[UPSC World]

Basics and Facts about Olympics

• The Olympic Games originated in ancient Greece in 776 BC in Olympia, where they were held every 4 years, featuring athletic competitions among representatives of various city-states.
• The modern Olympics were revived by Baron Pierre de Coubertin of France, with the first modern Olympic Games held in Athens, Greece, in 1896.
• The Olympic Rings represent the union of the 5 inhabited continents (Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania), symbolizing global unity through sports.
• The Winter Olympics were introduced in 1924 in Chamonix, France, featuring sports practiced on snow and ice, like skiing, ice skating, and ice hockey.
• The Olympic Torch Relay was introduced in the 1936 Berlin Games, symbolizing the passing of the flame from ancient Greece to the modern world.
• The number of participating countries has grown from 14 in the 1896 Games to over 200 in recent editions, showcasing the Olympics’ global reach.
• Women were first allowed to compete in the 1900 Paris Olympics, marking a significant milestone in gender equality in sports.
• The Paralympics, for athletes with disabilities, were first held in Rome in 1960, promoting inclusivity and equality in sports.
• The Olympics have been cancelled three times due to war (1916, 1940, and 1944).
• The youngest Olympic medalist was Dimitrios Loundras, a Greek gymnast who won a bronze medal at age 10 in 1896.
• The oldest Olympic medalist was Oscar Swahn, a Swedish shooter who won a bronze medal at age 72 in 1920.

[UPSC World]

Highlights for Tax Collection

Indirect Taxes

• GST: The tax structure will be simplified and expanded to cover more sectors, building on the success of GST.
• Customs Duty Changes:
• Medicines and Medical Equipment: Customs duties have been fully exempted on three specific cancer drugs, with adjustments to duties on x-ray tubes and detectors for medical use.
• Precious Metals: Reduced customs duties on gold and silver to 6%, and on platinum to 6.4%.
• Telecommunication Equipment: Increased BCD on PCBA for specified telecom equipment from 10% to 15%.
• Trade Facilitation: Extended the export time for goods imported for repairs and increased the re-import time for warranty repairs.
• Critical Minerals: Full exemption of customs duties on 25 critical minerals.
• Solar Energy: Exemption of customs duties on capital goods for solar cell and panel manufacturing.

Direct Taxes

• Simplification and Services: The government continues efforts to simplify taxes, enhance taxpayer services, and reduce litigation.
• Capital Gains Taxation: Short-term gains on certain financial assets will be taxed at 20%, while long-term gains on all assets will be taxed at 12.5%. The exemption limit for capital gains on certain financial assets has been increased to ₹1.25 lakh per year.
• Litigation and Appeals: Introduction of the ‘Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme, 2024’ for resolving income tax disputes. Increased monetary limits for appeals in Tax Tribunals, High Courts, and the Supreme Court.
• Employment and Investment: Abolition of angel tax for all investors to support the startup ecosystem, and a reduction in the corporate tax rate for foreign companies from 40% to 35%.

Deepening Tax Base and Social Security

• Securities Transactions Tax: Increased tax on futures and options of securities to 0.02% and 0.1%, respectively.
• Social Security Benefits: Increased employer deductions for NPS contributions from 10% to 14% of the employee’s salary, and de-penalized non-reporting of small movable foreign assets up to ₹20 lakh.

[UPSC World]

9 Priorities in Pursuit of Viksit Bharat

Priority 1: Productivity and Resilience in Agriculture

• The government will release 109 new high-yielding and climate-resilient crop varieties.
• Additionally, 10 million farmers will adopt natural farming practices, supported by certification and branding.
• There will also be an establishment of 10,000 bio-input resource centers to support sustainable agriculture.
• The government aims to achieve self-sufficiency in pulses and oilseeds, including mustard, groundnut, sesame, soybean, and sunflower.
• A provision of ₹1.52 lakh crore has been allocated for agriculture and allied sectors.
• Other initiatives include issuing Kisan Credit Cards in five states and developing a National Cooperation Policy to boost the rural economy.

