​POLITY AND GOVERNANCE                                                             

1. Department of Rural Development decides to institutionalize social audits in major schemes                                                                   

2. Maharashtra placed under President’s Rule                                       

3. Progress on childhood pneumonia, diarrhoea falling short, finds global study                                                                                               

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS                                                          

1. 6th World Congress on Rural and Agricultural finance                        

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY                                                      

1. Western Ghats still home to a rich stock of butterflies                        

DISASTER MANAGEMENT                                                                

1. HADR Exercise TIGER TRIUMPH                                                     

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

Department of Rural Development decides to institutionalize social audits in major schemes

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential

Context :

• The Department of Rural Development decides to institutionalize social audits in major schemes.

More in the news :

• The Department of Rural Development has decided to institutionalize social audits in major schemes of rural development, starting with the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) and the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G).

• In this backdrop, a two-day ‘National Seminar on Social Audit of Rural Development Programmes’ is being organised in November 2019.

  • It is being jointly conducted by the Department of Rural Development and the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj.

  • The objective of the seminar is to understand the current status of social audits and Social Audit Units (SAUs) and develop a plan for roll out of social audit in other programmes.

  • The Seminar will take stock of the current status of Social Audits and SAUs in terms of independency, funds, issues identified, actions taken, etc. and will provide a platform for SAUs to share their experiences of conducting social audit.

  • Models and best practices in social audit from across states in India and also from other countries will be showcased.

  • Participants will also develop an action plan for strengthening SAUs and roll out of social audit in other rural development programmes especially NSAP and PMAY-G.

                                                                                                                                                                 Source :- PIB

Maharashtra placed under President’s Rule

GS PAPER - 02 POLITY - Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.

Context :

• The President has approved a proclamation imposing President’s Rule in Maharashtra, following a recommendation from Governor.

Background :

• The Union Cabinet recommended the President's rule in the state after Governor of the state submitted a report regarding the same.
   

  • In his report, the Governor said a situation has arisen that a stable government is not possible and the government could not be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.

• The President signed a proclamation imposing President's rule in Maharashtra under Article 356(1). The Assembly has been kept in suspended animation.

President’s Rule :

• President’s Rule implies the suspension of a state government and the imposition of direct rule of the Centre.

• It is also known as ‘State Emergency’ or ‘Constitutional Emergency’       

Article 356 :

• The Supreme Court in Bommai case (1994) enlisted the situations where the exercise of power under Article 356 could be proper.

• One such situation is that of ‘Hung Assembly’, i.e. where after general elections to the assembly, no party secures a majority.

• The President’s Rule is imposed through the invocation of Article 356 of the Constitution by the President on the advice of the Union Council of Ministers.

• Under Article 356, President’s Rule is imposed if the President, upon receipt of the report from the Governor of the State or otherwise, is satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the government of the State cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.

• The President’s Rule is imposed through the invocation of Article 356 of the Constitution by the President on the advice of the Union Council of Ministers.

• Under Article 356, President’s Rule is imposed if the President, upon receipt of the report from the Governor of the State or otherwise, is satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the government of the State cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.

• The state governor, on behalf of the President, carries on the state administration with the help of the chief secretary of the state or the advisors appointed by the President.

• The President can declare that the powers of the state legislature are to be exercised by the Parliament.

• The President either suspends or dissolves the state legislative assembly.

How long can the President’s Rule last?

• A proclamation of President’s Rule can be revoked through a subsequent proclamation in case the leader of a party produces letters of support from a majority of members of the Assembly, and stakes his claim to form a government. The revocation does not need the approval of Parliament.

• Any proclamation under Article 356 —which stands for six months — has to be approved by both Houses in the Parliament session following it. This six-month time-frame can be extended in phases, up to three years.

                                                                                                                                                          Source :- The Hindu

Progress on childhood pneumonia, diarrhoea falling short, finds global study

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

Context :

• To mark the occasion of the World Pneumonia Day on November 12, the International Vaccine Access Center (IVAC) released the 10th Pneumonia and Diarrhoea Progress Report.

  • The report describes progress in fighting pneumonia and diarrhoea in countries with the highest absolute number of deaths.

Key Highlights of the Report :

• The report has found that globally, pneumonia and diarrhoea led to nearly one of every four deaths in children under five years of age (in 2017).

• The report analyses how effectively countries are delivering 10 key interventions, including breastfeeding, vaccination, access to care, use of antibiotics, ORS, and zinc supplementation.

• These measures are proven to help prevent deaths due to these illnesses and could help achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal-3 target of reducing under-five mortality to at least as low as 25 per 1,000 live births by 2030.

• According to UNICEF, in India (2018) the
   

  • Under 5 Mortality Rate is 39 deaths per 1000 live births.

  • Infant Mortality Rate (under one year of age) is 32 deaths per 1000 live births.

  • Neonatal Mortality Rate (during the first 28 days of life) is 24 deaths per 1000 live births.

India Specific Findings :

•  Rollout of rotavirus vaccines, beginning in 2016, and the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, beginning in 2017, helped India’s scores improve.

• India’s exclusive breastfeeding rate, at 55%, is among the highest of the 23 countries.

• However, the proportion of children receiving important treatments, as with many other countries, remains below targets.

• Half of the children with diarrhoea receive ORS (oral rehydration solution) and 20% receive zinc supplementation — to help protect against, prevent and treat pneumonia and diarrhoea.

Way Forward :

• Global community must increase investment and support countries in developing smart, sustainable strategies that close gaps and accelerate progress.

                                                                                                                                                        Source :- The Hindu

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

6th World Congress on Rural and Agricultural finance

GS PAPER - 02 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS - Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.

Context :

• The 6th World Congress on Rural and Agricultural Finance (WCRAF) began in New Delhi.

World Congress on Rural and Agricultural Finance:

• The World Congress is held at regular intervals of 3 year period.The first Congress was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 2005.

• It aims at bringing together stakeholders of rural and agricultural finance all over the world.The Congress is an opportunity to strengthen business relations and to promote products and services.

• The 6th WCRAF is co-hosted by NABARD, Asia Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (APRACA) and Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

• The theme of the conference is “Rural and Agricultural Finance:Critical Input to achieve Inclusive and Sustainable Development”.

Objective :

• To promote Global value chains in agriculture

• To help in tackling food security

• To ensure agriculture is in line with sustainability, natural resource conservation and social harmony.

• To achieve the objective the financial institutions should constantly evolve innovatively to provide rural people stable and constant financial services.           

                                                                                                                                                                       Source :- PIB

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

Western Ghats still home to a rich stock of butterflies

GS PAPER - 03 ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY - Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

Context :

• The Kerala government has carried out a butterfly survey in the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS) and Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) located in Western Ghat region.

Key highlights of the Survey :

• The survey spotted 191 species of butterflies in the area, out of which 12 are endemic to the region. It shows a healthy butterfly habitat in the region

• The survey observed rare species of butterflies such as Silver forget me not, Common three-ring, and Brown onyx, etc.

• The diversity of butterflies was very low in the forest areas where alien invasive plants such as Senna spectabilis are found.
   

  • Senna spectabilis suppresses the growth of many host plants of butterflies.

                                                                                                                         Source :- The Hindu

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

HADR Exercise TIGER TRIUMPH

GS PAPER - 03 SECURITY - Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate

Context :

• The maiden India – US joint tri-services Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Exercise named ‘TIGER TRIUMPH’ is scheduled to be held in November 2019 for 9 days.

HADR Exercise TIGER TRIUMPH:

• TIGER TRIUMPH is the first joint Indo-US Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise.

• It is aimed at developing interoperability for conducting HADR operations.

• It is an exercise carried out on the Eastern coast of India starting with the Harbour Phase at Visakhapatnam.

• Personnel from both navies would participate in training visits, subject matter expert exchanges, sports events and social interactions.

• After this phase, the ships, with troops embarked, would sail for the Sea Phase and undertake maritime, amphibious and HADR operations.

• On reaching the HADR area at Kakinada, the landing of Relief Forces would be undertaken to the Exercise scenario.

• At the HADR Exercise Area, a Joint Command and Control Centre would be established jointly by the Indian Army and US Marines.

• The IAFRAMT and the US Navy Medical Team would establish a Medical Facility Camp for providing medical aid to victims, who would have been previously evacuated by road and air to the Camp.

                                                                                                                Source :- PIB

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------