Current Affairs September 03-04, 2023: Aditya-L1 Mission, DIKSHA, Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (UIDF), One Nation One Election (ONOE)

{GS2 – MoE – Initiatives – 2023/09/04} DIKSHA

Context (TH): The National e-Governance Division (NeGD) of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is planning to integrate Personalised Adaptive Learning into its existing DIKSHA platform.

Personalised Adaptive Learning is a software-based approach that aims to provide each student with an individualized learning experience based on their unique needs and abilities.

DIKSHA is a platform for school education, an initiative of NCERT, under the Ministry of Education.
It offers engaging learning material to teachers, students and parents in 35 plus languages.
It features digitised NCERT textbooks used by national and State Boards.
It also has embedded assistive technologies for learners with visual or hearing impairments.
However, DIKSHA is a static content repository.

DIKSHA and Personalised Adaptive Learning (PAL)

The NCERT has sought MeitY’s expertise in facilitating the PAL’s integration into DIKSHA.
In an example of how it works, if a student of Class 9 is learning the Pythagoras theorem and makes a calculation mistake, the AI learning system flags it and loops the student back to a basic video of how to make the calculation.
In some States, private players are already administering the PAL, which works on Artificial Intelligence, but budget constraints have been an obstacle.

{GS2 – MoHUA – 2023/09/04} Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (UIDF)

Context (IE I TP): Under the Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (UIDF), the first tranche of loans to fund ongoing projects in tier-2 and tier-3 cities is to be disbursed soon.

UIDF works in the charge of the National Housing Bank (NHB), under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
Projects set to be funded include sewage treatment plants and sewerage networks.

The fund makes low-cost loans available to (as per the 2011 Census):
- 459 Tier-2 Cities with a population between 1 lakh and 9,99,999
- 580 Tier-3 Towns with a population between 50,000 and 99,999

Cities can get loans at a rate of 1.5 percentage less than the prevailing bank interest rate.
They will have to repay the amount within seven years from the withdrawal date in five equal instalments, including a two-year moratorium period.
The amount of the loan will be:
- 90 percent for project costs of Rs 5-10 crore
- 85 percent for Rs 10-50 crore
- 75 percent for Rs 50-100 crore,
The fund cannot be used for
- maintenance work and administrative expenses
- Housing and Urban Transport
- Power and Telecom
- Health and Education projects

{GS2 – Polity – IC – Elections – 2023/09/01} One Nation One Election

Context (TH): The Union government has constituted a committee headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind to explore the feasibility of “one nation, one election“.

The idea of one nation, one election (ONOE) refers to holding simultaneous elections across the country. This means that:
- Elections for the Lok Sabha (LS) and all state assemblies across India will be held simultaneously.
- Voters will vote for LS and the state assemblies’ elections on a single day, simultaneously (or in a phased manner, as the case may be).

Currently, elections to the state assemblies and the LS are held separately, i.e., after the incumbent government’s five-year term ends or when it is dissolved for various reasons.

History of Simultaneous Elections in India

Lok Sabha and state legislatures went to polls together in 1952 and 1957.
The synchronised cycle was first broken in Kerala in July 1959, when the Centre imposed the President’s rule.
At present, assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim are held together with LS polls.

Idea of Simultaneous Elections

The idea of simultaneous polls was mooted in the annual report of the Election Commission in 1983.
The Law Commission’s Report of 1999 and 2018 also supported the simultaneous election.

Arguments in Favour of Simultaneous Elections

Reduces enormous costs involved in separate elections.
Boosts voter turnout as it will be more convenient for them to cast votes simultaneously.
Helps ruling parties to focus on governance instead of being constantly in election mode.
Increases efficiency in administration as administrative duties are affected by elections.
Reduces the negative impact on governance due to the Model Code of Conduct.

Model Code of Conduct: It bans the launch of new projects once elections are announced.

Arguments Against Simultaneous Elections

The ONOE concept contradicts India’s federal nature, as described in Article 1 of the IC.

Article 1 of IC defines India as a “Union of States.”
It emphasises the idea that India is a federation.
It also highlights the unity of the country despite its diversity.

It will affect voter behaviour and benefit the dominant national party at the cost of regional players.

Research on all simultaneous elections to state assemblies and Parliament between 1999 and 2014 shows that simultaneous elections impact voter behaviour.

