2023 04 26

Table of Contents:

GS Paper 1:

World Development Report 2023: Migrants, Refugees, and Societies

GS Paper 2:

Kesavananda: case and its Legacy
Powers of the governor under Article 200
India and SCO

GS Paper 3:

Indoor air pollution

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

Traditional Methods of water conservation in India

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Sri Ramanujacharya and Adi Shankaracharya
Delhi’s Zafar Mahal
Relative humidity
SWAGAT initiative
National Health Accounts Estimates for India (2019-20)
2nd North Sea Summit
National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS)

World Development Report 2023: Migrants, Refugees, and Societies

GS Paper 1

Syllabus: Population and associated issues

Source: DTE

Context: The ‘World Development Report 2023: Migrants, Refugees, and Societies’ was recently released by the World Bank.

The World Development Report (WDR):

It is an annual report published since 1978 by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) or World Bank.
It provides an in-depth analysis of a specific aspect of economic development.

Highlights of the WDR 2023:

The share of working-age adults will drop sharply in many (developed) countries over the next few decades.
- Spain, with a population of 47 million, is projected to shrink by more than one-third by 2100, with those above age 65 increasing from 20 to 39% of the population.
Most low-income countries are expected to see rapid population growth, putting them under pressure to create more jobs for young people.

Opportunities offered by migration:

Migration is becoming more urgent due to severe divergences between and within countries – in terms of real wages, labour market opportunities, demographic patterns and climate costs.
It can be a unique opportunity for economies and people as well as meet the growing needs of both origin and destination countries.
Migrants transfer ideas, knowledge, and technology, spurring job creation and modernisation – just as US Silicon Valley expatriates did when they helped nurture India’s IT sector.

Challenges:

As populations across the globe age at an unprecedented pace, the global competition for workers and talent will intensify.
About 184 million people worldwide (including 37 million refugees) lack citizenship in the country in which they live.

Recommendations to promote migration:

The WB proposed policies to harness economic opportunities and for better migration management in destination, transit and origin countries (to mitigate the risks that migrants face). For example,
- Origin countries should make labour migration an explicit part of their development strategy.
- Destination countries should facilitate their inclusion and address social impacts that raise concerns among their citizens
Match-Motive Framework: By combining “match” and “motive,” the framework identified policy priorities for countries.
- The “match” aspect is grounded in labour economics and focuses on how well migrants’ skills and related attributes match the needs of the destination countries.
- The “motive” refers to the circumstances under which a person moves in search of opportunity.
- This determines the extent to which migrants, origin countries and destination countries gain from migration: The stronger the match, the larger the gains.
The report also urged for international cooperation and multilateral efforts to strengthen the match of migrants’ skills with the needs of destination societies.

Insta Links:

HUMAN MIGRATION: REASONS & IMPACT

April 26, 2023 /26 Apr 2023, 26 April CA, and Societies, GS 1, Match-Motive Framework, Refugees, Today's Article, Today’s article, World Bank, World Development Report 2023: Migrants

Kesavananda: case and its Legacy

GS Paper 2

Syllabus: Structure, Organization and Functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary

Source: IE

Context: Fifty years ago, on April 24, 1973, the SC delivered its landmark judgment in Kesavananda Bharati vs the State of Kerala.


Kesavananda Bharati vs State of Kerala
What was the case about?	The extent of Parliament’s power to amend the Constitution was the backdrop of the tussle between the executive and the judiciary in the first two decades of the republic. By the 1st Amendment of 1951, the 9th Schedule was inserted – any law placed in this Schedule could not be questioned in any court of law. In Shankari Prasad v. Union of India (1951), the SC upheld the 1st Amendment and held that Parliament’s power to amend any part of the Constitution was limitless. In Sajjan Singh v. State of Rajasthan (1965), the SC asked whether the Parliament could take away even the critical fundamental rights In Golaknath v State of Punjab (1967), the SC ruled that Parliament cannot amend fundamental rights. The 24th Amendment 1971 – amended Articles 13, 368 – provided Parliament with the powers to amend any provision of the Constitution and insulated such amendments from Judicial Review.
Verdict	A 13-judge Constitution Bench of the SC (with a 7-6 majority) redefined the relationship between Parliament and the Constitution by ruling that the “basic structure” of the Constitution is inviolable, and cannot be amended by Parliament. While the Parliament had vast powers to amend the Constitution, certain parts (“basic structure”) are so inherent and intrinsic to the Constitution that even Parliament cannot touch it.
What is the basic structure doctrine?	The origins of the basic structure doctrine are found in the German Constitution. In India, while parliamentary democracy, fundamental rights, judicial review, and secularism are all held by courts as basic structures, the list is not exhaustive (decided by the court on a case-by-case basis). The basic structure doctrine has formed the bedrock of judicial review of all laws passed by the Indian Parliament.

