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Gender Budgeting: Critical Analysis – UPSC Social Justice Notes

Defining Gender Budgeting: Gender budgeting is a strategic tool aimed at achieving gender mainstreaming, ensuring equitable development benefits for both women and men. The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) emphasizes its role in integrating gender perspectives into policy formulation, implementation, and review processes. The annual publication of the Gender Budget Statement (GBS) alongside the Union Budget is a key aspect of this initiative. 

Table of Contents

Key Components and Objectives:  

• Reporting Mechanism: GBS serves as a reporting mechanism for ministries/departments, urging them to assess their programs through a gender lens. 
• Integration, Not Separation: Gender budgeting is not a standalone accounting exercise but an ongoing process, deeply embedded in policy/program formulation and implementation. 
• Dissecting Government Budgets: The approach involves dissecting government budgets to discern gender-specific impacts and ensure alignment of gender commitments with budgetary allocations. 

Parts of Gender Budget  

• Part A includes schemes with 100% allocation for women (for ex: Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Ujjawala, Mahila Shakti Kendra, Anganwadi, etc.) 
• Part B with schemes allocating at least 30% of funds for women (for ex: Mid-day meals program, PM POSHAN, etc.) 

Evolution of Gender Budgeting in India:  

• 2001: The Finance Minister highlights gender budgeting in the Budget speech, and the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP) analyzes the Union Budget 2001-02 from a gender perspective. 
• 2005-06: Introduction of the Gender Budget, emphasizing Women Specific Schemes (with 100% allocation for women) and Pro-Women’s Schemes (with at least 30% allocation for women). 
• 2007: The Department of Expenditure issues a charter outlining the composition and functions of Gender Budgeting Cells (GBCs). 
• 2010: The Planning Commission recommends the adoption of Gender Responsive Budgeting or Gender Budgeting, replacing the Women Component Plan. 
• 2021: The MoWCD reports that 27 states/UTs have embraced Gender Budgeting. 

Challenges in India’s Gender Budgeting Landscape:  

• Quantum and Fiscal Precision: India’s gender budget, accounting for 4-6% of total expenditure and less than 1% of GDP, reveals a need for greater fiscal precision. Fiscal marksmanship, crucial for accurate budgetary forecasting, remains an area requiring attention. 
• Concentration in Key Ministries: Approximately 90% of gender budgeting is centralized in five ministries, with the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) dominating in the livelihood sector. Essential areas like transportation, water collection, and water security are left under-addressed. 
• Post-Covid-19 Approach: The recent budgets fail to address critical pandemic-induced issues, despite the disproportionate impact on women. Challenges include the scarcity of disaggregated gender-specific data for assessing the impact of allocations on gender equality. The budgeting process is often linked to schemes rather than measurable outcomes. 

Recommendations for Improvement:  

• Data Availability: Enhance the availability of disaggregated gender-specific data sets for comprehensive analysis across schemes and programs. 
• Outcome-Focused Budgeting: Shift from scheme-centric budgeting to outcome-oriented approaches, especially concerning health infrastructure and its impact on female mortality rates. 
• Setting Time-Bound Goals: Establish clear, time-bound goals for parameters like female school enrollment, gender-based violence, health, and labor force participation. 
• Gender Auditing Authority: Create an independent authority for gender auditing, conducting annual impact assessments on budgetary allocations to ensure accountability. 
• Capacity Building: Undertake comprehensive capacity-building initiatives across government bodies, corporates, public sector undertakings, NGOs, and other involved agencies. 
• National Reporting Platform: Establish a national-level reporting platform under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation to collect disaggregated sex-specific data for a thorough understanding of the gender budgeting impact. 
• Engage Central Statistics Office: Collaborate with the Central Statistics Office to enhance data collection and analysis techniques. 

Q: What is Gender Budgeting?

Gender Budgeting is an approach used by governments to ensure that budget allocations and spending take into account gender equality and women’s empowerment. It involves analyzing the budget through a gender lens to understand how policies and expenditures impact different genders.

Q: Why is Gender Budgeting Important?

Gender Budgeting is crucial for addressing gender disparities and promoting equal opportunities. By considering the needs and priorities of different genders in budget planning, governments can allocate resources more effectively to enhance social inclusion, reduce gender inequalities, and advance women’s rights and participation in various sectors.

Q: What are the Challenges of Implementing Gender Budgeting?

Despite its potential benefits, implementing Gender Budgeting faces several challenges. These include inadequate data disaggregation by gender, resistance from traditional budgeting processes and stakeholders, limited capacity and expertise in gender analysis within government institutions, and the need for sustained political commitment and leadership to ensure its integration into budgetary practices.

Q: What are the Criticisms of Gender Budgeting?

Critics argue that Gender Budgeting may oversimplify complex gender issues, leading to tokenistic measures rather than substantive changes. There are concerns that it could reinforce gender stereotypes or neglect intersectional inequalities by focusing solely on gender. Moreover, some critics question its effectiveness in achieving meaningful gender equality outcomes, especially if not accompanied by broader structural reforms.