Priority 2: Employment & Skilling

• The government will implement three employment-linked incentive schemes to support first-time employees and employers, based on EPFO enrolment.
• Efforts will also be made to increase women’s workforce participation through working women’s hostels and creches.
• A new skilling scheme aims to train 2 million youth over five years and upgrade 1,000 Industrial Training Institutes.
• The Model Skill Loan Scheme will be revised to provide loans up to ₹7.5 lakh, with a government guarantee, benefiting 25,000 students annually.
• Financial support for higher education loans up to ₹10 lakh will be provided, with e-vouchers offering interest subvention for 100,000 students each year.

Priority 3: Inclusive Human Resource Development and Social Justice

• The government will launch the Purvodaya initiative to promote the development of the eastern region, including Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh.
• The Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan will improve the socio-economic conditions of tribal communities by providing comprehensive coverage in tribal-majority villages and aspirational districts.
• Additionally, over 100 branches of India Post Payment Bank will be set up in the North East region, with a provision of ₹2.66 lakh crore for rural development and ₹3 lakh crore for schemes benefiting women and girls.

Priority 4: Manufacturing & Services

• Support for MSMEs will include a self-financing guarantee fund providing up to ₹100 crore per applicant.
• Public sector banks will enhance their capabilities to assess MSME creditworthiness.
• The limit for Mudra loans will be increased to ₹20 lakh for successful entrepreneurs.
• The government will also provide financial support for 50 multi-product food irradiation units and 100 food quality and safety testing labs.
• A new internship scheme will offer opportunities in 500 top companies to 1 crore youth over five years, with a 12-month internship and a monthly allowance of ₹5,000.

Priority 5: Urban Development

• The PM Awas Yojana Urban 2.0 will address the housing needs of 1 crore urban poor and middle-class families, with a total investment of ₹10 lakh crore, including ₹2.2 lakh crore in central assistance over five years.
• The government will promote water supply, sewage treatment, and solid waste management projects in 100 large cities.
• The PM SVANidhi scheme will support the development of 100 weekly ‘haats’ or street food hubs in select cities over the next five years.

Priority 6: Energy Security

• The PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana will install rooftop solar plants to provide 1 crore households with free electricity up to 300 units per month.
• The scheme has already received 1.28 crore registrations and 14 lakh applications.

Priority 7: Infrastructure

• The government will focus on improving infrastructure, which has a strong multiplier effect on the economy.

Priority 8: Innovation, R&D

• The government will operationalize the Anusandhan National Research Fund for basic research and prototype development.
• A financing pool of ₹1 lakh crore will support private sector-driven research and innovation at a commercial scale.
• A ₹1,000 crore venture capital fund will be established to expand the space economy.

Priority 9: Next Generation Reforms

• The government will introduce next-generation reforms to drive economic growth and development, focusing on modernizing regulatory frameworks and promoting innovation and entrepreneurship.

[UPSC World]

Focus Areas, Themes, etc

Key Focus Areas:

• Job Creation: The budget prioritizes creating jobs through employment incentives, skilling programs, and apprenticeships. It aims to provide opportunities for 10 million youth in top-tier companies through a national apprenticeship program and internships.

• Support for Small Businesses: The budget introduces a collateral-free loan scheme and government credit guarantees to support small businesses. It also facilitates their access to export markets through e-commerce linkages, recognizing their significant role in value addition, exports, and employment.

• Fiscal Responsibility: The budget demonstrates fiscal restraint by making conservative revenue assumptions. It uses half of the fiscal surplus from the Reserve Bank of India to reduce the deficit, emphasizing fiscal consolidation.

• Taxation: The budget increases the tax on capital gains and proposes widening the direct tax net. It also raises the top tax tier for incomes above ₹1 crore and reduces the import duty on gold from 15% to 6% to prevent duty leakage and smuggling.

• Human Capital Investment: The budget stresses the need for massive investment in human capital. It emphasizes the need for public funds for primary and secondary education, while higher education and skilling should be funded through student loans.

• Innovation and Infrastructure: The budget promotes public-private partnerships for small modular nuclear reactors and the space economy. It also addresses India’s transition away from fossil fuels, aiming for sustainable growth.

Target Groups:

• Garib (Poor): The budget focuses on initiatives to support the poor, including job creation and skill development programs.

• Mahilayen (Women): The budget aims to empower women through various initiatives, including education and employment opportunities.

• Yuva (Youth): The budget prioritizes the youth, with a focus on employment, skilling, and education initiatives.

• Annadata (Farmer): The budget aims to support farmers through various initiatives, including credit guarantees and market access.

Theme:

• The budget focuses on employment, skilling, MSMEs, and the middle class, with an emphasis on initiatives to support the 4 target groups.

• The Prime Minister’s package includes 5 schemes and initiatives to facilitate employment, skilling, and other opportunities for 4.1 crore youth over a 5-year period, with a central outlay of ₹2 lakh crore.

• An allocation of ₹1.48 lakh crore has been made for education, employment, and skilling initiatives this year.

[UPSC World]

Basics about Union Budget

• The Union Budget is an annual financial statement presented by the Government of India to Parliament, outlining projected income and expenses for the upcoming financial year.
• According to Article 112 of the Indian Constitution, the annual financial statement is a statement of the estimated receipts and expenditures of the government for a particular year.
• The receipts and expenditures are shown under three parts, namely, the Consolidated Fund of India and the Public Account of India (Article 266), and the Contingency Fund of India (Article 267).
• It is prepared by the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, for the fiscal year that runs from 1st April to 31st March.

• The Union Budget addresses key areas, including Taxation, Government spending and allocations, Economic growth and development, Social welfare and subsidies.

[UPSC World]

Economic survey 2023-24 Highlights II

1. India’s climate efforts are recognized globally, with significant progress in renewable energy and energy efficiency.
2. Non-fossil sources now account for 45.4% of India’s electricity generation capacity, and the country has reduced its GDP emission intensity by 33% from 2005 levels.
3. Between 2005 and 2019, India’s GDP grew at a CAGR of 7%, while emissions grew at a CAGR of 4%.
4. Initiatives like the Coal Gasification Mission have contributed to annual energy savings and emission reductions.
5. Renewable energy expansion will increase demand for land and water.
6. Sovereign green bonds worth ₹36,000 crore were issued in 2023 to support green initiatives.
7. Digitization in healthcare, education, and governance has enhanced the effectiveness of welfare programs.
8. The Gini coefficient has declined, indicating reduced inequality in both rural and urban sectors.
9. Over 34.7 crore Ayushman Bharat cards have been issued, covering 7.37 crore hospital admissions.
10. The “Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi” program aims to establish a high-quality preschool network at Anganwadi centers.
11. India granted nearly 100,000 patents in FY24, showing significant progress in R&D.
12. Under PM-AWAS-Gramin, 2.63 crore houses were constructed, and 15.14 lakh km of roads were built under the Gram Sadak Yojana.
13. The unemployment rate declined to 3.2% in 2022-23, with improved labor market indicators and rising female labor force participation.
14. The gig workforce is expected to expand significantly, and India needs to create 78.5 lakh non-farm jobs annually until 2030.
15. Agriculture grew at an average annual rate of 4.18%, with substantial credit disbursed and Kisan Credit Cards issued to farmers.
16. The industrial sector grew by 9.5% in FY24, with significant contributions from coal, pharmaceuticals, clothing, and electronics manufacturing.
17. The services sector’s GVA contribution reached pre-pandemic levels, with substantial growth in services exports and e-commerce.
18. Infrastructure development saw increased highway construction, new terminal buildings at airports, and improvements in logistics performance.
19. India invested heavily in the clean energy sector, with new investments of ₹8.5 lakh crore between 2014 and 2023.
20. The survey criticizes current global climate strategies and emphasizes the need for developing countries to choose their own pathways.

[UPSC World]

Economic survey 2023-24 Highlights I

1. India’s economy is projected to grow by 6.5–7%, with real GDP growth at 8.2% in FY24 and GVA growth at 7.2%.
2. Retail inflation decreased from 6.7% in FY23 to 5.4% in FY24, while the CAD improved to 0.7% of GDP.
3. Tax revenue consisted of 55% from direct taxes and 45% from indirect taxes, with free food grains provided to 81.4 Crore people.
4. Bank credit grew by 20.2% by March 2024, with strong growth in agriculture and industrial credit.
5. The primary capital market facilitated ₹10.9 lakh crore in capital formation, highlighting the importance of financial inclusion and digital financial inclusion.
6. India’s insurance market and microfinance sector are poised for significant growth.
7. Inflation remained stable, with the central government reducing prices for LPG, petrol, and diesel; core services and goods inflation also decreased.
8. Food inflation rose to 7.5% in FY24 due to agricultural challenges, prompting government interventions to manage prices.
9. India’s external sector remained strong, with improved rankings in the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index and an increase in market share for global exports.
10. Services exports grew by 4.9% to USD 341.1 billion, and India remained the top remittance recipient, reaching USD 120 billion in 2023.
11. External debt remained sustainable, with the debt-to-GDP ratio at 18.7% at the end of March 2024.
12. The medium-term policy focus includes job and skill creation, enhancing the agriculture sector, addressing MSME challenges, and managing India’s green transition.
13. The growth strategy for “Amrit Kaal” includes boosting private investment, expanding MSMEs, promoting agriculture as a growth engine, and bridging the education-employment gap.
14. A coordinated effort between the Union Government, State Governments, and the private sector is needed for India to achieve over 7% economic growth.
15. Addressing the Chinese conundrum, deepening the corporate bond market, tackling inequality, and improving youth health are also critical components of India’s growth strategy.

[UPSC World]

• The Supreme Court recently dismissed petitions which sought directions to complete the recruitment processes initiated by the Indian Army and Air Force, which were discontinued after the ‘Agnipath’ scheme was announced.
• While dismissing the petitions, the Supreme Court bench also rejected the argument that the ‘doctrine of promissory estoppel’ would apply and said that the decision to not proceed with the previous recruitment processes could not be termed as arbitrary.
• It observed that promissory estoppel will not apply when a larger public interest is involved.

The doctrine of promissory estoppel

• The doctrine of promissory estoppel is an equitable doctrine evolved by equity to prevent injustice.
• The doctrine is a legal principle that prevents a person from going back on a promise made to another person, even if the promise is not supported by consideration.
• It is based upon principles of justice, fair play, and good conscience.
• The doctrine of promissory estoppel is not the same as a contract, and it does not create a contract between the parties.
• Rather, it is a principle that can be used to enforce a promise in certain circumstances.

How does the doctrine of promissory estoppel relate to the Agnipath case?

• In the present case, the petitioners’ argument invoking the doctrine essentially means that the government’s actions of putting up a shortlist would be a promise made by it.
• The candidates acted based on that promise and they refused other jobs in CRPF, BSF etc.
• Hence, they must be compensated for their loss.

[UPSC World]

Thanks for opening this discussion. Let me briefly explain the incident in simple terms.

• The recent clash in Arunachal Pradesh took place along the LAC in the Tawang heights near a point called Yangtse in Eastern Tawang.
• This part of the LAC is one of the “agreed disputed areas” between the two sides, according to military sources.
• This time the PLA had “pre-planned” the transgression for an “opportune” time.
• The location of the skirmish is described as heavily forested terrain, with Chinese troops occupying “top of the wall” positions with deep supply lines and infrastructure.
• The incident came days after China expressed objection to Operation Yudhabhyas, an India-US joint military exercise at Auli in the Uttarakhand hills
  • China claimed it was a violation of the 1993 and 1996 border agreements.
• The continuing military tensions at different points along the 3,000 km-Line of Actual Control come as India took the presidency of the G-20, a grouping of the world’s leading economies that includes China.
• After the clash, the Indian side is said to have used Radio Frequency (RF) signal geolocation equipment to reconstruct satellite images.

[UPSC World]

Uniform Civil Code refers to a single law, applicable to all citizens of India in their personal matters such as marriage, divorce, Custody, adoption and inheritance.

• It is intended to replace the system of fragmented personal laws, which currently govern interpersonal relationships and related matters within different religious communities.

Arguments in favour of UCC

• It promotes national integration.
• Simply present laws that are segregated at present based on religious beliefs.
• To make judicial pronouncements enforceable (Mohd. Ahmed Khan v. Shah Bano Begum, 1985 etc.).
• Strengthen gender justice as the religious or customary personal laws are mostly biased in favour of men.
• To make Article 44 (Directive Principle of State Policy) in the Indian constitution enforceable.
  • Which states that “The State shall endeavour to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India.”

Arguments against UCC

• Parliament does not have exclusive jurisdiction over Personal laws’ as it is mentioned in the Concurrent List.
• In contradiction to Article 25 (individual’s fundamental right to religion), Article 29 (right to conserve distinctive culture)
• Some also argue it is against the diversity of the country.