DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 25th August 2023

Syllabus

• Prelims – Sports

Context: The United World Wrestling (UWW) has suspended the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) for not conducting elections on time.

Background:-

• The UWW suspended the WFI for not conducting its elections within the mandated 45 days, which meant that the Indian grapplers would not be able to compete in Belgrade from September 16 under the Indian flag.

About the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI):-

• Establishment: 1958.
• Ministry: Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports.
• HQ: New Delhi.
• It is the governing body of wrestling in India.
• Objective: to promote wrestling players for the Olympics, Asian Games, National Wrestling Championships, and World Wrestling Championships.

Historical Background of Wrestling in India:–

• Wrestling in India has been practiced since the 5th millennium B.C.
• In Ancient India, wrestling was known as
• Many characters in Mahabharata are considered to be great wrestlers of the time, included: Bhimawas Jarasandha, Keechak, and Balrama.
• Ramayana mentions Hanuman as one of the greatest wrestlers of his time.
• It is called kushti in Punjab and Haryana.

Composition of WFI:-

• President -01
• Senior Vice President – 01
• Vice Presidents – 04
• Honourary Secretary General – 01
• Honourary Treasurer – 01
• Honourary Joint Secretaries – 02
• Executive Members – 05

Functions of WIFI:-

• To encourage, promote, and control amateur wrestling activities.
• To affiliate with the Indian Olympic Association.
• To affiliate with the United World Wrestling [UWW] and to enforce the rules and regulations of UWW.
• To arrange the holding of Senior, Junior, and Sub-Junior Wrestling Championships every year as per UWW Rules.
• To authorize a State Wrestling Association to hold wrestling competitions of Inter-Regional nature.
• To maintain control over officials and keep a panel of trained officials to work in approved.
• To arrange for their training and tests whenever required.
• To conduct systematic coaching camps for the benefit of wrestlers.
• To lay down the general policy under which the State Wrestling Associations.
• To register wrestlers and promote friendly bouts among them.

About-United World Wrestling (UWW):-

• It is the international governing body for the sport of wrestling.
• HQ:
• Objective: to lead the growth of Wrestling, competitive and recreational, around the world.
• The UWW was formerly known as FILA (Fédération Internationale des Luttes Associées).

MUST READ: Sports Code

SOURCE: AIR

Syllabus

• Prelims – Modern Indian History

Context: The Union Minister Amit Shah paid tribute to Shaheed Rajguru on his birth anniversary recently.

About Rajguru:-

• Birth: 24 August 1908.
• Birth Place: Khed, near Pune, Maharashtra.
• Death: 23 March 1931.
• Rajguru was a freedom fighter in the Indian National movement.
• He was 22 years old when he was martyred.
• Ideology: He believed in militant nationalism and thought that oppression was to be met with ferocity and violence.

Political Career:-

• He joined the Hindustan Socialist Republican Army (HSRA).
  • HSRA: It was a revolutionary group founded during the freedom movement in India.
  • Its members consisted of revolutionaries such as Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqulla Khan, and Sachindra Nath Bakshi.
  • They believed that India could gain independence only by force.
  • The group engaged in violent methods to achieve their objective.

Assassination of J P Saunders:-

• The young revolutionaries wanted to take revenge for the death of Lala Lajpat Rai who died due to injuries sustained in a brutal police lathi charge during the protests against the Simon Commission.
• Rajguru among other revolutionaries wanted to assassinate James A. Scott, the police officer who had ordered the lathi charge.
• However, in a case of mistaken identity, J. P. Saunders, a British police officer was killed.
• Rajguru was caught and arrested.

Trial:-

• In the trial that followed the shooting, all three leaders Rajguru, Bhagat Singh, and Sukhdev were sentenced to death.
• Rajguru, along with his fellow revolutionaries, was hanged in

Legacy:-

• Rajguru, Bhagat Singh, and Sukhdev were hanged on 23 March 1931.
• This day is observed as Martyrs’ Day in India.