Q: How Effective is Gender Budgeting in Promoting Gender Equality?

Assessing the effectiveness of Gender Budgeting requires careful evaluation of its implementation and outcomes. While some studies suggest positive impacts on gender equality indicators such as women’s participation in the economy and access to services, others highlight the need for continuous monitoring and evaluation to ensure its effectiveness. Ultimately, the success of Gender Budgeting depends on its integration into broader policy frameworks and commitment to addressing underlying structural barriers to gender equality.

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National Education Policy 2020: Key Highlights

Last updated on February 11, 2024 by Alex Andrews George

The National Education Policy 2020 aims to bring transformational reforms in school and higher education and thus shape India into a global knowledge superpower.

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the National Education Policy 2020 on July 29, 2020. This policy replaced the 34-year-old National Policy on Education (NPE), in 1986.

Built on the foundational pillars of Access, Equity, Quality, Affordability, and Accountability, this policy is aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The National Education Policy (NEP) aims to transform India into a vibrant knowledge society and global knowledge superpower by making both school and college education more holistic, flexible, and multidisciplinary, suited to 21st-century needs, and aimed at bringing out the unique capabilities of each student.

Table of Contents

Important Highlights of National Education Policy 2020

• New Policy aims for Universalization of Education from preschool to secondary level with 100 % GER in school education by 2030.
• NEP 2020 will bring 2 crore out-of-school children back into the mainstream.
• New 5+3+3+4 school curriculum with 12 years of schooling and 3 years of Anganwadi/ Pre-schooling.
• Emphasis on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, no rigid separation between academic streams, extracurricular, and vocational streams in schools; Vocational Education to start from Class 6 with Internships.
• Teaching up to at least Grade 5 to be in mother tongue/ regional language.
• Assessment reforms with a 360-degree Holistic Progress Card, tracking Student Progress for achieving Learning Outcomes.
• GER in higher education to be raised to 50 % by 2035; 3.5 crore seats to be added in higher education.
• Higher Education curriculum to have Flexibility of Subjects.
• Multiple Entries / Exit to be allowed with appropriate certification.
• Academic Bank of Credits to be established to facilitate the Transfer of Credits.
• National Research Foundation to be established to foster a strong research culture.
• Light but Tight Regulation of Higher Education, single regulator with four separate verticals for different functions.
• Affiliation System to be phased out in 15 years with graded autonomy to colleges.
• NEP 2020 advocates increased use of technology with equity; National Educational Technology Forum to be created.
• NEP 2020 emphasizes setting up of Gender Inclusion Fund and Special Education Zones for disadvantaged regions and groups.
• New Policy promotes Multilingualism in both schools and HEs; the National Institute for Pali, Persian, and Prakrit, Indian Institute of Translation and Interpretation to be set up.

National Education Policy 2020: School Education

With respect to school education, universal access is the key vision. Also, major reforms are brought in curriculum and pedagogy.

Ensuring Universal Access at all levels of school education

NEP 2020 emphasizes on ensuring universal access to school education at all levels- preschool to secondary.

Infrastructure support, innovative education centers to bring back dropouts into the mainstream, tracking of students and their learning levels, facilitating multiple pathways to learning involving both formal and non-formal education modes, an association of counselors or well-trained social workers with schools, open learning for classes 3,5 and 8 through NIOS and State Open Schools, secondary education programs equivalent to Grades 10 and 12, vocational courses, adult literacy, and life-enrichment programs are some of the proposed ways for achieving this.

About 2 crore out-of-school children will be brought back into the mainstream under NEP 2020.

Also read: Examination System in India

Early Childhood Care & Education with New Curricular and Pedagogical Structure

With an emphasis on Early Childhood Care and Education, the 10+2 structure of school curricula is to be replaced by a 5+3+3+4 curricular structure corresponding to ages 3-8, 8-11, 11-14, and 14-18 years respectively. This will bring the hitherto uncovered age group of 3-6 years under the school curriculum, which has been recognized globally as the crucial stage for the development of the mental faculties of a child. The new system will have 12 years of schooling with three years of Anganwadi/ pre-schooling.

NCERT will develop a National Curricular and Pedagogical Framework for Early Childhood Care and Education (NCPFECCE) for children up to the age of 8. ECCE will be delivered through a significantly expanded and strengthened system of institutions including Anganwadis and pre-schools that will have teachers and Anganwadi workers trained in the ECCE pedagogy and curriculum. The planning and implementation of ECCE will be carried out jointly by the Ministries of HRD, Women and Child Development (WCD), Health and Family Welfare (HFW), and Tribal Affairs.

Attaining Foundational Literacy and Numeracy

Recognizing Foundational Literacy and Numeracy as an urgent and necessary prerequisite to learning, NEP 2020 calls for the setting up of a National Mission on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy by MHRD.

States will prepare an implementation plan for attaining universal foundational literacy and numeracy in all primary schools for all learners by grade 3 by 2025. A National Book Promotion Policy is to be formulated.

