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Daily News Simplified - DNS

13 06 20Notes

Title 1. Reserves surge $8.2 bn in a week exceed $500 bn for the first time (Page Number 15)

Syllabus Prelims: Indian Economy

SL. NO. TOPICS

THE HINDUPAGE NO.

1 Reserves surge $8.2 bn in a week exceed $500 bn for the firsttime

15

2 NHRC takes note of health workers’ woes 10

3 Lonar Lake 05

4 Food inflation accelerates 9.28% in May 15

5 NGT directive to UPPCB on medical waste 04

6 Streamed education is diluted education 06

7 Index of Industrial Production 11

8 Office of Mayor 02

Dated: 13. June. 2020DNS Notes - Revision

Theme India’s Forex Reserves

Highlights Context:According to the latest data released by the RBI, the forex reserves have crossed $500-billion mark for the first time ever. Components of Forex ReservesThe Forex reserves in India comprise of Foreign Currency assets (FCAs), Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) and Gold. Foreign Currency Assets (FCAs)This is the largest component of the Forex Reserves consisting of US dollar and other major global currencies such as Euro, Pound, yen etc. Additionally, it also comprises investments in US Treasury bonds, bonds of other selected governments, deposits with foreign central and commercial banks. Even though, Foreign Currency Assets (FCA) is maintained in major currencies, the foreign exchange reserves are denominated and expressed in US dollar terms. Special Drawing Rights (SDRs):The SDRs was created by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as an international reserve asset in the year 1969 to supplement its member countries' official reserves. The SDR is a basket of 5 currencies- Dollar, Euro, Pound, Yen and Yuan. The SDRs are allocated to member countries in proportion to their IMF quotas.The value of the SDR is based on a basket of five currencies—the U.S. dollar, the Euro, the Chinese Renminbi, the Japanese Yen, and the British Pound Sterling. The value of SDR is set daily by the IMF on the basis of exchange rates between the currencies included in SDR. The value of SDR is denominated in terms of dollars.Uses of SDRs

SDRs can be held as part of Forex Reserves SDRs can be exchanges into other freely usable currencies among themselves. (This signifies that

SDR is neither claim nor currency of IMF Rather, it is potential claim on freely usable currencies of IMF members)

IMF members can also use SDRs in their transactions with IMF such as repayment of loans, payment of interest, payment for increasing their IMF quota and so on.

Members can sell a part or all their SDR allocations. Reasons for increase in the Forex ReservesAppreciation in Non-Dollar Major Currencies: As discussed before, the Foreign currency assets is held in the form of major currencies like Dollar, Euro, Pound, Yen etc. but it is expressed in terms of dollars. The value of the Foreign Currency assets could change on account of increase or decrease in the value of the non-dollar major currencies. In last 2-3 weeks, the dollar has depreciated by around 4.5% vis-a-vis other currencies such as Euro, Pound, Yen etc. This increase in the value of other major currencies has led to increase in Forex Reserves.Increase in FPI Inflows: In March 2020, the FPIs had pulled out Rs 60,000 crores from the capital market leading to Rupee Depreciation. However, in the last 2-3 weeks, the FPIs have now returned to the Indian markets due to positive investor sentiment. Further, the recent rights issue of Jio Platform also attracted record FPI inflows.Decrease in Crude oil Prices: The decrease in the Crude oil prices also meant decrease in our oil import bill and thus saving our Forex Reserves.RBI's Intervention: The RBI has also intervened in the Forex Market to buy dollars and enhance the Forex Reserves. How the increase in the forex reserves would benefit India?An important indicator of the stability of a currency is import cover. It measures the number of months of imports that can be covered with foreign exchange reserves available with the central Bank. The rising forex reserves have led to an improvement in India’s import cover to around 14 months. Further, an increase in the forex reserves will give the RBI the firepower to act against any sharp depreciation in the value of Rupee.The news of Increase in the Forex Reserves comes amid the recent downgrade in India's credit ratings


by Moody's. Hence, the increase in Forex Reserves will send a strong signal that its macro-economic fundamentals are quite strong and provide confidence to the market that it can meet its external debt obligations.