MUST READ: Chandra Shekhar Azad

SOURCE: AIR

 PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Consider the following freedom fighters: (2022)

1. Barindra Kumar Ghosh
2. Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee
3. Rash Behari Bose

Who of the above was/were actively associated with the Ghadar Party?

1. 1 and 2
2. 2 only
3. 1 and 3
4. 3 only

Q.2) The Ghadr (Ghadar) was a: (2014)

1. revolutionary association of Indians with headquarters in San Francisco.
2. nationalist organization operating from Singapore.
3. militant organization with headquarters in Berlin.
4. communist movement for India’s freedom with headquarters at Tashkent.

Syllabus

• Prelims – Defense/Important Institutions

Context: Recently, the Defence Acquisition Council approved proposals worth 7,800 crore rupees to enhance the operational capabilities of the Armed Forces.

Background:-

• To enhance the efficiency of the Indian Air Force, the DAC granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the procurement and installation of Electronic Warfare EW Suite on Mi-17 V5 Helicopters.
• The EW Suite will be procured from Bharat Electronics Limited BEL.
• The DAC has also accorded AoN for procurement of a Ground-Based Autonomous System for mechanized infantry and armoured regiments which will enable various operations like unmanned surveillance, logistic delivery of ammunition, fuel, and spares, and casualty evacuation on the battlefield.
• The AoN for procurement of Ruggedized Laptops and Tablets for the Indian Army under Project Shakti has also been accorded.

About the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC):-

• Establishment: 2001.
• Ministry: Ministry of Defense.
• HQ: Delhi.
• The Defence Acquisition Council is the highest decision-making body in the Defense Ministry.
• It decides new policies and capital acquisitions for the three services (Army, Navy, and Air Force) and the Indian Coast Guard.
• Objective: To ensure expeditious procurement of the approved requirements of the armed forces.
• Chairman: The Minister of Defense is the Chairman of the Council.

Historical Background:-

• It was formed, after the Group of Ministers’ recommendations on ‘Reforming the National Security System’, in 2001, post Kargil War (1999).

Functions of DAC:-

• Give in-principle approval of a 15-year Long Term Integrated Perspective Plan (LTIPP) for defense forces.
• Accord of acceptance of necessity to acquisition proposals.
• Categorization of the acquisition proposals relating to ‘Buy’, ‘Buy & Make’, and ‘Make’.
• Take decisions regarding ‘offset’ provisions in respect of acquisition proposals above Rs 300 crore.
• Take decisions regarding the Transfer of technology under the ‘Buy & Make’ category of acquisition proposals.
• Field trial evaluation.
• Monitor the progress of major projects on feedback from the Defense Procurement Board.

MUST READ: Self-reliance in defence

SOURCE: AIR

 PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1)With reference to Home Guards, consider the following statements: (2023)

1. Home Guards are raised under the Home Guards Act and Rules of the Central Government.
2. The role of the Home Guards is to serve as an auxiliary force to the police in the maintenance of internal security.
3. To prevent infiltration on the international border/ coastal areas, the Border Wing Home Guards Battalions have been raised in some states.

How many of the above statements are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Q.2) Recently, India signed a deal known as ‘Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field’ with which of the following countries? (2019)

1. Japan
2. Russia
3. The United Kingdom
4. The United States of America

Syllabus

• Prelims – Governance

Context: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) recently, organized a one-day open house consultation on health insurance of persons with disabilities.

About the event:-

• Organized by: The event is being held in collaboration with the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) and National Centre for Promotion of Employment of Persons with Disabilities, Mumbai.
  • IRDAI: a statutory body under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance, tasked with regulating and licensing the insurance and re-insurance industries in India.
• The conference will be held in two sessions:-
  • Identification of issues of PwDs in seeking insurance facilities and
  • Identification of provisions and issues faced by insurance companies with respect to providing insurance to PwDs and way forward.

