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INTEGRATED MAINS AND PRELIMS MENTORSHIP (IMPM) 2025 Daily KEY

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Critical Topics and Their Significance for the UPSC CSE Examination on November 16, 2024

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NHRC takes suo motu cognizance of the two reported incidents of food poisoning

For Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

For Mains Examination: GS II - Indian Polity - Important Organisations

Context:

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of the media reports, carried on 19^th and 21^st August, 2024, about the two alleged incidents of food poisoning causing serious health problems in Andhra Pradesh. In one incident, reportedly, the health of 70 students was seriously affected due to food poisoning at Chittoor Apollo Health University. They are undergoing treatment at Chittoor Government Hospital. In the other incident, three children died and 37 fell ill after food poisoning at an orphanage in Anakapalli district. They are admitted to different hospitals in Anakapalli and Vishakhapatnam

Read about:

What is National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) ?

Functions and Powers of NHRC

Key takeaways:

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is an autonomous statutory body established in India to protect and promote human rights.

Here's a detailed overview:

Establishment and Legal Framework:
- The NHRC was established under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
- It is empowered to investigate complaints of human rights violations and take necessary actions.
Functions:
- Investigate Complaints: NHRC can investigate complaints regarding human rights violations, either suo motu or based on complaints from individuals or groups.
- Monitor: It monitors the functioning of human rights institutions and the implementation of human rights laws and policies.
- Advise: It advises the government on human rights issues and recommends measures to prevent violations.
- Awareness and Education: It promotes human rights awareness and education through various programs and activities.
- Research and Reporting: NHRC conducts research on human rights issues and publishes reports to inform the public and government.
Powers:
- Inquiry Powers: NHRC has the power to conduct inquiries and investigations into complaints of human rights violations.
- Recommendations: It can make recommendations to the government for corrective measures and reforms.
- Legal Action: While NHRC itself does not have judicial powers, it can recommend legal action or compensation for victims.
Composition:
- NHRC is headed by a Chairperson, who is a retired Chief Justice of India or a retired Supreme Court judge.
- It includes other members, such as retired judges of the Supreme Court or High Courts, and experts in human rights, law, and social work.
Jurisdiction:
- NHRC's jurisdiction extends across the entire country of India. It works in cooperation with state human rights commissions (SHRCs) and other relevant agencies.

Follow Up Question

1.Other than the Fundamental Rights, which of the following parts of the Constitution of India reflect/reflects the principles and provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)? (UPSC CSE 2020)

Preamble
Directive Principles of State Policy
Fundamental Duties

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer (D)

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the UN General Assembly as Resolution 217 A in Paris. It asserts that all individuals are born free and equal in dignity and rights, endowed with reason and conscience, and should treat each other with a spirit of fraternity. Article 3 of the Declaration guarantees the right to life, liberty, and personal security. Similarly, the Preamble of the Indian Constitution emphasizes "equality of status and opportunity," as well as the dignity of the individual and national unity and integrity. Therefore, Statement 1 is accurate. Article 22 of the Declaration highlights the importance of economic, social, and cultural rights for human dignity and personal development, concepts also reflected in the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) in the Indian Constitution. Additionally, Article 29 of the Declaration refers to duties, a notion incorporated into the Indian Constitution by the 42nd Amendment Act of 1976, which established Part IV-A (Article 51A).

Why is lateral entry policy under scrutiny?

For Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

For Mains Examination: GS II - Indian Governance

Context:

What did the Union Public Service Commission advertise on recruitment, and why was the order withdrawn? Has the government tried out the lateral entry policy in the past? How did it fare? What is the reservation issue? Is there a shortage of personnel?

Read about:

What is Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) ?

Functions and responsibilities of UPSC

Key takeaways:

On August 17, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) announced lateral recruitment for 45 positions at the levels of joint secretary, director, and deputy secretary across various ministries and departments. This decision sparked controversy because reservation benefits were not applied to these "single post" recruitments. Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, criticized the move as "anti-national," claiming it deprived Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) of their rightful reservations in government jobs. In response to the public outcry, Union Personnel Minister Jitendra Singh requested the UPSC to withdraw the advertisement on August 20, leading to its cancellation shortly after.

