The PGI assesses states and union territories based on various indicators across four key domains:

3.1.Learning Outcomes: This domain focuses on evaluating the academic performance of students, including their achievement levels in language, mathematics, science, and social science subjects. It also takes into account the transition rates from primary to upper primary and from upper primary to secondary levels.

3.2.Access: This domain assesses the accessibility of education by examining indicators such as gross enrollment ratio, infrastructure availability (classrooms, toilets, libraries, etc.), availability of trained teachers, and inclusive education for children with special needs.

3.3.Infrastructure and Facilities: This domain evaluates the adequacy and quality of infrastructure and facilities in schools, including drinking water facilities, electricity, playgrounds, computer labs, and availability of teaching-learning materials.

3.4.Equity: This domain assesses the efforts made by states and union territories to reduce disparities in education, focusing on indicators such as the gender parity index, the enrollment of disadvantaged groups (SC/ST/OBC/minorities), and the availability of scholarships.

4. Way forward

Additionally, it encourages healthy competition and incentivizes states/union territories to improve their educational outcomes and infrastructure.

It is important to note that the PGI is periodically updated and revised to ensure its relevance and effectiveness in capturing the educational landscape of the country.

Source: pib

ORAON TRIBE

• The Oraon tribe, also known as Kurukh or Uraon, is an indigenous ethnic group primarily found in the states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, and Odisha in India. They are one of the largest tribal communities in these regions.
• The Oraon people have a distinct culture, language, and traditional way of life.
• The Oraon tribe's cultural significance, resilience, and contributions to the cultural diversity of India make them an important part of the country's heritage.

• Special legislation such as the PESA Act, 1996; the Chota Nagpur Tenancy Act, 1908; and the Santhal Parganas Tenancy Act, 1876, recognise such customary practices in Jharkhand, which are protected under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution.
• There also judicial precedents which recognise customary practices and authorise lower courts to make decisions on their basis.
• An Oraon who had married as per her community’s customary practices, had filed for divorce in the family court in 2021 on grounds of adultery
• The court said that since Oraon customary practices are not codified, it could not have jurisdiction over it
• However, when she approached the Jharkhand High Court, a Division Bench not only recognised the padha system of dispute resolution, but also directed the family court to decide the divorce matter as per the community’s customary practices

• There have been voices of concern in other regions as well. The sharpest protests against a UCC in the north-east emerged from Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Mizoram.
• Many tribal bodies have raised what they claim is the unconstitutionality of a UCC in the presence of protections enshrined in Articles 371A (special provision with respect to Nagaland) and 371G (special provision with respect to Mizoram) of the Constitution of India
• A UCC could also come in conflict with the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution (which facilitates the establishment of autonomous district councils in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura)

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

1. Context 

On June 29, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered a significant ruling, declaring race-conscious student admissions policies at the University of North Carolina (UNC) and Harvard College as unlawful. In a 6-3 and 6-2 vote, the Supreme Court declared the admission programs of Harvard College and UNC lacking measurable objectives to justify the use of race as a criterion. The decision came in favour of Students for Fair Admissions, an organization opposing race-based admissions in colleges. 

2. Affirmative Action

• Affirmative action is a policy aimed at promoting equal opportunities for historically underrepresented demographics or minorities in educational or professional sectors.
• It originated in 1961 when President John F. Kennedy signed an executive order to ensure equal employment without regard to race, creed, colour, or national origin.
• President Richard Nixon later expanded the concept to encompass federal employment and prohibit discrimination.

3. The Equal Protection Clause

The Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause mandates the government to provide equality to all citizens and prevent the denial of protection based on race or other factors. This clause plays a pivotal role in safeguarding civil rights.

4. Race as a Factor in College Admissions

• Approximately 40% of U.S. colleges and universities, including Harvard, consider race in some capacity during admissions.
• The judgment reveals that Harvard College assigns numerical scores to admissions applications across various categories.
• The composite "overall" rating, which includes factors such as academic performance and extracurricular involvement, can also consider an applicant's race.
• Similarly, UNC utilizes a similar process, with the admissions office assigning numerical ratings to applicants, considering race as a factor during the review.

5. Potential Impact of the Decision

• This is not the first time affirmative action has been deemed unlawful for U.S. colleges. California, for instance, banned affirmative action in public universities in 1996.
• In a recent case, the President and Chancellors of the University of California (UC) expressed their struggles to enrol a racially diverse student body, highlighting a significant drop in minority enrollments since 1996.
• Studies analyzing states that banned affirmative action have found declining representation of underrepresented minorities in flagship universities.

6. The Way Forward

• Affirmative action has been a longstanding policy aimed at promoting equal opportunities, but this decision underscores the challenges and controversies surrounding the use of race as a factor in admissions processes.
• The impact of this ruling on future admissions policies and efforts to achieve diversity in higher education remains to be seen.

For Prelims: U.S. Supreme Court, Harvard College, Affirmative Action, University of North Carolina, Race discrimination, President John F. Kennedy, President Richard Nixon, Equal Protection clause

 

 

Previous Year Questions   1. Comprehension   Read the following two passages and answer the items that follow. Your answers to these items should be based on the passages only.   The best universities like Harvard and MIT, despite having the luxury of having some truly excellent teachers on their payroll, are increasingly embracing the "flipped classroom" format, where students listen to video lectures at home, and spend class time applying their knowledge, solving problems, discussing examples, etc. Professors guide that discussion and fill in wherever necessary, explaining those bits that seem to be eluding the students and throwing in advanced ideas that happen to be topical. These universities have made their video lectures available free for anyone in the world. They are also encouraging colleges and universities all over the world to integrate these online courses into their own pedagogy, picking the pieces that are appropriate for their needs and building a package around them.   Which one of the following statements best reflects the central idea of the passage given above? (UPSC 2021) A. Efficacy of universities would be better in online mode of conducting classroom tuition as compared, to conventional method B. Availability of higher education can be made easier and cheaper without diluting the content. C. We need not invest much in infrastructure related to higher education and yet develop better human and social capital. D. Private sector institutions in higher education, as well as coaching institutes, can take advantage of this opportunity and thrive well.   Answer: B   2. Which of the following statements appropriately describes the "fiscal stimulus"? (UPSC 2011)  A. It is a massive investment by the Government of the manufacturing sector to ensure the supply of goods to meet the demand surge caused by rapid economic growth. B. It is an intense affirmative action of the Government to boost economic activity in the country. C. It is the Government's action of financial institutions to ensure the disbursement of loans to agriculture and allied sectors to promote greater food production and contain food inflation. D. It is an extreme affirmative action by the Government to pursue its policy of financial inclusion.   Answer: B   3. Equality before the law or equal protection of the laws within the territory of India is guaranteed under which one of the following Articles of the Constitution of India? (CDS 2021)  A. Article 14           B. Article 15       C.  Article 16        D.  Article 22   Answer: A

 

Source: The Hindu

INDIA RUSSIA TRADE

 

1. Context

As India continues to import oil from Russia, it is getting tougher for the country to pay for it. On the one hand, it faces repercussions of breaching the oil price cap of $60 a barrel put in place by the U.S. and European nations as Russia offers lower discounts on its crude. On the other hand, using currencies like the Chinese yuan for payments, which India has already started doing, has its own geopolitical ramifications amid strained ties with Beijing.

2. India-Russia Trade Relations

• The two countries intend to increase bilateral investment to US$50 billion and bilateral trade to US$30 billion by 2025.
• Bilateral trade during FY 2020 amounted to USD 8.1 billion.
• From 2013 to 2016 there was a major decline in the trade percentage between the two countries. However, it increased from 2017 onwards and a constant increase was noticed in 2018 and 2019 as well.

3. Increasing Dependency on Russian Oil Imports

• India's oil imports have shifted significantly towards Russia, surpassing traditional suppliers such as Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
• Russia's geopolitical situation, including Western sanctions following the military operation in Ukraine, has prompted Moscow to offer steep discounts on its crude oil, finding a ready market in India.
• India, unlike Western countries, has chosen not to impose formal sanctions on Russia, leading to a nearly 13-fold increase in crude oil imports from Russia in 2022-23, reaching over $31 billion.

4. Payment Challenges and Geopolitical Ramifications

• India faces difficulties in paying for Russian oil due to breaching the $60 per barrel price cap set by the US and European nations, as Russia offers lower discounts on its crude.
• Using currencies like the Chinese yuan for payments raises geopolitical concerns due to strained ties with Beijing.
• Western sanctions have limited Russia's access to the global secure interbank system (SWIFT), making it challenging for Indian exporters to receive payments for goods already shipped to Russia.

5. The Rupee-Rouble Mechanism and Trade Deficit Concerns

• Negotiations between India and Russia to reactivate the rupee-rouble trade arrangement, an alternative payment mechanism, have faced obstacles.
• Concerns over the rouble's convertibility and volatility, along with India's ballooning trade deficit, have hindered the implementation of the rupee-rouble payment mechanism.
• India's trade deficit with Russia reached $43 billion in 2022-23, leading to significant amounts of Indian rupees in Russian banks that cannot be utilized for Russia's war efforts.

6. De-Dollarisation Efforts and Alternative Payment Methods

• The US sanctions have prompted countries to explore de-dollarisation, replacing the US dollar as the global reserve currency.
• India has released a roadmap for the internationalization of the Indian rupee to enhance its acceptance globally.
• Indian refiners have settled non-dollar payments for Russian oil using currencies like the Chinese yuan and the UAE dirham.

7. Future Considerations and Potential Solutions

• Using the Chinese yuan for payments raises geopolitical concerns, given the strained India-China relations.
• Possible solutions to counter the trade deficit with Russia include seeking investments in Indian energy projects or government bonds from Russia.
• India's efforts to internationalize the Indian rupee may contribute to broader acceptance, but the value and acceptability of any currency depend on its purchasing power.

For Prelims: Trade Deficit, De-dollarisation, Geopolitical Ramifications, European nation, internationalization of the Indian rupee. For Mains: 1. Analyze the historical context and evolution of trade relations between India and Russia. How have these relations progressed over the years, and what are the key factors influencing their trajectory?

 Source: The Hindu

UN STATISTICAL COMMISSION

 

 

1. Context

 

India has been elected to the UN Statistical Commission for a four-year term. A second candidate is yet to be decided between South Korea and China and the balloting process will resume later in the day (local time) for electing the remaining Asia Pacific states member

 

2. About UN Statistical Commission

• The United Nations Statistical Commission, established in 1947, is the highest body of the global statistical system bringing together the Chief Statisticians from member states from around the world.
• It is the highest decision-making body for international statistical activities, responsible for setting statistical standards and the development of concepts and methods, including their implementation at the national and international level
• The Statistical Commission oversees the work of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), and it is a Functional Commission of the UN Economic and Social Council

3. Members

The Commission consists of 24 member countries of the United Nations elected by the United Nations Economic and Social Council on the basis of an equitable geographical distribution according to the following pattern:

(a) Five members from African States;
(b) Four members from Asia-Pacific States;
(c) Four members from Eastern European States;
(d) Four members from Latin American and Caribbean States;
(e) Seven members from Western European and other States.

 

The term of office of members is four years

 

 

Source: indianexpress