Personal Notes

Title 2. NHRC takes note of health workers’ woes (Page Number 10)

Syllabus Mains: GS Paper II: Polity & Governance


Theme About NHRC

Highlights Context: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the Union Finance Ministry

and the Insurance Regula tory and Development Authority (IRDA) over re ported refusals or de mands for high premiums for mediclaim policies for healthcare workers during the COVID19 pandemic.

Issues and challenges of NHRC Autonomy of the NHRC

o The Commission is supposed to be completely independent in its functioning, even though the Protection of Human Rights Act, (PHRA), 1993 does not say so.

o In fact, there are provisions in the Act which underscore the dependence of the Commission on the government.

For example: Section 11 of the Act makes it dependent on the government for its

manpower requirements. Section 32 of the Act makees it financially dependent on the central

government:o Central govt. shall pay to the Commission by way of grants

such sums of money as it may consider fit. Thus, in respect of the two most important requirements i.e. human resources

and money, the Commission is not independent. o Even the limited finds are not being used for human rights related functions

Large chunks of the budget of commissions go in office expenses, leaving disproportionately small amounts for other crucial areas such as research and rights awareness programmes.

Lacks enforcing powerso NHRC does not have the backing of the Protection of Human Rights Act to penalise

authorities which do not implement its orders hence maming it impossible for NHRC’s recommendations do not reach to the ground level as the

o The Act does not categorically empower the NHRC to act when human rights violations through private parties take place.

Lacks specialized persons who have dealt in Human rights issues o The Act requires that three of the five members of a human rights commission must be

former judges but does not specify whether these judges should have a proven record of human rights activism or expertise or qualifications in the area.

o Regarding the other two members, the Act is vague, saying simply: “persons having knowledge and experience of human rights.

o Bureaucratic style of functioning of govt staff : On top of that, as human rights commissions primarily draw their staff from

government departments – either on deputation or reemployment after retirement – the internal atmosphere is usually just like any other government office.

Strict hierarchies are maintained, which often makes it difficult for complainants to obtain documents or information about the status of their case.

o As non-judicial member positions are increasingly being filled by ex-bureaucrats, credence is given to the contention that the NHRC is more an extension of the government, rather than an independent agency exercising oversight.

Delay in disposal of caseso Expectations from the commission was to keep a tight grip on its disposal, so that

pendency was not allowed to increase. Unfortunately, this did not happen and the number of cases pending with the

Commission has been increasing sharply every year. Under staffed:

o Either the Commission needs to get its staff strength increased or change methods of disposal so that the backlog of accumulated undisposed cases does not become heavy.


o This is a screenshot take today (One post is still vacant while Ms Jyotika Kalra was appointed in November 2019)

Low level of awareness about the Human rights in populace o Among general populace

An awareness of rights is not institutionalized in our curriculum. It is limited both in geography and knowledge as far as the public is concerned.

o Among Law enforcers (Primary violators) Eighty per cent of the training of a policeman in India is devoted to

regimentation and a very little time was left to develop forensic skills or human rights awareness.

o Knowledge of the laws and one’s interpretation are limited to small groups of people who are educated and legally literate.

Delay in publication of reports: o Delay in publication of annual reports by two or three years has been a constant

problem. Annual reports for calendar years should be put online as soon as possible and no later than March of the succeeding year.

o The hard copy of the report should also be published at the same time. Constrained against armed forces

o Since a very large number of complaints of human rights violations are directed against the members of the “armed forces”, the Act obviously weakens the NHRC’s effectiveness in providing redress to the public in such cases.

o All that the Commission, under Section 19 of the Act can do is to call for reports from the central government in such cases and then make recommendations to the government or not “proceed with the complaint” at all. Under the Act, the Commission has no power to enforce its decisions. The Act must be amended to make the Commission a strong, and vibrant institution, supporting democracy and good governance.

o Preventing the NHRC from independently investigating complaints against the military and security forces not only compounds the problems but also furthers impunity.

o Selection CommitteeThe selection committee tasked with appointing the chairperson and the members to the Commission is dominated by the ruling party. It consists of the prime minister, home minister, Leaders of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, the Lok Sabha Speaker and the Deputy-Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. There is thus a need to diversify the selection committee.

o Conflict of InterestPolice officials investigating for the NHRC are sent on deputation by their forces. Their allegiance lies with their home cadre to which they return after their tenure at the Commission is over. This conflict of interest restricts the scope of their work, as they often are charged with investigating abuse of power by law enforcement personnel.

