection process using IT and AI-based data analytics to predict
athletic potential.
Context: Recently Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana was approved with a budget of

75,021 crores and aims to provide 300 units of free electricity monthly to 1 crore households

through rooftop solar setups.

About Description

Name of the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana

Scheme

Objective Aims to provide 300 units of free electricity monthly to 1 crore households through rooftop
solar setups

Definition of Rooftop Photovoltaic panels installed on building rooftops connected to the main power supply unit
Solar Panels

Subsidies 60% of installation costs are covered for 2 kW systems. 40% of installation costs covered for
systems of 2-3 kW capacity

National Portal It will facilitate subsidy applications and assist in finding a suitable vendor for installing
rooftop solar. Additionally, it will aid decision-making by providing relevant information as
needed.

Related The Rooftop Solar Programme was launched in 2014. Aims for 40 GW rooftop solar capacity
Government by 2022 (deadline extended to 2026). Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana complements
Initiatives efforts to achieve the 40 GW target
Context: The Karnataka State Employment of Local Candidates in Industries, Factories, and Other
Establishments Bill, 2024 has sparked controversy since its cabinet approval on July 15, 2024.

Previous cases of similar bills in other states:

Earlier, several states such as Haryana, Andhra Pradesh etc. have enacted similar legislation to
ensure reservation for locals in the private sector. The Act enacted by Haryana was declared
unconstitutional by the Punjab and Haryana High Court as it violated Part III (Fundamental rights)
and the constitutional morality principle.
Why are states pushing for local Reservations in the Private Sector?

1. Job Creation: The private sector is the largest source of employment, making reservation a
tool for social justice.

2. Son of Soil: There’s a belief that jobs created within a state should prioritize its residents.

3. Government Support: Given benefits like tax breaks and loans, the private sector can be
encouraged to adopt affirmative action policies.

4. Socio-economic Development: To promote socio-economic development by ensuring locals

benefit from local industries.

5. Cultural and Language Preservation: To preserve local culture and language by promoting
employment of people who are familiar with local customs and languages.
Cons Explanation

Can Trigger Local job reservations may lead to an exodus of domestic and multinational investors, especially
Exodus of in sectors like auto and IT that rely on highly skilled manpower.
Investors

E.g., Haryana witnessed a 30% drop in investment in 2022 due to the local reservation law,
impacting its ranking among states in terms of new investment projects.

Affect Existing The focus on the “son of the soil” and restrictions on the free movement of manpower can
Industries adversely affect existing industries in the state.

Extreme Talent Imposing reservations on gig and platform companies may result in a severe talent crunch,
Crunch affecting the availability of skilled individuals.

Constitutional It is beyond the power of states to create domicile as a condition for employment as the
and Legal Issues constitution provides this provision for public employment and only parliament is empowered to
make such laws under Article 16(3)

75% reservation also goes beyond the reservation ceiling of 50%

 Violation of Article 19: Previously, the Punjab High Court had criticized the reservation in private
sector law for imposing excessive control on private employers, creating an “Inspector Raj,” and
impairing individuals’ rights under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution.

Promotes Local job reservation policies pose threats to unity in diversity, potentially creating local vs.
Regionalism non-local divisions.

What does the Constitution Say?

The Constitution of India guarantees freedom of movement and consequently employment within
India through several provisions.

1. Article 14 provides for equality before the law irrespective of place of birth.

2. Article 15 guards against discrimination based on place of birth.

3. Article 16 guarantees no birthplace-based discrimination in public employment.

4. Article 19 ensures that citizens can move freely throughout the territory of India.
Context: The Supreme Court ruled that states cannot modify the Schedule Caste (SC) list
published under Article 341 of the Constitution.

The court quashed a Bihar government notification from 2015 that classified the Tanti-Tantwa
community as SC, reverting them back to the category of Extremely Backward Class. The court
called the notification “mala fide” and emphasized that only Parliament has the authority to amend
the SC list through legislation, not state governments.

About Article 341:

Article 341 of the Indian Constitution empowers the President to specify castes, races, or tribes as
Scheduled Castes (SC) for various states and union territories. This designation is made after
consulting with the Governor of the concerned state.

1. The list of Scheduled Castes is intended to provide special privileges and benefits to these
communities to promote their social and educational advancement.

2. Parliament holds the authority to amend this list by including or excluding groups through
legislation, ensuring the criteria for inclusion are clearly defined and adhered to.
 G. S. 3

Sr.No. Topics

1 Farm Waiver

2 LUCA

3 Urban Naxalism - MH Bill

Context: The Telangana government has released ₹31,000 crore for the Crop Loan Waiver Scheme
for waiving farmers’ loans. This scheme, aimed at benefiting over 40 lakh farmers by August end,
marks the largest loan recovery in the country.

What are Farm loan waivers?

They are government measures that forgive certain agricultural loans to reduce farmers’ distress,
often promised during elections. These waivers involve the government covering the farmers’ debt,
providing temporary relief but not solving long-term agrarian issues.

Benefits of Loan Waiver:

1. For farmers: Farm loan waivers allow farmers to reinvest in agriculture and diversify into
activities like poultry, dairy, and horticulture.

2. Political Benefit: A NABARD study (1987-2020) found that only 4 out of 21 state governments
lost elections after announcing waivers.
Drawbacks of Loan Waivers:

● Limited Coverage: Example: A 2022 SBI study revealed that only half of the beneficiaries of nine
state-announced farm loan waivers since 2014 received write-offs. Maharashtra had a high
implementation rate, while Telangana had the poorest.

