PM IAS UPSC CURRENT EVENTS JAN 02

Centre amends prison manual to address caste-based inequality

Source: The Indian Express

Syllabus: GS II polity and Governanace

Union Home Ministry Introduces Key Amendments to Model Prison Manual, 2016

Context

The Union Home Ministry has recently amended the Model Prison Manual, 2016, and the Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2023 to address critical issues such as caste-based discrimination and the classification of habitual offenders in Indian prisons. These changes aim to promote equality, consistency, and humane treatment in prison administration.

Why in News?

The amendments come in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling on October 3, 2024, which highlighted:

1. Caste-based discrimination persisting in prisons.
2. Inconsistencies in defining and treating habitual offenders across states.

The judgment mandated governments to update their legal frameworks to ensure fairness and compliance with constitutional principles, forming the basis for these reforms.

Background

Prison administration in India operates under a complex legal framework comprising central guidelines, state-specific acts, and rules. Despite constitutional safeguards, systemic issues such as discrimination and unequal treatment of inmates have plagued the system.

The Supreme Court’s directive underscores the need for uniformity and equality in prison laws, driving the Union Home Ministry to undertake a comprehensive overhaul of prison rules.

Addressing Caste-Based Discrimination in Prisons

Prohibition of Discrimination

• Prison authorities must ensure no segregation, classification, or discrimination of inmates based on caste.
• Work assignments and duties within prisons will be allocated without prejudice, ensuring equal treatment for all inmates.

Codification in Legal Provisions

• A new section, 55(A), titled ‘Prohibition of caste-based discrimination in Prisons and Correctional Institutions’, has been introduced in the Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2023. This formalizes the commitment to eradicating caste-based practices.

Extension of Prohibition of Manual Scavenging

• Provisions under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 are now extended to prisons, explicitly prohibiting:
  • Manual scavenging and hazardous cleaning of sewers or septic tanks within prisons.
  • Practices that demean human dignity.

Redefining Habitual Offenders

Standardized Definition

• A habitual offender is now uniformly defined as someone who:
  1. Has been convicted and sentenced more than twice in separate, unrelated incidents within a continuous five-year period.
  2. Has not had these sentences overturned on appeal or review.
• Time spent in jail does not count toward the five-year window, ensuring fairness.

Legislative Alignment

• States without specific Habitual Offenders Acts must align their prison rules with the Supreme Court’s directive within three months, ensuring:
  • Uniformity in offender classification.
  • Avoidance of arbitrary or inconsistent treatment across jurisdictions.

Significance of the Amendments

1. Upholding Constitutional Rights:
   • Promotes equality and dignity for all prisoners, ensuring compliance with Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution.
2. Eliminating Inhumane Practices:
   • Prohibition of manual scavenging reaffirms India’s commitment to humane treatment of all individuals.
3. Standardized Governance:
   • A uniform definition of habitual offenders brings consistency, reducing disparities across states.
4. Human Rights Focus:
   • The reforms highlight India’s adherence to international human rights standards, strengthening its correctional system.

Conclusion

The amendments signify a progressive shift in India’s prison administration, addressing deep-rooted systemic issues while aligning with constitutional and human rights principles. By eliminating caste-based discrimination and creating a standardized framework for habitual offenders, the Union Home Ministry aims to foster a fair, inclusive, and just correctional system. These reforms set a benchmark for prison governance, reinforcing India’s commitment to equality, dignity, and the rule of law.

Four UN environmental summits fell short in 2024. What happened?

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS III Environment

Global Environmental Summits in 2024: Key Failures and Lessons

The year 2024 marked a significant setback for global environmental governance, with four pivotal United Nations summits—on biodiversity (Colombia), climate change (Azerbaijan), land degradation (Saudi Arabia), and plastic pollution (South Korea)—failing to achieve meaningful progress. These failures underscore the growing divergence in national priorities and the challenges of multilateralism in addressing pressing environmental crises.