So, NHRC has to develop a strong image as a protector of the poor, marginalised and vulnerable groups. But that will not be possible without substantial changes in the legal framework itself.

Prelims Pointer:

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India was established on 12 October, 1993. The

statute under which it is established is the Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993 as amended by


the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act, 2006.

It is in conformity with the Paris Principles, adopted at the first international workshop on national

institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights held in Paris in October 1991, and endorsed

by the General Assembly of the United Nations by its Regulations 48/134 of 20 December, 1993.

The NHRC is an embodiment of India’s concern for the promotion and protection of human rights.

Section 2(1)(d) of the PHRA defines Human Rights as the rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity

of the individual guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in the International Covenants and

enforceable by courts in India.

Powers and function: The Commission shall, perform all or any of the following functions, namely:-

a) Inquire, on its own initiative or on a petition presented to it by a victim or any person on his behalf, into complaint of-

i ) violation of human rights or abetment orii) negligence in the prevention of such violation, by a public servant;

b) intervene in any proceeding involving any allegation of violation of human rights pending before a court with the approval of such court;

c) visit, under intimation to the State Government, any jail or any other institution under the control of the State Government, where persons are detained or lodged for purposes of treatment, reformation or protection to study the living condition of the inmates and make recommendations thereon ;

d) review the safeguards by or under the Constitution or any law for the time being in force for the protection of human rights and recommend measures for their effective implementation;

e) review the factors, including acts of terrorism that inhibit the enjoyment of human rights and recommend appropriate remedial measures;

f) study treaties and other international instruments on human rights and make recommendations for their effective implementation;

g) undertake and promote research in the field of human rights;

h) spread human rights literacy among various sections of society and promote awareness of the safeguards available for the protection of these rights through publications, the media, seminars and other available means;

i) encourage the efforts of non - Governmental organizations and institutions working in the field of human rights;

j) such other functions as it may consider necessary for the promotion of human rights.


Personal Notes


Title 3. Lonar Lake (Page Number 05)

Syllabus Prelims: Indian Geography

Theme About Lonar Lake

Highlights

Personal Notes


Title 4. Food inflation accelerates 9.28% in May (Page Number 15)


Theme Inflation in India

Highlights Context:The lockdown imposed due to COVID-19 has limited the financial transactions within the Indian Economy. Consequently, it has become quite difficult for the National Statistical Office (NSO) to come out with the full-fledged estimates of Inflation numbers for the month of May 2020. Hence, the NSO has come out with truncated report on Inflation which comprises of Inflation numbers of only some of the commodities. Accordingly, the NSO report has highlighted that the Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) for the month of May 2020 has increased to 9.28% at all India level.

Understanding the Differences between CPI and WPI

Criteria WPI CPI

Level Measures Inflation at Wholesale level Measures Inflation at Retail Level

Who Calculates?

Office of Economic Advisor, Ministry of Commerce and Industry

National Statistical Office, Ministry of Statistics and programme Implementation

Base year 2011-12 2012

Categories Primary ArticlesManufactured productsFuel and Power

Food and beveragesPan, Tobacco and IntoxicantsClothing and FootwearHousingFuel and LightMiscellaneous- Education, Healthcare, Transportation etc

Highest Weightage

Manufactured products Food and Beverages

Impact of increase in Food items

The increase in food items would lead to increase in WPI. However, it would have less impact on WPI as compared to CPI since WPI provides higher weightage to manufactured products and lower weightage to Food items

The increase in the Food items would have larger impact on CPI as compared to WPI since it gives more weightage to food products.

Services included

No Yes

Targeted by RBI?

