Controversy Over NAAC’s System
Context: The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), which carries out quality checks or assessments of Indian Higher-level Educational Institutions (HEIs), courted controversy recently over the rating of the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda and allegations of bribery in the process. Relevance: GS II: Education, Government policies and Interventions Dimensions of the Article: What is […]
A Economically Weaker Sections Quota
Context: The 10% quota for economically weaker sections (EWS) of society does not erode the rights of the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes or the Other Backward Classes, Attorney-General of India submitted before a Constitution Bench led by Chief Justice of India. Relevance: GS II: Government policies and Interventions Dimensions of the Article: EWS quota: […]
Hijab Case and Doctrine of Essential Practices
Context A two-judge Bench of the Supreme Court of India is currently hearing arguments on the correctness of a Karnataka High Court judgement that upheld the ban on students wearing the hijab in Karnataka. This is concerning because it requires judges to engage in not only legal analysis but also theological study, which a legal […]
SC Quota for Dalit Muslims and Christians
Context: The Centre is likely to soon decide on setting up a national commission to study the social, economic and educational status of Dalits who converted to religions other than Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism. Several petitions are pending before the Supreme Court seeking Scheduled Caste (SC) reservation benefits for Dalits who converted to Christianity or […]
PM PRANAM Scheme
Context: In order to reduce the use of chemical fertilisers by incentivising states, the Union government plans to introduce a new scheme – PM PRANAM, which stands for PM Promotion of Alternate Nutrients for Agriculture Management Yojana. Relevance: GS II: Government Policies and Intervention Dimensions of the Article: What is the PM PRANAM scheme? Why is […]
ADIP Scheme & Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana
Focus: Government policies and Interventions Why in News? A ‘Samajik Adhikarita Shivir’ for distribution of aids and assistive devices to ‘Divyangjan’ under the ADIP Scheme and Senior Citizen under RVY Scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India will be organized by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) […]
Prime Minister Employment Generation Program (PMEGP)
Focus: Government Policies and Interventions Why in News? On Prime Minister’s 72nd birthday, KVIC Launches 72 PMEGP units to empower artisans. Prime Minister Employment Generation Program (PMEGP) The Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) the result of the merger of two schemes – Prime Minister’s Rojgar Yojana (PMRY) and The Rural Employment Generation Programme (REGP). […]
A Necessary Pit Stop In Parliamentary Business
Context Despite the fact that Parliament’s recently concluded monsoon session (July-August) was adjourned sine die on August 8, 2022, the Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2022 and the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2022 were sent to the Standing Committee of Parliament for detailed examination and a report thereon. This is a significant step, given that Parliament only had […]
Ramakrishna Mission’s Awakening Programme
Focus: Government policies and Interventions Why in News? Recently, the Union Minister for Education launched Ramakrishna Mission’s ‘Awakening’ Programme for school students. About the Awakening Programme It is an initiative to ensure a child’s whole personality development in keeping with the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020’s guiding principles. It is intended for students in grades I through […]
Addition of Tribes to ST List
Context: Recently, government has approved the inclusion of certain communities in the lists of Scheduled Tribes in Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, fulfilling long-pending demands from these states. Relevance: GS II: Government policies and Interventions Dimensions of the Article: About Newly Added Tribes Who are the Scheduled Tribes? Constitutional Provisions regarding […]