11 June 2024, The Indian Express
In first meet, Cabinet okays 3 cr new houses under PMAY
Page no- 8
GS2-Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors and Issues arising out of their Design and Implementation
- Chairing the maiden Cabinet meeting of his third term on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved government assistance for the construction of three crore rural and urban houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).
- Of the three crore houses, two crore will be constructed under PMAY-Gramin, while 1 crore under PMAY-Urban.
- After the Cabinet meeting an official source said, “It has been decided in the Cabinet meeting today to provide assistance to three crore additional rural and urban households for the construction of houses, to meet the housing requirements arising out of the increase in the number of eligible families.”
A new federal bargain
Page no- 10
GS2-Issues and Challenges Pertaining to the Federal Structure
- The return of coalition politics in India will bring questions of federalism and Centre-state relations back to the fore.
- The BJP’s greater reliance on its regional allies, and its expanded stake in southern India, offers the potential for a federal reset. But whether this will happen is unclear.
- Since 2014, the BJP has introduced a number of changes in the domain of Centre-state relations.
- In Modi 1.0, the government began by abolishing the Planning Commission and establishing in its place Niti Aayog with a mandate for strengthening cooperative federalism.
- It went on to establish the Goods and Services Tax, arguably the most significant reform to fiscal federalism since the promulgation of the Constitution.
Drying up
Page no- 10
GS1-Urbanization, their problems and their remedies
- Reduced river flows and falling water tables have made the summer harsher in several parts of the country.
- In Karnataka, the season began early, in March, when the drought, which carried over from last year, created and aggravated a water crisis in the state’s capital, Bengaluru.
- In Delhi, the scorching temperatures have led to a similar emergency, reigniting an old dispute over water allocation to the capital.
- Last month, the Delhi government moved the Supreme Court, seeking an increased share of the Yamuna’s waters.
- In response, on June 6, the Court asked Himachal Pradesh to release 137 cusecs of water.
- It also directed Haryana to facilitate the flow of this water to the NCR. However, Delhi government has complained that the neighbouring state is not complying with the directive, while Haryana contends that water is “getting evaporated” in transit.
- With the world warming up, the country needs a long-term policy to obviate such conflicts and make sure people do not suffer water shortages.
To crack the exam, or not to
Page no- 11
GS2-Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education
- Is there a relation between the potential to become a good doctor and success in the NEET (National Entrance Eligibility Test)?
- Going by what success in NEET demands, one can’t hesitate to say, “No”— except to acknowledge the general link that both NEET and a doctor’s life require hard work.
- Like most current entrance tests, NEET is essentially a means of elimination. It enables the NTA (National Testing Agency) to legitimately scoop a few out of the ocean of applicants.
- This is done by organising a mega-exam where over two million youngsters sit and answer 180 questions in 200 minutes flat.
Rajan panel report on NEET, and why TN opposes the exam
Page no- 14
GS2-Issues and Challenges Pertaining to the Federal Structure
Powers of the speaker
Page no- 14
GS2-Parliament and State Legislatures—Structure, Functioning, Conduct of Business, Powers & Privileges and Issues Arising out of these
- As the 18th Lok Sabha prepares to meet, the TDP and JD(U), key allies of the BJP in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), are said to be jockeying for the post of Speaker.
- After a pro tem or temporary Speaker administers the oath to new members, the Speaker is chosen to be the Presiding Officer of the House.
Significance of Maldives’ pro-China president Muizzu’s New Delhi visit
Page no- 14
GS2-India and its Neighborhood- Relations
- The President of Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu, was one of seven leaders from India’s neighbourhood who attended Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing-in at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday evening (June 9).
- Muizzu’s presence was significant, given the way he has positioned himself politically vis à vis India, and the crucial strategic aspect to the India-Maldives relationship.