A scrutiny of the application of the doctrine over the past 50 years:

Although the highest court has invoked “basic structure” sparingly, it has mostly struck down amendments where judicial powers have been curtailed.
Since 1973, the Constitution has been amended more than 60 times. In at least 16 cases, the SC has evaluated constitutional amendments with regard to the basic structure doctrine.
9/16 constitutional amendments have been upheld by the SC. 6 of these cases relate to reservations [OBC, EWS and reservations in promotions].

Constitutional amendment entirely stuck down by the SC:

The Constitution (99th Amendment) Act 2014, which established the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) was struck down in 2015 on the grounds that it threatened “judicial independence” – a basic feature of the Constitution.
NJAC would have been responsible for the appointment and transfer of judges, replacing the current Collegium system.

Constitutional amendments partially stuck down by the SC:

In 6 instances, including the Kesavananda ruling itself, the SC has “partially struck down” a constitutional amendment.
In all these cases, the provision that was struck down related to the denial of judicial review.

6 instances when SC partially stuck down an amendment: Out of 6, 5 were during the Indira Gandhi era.

Kesavananda Bharati vs State of Kerala (1973): While the court upheld the land ceiling laws that were challenged, it struck down the following portion of the 25th Amendment (1972) –
- If any law is passed to give effect to the DPSP it cannot be deemed to be void on the ground that it abridged rights under Articles 14, 19 or 31.
Indira Gandhi v Raj Narain (1975): The SC struck down The Constitution (39th Amendment) Act 1975, which barred it from hearing a challenge to the election of President, PM, VP, and Speaker of Lok Sabha.
Minerva Mills Ltd vs Union Of India (1980): The SC struck down a clause inserted in Article 368, which said there shall be no limitation on the constituent power of Parliament.
P Sambamurthy v State of Andhra Pradesh (1986): The SC struck down a portion of the 32nd Amendment (1973), which constituted an Administrative Tribunal for Andhra Pradesh, taking away the jurisdiction of the High Court.
L Chandra Kumar v Union of India (1997): The top court struck down a portion of the 42nd Amendment 1976, which set up administrative tribunals excluding judicial review by High Courts.
Kihoto Hollohan vs Zachillhu And Others (1992): The SC upheld The Constitution (52nd Amendment) Act that introduced the 10th Schedule/anti-defection law in the Constitution.
- However, the only portion of the amendment that was struck down was that the decisions of the Speaker relating to disqualification cannot be judicially reviewed.

Significance of the verdict:

The ruling (by the narrowest possible margin of 7-6) has rejected majoritarian impulses and underlined the foundations of a modern democracy saving both the constitution and constitutionalism.
However, it marked a definite assertion of the judiciary against the majoritarian Parliament leading to Parliamentary sovereignty vs Judicial supremacy, Judicial activism vs overreach
A highly controversial pluralist judicial creation has been accepted now by legislatures, the executive, and the people of India.