Why is lateral hiring necessary?

According to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), lateral recruitment aims to bring in fresh talent and enhance human resources at the middle management level for specialized tasks, leveraging the candidates' expertise in specific areas.

Has this type of recruitment occurred before?

Yes. Since 2019, 63 positions have been filled through lateral recruitment, though at least seven appointees left their posts prematurely. These positions are open to candidates from the private sector, state governments, public sector undertakings, autonomous bodies, statutory organizations, universities, and recognized research institutes, with tenures ranging from three to five years.

In 2021, the UPSC received 295 applications for three joint secretary positions, 1,247 applications for 27 director positions, and 489 applications for 13 deputy secretary positions. Candidates were recommended for 31 positions, while the remaining 12 positions were left vacant, according to the UPSC's 2021-22 annual report.

What is the origin of this policy?

The NITI Aayog proposed lateral entry in its 2017 report titled "India-Three Year Action Agenda, 2017-18 to 2019-20," as part of a broader strategy for Civil Services Reform. The report argued that the increasing complexity of the economy necessitates the inclusion of specialists in policymaking through lateral entry, which would also introduce competition to the existing career bureaucracy.

The report further suggested that government officers should develop expertise in specific fields and recommended replacing the current practice of frequent rotations with longer postings based on specialization. This approach would bring top talent into the government, energizing ministries. For tax reforms, NITI Aayog advocated for greater flexibility in recruiting technical experts from outside to improve tax compliance. On February 10, 2021, the Prime Minister criticized the work culture of IAS officers, questioning the effectiveness of relying on them alone.

The idea of lateral entry was also recommended during the Congress-led UPA government in 2005 by the Second Administrative Reforms Commission.

Is there a shortage of All India Services (AIS) officers?

In December 2021, the DoPT proposed amending the Indian Administrative Service (Cadre) Rules, 1954, to allow IAS, Indian Police Service, and Indian Forest Service officers to be deputed to the Centre without necessarily requiring state government approval. This proposal was made in response to a significant shortage of AIS officers at the Centre.

A 2023-24 parliamentary panel report on the DoPT revealed that only 442 IAS officers were working with the Union government, far below the required strength of 1,469. According to existing norms, states must depute AIS officers to Central government offices, but this cannot exceed 40% of the total cadre strength. In 2020, the DoPT informed states that it was struggling to fill vacancies in various Central ministries. Approximately 40% of the 390 Central Staffing Scheme posts are at the joint secretary level (more than 19 years of experience), while 60% or 540 such posts are at the deputy secretary (nine years) or director (14 years of service) level.

Did previous governments make such appointments?

Yes. For example, in 1971, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was appointed as the Economic Adviser in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, later serving as Chief Economic Adviser, Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, and Finance Minister.

The reservation system in government jobs follows the DoPT's 13-point roster policy, which applies quotas by rotation, taking each department as a unit rather than the ministries as a whole. For instance, if a joint secretary position is advertised in a specific ministry, reservation rules do not apply across all ministries' vacancies. Union Minister Jitendra Singh stated that eligible candidates from reserved categories are considered for lateral entry along with others, but reservation does not apply to single post appointments.

Follow Up Question

1.Which of the following statements regarding the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is/are correct?

The UPSC is a constitutional body established under Article 315 of the Indian Constitution.
The UPSC conducts examinations for appointments to the all-India services, central services, and public services of the centrally administered territories.
The UPSC's recommendations are binding on the government for all recruitment matters.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

a) 1 and 2 only
b) 1 and 3 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2, and 3

Answer (a)

Statement 1 is correct: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is indeed a constitutional body established under Article 315 of the Indian Constitution.
Statement 2 is correct: The UPSC conducts examinations for appointments to all-India services (like IAS, IPS), central services (like IFS), and public services of centrally administered territories.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The recommendations made by the UPSC are generally advisory in nature and are not binding on the government, except in certain cases, like appointments to civil services and posts

Do doctors need a Central Protection Act?

For Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

For Mains Examination: GS II - Governance and needed act on protection of doctor

Context:

Resident doctors across India are on strike demanding laws that ensure their safety while on duty. This follows the rape and murder of a young doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9. The protests started after the discovery of the doctor’s body in the seminar room of the emergency building where she had been working. Doctors point out that while the hospital administration and State government attempted to underreport the incident, there is no Central law that protects healthcare workers.

Read about:

What is the National Medical Commission?

Doctors Safety in Hospitals

Key takeaways:

According to the Constitution, health and law enforcement are under state jurisdiction, making it the primary duty of state governments or Union Territory administrations to address and prevent violent incidents.
The central government has acknowledged that it does not maintain comprehensive records of healthcare worker fatalities resulting from patient family attacks.
Workplace violence against medical professionals has been a longstanding issue in India. A notable incident occurred in 1973 when a nurse at a Mumbai hospital was assaulted, leaving her in a vegetative state for over four decades until her death in 2015.
Despite this, healthcare workers continue to advocate for basic safety measures in hospitals, including better lighting, increased security personnel, and surveillance systems.
Protesters in Delhi highlight the inadequate safety conditions in medical institutions, citing poorly lit areas, insufficient security, and the physical distance between departments.
They emphasize the urgent need for improved working conditions and safety measures to protect healthcare workers, particularly those working night shifts.
Medical professionals are calling for systemic reforms and a central protection act for doctors. They point to examples from other countries, such as the UK's zero-tolerance policy on violence in the NHS and stricter legal consequences for assaults on healthcare workers in some US states.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has submitted demands to the central government, including enhanced security protocols and the designation of healthcare facilities as safe zones.
In response to these concerns, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has mandated that institutional FIRs be filed within six hours of any violent incident against healthcare workers.
Additionally, the National Medical Commission has instructed medical colleges to develop policies for a safe work environment and to promptly investigate and report any incidents of violence against medical students

Follow Up Question

1.Which of the following statements regarding the safety of doctors in India is/are correct?

Violence against healthcare workers in India is not a new phenomenon, with incidents being reported as early as the 1970s.
The Union government centrally maintains records of the number of medical professionals who have lost their lives due to violence by patients or their families.
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has directed all medical colleges to develop a policy ensuring a safe work environment for all staff members.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

a) 1 and 2 only
b) 1 and 3 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2, and 3

Answer (b)

Statement 1 is correct: Violence against healthcare workers has been an ongoing issue in India, with notable incidents reported from as far back as the 1970s.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The Union government does not maintain centralized records of fatalities among medical professionals due to violence.
Statement 3 is correct: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has indeed instructed all medical colleges to implement policies for ensuring a safe work environment for their staff

UN launches new way to measure nations’ economic vulnerability

For Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

For Mains Examination: GS II - International Organisations and their reports

Read about:

What is Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI)?

What are all reports published by UN?

Key takeaways:

UN General Assembly officially introduced a new data-driven “vulnerability” index designed to assist small island states and developing nations in accessing low-interest financing.
The “Multidimensional Vulnerability Index” (MVI) is intended to complement traditional metrics like GDP by providing additional insights into vulnerability.
Since the 1990s, small island developing states (SIDS) that do not qualify for low-interest development financing based on GDP per capita but are still susceptible to external shocks such as climate change have advocated for such a measure.
After extensive discussions to finalize the framework of the new tool, the General Assembly adopted a resolution by consensus on Tuesday, which mandates that the UN and an independent expert committee regularly update the index.
The MVI, based on recommendations from a UN high-level panel, includes indicators related to a state's structural vulnerabilities and its economic, environmental, and social resilience.
These indicators cover factors such as reliance on imports, exposure to severe weather events and pandemics, effects of regional conflicts, refugee inflows, demographic pressures, availability of water and arable land, and child mortality rates.
Initially proposed by small island states, the MVI is designed to assess vulnerabilities and resilience to external shocks across all developing countries, ensuring its credibility and comparability.
Although the use of the index is voluntary, the resolution encourages UN bodies and multilateral development banks to consider integrating it with existing policies. The Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) has expressed support for the resolution

