INSTA PT 2023 Exclusive Society

INSTA PT 2023
EXCLUSIVE
SOCIETY
JUNE 2022 – FEBRUARY 2022
INSTA PT 2023 EXCLUSIVE (SOCIETY)
NOTES
Table of Contents
Women ........................................................................................................................ 3
1. SURROGACY ........................................................................................................................... 3
2. SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF WOMEN AT WORKPLACE ACT, 2013 ............................................... 3
3. NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR WOMEN (NCW): ...................................................................... 4
4. DIGITAL SHAKTI 4.0 ................................................................................................................ 4
5. ELA BHATT ............................................................................................................................. 4
6. NIVESHAK DIDI ....................................................................................................................... 5
7. PERMANENT COMMISSION FOR WOMEN OFFICERS ............................................................... 5
Health .......................................................................................................................... 6
1. NUTRITION RATING STARS ...................................................................................................... 6
2. NARCOTIC DRUGS AND PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES ACT, 1985 (NDPS ACT) .......................... 6
3. NATIONAL HEALTH ACCOUNTS (NHA) ..................................................................................... 7
4. NATIONAL FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE AWARDS 2021................................................................ 8
5. MENTAL HEALTHCARE ACT, 2017 ........................................................................................... 8
6. CADAVER ORGAN TRANSPLANTS ............................................................................................ 8
7. MACROSOMIA........................................................................................................................ 9
8. SICKLE CELL DISEASE............................................................................................................... 9
9. AIIMS FACIAL TOOLBOX FOR EMOTIONS RECOGNITION (AFTER) ........................................... 10
10. MAD COW DISEASE .......................................................................................................... 10
11. FILARIASIS ........................................................................................................................ 11
12. MARBURG VIRUS .............................................................................................................. 11
13. LEAD POISONING .............................................................................................................. 12
14. VINYL CHLORIDE ............................................................................................................... 12
15. MERCURY IN SKIN-LIGHTENING PRODUCTS....................................................................... 13
16. BISPHENOL A .................................................................................................................... 13
17. HORMONAL THERAPY TO CURE BREAST CANCER .............................................................. 14
18. PHARMA POLLUTION ........................................................................................................ 14
19. GNB1 ENCEPHALOPATHY .................................................................................................. 15
20. ASHA WORKERS (ACCREDITED SOCIAL HEALTH ACTIVIST).................................................. 15
Children...................................................................................................................... 17
1. NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR PROTECTION OF CHILD RIGHTS (NCPCR) ................................. 17
2. PROTECTION OF CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL OFFENCES (POCSO) ACT, 2012 ............................ 17
3. INTERPOL’S ICSE INITIATIVE ON CHILD SEX ABUSE................................................................. 18
4. THE PROHIBITION OF CHILD MARRIAGE ACT 2006 ................................................................ 18
Education ................................................................................................................... 20
1. ANNUAL STATUS OF EDUCATION REPORT (ASER) .................................................................. 20
2. FOUNDATIONAL LITERACY AND NUMERACY (FLN) ................................................................ 20
3. NATIONAL CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK (NCF) 2022 (FOR FOUNDATIONAL LEARNING) .......... 21
Reports / Index ........................................................................................................... 22

1. GLAAS REPORT ON WASH ..................................................................................................... 22
2. GLOBAL HUNGER INDEX (GHI) .............................................................................................. 22
3. MULTI-DIMENSIONAL POVERTY INDEX (MPI) ........................................................................ 23
Government / Private Initiatives / International Efforts .............................................. 24

1. MISSION SHAKTI ................................................................................................................... 24
2. NATIONAL EDUCATION SOCIETY FOR TRIBAL STUDENTS (NESTS)........................................... 24
www.insightsonindia.com 1 InsightsIAS
NOTES
3. TELE MENTAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE AND NETWORKING ACROSS STATES (TELE-MANAS)........ 24
4. PRIME MINISTER’S DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE FOR NORTH-EAST REGION (PM-DEVINE) ........ 25
5. GRAMEEN UDYAMI PROJECT (GUP) ...................................................................................... 25
6. E-SHRAM PORTAL................................................................................................................. 26
Miscellaneous............................................................................................................. 27
1. CORPORAL PUNISHMENT ..................................................................................................... 27
2. SPECIAL MARRIAGE ACT, 1954 .............................................................................................. 27
3. DHAMAAL ............................................................................................................................ 27
4. WANGALA DANCE ................................................................................................................ 28
5. WORLD TRIBAL DAY 2022 ..................................................................................................... 28
6. HATTIS COMMUNITY ............................................................................................................ 28
7. ‘JOHAR’ GREETING ............................................................................................................... 29
8. NATIONAL INTERNET EXCHANGE OF INDIA (NIXI) .................................................................. 29
NOTES
Women
1. Surrogacy
• Surrogacy is defined by law as “a practice whereby one woman bears and gives birth to a child
for an intending couple” and intends to hand over the child to them after the birth, as per The
Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021 (SRA).
• Under the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021, a woman who is a widow or a divorcee between
the age of 35 to 45 years or a couple, defined as a legally married woman and man, can avail
of surrogacy if they have a medical condition necessitating this option.
• It also bans commercial surrogacy, which is punishable with a jail term of 10 years and a fine
of up to ₹10 lakhs.
• The law allows only altruistic surrogacy where no money exchanges hands and where a
surrogate mother is genetically related to those seeking a child.
• Further, Indian couples with biological or adopted children are prohibited to undertake
surrogacy, save for some exceptions such as mentally or physically challenged children, or
those sufferings from a life-threatening disorder or fatal illness.
The other legislation on this matter, the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) (Regulation)
Act, 2021. This is open to married couples, live-in partners, single women, and also foreigners.
ART procedures include gamete donation, intrauterine insemination, and in-vitro fertilisation or
IVF.
• The ART Act, 2021 provides a system for the implementation of the law on surrogacy by
setting up of the National Assisted Reproductive Technology and Surrogacy Board.
2. Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013

Background:
● The Vishakha Guidelines were issued by the Supreme Court (in Vishakha and others v. The
State of Rajasthan 1997) with the primary goal of creating a framework for workplace sexual
misconduct redress and grievance processes.
● The Act of 2013 was motivated by these guidelines.
About the Act of 2013:

Objective: Its goal is to safeguard women's rights at work and make the workplace a safer place
for them. It also serves as a platform for both avoiding and addressing problems.
Provisions of the Act:
● It is applicable to all sectors including organised and unorganised sectors.
● It defines a workplace as an extended space by covering any place visited by an employee
during the course of his or her employment which would include transportation, etc.
● Internal Complaint Committee (ICC): Any corporation or organisation with more than 10
employees to establish an ICC to hear and address sexual harassment allegations.
● Local Complaint Committee in each district where there are less than 10 workers.
● Duties of employer: The employer must disclose the legal repercussions of engaging in sexual
harassment-related activities, as well as the composition of the ICC.
● Penalties: If an employer fails to comply with the regulations, a penalty of Rs. 50000 may be
imposed, and the licence may be revoked.
Procedure to be followed:
● An aggrieved female has 3 months to make a written complaint with the ICC.
● Before initiating an investigation, the committee can try to resolve the matter through
mediation.
● While directing the investigation (to be completed in 90 days), the Committee has the same
authority as a civil court and works on Principles of Natural Justice.
NOTES
3. National Commission for Women (NCW):