Insta Links:

Admonishments that endanger the Constitution

Mains Links:

“Parliament’s power to amend the constitution is limited power and it cannot be enlarged into absolute power”. In light of this statement, explain whether parliament under Article 368 of the constitution can destroy the basic structure of the constitution by expanding its amending power. (UPSC 2019)

Prelims Links: (UPSC 2020)

Consider the following statements:

The Constitution of India defines its ‘basic structure’ in terms of federalism, secularism, fundamental rights and democracy.
The Constitution of India provides for ‘judicial review’ to safeguard the citizens’ liberties and to preserve the ideals on which the Constitution is based.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: 4

April 26, 2023 /1st and 24th Constitutional Amendments, 24 April CA, 26 Apr 2023, April 24 1973, Article 13 and 368, Basic Structure Doctrine, Golaknath case, GS 2, judicial activism, judicial overreach, Judicial supremacy, Kesavananda Bharati vs State of Kerala, Parliamentary sovereignty, Shankari Prasad case, Today's Article, Today’s article

Powers of the governor under Article 200

GS Paper 2

Syllabus: Issues and Challenges Pertaining to the Federal Structure

Source: Scroll

Context: The SC said that governors should clear bills passed by the legislative assemblies as soon as possible, as mandated under Article 200 of the Indian Constitution.

Article 200:

It gives governors the power to either grant assent to a bill, withhold assent or reserve the bill for the president’s consideration in certain cases.
The governor may return the bill (if it is not a Money Bill) requesting the House/Houses to reconsider the bill.
If such a bill is passed again by the House/Houses with/without amendment and presented to the governor for assent, the governor shall not withhold assent.

The plea in the SC: A plea was filed by the Telangana government seeking directions to the governor to clear ten bills passed by the state Assembly.

What are the SC’s observations?

Article 200 states that the governor must “as soon as possible” after the presentation of the bill for assent return the bill for reconsideration to the House/Houses of the state legislature.
The expression “as soon as possible” has a significant constitutional intent and must be borne into mind.

The issue:

The issue that is agitating State governments (Kerala, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal) is the non-decision/indecision on the part of the governor on a bill passed by the Assembly.
In a new constitutional development, the TN Assembly passed a resolution urging the President of India to fix a timeline for assent to be given to bills passed by the Assembly.

Why is this resolution a new constitutional development?

Article 355 of the Constitution says that it shall be the duty of the Union to ensure that the government of every State is carried on in accordance with the Constitution.
- This provision justifies the “invasion of the provincial field” by the Union government and the proclamation of the President’s rule (under Article 356) in a State.
If the governor violates Article 200 and sits on the bills indefinitely (an option not given by the Constitution), s/he is creating a situation where governance of the state cannot be carried on in accordance with the Constitution.
In such a situation, the government of the State has a constitutional duty to invoke Article 355 and request the President to give suitable instructions to the Governor.

The practice followed in the United Kingdom:

The veto could only be exercised on ministerial advice.
Refusal of royal assent on the ground that the monarch strongly disapproves of a bill/ it was intensely controversial would be unconstitutional.

Case of India:

Under Article 154 of the Constitution, the governor can exercise his/her executive powers only on the advice of the Council of Ministers.
Whether the Governor (under Article 200) can withhold his/her assent to a bill in the exercise of his/her discretionary powers?
Under the constitutional scheme, the governor is only a constitutional head and has no real powers.
According to constitutional experts, the governor can withhold assent to a bill only on ministerial advice.
Hence, there is a confusion on the issue in India.

Way ahead:

A bill is a policy imperative of the elected government which is responsible to the people.
Withholding assent means the death of the bill. Therefore, the government can challenge the inaction of the governor in a court of law.
The SC must fix a reasonable time frame for governors to take a decision on a bill passed by the Assembly in the larger interest of federalism in the country.

Insta Links:

Governor-Chief Minister confrontation

Mains Links:

From the resolution of contentious issues regarding the distribution of legislative powers by the courts, the ‘Principle of Federal Supremacy’ and ‘Harmonious Construction’ have emerged. Explain. (UPSC 2019)

Prelims Links: UPSC 2018

Consider the following statements:

No criminal proceedings shall be instituted against the Governor of a State in any court during his term of office.
The emoluments and allowances of the Governor of a State shall not be diminished during his term of office.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: 3

April 26, 2023 /26 Apr 2023, 26 April CA, article 154, Article 200, Article 355, Governor, GS 2, Today's Article, Today’s article

India and SCO

GS Paper 2

Syllabus: International Relations – Regional grouping

Source: IE

Context: Chinese and Russian defence ministers are attending a ministerial meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Delhi this week. Also, India will chair the Eurasian regional forum this year.