Key Challenges and Outcomes

1. Divergence in National Interests

At the core of these setbacks lies a stark divide between developed and developing nations:

• Developing Nations’ Demands: Struggling with economic constraints, climate vulnerabilities, and developmental challenges, developing countries called for increased financial assistance and technology transfers from wealthier nations.
• Developed Nations’ Reluctance: Citing domestic economic pressures and political constraints, developed countries hesitated to commit to additional financial and technological support, exacerbating tensions.

2. Summit-Specific Issues

• Biodiversity Summit in Colombia:
  
  • Financing sustainable land-use practices emerged as the primary roadblock.
  • The $700 billion annual requirement to halt biodiversity loss remained unmet, with countries displaying insufficient ambition.
• Climate Summit in Azerbaijan:
  
  • Developing nations sought $1.3 trillion annually from developed countries.
  • Divisions arose over transitioning away from fossil fuels, with some nations resisting commitments made at previous climate summits.
• Plastic Pollution Summit in South Korea:
  
  • Nations with economies reliant on plastic production opposed a legally binding treaty, advocating instead for improved recycling mechanisms.
• Land Degradation Summit in Saudi Arabia:
  
  • Disputes centered on establishing a legally binding drought protocol.
  • Industrialized nations favored a broad operational framework, while African countries demanded concrete commitments and funding for drought mitigation.

3. Structural and Contextual Constraints

• Accountability Gaps: Disagreements over frameworks to monitor and enforce environmental goals hindered progress.
• Global Crises: The aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic instability, and geopolitical tensions diverted attention and resources from environmental priorities.
• Economic Pressures: Inflation, debt burdens, and developmental challenges in developing economies weakened their negotiating positions.

Implications of the Failures

1. Delayed Action:
   
   • Postponed agreements on biodiversity, climate finance, land degradation, and plastic pollution risk pushing global systems toward irreversible tipping points.
   • Vulnerable nations bear the brunt of inaction.
2. Fragmented Efforts:
   
   • The collapse of multilateral negotiations encourages unilateral or regional initiatives, leading to inconsistent and incoherent strategies.
3. Erosion of Trust:
   
   • Repeated failures undermine confidence among nations, complicating future cooperation.
4. Increased Pressure on Future Summits:
   
   • Upcoming negotiations face heightened expectations to deliver meaningful outcomes.

Way Forward

To overcome these challenges and foster global cooperation, the following strategies are critical:

1. Prioritizing Climate Finance:
   
   • Wealthier nations must honor commitments to provide adequate financial and technological support to developing countries. This would address trust deficits and ensure equitable participation.
2. Strengthening Accountability Mechanisms:
   
   • Establishing robust frameworks to track progress and enforce commitments is essential for fostering transparency and credibility.
3. Promoting Inclusive Diplomacy:
   
   • Negotiations must ensure representation of all voices, especially those of vulnerable nations, to build equitable outcomes.
4. Focusing on Implementation:
   
   • Shifting from ambitious pledges to measurable, tangible actions can ensure steady progress despite disagreements.
5. Adopting Integrated Approaches:
   
   • Recognizing the interconnectedness of climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation, and plastic pollution is vital. Integrated strategies should prioritize ecosystem restoration, sustainable land use, and pollution reduction.

Conclusion

The failure of these summits highlights the urgent need for nations to move beyond short-term interests and embrace a shared vision for a sustainable future. Addressing environmental challenges requires cohesive, coordinated action, with developed and developing nations collaborating to ensure equity, accountability, and tangible progress. The stakes are immense, and the global community must act decisively to avoid further delays in addressing the planet’s most critical crises.

School dropout rates go from bad to worse in Bihar and Assam

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS II Governance and Policy – Issues related to education

School Dropout Rates in India: Alarming Trends in Bihar and Assam

Despite overall improvements in school retention rates across India, significant concerns persist in states like Bihar and Assam, where dropout rates have worsened in recent years. States like Karnataka, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Haryana also show troubling trends, highlighting disparities in educational progress across the nation.

