23 July 2022

Daily UPSC Current Affairs Analysis

1 – Agnipath Scheme:

GS II

Topic à Government Policies and Interventions

• Context:

• The 10% reservation for recruits under the Agnipath Scheme in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) or the paramilitary will apply horizontally, the Ministry of Home Affairs notified Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, July 20. Alongside the current caste-based quota and physical eligibility conditions in the CAPFs, the new reservation will fit horizontally.

• Agnipath Plan:

• The majority of the 45,000 to 50,000 troops who are recruited each year under the new Agnipath scheme will exit the military in just four years.
• Only 25% of the total annual recruits will be permitted to continue under permanent commission for a further 15 years.
• Candidates must be between the ages of 17.5 and 23 to be eligible. Only employees with ranks below officer may use the plan.
• The highest-ranking officers in the army are commissioned officers.
• In the Indian armed services, commissioned officers are the only members of that rank. They frequently serve on a commission under the president’s authority and are mandated by law to defend the nation.
• They would create a unique rank in the Armed Forces that would be distinct from all other ranks.
• Agniveers will be given the chance to seek for permanent enlistment in the Armed Forces after serving for four years, based on organisational criteria and policies periodically established by the Armed Forces.
• In order to qualify for the services, applicants must be from “all India, all classes,” which includes people of any caste, region, class, or religion.
• The “regiment system” that currently governs recruitment is based on caste and geographic location.
• Six months of training will be followed by three and a half years of deployment.

• Advantages for Agniveers:

• A Seva Nidhi scheme will be implemented during this time, where 30% of their pay will be set aside each month along with an equivalent monthly contribution from the government and interest.
• Each soldier will receive a lump sum payment of Rs. 11.71 lakh at the conclusion of the four-year period that is tax-free.
• The first four years will not be taken into account for retirement benefits for 25% of soldiers who are reselected.
• Priority will be given to aspiring entrepreneurs when applying for bnk loans.
• A certificate from the preferred bridging course will be given for additional study.
• In certain states, the Agniveers would be given preference in the CAPFs, Assam Rifles, police, and allied forces.
• Skills that can be put to use, as well as professional experience in a variety of fields like engineering, mechanics, law, and order.
• Major businesses and industries (IT, Security, Engineering) have declared they will prioritise hiring a qualified and obedient engineer.
• The Agnipath Scheme’s benefits include:

• Younger armed forces:The average age of India’s nearly 13 lakh strong armed forces is 32 years old at the moment. It is anticipated that by putting this plan into place, it will be reduced by around 4-5 years.
• Pension cost reduction:Since 2020, the government has authorised or paid more than Rs. 3.3 lakh crore for defence pension.
• According to estimations by the Army, the government would save over 11.5 billion dollars by using this “Tour of Duty model” of recruitment for just one sepoy (the army initially proposed a 3-year service model).
• Younger armed forces will make it easier for them to be trained for new technology, improving training and workforce skills.
• Increased employment options: Due to their training and expertise gained throughout the course of their four-year military service, recruits will have more opportunities outside of the army.
• After serving for four years, the central government will probably offer Agniveers preference for regular employment.

• Arguments opposing the Agnipath plan:

• The programme eliminates the permanent status and pension benefits that would deter young people from enrolling in the programme.
• 6 months of training has drawn criticism for not being sufficient for the missions now assigned to the military forces.
• Many veterans have expressed concern about the military becoming a short-term force, which will undermine a soldier’s devotion to the forces.

• Conclusion:

• Like the US, many other nations use the voluntary tour of duty model, where the deployment is determined by the requirements of the military and the branch of service.
• While there are several nations that require conscription, including Israel, Norway, North Korea, and Sweden.
• For the young people to gain experience, the plan would be beneficial. However, the government must make sure to answer all of the public’s questions and concerns on the subject.

Source à The Indian Express

2 – Place of Worship Act:

GS II

Topic à Government Policies and Interventions

• Context:

• A BJP MP’s private member’s bill calling for the repeal of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, was scheduled for introduction in the Rajya Sabha on Friday. This comes as a Varanasi court continues to hear the civil suit regarding the dispute between the Kashi Vishwanath temple and the Gyanvapi mosque.

• What is stated in the 1991 Places of Worship Act?

• The Act mandates that a house of worship maintain its religious identity as it did on August 15, 1947.
• No one is allowed to change a house of worship belonging to one religious sect into another, according to the law.
• It states that as soon as the law goes into effect, all litigation, appeals, or other actions involving changing the status of a place of worship that were pending before any court or authority on August 15, 1947, will be terminated. There won’t be any additional legal action.

• These restrictions do not apply to the following:

• Any disagreement that has been resolved amicably between the parties, any litigation that has been definitively resolved or dismissed, and any conversion of property that occurred prior to the start of the Act.
• Additionally, the Act does not apply to the Ayodhya temple known as Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid. This law will take precedence over all other laws now in place.

• Why the Act is subject to criticism:

• It has been contested on the grounds that it restricts the right to judicial review, which is a fundamental element of the Constitution, imposes a “arbitrary unreasonable retrospective cutoff date,” and limits the freedom of religion for Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs.

Source à The Hindu

3 – Private Members Bill:

GS II

Topic à Indian Parliament

• Context:

• On Friday, a BJP MP was set to introduce a private member’s bill in the Rajya Sabha that would repeal the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. This occurs as a Varanasi court continues to hear testimony in the civil lawsuit relating to the conflict between the Gyanvapi mosque and the Kashi Vishwanath temple.

• About:

• A private member of parliament (MP) is an MP who is not a minister.
• The member in question is in charge of writing it. It needs a month’s notice before being introduced in the House.
• Government legislation can be introduced and discussed on any given day as public bills, however private member bills can only be introduced and discussed on Fridays.
• A ballot system is used to determine the order of bills to be introduced when there are several measures.
• All such bills are examined by the Parliamentary Committee on Private Member’s Bills and Resolutions, which classifies them according to their urgency and importance.
• The House’s rejection of it has no bearing on the government’s departure or the level of parliamentary confidence in it.
• After the discussion, the member who is guiding the measure has the option of withdrawing it at the minister’s request or continuing with its passage.

• Private Members Bills from the Past:

• A private member’s bill was last approved by both Houses in 1970.
• The Supreme Court (Enlargement of Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction) Bill of 1968 was the legislation at issue.
• Five of the 14 private member’s bills that were introduced in Rajya Sabha were eventually passed into law. Other private member legislation that was passed into law in the Lok Sabha is the Proceedings of Legislature (Protection of Publication) Bill from 1956.
• The Lok Sabha was presented with the Salaries and Allowances of Members of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 1964.
• The Rajya Sabha was first introduced to the 1967 Indian Penal Code (Amendment) Bill.

• Significance:

• The private member’s bill seeks to bring the government’s attention to what certain MPs believe to be problems and holes in the current legal system that call for legislative action.
• As a result, it reflects the opposing party’s position on important issues.

Source à The Indian Express

4 – DGCA:

Prelims Specific Topic

• Context:

• On Thursday, a Boeing 787 operated by AIR India with about 260 people on board experienced cabin depressurization while en route from Dubai to Kochi, according to government sources. When the problem happened, the aeroplane was travelling at 37,000 feet, and passengers were using oxygen masks while experiencing nosebleeds. It is being looked into by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

About the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation:

• This organisation was established by law to oversee civil aviation in India.
• It was established by the Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
• Its responsibilities include investigating aircraft accidents and events, upholding all aviation laws, and issuing permits.

Source à The Hindu