Reduce the government’s accountability to the people as elections will occur once every five years. Repeated elections, on the other hand, keep legislators on their toes and increase accountability.
Regional parties may not compete with national parties in terms of election expenditure and election strategy.
Complications would arise:
- If any of the governments were to collapse before completing its term.
- If the Parliament dissolves before its five-year term.

Articles 83(2) and 172 of IC stipulate that the tenure of LS and State Assemblies will last for five years unless dissolved earlier.

When an election in a State is postponed until the synchronised phase, the President’s rule must be imposed in the interim period. This will be a blow to democracy and federalism.
If elections are to be held simultaneously, the state government cannot dissolve its assembly and call for fresh elections, which is against Political autonomy.

Need for Constitutional Amendment to Conduct Simultaneous Elections

Simultaneous elections could not be held within the existing framework of the Constitution.
It would require a constitutional amendment. Such a constitutional amendment would require ratification of at least 50% of the states.
The Representation of the People Act and other parliamentary procedures must also be amended.

Amending the Constitution

A flexible constitution can be easily amended.
- The British constitution is considered flexible, as it can be amended by Parliament by law.
A rigid constitution is difficult to amend.
- The United States Constitution cannot be amended without the ratification of at least three-fourths of the states.
IC is a combination of both characteristics.

IC can be amended in three ways:
1. Simple majority
2. Special majority under Article 368
3. Special majority and ratification of half of the states under Article 368

Simple majority

Many articles of the IC can be amended by the simple law of the Parliament (simple majority).
For amending these articles, there is no difference at all between amendment and ordinary law.
The amendments in these articles are not considered amendments under Article 368.

Special majority

Other articles of the IC (that do not fall under the first category) can be amended like the procedure given in Article 368 of the IC.
Under Article 368 of IC, there are two different methods for amending the two different sets of Articles. These are:
1. Amendment by a special majority of two houses of Parliament.
2. Amendment by a special majority of two houses of Parliament and ratification by half of the State legislatures (These Articles involve the federal character of the Constitution).
Article 368 lists six parts of the Constitution which can be amended only after state ratification:
1. Articles 54 and 55, dealing with the election of the President of India.
2. Articles 73 and 162, dealing with the extent of executive power of the Union and states.
3. Articles 124-147 and 214-231, which deal with the powers of the SC and the HCs.
4. Articles 245 to 255, dealing with the Seventh Schedule of IC.
5. Article 82, dealing with the representation of states in Parliament.
6. Article 368 itself.

Informally, the Constitution is also amended through judicial interpretation. For example, the process of appointment of judges to the higher judiciary.

{GS2 – Welfare Schemes – Issues – 2023/09/04} Freebies

Context (IE | TH): Fiscally imprudent plans will hit the poor hard, says PM Modi.

Though freebies have no precise legal definition, they are provided free of charge.
The DPSP, enshrined in Part IV (Article 36-51) of the IC, reflect that India is a welfare state.
Article 38 of IC says that the state shall:
- Ensure the welfare of the people.
- Minimize the inequalities in income.
- Eliminate inequalities in status, facilities, and opportunities among individuals and groups.

Arguments in favour of freebies

Shock absorber for the poor: In a stratified society with stark income inequalities, social welfare measures act as a shock absorber for the poor.
Lifesaver during a disaster: What is considered “freebies” in regular times can be lifesavers during a disaster — for instance, free food during a pandemic.
Growth and equity (redistribution of wealth): Spending on capital infrastructure will create jobs, mainly for the privileged. Freebies mostly go to the underprivileged who don’t have access to jobs.
Free food improves the nutritional status of the poor. Free food in the schools improves the attendance of students.
Increasing the labour force participation of women.
Reduce inequality and achieve inclusive growth.

According to the World Food Programme, India currently has almost 25% of the global population suffering from undernourishment.

The World Inequality Report 2022 says that the top 1% of India held 22% of the total national income as of 2021, and the top 10% owned 57% of the income.

Argument against freebies

Spending on capital expenditure instead of on freebies helps to create jobs.
Freebies undermine the fundamental structure of macroeconomic stability.
Freebies can threaten the debt sustainability of states already burdened with debt.
Diversion of resources from environmental and sustainable development, such as the allocation of free electricity or water, etc. hinders the progress towards environmental sustainability.

Views

GoI’s view

GoI has cautioned the states against irresponsible financial policies.
GoI urged the State governments to be conscious of financial discipline.