● It is a statutory body of the Government of India that was founded on January 31, 1992, by
the National Commission for Women Act, 1990.
● Its mandate is to:
○ Review the Constitutional and Legal safeguards for women;
○ Recommend remedial legislative measures;
○ Facilitate redressal of grievances and
○ Advise the Government on all policy matters affecting women.
● Functions:
○ Investigate and examine all issues concerning the protection provided to women
under the Constitution and other legislation.
○ Report on the effectiveness of those safeguards to the Central Government.
○ Make recommendations in such reports for the effective application of those
protections.
○ Propose corrective legislative actions to address any flaws in laws.
Investigate complaints and take suo moto action in cases involving the denial of women's rights.
4. Digital Shakti 4.0

National Commission for Women together with
CyberPeace Foundation and Meta (parent company
of Facebook) launched Digital Shakti 4.0 to create
safe cyberspace for women and girls, making women
digitally skilled
• Digital Shakti has been accelerating the digital
participation of women and girls by training
them to use technology to their advantage and to
keep themselves safe online.
• The initial phase was launched in 2018
CyberPeace Foundation (CPF) is an award-winning civil society organization, a think tank of

CyberSecurity and policy experts.
5. Ela Bhatt
Elaben Bhatt, 89, noted Gandhian, leading women’s empowerment activist and renowned
founder of the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) passed away recently
Life of Elaben Bhatt:

● Bhatt founded SEWA in 1972, which has since worked at empowering
women in various ways.
● She was felicitated with the Padma Shri, the Padma Bhushan, the
Ramon Magsaysay Award, the Indira Gandhi Peace Prize and many
other accolades.
● She was also a Member of the Rajya Sabha and of the Planning
Commission of India in the 1980s.
● She served as a World Bank advisor and addressed the United Nations
General Assembly.
● She propounded the idea of ‘hundred-mile communities’ in her book Anubandh: Building
Hundred-Mile Communities published in 2015.
SEWA:
• Founded in 1972
NOTES
• Creates an employment support programme for women
• Founded on the principle that “the poor don’t need charity; they need an enabling
mechanism to strive and come out of the vicious circle of poverty and vulnerability”
• Membership fee of just Rs 10 per month, it has network across many countries of South Asia,
Africa and Latin America.
• It has helped rehabilitate women in personal, and even political or social crises, by
empowering them through skilling and training.
• SEWA Bank was established to provide small loans to poor women— an initiative that was
recognised by the International Labour Organisation as a micro finance movement.
• SEWA’s works have been an inspiration for government schemes like PM- SVANidhi.
6. Niveshak Didi
• India Post Payments Bank (IPPB), conducted India’s First Floating Financial Literacy Camp
with an initiative called ‘Niveshak Didi’ to promote Financial Literacy.
• ‘Niveshak Didi’ initiative is based on the ideology of women for women as in rural area
women feel more comfortable sharing their queries with a female itself.
• The Floating Financial Literacy Camp was conducted among the local residents around the
world famous Dal Lake of Srinagar, J&K.
• IPPB, in collaboration with Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) under
the aegis of Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), launched the initiative called ‘Niveshak Didi’
to promote Financial Literacy “By the women, for the women” concept.
• ‘Niveshak Didi’ initiative is based on the ideology of women for women as rural area women
feel more comfortable to share their queries with a female itself.
About IPPB
• India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has been established under the Department of Posts,
Ministry of Communication with 100% equity owned by the Government of India.
• IPPB’s reach and its operating model is built on the key pillars of India Stack - enabling
Paperless, Cashless and Presence-less banking in a simple and secure manner at the
customers' doorstep, through a CBS-integrated smartphone and biometric device.
7. Permanent Commission for Women Officers

The Supreme Court in February 2020 directed the government to ensure that women officers in
the Army be granted permanent commission (PC) as well as command postings in all services
other than combat.
Lt. Col. Nitisha vs. Union of India Case: On 25th March 2021, the Supreme Court held that the
Army’s selective evaluation process discriminated against and disproportionately affected women
officers seeking permanent commission.
What is a Permanent Commission?

A Permanent Commission means a career in the army till retirement, while Short Service
Commission is for 10 years, with the option of either leaving or opting for Permanent Commission
at the end of 10 years. If an officer doesn't get Permanent Commission then, the officer can
choose a four-year extension.
NOTES
Health
1. Nutrition rating stars
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the country’s apex food regulator, has
released a draft notification for front-of-pack labelling to discourage consumers from buying
packaged food high in sugar, salt, and fat, which will require pre-packaged food to carry a star
graphic — ranging for 0 to 5 — next to the brand name.
Like the star-rating system for energy efficiency of electronic products, the ‘Indian Nutrition
Rating (INR)’ will see the unhealthiest food items carry a 0-star rating and the healthiest carry a 5-
star rating.
The INR system rates the overall nutritional profile for packaged food by assigning it a rating from
½ star (least healthy) to 5 stars (healthiest). More stars indicate the food product is better
positioned to provide for daily human need of nutrients.
To generate the star-rating logo for the product, food businesses have to submit nutritional
profiles of the products concerned on FSSAI’s FoSCoS (Food Safety Compliance System) portal.
Food such as milk and milk products, whey, butter oil, ghee, vegetable oil and fat, fresh and
frozen fruit and vegetables, fresh and frozen meat, egg, fish, flour, and sweeteners will not have
to display the star rating. Carbonated beverages without any energy or sugar will also not be
eligible for declaring the rating.
About FSSAI:
• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is a statutory body established under
the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.
• The FSSAI has been established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
• FSSAI is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation and
supervision of food safety.
• In 2021, with the aim of benefitting industries involved in manufacturing, handling, packaging
and selling of food items, FSSAI decided to grant perpetual licenses to restaurants and food
manufacturers on the condition that they file their returns every year.
• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India License or Registration is required for any food
business in India that manufactures, stores, transports, or distributes food.
• Depending on the size and nature of the company, FSSAI registration or license may be
required.
2. Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act)

• NDPS Act 1985 deals with drugs and their trafficking.
• The NDPS Act defines cannabis (hemp) as a narcotic drug – Charas, Ganja and any other
mixture.
o Only Bhang which is made with the leaves of the plant is not mentioned in the NDPS
Act.
NOTES
• The Act prohibits the production, sale, purchase,
transport and consumption of narcotic drugs and
psychotropic substances, except for medical and
scientific purposes.
o The act extends to the whole of India and also
to aircraft and ships that are registered in
India.
• Exemptions: The Act states that the government may
allow the cultivation of any cannabis plant for
industrial purposes only of obtaining fibre or seed or
for horticultural purposes.
• The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) was constituted in
1986 with the prime responsibility of fighting drug
trafficking and drug abuse.
Measures taken by the government:

• Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA): by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
launched NMBA in 272 most vulnerable districts of India to address the problem.
• The MoSJ&E has begun the implementation of a National Action Plan for Drug Demand
Reduction (NAPDDR) for 2018-2025.
• The government constituted the Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) in 2016.
• The “National Fund for Control of Drug Abuse” to meet the expenditure incurred in
combating illicit traffic in Narcotic Drugs, rehabilitating addicts, educating the public against
drug abuse, etc. has been established.
• Operation "Gear Box" by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) to combat the
smuggling of heroin by detecting the hidden drugs in the gearboxes.
3. National Health Accounts (NHA)

The National Health Accounts
(NHA) Estimates describe the
country’s total expenditure on
healthcare — whether by the
government, the private
sector, individuals, or NGOs —
and the flow of these funds.
It answers questions such as
what are the sources of
healthcare spending, who
manages this spending, who
provides healthcare services,
and which services are utilised.
One of the most important

findings of the 2018-19 report
is that government spending as
proportion of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) went down to 1.28% from 1.35% in
the previous year’s (2017-18) report.
The total health spending — which includes spending by both government and non-government
agents — declined from 3.9% of the GDP to 3.2% in the five years up to 2018-19.
NOTES
4. National Florence Nightingale Awards 2021
Florence Nightingale was a British Nurse, Statistician and social reformer, born in Florence, Taly
(1820).
• Her effort during Crimean War (1854-56), by curing patients, calculating mortality data and
showing how improvements made in sanitary methods would reduce the number of deaths,
won her recognition.
• She is also known as the land with the lamp and the founder of modern nursing.
National Florence Nightingale Awards was instituted in 1973 by the Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare to recognize meritorious service rendered by nursing professionals in India
To mark the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale, WHO announced the year 2020 as the
year of the Nurse and Mid-Wife.
5. Mental Healthcare Act, 2017

What is Mental Health? (WHO)
It is a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with
the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and is able to make a contribution the
community.
Provisions of Mental Healthcare Act, 2017:

• It discourages long-term institutionalization of patients and reaffirms the rights of people to
live independently, and within communities.
o This right is also guaranteed under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act of 2016
o The Mental Healthcare Act, 1987 —prioritized the long-term institutionalization of
mentally-ill people and provided disproportionate authority to judicial officers and
mental health establishments.
• Decriminalisation of suicide: as such a person will be presumed to be “suffering from severe
stress’’ and shall not be subjected to any investigation or prosecution.
• Promotes community living by creating opportunities to access less restrictive options for
community living.
• Discourages using physical restraints (such as chaining), objects to unmodified electro-
convulsive therapy (ECT).
• Establishment of Central Mental Health Authority and State Mental Health Authority
• It provides the following rights:
o Right to Make an Advance Directive about how to be treated or not to be treated for
the illness during a mental health situation.
o Right to Appoint a Nominated Representative
o Right to access mental health care
o It pushes for the rights to hygiene, sanitation, food, recreation, privacy, and
infrastructure.
o Right to get free medicines
o Right to protection from cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment
o Right to live in an environment, safe and hygienic, having basic amenities
o Right to legal aid
6. Cadaver organ transplants

The Union Health Ministry has done away with the age cap of 65 years for receiving an organ
from a dead donor (cadaver).
What do the new guidelines say:

• The Elderly can now register to receive organs from deceased donors.
NOTES
o Previously, NOTTO (National Organ and National Organ and Tissue Transplant
Tissue Transplant Organisation) guidelines Organization (NOTTO) is a national-
barred them. This violated the Right to Life level organisation set up under the
of elderly Directorate General of Health Services,
o Preference will still be given to younger Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
recipients, those above the age of 65 will
not be completely barred from the process
• A patient irrespective of domicile State can register in any other State for a transplant
(previously a domicile certificate was necessary)
• The patient will be allotted a unique ID by NOTTO upon registering. This will help in charting a
‘One Nation One Policy,’ for organ donation and transplantation
• Health Ministry has intimated states to stop charging registration fees to patients.
• For awareness generation: The government is introducing a chapter in the school curriculum
regarding organ donation awareness for students.
7. Macrosomia
A mother in Brazil recently gave birth to a two-foot-tall baby weighing 16lb (7.3kg).
About Macrosomia:
The term used to describe these giant babies is macrosomia (Greek for the large body). Any baby
that weighs more than 4kg, regardless of its gestational age, is said to have macrosomia.
Factors that cause Macrosomia:

• Obese mothers tend to have kinds with Macrosomia.
• In mothers with gestational diabetes
• Being older when pregnant
• Previous pregnancies increase the risk of macrosomia because, with each successive
pregnancy, birth weight increases.
• Overdue pregnancies - those that run past the typical 40 weeks
• Having a boy increases the likelihood of macrosomia
Issues:
• Babies with macrosomia are more likely to encounter difficulties moving through the birth
canal because of their large size.
• "Shoulder dystocia" – which may cause permanent harm to shoulders.
• Mothers are also at increased risk of vaginal tears during delivery, thus increasing the risk of
postpartum haemorrhage (bleeding).
8. Sickle Cell Disease

The government announced in the budget the Centre's plan to launch a mission to eliminate
sickle cell anaemia by 2047
• Unmukt Project: Screening of all tribals in the country below 40 years and give them identity
cards based on their sickle cell anaemia status.
• The colour-coded cards can be matched before marriage to understand the risk of sickle cell
disease in the child born from the union.
• Prevalence: There are approximately 200 districts in the country where the disease is
prevalent, mostly in Maharashtra. Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Rajasthan,
Jharkhand, and Odisha.
About Sickle cell disease:

Sickle cell disease is a genetic condition that affects haemoglobin -- responsible for carrying
oxygen in the body-- in red blood cells.
NOTES
• It is inherited when a
child receives two
genes—one from
each parent—that
code for abnormal
haemoglobin
• It is prevalent among
the tribal population
in India
• It can lead to
problems such as
Anaemia, debilitating
acute and chronic
pain, infection, acute
chest syndrome,
stroke, and renal
failure are among the
problems.
Initiatives by Tribal Ministry:

• National Council on Sickle Cell Disease and Tribal Health Cell
• The Tribal Affairs Ministry, through the development of the Sickle Cell Support Corner, has
instituted a mechanism for creating a Central Repository of data.
9. AIIMS Facial Toolbox for Emotions Recognition (AFTER)

AIIMS Delhi has created AIIMS Facial Toolbox for Emotions Recognition (AFTER)
Usages:
• It will make it easier to treat patients with autism, schizophrenia and depression
• Emotion Recognition Capability can be detected in people with neuropsychiatric conditions
• Research in the Indian context: The interpretation of emotion is culturally dependent, so this
culturally sensitive database shows promise for use in research settings and needs to be
validated in the general population.
10. Mad Cow Disease