Reforms in school curricula and pedagogy

The school curricula and pedagogy will aim for the holistic development of learners by equipping them with key 21st-century skills, reduction in curricular content to enhance essential learning and critical thinking, and a greater focus on experiential learning.

Students will have increased flexibility and choice of subjects. There will be no rigid separations between arts and sciences, between curricular and extra-curricular activities, and between vocational and academic streams.

Vocational education will start in schools from the 6th grade and will include internships.

A new and comprehensive National Curricular Framework for School Education, NCFSE 2020-21, will be developed by the NCERT.

Multilingualism and the power of language

The policy has emphasized mother tongue /local language/regional language as the medium of instruction at least till Grade 5, but preferably till Grade 8 and beyond. Sanskrit to be offered at all levels of school and higher education as an option for students, including in the three-language formula. Other classical languages and literature of India also to be available as options. No language will be imposed on any student.

Students to participate in a fun project/activity on ‘The Languages of India’, sometime in Grades 6-8, such as, under the ‘Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat’ initiative. Several foreign languages will also be offered at the secondary level. Indian Sign Language (ISL) will be standardized across the country, and National and State curriculum materials developed, for use by students with hearing impairment.

Assessment Reforms

NEP 2020 envisages a shift from summative assessment to regular and formative assessment, which is more competency-based, promotes learning and development, and tests higher-order skills, such as analysis, critical thinking, and conceptual clarity. All students will take school examinations in Grades 3, 5, and 8 which will be conducted by the appropriate authority.

Board exams for Grades 10 and 12 will be continued, but redesigned with holistic development as the aim. A new National Assessment Centre, PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development), will be set up as a standard-setting body.

Equitable and Inclusive Education

NEP 2020 aims to ensure that no child loses any opportunity to learn and excel because of the circumstances of birth or background. Special emphasis will be given to Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SDGs), including gender, sociocultural, and geographical identities and disabilities. This includes setting up of Gender Inclusion Fund and also Special Education Zones for disadvantaged regions and groups.

Children with disabilities will be enabled to fully participate in the regular schooling process from the foundational stage to higher education, with the support of educators with cross-disability training, resource centers, accommodations, assistive devices, appropriate technology-based tools, and other support mechanisms tailored to suit their needs.

Every state/district will be encouraged to establish “Bal Bhavans” as a special daytime boarding school, to participate in art-related, career-related, and play-related activities. Free school infrastructure can be used as Samajik Chetna Kendras

Also read: Education in India – A Detailed Analysis

Robust Teacher Recruitment and Career Path

Teachers will be recruited through robust, transparent processes. Promotions will be merit-based, with a mechanism for multi-source periodic performance appraisals and available progression paths to becoming educational administrators or teacher educators. A common National Professional Standard for Teachers (NPST) will be developed by the National Council for Teacher Education by 2022, in consultation with NCERT , SCERTs, teachers, and expert organizations from across levels and regions.

School Governance

Schools can be organized into complexes or clusters which will be the basic unit of governance and ensure the availability of all resources including infrastructure, academic libraries, and a strong professional teacher community.

Standard-setting and Accreditation for School Education

NEP 2020 envisages clear, separate systems for policymaking, regulation, operations, and academic matters. States/UTs will set up an independent State School Standards Authority (SSSA). Transparent public self-disclosure of all the basic regulatory information, as laid down by the SSSA, will be used extensively for public oversight and accountability. The SCERT will develop a School Quality Assessment and Accreditation Framework (SQAAF) through consultations with all stakeholders.

National Education Policy: Higher Education

The New Education Policy has a great vision for the Higher Education sector as well.

Increase GER to 50 % by 2035

NEP 2020 aims to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education including vocational education from 26.3% (2018) to 50% by 2035. 3.5 Crore new seats will be added to Higher education institutions.

Holistic Multidisciplinary Education

The policy envisages broad-based, multi-disciplinary, holistic Undergraduate education with flexible curricula, creative combinations of subjects, integration of vocational education, and multiple entries and exit points with appropriate certification. UG education can be of 3 or 4 years with multiple exit options and appropriate certification within this period. For example, a Certificate after 1 year, Advanced Diploma after 2 years, a Bachelor’s Degree after 3 years, and a Bachelor’s with Research after 4 years.

An Academic Bank of Credit is to be established for digitally storing academic credits earned from different HEIs so that these can be transferred and counted towards the final degree made.

Multidisciplinary Education and Research Universities (MERUs), at par with IITs, and IIMs, to be set up as models of the best multidisciplinary education of global standards in the country.

The National Research Foundation will be created as an apex body for fostering a strong research culture and building research capacity across higher education.

The Higher Education Commission of India(HECI) will be set up as a single overarching umbrella body for the entire higher education, excluding medical and legal education . HECI to have four independent verticals – the National Higher Education Regulatory Council (NHERC) for regulation, the General Education Council (GEC ) for standard-setting, the Higher Education Grants Council (HEGC) for funding, and the National Accreditation Council( NAC) for accreditation.

HECI will function through faceless intervention through technology, & will have powers to penalize HEIs not conforming to norms and standards. Public and private higher education institutions will be governed by the same set of norms for regulation, accreditation, and academic standards.

