Current Affairs 03 February 2022

CONTENTS

1. World Wetlands day 2022
2. Dilution of Lokayukta Powers in Kerala
3. Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border dispute
4. Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)
5. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme
6. Electoral bonds
7. J&K Delimitation Commission likely to get another extension

World Wetlands Day 2022

Context:

 World Wetlands Day celebrated at Sultanpur National Park .

• Two new Ramsar sites, Khijadia Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat and Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary in U.P were announced on the occasion of World Wetlands day 2022.
• On the occasion, “National Wetland Decadal Change Atlas” prepared by the Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad was also released highlighting the changes which have happened in Wetlands across the country in the past decade.

Relevance:

GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Conservation of Environment, Conventions regarding conservation of ecology)

Dimensions of the Article:

1. What are wetlands?
2. Importance of Wetlands
3. Wetland disturbances
4. World Wetlands Day
5. What is a Ramsar Site?
6. Ramsar Convention
7. Sultanpur National Park

Click Here to Read More: World Wetlands Day 2022

Dilution of Lokayukta Powers in Kerala

Context:

Recently, the Kerala government has proposed to amend the Kerala Lokayukta Act, 1999 with an ordinance, a move that has drawn criticism from the opposition.

• The proposed ordinance envisages to limit the powers of the anti-corruption watchdog.

Relevance:

GS-II: Polity and Governance (Constitutional and Non-Constitutional Bodies, Policies and Interventions on Transparency and Accountability in governance)

Dimensions of the Article:

1. What are the Proposed Changes?
2. About Lokayukta
3. About Lokpal
4. Other Important Points regarding the Lokpal
5. Exception for Prime Minister

Click Here To Read More: Dilution of Lokayukta Powers in Kerala

Assam-Arunachal Pradesh Border Dispute

Context:

Arunachal Pradesh, which was earlier a part of Assam, shares a boundary of roughly 800 km with the state—with frequent flare-ups reported along the border since the 1990s..

• While the flashpoint this time was the ongoing construction of the Likabali-Durpai road being built under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), the boundary dispute between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh dates back to colonial times.

Relevance:

GS-II: Polity and Governance (Inter-State Relations)

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Bone of contention: 1951
2. Efforts at demarcation
3. Flashpoints
4. Likabali- Durbai road
5. Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)

Click Here To Read More : Assam-Arunachal Pradesh Border Dispute

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)

The Development & Monitoring Evaluation Office of NITI Aayog has evaluated the centrally sponsored schemes of Ministry of Women & Child Development including PMMVY and its recommendations have been considered.

• Accordingly, it is envisaged that the written consent and the aadhaar of husband not to be a mandatory criteria in the modified guidelines of PMMVY component under Mission Shakti in order to facilitate inclusion of single mother and abandoned mother.

Relevance:

GS-II: Social Justice and Governance (Issues related to Women and Health, Government Initiatives and Policies, Welfare Schemes)

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)
2. Concerns with PMMVY
3. Way Forward

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)

• Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) is a maternity benefit programme being implemented in all districts of the country with effect from 2017.
• It is a centrally sponsored scheme being executed by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
• Under PMMVY Cash benefits are provided to pregnant women in their bank account directly to meet enhanced nutritional needs and partially compensate for wage loss.
• All Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers (PW&LM), (excluding those who are in regular employment with the Central Government or the State Governments or PSUs or those who are in receipt of similar benefits) who have their pregnancy on or after 1st January 2017 for the first child in the family – are the beneficiaries targeted by the scheme.
• Beneficiaries receive a cash benefit of Rs. 5,000 in three installments on fulfilling the following conditions:
  • Early registration of pregnancy
  • Ante-natal check-up
  • Registration of the birth of the child and completion of first cycle of vaccination for the first living child of the family.
• Implementation of the scheme is closely monitored by the central and state governments through the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana – Common Application Software (PMMVY-CAS).

Concerns with PMMVY

• Poor Performance: The scheme’s performance has been poor, forcing an immediate need for improvement.
• Exclusion of beneficiaries: The Government of India’s yearly estimate of the intended recipients has remained consistent throughout time. Because the objective has stayed constant throughout time, it barely covers 40% of the eligible population.
• Expenditure Deficit: According to data published by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, enrolment and payouts under the plan have decreased in the previous two years.
• Improper Implementation: More than half of registered beneficiaries did not receive all three installments in 2020-21, resulting in a 9% decline in participation in the plan.

Way Forward

• PMMVY maternity benefits ca be extended to the second live birth and all live births can be included in the maternity benefit coverage – to increase the benefit coverage – especially for women in the unorganized sector who are more vulnerable to economic shocks and nutrition loss.
• Since the PMMVY’s principal goal is to give partial salary compensation – the amount of the maternity benefits can be examined for a consideration of an increase.
• Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers should get 12 weeks of pay compensation totaling to Rs. 15,000 in accordance with the Maternity Benefit Act of 1961, which stipulates 12 weeks of maternity leave for women with two or more children.

-Source: The Hindu, PIB

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) Scheme

Context:

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) workers are still waiting for almost ₹3,360 crore in pending wage payments, with the largest pending payments in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.

• This comes as the Centre reduced its Budget allocation for the rural jobs scheme by 25% in comparison to revised estimates for the current year.

Relevance:

GS-II: Social Justice and Governance (Health and Poverty related issues, Government Interventions and Policies, Issues arising out of the design and implementation of Government Policies)

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)
2. How MGNREGA came to be?
3. Features of MGNREGA
4. Objectives of MGNREGA

Click Here To Read More: Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) Scheme

Electoral bonds

Context:

Electoral bonds worth ₹1,213 crore were sold by the State Bank of India (SBI) in January, with most of them (₹784.84 crore) being encashed in the New Delhi branch, pointing towards national parties, while the Mumbai branch sold the most (₹489.6 crore worth), according to a Right to Information.

Relevance:

GS-II: Polity and Governance (Governance and Government Policies)

Dimensions of the Article:

1. What are Electoral Bonds?
2. Points in the Plea against the Electoral Bonds scheme
3. Government’s response defending the Electoral Bonds scheme

Click Here To Read More: Electoral bonds

J&K Delimitation Commission Likely to Get Another Extension

Context

The J&K Delimitation Commission is likely to get a second extension of its term this month.

Relevance

GS II- Governance, Representation Of People’s Act

Dimensions of the article:

1. Details
2. Delimitation in J&K
3. Delimitation Commission Act, 2002
4. Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019

Click Here To Read More: J&K Delimitation Commission Likely to Get Another Extension