● Partial Relief: Example: Half of the loans are for non-farm purposes.

● Multiple Loans Per Household: Households with multiple loans receive multiple waivers.

1. Example: A family with loans in different members’ names gets multiple waivers.

● Exclusion of Agricultural Laborers: Laborers, often more distressed, are left out.
What needs to be done?

1. Proper identification:For providing immediate relief to the needy farmers, a more inclusive
alternative approach is to identify the vulnerable farmers based on certain criteria and give
an equal amount of financial relief to the vulnerable and distressed families.

2. Enhance non-farm income:The sustainable solution to indebtedness and agrarian distress is

to raise income from agricultural activities and enhance access to non-farm sources of
income. The low scale of farms necessitates that some cultivators move from agriculture to
non-farm jobs.

3. Improved technology, expansion of irrigation coverage, and crop diversification towards

high-value crops are appropriate measures for raising productivity and farmers’ income. All
these require more public funding and support.

4. Public Investment: Increase the budget for agriculture focusing on irrigation, electricity,
storage, and transportation.
Context: Scientists have developed a detailed genetic profile of the Last Universal Common

Ancestor (LUCA), a single-cell, bacterium-like organism that lived around four billion years ago.

● LUCA is believed to have

resided in deep sea vents,

supported by evidence from

355 genes linked to extreme

environments.

● LUCA is believed to have lived

around 4.2 billion years ago,

based on a study using a

molecular clock to estimate evolutionary timelines.

Context: The Maharashtra government introduced the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill,
2024, to counter urban Naxalism.

The bill proposes strict penalties, including imprisonment, for individuals supporting
Naxal-affiliated organizations, even if they are not direct members.

This includes activities like contributing to, soliciting aid for, harbouring members of, or promoting
such groups.

What is Urban Naxalism?

It refers to the presence and activities of Naxalites or CPI (Maoist) in urban areas. As per the
Maoist strategy, urban areas are crucial for providing cadres, leadership, and logistical support
for the people’s war. The key objectives are mobilizing masses, building a united front, and
military tasks. Activities include maintaining safe houses, providing logistics, and recruiting youth
and workers.
 G. S. 4

Sr.No. Topics

1 Ethics on Disability
Context: GST on essential disability aids like wheelchairs and Braillers is unjustly discriminatory.
Since the GST regime began in 2017, disabled individuals must pay an additional 5% tax on these
aids, which penalizes their disability.

View of World Ethical Thinkers on Disabled People:

1. Immanuel Kant: Emphasized respect for individuals’ dignity and autonomy, advocating for the
equal treatment of disabled people as moral agents deserving of respect.

2. John Stuart Mill: Supported utilitarian principles, which would favor policies that maximize
overall well-being, including the fair treatment and inclusion of disabled individuals.

View of Indian Ethical Thinkers on Disabled People:

1. Mahatma Gandhi: Advocated for the upliftment and inclusion of disabled individuals,
emphasizing compassion and equal opportunities.

2. B. R. Ambedkar: Supported social justice and equality, stressing the need for legal and social
reforms to ensure the rights and dignity of all, including the disabled.

3. Swami Vivekananda: Highlighted the importance of treating all individuals with respect and
ensuring their well-being, including those with disabilities.
 Value Addition Pointers
1. I.R. - India’s first overseas Jan Aushadi Kendra was inaugurated in Mauritius.

2. SnT and Envt - Best Practice - China has introduced the world’s first dual-tower solar
thermal power plant in Gansu Province, enhancing energy efficiency by 24%

3. Internal Security - Human Trafficking - Over the past seven years (2018-May 2024), the
Railway Protection Force (RPF) has rescued 84,119 children through ‘Operation Nanhe
Farishtey.’ This initiative aims to protect vulnerable children at railway stations and on trains.

4. Ethics - Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo swam in the Seine on July 17, 2024, to show the river is
clean enough for upcoming Olympic events - Transparency, Accountability, Commitment

5. SnT and Healthcare - Asia’s first “Pre-clinical Network Facility” under the Coalition of
Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) at the Translational Health Science & Technology
Institute (THSTI) was inaugurated recently.

6. Best Practices - The article discusses the potential of 15-minute neighborhoods to address

Bengaluru’s urban challenges, such as congestion, water crises, and erratic weather. This
model aims to reduce car reliance, improve environmental sustainability, and enhance

community well-being by promoting walkability and local accessibility.

 MCQs
With reference to solar power production in India, consider the following statements: (UPSC 2018)

1. India is the third largest in the world in the manufacture of silicon wafers used in
photovoltaic units.

2. The solar power tariffs are determined by the Solar Energy Corporation of India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: D
‘Net metering’ is sometimes seen in the news in the context of promoting the (UPSC 2016)

(a) production and use of solar energy by households/consumers

(b) use of piped natural gas in the kitchens of households
(c) installation of CNG kits in motor cars
(d) installation of water meters in urban households

Ans: A

Consider the following statements: (UPSC 2016)

1. The International Solar Alliance was launched at the United Nations Climate Change
Conference in 2015.

2. The Alliance includes all the member countries of the United Nations.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: A
Consider the following statements: (UPSC 2022)
1. Gujarat has the largest solar park in India.
2. Kerala has a fully solar-powered International Airport.
3. Goa has the largest floating solar photovoltaic project in India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 only
(c) land 3
(d) 3 only

Answer: B: 2 only
 Mains Question
Q. Discuss the impact of stereotyping on persons with disabilities in India. How can societal attitudes be transformed
to ensure inclusivity and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities?
(250 WORDS)