24 December 2022

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS ANALYSIS

 1 – Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojna: GS II – Topic Government Policies and Interventions

Context:

• In light of the government’s ample supply of foodgrains, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje stated on Thursday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will decide whether to extend the PMGKAY programme past December.

About:

• The PMGKAY programme, which is a part of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP), supports those who are less fortunate in their fight against COVID-19.
• The initiative aimed to provide an additional 5 kg of free grains (rice or wheat) to each person covered by the National Food Security Act of 2013 on top of the 5 kg of subsidised foodgrain that was being distributed under the Public Distribution System (PDS).
• 80 lakh ration card holders would be impacted over the course of three months, according to an earlier announcement (April, May, and June 2020). Later, the cutoff date was extended to September 2022.
• Its nodal Ministry is the Ministry of Finance.
• By transferring their benefits to any of the roughly 5 lakh ration shops throughout the nation, any migrant worker or ONORC programme recipient may benefit from the free ration.
• Cost: PMGKAY will have a total cost of Rs. 3.91 lakh crore for all stages.
• Challenges: The most recent census is used to identify who is eligible under the National Food Security Act (2011). Since that time, there are now more people who lack access to food.

 Issues:

• Costly: The cost of maintaining it makes it more desirable for there to be an abundant supply of affordable grains. India was compelled to impose export limitations on wheat and rice as a result of a poor harvest in 2022 that put additional pressure on food prices and rattled the global agricultural markets due to unpredictably bad weather.
• Increasing the budget deficit could make it more difficult for the government to reach its target of keeping it at 6.4% of GDP.
• Inflation: The programme decision may have an effect on inflation. Rice and wheat prices are rising as a result of lower production driven on by a heatwave and a sporadic monsoon. About 10% of India’s retail inflation can be attributed to these two goods.

Source The Hindu

 2 – Bharat Biotech’s Nasal Booster Vaccine: GS II – Topic àHealth related issues

Context:

• According to official sources on Friday, the intranasal Covid vaccine from Harat Biotech has been approved by the Union Health Ministry as a booster dose for anyone over the age of 18.
• The needle-free vaccine will be available in private institutions. It will soon be made available on the Co-WIN platform, according to them.

About:

• The COVID-19 recombinant nasal vaccine for primary immunisation of individuals 18 years of age and older in emergency settings has been approved by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization of the Ministry of Health.
• The vaccine, known as iNCOVACC, is currently only accessible to persons who have not received vaccines (BBV154).
• The vaccine will be made all throughout the country, including in Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Telangana. It can be stored and distributed easily because it is stable between 2 and 8°C.
• BBV154, also known as iNCOVACC, is a new intranasal SARS-CoV-2 vaccine that is an adenovirus vectored with pre-fusion stabilised spike proteins.
• The COVID Suraksha mission was launched as part of the third stimulus package, Atmanirbhar 3.0, in order to aid and hasten the development of the COVID-19 vaccine.
• The mission’s primary goal is to concentrate and simplify existing resources into a warpath for quicker vaccine development in order to give inhabitants with a COVID-19 vaccine that is safe, effective, affordable, and accessible as soon as feasible, with an emphasis on Atmanirbhar Bharat.

What is a nasal vaccination?

• The most common method of administering vaccines is intramuscular injections into muscles or tissue around muscles (subcutaneous).
• Some vaccines can be given in alternative ways, for as by giving neonates the liquid solution orally rather than intravenously.

Benefits:

• Due to the nasal mucosa’s efficient immune system, the nasal route offers a significant potential for immunisation.
• There are no needles used in it.
• It is straightforward to administer because qualified healthcare experts are not needed.
• This can lessen the risks associated with using needles (injuries and infections).
• It will fit both children and adults just right.
• Manufacturing with the potential for scalability will be able to meet demand on a global scale.

Issues:

• Aside from a few flu vaccines, there hasn’t been much data to date supporting the effectiveness of this form of distribution, and prior attempts to do so have all failed.
• Although they are generally safe, producing them can be difficult because their success depends on a number of bioengineering techniques.
• Because there are still not enough data from human trials, mass administration might lead to false results.
• Single dosage vaccine delivery systems, which need extremely sophisticated filling technology, will offer the best vaccine protection.

Source The Hindu

3 – DGCA: GS II – Topic Statutory and Non-Statutory Bodies

Context:

• Domestic and international airlines may soon be required to refund the full ticket price and provide free travel for any passenger they downgrade from business or premium economy to economy class, according to a proposal by the aviation regulator.

Background information on the Directorate General of Civil Aviation:

• It was created by the 2020 Aircraft (Amendment) Bill as a statutory body.
• It is in responsible of providing aviation licences, such as PPLs, SPLs, and CPLs in India. It also conducts investigations into aviation accidents and incidents, upholds all aviation regulations.
• The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which the Indian government aims to model after the American Federal Aviation Administration, will replace the organisation (FAA).

DGCA activities:

• Registration of aircraft for civil aviation.
• Airport approval.
• A licence is given to pilots, engineers in charge of maintaining aircraft, air traffic controllers, and flight engineers. Appropriate exams and inspections are also conducted.
• setting standards for civil aircraft registered in India to receive certificates of airworthiness.
• As accident prevention measures, examination of incidents and important occurrences involving aircraft up to 2250 kg AUW and implementation of safety aviation management programmes
• Analyses the proficiency of the flight crew as well as that of other operational workers, such as flight dispatchers and cabin crew.