No Yes. The RBI is required to maintain CPI rate of inflation of 4% with a deviation of 2%.

Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI)

The base year and methodology of calculation of CFPI is similar to CPI. However, in order to calculate CFPI, we take into account only the category of Food and Beverages. Within this category, there are 12 sub-groups such as cereals, Meat, fish, Fruits etc.

Out of these 12 sub-groups, CFPI is based on ten sub-groups, excluding ‘Non-alcoholic beverages’ and ‘Prepared meals, snacks, sweets etc.’.

Personal Notes


Title 5. NGT directive to UPPCB on medical waste (Page Number 04)

Syllabus Prelims: Environment and Biodiversity

Theme About NGT and Bio Medical Waste Management Rules 2016

Highlights Context: Due to COVID-19 outbreak, hospitals across the country not able to follow scientific guidelines regarding disposal of bio-medical waste. Based on this concern, a petition was filed in National Green Tribunal alleging unscientific disposal of bio-medical waste in the open by the hospitals of Uttar Pradesh. Issue for consideration before NGT

The issue for consideration was the remedial action taken to address the gaps in compliance of Bio Medical Waste Management Rules – 2016 (BMW Rules) regarding disposal of bio-medical waste arising out of handling COVID-19 disease.

Following the BMW Rules, 2016 is necessary to ensure protection of environment and public health in view of potential of such infectious waste adversely affecting health of public at large including workers and professionals of the hospital.

Directions given by NGT National Green Tribunal has directed the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board to take

appropriate steps and furnish a compliance report by July 20. Referring to previous orders pertaining to disposal of bio-medical waste arising out of COVID-

19 treatment, the NGT Bench mentioned that remedial actions need to be taken and scientific disposal of bio-medical waste needs to be ensured by suitable alternative arrangements in the interest of environment and public health.

So, what do we need to study from Mains Point of View? Considering the present news article, there are four things which we must understand from

our Mains perspective. They are:1. About National Green Tribunal and its powers to take up cases suo motu2. Important highlights of Bio Medical Waste Management Rules – 20163. Important highlights of Solid Waste Management Rules, 20164. Recent Guidelines issued by Central Pollution Control Board – Guidelines for

Handling, Treatment and Disposal of Waste generated during Treatment, Diagnosis and Quarantine of COVID-19patients

NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL ACT, 2010 Aim & Purpose – It establishes the National Green Tribunal for the effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources including enforcement of any legal right relating to environment and giving relief and compensation for damages to persons and property. Section 14 and 15 of NGT Act comes within Chapter III which deals with Jurisdiction, Powers and Proceedings of the Tribunal.Composition of NGT (1) The Tribunal shall consist of

(a) a full time Chairperson(b) not less than 10 but subject to maximum of 20 full time Judicial Members as the Central

Government may, from time to time, notify(c) not less than 10 but subject to maximum of 20 full time Expert Members, as the Central

Government may, from time to time, notify

(2) The Chairperson of the Tribunal may, if considered necessary, invite any one or more person having specialised knowledge and experience in a particular case before the Tribunal to assist the Tribunal in that case. Qualifications

To be appointed as the Chairperson or Judicial Member of the NGT, a person must be Judge of


the Supreme Court of India or Chief Justice of a High Court, or even Judge of High Court. To be appointed as an Expert Member of NGT – the person must have

has a degree in Master of Science (in physical sciences or life sciences) with a Doctorate degree or Master of Engineering or Master of Technology and has an experience of fifteen years in the relevant field including five years practical experience in the field of environment and forests (including pollution control, hazardous substance management, environment impact assessment, climate change management, biological diversity management and forest conservation) in a reputed National level institution; or

Administrative experience of fifteen years including experience of five years in dealing with environmental matters in the Central or a State Government or in a reputed National or State level institution.

Taking up matter Suo Moto by NGT NGT has power to take up any matter suo motu (on its own) as per Section 14 and 15 of NGT

Act, 2010.