Objectives:-

• To understand the challenges being faced by Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).
• Approaching insurance providers specifically for retail policies, challenges of insurance companies in providing their policies, regulatory authorities such as IRDAI, and challenges faced by insurance chains in providing end-to-end insurance services.
• To discuss and promote the launch of standardized insurance products developed by IRDAI for persons with disabilities.

About the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC):-

• Established: 1993.
• HQ: New Delhi.
• NHRC is a statutory body established under the Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993.
• The Act also provides for the creation of the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) as well.

Historical Background:-

• NHRC was established in conformity with the Paris Principles.
• Paris Principles: adopted for the promotion and protection of human rights in Paris in 1991. It was endorsed by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1993.

Composition of NHRC:-

• It is a multi-member body.
• It consists of a chairperson, five full-time Members, and seven deemed Members.
• Chairperson: a retired chief justice of India or a judge of the Supreme Court.

Appointments:-

• The chairman and members are appointed by the President on the recommendations of a six-member committee consisting of:-
  • Prime Minister (head)
  • Speaker of the Lok Sabha
  • Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
  • Leaders of the Opposition in both Houses of Parliament
  • Union Home Minister.
• Term: three years or until they attain the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier.
• Removal: the President can remove them from office under specific circumstances.
  • They can be removed only on the charges of proven misbehavior or incapacity if proved by an inquiry conducted by a Supreme Court Judge.

Functions of NHRC:-

• To investigate the violation of human rights.
• To prevent a human rights violation.
• To conduct research about human rights.
• To create awareness campaigns through various mediums, and encourage the work of non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
  • NGO: a group that functions independently of any government.
• It is the watchdog of human rights in the country.

MUST READ: New Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) appointed

SOURCE: AIR

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) With reference to India, consider the following statements: (2021)

1. Judicial custody means an accused is in the custody of the concerned magistrate and such an accused is locked up in a police station, not in jail.
2. During judicial custody, the police officer in charge of the case is not allowed to interrogate the suspect without the approval of the court.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Q.2) In India, Judicial Review implies – (2017)

1. The power of the Judiciary to pronounce upon the constitutionality of laws and executive orders.
2. The power of the Judiciary to question the wisdom of the laws enacted by the Legislatures.
3. The power of the Judiciary to review all the legislative enactments before the President assents to them.
4. The power of the Judiciary to review its own judgments given earlier in similar or different cases.

Syllabus

• Prelims – Geography

Context: Recently, Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Limited (NLCIL) completed the Permanent Diversion of Paravanar River Course.

Background of the issue:-

• The temporary alignment of the Paravanar River course is just 60 meters away from the Mine.
• This Paravanar river has to handle stormwater from the catchment area of more than 100 sq. kms from the northwest and southern areas.
• As several villages are in this area, and it has become of paramount importance to safeguard the habitats as well as agricultural fields from inundation during incessant and heavy rains.
• Taking accountability and responsibility NLCIL took up the critical task of providing an adequate and permanent waterway through the work of permanent diversion of Paravanar.
• The long pending and vital work of permanent diversion of the Paravanar River course has been completed by NLCIL on 21st August 2023.

About Paravanar River:-

• Location: Tamil Nadu.
• Paravanar River Basin which is a leaf-shaped river basin.
• It is the second smallest river basin of Tamil Nadu.
• It lies within the Cuddalore District of Tamil Nadu.
• The Paravanar River is not a mature river.
• It is a seasonal and ephemeral river.
  • Ephemeral: lasting or used for only a short period of time.