About SCO:


	Information
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) (est. 2001; HQ: Beijing) is a Eurasian political, economic, international security and defence organization.
Type	Permanent intergovernmental international organisation
Need	After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the then security and economic architecture in the Eurasian region dissolved and new structures had to come up.
Members	China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan (not Turkmenistan), were the original ‘Shanghai Five’. Uzbekistan was included afterwards. India and Pakistan joined the organization in 2017
Key priorities	Regional non-traditional security, counter-terrorism; Fight against the “three evils” of terrorism, separatism and extremism
Observers	Iran, Afghanistan, Belarus, and Mongolia
Current Head	India is the current chair of SCO
Internal conflicts within SCO	Between India and China; India and Pakistan; Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan; Pakistan and Taliban-led Afghanistan; and No Central Asian neighbour has endorsed the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

How India gains from SCO:


Dimensions		Benefits for India
Geopolitical Balance	Asian Player	SCO bolsters India’s status as a major pan-Asian player which is currently limited in the South Asian paradigm.
Multi-alignment	Against the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine war; US’ power struggle with China and sanctions on Iran. SCO helps India engage with all sides.
“Shanghai Spirit”	It emphasises India’s foreign policy of harmony, non-interference in others’ internal affairs, and non-alignment.
Regional Engagement	Facilitates Bilateral Engagement	E.g., India is a major trade partner of Russia and China
Informal Meeting Opportunities	The SCO summit gives an opportunity for Indian and Pakistani leaders; the India-Chinese delegation; India-Russian leaders to meet informally, on the sidelines.
Security dimensions	E.g., India wants access to intelligence and information from SCO’s counter-terrorism body, the Tashkent-based Regional Anti-Terror Structure (RATS). Also, India through SCO can help in the stability of Afghanistan.
Connectivity	E.g., International North-South Transport Corridor

India’s challenges in dealing with SCO:


Challenge	Description
Differences between India and Pakistan	Differences on cross-border terrorism, geopolitics, Kashmir dispute.
Differences between India and China	India’s concern over China’s BRI initiative and Chinese expansionist policy on India’s borders.
Intelligence sharing	India may be hesitant to share intelligence with Pakistan and China within the SCO’s anti-terrorism structures.
SCO’s Stance on Kashmir	The SCO may not take a firm stance on the Kashmir dispute that India would like. China is likely to take Pakistan’s side, creating tensions.
Limited support for the India-China border dispute	The SCO’s other members may not have the capability to stand up to China in any border dispute between India and China, limiting the SCO’s ability to help India.
Containing China’s rise	India wants to contain China’s influence in the region, but joint containment efforts may not happen within the confines of the SCO.
Afghanistan is not part of SCO	Cooperation with Central Asian states is important for India in combating terrorism in Afghanistan, but Afghanistan is not part of the SCO.

Conclusion:

While the SCO has been successful in attracting a growing number of regional states, its internal contradictions are casting a shadow over its strategic coherence.

Insta Links:

SCO

Mains Links

SCO serves India’s quest for geopolitical balance and regional engagement, however, any benefits from it are cancelled out by the presence of China and Pakistan. Has India gained anything substantial from the SCO? Critically examine. (15M)

April 26, 2023 /26 Apr 2023, SCO, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Today's Article

Indoor air pollution

GS Paper 3

Syllabus: Environmental Pollution & Degradation

Source: DTE

Context: According to a study, India’s poor indoor air quality can impair cognitive development in children under two years when brain growth is at its peak.

Highlights of the study:

Poor air quality in households that used solid cooking materials such as cow dung cake.
Very small particulate fragments (PM 2.5) in the air are a major concern as they can move from the respiratory tract into the brain.
Infants (<2 years) from these houses had lower visual memory scores and slower visual processing speeds.
As children grow up in polluted environments, their developing organs and bodies are affected.

Impact: Long-term consequences for life → lower economic productivity → increased burden on healthcare and mental health systems.

Concerns for India:

According to the State of Global Air 2020 report, over 116,000 infants in India died within a month of birth in 2019 due to air pollution, outdoor and indoor.
Every third child in Delhi has impaired lungs making them vulnerable to metabolic diseases.