Suggestion by the Election Commission of India (ECI)

The ECI proposed that political parties must be required to disclose the financial implications of the promises they make in their manifestos.
If parties agree and the idea is included in the Model Code, they will have to spell out:
- Section of society included in the scheme.
- Extent of coverage and the number of likely beneficiaries
- Cost of implementing the scheme

Judicial view

Formulation of a welfare scheme is a domain of the executive/legislature. Restrictions on this amount to undermining the economic freedom of states.

Way forward

To address the inequality, we must spend on welfare schemes with caution. We need to differentiate between freebies and social welfare schemes.
- It’s not easy to differentiate. What may be irrational or a freebie for one may be rational and essential for another section of society.
- Example: Electricity, which may be considered a freebie by some people, but for others, it may be a welfare scheme that can provide clean fuel in the house, help a child study, etc.
States should not have a blanket policy (for instance, free electricity for all) and must identify the target beneficiaries for a particular public policy.
While spending on welfare, the government should consider the state’s fiscal situation.
Governments should address the revenue side issues related to low tax base, tax avoidance and tax compliance. More revenue ensures more resources for redistribution.

{GS3 – IE – Budget – 2023/09/04} Debt Vulnerability

Context (TH): PM Modi says India’s G-20 Presidency focused on addressing debt vulnerabilities.

Debt vulnerability is a situation where the country is at risk of facing financial difficulties and has a high probability of default.

Debt sustainability

A country’s public debt is sustainable if the government can meet all its current and future payment obligations without exceptional financial assistance or going into default.
The debt-to-GDP ratio is one of the indicators of debt sustainability. A lower debt-to-GDP ratio signifies greater debt sustainability.

Interest rate growth rate differential (IRGD)

It is the difference between the economy’s interest rate and growth rate.
Negative IRGD makes the debt sustainable. This is because higher growth makes debt servicing easier and makes debt sustainable.

Debt service

It is the money required to pay the principal and interest on the loan.
As public debt increases, debt servicing also increases.

Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable

It is a joint initiative of the IMF, World Bank, and India (G-20 Presidency), launched in 2023.
The objective is to build an understanding among key stakeholders involved in debt restructurings.
It discusses debt sustainability and restructuring challenges and ways to address them.
The roundtable focuses on process and standards, not on discussing country cases.

{GS3 – IE – RBI – 2023/09/04} UPI crossed 10 billion transactions in August

Context (IE): According to the NPCI, UPI crossed 10 billion in the volume of transactions in August.

Unified Payments Interface (UPI)

UPI is an instant payment system by the NPCI.
It facilitates inter-bank peer-to-peer (P2P) and person-to-merchant (P2M) transactions.
The mobile number is required to be registered with the bank.
The UPI ID of the recipient can be used to transfer money.

How UPI Works?

Global Digital Public Infrastructure Repository (GDPIR) and UPI

DPI (of which UPI is a key part) has been a key part of the government’s overall narrative about India throughout its G20 presidency.
India has also explored other nations’ interest in adopting the underlying technologies that power India’s DPI push, which it brands as the India Stack.
This is pegged as a differentiator from rival China, which is funding physical infrastructure development in other developing countries.
This is part of India’s bid to set itself as a nation pioneering digital governance, especially as it aspires to assume a leadership role in the Global South.
India wants to play a key role in the deployment of DPI and plans to build and maintain the Global Digital Public Infrastructure Repository (GDPIR), a virtual repository of DPI voluntarily shared by G20 members and beyond.
The repository aims to share the practices and experiences of the development and deployment of DPI, which may include relevant tools and resources in different countries.
India has signed agreements with countries like Armenia, Sierra Leone, Suriname, Antigua &Barbuda and Papua New Guinea to share India Stack.
UPI has also been taken to international markets such as France, UAE, Singapore and Sri Lanka.

For more Information on NPCI AND UPI: {GS3 – IE – Banking – 2023/07} Internationalisation of UPI

India Stack

India Stack is a set of digital codes and digital public goods that aim to unlock the economic primitives of identity, data, and payments at a population scale.
It has been envisaged to ensure no one is left behind, especially those from the Global South.
India Stack has been conceptualised and first implemented in India, where its rapid adoption has helped promote financial and social inclusion.
It can be applied to any nation, be it a developed one or an emerging one.
The overall architecture of India Stack has 3 key layers
1. Digital identity (centred around Aadhaar)
2. Payments (UPI)
3. Data management ( operates as Data Empowerment and Protection Architecture)

{GS3 – S&T – ISRO – 2023/09/04} Aditya-L1 Mission

Context (IE | IE | TH | IE | FP | MC | TH | IE | TH | TH): India’s first solar observatory mission, Aditya-L1, was launched by ISRO using Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) XL.