About NLCIL:-

• Establishment:1956.
• Ministry: Ministry of Coal. (Coal economy)
• HQ: Tamil Nadu, India.
• Core Business: Mining & Power Generation.
• Present Mining Capacity: 1 MTPA
  • Lignite 32.1 MTPA
  • Coal: 20.0 MTPA
• Present Power Generation Capacity (including JVs): 6061.06 MW
  • Lignite: 3640MW
  • Coal: 1000 MW
  • Solar: 06  MW
  • Wind: 51 MW
• NLCIL is a Navratna company Central Public Sector Undertaking.
• It is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Coal. (India’s Transition away from Coal)

MUST READ: River Cities Alliance

SOURCE: PIB

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Consider the following statements: (2020)

1. Coal ash contains arsenic, lead, and mercury.
2. Coal-fired power plants release sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen into the environment.
3. High ash content is observed in Indian coal.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Q.2) With reference to India, consider the following statements: (2022)

1. Monazite is a source of rare earth.
2. Monazite contains thorium.
3. Monazite occurs naturally in the entire Indian coastal sands in India.
4. In India, Government bodies only can process or export monazite.

Which of the statements given above is correct?

1. 1, 2 and 3 only
2. 1, 2 and 4 only
3. 3 and 4 only
4. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Syllabus

• Prelims –Economy

Context: The Central Vigilance Commission has reconstituted the advisory board on Banking and Financial Frauds (ABBFF).

Background:-

• The reconstituted APBFF will be chaired by Suresh N Patel, former Central Vigilance Commissioner.

Central Vigilance Commission:-

• Establishment: 1964.
• HQ: New Delhi, Delhi.
• It was set up by the Government on the recommendations of the Committee on Prevention of Corruption, headed by Santhanam.
• It is a statutory body governed by the Central Vigilance Commission Act 2003.
• Mandate: To inquire into offenses that might have been committed under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 by certain categories of public servants.
• Composition: Central Vigilance Commissioner (Chairperson) and not more than two Vigilance Commissioners (Members).

About the Advisory Board on Banking and Financial Frauds (ABBFF):-

• Constituted by: Central Vigilance Commission(CVC).
• HQ: New Delhi.
• Objective: It conducts the first level examination of bank frauds before recommendations or references are made to investigative agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Composition of ABBFF:-

• It consists of the Chairman and four other members.
• Tenure of the Chairman/ Members: two years.

Functions of ABBFF:-

• It has been empowered to examine the role of officials/whole-time directors (including ex-officials/ex-whole time directors) in public sector banks, public sector insurance companies; and public sector financial institutions in case of frauds amounting to ₹ 3 crores and above. ( Bad Bank)
• To periodically carry out fraud analysis in the financial system and give inputs, if any, for policy formulation related to the frauds, to RBI and CVC. (Bad Bank: NARCL & IDRCL)
• The Central Vigilance Commission or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) can also refer any case or technical matter to the board for its advice, the order stated.
• It can give inputs for policy formulation related to fraud to the Reserve Bank of India and the Central Vigilance Commission.
• It will tender its advice as may be requisitioned by ministries, departments, the Central Vigilance Commission, or the CBI.

MUST READ: DHFL SCAM

SOURCE: BUSINESS LINE

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1)With reference to the Indian economy, consider the following statements: (2022)

1. If the inflation is too high, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is likely to buy government securities.
2. If the rupee is rapidly depreciating, RBI is likely to sell dollars in the market.
3. If interest rates in the USA or European Union were to fall, that is likely to induce RBI to buy dollars.

Which of the statements given above is correct?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Q.2) With reference to the ‘Banks Board Bureau (BBB)’, which of the following statements is correct? (2022)

1. The Governor of RBI is the Chairman of BBB.
2. BBB recommends the selection of heads for Public Sector Banks.
3. BBB helps Public Sector Banks develop strategies and capital-raising plans.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Syllabus

• Mains – Sports

Context: Magnus Carlsen of Norway beat India’s R. Praggnanandhaa in tie-breaks to win the title of the FIDE Chess World Cup 2023 held recently.