Recommendations: Since indoor air quality is linked to cooking fuels, efforts to reduce cooking emissions should be a key target for intervention.

Control measures:

Public awareness
Change in pattern of fuel use (PM Ujjwala Yojana, National Biogas and Manure Management Programme, GOBARdhan Scheme)
Modification of design of cooking stove (Unnat Chulha Abhiyan)
Improvement in ventilation
Intersectoral coordination and global initiative

April 26, 2023 /26 Apr 2023, Today's Article

Traditional Methods of water conservation in India

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

Source: DTE

Context: India has conducted its first census of all water structures that hold rainwater and recharge groundwater, finding that the country has 2.4 million waterbodies, 83% of which are being used for fisheries, irrigation, groundwater recharge, and drinking water.


Method	Description
Talab/Bandhi	Reservoirs to store water for drinking and household consumption
Jhalaras	Rectangular-shaped step-wells to collect subterranean water seepage from a lake or an upstream reservoir
Baoli	Stepwells with arches and motifs, open to people of all sections of society
Kund (Gujarat and Rajasthan)	The catchment area is shaped like a saucer sloping towards the circular underground well at the centre for rainwater harvesting
Bawari (Rajasthan)	Stepwells that divert rainfall to artificial tanks via canals on hilly terrain
Taanka (Thar desert region in Rajasthan)	Cylindrical paved underground pit for rainwater harvesting from courtyards, rooftops and artificially prepared catchments
Nadi	Village ponds where rainwater collects from natural catchment areas
Bamboo drip irrigation system (Northeastern India)	Irrigation technique using bamboo pipes to transport water from perennial springs
Zings (Ladakh)	Small tanks to collect melting glacier water
Kuhls (Himachal Pradesh)	Surface water channels for irrigation of fields tapping glacial waters from rivers and streams
Jackwells (Great Nicobar Islands)	Small pits for rainwater harvesting, constructed using bamboo and logs of wood
Water harvesting structures of Ramtek (Maharashtra)	Network of groundwater and surface water bodies with tanks connected by underground and surface canals for water flow from the foothills to the plains

April 26, 2023 /26 Apr 2023, CME, India’s water story, Today's Article, Traditional methods of water conservation in India

Sri Ramanujacharya and Adi Shankaracharya

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: PIB

Context: Prime Minister has paid tributes to Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya and Sri Ramanujacharya on his birth anniversary and on his Jayanti.

Comparison of Adi Shankaracharya and Sri Ramanujacharya:


	Adi Shankaracharya	Sri Ramanujacharya
Birth and Lifetime	Born in 788 CE in Kaladi, Kerala, and passed away in 820 CE	Born in 1017 CE in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, and passed away in 1137 CE
Philosophy	Advaita Vedanta (Non-Dualism)	Vishishtadvaita Vedanta (Qualified Non-Dualism)
Interpretation of Vedas	Argued that the ultimate reality is Brahman and that the universe is an illusion (Maya)	Argued that Brahman is the ultimate reality, but also that the universe is real and a manifestation of Brahman
Approach to God	Emphasized the importance of renunciation and meditation to realize the ultimate reality	Emphasized devotion (bhakti) to achieve union with the divine
Scriptures	Emphasized the importance of the Upanishads and the Brahma Sutras	Emphasized the importance of the Bhagavad Gita and the Divya Prabandham
Influence	Revived Hinduism and helped unify various philosophical schools of thought. Founded four mathas (monasteries) in India.	Popularized devotion to Vishnu and helped revive the Bhakti movement in India.
Key Works	Vivekachudamani, Upadesa Sahasri, and commentaries on the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, and Brahma Sutras	Sri Bhashya, Vedanta Sara, and commentary on the Bhagavad Gita
Legacy	Considered one of the most influential thinkers in Indian philosophy. His teachings have had a profound impact on Indian intellectual and spiritual life.	His teachings have had a significant impact on the development of the Bhakti movement and South Indian culture. He is widely regarded as a saint and his legacy continues to inspire devotion to Vishnu.
Statue	A 12-foot statue of Adi Shankaracharya at Kedarnath (Uttarakhand)	Statue of Equality on the outskirts of Hyderabad, Telangana

Prelims Links:

Which one of the following pairs does not form part of the six systems of Indian Philosophy?