Rationalized Institutional Architecture

Higher education institutions will be transformed into large, well-resourced, vibrant multidisciplinary institutions providing high-quality teaching, research, and community engagement. The definition of the university will allow a spectrum of institutions that range from research-intensive Universities to Teaching-intensive Universities and Autonomous degree-granting Colleges.

Affiliation of colleges is to be phased out in 15 years and a stage-wise mechanism is to be established for granting graded autonomy to colleges. Over a period of time, it is envisaged that every college would develop into either an Autonomous degree-granting College or a constituent college of a university.

Motivated, Energized, and Capable Faculty

NEP makes recommendations for motivating, energizing, and building the capacity of faculty through clearly defined, independent, transparent recruitment, freedom to design curricula/pedagogy, incentivizing excellence, and movement into institutional leadership. Faculty not delivering on basic norms will be held accountable

Teacher Education

A new and comprehensive National Curriculum Framework for Teacher Education, NCFTE 2021, will be formulated by the NCTE in consultation with NCERT. By 2030, the minimum degree qualification for teaching will be a 4-year integrated B.Ed. degree. Stringent action will be taken against substandard stand-alone Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs).

Mentoring Mission

A National Mission for Mentoring will be established, with a large pool of outstanding senior/retired faculty – including those with the ability to teach in Indian languages – who would be willing to provide short and long-term mentoring/professional support to university/college teachers.

Financial support for students

Efforts will be made to incentivize the merit of students belonging to SC, ST, OBC, and other SEDGs. The National Scholarship Portal will be expanded to support, foster, and track the progress of students receiving scholarships. Private HEIs will be encouraged to offer larger numbers of free ships and scholarships to their students.

Open and Distance Learning

This will be expanded to play a significant role in increasing GER. Measures such as online courses and digital repositories, funding for research, improved student services, credit-based recognition of MOOCs, etc., will be taken to ensure it is at par with the highest quality in-class programs.

Online Education and Digital Education:

A comprehensive set of recommendations for promoting online education consequent to the recent rise in epidemics and pandemics in order to ensure preparedness with alternative modes of quality education whenever and wherever traditional and in-person modes of education are not possible has been covered.

A dedicated unit for the purpose of orchestrating the building of digital infrastructure, digital content, and capacity building will be created in the MHRD to look after the e-education needs of both school and higher education.

Technology in education

An autonomous body, the National Educational Technology Forum (NETF), will be created to provide a platform for the free exchange of ideas on the use of technology to enhance learning, assessment, planning, and administration. Appropriate integration of technology into all levels of education will be done to improve classroom processes, support teacher professional development, enhance educational access for disadvantaged groups, and streamline educational planning, administration, and management

Promotion of Indian languages

To ensure the preservation, growth, and vibrancy of all Indian languages, NEP recommends setting up an Indian Institute of Translation and Interpretation (IITI), National Institute (or Institutes) for Pali, Persian, and Prakrit, strengthening Sanskrit and all language departments in HEIs, and use mother tongue/local language as a medium of instruction in more HEI programs.

Internationalization of education will be facilitated through both institutional collaborations and student and faculty mobility allowing entry of top world-ranked Universities to open campuses in our country.

Professional Education

All professional education will be an integral part of the higher education system. Stand-alone technical universities, health science universities, legal and agricultural universities, etc. will aim to become multi-disciplinary institutions.

Adult Education

The policy aims to achieve 100% youth and adult literacy.

Financing Education

The Centre and the States will work together to increase public investment in the Education sector to reach 6% of GDP at the earliest.

Also read: PM-USHA

NEP: Consultation Process

NEP 2020 has been formulated after an unprecedented process of consultation that involved nearly over 2 lakh suggestions from 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats, 6600 Blocks, 6000 ULBs, and 676 Districts.

The MHRD initiated an unprecedented collaborative, inclusive, and highly participatory consultation process in January 2015. In May 2016, ‘The Committee for Evolution of the New Education Policy’ under the Chairmanship of Late Shri T.S.R. Subramanian, Former Cabinet Secretary, submitted its report.

Based on this, the Ministry prepared ‘Some Inputs for the Draft National Education Policy, 2016’. In June 2017 a ‘Committee for the Draft National Education Policy’ was constituted under the Chairmanship of eminent Scientist Padma Vibhushan, Dr. K. Kasturirangan, which submitted the Draft National Education Policy, 2019 to the Hon’ble Human Resource Development Minister on 31st May 2019.

The Draft National Education Policy 2019 was uploaded on MHRD’s website and at the ‘MyGov Innovate’ portal eliciting views/suggestions/comments from stakeholders, including the public.

In conclusion, the National Education Policy (NEP) is a crucial document that outlines the roadmap for the development of education in India. It is a significant step towards building a knowledge-based society that is equipped to meet the challenges of the 21st century. The NEP aims to transform the education system by providing equitable access to quality education, promoting innovation, and fostering holistic development.