About FIDE Chess World Cup 2023:-

• Venue: Baku, Azerbaijan.
• Date: from 29 July to 25 August,2023.
• Governing body: International Chess Federation (FIDE).
• FIDE Global Strategy Commission (hereinafter referred to as GSC) is in charge of preparing Regulations, communicating with the participants and the Organizer, and conducting inspections.
• The body responsible for adopting and changing these Regulations is the FIDE Council (upon GSC’s recommendations).
• At any time, any circumstance or unforeseen situation not covered in these Regulations shall be referred to the FIDE President for the final decision.
• Participation: 206 players shall take part in the World Cup.
• Prize: The prize money shall be paid by direct banker’s order drawn in USD.

MUST READ: Chess Olympiad

SOURCE: AIR

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Consider the following statements in respect of the 44th Chess Olympiad, 2022: (2023)

1. It was the first time that the Chess Olympiad was held in India.
2. The official mascot was named Thambi’.
3. The trophy for the winning team in the open section is the Vera Menchik Cup.
4. The trophy for the winning team in the women’s section is the Hamilton-Russell Cup.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. Only three
4. All four

Q.2) Consider the following statements in respect of the 32nd Summer Olympics: (2021)

1. The official motto for this Olympics is ‘A New World’.
2. Sport Climbing, Surfing, Skateboarding, Karate, and Baseball are included in this

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Syllabus

• Mains – GS 2 (International Relations)

Context: Recently, the India and UK strong partnership has ectended far beyond trade and investment into other field such as education, sport, culture and tourism.

About India-UK Relations:

Political:

• UK-India relationship is rooted in India’s colonial history with the British.
• The bilateral relationship was upgraded to a strategic partnership in 2004.
• The UK supports India’s proposal for permanent membership of the UNSC and is also an important interlocutor for India on global platforms.

Economic and trade:

• Trade: UK is among India’s major trading partners and as per trade statistics of Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India’s trade with the UK in 2017-2018 was US $14.497 billion.
• Investment: UK is the 4th largest inward investor in India, after Mauritius, Singapore and Japan with a cumulative equity investment of US $26.09 billion (April 2000-June 2018), accounting for around 7% of all foreign direct investment into India.
  • India continued to be the third largest investor in the UK and emerged as the second largest international job creator with Indian companies having created over 110,000 jobs in the UK.

Defence:

• After Independence from the British Raj in 1947, India embarked on its own foreign and national defence policy that was characterized by the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
• After the end of the Cold War, the two countries entered into a strategic partnership in 2004.
• They have reaffirmed and strengthened Defence cooperation, with capacity building, technology development and transfers, joint military exercises (Ajeya Warrior-Army; Konkan-Naval; Indradhanush Force), intelligence sharing, etc. at its core.
• India considers the defence sector as one of the major areas where the bilateral partnership could be expanded around the ‘Make in India’ campaign.
• During Indian PM visit in 2015, the two sides agreed to move towards “a new Defence and International Security Partnership” that would intensify cooperation on defence and security, including cyber security, and maritime security pushing for joint working in key strategic areas.

Education and Health:

• The UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI) was launched in 2005.
• A new ‘UKEIRI Mobility Programme: Study in India’ was also launched in 2019.
  • Under this Britain’s universities collaborate with Indian partners and send UK students to India.
• The successful partnership between Oxford University, AstraZeneca and SII on COVID-19 vaccine demonstrated the potential of Indian and UK expertise working together to solve international challenges.
  • The two sides are also working on pandemic preparedness, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), digital health, Ayurveda and alternative medicines, as well as health worker mobility.

Cultural Linkages:

• Cultural linkages between India and UK are deep and extensive, arising out of shared history between the two countries.
• There has been a gradual mainstreaming of Indian culture and absorption of Indian cuisine, cinema, languages, religion, philosophy, performing arts, etc.
• 2017 was celebrated as the India-UK year of Culture to mark the 70th anniversary of Indian independence.

Indian Diaspora:

• Around 1.5 million people of Indian origin live in Britain.
• Indian diaspora are making significant contributions to the British Society.
• This includes 15 Members of Parliament, three members in Cabinet, and two in high office as Finance and Home Ministers.