Bovine Spongiform
Encephalopathy
(BSE) (or simply Mad
Cow Disease) is a
degenerative,
transmissible, slowly
progressive, and
fatal infection that
affects the central
nervous system of
adult cattle.
How is it caused?
It is caused by
a protein called a
‘prion’ normally
found on the cell
NOTES
surfaces of cattle. However, the normal prion protein changes into an abnormal prion protein and
these proteins destroy the nervous system tissue- the brain and spinal cord.
11. Filariasis
Union Health Ministry has launched a nationwide mass drug administration (MDA) campaign
aimed at ending filariasis disease, by 2027, three years ahead of the global target.
What is Filariasis?
Lymphatic filariasis commonly known as elephantiasis is a neglected tropical disease, which
causes tissue or limb swelling.
• Transmission: Filarial parasites (nematodes (roundworms)) are transmitted to humans
through mosquitoes.
o One of the three parasites, Wuchereria bancrofti, is responsible for 90% of the cases
• Treatment: WHO recommended strategy for lymphatic filariasis elimination is mass drug
administration (MDA).
Government Initiatives:
• Nationwide mass drug administration (MDA) campaign aimed at ending filariasis disease
transmission through door-to-door administration of anti-filarial drugs, especially in 10
affected states such as Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, etc.
• Accelerated Plan for Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis (APELF) was launched in 2018
• January 30: World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day
• London Declaration on NTDs: It was adopted on 30th January 2012 to recognise the global
burden of NTDs
12. Marburg virus

• Marburg virus disease is a highly virulent disease that causes haemorrhagic fever, with a
fatality ratio of up to 88 per cent. It is in the same family as the virus that causes Ebola virus
disease.
Symptoms:
• Illness caused by the Marburg virus begins abruptly, with high fever, severe headache, and
severe malaise. Many patients develop severe haemorrhagic symptoms within seven days.
How does Marburg's disease

spread?
• Like Ebola, the Marburg virus is
transmitted to primates from
fruit bats, which are considered
natural hosts of the virus.
• It spreads among humans via
direct contact with the bodily
fluids of infected bats, or
surfaces contaminated with
fluids, like bedsheets.
Is there any vaccine/treatment for

Marburg disease?
• There are no vaccines or
antiviral treatments approved
to treat the virus. However,
NOTES
supportive care – rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids – and treatment of specific
symptoms, improve survival.
13. Lead poisoning

It is a type of poisoning that occurs when lead accumulates in the body, often over a period of
months or years.
• Children are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning because their bodies are still
developing.
• 23 states exceed the permissible blood lead level of 5 µg/dL margin (WHO safe limit)
Symptoms: Fatigue, Abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, anaemia, a dark line
along the gums, and muscle paralysis or weakness of limbs.
Implications:
• High Blood Lead Levels: Half the
children in India report high
blood lead levels (UNICEF report)
• Disability-Adjusted Life Years:
Lead toxicity in India contributes
to 4.6 million Disability-Adjusted
Life Years (number of years lost
due to disease burden) and
165,000 deaths annually.
• Adverse Health Impact: Once
lead enters the bloodstream, it
goes directly to the brain,
particularly in children.
Steps taken:
• Lead Occupational Safety and
Health Administration
Regulations protect workers from toxic metal exposure.
• Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011.
Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022
14. Vinyl chloride

• Vinyl chloride is a colorless gas
that burns easily. It does not
occur naturally and must be
produced industrially for its
commercial uses.
• Vinyl chloride is used primarily to
make polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a
hard-plastic resin used to make a
variety of plastic products,
including pipes, wire and cable
coatings, and packaging
materials.
• Its health risks were discovered
in the 1970s when four workers
involved in the polymerization
NOTES
process for producing polyvinyl chloride there each developed angiosarcoma of the liver, an
extremely rare type of tumor.
15. Mercury in skin-lightening products

Mercury (or quicksilver) is a
shiny, silver-white metal, and
is liquid at room
temperature.
Other heavy metals in

cosmetics:
• Aluminium compounds
are colourants in lip
glosses, and nail polishes;
• Lead in lipsticks
Impact:
• Lead is a neurotoxin that
can cause developmental
delays and learning
disabilities in children
• Long-term exposure to
mercury can damage the
nervous system and
harm brain development
• Arsenic, another heavy
metal found in some
cosmetics, can cause skin irritation, liver damage, and an increased risk of cancer
16. Bisphenol A
Bisphenol A (BPA) can significantly shorten
the breeding time of southern house
mosquitoes (Culex quinquefasciatus) and
thereby aid in its quick multiplication
• Culex quinquefasciatus is a major carrier
of the West Nile virus, Rift Valley fever
virus and avian pox in tropical and
subtropical countries,
What is BPA?
Bisphenol A is a chemical compound
primarily used in the manufacturing of
various plastics, (softening plastics), paints
and other products
Other impacts of BPA:

On humans: It disrupts the endocrine system
by interfering with the hormones and affects
the brain and prostate gland of foetuses, infants and children.
• The chemical can cause high blood pressure, diabetes and cardiovascular disease in adults
• It can indirectly aid in the spread of vector-borne diseases in humans and animals.
NOTES
17. Hormonal therapy to cure Breast Cancer
Recent research at Mumbai’s Tata Memorial Centre has
shed more light on the molecular mechanism through
which progesterone treatment prior to breast cancer
surgery is likely to increase the survival rates of patients.
What is Breast Cancer?

• Breast cancer is a disease in which cells in the breast
grow out of control. There are different kinds of
breast cancer. The kind of breast cancer depends on
which cells in the breast turn into cancer.
• Breast cancer can spread outside the breast through
blood vessels and lymph vessels. When breast cancer
spreads to other parts of the body, it is said to have
metastasized.
• Breast cancer can occur in women and rarely in men.
Its treatment may consist of chemotherapy,
radiation, hormone therapy and surgery.
What is Hormone Therapy for Cancer?

Hormone therapy is a cancer treatment that slows or
stops the growth of cancer that uses hormones to grow. E.g., some prostate and breast cancers.
What is Progesterone?
Progesterone is an endogenous steroid and progestogen sex hormone involved in the menstrual
cycle, pregnancy, and embryogenesis of humans and other species.
What are Biologicals?

Biologicals are a diverse group of medicines which includes vaccines, growth factors, immune
modulators, monoclonal antibodies, as well as products derived from human blood and plasma.
18. Pharma pollution

According to a paper published in the journal The Lancet, pharmaceutical pollution is an
overlooked but urgent issue that needs coordinated action from across the pharmaceutical,
healthcare and environmental sectors.
About drug or pharmaceutical pollution:

● It is a form of water pollution, caused by pharmaceutical drugs and their molecules which
reach the aquatic environment (groundwater, rivers, lakes, and oceans) through wastewater.
● It is now detected in waters throughout the world and its causes include -
○ Effluents from pharmaceutical manufacturing,
○ Ageing infrastructure (such as water treatment plants which cannot filter our too
small molecules),
○ Sewage overflows (drugs in urine and excreta) and
○ Agricultural runoff (antibiotic use in livestock).
Effects:
NOTES
● On human health: For example, Endocrine disruptor chemicals (EDCs) (e.g., Endosulphan)
directly influence sex hormones.
● On aquatic life: A suspected contributor in fish kills, amphibian die-offs, etc.
19. GNB1 Encephalopathy

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, Tel Aviv University and Columbia
University are studying a rare genetic brain disease called “GNB1 Encephalopathy” and trying to
develop a drug to treat it effectively.
About GNB1 Encephalopathy:

• GNB1 Encephalopathy is a kind of neurological disorder, which affects individuals in the
foetus stage.
• Scientists say delayed physical and mental development, intellectual disabilities, and
frequent epileptic seizures, are among the early symptoms of the disease
• A single nucleotide mutation in the GNB1 gene that makes one of the G-proteins, the “Gβ1
protein,” causes this disease.
• Children born with GNB1 mutation experience mental and physical developmental delay,
epilepsy (abnormal brain activity), and movement problems.
20. ASHA workers (Accredited Social Health Activist)