The policy emphasizes the need for a learner-centered approach that focuses on critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving. It also seeks to promote interdisciplinary learning, multilingualism, and the integration of vocational education into the mainstream curriculum.

The NEP’s vision of a flexible and inclusive education system that enables lifelong learning is laudable. However, the success of the policy will depend on its effective implementation, which will require adequate funding, infrastructure, and skilled educators.

Overall, the NEP has the potential to revolutionize the education sector in India and make it more relevant and responsive to the needs of the changing world. It is a bold and visionary document that seeks to transform education from being a means of social mobility to a tool for building a better and more just society.

Also Read: Institutions of Eminence Scheme

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Reader Interactions

July 30, 2020 at 4:52 pm

Sir My doubt is I am a MPhil holder in this year.Is there is no value of my certificate in future.

Regards Revathy.R

August 7, 2020 at 8:28 am

Dear Madam, No, It will help you to complete your Ph.D in short duration. At present you may submit your Ph.D in 4 years. Regards, Jeeva

July 30, 2020 at 4:54 pm

@Revathy: Why do you think so?

June 5, 2021 at 10:55 am

Sir, Is the BA is good graduation for upsc or not ?

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The Hindu Editorial Analysis- 21st May 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Critical times call for strong judicial adjudication

Why in news.

Recently, the Indian government notified the  rules for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019, paving the way for its implementation after over 4 years since its passage by Parliament in December 2019.

• The CAA, 2019 is an Indian legislation that provides a path to Indian citizenship for migrants belonging to six religious minorities:  Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.

What are the Rules Issued by the Government Concerning the Citizenship Amendment Act?

• Citizenship Rules Amendments (2004): The government has previously amended citizenship rules to assist refugees.
• Notifications (2014, 2015, 2016, 2018): Additional steps were taken in these years to address refugee issues through various notifications.
• Section 6B of the Citizenship Act, 1955: Applications for citizenship under the CAA must comply with this section.
• Requirements: Applicants must provide proof of their country of origin, religion, date of entry into India, and knowledge of an Indian language.
• Relaxed Documentation Requirements: Acceptable documents include birth or educational certificates, identity documents, licenses, land records, or any document proving previous citizenship of the specified countries.
• Evidence: Applicants can provide one of 20 different documents, such as visas, residential permits, census slips, driving licenses, Aadhaar cards, ration cards, government or court letters, and birth certificates.

Mechanism for Implementation of Rules:

• Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA): The MHA has designated the Postal department and Census officials to handle the processing of citizenship applications under the CAA
• Central Security Agencies: These checks will be carried out by agencies like the Intelligence Bureau (IB).

Decision-Making Process:

• Empowered Committees: Each state will have a committee led by the Director (Census Operations), which will make final decisions on applications.
• Committee Composition: The committee includes officials from the IB, Post Master General, State or National Informatics Centre, and representatives from the State government’s Department of Home and Divisional Railway Manager.

District-Level Committees:

• Superintendent of the Department of Post: Heads these committees, which will review applications.
• Representative Invitee: A representative from the District Collector’s office will participate as an invitee.

Processing of Applications:

Empowered Committee and District Level Committee (DLC):

• Role of DLC: Responsible for receiving applications.
• Final Decision: The Empowered Committee, headed by the Director (Census Operations), will make the final decision on applications, bypassing state control.

What is the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019?

• It also granted Parliament the authority to regulate additional aspects of citizenship, such as granting and renunciation.
• Under this authority, Parliament enacted the  Citizenship Act, 1955.
• Children born in India to ambassadors are not eligible for Indian citizenship based solely on their birth in the country.

Objective of the Amendment:

• The Citizenship Act, 1955 was amended in 2019 to facilitate citizenship for Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, or Christian migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Migrants who entered India on or before 31st December 2014 and suffered "religious persecution or fear of religious persecution" in their country of origin are eligible for accelerated citizenship under the amendment.

Legal Exemptions:

• Foreigners Act, 1946: Pertaining to illegal entry and stay in India.
• Passport Act, 1920: Relating to overstaying visas or permits.

Relaxations in Naturalization Requirements:

• Typically, applicants must have resided in India for the last 12 months and for 11 of the previous 14 years.
• For the specified six religions and three countries, the residency requirement is reduced from 11 years to 6 years.

Regional Exemptions:

• The CAA does not apply to Tribal Areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram as mentioned in the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
• Areas covered by the ILP system are also exempt from the CAA.
• The ILP is a travel document required to enter and stay in certain protected areas, aimed at preserving the indigenous communities of the North-Eastern region.
• Currently, the ILP is required for Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Nagaland.

Exclusion Rationale:

• The exclusions are intended to protect the interests of tribal and indigenous communities in the North-Eastern region.
• Residents in these areas are not eligible for citizenship under the CAA, 2019, to ensure the demographic balance and cultural preservation of these communities.

What are the Concerns Related to the CAA, 2019?

