06 Feb 2024: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Scheme for Residential Education For Students in High schools in 
Targeted Areas (SHRESHTA)
2. India Ageing Report 2023
3. India Energy Week 2024
4. ‘Bharat’ Rice
5. EdCIL Vidyanjali Scholarship Programme
6. ULLAS Mela
7. Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) 
Bill, 2024

1. Scheme for Residential Education For Students in High schools in Targeted Areas (SHRESHTA)

Syllabus: GS II, Education; Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education

Prelims: Facts about SHRESHTA Scheme

Mains: provisions of the SHRESHTA Scheme

Context:

The Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment gave information on the SHRESHTA scheme in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

Scheme for Residential Education For Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas (SHRESHTA):

• SHRESTHA scheme has been formulated to provide quality education and opportunities for the poorest of the poor Scheduled Caste students based on the constitutional mandate.
• The scheme aims to provide access to quality education and a level playing field for all students.
• The scheme will provide high-quality residential education free of cost from class 9th to 12th to meritorious poor students from Scheduled Caste communities whose annual family income is up to Rs. 2.5 Lakh per annum.

Key provisions of SHRESHTA:

• Every year a specified number of meritorious students from the SC communities will be selected through a transparent mechanism of a National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS), conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). 
• Students will be admitted to private residential schools that are affiliated with CBSE.
• Further, the students will be connected to the Post Matric Scholarship Scheme or a Higher Education Scheme of the Ministry to continue their further studies with adequate financial aid from the Government.
• Provisions in the scheme also facilitate a “Bridge Course” for 3 months for the students joining the CBSE-based schools from state schools, rural areas, or regional language schools.
• The scholarships will be released in one instalment directly to the schools in the first quarter of every financial year and the scheme will be considered in the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) method.

2. India Ageing Report 2023

Syllabus: GS-1, Social Issues

Prelims/Mains: India Ageing Report 2023

India Ageing Report 2023:

• The report has been prepared by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the International Institute of Population Sciences (IIPS) on the welfare of senior citizens in India.

Highlights of the report:

• India’s elderly population has been growing rapidly.
• The share of the population over the age of 60 years is projected to increase from 10.5 percent in 2022 to 20.8 percent in 2050.
• Sharp growth in the elderly population is observed from 2010 onwards along with a decline in the age group below 15 years, indicating rapidity of ageing in India. 
• India has witnessed a moderate to high pace of decadal growth in the elderly population since 1961.
• A distinguishing feature of ageing in India is the significant interstate variation in absolute levels and growth (and hence, share) of the elderly population, given the varying stages and pace of demographic transition across states.
• Most of the states in the southern region and select northern states such as Himachal Pradesh and Punjab reported a higher share of the elderly population than the national average in 2021.
• Share of the elderly population would be substantial in most of the states in the coming decades with one in five persons being elderly in the southern states by 2036.
• A higher old-age dependency ratio indicates a higher demand for support from the next generation in terms of caregiving, and social and financial needs.
•  Life expectancy of women at 60 years is greater than 20 years in states such as Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, raising concerns about their social and economic well-being. 
• Three aspects of ageing that create significant challenges are: (a) women living longer than men (feminization) resulting in higher levels of widowhood and associated socio-cultural and economic deprivations and dependencies; (b) high proportion of rural population among the elderly (ruralization); and (c) ageing of the aged persons.
• Living alone is a growing phenomenon among older females due to higher life expectancy and higher incidence of widowhood. 
• Poverty among the elderly is a concern, affecting their quality of life and healthcare utilization.
• The elderly in India have a low awareness of the various social security schemes designed for them.
• The report recommends addressing the issue of a scarcity of relevant data related to elderly well-being, increasing awareness of schemes meant for the elderly, encouraging at-home ageing as it results in better care, and stressing the advantages of elderly people living in multigenerational households, among others.

3. India Energy Week 2024

Syllabus: GS-3, Environment

Prelims: India Energy Week 2024

Context: 

PM inaugurated the India Energy Week 2024.

Details:

• India Energy Week 2024 is India’s largest and only all-encompassing energy exhibition and conference, bringing together the entire energy value chain to catalyze India’s energy transition goals. 
• India Energy Week 2024 is being held from 6 – 9 February in Goa.
• It is expected to witness the participation of around 17 Energy ministers from different countries, 35,000+ attendees and more than 900 exhibitors. 
• It will have six dedicated country pavilions – Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Russia, the UK and the USA. 
• A special Make in India Pavilion is also being organized to showcase innovative solutions which Indian MSMEs are spearheading in the energy sector.
• India is the world’s third-largest energy, oil and LPG consumer. 
• India is also the fourth-largest Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) importer and refiner along with the fourth-largest automobile market.

4. ‘Bharat’ Rice

Syllabus: GS-3, Economy

Prelims: ‘Bharat’ Rice

Context:

Centre launched the sale of ‘Bharat’ Rice.

About Bharat Rice:

• ‘Bharat’ Rice will be available at all physical and mobile outlets of Kendriya Bhandar, the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India (NCCF).
• It will be expanded to other retail outlets and e-commerce platforms. 
• ‘Bharat’ brand rice will be sold in family-friendly 5 Kg and 10 Kg Bags. Bharat Rice will be sold at a maximum retail price (MRP) of Rs. 29/kg.
• Bharat Atta and Bharat Dal as well as onions are being sold at affordable prices by the centre.

5. EdCIL Vidyanjali Scholarship Programme

Syllabus: GS-2, Govt schemes and programmes

Prelims: EdCIL Vidyanjali Scholarship Programme

Context:

Union Minister of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship launched the EdCIL Vidyanjali Scholarship Programme.

EdCIL Vidyanjali Scholarship Programme:

• This scholarship programme enables empowerment through access and opportunities for education, particularly for students belonging to economically disadvantaged sections.
• Currently, 70 students are being bestowed upon the scholarship amounting to Rs. 5 crore.
• The programme is in alignment with the National Education Policy 2020.
• Going beyond mere enrolment, this initiative guarantees access to high-quality learning systems by facilitating a seamless transition from secondary to higher education and extending financial support for the meritorious Navodaya Vidyalaya students who lack means.
• This initiative also encourages involvement from the private sector through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

6. ULLAS Mela

Syllabus: GS-2, Governance, Education

Prelims: ULLAS Mela/Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram or New India Literacy Program

Context:

Two-day ULLAS Mela inaugurated in New Delhi.

ULLAS Mela:

• To achieve the target of 100% literacy by 2030, the Government of India is implementing a centrally sponsored innovative scheme called Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram or New India Literacy Program for the period of FYs 2022-2027. 
• The scheme is popularly known as ULLAS: Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society.
• Scheme motto: “Jan-Jan Sakshar”.
• The scheme, in line with NEP 2020, targets adults (aged 15 and above) who could not go to school or attain formal education. 
• It focuses on imparting Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN), through critical life skills, such as Digital Literacy, Financial Literacy, Legal Literacy, Environmental Literacy, Health & Hygiene, etc. 
• Implemented in a hybrid mode, States/UTs have flexibility in offline, online, or combined approaches.
• The scheme consists of five components: (i) Foundational Literacy and Numeracy; (ii) Critical Life Skills; (iii) Basic Education; (iv) Vocational Skills; and (v) Continuing Education. 
• The ULLAS App has been developed to register learners, and volunteers and also contain teaching learning material for them. 
• The learners are certified as literate by way of twice-a-year assessments in September & March.

7. Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024

Syllabus: GS-2, Polity

prelims/Mains: Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024

Context:

Lok Sabha passed the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024:

• This bill aims at empowering (i) Pahari Ethnic Group (ii) Padari Tribes (iii) Koli and (iv) Gadda Brahmin by providing Scheduled Tribe status. 
• The inclusion of these communities in the list of Scheduled Tribes in Jammu and Kashmir will have absolutely no impact on the current level of reservations available to the existing Scheduled Tribe communities such as Gujjars and Bakarwals who will continue to get reservations like before.

Read previous PIB articles here.