ASHA workers are volunteers from within the community (under NRHM 2005) who are trained to
provide information and aid people in accessing the benefits of various healthcare schemes of the
government.
● They act as a bridge connecting marginalised communities with facilities such as primary
health centres, sub-centres and district hospitals.
Following are the key components of ASHA :

• ASHA must primarily be a woman resident of the village married/ widowed/ divorced,
preferably in the age group of 25 to 45 years.
• She should be a literate woman with due preference in selection to those who are qualified
up to 10 standard wherever they are interested and available in good numbers. This may be
relaxed only if no suitable person with this qualification is available.
• ASHA will be chosen through a rigorous process of selection involving various community
groups, self-help groups, Anganwadi Institutions, the Block Nodal officer, District Nodal
officer, the village Health Committee and the Gram Sabha.
• The ASHAs will receive performance-based incentives for promoting universal immunization,
referral and escort services for Reproductive & Child Health (RCH) and other healthcare
programmes, and construction of household toilets.
• ASHA will be the first port of call for any health related demands of deprived sections of the
population, especially women and children, who find it difficult to access health services.
• ASHA will provide information to the community on determinants of health such as
nutrition, basic sanitation & hygienic practices, healthy living and working conditions,
information on existing health services and the need for timely utilisation of health & family
welfare services.
• She will counsel women on birth preparedness, importance of safe delivery, breast-feeding
and complementary feeding, immunization, contraception and prevention of common
infections including Reproductive Tract Infection/Sexually Transmitted Infections (RTIs/STIs)
and care of the young child.
• ASHA will mobilise the community and facilitate them in accessing health and health related
services available at the Anganwadi/sub-centre/primary health centers, such as
immunisation, Ante Natal Check-up (ANC), Post Natal Check-up supplementary nutrition,
sanitation and other services being provided by the government.
NOTES
There are around 10.4 lakh ASHA workers across the country.
● The largest workforces of ASHA workers are in states with high populations – Uttar Pradesh,
Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh.
● Goa is the only state with no such workers as per the latest National Health Mission data
available from September 2019.
Recognition:
• ASHA (Accredited
Social Health
Activist) workers
have received the
Global Health
Leaders Award-2022
in the backdrop of
the 75th World
Health Assembly.
• They were named a
“Guardian of the
Year” by Time
magazine in 2020.
National Health Mission:

• National Health
Mission (NHM) was launched by the government of India in 2013 subsuming the National
Rural Health Mission and the National Urban Health Mission.
• The NHM envisages achievement of universal access to equitable, affordable & quality health
care services that are accountable and responsive to people's needs.
NOTES
Children
1. National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)
● It is an Indian statutory body established by an Act of Parliament - the Commission for
Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005.
● The Commission works under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Women and Child
Development and became operational in 2007.
● It is mandated to ensure that all Laws, Policies, Programmes, and Administrative Mechanisms
are in consonance with the Child Rights perspective as enshrined in the Indian Constitution
and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
● As defined by the commission, a child includes a person up to the age of 18 year.
Under the RTE Act, 2009, the NCPCR can:

● inquire into complaints about violation of the law.
● summon an individual and demand evidence.
● seek a magisterial enquiry.
● file a writ petition in the High Court or Supreme Court.
● approach the government concerned for prosecution of the offender.
● recommend interim relief to those affected.
Composition:
This commission has a chairperson and six members of which at least two should be women.
● All of them are appointed by Central Government for three years.
● The maximum age to serve in commission is 65 years for Chairman and 60 years for members.
Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015:

● The Ministry of Women and Child Development introduced the Act to replace the Juvenile
Delinquency Law and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act of 2000.
● One of the main provisions of the Act is that minors in conflict with the law between the ages
of 16 and 18 can be tried as adults.
● As per the Section 27(1) of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (JJ
Act), Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) are to be constituted by State Government for every
district, for exercising the powers and to discharge the duties conferred on such Committees
in relation to children in need of care and protection under JJ Act, 2015.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs recently asked the States/UTs to appoint a Child Welfare Police
Officer (CWPO) in every police station to exclusively deal with children as victims or perpetrators.
2. Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012

● The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development led the introduction of the POCSO Act
in 2012.
● The Act was designed to protect children from sexual assault, sexual harassment and
pornography offences, as well as to provide for the establishment of Special Courts for the
trial of such offences.
● The Act was amended in 2019 for enhancing the punishments for specific offences in order to
deter abusers and ensure a dignified childhood.
Salient features:
● A gender-neutral law: The POCSO Act defines a child as "any person" under the age of 18.
● Not reporting abuse is an offence: Any person (except children) in charge of an institution
who fails to report the commission of a sexual offence relating to a subordinate is liable to be
punished.
NOTES
● No time limit for reporting abuse: A victim can report an offence at any time, even a number
of years after the abuse has been committed.
● Maintaining confidentiality of the victim’s identity: The Act prohibits disclosure of the
victim’s identity in any form of media, except when permitted by the special courts
established under the act.
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, was enacted in consequence
to India’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1992.
The POCSO Act criminalizes all sexual acts among those under 18 regardless of whether consent
is present factually among the minors because the presumption of the law is that there is no
consent in the legal sense among those below 18. Sexual assault under POCSO is a non-bailable,
cognizable offence.
A large part of the investigation of offences under the Act is still guided by the Code of
Criminal Procedure (CrPC). The investigation of penetrative sexual assault cases generally
involves recording the statement of the prosecutrix, a medical and forensic science laboratory
(FSL) examination, and determination of the child’s age. The POCSO Act provides for recording
the statement of the affected child by a woman sub-inspector at the child’s residence or place of
choice.
New obligations under the POCSO Rules 2020:

● Any institution housing children or coming in regular contact is required to conduct a periodic
police verification and background check of every employee.
● Such an institution must impart regular training to sensitise its employees on child safety and
protection.
● The institution has to adopt a child protection policy based on the principle of zero tolerance
for violence against children.
3. INTERPOL’s ICSE Initiative On Child Sex Abuse

India’s Central Bureau of Investigation has joined Interpol’s International Child Sexual
Exploitation (ICSE) initiative that will allow it to collaborate with investigators in other countries
for detecting child sexual abuse online and identifying abusers, victims, and crime scenes from
audio-visual clips using specialised software.
The ICSE database uses video and image comparison to analyse Child Sex Exploitation Material
(CSEM) and make connections between victims, abusers and places.
• Avoids duplications and enables collaboration: The database avoids duplication of effort and
saves precious time by letting investigators know whether a series of images have already
been discovered or identified in another country, or whether it has similar features to other
images.
• Statistics show that in India, every 155 minutes, a child under 16 years of age is raped.
Parents of sexually abused children are scared to tell anyone due to fear of being shamed in
society.
• Previously, CBI had set up ‘Online Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation
Prevention/Investigation (OCSAE) unit for using CSEM data.
4. The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006

