25 July 2024, The Hindu
Budget 2024 — long on intent, short on details
Page 8
GS 3: Indian Economy - Government Budgeting
- The short Budget speech by the Union Finance Minister is marked by clarity on three aspects.
- First, the intentions and vision for Vikisit Bharat@2047 are spelt out through the nine priority areas, a long-term vision, to which we expect that subsequent Budgets would adhere, to accomplish these goals.
- Second, there is an explicit recognition of the problem of unemployment in the economy.
- Addressing this has been a challenge and the Budget devotes considerable space in listing out initiatives towards generating employment.
- Third, the compulsions of a coalition government surface in parts, but are hidden in some of the specificities.
- These three have guided the strategy and the approach of the Budget.
- On the face of it, the policy slant reveals good intentions, but the ways and the means to accomplish the ambitious goals set out are not divulged, casting a shadow on the possibility of realising the targets set.
An outlining of urban transformation strategies
Page 8
GS 3: Indian Economy - Infrastructure – Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
- Cities are home to about 50 crore people, accounting for about 36% of India’s population.
- The urban population has been growing at a steady pace of 2% to 2.5% annually.
- The ever-growing pace of urbanisation in India calls for sustained investments, with a vision and determination.
- The maiden Budget of the new government has recognised cities as the growth hubs and offered many options and opportunities for the planned development and the growth of cities.
Cleansing NEET
Page 8
GS 2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources
- What comes undone is best redone.
- The latest development in the prolonged National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2024 saga has played out in the court, and will answer the question raised initially — the unusually high number of toppers this year.
- The Supreme Court of India’s ruling on the right answer to a particular physics question in the NEET paper, based on the expert opinion of IIT Delhi professionals, has brought down the number of toppers from 61 to a more reasonable number — 17.
- The wrong answer for the disputed question was chosen reportedly by four lakh students, including 44 in the list of toppers.
- As a result, all these students will lose five marks each.
Prioritising inclusivity and fiscal prudence
Page 9
GS 3: Indian Economy -Inclusive growth
- There was a lot of anticipation before this Budget.
- As the first major public policy announcement of the new government, it was expected that the Budget would lay down a plan of action for the following five years of the government’s approach towards the larger national vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.
- Further, while the economy is performing well, there were admittedly a few areas that merited attention, employment being the foremost.
- The Finance Minister announced that the Budget would focus on employment, skilling, MSMEs, and the middle class.
- With the nine priority areas that followed, she articulated the economic policy framework through which the government wishes to bring in the transformation that would accelerate the journey towards Viksit Bharat@2047.
- By addressing the near-term challenges while keeping an eye on the long term, the government has ensured that this Budget is growth-oriented, inclusive, and will create opportunities for all sections.
Is immunity for the President and Governors absolute?
Page 10
GS 2: Indian Constitution: features, amendments, significant provisions
India committed to FTA with the U.K., says Modi
Page 12
GS 2: International Relations- Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting the Indian interests
- India is committed to concluding a Free Trade Agreement with the United Kingdom, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, after meeting the visiting Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Lammy — the highest ranking official from the United Kingdom to visit India since the Labour party won a landslide victory in the recent election.
- The two sides launched the U.K.-India Technology Security Initiative, that the U.K. described as ‘landmark’.
- “[I] appreciate the priority accorded by PM Keir Starmer to broaden and deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Remain committed to elevating the ties.
- Welcome the bilateral Technology Security Initiative and the desire to conclude a mutually beneficial FTA,” Mr. Modi said.
No progress on UN Security Council expansion, say former Ambassadors
Page 12
GS 2: International Relations- Important International institutions, agencies, their structure and mandates
- Despite consistent efforts by India and other countries, the move for United Nations Security Council (UNSC) reform and expansion has made “no progress” so far, conceded two former Indian Ambassadors to the United Nations, stressing that India must, however, continue to push its demand for inclusion in the top global decision-making body.
- The lack of progress has been the subject of considerable frustration ahead of this year’s Summit of the Future at the UN (September 22-23) that is expected to bring in more than 150 world leaders to discuss plans to “reboot” the UN, with India and its partners in the G-4 (Brazil, Germany and Japan), all of whom claim a permanent seat at the UNSC, lashing out in recent statements about the proposed “Pact of the Future” that will be released.
DRDO tests Phase-II ballistic missile defence system
Page 14
GS 3: Achievements of Indians in science & technology, Indigenisation of technology and developing new technology
- The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) on Wednesday successfully flight-tested the Phase-II Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) system demonstrating the indigenous capability to defend against ballistic missiles of 5,000 km class.
- Phase 1 of the BMD, which can intercept ballistic missiles with a range of 2,000 km, has already been deployed.
- The maiden test of the Phase-II BMD was carried out in November 2022.
Grasslands in Kutch likely to host cheetahs from Africa
Page 14
Prelims syllabus: Current events of national and international importance.
- Some of the next batch of cheetahs being brought in from Africa, as part of the next phase of Project Cheetah, may be sent to a cheetah-breeding and conservation centre being built in the sprawling grasslands of Banni in the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, senior officials in the Environment Ministry told The Hindu.
- While the Gandhi Sagar sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh is the preferred location for the next lot of wild cats, and Banni has been considered as a potential habitat for over a decade, officials say there is a surge in activity to set up basic infrastructure in Banni and get it ready this year.
ICMR ready to transfer technology of a ‘breakthrough’ TB detection system
Page 14
GS 2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources
- Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has begun work on bringing in affordable, faster and easy-to-use testing technology for detection of tuberculosis (TB).
- The Council has invited Expressions of Interest (EOI) from organisations, companies, and manufacturers for undertaking ‘Transfer of Technology’ for the commercialisation of A CRISPR Cas based TB detection system for the detection of Mycobacterium TB.
Ketamine pill offers hope, and risks, for treatment-resistant depression
Page 20
GS 2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources
- A new tablet that slowly releases the drug ketamine can ease treatment-resistant depression, offering an alternative to cumbersome clinic-based treatments for people with the condition, researchers have found in a clinical trial.
- Ketamine, sometimes called a “party drug”, blocks the receptor for an excitatory neurotransmitter — those that cause neurons fire and send messages — called glutamate.
- It was originally used as an anaesthetic but researchers found that it had rapid antidepressant effects, acting within hours.