More Information

Important reports published by United Nations (UN)

Human Development Report (UNDP)
World Economic Situation and Prospects (UN DESA)
World Investment Report (UNCTAD)
Global Education Monitoring Report (UNESCO)
State of the World's Children Report (UNICEF)
World Health Statistics (WHO)
Global Environment Outlook (UNEP)
World Population Prospects (UN DESA)
World Migration Report (IOM)
Global Sustainable Development Report

Follow Up Question

1.Which of the following reports is NOT published by a United Nations agency?

a) Human Development Report

b) World Economic Outlook

c) Global Education Monitoring Report

d) World Happiness Report

Answer (b)

The Human Development Report is published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The Global Education Monitoring Report is published by UNESCO, a specialized agency of the UN.
The World Happiness Report, while not directly published by a UN agency, is released by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
The World Economic Outlook, however, is published by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

While the IMF works closely with the UN and is part of the broader UN system, it is technically an independent international organization and not a UN agency. The IMF was created alongside the World Bank at the Bretton Woods Conference in 1944, separate from the United Nations structure.

Tracing the evolution of the Indian National Flag

For Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

For Mains Examination: GS I - Modern Indian History

Context:

India is gearing up to celebrate the 78th Independence Day on August 15, 2024. On this day, people demonstrate their patriotism by unfurling the national flag on their houses, societies, schools, and other places.

Read about:

What is the Indian Constituent Assembly?

National Flag adoption and rules

Key takeaways:

Early Versions of the Flag

Calcutta Flag (1906): The earliest version of the Indian flag was hoisted on August 7, 1906, in Calcutta (now Kolkata). Known as the Calcutta Flag or the Vande Mataram Flag, it featured three horizontal stripes of green, yellow, and red. The green stripe had eight white lotuses, the yellow had the words "Vande Mataram" in Devanagari script, and the red stripe had a crescent and a star.
Berlin Committee Flag (1907): Another early version, known as the Berlin Committee Flag or the Madam Bhikaji Cama Flag, was hoisted by Indian revolutionaries in Paris in 1907. This flag had green, saffron, and red stripes with the words "Vande Mataram" and symbols such as the crescent, star, and sun.
Home Rule Movement Flag (1917): During the Home Rule Movement led by Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Annie Besant, a new flag was introduced. This flag had five red and four green horizontal stripes with seven stars in the shape of the Saptarishi constellation and a Union Jack in the top corner.

Evolution of the Current Flag

Gandhi's Involvement and Venkayya's Design (1921): Pingali Venkayya, a freedom fighter and scholar, designed a flag that Mahatma Gandhi proposed during a Congress meeting in 1921. The flag initially had two colours—red and green—to represent the two major communities of India. Gandhi suggested adding a white stripe for peace and a spinning wheel (charkha) symbolizing self-reliance. This flag became popular during the freedom movement.
Swaraj Flag (1931): In 1931, the Indian National Congress officially adopted a tricolour flag as the national flag. This flag had saffron, white, and green stripes with the charkha in the center. The colours represented courage and sacrifice (saffron), peace and truth (white), and faith and chivalry (green).
Adoption of the Present Flag (1947): As India neared independence, the Constituent Assembly adopted the current design of the national flag on July 22, 1947. The flag retained the saffron, white, and green stripes but replaced the charkha with the Ashoka Chakra, a 24-spoke navy blue wheel at the center. The flag became the official symbol of the Union of India on August 15, 1947.

Post-Independence Modifications

Amendments to Flag Code: Initially, the flag was made from Khadi, hand-spun cloth promoted by Mahatma Gandhi. Over the years, the Flag Code of India was amended to allow the use of other materials, including polyester, and to permit private citizens to display the flag on non-national days. The most recent amendment in 2021 expanded the types of materials and methods allowed for producing the flag.
Manufacturing and Protocol: The Bureau of Indian Standards sets the specifications for the flag's size, color, and other details. The Khadi Development and Village Industries Commission oversees the manufacturing rights, with only a few units licensed to produce the national flag.