Aditya-L1 spacecraft will be inserted into a halo orbit around the L1 point of the Sun-Earth system.
It will be placed about 1.5 million km from the Earth (covering only 1% of the distance between the Earth and the Sun).
It will collect data for five years by continuously observing the Sun.
ISRO will become the third space agency after NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) to place an observatory at the L1 point between the Earth and the Sun.

Objectives of Aditya-L1 Mission

The major objectives of Aditya-L1 mission are:
- To study the solar atmosphere, which includes corona, chromosphere, and photoshere.
- To examine solar emissions, which include solar winds and flares, and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) and see how they drive space weather.

Solar Atmosphere

The Sun Structure

Corona: It is the outermost layer of the Sun’s atmosphere. It is a distinctive atmosphere of plasma that surrounds the Sun.
Chromosphere: It is just below the corona. It is relatively a thin layer of burning gases.
Photosphere: It is the lowest layer of the solar atmosphere and the visible surface of the Sun. It is the bright outer layer of the Sun that emits most of the radiation.

Solar Emissions

Solar winds: They are stream of plasma particles ejected from the Sun’s outermost atmosphere.
- They are caused by the Sun’s magnetic field.
- They can cause auroras and geomagnetic storms.
Coronal mass ejections (CMEs): They are large expulsion of plasma and magnetic field from the Sun’s outermost atmosphere.
- They can cause geomagnetic storms and damage the Earth’s magnetic field.
Solar flares: They are intense eruption of electromagnetic radiation in the Sun’s atmosphere that is caused by the release of magnetic energy from sunspots.
- They can be damaging to satellites and electronics on Earth.

Compared to solar flares (which reach the Earth in 8 mins), CMEs travel at a more leisurely pace.

Importance of Studying the Sun from Space

Every planet, including Earth evolves and this evolution is governed by its parent star, i.e., the Sun.
The solar weather affect the entire solar system weather. Variations in this weather can change the orbits of satellites or shorten their lives, interfere with or damage onboard electronics, etc.
Studying the Sun help to track and predict the impact Earth-directed storms.
Sun’s thermal and magnetic phenomena are of extreme nature and cannot be studied in the lab.
The Earth’s atmosphere act as protective shields that block harmful radiations like UV rays. So, studying the Sun from the Earth can’t provide a complete picture.

L1 (Lagrange 1) Point: Location Around which Aditya L-1 Spacecraft will be Placed

A Lagrange point is a point in space where the gravitational forces of two large bodies (such as the Sun and the Earth) balance the centrifugal force experienced by a smaller object (such as a satellite) allowing it to remain ‘fixed’ in relation to the larger bodies.
For any two celestial bodies, there are five Lagrange points (L1 to L5).
Of the five Lagrangian points between the Earth and the Sun, there are:
- Three unstable points (L1, L2, & L3): Objects placed at these points, if disturbed, will drift away and so require constant adjustments to stay in position.
- Two stable points (L4 & L5): Objects at these points orbit around these points and not drift away.

What is Halo Orbit?

A spacecraft can orbit around an unstable Lagrange point with a minimum use of thrusters for stationkeeping. Such an orbit is known as a halo orbit.
It is differen from a usual orbit (like the orbit of Earth arounf the Sun) because the unstable Lagrange point doesn’t exert any attractive force on its own.

Why Halo Orbit of L-1 Point is Chosen for Placing the Aditya L-1 Spacecraft?

A satellite placed in the halo orbit around the L1 point can continuously view of the Sun without any occultation/eclipses.
Every geomagnetic storms from Sun that heads towards Earth passes through L1, and so, a satellite placed in the halo orbit can track these storms and predict their impact.
Satellites placed at Lagrange points can remain in a fixed position with minimal fuel consumption.
- These points are the ‘parking spots’ for spacecraft

The L1 point is home to the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory Satellite (SOHO), an international collaboration project of NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA).

Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) XL: The Launch Vehicle of Aditya L-1 Spacecraft

PSLV is an indigenously-developed expendable launch system.
PSLV was developed in 1990s by ISRO to place satellites in polar and near polar (e.g. sun-synchronous orbit) Lower Earth Orbits. e.g., Astrosat (India’s first space observatory).
However, over the last decade, several PSLV missions were successful in sending satellites toward geosynchronous transfer orbits. E.g. Chandrayaan-1 (India’s first lunar probe) and Mars Orbiter Mission or Mangalyaan (India’s first interplanetary mission).
It can fly in different configurations depending on the mass of its payload and the target orbit.
PSLV is four stage launch vehicle.
- First stage and third stage are solid-fuelled stages.
- Second stage and fourth stage are liquid-fuelled stages.
- The second stage engine, Vikas, is a derivative of France’s Viking engine.
It is called the ‘workhorse of ISRO’ because it has the highest number of successful launches.
PSLV XL variant has six rocket strap-on motors to augment the thrust provided by its first stage.

Expendable launch system: It is used only once to carry a payload into space. E.g. PSLV, GSLV, etc.

How Aditya-L1 will Reach the Halo Orbit Around the L1 Point?

Aditya L1 is launched from SatishSriharikota to Low-earth Orbit.
It will stay in Earth-bound orbits for 16 days, during which it will undergo orbital adjustment maneuvres to leave Earth’s Sphere of Influence (SOI).
Subsequently, Aditya-L1 undergoes a Trans-Lagrangian1 insertion maneuvre, marking the beginning of its 110-day trajectory to the destination around the L1 Lagrange point.
Upon arrival at the L1 point, another maneuvre binds Aditya-L1 to an Halo orbit around L1 (a balanced gravitational location between the Earth and the Sun).

Earth’s sphere of influence (SOI): It is the region of space around the Earth where its gravity is dominant over the gravity of the Sun.
- Objects that are within the Earth’s SOI are said to be in orbit around the Earth. This includes the Moon, artificial satellites, and other space debris.
- Objects that are outside the Earth’s SOI are said to be in orbit around the Sun.

Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM)

The ISRO will be using a Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) identical to the one used in the Mars and Chandrayaan missions to perform Aditya L1’s orbital adjustment maneuvres.
Once Aditya L1 spacecraft exits the Earth’s SOI and heads toward its destination the L1 Point, the LAM will shut down.
LAM will be restarted as Aditya L1 closes to its destination.
It will again perform orbital adjustment maneuvres and place Aditya L1 in the desired halo orbit at L1.

Payloads of Aditya-L1 Mission

There are seven payloads on-board Aditya-L1 Mission, with four for remote sensing of the Sun and three for in-situ observation.

Payload	Capability
Remote Sensing Payloads
Visible Emission Line Corona-graph (VELC) (Main Payload)	Solar corona imaging
Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT)	UV imaging of solar photosphere & chromosphere
Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer (SoLEXS)	Study X-ray flares
In-situ Payloads
Aditya Solar wind Particle EXperiment (ASPEX)	Study the solar wind and energetic ions
Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA)	Study the solar wind and energetic ions
Advanced Tri-axial High Resolution Digital Magnetometers	Study in-situ magnetic field

{Prelims – Polity – IC – Misc – 2023/09/04} Article 371D of the Indian Constitution

Context (TH): Article 371 D of IC is for safeguarding the rights of local students in education and employment, especially in Andhra Pradesh. It was inserted in the IC by the 32^nd Amendment of 1973.

Local Quota System of AP

Prior to the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana was known as the Osmania University region.
The districts from Srikakulam to Prakasam were known as the Andhra University region.
The Rayalaseema and Nellore districts were tagged under the Sri Venkateswara University region.
Under the provisions of Article 371 D, 85% of seats in educational institutions were reserved for local students in these regions.

The Issue

The teaching fraternity and the student community in AP fear the prospect of losing the ‘local quota’ in the educational institutions.

Their fear stems from the fact that the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, which came into force in May 2014, is valid only for 10 years.
That is the rules formulated before the bifurcation of AP will not hold after May 2024.

Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act of 2014

Commonly known as the Telangana Act, it is an Act of the Indian Parliament that split the state of Andhra Pradesh into Telangana and the residuary Andhra Pradesh.
The Act defined how the assets and liabilities were to be divided between the states.

Local Quota vs. Article 371D

An order by AP allowed the allocation of 120 medical seats in the “open category“ to students across the state in an SVIMS-run medical college. However, SC revoked it citing Article 371D.