KEYWORDS From window dressing to effective governance:
Meaning: It implies a transformation from superficial or cosmetic practices to genuine and impactful governance.
Window dressing refers to the act of creating an outward appearance or impression of compliance, transparency, or effectiveness.
Usage: It can be used in questions related to – civil services reforms, good governance, accountability and responsibility, government policies and schemes, evidence-based governance etc.
Women from passive recipients to architects of progress and development:
Meaning: It conveys a transformative vision that empowers women to take an active and leading role in shaping the progress and development of societies.
Usage: It can be used in questions related to - Almost all questions related to women and women’s role or women empowerment, women in economy or employment, government policies and schemes towards women etc.
Vision of Poorna Swaraj: Political, social, and economic freedom for all citizens:
Meaning: Poorna Swaraj advocate for complete self-rule and independence. Here, Poorna Swaraj embodies the idea of complete or full freedom for all citizens in the realms of politics, society, and the economy.
Usage: It can be used in questions related to - Indian Constitution (freedom and rights), Media and censorship, Sedition law, Authoritarian government and unconstitutional control of statutory bodies etc.
Farmers as “anna-daata” (food givers) and “urjadaata” (energy providers):
Meaning: Anna-daata (food givers): It means that everyone is dependent upon farmers directly for food.
Urjadaata (energy providers): Farmers provide energy resources to the world by producing energy-crops such as rice straw, broken rice, maize, bamboo, sugarcane juice and molasses.
Usage: It can be used in questions related to – agriculture reforms, doubling farmer’s income, biofuels and biogas, energy security and diversification etc.
CASE STUDIES/ EXAMPLES
Success of Government e-marketplace (GeM):
In Financial Year 2022-23, Government e-marketplace (GeM) registered its highest ever Gross Merchandise Value of more than ? 2 Lakh crore.
A World Bank study in 2020 estimated an average of 75% cost savings via GeM and noted a significant increase in participation of sellers.
The Economic Survey 2021-22 noted that prices on GeM were observed to be 5% lower in comparison with other online platforms.
KEY FACTS Key facts related to women in India:
Political representation: 46% of elected representatives in rural local bodies in India are women.
Women in Health sector: More than 80% of nurses and midwives in India are women.
Loan provided to women: Around 70% of the loans under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana have been sanctioned to women. Similarly, 80% of beneficiaries under Stand-Up India are women.
Women in STEM: The number of women in technical education has doubled since 2014, nearly 43% of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) graduates in India are women.
Women led movement: The first prominent climate action in India in the 18th century when the Bishnoi community of Rajasthan led by Amrita Devi started the ‘Chipko Movement’ to prevent unregulated logging.
Women led startups: About 15% of unicorn startups have at least one-woman founder.
According to a study “State of Healthcare in Rural India-2023”:
More than 60% of people from rural areas chose to “migrate” out of their state for availing treatment for major diseases.
Only about 10% of rural India went to public primary healthcare facility for serious ailments.
Learning poverty in India:
Annual Status of Education Report (ASER): Nationally, less than 45% of children enrolled in Standard 5 in government or private schools can read a grade-two level text.
National Education Policy 2020 (NEP): It has set a target of ensuring foundational literacy and numeracy among all students by the year 2025.
PM/VP/PRESIDENT SPEECHES Prime Minister’s Speech on Women:
On India: India’s “When women prosper, the world prospers”.
The most effective way to empower women is through a women-led development approach.
Women in India have been brand Ambassadors for ‘Mission LiFE - Lifestyle for Environment’.
JUDGEMENTS/ COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION Supreme Court (SC) on Forest Conservation:
Godavarman judgment (1996): The term forest land meant all forest land, irrespective of its ownership or condition. States were required to set up district-level committees to identify and report all forests, as well as degraded and denuded forests.
Lafarge judgment (2011): SC issued guidelines requiring states to complete the exercise to identify forests, including dictionary-meaning forests. They also spelt out the procedure to be followed in case there was any doubt about whether an area was a forest to avoid fait accompli situations.
DEFINITION Superconductivity:
Definition: Superconductivity refers to a state in which a material offers zero, or near-zero, resistance to an electric current.
In theory this allows electrical energy to be transferred between two points with perfect efficiency, losing nothing to heat.
Learning Poverty:
Definition: It refers to the number of children who are not acquiring the minimum knowledge and skills needed to function in society.
World Bank definition: It means being unable to read and understand a simple text by age 10.
QUOTES Quote on human ability to prevent manmade destruction: “A destruction, an annihilation that only man can provoke, only man can prevent”. - ELIE WIESEL
Meaning: The quote highlights a profound truth about humanity's unique position and responsibility regarding destruction and prevention.
It emphasizes that while humans possess the power to cause immense destruction and annihilation, they also possess the agency and capability to prevent it.
Quote on Government & the Governed: “The future holds little hope for any government where the present holds no hope for the people.” -LYNDON B JOHNSON
Meaning: The quote reflects a significant concern about the relationship between the government and its people.
It suggests that if the current situation offers no hope or positive prospects for the people, then the future of the government may also be bleak.
It is essential for governments to be accountable, transparent, and committed to the welfare of their citizens to build a brighter future for all.