Jurisdiction of the Tribunal to settle disputes (Section 14) The Tribunal shall have the jurisdiction over all civil cases where a substantial question relating

to environment (including enforcement of any legal right relating to environment), is involved and such question arises out of the implementation of the enactments specified in First Schedule.

First Schedule of NGT Act, 2010 provides for the following enactments – The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977 The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 The Biological Diversity Act, 2002

Relief, compensation and restitution (Section 15)The Tribunal may, by an order, provide –

relief and compensation to the victims of pollution and other environmental damage arising under the enactments specified in the Schedule I (including accident occurring while handling any hazardous substance).

for restitution of property damaged. for restitution of the environment for such area or areas.

BIO MEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT RULES – 2016The Problem – In most hospitals across India, bio-medical waste is not treated properly and there are several cases of gaps regarding following 2016 Rules in reality. Thus, non-following of rules is hazardous and can have an adverse impact on the health and well being of patients, doctors and other workers of the hospital. COVID-19 epidemic has further aggravated the issue of bio-medical waste disposal. So, seeing the situation, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has come up with a separate Rules to treat medical waste of COVID-19 Patients namely - Guidelines for Handling, Treatment and Disposal of Waste Generated during Treatment/Diagnosis/ Quarantine of COVID-19 Patients. Application – The 2016 Rules apply to all persons who generate, collect, receive, store, transport, treat, dispose, or handle bio medical waste in any form including hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, dispensaries, veterinary institutions, animal houses, pathological laboratories, blood banks, Ayush hospitals, clinical establishments, research or educational institutions, health camps, medical or surgical camps, vaccination camps, blood donation camps, first aid rooms of schools, forensic laboratories and research labs.


Important Terms "Bio-medical waste" means any waste, which is generated during the diagnosis, treatment or

immunisation of human beings or animals or research activities pertaining thereto or in the production or testing of biological or in health camps, including the categories mentioned in Schedule I appended to these rules.

"Bio-medical waste treatment and disposal facility" means any facility wherein treatment, disposal of bio-medical waste or processes incidental to such treatment and disposal is carried out, and includes common bio-medical waste treatment facilities.

"Operator of a common bio-medical waste treatment facility" means a person who owns or controls a Common Bio-medical Waste Treatment Facility (CBMWTF) for the collection, reception, storage, transport, treatment, disposal or any other form of handling of bio-medical waste.

"Occupier" means a person having administrative control over the institution and the premises generating bio-medical waste, which includes a hospital, nursing home, clinic, dispensary, veterinary institution, animal house, pathological laboratory, blood bank, health care facility and clinical establishment, irrespective of their system of medicine

The BMW Rules, 2016 provides for the following - Duties of the Occupier

Taking necessary steps to handle bio-medical waste Providing ventilated and secured location for storage of segregated biomedical waste

in colored bags or containers in the manner as specified in Schedule I not to give treated bio-medical waste with municipal solid waste provide training to all its health care workers and others, involved in handling of bio

medical waste ensure segregation of liquid chemical waste at source and ensure pre-treatment or

neutralisation prior to mixing with other effluent generated from health care facilities ensure treatment and disposal of liquid waste in accordance with the Water

(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 Conducting health check up at the time of induction and at least once in a year for all

its health care workers and others involved in handling of bio- medical waste and maintain the records for the same.

maintain and update on day to day basis the bio-medical waste management register and display the monthly record on its website according to the bio-medical waste generated in terms of category and colour coding as specified in Schedule I

report major accidents including accidents caused by fire hazards, blasts during handling of biomedical waste and the remedial action taken.

establish a system to review and monitor the activities related to bio-medical waste management, either through an existing committee or by forming a new committee.

Duties of the operator of a common bio-medical waste treatment and disposal facility take all necessary steps to ensure that the bio-medical waste collected from the

occupier is transported, handled, stored, treated and disposed of, without any adverse effect to the human health and the environment as per relevant rules.

ensure timely collection of bio-medical waste from the occupier establish bar coding and global positioning system for handling of bio- medical waste inform the prescribed authority immediately regarding the occupiers which are not

handing over the segregated bio-medical waste. undertake appropriate medical examination at the time of induction and at least once

in a year and immunise all its workers involved in handling of bio-medical waste for


protection against diseases, including Hepatitis B and Tetanus ensure occupational safety of all its workers involved in handling of bio-medical waste

by providing appropriate and adequate personal protective equipment. report major accidents including accidents caused by fire hazards, blasts during

handling of biomedical waste and the remedial action taken. Prescribed authority responsible for effective waste disposal – which shall be State Pollution

Control Boards in respect of States and Pollution Control Committees in respect of Union territories.