Challenges:

• Bitter Past: The bitter legacies of the Partition, anti-colonial resentment and Britain’s prejudices and its perceived tilt to Pakistan have long complicated the engagement between India and the UK.
• Political Negativity: While there is no way of fully separating South Asian and British domestic politics, India’s problems have been accentuated by the British Labour Party’s growing political negativity towards India.
• WTO related issues: Interim FTA that do not convert into full FTAs can also face challenges from other countries at the World Trade Organisation(WTO) because the latter only permits for the preferential treatment between countries which have bilateral agreements between them.
• Domestic Politics: The large South Asian diaspora in the UK transmits the internal and intra-regional conflicts in the subcontinent into Britain’s domestic politics.
• Engagement with EU: The UK needs to sort out its own internal deliberations on the future of its trajectory with the EU.

Steps taken to address the challenges:

• Immigration: “Frequent registered traveller scheme” for Indians travelling to Britain for business.
  • Under the scheme, Indian nationals frequently visiting to the U.K. and contributing to growth in both countries will have a ‘significantly easier’ entry process including fewer forms to be filled, access to the EU-EEA passport controls, swifter passage through airports.
• Infrastructure: Both countries announced three UK-India city partnerships with Indore, Pune and Amaravati to support India’s ambitious urban development goals through technical assistance, expertise sharing and business engagement.
• River Cleaning: Both countries have launched a new Thames/Ganga partnership for healthy river systems.
  • This partnership will consist of a collaborative programme of research and innovation to enable the sustainable management of water resources in the Ganga basin and a policy expert exchange in 2016 supported by the UK Water Partnership.

Way Forward

The profound ties of culture, history and language already give the UK a potentially strong foundation upon which to further deepen its relationship with India. With a whole new set of circumstances, India and Britain should recognise that they both need each other to achieve their larger goals.

Source:                  The Hindu

Syllabus

• Mains – GS 2 (Governance)

Context: Recently the final National Curriculum Framework policy (NCF) was unveiled by the Union Education Minister.

About National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE):

• The National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) is developed based on the vision of the NEP 2020, and to enable its implementation.
• The formulation of NCF-SE will be undertaken by the NCERT.
• The NCF will essentially overhaul school syllabi across the country, and was developed by a steering committee headed by former ISRO chairman K Kasturirangan.

Key features of the policy:

Language learning:

• The policy emphasizes the importance of learning multiple languages, especially native Indian languages.
• Students in Classes 9 and 10 will have to study three languages, out of which at least two should be Indian languages.
• In Classes 11 and 12, they will continue with two languages, one of which must be an Indian language.
• The goal is to enable students to achieve a “literary level” of proficiency in at least one Indian language.

Board exams:

• The policy aims to reduce the stress and anxiety associated with board exams by allowing students to take them more than once a year.
• Students can choose the best score out of their multiple attempts.
  • This will also give them more opportunities to improve their performance and showcase their abilities.

Mandatory subjects:

• The policy has increased the number of compulsory subjects for Classes 9 and 10 to seven and for Classes 11 and 12 to six.
• This is intended to provide a broader and more balanced education to students.

Optional subjects:

• The policy has categorized optional subjects into three groups: arts education (including visual and performing arts, physical education, and vocational education), social sciences and humanities, and science, mathematics, and computational thinking.
• Students can choose subjects from any of these groups according to their interests and aspirations.

Flexible curriculum:

• The policy has made the curriculum more flexible and interdisciplinary by removing the rigid boundaries between academic and vocational subjects, as well as between different subject areas.
• Students can mix and match subjects from different groups and create their personalized learning paths.

Environmental education:

• The curriculum for environmental education covers various topics related to the natural and human-made environment, such as ecosystems, biodiversity, climate change, pollution, conservation, and sustainable development.
• Students are encouraged to develop awareness, appreciation, and responsibility for the environment through experiential learning, projects, and field trips.
• Environmental education is integrated across all subjects in the Primary and Middle Stages and offered as a separate elective subject in the Secondary Stage.

