PASSAGE - 1

M.S. Swaminathan, the renowned Indian agricultural scientist and the driving force
behind India's Green Revolution, passed away on Thursday, at the age of 98. Known as
the "Father of Economic Ecology" by the United Nations Environment Programme,
Swaminathan's groundbreaking work in the 1960s and 1970s revolutionised Indian
agriculture, helping the country to stave off widespread famine and achieve self-
sufficiency in food production. Swaminathan's pioneering efforts involved the
development and introduction of high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice, which
significantly increased food grain production across India. Prime Minister Narendra
Modi, mourning his demise, said that at a very critical period in our nation’s history, his
groundbreaking work in agriculture transformed the lives of millions and ensured food
security for our nation. Using the social networking platform X, previously known as
Twitter, the prime minister added "Beyond his revolutionary contributions to
agriculture, Dr. Swaminathan was a powerhouse of innovation and a nurturing mentor
to many. His unwavering commitment to research and mentorship has left an indelible
mark on countless scientists and innovators." His innovative approach to agriculture,
combining modern scientific techniques with a deep understanding of local conditions
and needs, transformed the lives of countless low-income farmers and contributed to
the nation's economic growth. In recognition of his monumental contributions,
Swaminathan was awarded the first World Food Prize in 1987. He used the prize money
to establish the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation in Chennai, further cementing
his commitment to sustainable and inclusive agricultural practices. His other notable
accolades include the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1971 and the Albert Einstein World
Science Award in 1986. Beyond his work in India, Swaminathan was an influential figure
on the global stage, contributing to various international agricultural and environmental
initiatives. He was named one of the 20 most influential Asians of the 20th century by
Time magazine, reflecting his far-reaching impact.
Source: MS Swaminathan, father of India's Green Revolution, dies at 98, India
Today, October 1, 2023.
PASSAGE - 2
Nations worldwide are grappling with the need to update their legal frameworks to
adapt to the evolving digital landscape. India, with its ambitious ‘Digital India’ initiative,
is no exception. The recent announcement of the Digital India Act 2023 (DIA) represents
a significant step towards establishing a future-ready legal framework for the country’s
burgeoning digital ecosystem. This move by the Ministry of Electronics and Information
Technology (MEITY) signals a proactive approach to regulating and shaping the digital
future of the nation. The DIA, poised to replace the two-decade-old Information
Technology Act of 2000 (IT Act), is designed to address the challenges and
opportunities presented by the dramatic growth of the internet and emerging
technologies. It is imperative to understand the key aspects of this legislation and why it
is essential in the contemporary context. The primary motivation behind the DIA is to
bring India’s regulatory landscape in sync with the digital revolution of the 21st
century. The IT Act of 2000, crafted during a time when the internet was in its infancy,
has struggled to keep pace with the rapid changes in technology and user behaviour.
Since its inception, India’s internet user base has exploded from a mere 5.5 million to a
staggering 850 million. The nature of internet usage has also evolved, with the
emergence of various intermediaries and the proliferation of new forms of user harm,
such as cyberstalking, trolling, and doxing. The DIA recognises these changes and aims
to provide a comprehensive legal framework to address them. The DIA encompasses
several pivotal clauses that mirror the dynamic evolution of the digital environment,
addressing its multifaceted challenges and opportunities. These provisions underscore
the legislation’s responsiveness to the ever-changing digital landscape. The proposed
DIA encompasses a spectrum of significant provisions aimed at addressing the ever-
evolving digital landscape.
Source: How the Digital India Act will shape the future of the country’s cyber
landscape, The Hindu, October 9, 2023.
PASSAGE – 3
A two-day meeting of the steering committee of the NEP 2020 was held at the Narsi
Monjee Institute of Management Studies in Mumbai, and Patil attended the summit on
Tuesday. The implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP 2020) has started
in many states across the country. All educational institutions in Maharashtra have also
been mandated to apply the academic policy beginning this year; however, action will be
taken against universities that do not execute the new academic policy, according to
state higher and technical education minister Chandrakant Patil. A two-day meeting of
the steering committee of the NEP 2020 was held at the Narsi Monjee Institute of
Management Studies in Mumbai, and Patil attended the summit on Tuesday. Vikas
Chandra Rastogi, state principal secretary of the Higher and Technical Education
Department, Shailendra Deolankar, director of Technical Education, Vinod Mohitkar,
Narsi Monji Institute of Management Studies principal Bharat Amalkar, and other
dignitaries were present on this occasion. Patil made it clear that he will take stern
action against universities that refuse to accept the NEP 2020 rules and execute them.