(a) Mimamsa and Vedanta

(b) Nyaya and Vaisheshika

(c) Lokayata and Kapalika

(d) Sankhya and Yoga

Answer: C

April 26, 2023 /26 Apr 2023, Adi Shankaracharya, Sri Ramanujacharya, Today's Article

Delhi’s Zafar Mahal

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: HT

Context: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is set to begin conservation works at Zafar Mahal in south Delhi’s Mehrauli, which was once the summer palace of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal emperor.

About Zafar Mahal


Attribute	Description
		Zafar Mahal
Location	Mehrauli village, Southern part of Delhi
Purpose and built by	Summer palace for the Mughal family. It was built by Emperor Akbar Shah II and completed by Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal Emperor in the 18th and 19th Century
Dedicated to	Hazrat Khwaja Qutubuddin Bakthiar Kaki, a renowned Sufi saint to whom almost all the Mughal Emperors were disciples
Components	Palace or Mahal, and entrance gate (Hathi Gate)
Legacy	The Mahal is where Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal emperor, wished to be buried, but his grave lies empty. The exact burial place of Bahadur Shah Zafar’s sons and grandson, who were executed by the British, is unknown.
Nearby	Dargah of Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki
Cenotaphs	Contains cenotaphs (“empty tombs”) of later Mughal Emperors
Festival	The annual festival or procession known as Phulon ki Sair starts from Zafar Mahal and was started by Khawja Bhaktiyar Kaki as a protest against the British.

April 26, 2023 /26 Apr 2023, Delhi's Zafar Mahal, Mughal Emperor, Today's Article

Relative humidity

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: TH


Type of Humidity	Definition	Unit of Measurement	Factors Affecting
Humidity	Humidity is the amount of moisture present in the air around us.
Absolute Humidity	The actual amount of water vapour present in the atmosphere	grams/m³	Temperature, Location
Relative Humidity	Percentage of moisture present in the atmosphere compared to its full capacity at a given temperature	%	Temperature, Availability of water for evaporation (Higher the RH of air, the more it is filled with moisture)
Dew Point	The temperature at which saturation occurs in a given sample of air	°C	Temperature, Relative Humidity
Specific Humidity	Weight of water vapour per unit weight of air	g/kg

Why does relative humidity matter?

Relative humidity plays a significant role in how comfortable we feel in different environments. When the relative humidity is high, the air is already filled with moisture, and the sweat on our skin can’t evaporate. This makes it difficult for our bodies to cool down, which can be dangerous in hot weather. In general, a relative humidity of 30-60% is considered comfortable, and environments with lower humidity may require humidifiers to increase moisture levels. On the other hand, a fan can be useful in areas with higher humidity to help move the air and promote sweat evaporation.

What is Wet Bulb Temperature?

Wet bulb temperature is the lowest temperature to which air can be cooled by the evaporation of water at constant pressure, and it is a limit beyond which humans cannot tolerate high temperatures. It is measured by wrapping a wet cloth on a thermometer to observe the temperature at which evaporation occurs. The highest acceptable wet-bulb temperature for humans is 35°C (95°F) for six hours, above which serious health problems can develop, even for healthy individuals.

April 26, 2023 /26 Apr 2023, Relative humidity, Today's Article, Wet Bulb Temperature

SWAGAT initiative

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: PIB

Context: Prime Minister will participate in a programme marking 20 years of completion of the SWAGAT initiative in Gujarat

About the SWAGAT initiative:


Aspects	Details
Name	SWAGAT (State Wide Attention on Grievances by Application of Technology)
Year started	2003
Purpose	To act as a bridge between citizens and the government by solving their grievances
Components	State SWAGAT, District SWAGAT, Taluka SWAGAT, Gram SWAGAT, Lok Fariyad program
Unique feature	Helps the common man air their grievances directly to the Chief Minister
Frequency	Held on the fourth Thursday of every month
Grievance rate	More than 99% of grievances submitted to date have been resolved
Awards received	United Nations Public Service Award in 2010 for improving transparency

April 26, 2023 /26 Apr 2023, Gujarat, SWAGAT initiative, Today's Article

National Health Accounts Estimates for India (2019-20)

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: PIB

Context: The National Health Accounts Estimates report for India (2019-20) has been released, revealing various health outcomes.