• The CAA's provision of granting citizenship based on religion is seen as discriminatory.
• More than 19.06 lakh people were left out of the final draft of the Assam NRC released in August 2019.
• The Accord established criteria for determining citizenship in Assam, including specific cut-off dates for residency.
• The CAA's provision of a  different timeline for granting citizenship could conflict with the provisions of the Assam Accord , leading to legal and political complications.
• Critics argue that privileging certain religious communities over others undermines the secular principles upon which the Indian state was founded and could exacerbate communal tensions.
• Exclusion of few Religious Communities: The exclusion of certain religious communities from the CAA and its subsequent rules, such as  Sri Lankan Tamils and Tibetan Buddhists , who faced religious persecution in their home countries, raises concerns.

Way Forward

• Also, ensuring that citizenship laws prioritise principles of equality and non-discrimination, providing equal opportunities for all individuals regardless of their background.
• Provide support services and resources to help individuals navigate the citizenship verification process, thereby mitigating the risk of statelessness.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Dialogue: Facilitating meaningful dialogue and consultation with civil society organisations, religious leaders, and communities against it to address grievances and concerns related to the CAA.
• India should also work towards regional cooperation and diplomatic initiatives aimed at promoting religious freedom and tolerance.
• Promoting public understanding of the principles of  equality, secularism, and inclusivity enshrined in the Indian Constitution.

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Last 30 days: Smart and Effective Strategy for UPSC Prelim 2024

Updated on: 21 May,2024 05:47 PM IST  |  Mumbai BrandMedia | [email protected]

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As the UPSC Prelims 2024 is nearing, the last 30 days are crucial for preparation.

UPSC Prelims

It is very natural to feel anxious and develop self-doubts, but with the right strategy you can turn this time in your favour. In this article, we will share practical tips to help you improve your performance and approach the exam with enhanced confidence.

It is normal to get overwhelmed by challenges like difficulty in revision and retention, sub-optimal scores in some mock tests and the resulting frustration and burnout. Recognizing and understanding these challenges is the first step towards overcoming them. With a targeted strategy, you can address these issues effectively and have a focused preparation in the final stretch.

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A Smart Strategy for The Last 30 Days

In these remaining thirty days, a plan entailing smart learning and revision, consistent practice and assessment, and effective use of resources is indispensable. Let’s try to understand what all factors are integral to making the most of these 30 days.

Smart Learning and Revision

• Focussing on Core Subjects : Prioritize core subjects like Polity, Economy, Environment, History, S&T and Geography, as most questions are from these areas. Further, a thorough understanding of core subjects also aids in better grasping current affairs.
• Current Affairs: Read and revise PT 365 documents for Polity, Economics, Science & Technology, Environment, International Relations, Government Schemes, Culture, and Social issues. These resources help facilitate easier memorization of important facts. Moreover, complement your revision with integrated PT 365 quizzes to reinforce knowledge and gauge your understanding.
• Smart Revision Techniques: To keep your revision comprehensive and engaging, set daily and weekly goals. Categorize subjects and allocate specific time slots for each, ensuring a balanced approach. Enhance retention by using active recall and spaced repetition techniques. Regularly use tests to identify and address weak areas. Additionally, adopt creative methods like mnemonics, flow charts, brain-mapping, diagrams, color coding, and peer discussions to boost memory and deepen your understanding of the material.

Effective Resource Utilization Continue to rely on the study materials and notes you’ve used throughout your preparation. To optimize efforts further, leverage following smart resources:

• VisionIAS QRMs: Quick Revision Material (QRM) offers concise and comprehensive coverage of critical subjects. With visual aids and updated content, QRM simplifies complex topics for efficient revision and better retention, ensuring well-preparedness for the UPSC Prelims .
• VisionIAS 7-Year PYQ Trend Analysis: There is no alternative for practicing PYQs to decode the evolving patterns of CSE Prelims questions. The hallmark of VisionIAS 7-year PYQ documents is the detailed analysis of the questions with a focus on how to go about covering the important and recurring themes.

Practice and Assessment Balancing revision with mock tests is crucial for effective preparation, as it allows you to evaluate your current knowledge and skills while identifying areas for improvement. Here are key components to a successful practice and assessment strategy:

• Regular Practice in Exam-like Conditions: Participate in the All India Prelims Test Series (AIPTS) to build familiarity with the exam format and develop the necessary stamina and mental resilience for the actual test.
• Simulated Exam Environment: Utilize the Abhyaas Prelims Mock Test Series 2024, available at over 100 centers nationwide, to rigorously evaluate your readiness in a simulated UPSC Prelims environment.
• Personalized Practice and Improvement : Leverage the Sandhan Personalized Test Series , part of the VisionIAS All India General Studies Prelims Test Series, to create customized tests based on your strengths and weaknesses. The personalisation feature is designed to allow topic-wise and subject-level customized test creation along with tailored feedback for improvement.

CSAT: The Game Changer in UPSC Prelims Although a qualifying paper, the importance of CSAT cannot be overstated. Solving PYQs can help identify weak areas and ensure focused preparation. Reading comprehension, mathematics and reasoning can be given attention based on one's competence and command.