Symbolism of the Flag

Saffron: Represents courage and sacrifice.
White: Symbolizes peace and truth.
Green: Stands for faith and chivalry.
Ashoka Chakra: The 24-spoke wheel represents the eternal wheel of law (dharma) and progress

Follow Up Question

1.Consider the following statements regarding the National Flag of India:

The design of the current Indian national flag was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India on July 22, 1947.
The original design of the Indian national flag proposed by Pingali Venkayya included the Ashoka Chakra.
The three colours in the national flag represent courage, peace, and faith.
The Flag Code of India allows the flag to be made from any material, including polyester.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A) 1 and 3 only
B) 2 and 4 only
C) 1, 3, and 4 only
D) 1, 2, 3, and 4

Answer (C)

Statement 1: Correct. The Constituent Assembly of India adopted the design of the current national flag on July 22, 1947.
Statement 2: Incorrect. The original design proposed by Pingali Venkayya did not include the Ashoka Chakra but had a charkha (spinning wheel) instead. The Ashoka Chakra was later included in the final design adopted in 1947.
Statement 3: Correct. The three colours of the national flag represent courage and sacrifice (saffron), peace and truth (white), and faith and chivalry (green).
Statement 4: Correct. The Flag Code of India has been amended to allow the national flag to be made from various materials, including polyester

The Flag Code of India, 2002 was amended vide Order dated 30 December, 2021 and National Flag made of polyester or machine made Flag have been allowed. Now, the National Flag shall be made of handspun and handwoven or machine made,cotton/polyester/wool/silk/khadi bunting

Production of Energy From Renewable Energy Sources

For Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

For Mains Examination: GS III - Environment & Ecology

Context:

The Government has undertaken several measures and initiatives to promote the development of renewable energy (RE), including solar and wind power, as given at Annexure that directly/indirectly incentivize industries to increase the use of RE against the consumption of energy from conventional coal-thermal based power.

Read about:

What is Renewable energy?

Significance of renewable energy

Key takeaways:

The Government of India has implemented numerous measures to enhance and speed up the country's renewable energy capacity, aiming for 500 GW of installed capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030. These measures include:

Issuing annual renewable energy power bid trajectories of 50 GW by Renewable Energy Implementation Agencies (REIAs) such as Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI), National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), and Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) from FY 2023-24 to FY 2027-28.
Allowing up to 100 percent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) through the automatic route.
Waiving Inter State Transmission System (ISTS) charges for inter-state sales of solar and wind power for projects commissioned by June 30, 2025, for Green Hydrogen Projects until December 2030, and for offshore wind projects until December 2032.
Establishing a Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) trajectory until 2029-30, including a separate RPO for Decentralized Renewable Energy to boost RE consumption.
Setting up a Project Development Cell to attract and facilitate investments.
Issuing Standard Bidding Guidelines for a tariff-based competitive bidding process for procuring power from grid-connected solar, wind, and wind-solar projects.
Launching schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM), PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, the National Programme on High Efficiency Solar PV Modules, the National Green Hydrogen Mission, and the development of 1 GW Offshore Wind Energy Projects.
Establishing Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Parks to provide land and transmission for large-scale RE project installations.
Laying new transmission lines and creating new sub-station capacities under the Green Energy Corridor Scheme for renewable power evacuation.
Issuing the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020 for net-metering up to 500 Kilowatts or the electrical sanctioned load, whichever is lower.
Approving the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme for offshore wind energy projects to install and commission 1 GW of offshore wind energy projects (500 MW each off the coast of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu)

Subject	Topic	Description
History	Modern Indian History	Company rule and Crown rule 1773 - 1947
History	Modern Indian History	Fall of Mughals
History	Modern Indian History	Establishment of British rule in India
History	Modern Indian History	Economic Policies of the British

UPSC KEY

INTEGRATED MAINS AND PRELIMS MENTORSHIP (IMPM) 2025 Daily KEY

Early Versions of the Flag

Evolution of the Current Flag

Post-Independence Modifications

Symbolism of the Flag