“The meeting focused on the effective implementation of Maharashtra’s New Education
Policy. Also, directed to take action against the universities that do not implement the
new academic policy,” said Patil. Meanwhile, the issue of NAAC accreditation is also
heating up across the state. Patil has clarified his stand regarding the cancellation of
affiliation of non-NAC colleges, as already there is a bit of confusion over the action
against the colleges. Although there is opposition to this action from many levels, the
government seems to be firm on it and state universities have a great responsibility for
the implementation of the new educational policy as well.
Source: ‘Take action against universities that do not comply with NEP 2020’,
Hindustan Times, October 11, 2023.
PASSAGE – 4
Before Goldin’s book was published in 1990, data mainly from the 20th century had
been published, and researchers believed that as the economy grew, so did women’s
labour force participation. Goldin reached back to older data to reveal that before
industrialisation, more women were likely to have been involved in economic activity
related to agriculture and various cottage industries. With greater industrialisation,
work was concentrated in factories, and women found it difficult to leave their homes
and travel to work. This trend reversed in the early 20th century, with the growth of the
services sector. Two other factors played a crucial role in women’s access to higher
education and employment — marriage and the contraceptive pill. Goldin’s work found
that by the beginning of the 20th century, while around 20 per cent of women were
gainfully employed, the share of married women was only five per cent. “Goldin noted
that legislation known as “marriage bars” often prevented married women from
continuing their employment as teachers or office workers. Despite an increasing
demand for labour, married women were excluded from parts of the labour market. This
type of legislation peaked during the 1930s’ Great Depression and the years following it
– but was not the only reason. Goldin also demonstrated that there was another
important factor in the slow reduction of the gap between men’s and women’s rates of
employment, namely women’s expectations for their future careers,” the Nobel Prize
website says.
Women’s expectations were based on the experience of their mothers, and thus their
educational and professional decisions were not taken with the expectation of having a
long, uninterrupted, and fruitful career. By the end of the 1960s, as easy-to-use
contraceptive pills became more popular, women could exercise greater control over
childbirth and actually plan careers and motherhood. Women also ventured beyond the
services sector, studying subjects like law, economics, and medicine. Now, women were
catching up in terms of education and fields of employment. However, one glaring gap
still remained and continues to this day — the gender-based pay gap. Till the time men
and women worked in factories, where the pay depended on the day’s countable output,
the pay gap was not too high. It became wider when monthly pay contracts came into
the picture.
Source: Economics Nobel 2023: How Claudia Goldin shed light on the status of
women in the workforce, The Indian Express, October 9, 2023.
PASSAGE – 5
The Baiga community primarily resides in Rajnandgaon, Kawardha, Mungeli, Gaurela-
Pendra-Marwahi (GPM), Manendra-Bharatpur-Chirmiri, and Bilaspur districts of the
state. The community also lives in the adjacent districts of Madhya Pradesh. Habitat
rights recognition provides the community concerned rights over their customary
territory of habitation, socio-cultural practices, economic and livelihood means,
intellectual knowledge of biodiversity and ecology, traditional knowledge of use of
natural resources, as well as protection and conservation of their natural and cultural
heritage. Habitat rights safeguard and promote traditional livelihood and ecological
knowledge passed down through generations. They also help converge different
government schemes and initiatives from various departments to empower PVTG
communities to develop their habitats. Habitat rights are given to PVTGs under section
3(1) (e) [rights including community tenures of habitat and habitation for primitive
tribal groups and pre-agricultural communities] of The Scheduled Tribes and Other
Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 also known as the
Forest Rights Act (FRA). According to Section 2(h) of FRA, “Habitat includes the area
comprising the customary habitat and such other habitats in reserved forests and
protected forests of primitive tribal groups and pre-agricultural communities and other
forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes.” Shomona Khanna, an advocate at the Supreme Court
of India and former legal advisor to the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs, said, “Of course,
the habitat rights will help the PVTG protect their habitat from developmental activities
harmful to them. The title may not be an ownership title in the nature of a private
property owner, but consent and consultation of the gram sabha will be needed for any
developmental activity. Forest Rights have legal protection under the Forest
Conservation Act, the Land Acquisition law of 2013, and even the SC/ST Prevention of
Atrocities. Act. Grant of habitat rights under the Forest Rights Act provide an additional
layer of legal protection.” If any kind of development activity is hampering their habitat
rights, the tribal group concerned can take up the matter with the administration under
the Forest Rights Act, and if not resolved, the matter can be taken to court.
Source: Baiga tribal group gets habitat rights in Chhattisgarh: What this means,
significance, The Indian Express, October 10, 2023.