Treatment & Disposal of Bio-medical waste Bio-medical waste shall be treated and disposed of in accordance with Schedule I, and

in compliance with the standards provided in Schedule-II by the health care facilities and common bio-medical waste treatment facility.

No untreated bio-medical waste shall be mixed with other wastes. The bio-medical waste shall be segregated into containers or bags at the point of

generation in accordance with Schedule I prior to its storage, transportation, treatment and disposal.

Monitoring of implementation of the rules in health care facilities - The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change shall review the implementation of the rules in the country once in a year through the State Health Secretaries and Chairmen or Member Secretary of State Pollution Control Boards and Central Pollution Control Board and the Ministry may also invite experts in the field of bio-medical waste management, if required.

Common site for waste disposal - department in the business allocation of land assignment shall be responsible for providing suitable site for setting up of common biomedical waste treatment and disposal facility in the State Government or Union territory Administration.

Every operator of common bio-medical waste treatment facility shall set up requisite biomedical waste treatment equipments like incinerator, autoclave or microwave, shredder and effluent treatment plant as a part of treatment, prior to commencement of its operation.

The handling and disposal of all the mercury waste and lead waste shall be in accordance with the respective rules and regulations.

Schedules to BMW Rules, 2016 Schedule I – provides for biomedical wastes categories and their segregation, collection,

treatment, processing and disposal options. Schedule II – Provides for standards for treatment and disposal of bio-medical wastes. Schedule III – Provides for List of Prescribed Authorities and the Corresponding Duties. Schedule IV – Provides for Label for bio-medical waste containers or bags


GUIDELINES FOR HANDLING, TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL OF WASTE GENERATED DURING TREATMENT/DIAGNOSIS/ QUARANTINE OF COVID-19 PATIENTS

In order to deal with COVID-19 pandemic, State and Central Governments have initiated various steps, which include setting up of quarantine centers/camps, Isolation wards, sample collection centers and laboratories.

These guidelines are based on current knowledge on COVID-19 and existing practices in management of infectious waste generated in hospitals while treating viral and other contagious diseases like HIV, H1N1, etc.

Guidelines have been specifically provided for Healthcare Facilities having isolation wards for COVID-19 patients Mandatory labeling of bags/containers used for collecting biomedical waste from

COVID-19 ward as – COVID-19 Waste Collection, storage & disposal of biomedical waste Depute dedicated sanitation workers separately for biomedical waste and general

solid waste so that waste can be collected and transferred timely to temporary waste storage area.

Sample Collection Centers and Laboratories for COVID-19 suspected patients Responsibilities of persons operating Quarantine Camps/Homes or Home-Care

facilities Duties of Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facility Duties of various authorities including Urban Local Bodies, State Pollution Control

Boards etc.

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT RULES, 2016 It primarily provides for segregation of wastes at their origin. The government has come up with revised Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. Some of its salient features are:

The Rules are now applicable beyond Municipal areas and extend to urban agglomerations, census towns, notified industrial townships, areas under the control of Indian Railways, airports, airbase, Port and harbour, defence establishments, special economic zones, State and Central government organizations, places of pilgrims, religious & historical importance.

The source segregation of waste has been mandated to channelize the waste to wealth by recovery, reuse and recycle.