Source The Hindu

4 – CAG: GS II – Topic Statutory and Non-Statutory Bodies

Context:

• When assessing the Mission Mode (MM) projects of the Defence Research and Development Organization, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) found irregular project closure declaring projects successful despite non-achievement of one or more key objectives and parameters and taking on new projects to realise the unachieved objectives of earlier closed projects declared successful (DRDO).

Who is the CAG?

• The CAG is a distinct authority under the Indian Constitution.
• In addition to leading the Indian audit and account department, he also acts as the Public Fund’s primary Guardian.
• It is the organisation responsible for making sure that the government and other public authorities (those who use public monies) are answerable to the State Legislatures and Parliament, and via them, to the general public.

What caused the CAG Office to be established?

• The Office of the Accountant General was established in 1858. (the year the British took over administrative control of India from the East India Company). Sir Edward Drummond designated the first Auditor General in 1860.
• After significant restructuring during this time, the Auditor General of India changed his title to Auditor and Accountant General of the Government of India.
• In 1866, the position was renamed Comptroller General of Accounts, and in 1884, it was elevated to Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
• The Government of India Act of 1919, which gave the office legal backing, allowed the Auditor General to become a non-ministerial position.
• The Government of India Act of 1935 further strengthened the role of the Auditor General by creating Provincial Auditors General within a federal framework.
• The act also provided information on appointment and service procedures as well as a succinct overview of the duties of the Auditor General of India.
• The 1936 Accounts and Audits Order specified the precise accounting and auditing duties of the auditor general.
• This method persisted till India gained its independence in 1947. Following independence, Article 148 of the 1949 Indian Constitution required the President of the nation to designate a Comptroller and Auditor General.
• In 1958, Jammu and Kashmir were included in the CAG’s jurisdiction.
• The federal government passed the Comptroller and Auditor General (Duties, Powers and Conditions of Service) Act, 1971 in that year. The statute gave CAG authority over the accounting and auditing duties of the federal and state governments.
• In 1976, CAG lost its accounting responsibilities.
• Due to the pervasiveness of Indian corruption, CAG has swiftly modernised and computerised since the 1990s. It has also remained vigilant, audited, and investigated some of the worst and most divisive corruption scandals in Indian history.

 Which Constitutional clauses are applicable to the CAG?

• The appointment, oath, and general terms of duty for the CAG are covered in Article 148.
• Article 149 deals with the responsibilities and powers of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
• In accordance with Article 150, the President may specify a format based on recommendations from the CAG for the Union and State accounts.
• The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India’s reports on the Union’s financial statements must be presented to each House of Parliament, per Article 151, at the president’s request.
• The reports from the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India addressing the accounts of a State must be brought before the State Legislature, and the Governor of the State must order their presentation.
• In accordance with Article 279, India’s Comptroller and Auditor-General determines and certifies the calculation of “net proceeds,” and his or her certificate is binding.
• Section IV of the Third Schedule of the Indian Constitution specifies the format of the oath or affirmation that Supreme Court judges and the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India must take when taking office.
• Schedule VI – According to this schedule, the District Council or Regional Council must continue with the approval of the President in the structure that the CAG prescribes. Additionally, the accounts of these bodies are audited in accordance with CAG’s standards, and the reports associated with those audits are provided to the Governor, who organises their presentation to the Council.

 What Differences Can Be Found Between the CAGs in India and Britain?

• Contrary to Britain, where the CAG additionally has the authority of a Comptroller, in India the CAG solely has the authority of an Auditor General.
• In India, the CAG audits the accounts ex post facto—after the expense has been incurred. No money may be taken out of the public coffers in the UK without the CAG’s approval.
• While CAG is not a member of the Indian parliament, it is a member of the Commons in Britain.

How independently does the Office of CAG function?

• There are several provisions in the Constitution that safeguard the independence of the CAG.
• A warrant with the President’s signature is used to appoint the CAG, who has a six-year term or until they are 65, whichever comes first.
• The President may remove the CAG from office only in accordance with the Constitution’s prescribed procedure, which is the same as ousting a Supreme Court justice.
• He is not qualified to hold any positions with the Government of India or any state after he quits or resigns as a CAG.
• The CAG is one of the pillars of India’s democratic system of government. The list is completed by the Supreme Court, the Election Commission, and the UPSC.
• A minister is not permitted to speak on behalf of the CAG in Parliament.

Independence of CAG:

• His pay and other service conditions cannot be adjusted to his detriment once he has been appointed.
• Only after consulting him, the President can set the conditions of employment for people employed by the Indian Audit and Accounts Department.
• All administrative expenditures related to the office of the CAG, including all salaries, allowances, and pensions, are met out of the Consolidated Fund of India, which is not subject to a vote.

Functions of CAG:

• The CAG audits the accounts of the Consolidated Fund of India, the Consolidated Fund of each state, and the Consolidated Funds of the UTs with legislative assembly.
• The Public Account and Contingency Fund of India as well as the Public Account and Contingency Fund of each state are both audited by him.
• He looks at every balance sheet, manufacturing account, profit and loss account, and any other subsidiary accounts that are kept by any branch of the federal government and state governments.
• He audits the revenue and expenditures of all entities and authorities that are largely funded by Central or State revenues, government corporations, and other entities and bodies as required by applicable legislation.
• He audits the books of any other authority, including municipal authorities, upon the request of the President or Governor.
• He offers the President advice regarding the prescription of the structure in which the accounts of the Center and States will be kept.
• His audit reports on the Center’s financial records are given to the President, who will subsequently present them to the two chambers of Parliament.
• He provides the governor with his financial audit reports, and the governor then makes a presentation of them to the state legislature.
• Additionally, CAG acts as a guide, companion, and philosopher for the Public Accounts Committee of the Parliament.

Source The Hindu