UPSC 2017: Comprehensive News Analysis - Sept 26

A. GS1 Related
Social Issues
1. NHRC notice to TN, AP over Devadasi-like system
B. GS2 Related
Polity
1. Government launches Saubhagya scheme for household electrification
International Affairs/Bilateral Relations
1. Mattis may push for Indian troops in Afghanistan
2. Raja Mandala: New foray into the great game
C. GS3 Related
Economy
1. Govt’s 1st estimate sees kharif food output dropping 2.8% to 134.67 mt
2. Database of savings schemes linked with Aadhaar in offing
D. GS4 Related
E. Prelims Fact
F. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
G. UPSC Mains Practice Questions 

A. GS1 Related

In news:

• The NHRC has issued notices to the governments and police chiefs of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh over the alleged inhuman treatment being meted out to girls and women who are forcibly taken to temples as part of an old ritual that resembles the banned Devadasi system.
• The girls and women are taken to temples of Goddess Mathamma for “offering” in Thiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu and adjoining places.
• Practice:

1. As a part of the ritual, the girls are dressed up as a bride and once the ceremony is over, their dresses are removed by five boys, virtually leaving them naked.
2. They are denied to live with their families and have education.
3. They are forced to live in Mathamma temple deemed to be like a public property and face sexual exploitation
4. This practice is allegedly “another form of Devadasi system”, which is still practiced in some parts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh

• NHRC observations: The rights panel has observed that if the allegations are true, these amount to violation of human rights, including the right to education, rights to life and dignity besides the childrens rights.
• Key Fact:

1. Devadasi system is a banned religious practice in some parts of India whereby parents marry a daughter to a deity or a temple.
2. The marriage usually occurs before the girl reaches puberty.
3. The Union Home Ministry in December 2015 had asked all states to take strong action against those involved in the heinous practice which is against the dignity of women.

B. GS2 Related

In news:

• Government has launched a Rs 16,320-crore scheme to supply electricity to all households by December 2018,
• This scheme will provide free connections to the poor and at very low cost to others
• Scheme: The Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojna, named ‘Saubhagya‘
• Rural Electrification Corp will be the nodal agency for the scheme
• While public institutions and panchayats will be authorised to collect applications forms, distribute bills and collect payments

Modalities of the scheme:

• It aims to improve the environment, public health, education and connectivity with the help of last-mile power connections across India
• It will help reduce the use of kerosene lamps in non-electrified households
• States that complete the scheme by December next year would be given an additional 15% grant by the Centre as incentive
• The scheme is being funded to the extent of 60% by central grants, 30% by bank loans and 10% by states
• Under the scheme, electricity connections will be given free to people identified by the Socio Economic and Caste Census of 2011
• The scheme promises on-the-spot registration of applications

In news:

• S. Defence Secretary Jim Mattis landed in India, for his maiden three-day visit
• Key fact: the first visit by a Cabinet member of the Trump administration.
• Key areas of focus:

1. Deepening the defence partnership and expand the high technology cooperation under the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI)..
2. Afghanistan situation discussions.
3. Push for Indian troops in Afghanistan.
4. The two sides could also discuss the new Chinese posturing in the region and terrorism originating from Pakistan.
5. The two sides are expected to conclude the formal agreement for holding a bilateral maritime exercise, focused on providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Indian aid to Afghanistan:

• India has already extended a $3-billion aid to Afghanistan and also provides training to its military and other assistance.

Context:

• The question of a larger Indian role in securing Afghanistan is expected to figure in the talks between the US Defense Secretary James Mattis and the Indian leadership.

Background

• The developments in Afghanistan in the 1970s and 1980s saw the United States deepen its partnership with Pakistan to the dismay of India.
• Since the early 2000s, when the US warmed up to India, Afghanistan remained an area of disagreement.

New south Asian policy:

• In a major speech on the new administration’s policy towards South Asia, Donald Trump demanded that Pakistan end its destabilisation of Afghanistan by providing safe havens to the Taliban and other terror networks.
• Trump’s emphasis in the speech was indeed on India stepping up its economic and development assistance to Afghanistan.
• India and the US are fully aware that without stronger external military support to Kabul, the talk of development could become increasingly futile
• The 2011 Strategic Partnership Agreement between Delhi and Kabul explicitly called for security cooperation, including the transfer of military equipment.

Key points:

• Delhi did not want deeper security cooperation with Afghanistan that could cast a shadow over its ties with Pakistan.
• A second constraint has been geography. The lack of physical access has imposed substantial limitations on Delhi’s military role in Afghanistan
• US resistance to a larger Indian security footprint in Afghanistan
• The US was convinced that any Indian military role in Afghanistan would grate Pakistan’s political sensitivities.
• But Trump has now actively encouraging India to take greater responsibilities in Afghanistan.
• Trump’s Indo-Pak inversion may or may not be sustainable over the long-term.
• Many in Washington would want to go back to the default option of avoiding confrontation with Pakistan in Afghanistan.

B. GS3 Related

In news:

• The 2017 kharif foodgrain output may comes down to 134.67 million tonnes (mt) from a record harvest of 138.52 mt during the previous kharif season
• Reasons: Floods and erratic rainfall in different parts of the country
• The drop in output was seen across all major rain-fed crops except sugarcane
• Sugarcane registered a nearly 10 per cent increase in cropping area and a corresponding increase in output

Impacts:

• It may have an impact on farm incomes, which will be lower because of lower output
• This would mean that the demand for other goods in rural areas will not recover the way the government was hoping it would
• In other words, despite having two good monsoon in a row, private consumption expenditure will not go up and thus may have an impact on the overall economy

In news:

• The Cabinet Secretariat is keen on a central database of government and private sector employees who have subscribed to the general provident fund (GPF), public provident fund (PPF) and employees’ provident fund (EPF) with Aadhaar as the primary identifier.
• It has directed the various departments monitoring such savings schemes to ensure that 100% Aadhaar seeding of all salaried accounts takes place by December 31.
• Key Fact:

1. EPF is the savings scheme for private sector employees
2. The GPF is meant for government employees and
3. PPF can be subscribed to by all workers.

D. GS4 Related

E. PRELIMS FACT

F. Practice Questions for UPSC Prelims Exam

G. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

GS Paper I

GS Paper II

GS Paper III

Also, check previous Daily News Analysis