National Trends and Improvements (2019–2024)

India has witnessed a marked improvement in school retention rates from 2019 to 2024:

• Girls: Of every 100 girls who started schooling, over 80 completed secondary education in 2024 compared to 73.5 in 2019.
• Boys: The corresponding figures rose from 72.4 in 2019 to 77.2 in 2024, albeit with a smaller margin of improvement.

These national averages reflect the success of educational initiatives, yet they mask significant regional disparities.

Worrying Regional Disparities

States with Declining Trends

Certain states have witnessed a decline in retention rates, raising red flags:

• Karnataka:
  
  • Girls: The percentage of girls completing secondary education dropped from 79.3 in 2019 to 76.5 in 2024.
  • Boys: The percentage declined from 73.6 to 70.7 in the same period.
• Bihar:
  
  • Girls: Only 40.3 out of 100 girls completed secondary education in 2024, compared to 51.6 in 2019.
  • Boys: The figures plummeted from 51.2 in 2019 to 38.8 in 2024.
• Assam: Similar trends were observed, with dropout rates worsening from already concerning levels.
  

These statistics indicate that challenges such as socio-economic barriers, infrastructure deficits, and gender disparities persist in these states, exacerbating dropout rates.

States with Exceptional Improvements

In contrast, states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu have made commendable progress, showcasing the potential of focused policy interventions:

• Kerala:
  
  • Boys completing secondary education increased from 88.3 in 2019 to 95.7 in 2024.
  • Girls saw an improvement from 93.2 to 97.5 during the same period.
• Tamil Nadu:
  
  • Boys completing secondary education rose from 81.3 in 2019 to 89.2 in 2024.
  • Girls improved from 89.4 to 95.6.

These improvements reflect strong education policies, better infrastructure, and gender-sensitive approaches.

Factors Influencing Trends

1. Socio-Economic Barriers:
   
   • Poverty, child labor, and lack of access to quality schools disproportionately affect retention in economically weaker states like Bihar and Assam.
2. Gender Disparities:
   
   • Early marriages and societal biases contribute to higher dropout rates among girls, particularly in rural areas.
3. Infrastructure and Resources:
   
   • Insufficient schools, lack of teachers, and poor transport facilities hinder educational continuity in several regions.
4. Policy and Governance:
   
   • States with effective education policies, such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu, demonstrate how targeted interventions can yield significant improvements.

Implications of Dropout Trends

• Economic Impact: High dropout rates limit the availability of a skilled workforce, hampering economic growth.
• Social Inequality: Worsening dropout rates in certain states perpetuate socio-economic and gender disparities.
• Missed Demographic Dividend: With a significant youth population, high dropout rates undermine India’s potential to leverage its demographic advantage.

Way Forward

1. Strengthening Infrastructure:
   
   • Increase investment in school facilities, particularly in underserved regions, to improve access and quality.
2. Financial Incentives:
   
   • Expand scholarships and cash-transfer schemes to support economically disadvantaged families and reduce child labor.
3. Gender-Sensitive Policies:
   
   • Promote initiatives addressing early marriage, menstrual hygiene, and safety for girls in schools.
4. Community Engagement:
   
   • Mobilize local stakeholders to raise awareness about the importance of education and combat societal biases.
5. Monitoring and Evaluation:
   
   • Establish robust systems to track dropout trends and assess the impact of interventions, ensuring course corrections when needed.

Conclusion

While India has made significant strides in improving school retention rates, regional disparities pose a critical challenge to achieving universal education. Addressing dropout rates in states like Bihar and Assam requires targeted, inclusive, and sustained efforts. A comprehensive approach combining infrastructure, policy reforms, and community engagement can ensure that every child in India has an equal opportunity to complete their education, contributing to the nation’s socio-economic progress.

The race for fighters: the IAF’s dilemma

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS III Security and Technology

India’s Air Power Challenges: Modernization Amidst China’s Military Advancements

China’s Technological Supremacy

China’s rapid military modernization underscores its growing dominance in defense technology. Recent developments include:

• Stealth Fighter Jets: Two new tailless stealth jets with advanced configurations indicate potential sixth-generation capabilities. The larger, delta-wing design hints at extended range, while the smaller twin-engine jet demonstrates agility and versatility.
• Naval and Civil Advancements: The launch of an amphibious naval ship and a deep-sea research vessel, alongside a prototype supersonic civil jet and the world’s fastest bullet train, highlight China’s technological prowess.
• PLAAF’s Growing Strength: The People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and Navy Aviation possess the largest aviation fleet in the Indo-Pacific, with over 1,300 fourth-generation fighters complemented by fifth-generation J-20 and J-35 aircraft.

These advancements place China in a unique position, being the only nation after the U.S. to field more than one fifth-generation fighter. Such developments widen the technological and strategic gap with India.

The Indian Air Force’s Modernization Dilemma

The Indian Air Force (IAF) faces a critical shortage of fighter squadrons, with only 31 operational against a sanctioned strength of 42. This gap is exacerbated by delays in modernization efforts and the absence of fifth-generation aircraft in the foreseeable future.

Key Modernization Initiatives:

1. LCA Variants:
   
   • 83 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Mk1A are on order, but delays in engine deliveries from General Electric (GE) have stalled production.
   • Plans for 97 additional Mk1A units are under negotiation.
2. Advanced Platforms:
   
   • The LCA-Mk2 and Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) are under development, with first deliveries anticipated in the next decade.
   • The Navy’s Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TED-BF) remains at an early development stage.
3. MRFA Program:
   
   • The Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) project for 114 foreign-origin jets, intended to be manufactured in India with significant technology transfer, has made minimal progress since 2019. The absence of a transparent procurement process further delays this critical acquisition.

Aging Fleet and Operational Challenges

The IAF’s fleet faces obsolescence, with MiG-21s, Jaguars, Mirage-2000s, and MiG-29s nearing the end of their service lives. By 2040, early batches of Su-30MKIs will also require replacement. This underscores the urgency of inducting new platforms to prevent a strategic capability gap.

Dependency on Aero-Engine Technology

Aero-engine development remains India’s Achilles heel in achieving defense self-reliance. Indigenous aircraft and helicopters rely heavily on imported engines, either co-manufactured or directly procured:

• The F-414 engine for the LCA-Mk2 and a potential 110KN engine for the AMCA-Mk2, co-developed with France, ensure continued dependence on foreign suppliers for critical components.
• Without in-house aero-engine capabilities, India’s long-term self-reliance goals in defense remain constrained.

Strategic Imperatives for India

1. Expedited Modernization:
   
   • Ensure timely delivery of LCA variants and fast-track the MRFA procurement process to bolster squadron strength.
   • Address production bottlenecks, such as delays in GE engine supplies, to meet operational timelines.
2. Indigenous Capability Development:
   
   • Accelerate indigenous development of advanced platforms like the AMCA and TED-BF, focusing on reducing import dependency.
   • Establish a robust framework for in-house aero-engine development to achieve technological self-reliance.
3. Strategic Partnerships:
   
   • Strengthen defense collaborations with global players for technology transfer and co-development, particularly in areas like aero-engine technology and avionics.
4. Comprehensive Defense Planning:
   
   • Align the IAF’s modernization roadmap with broader national security objectives.
   • Enhance procurement transparency and efficiency to avoid delays and controversies.

Conclusion

In the face of China’s aggressive military advancements, India must act decisively to bridge its defense capability gaps. While indigenous initiatives and strategic partnerships hold promise, timely execution and technological self-reliance are paramount. A reimagined approach to defense modernization will ensure that the IAF remains a formidable force, safeguarding India’s strategic interests in an evolving global order.