To ensure that child marriage is eradicated from within the society, the Government of India
enacted Prevention of Child marriage Act 2006 by replacing the earlier legislation of Child
Marriage Restraint Act 1929.
• The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006, says that child marriages are illegal but not void.
NOTES
• The Act stipulates 18 years as the minimum marriageable age for women, while for men it is
21 years.
• The punishment also extends to anyone who performs, conducts, directs, or abets any child
marriage.
Modern international laws and conventions on Child Marriage:

• The UN Convention on Consent to Marriage,
• Minimum Age for Marriage and Registration of Marriages (1962),
• The UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (1979)
• Beijing Declaration (1995)
• In 2016, UNICEF, together with UNFPA, launched the Global Programme to End Child
Marriage.
• The elimination of child, early and forced marriage is now part of the Sustainable
Development Goals under Target 5 - achieving gender equality and empowering all women
and girls.
NOTES
Education
1. Annual Status of Education Report (ASER)
• After a gap of four years, the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) report for 2022 was
released.
• This nationwide household survey that covers all rural districts in the country generates
estimates for schooling and basic learning for every State in India.
• The annual Status of Education Report (ASER) is published by the NGO Pratham, since 2005.
• Since its inception, ASER has measured foundational skills in reading and arithmetic.
• The highest reading task on the ASER tool is reading a text at Grade II level of difficulty. I
• n mathematics, the highest level is a numerical three-digit by one-digit division problem,
usually expected of children in standard four or so.
• The assessment is done one on one with each sampled child in the household. The child is
marked at the highest level that she/he can comfortably reach. The same tasks are used for
all children aged 5 years to 16 years.
Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development, 2021 award has been given to
NGO Pratham, working in the field of education
The award carries a monetary award of Rs 25 lakh along with a citation and is awarded annually
by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust to individuals and organizations
2. Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN)

● It is the ability of a child (between the ages of 3 and 8 years old) to read basic texts and do
basic mathematical problems such as addition and subtraction.
● It is one of the main elements of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The 2nd edition of the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) report was released by Dr Bibek
Debroy, Chairman EAC-PM.
● It is a benchmark for states and UTs to track their performance in achieving universal
foundational learning by 2026-27.
● Its findings cover the role of nutrition, access to digital technology and language-focused
instructional approach.
Initiatives to promote FLN:

● DIKSHA or Digital
Infrastructure for
Knowledge Sharing:
Launched in 2017, it is a
national platform of the
NCERT, where teachers can
find interactive and
engaging teaching material
to make their classes
interesting.
● NIPUN Bharat Mission:
Launched in 2021 for
ensuring that every child in
the country necessarily
attains foundational literacy
by the end of the third
grade by the year 2026-27.
NOTES
● NISHTHA: A new training program (in FLN) for the teachers, as well as the heads of the school
launched by the NCERT.
● The National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Skills 2022: To meet a key focus area
of the NEP 2020, to improve the foundational skills of students.
○ Under this, ‘jadui pitara’ - learning and teaching material for the foundational stage
of schooling, has been launched recently.
3. National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2022 (for foundational learning)

• The National Curriculum Framework for Early Childhood Care and Education (NCFECCE),
called Foundational Stage is one of the four National Curriculum Frameworks (NCFs).
• It is the first ever integrated Curriculum Framework for children between ages 3-8 in India.
• It is a direct outcome of the 5+3+3+4 ‘curricular and pedagogical’ structure that NEP 2020 has
recommended for School Education.
• The NCF for Foundational Stage (NCFFS) has been developed by NCERT through an extensive
consultative process with States & UTs upto grass root level and various institutions and
organisations.
• The National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage and the pilot project of Balvatika
49 Kendriya Vidyalayas were also launched.
• This is the first time the NCF has been prepared for the foundational stage.
• Early Childhood Care and Education under the Anganwadi system, till now, primarily focused
on the nutrition and the health of a child and not on foundational learning.
Major emphasis
• Activity books instead of textbooks for children 3-6 years.
• Playful learning in avoiding stereotypes, gender representation, and ethical and moral
lessons.
• Use of toys, outside the class exposure to cultural and social activities
• Use of mother tongue
• Use of Panchakosha (Panchakoshas are the layers of the body that seemingly cover the
Atman (Self or Consciousness)- mentioned in Taittiriya Upanishad)
• The concept's five parts are:
• Physical development (sharirik vikas)
• Development of life energy (pranik vikas)
• Emotional and mental development (manasik vikas)
• Intellectual development (bauddhik Vikas)
• Spiritual development (chaitsik Vikas)
The NCF-2022 (part of New Education Policy 2020) has four sections –
• National Curriculum Framework for School Education
• National Curriculum Framework for Early Childhood Care and Education
• National Curriculum Framework for Teacher Education
• National Curriculum Framework for Adult Education
NOTES
Reports / Index
1. GLAAS Report on WASH
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, increasing frequency and
intensity of climate-related extreme weather events continue to impact universal access to safe
and sustainably managed water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).
The GLAAS report, released by the WHO and UN-Water, provides the information on WASH
systems in more than 120 countries, making it the biggest data collection ever.
Note: GLASS and GLAAS are two different reports.

The Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) report of WHO.
Provides a standardized approach to the collection, analysis, interpretation and sharing of data
by countries and seeks to actively support capacity building and monitor the status of existing and
new national surveillance systems.
The Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking Water (GLAAS) is an UN-Water
initiative implemented by WHO. The objective of GLAAS is to provide policy- and decision-makers
at all levels with a reliable, easily accessible and comprehensive analysis of WASH systems to
make informed decisions for sanitation, drinking water and hygiene.
2. Global Hunger Index (GHI)

For the second time in two years, the Ministry of Women and Child Development rejected the
Global Hunger Index (GHI) which ranked India 107 among 121 countries.
GHI, published by Concern Worldwide and Welthungerlife, is computed on four indicators-

• Child undernutrition (1/3 weightage):
• Child stunting (1/6)
• Child wasting (1/6)
• Under 5 Child mortality (1/3)
Concern Worldwide is an international humanitarian organisation dedicated to tackling poverty

and suffering in the world’s poorest countries.
Welthungerhilfe is one of the largest private aid organisations in Germany, independent of
politics and religion.
Important definitions:
• Child mortality rate(under-five mortality rate): It refers to the probability of dying between
birth and exactly five years of age expressed per 1,000 live births.
• Stunting: It is defined as low height-for-age. It is the result of chronic or recurrent
undernutrition.
• Undernourishment: It is a measure of the proportion of the population facing chronic
deficiency of dietary energy intake.
• Child Wasting: Wasting refers to children whose weight is low-for-their height.
Issues raised by India:

● FAO estimate is based on the ‘Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES)’ survey: It has a small
sample size of only 3000 respondents.
● Calculating hunger based on indicators mainly relating to the health of children (three out of
four) is neither scientific nor rational for the general population.
● The report chooses to deliberately ignore efforts made by the Government to ensure food
Security for the population, especially during the Covid Pandemic.
● Proportion of the Undernourished (PoU) population: The report lowers India’s rank based on
NOTES
the estimates of the Proportion of the Undernourished (PoU) population.
GHI website explanation to allegations:

● GHI only uses the public data obtained through food balance sheets based on data reported
by member countries, including India.
● GHI ensures both the food supply situation and the effects of inadequate nutrition within a
particularly vulnerable subset of the population are captured.
● Recognized by the International community: All four indicators used in the calculation of
global hunger are recognised by the international community, including India.
3. Multi-Dimensional Poverty Index (MPI)

Global MPI is an international measure of multidimensional poverty covering 107 developing
countries first developed in 2010 by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative
(OPHI) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
It is computed by scoring each surveyed
household on 10 parameters (in
comparison National MPI (by Niti Aayog)
is based on 12 parameters (MPI
parameter + Bank Account+ Ante-natal
care).
• It was first launched in 2010 by
the OPHI (Oxford Poverty and
Human Development Initiative)
and the Human Development
Report Office of the UNDP.
• A person is multidimensionally
poor if one is deprived of one-
third or more of the weighted
indicators. Those who are
deprived in one-half or more of the weighted indicators are considered living
in extreme multidimensional poverty.
NOTES
Government / Private Initiatives / International Efforts
1. Mission Shakti
• The Government of India has launched 'Mission Shakti' - an integrated women
empowerment programme as umbrella scheme for the safety, security and empowerment of
women for implementation during the 15th Finance Commission period 202l-22 to 2025-26.
• ‘Mission Shakti’ is aimed at strengthening interventions for women safety, security and
empowerment.
• The scheme seeks to make women economically empowered, exercising free choice over
their minds and bodies in an atmosphere free from violence and threat.
• It also seeks to reduce the care burden on women and increase female labour force
participation by promoting skill development, capacity building, financial literacy, access to
micro-credit etc.
• ‘Mission Shakti’ has two sub-schemes - 'Sambal' and 'Samarthya'.
• While the "Sambal" sub-scheme is for safety and security of women, the "Samarthya" sub-
scheme is for empowerment of women.
• The components of 'Sambal' sub-scheme consist of erstwhile schemes of One Stop Centre
(OSC), Women Helpline (WHL), Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) with a new component
of Nari Adalats - women's collectives to promote and facilitate alternative dispute resolution
and gender justice in society and within families.
• The components of 'Samarthya' sub-scheme consist of erstwhile schemes of Ujjwala, Swadhar
Greh and Working Women Hostel have been included with modifications.
• In addition, the existing schemes of National Creche Scheme for children of working mothers
and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) under umbrella ICDS have now been
included in Samarthya.
• A new component of Gap Funding for Economic Empowerment has also been added in the
Samarthya Scheme.
2. National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS)

National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) and (1 million for 1 billion) 1M1B
Foundation have signed MoU to train teachers and students of Eklavya Model Residential
Schools
• The programme will skill teachers and students with Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual
Reality (VR) using the AR-VR skills curriculum launched by CBSE.
Eklavya Model Residential Schools: EMRS is a scheme for making model residential schools for
Indian tribals (ST- Scheduled Tribes) across India. It started in the year 1997-98 and comes under
the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
1M1B is a social innovation and future skills initiative aimed at redefining education in a
conventional sense and aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Established
in the USA in October 2014, 1M1B is a United Nations accredited to the UN Economic and Social
Council (ECOSOC).
• It aims to activate 1 million leaders who will impact 1 billion people to become instrumental
in taking ownership of their futures and advocating for justice in an innovative way.
3. Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele-

MANAS)
On the occasion of World Mental Health Day, the Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking
Across States (Tele-MANAS) initiative of the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare was
launched.
NOTES
Tele-Manas is a 24X7 call centre, which
aims to increase access to mental
healthcare across the country, including
the hard-to-reach areas. The country-
wide network will provide counselling,
consultation with a specialist, and e-
prescriptions.
Key Highlights:
● Centres of excellence: The
programme includes a network of 23
tele-mental health centres of
excellence, with NIMHANS being the nodal centre.
● Technical support: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bengaluru and National Health Systems
Resource Center (NHSRC)
● Use:
○ It will help in providing immediate mental healthcare services
○ It will facilitate a continuum of care.
● Linking Tele-MANAS with other services:
○ National teleconsultation service, e-Sanjeevani, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission,
mental health professionals etc
4. PRIME MINISTER’S DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE FOR NORTH-EAST REGION

(PM-DEVINE)
PM-DevINE, was announced in the Union Budget 2022-23 to address development gaps in the
North Eastern Region (NER).
Objectives:
● Fund infrastructure convergently, in the spirit of PM GatiShakti
● Support social development projects: Based on felt needs of the NER
● Enable livelihood activities: for youth and women
● Developmental gaps: Fill the development gaps in various sectors.
Key Highlights:
● Efforts will be made to complete the PMDevINE projects by 2025-26.
● Funding: It will have 100% Central funding.
● Implementation: PMDevINE will be implemented by the Ministry of DoNER through the
North Eastern Council or Central Ministries/ agencies.
● End-to-end development: It will provide an end-to-end development solution instead of
isolated projects.
● No duplication of projects: It will ensure that there is no duplication of project support under
PMDevINE with any of the other schemes of MDoNER or those of any other Ministry/
Department.
5. Grameen Udyami Project (GUP)

Second phase of Grameen Udyami Project was launched in Ranchi to promote skill development
and Entrepreneurship amongst the tribal youth, gives a boost to Skill India Mission
About GUP
• It is a unique multiskilling project, funded by National Skill Development Corporation that
aims to train tribal students.
• Implementation: Six states: - Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh,
Jharkhand, and Gujarat.
NOTES
• It is implemented under Sansadiya Parisankul Yojana.
• The training under the project will be conducted in the following Job roles which are
relevant to the local economy.
o Electrician & Solar PV Installation Technician
o Plumbing & Masonry
o 2-Wheeler Repair & Maintenance
o IT/ITES with e-Governance
o Farm Mechanization
• Benefit:
o It will augment skill training in tribal youth and ensure the inclusive and sustainable
growth of tribal communities.
o It will impart functional skills to them for enabling livelihoods.
o Increase in Rural/Local Economy
o Enhance employment opportunities
o Reduce forced migration due to lack of local opportunities
o Conservation of natural resources
6. e-SHRAM Portal
• E-Shram portal was one of the key initiatives
aimed at bringing the workforce (creating a
national database), particularly the
unorganised sector, into the ambit of social
security.
• Developed by: Ministry of Labour and
Employment
• After registration on e-SHRAM, a Universal
Account Number (UAN) is provided to the
worker.
• e-SHRAM portal has been integrated with
Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan
Scheme (PMSYM) which is a voluntary and
contributory pension schemes under which unorganised workers contribute Rs. 55/- to Rs.
200/- per month (based on entry age) as their contribution and equal matching contribution is
provided by Government of India.
• On attaining age of 60 years, a monthly pension of Rs. 3000 is provided to PMSYM
beneficiaries. e-SHRAM registrants can easily opt for PMSYM scheme using e-SHRAM
Universal Account Number.
NOTES
Miscellaneous
1. Corporal punishment
By definition, corporal punishment means punishment that is physical in nature. While there is no
statutory definition of ‘corporal punishment’ targeting children in the Indian law, the Right of
Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 prohibits ‘physical punishment’ and
‘mental harassment’ under Section 17(1) and makes it a punishable offence under Section 17(2).
According to the Guidelines for Eliminating Corporal Punishment in Schools issued by the
National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), physical punishment is understood
as any action that causes pain, hurt/injury and discomfort to a child, however light.
Section 17 of the Right to Education Act, 2009, imposes an absolute bar on corporal
punishment.
Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act prescribes punishment for cruelty to children.
2. Special Marriage Act, 1954

• The Special Marriage Act of 1954 (SMA) was passed by Parliament on October 9, 1954. It
governs a civil marriage where the state sanctions the marriage rather than the religion.
Need for such an act:

• Laws, such as the Muslim Marriage Act, of 1954, and the Hindu Marriage Act, of 1955,
require either spouse to convert to the religion of the other before marriage.
• However, the SMA enables marriage between inter-faith or inter-caste couples without them
giving up their religious identity or resorting to conversion.
Who can get married under the Special Marriage Act?