Other Important Components In addition to the above steps, let’s take a look at a few other crucial components.

• Health Management : Maintain a balanced diet, get adequate sleep, and engage in physical activities to stay healthy and focussed. Take short, regular breaks during study sessions to avoid burnout and keep your mind fresh.
• Building Confidence: Self-confidence and a positive attitude are essential. Believe in your strengths and abilities and remember that consistency pays off. Yoga, meditation, and deep-breathing exercises can help manage stress and stay focussed.

The last 30 days before the exam indeed pose a challenge but remember the challenge is universal and can be overcome.

With consistency and the correct strategy you can make the most of these 30 days. Make sure to leave your worries outside the exam hall on the big day.

Best wishes and good luck for your prelims examination! Success gets  in your reach with dedication and perseverance.

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Analysis of the Interim Budget 2024- Explained Pointwise

ForumIAS announcing GS Foundation Program for UPSC CSE 2025-26 from 27th May. Click Here for more information.

An analysis of the Interim Budget 2024 by different stakeholders is imminent, after the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the interim budget on 1st February 2024. The budget has been appreciated for showing remarkable fiscal restraint in an election year by not announcing any new populist schemes. However, concerns have also emerged on the expenditure cuts on various flagship schemes of the government.

Read More- Interim Budget 2024-Key Highlights

What are The Positives that Emerge Out after The Analysis of Interim Budget 2024? 

1. Reduction in fiscal deficit- The revised estimate of fiscal deficit for FY 2023-24 is 5.8% against the budgeted estimate of 5.9%. The budgeted estimate for FY 2024-25 has been kept at 5.1% of the GDP. This reduction in fiscal deficits after COVID shows that the govt is on the path of fiscal consolidation set by the FRBM Act 2003 . Reduced fiscal deficit of the govt, will spur the growth of private sector borrowings from the market.

2. Increase in Capital Expenditure- The increase in capital expenditure in FY 2024-25 by 11.1% to 11,11,111 crore, will have resultant multiplier effect on India’s GDP . (Every Rs 100 spent on capex leads to a Rs 250 increase in GDP)

3. Income Tax to emerge as biggest income generator after govt borrowings- According to the Interim Budget 2024-25, income tax revenues will account for 19% of all government resources in FY25 . (Govt borrowings-28%, Corporate tax-17% and GST-18%). This increase in the contribution of income tax is a result of Direct tax reforms undertaken by the govt in past decades .

4. Adoption of nano-DAP to all major agro-climatic regions- The adoption of domestically-produced Nano DAP produced in Kalol, Gujarat is set to significantly reduce the import burden of fertiliser industry .

5. Focus on Blue Economy- The interim budget 2024 provides a roadmap for Blue Economy 2.0. and enhanced budgetary allocation to the fisheries sector . This will help in augmenting India’s agri-exports and will provide support to the coastal community livelihood.

6. Focus on Innovation and Green energy sector- The corpus fund of 1 lakh crore for spurring innovation and the enhanced focus on green energy through rooftop solar schemes , mandatory blending of CBG in CNG and PNG will help India in achieving its panchamrit goals.

7. Withdrawal of old tax demands- This step will benefit one crore taxpayers and will be another milestone in the Government’s effort towards Vivad se Vishwas in matters of taxation .

What are The Concerns with The Interim Budget 2024? 

1. Muted outlook on GDP growth- The nominal GDP growth for FY 2024-25 is projected at just around 10.5% . Taking into account the inflation rates for the coming financial year, the real GDP growth rate will be subdued. This raises concerns with respect to our target of becoming the top 3 global economies of the world by 2027 .

2. Missed Capex Target in FY 2023-24- The Capex expenditure target Rs 10 lakh crore set for FY-24 set in the Budget 2023-24 has not been met. The revised estimates show that the Capex for FY-24 stands at Rs 9.5 lakh crore .

3. Health, Education Budget Cuts- Budgeted cut backs in the key sectors continued in FY 2023-24. Out of the budgeted education expenditure of Rs 1,16,417 crore , the actual expenditure is Rs 1,08,878 crore . Similarly, in healthcare, out of the budgeted expenditure of Rs 88,956 crore , only Rs 79,221 crore was spent in FY 24.

4. Cuts in core schemes- “ Core of core schemes ” meant for the most disadvantaged sections of society, such as SCs, STs and minorities, have witnessed cuts. For ex- Revised Estimates (RE) for the Umbrella Scheme for Development of Schedule Castes are Rs 6,780 crore against the Budget Estimates (BE) of Rs 9,409 crore .

5. Neglect of the farm sector- There has not been an increase in the allocation for agricultural sector. In real terms, the allocation of Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoAFW) has gone down in the interim budget. No step has been taken in the budget towards rationalisation of food and fertiliser subsidy .

What Should be The Way Forward?

1. Achieving Fiscal Consolidation by raising revenues than compressing Expenditure- Our fiscal deficit reduction approach must target on raising revenues rather than reducing expenditure, as expenditure multipliers tend to be higher in an economy than revenue multipliers .

2. Strategic Asset sales Programme- Asset monetisation will help in raising govt. revenues as the market condition remains buoyant. This will help in bringing down fiscal deficit without the need of reducing government expenditure .

3. Increased expenditure on health and education- The social sector expenditures by the govt. must be increased for achieving the goal of Inclusive Development .

4. Rationalisation of agricultural Subsidies- The full-fledged budget to be presented in July must take bold reformative measures of rationalisation of food and fertiliser subsidies .

5. Passing the baton to the private sector- With its initial push by increasing the Capex, the government must pass on the baton of infrastructural development to the private sector by reducing the crowding out effect in the economy. Crowding out effect can be reduced when the govt. reduces its fiscal deficit and achieves its FRBM 2003 target of fiscal deficit being 3% of the GDP.

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• Poverty Alleviation Programmes A Critical Assessment

Critical Assessment of the Poverty Alleviation Programmes of India [UPSC GS 2 Notes]

Poverty Alleviation Programmes are initiated by the government to uplift the downtrodden section of the society.  The results of such a program have been a mixed bag of sorts. This article aims to critically assess the results of such poverty alleviation programmes, which can help aspirants for the Mains GS-II and essay papers of the IAS Exam .

Poverty Alleviation Programmes of India

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Before we go critically analysis of the programmes, it is important to know a few facts about this topic:

• There have been questions revolving around such poverty alleviation programmes that have been asked in the prelims and mains both of the UPSC Exam.
• Poverty alleviation programmes for UPSC is one of the important topics as it complements the current affairs.
• Candidates should always be updated with any such current governmental scheme that is for the upliftment of the people below the poverty line.

To understand the trend analysis of questions asked in the exam, candidates can check GS 2 Structure, Strategy and Syllabus page.

Below are given a few important poverty alleviation programs in brief for  quick reference:

Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana

Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana (JGSY) is the restructured, streamlined and comprehensive version of the Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY). It was started on 1 April 1999. The main aim of this programme was the development of rural areas.

National Pension Scheme (NPS)

The National Pension System (NPS) is a pension scheme sponsored by the government that was started in 2004 for all government employees. The scheme was made open to all citizens in 2009. It is a voluntary and long-term retirement scheme.

National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS)

This scheme was started in August 1995. This scheme is sponsored by the state government. It was transferred to the state sector scheme after 2002–03. It is under the community and rural department.

Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awaas Yojana

This Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awaas Yojana scheme is aimed at creating housing for everyone. It was initiated in 1985. It aimed at creating 20 lakh housing units out of which 13 lakhs were in rural areas. This scheme also would give out loans to people at subsidized rates to make houses. It was started in 1999–2000. In 1999–2000, ₹1438.39 crores was used for this scheme and about 7.98 lakh units were built. In 2000-01 a central outlay of ₹1710.00 crores was provided for this scheme. It improved the standard of living in rural areas: health, primary education, drinking water, housing, roads.

To know more in detail about other Poverty Alleviation Programmes , visit the linked article

How effective the Poverty Alleviation Programmes have been?

Efforts at poverty alleviation have borne fruit in that for the first time since independence, the percentage of absolute poor in some states is now well below the national average. Despite various strategies to alleviate poverty, hunger, malnourishment, illiteracy and lack of basic amenities continue to be a common feature in many parts of India. Though the policy towards poverty alleviation has evolved in a progressive manner, over the last five and a half decades, it has not undergone any radical transformation. You can find a change in nomenclature, integration or mutations of programmes.

However, none resulted in any radical change in the ownership of assets, process of production and improvement of basic amenities to the needy.

Reasons for the Failure of Poverty Alleviation Programmes

Scholars, while assessing these programs, state three major areas of concern that prevent their successful implementation. Due to the unequal distribution of land and other assets, the benefits from direct poverty alleviation programs have been appropriated by the non-poor.

• Compared to the magnitude of poverty, the amount of resources allocated for these programs is not sufficient. Moreover, these programs depend mainly on government and bank officials for their implementation.
•  Since such officials are ill-motivated, inadequately trained, corruption-prone, and vulnerable to pressure from a variety of local elites, the resources are inefficiently used and wasted.
• There is also non-participation of local-level institutions in program implementation.
• Government schemes have also failed to address the vast majority of vulnerable people who are living on or just above the poverty line. It also reveals that high growth alone is not sufficient to reduce poverty. Without the active participation of the poor, successful implementation of any program is not possible.

Poverty can effectively be eradicated only when the poor start contributing to growth by their active involvement in the growth process. This is possible through a process of social mobilisation, encouraging poor people to participate and get them empowered. This will also help create employment opportunities which may lead to an increase in levels of income, skill development, health and literacy. Moreover, it is necessary to identify poverty-stricken areas and provide infrastructure such as schools, roads, power, telecom, IT services, training institutions etc.

Candidates can get previous years’ social justice questions in UPSC Mains GS 2 for practice, from the linked article.

Poverty Alleviation Programmes – UPSC Notes:- Download PDF Here

For more UPSC related preparation materials and articles, visit the links given in the table below:

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