Responsibilities of Generators have been introduced to segregate waste in to three streams, Wet (Biodegradable), Dry (Plastic, Paper, metal, wood, etc.) and Domestic Hazardous Wastes (diapers, napkins, empty containers of cleaning agents, mosquito repellents, etc.) and handover segregated wastes to authorized rag-pickers or waste collectors or local bodies.“Dry Waste” means waste other than bio-degradable waste and inert street sweepings and includes recyclable.“Domestic Hazardous Waste” means discarded paint drums, pesticide cans, CFL bulbs, tube lights, expired medicines, broken mercury thermometers, used batteries, used needles and syringes and contaminated gauge, etc., generated at the household level;

and non recyclable waste, combustible waste and sanitary napkin and diapers, etc;

Generator will have to pay ‘User Fee’ to waste collector and for ‘Spot Fine’ for Littering and Non-segregation.

Integration of waste pickers/ ragpickers and waste dealers/ Kabadiwalas in the formal system should be done by State Governments, and Self Help Group, or any other group to be formed.

The bio-degradable waste should be processed, treated and disposed of through composting or bio-methanation within the premises as far as possible."Bio-methanation" means a process which entails enzymatic decomposition of the organic matter by microbial action to produce methane rich biogas;


New townships and Group Housing Societies have been made responsible to develop in-house waste handling, and processing arrangements for bio-degradable waste.

Personal Notes

Title 6. Streamed education is diluted education (Page Number 06)

Syllabus Mains GS Paper II: Polity and Governance

Theme Online Education in India

Highlights Context: Recently, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the University Grants Commission had issued a

circular to universities encouraging them to adopt massive open online courses (MOOCs) offered on its SWAYAM platform for credit transfers in the coming semesters.

Other similar steps towards making the learning digital posses problems These online platforms are being seen as major vehicles of education

o This is being seen as an instrument to achieve the country’s target Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education (envisioned to be 30% by 2021; it was 25.8% in 2017–18).

Govt may shirk the duty of expanding the university framework o Instead of expanding the network of higher educational institutions across the country


and increasing seats, the government plans to make online degree programmes available for students to enrol and graduate from and add to GER. ‘Education’ is now being peddled as a combination of content and consumption, and this diluted meaning is being put to the service of achieving increased GER.

Online teaching is uni-dirctional o MOOC-based e-learning platforms tend to reinforce a top-down teacher-to-student

directionality of learning whereby the teacher ‘creates’ and the student ‘consumes’. This misses the point that teaching and learning are skills that are always in the making.

o A conducive classroom environment, this role is often switched and the student plays intellectual midwife to the teacher’s ideas. Moving to a MOOC-based degree system would rob young teachers and students of these essential lessons in teaching and learning from each other.

so author wants such platforms to be seen only as stop-gap variants that help us get by under lockdown situations and complement classroom lectures. they will help us get by with the pandemic just as a “helmet” would help us get by with traffic police waving penalty slips. our vocabulary has many terms for the loss of function — failure, malfunction, dysfunction, breakdown, etc. — but hardly any for the loss of value.

Personal Notes

Title 7. Index of Industrial Production (Page Number 11)


Theme About IIP and PMI

Highlights Details about Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) : PMI Data is published by Japanese firm Nikkei but compiled and constructed by

Markit Economics (for the US, it is the Institute of Supply Management). PMI is calculated on the basis of information received from companies on various

factors that represent demand conditions. It is very different from IIP which is indicative of actual production.

The PMI takes in responses from a company on a monthly basis on whether there has been improvement, deterioration or no change for a set of parameters relative to the previous month.

It takes into account the following parameters for the calculation: new orders, output, employment, supplier’s delivery and stock of purchases. This questionnaire is administered to 500 private sector companies and the comprehensive score is arrived at.


The PMI is constructed separately for manufacturing and services sector. But the manufacturing sector holds more importance.

A figure above 50 denotes expansion in business activity. Anything below 50 denotes contraction. Higher the difference from this mid-point greater the expansion or contraction.

The rate of expansion can also be judged by comparing the PMI with that of the previous month data.

If the figure is higher than the previous month’s then the economy is expanding at a faster rate.

If it is lower than the previous month then it is growing at a lower rate.