Key highlights:


Key Highlights	Percentage of GDP and Significance
Total Health Expenditure	3.6% (increased)
Government Health Expenditure	Increased from 1.13% (2014-15) to 1.35% (2019-20)
Government Health Expenditure as % of Total Health Expenditure	Increased from 29% (2014-15) to 41.4% (2019-20)
Share of primary healthcare in Current Government Health Expenditure (CGHE)	Increased from 51.3% in 2014-15 to 55.9% in 2019-20. National Health Policy 2017 where states that two-thirds of public health spending must be in Primary Health systems.
Share of Out-Of-Pocket expenditure in Total Health Expenditure	Declines from 62.6% in 2014-15 to 47.1% in 2019-20. This shows progress towards ensuring financial protection and Universal Health Coverage for citizens.
Per capita Government spending on healthcare	Doubles (from Rs. 1,108 to Rs. 2,014 between 2014-15 to 2019-20)
Private health insurance share	Increasing
Social Security Expenditure (SSE) on healthcare	Increased (from 5.7% in 2014-15 to 9.3% in 2019-20). This increase in social security has a direct impact on reducing out-of-pocket payments.

About National Health Accounts Estimates for India:

The report is produced annually by the National Health Systems Resource Centre (under Health Ministry)

Accounting framework used: Internationally accepted System of Health Accounts 2011, ( recommended by World Health Organization)
This is the 7th such report (from 2013-14 to 2019-20)

National Health Systems Resource Centre (est. in 2006-07; under the National Rural Health Mission) is the apex body for technical assistance, Strategy development and capacity building for the states and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW)

April 26, 2023 /26 Apr 2023, National Health Accounts Estimates for India (2019-20), Today's Article

2nd North Sea Summit

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: ET

Context: Nine European countries have convened for a summit aimed at boosting the deployment of offshore wind turbines in the North Sea to make it the largest green energy centre in Europe.

About the 2nd North Sea Summit:


Location	Ostend, Belgium
Participants	7 EU countries: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands 2 non-EU countries: Norway, and the United Kingdom
Objective	Accelerate deployment of offshore wind turbines to make the North Sea the “largest green energy centre in Europe”
Targets	120 GW offshore wind energy capacity by 2030, and 300 GW by 2050
Previous Declaration	The first summit in 2022 had Esbjerg Declaration (signed by Belgium, Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands in 2022)
Key Announcement	The Netherlands and the United Kingdom announced a new interconnection to link a Dutch offshore wind farm to the UK
About Offshore wind turbines	They generate electricity using wind power in bodies of water and are larger than onshore turbines, built to withstand harsh weather conditions and strong winds. The electricity generated is transmitted to the shore via undersea cables. Of the total power from wind, 93% comes from onshore systems and the rest only 7% offshore wind farms.
About the North Sea	The North Sea lies between Great Britain, Denmark, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France.

April 26, 2023 /26 Apr 2023, 2nd North Sea Summit, Today's Article

National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS)

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: LM

Context: The Ministry of Rural Development announced that 28 states and Union Territories in India have adopted the National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS) for land records

About National Generic Document Registration System


Topic	Information
NGDRS is an advanced software application for the execution of land registration documents
Initiated By	Department of Land Resources (DoLR), Ministry of Rural Development
Developed By	National Informatics Centre (NIC)
Objective	Ensure transparency, accountability, and reduction in time, cost, and procedures for execution of registration documents; Empower citizens by enabling property valuation and online document submission
Compatibility	Scalable, flexible, configurable, and compatible with state-specific needs
Components	Computerization of land record; Survey/Re-survey; Computerization of registration
Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) (also called Bhu-Aadhar)	Adopted by 26 states/UTs; pilot testing done in 7 more states/UTs; Part of Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP); Provides standardization across states, easy sharing of land records, protects government land, and ensures transparency
About DILRMP	The Department of Land Resources is implementing DILRMP since 2016 as a Central Sector Scheme for – Computerization of land records; Survey/Re-survey; and Computerization of registration