Content distribution:

• The Social Science curriculum for Classes 6 to 8 follows a multi-level approach that balances local, regional, national, and global perspectives.
• The content distribution is 20% local, 30% regional, 30% national, and 20% global.
• This helps students to understand the diversity and interdependence of different social groups, cultures, and regions, as well as the commonalities and challenges that they face.

Alignment with 21st-century requirements:

• The NCF recognizes the need to prepare students for the changing demands and opportunities of the 21st century.
  • Therefore, it aims to align the textbooks for Classes 3 to 12 with the skills and competencies that are essential for the future, such as critical thinking, creativity, communication, collaboration, digital literacy, and global citizenship.
• The textbooks also reflect the contemporary issues and concerns of society, such as gender equality, human rights, social justice, and environmental sustainability.

Significance:

• The development of the NCF-SE was guided by a vision to align education with the demands of the 21st century and the ethos of the Indian knowledge system.
• The framework introduces multidisciplinary education, nurturing values, fostering creative pedagogies, and preparing students for practical problem-solving.
• It will help India in shaping a holistic, contemporary, and Indian-rooted educational landscape.
• Multilingualism, conceptual understanding in Mathematics, and capacities for scientific inquiry also receive renewed attention.

Challenges in Indian education system:

• India has achieved universal enrolment at the elementary level.
  • This is a great achievement, but getting Students to School is only the beginning of human Capital formation.
• Poor quality of facilities, Shortage of qualified faculty.
• Out of date Curriculum, Limited university-industry Partnership.
• There are few rewards for being a good teacher and few punishments for being a Careless one.
  • Need more effective and accountable governance Systems.
• The greed of Private Colleges to earn the maximum from every Student puts traumatic Pressure on Students which results in mental breakdown.
• More girls than boys drop out of School.
  • While boys drop out to work, girls usually stay at home and help with domestic Work. Social Conception of gender roles is an important factor.

• Learning loss due to pandemics and the digital divide.

Steps by the Government to reform Education Sector:

• The 86th Constitution Amendment provides the Fundamental right to free and compulsory education under Article 21A includes a Common education System where the “rich and Poor are educated under one roof”.
• Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan provides funding to eligible State higher educational institutions.
• Declaration of Educational Institutions as institutions of Eminence, to provide world-class education to Indian Students within the Country.
• Creation of Higher Education Financing Agency, for high-quality infrastructure in Premier educational institutions.
• GIAN Initiative to invite distinguished academicians, entrepreneurs, scientists, and experts from premier institutions across the world to teach in higher educational institutions in India.

Way Forward:

The NCF is a comprehensive document that outlines the vision and goals of education in India. It aims to transform the education system by enhancing linguistic skills, offering flexible options for subject selection, and providing a holistic education that prepares learners for the present and the future.

Source:          The Hindu

Q1) Consider the following pairs:

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Q2) Consider the following statements

Statement-I:

India’s R. Praggnanandhaa won silver in the FIDE Chess World Cup 2023.

Statement-II:

It was held in Baku, Armenia.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

1. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
2. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
3. Statement-I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
4. Statement-I is incorrect but Statement II is correct

Q3) Consider the following statements

Statement-I:

Rajguru, Bhagat Singh, and Sukhdev were hanged on 14 February 1931.

Statement-II

Bhagat Singh and Rajguru threw bombs at the Central Legislative Assembly at Delhi.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

1. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
2. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
3. Statement-I and Statement II are incorrect
4. Statement-I is incorrect but Statement II is correct

Mains Practice Questions

Q.1)

Discuss the importance of the National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage (NCF-FS) for education and children’s general well-being. (250 words)

Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!!

ANSWERS FOR ’ 25th  August 2023 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st

Q.1) – a

Q.2) – c

Q.3) – c