Differences between PMI and Index of Industrial ProductionPurchasing Managers Index (PMI) Index of Industrial Production (IIP)

Published by Nikkei Published by CSODoes not track the actual Production Tracks the actual Production

Covers only 500 private sector companies Covers both Private Sector as well as PSUsCovers both Manufacturing and Services Covers only the Manufacturing SectorLess Comprehensive since it covers only

private sector companiesMore Comprehensive

Not used for GDP calculation Used for GDP Calculation to account for the unorganized sector

Personal Notes

Title 8. Empowering Mayors (Page Number 02)

Syllabus Mains GS Paper II: Polity and Governance

Theme Direct Election of Mayors in India

Highlights Present Problem for Urban Local Bodies As Indian cities grow in number and size, the pressure for better urban

governance has increased and urban governance in its current form is fraught with inefficiency, mismanagement and overlapping jurisdiction of executive and political authorities.

Recent research on urban governance highlights that powers of Mayors in


Municipal Corporation is somewhat restricted and is shared with Municipal Commissioner who is an executive authority. At present, mayors are elected by city councilors who themselves are directly elected by urban voters.

Despite being considered the political and executive head of the municipal body, mayors assume a largely titular position with the government-appointed municipal commissioner holding executive power. This leaves the mayor with little authority to influence urban development, planning and operation.

Metros have been deprived of empowered Mayors who can raise efficiency, productivity and liveability conditions of city.

The Economic Survey of 2017-18 notes that a third of the population now lives in urban areas which produce three-fifths of the GDP. But India’s overflowing cities lack capacity, infrastructure and leadership for urban governance.

The Survey attributes it to the absence of a single city government in charge, and low spending on infrastructure. State governments receive huge revenue from urban cities but do not support the idea of strong Mayors. Chief Ministers see a potential threat from a charismatic and empowered Mayor with progressive policies.

States of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu decided to have indirect elections for Mayor and have used the excuse of poor performance of urban local bodies as a justification to replace direct election of Mayors with an indirect system.

There are some states like Uttrakhand and Jharkhand where Mayors are elected by direct elections but in none of the mega cities of India, mayors are directly elected.

As per 15th Finance Commission report: cities face challenges of pollution, ground water depletion and

sanitation there are also inter-State disparities in the level of urbanisation and in

the urban poverty ratio ULBs don’t have sufficient finances to deal with city problems and this

has been ignored even by the elected representatives.

Need for a Directly elected Mayors for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)1. Introducing direct election of mayors could improve political accountability

which will help in increasing efficiency in urban governance. 2. A direct mandate from urban residents adds to the legitimacy and

accountability of the mayor’s office. It would also resolve the power tussles between mayors and Municipal Commissioners.

3. Fixed tenures for mayors offer greater continuity as opposed to state-appointed bureaucrats who can be abruptly transferred.

4. In the current model, councillor elections are held at the ward level and are based on hyper-local issues, which may not resonate with the whole city. A directly elected mayor would ensure a focus on the problems of the entire city instead of certain specific wards.

5. Directly elected Mayors with adequate power and authority can help solving problems faced by large cities including problems associated with achieving goals of Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the UN Habitat New Urban Agenda.

Need for election for Mayors to be conducted on Non-Party Lines The main task of the bodies is to handle problems concerning sanitation,

water supply and solid waste management and in such places political ideologies hardly matter.

Even in the area of water supply and sewerage, the role of the municipal


corporations of Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad has got reduced as there are entities exclusively for this purpose. Delhi too has a Jal Board, headed by the Chief Minister.

Under the present scheme, Chief Ministers do not want strong ULB chiefs to emerge, especially if the person happens to be from his or her party. This explains why parties prefer indirect elections.

So, if the polls are held on non-party lines with direct elections for chiefs of ULBs, a new crop of leaders will emerge outside the political class. Well-educated and well-qualified youngsters will be encouraged to take part in the election process.

More importantly, municipal elections will become cheaper as there will be no need for competitive spending by nominees of rival parties.

Further, if Mayors do not perform, then political representative of the area including MLA and MP will not be held responsible for their wrong doings.

Thus, ULBs can have meaningful empowerment only if the concept of non-party elections is adopted. This is a prerequisite for the implementation of the ‘strong mayor’ model.

Personal Notes

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