• The applicability of the Act extends to the people of all faiths, including Hindus, Muslims,
Sikhs, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists, across India.
• The minimum age to get married under the SMA is 21 years for males and 18 years for
females.
What is the procedure for a civil marriage?

• The parties to the marriage are required to give a notice, in writing, to a “Marriage Officer”
of the district in which at least one of the parties has resided for at least 30 days immediately
preceding the notice.
• The parties and three witnesses are required to sign a declaration form before the Marriage
Officer.
• Once the declaration is accepted, the parties will be given a “Certificate of marriage” which is
essentially proof of the marriage.
3. Dhamaal
A new documentary — has focused on the music and dance performances of the Siddi
community in Gujarat, called Dhamaals.
What are Dhamaals?

• Dhamaal is a mix of Sufi and African (mostly East African) musical and dance traditions.
• It refers particularly to the spiritual practices of the Siddis of Gujarat.
• The Siddis begin Dhamaal songs by blowing into a conch shell.
• Instrument: East African percussion instruments like the musindo and the slow thumping of
feet.
NOTES
• Dhamaals are performed in memory of their spiritual leaders - Bava Gor, Mai Misra, Baba
Habash and Sidi Nabi Sultan.
• They are performed in two ways — Dance Dhamaal (sitting and dance position) and
Baithaaki Dhamaal (only sitting position)
4. Wangala Dance
Members of the Garo tribal community perform the Wangala dance on the occasion of ‘The Rising
Sun Water Fest-2022.
About the Dance:

Wangala is also called the festival of "The Hundred Drums",
a harvest festival celebrated by the Garo tribe, who live in
Meghalaya, Nagaland and Assam in India and Greater
Mymensingh in Bangladesh. In this post-harvest festival,
they thank the Misi Saljong the sun god, for blessing the
people with a rich harvest.
5. World Tribal Day 2022

9th August is celebrated as the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.
Aim: To highlight the role of indigenous people and the importance of preserving their rights,
communities and knowledge they gathered and passed down over centuries.
Theme: “The Role of Indigenous Women in the Preservation and Transmission of Traditional
Knowledge.”
History: In 1994, the UNGA, passed a resolution, declaring August 9 as the International Day of
the World’s Indigenous People as it was on 9th August that the UN Working Group on Indigenous
Populations held its first meeting.
Significance:
• Taking cognisance of the knowledge acquired by indigenous people is vital culturally and also
scientifically
• Understanding and preservation of indigenous languages, their spiritual practices, and
philosophies can help in the conservation and upliftment of Tribals without compromising
their identity.
According to Lokur Committee (1965), the essential characteristics to be recognized by

Scheduled Tribe are: Indication of Primitive Traits, Distinctive Culture, Shyness of Contact with
the Community at Large, Geographical Isolation, Backwardness
Constitution: Constitution of India does not define the term 'tribe', however, the term Scheduled
Tribe' was inserted in the Constitution through Article 342 (i).
6. Hattis Community
The demand for ‘tribal’ status for Himachal’s Trans-Giri and
its Hatti community
The Hattis are a close-knit community that takes their name

from their traditional occupation of selling home-grown
crops, vegetables, meat, and wool at small-town markets
known as ‘haats’. Hatti men traditionally don distinctive
white headgear on ceremonial occasions.
NOTES
7. ‘Johar’ greeting
The 15th President of India, Droupadi Murmu, assumed office with a ‘Johar’ greeting to the
country.
‘Johar’, which essentially means ‘salutation and welcome’, is used within the tribal communities
of Jharkhand, and in parts of Chhattisgarh and Odisha. According to several tribal leaders from
Jharkhand, the word ‘Johar’ also means ‘paying respect’. Tribal communities are nature
worshippers and follow the Sarna religion code, although it is not an official religion.
8. National Internet Exchange Of India (NIXI)

NIXI has established two new Internet exchange
points (IXP) in West Bengal
An Internet exchange point (IXP) is a physical
location through which Internet infrastructure
companies such as Internet Service Providers
(ISPs) and CDNs connect with each other.
• Nixi is a not-for-profit organization (under
the companies act) established in 2003. It
works for the exchange of domestic internet
traffic between ISP members, and allocates
Internet protocol addresses (IPv4 and IPv6)
• Recently, NIXI announced to offer Free Domain (IDN) in local Indian languages.

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Reports / Index ........................................................................................................... 22

Government / Private Initiatives / International Efforts .............................................. 24

2. Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013

About the Act of 2013:

3. National Commission for Women (NCW):

4. Digital Shakti 4.0

CyberPeace Foundation (CPF) is an award-winning civil society organization, a think tank of

Life of Elaben Bhatt:

7. Permanent Commission for Women Officers

What is a Permanent Commission?

2. Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act)

Measures taken by the government:

3. National Health Accounts (NHA)

One of the most important

5. Mental Healthcare Act, 2017

Provisions of Mental Healthcare Act, 2017:

6. Cadaver organ transplants

What do the new guidelines say:

Factors that cause Macrosomia:

8. Sickle Cell Disease

About Sickle cell disease:

Initiatives by Tribal Ministry:

9. AIIMS Facial Toolbox for Emotions Recognition (AFTER)

10. Mad Cow Disease

12. Marburg virus

How does Marburg's disease

Is there any vaccine/treatment for

13. Lead poisoning

14. Vinyl chloride

15. Mercury in skin-lightening products

Other heavy metals in

Other impacts of BPA:

What is Breast Cancer?

What is Hormone Therapy for Cancer?

What are Biologicals?

18. Pharma pollution

About drug or pharmaceutical pollution:

19. GNB1 Encephalopathy

About GNB1 Encephalopathy:

20. ASHA workers (Accredited Social Health Activist)

Following are the key components of ASHA :

National Health Mission:

Under the RTE Act, 2009, the NCPCR can:

Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015:

2. Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012

New obligations under the POCSO Rules 2020:

3. INTERPOL’s ICSE Initiative On Child Sex Abuse

4. The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006

Modern international laws and conventions on Child Marriage:

2. Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN)

Initiatives to promote FLN:

3. National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2022 (for foundational learning)

Note: GLASS and GLAAS are two different reports.

2. Global Hunger Index (GHI)

GHI, published by Concern Worldwide and Welthungerlife, is computed on four indicators-

Concern Worldwide is an international humanitarian organisation dedicated to tackling poverty

Issues raised by India:

GHI website explanation to allegations: