Delimitation Commission

 What is the Delimitation Commission of India?

• The Delimitation Commission of India is a commission established by the Government of India under the provisions of the Delimitation Commission Act
• The main task of the commission is redrawing the boundaries of the various assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies based on a recent census.
• The representation from each State is not changed during this exercise. However, the number of SC and ST seats in a state are changed in accordance with the census.
• The present delimitation of constituencies has been done on the basis of 2001 census under the provisions of Delimitation Act, 2002.
• The Commission is a powerful and independent body whose orders have the force of law and cannot be called in question before any court.
• The orders are laid before the Lok Sabha and the respective State Legislative Assemblies. However, modifications are not permitted.

Why is delimitation done?

• Delimitation is done to ensure equal representation to equal segments of a population.
• It also aims to ensure that the geographical area of any constituency does not become too large for an MP or an MLA to adequately represent it.
• Delimitation also takes into account the administrative convenience and other factors such as topography, natural boundaries, communication facilities, etc.

How many times has delimitation been done in India?

• Delimitation commissions have been set up four times in the past — 1952, 1962, 1972 and 2002 — under Delimitation Commission Acts of 1952, 1962, 1972 and 2002.
• The union government had suspended delimitation in 1976 until after the 2001 census so that states’ family planning programs would not affect their political representation in the Lok Sabha. This had led to wide discrepancies in the size of constituencies, with the largest having over three million electors, and the smallest less than 50,000.
• Following the 84th amendment to the Constitution, in 2002, Delimitation is to be done after 2026 if not postponed. It will be based on the population of the first census conducted after the year 2026.

Who are the members of the Delimitation Commission?

• The Delimitation Commission consists of three members a retired Supreme Court judge as its chairperson, the Chief Election Commissioner or an Election Commissioner nominated by him/her as an ex-officio member, and a State Election Commissioner nominated by the Governor as an ex-officio member for each state.
• The Commission also associates with itself five MPs from each state (four from Lok Sabha and one from Rajya Sabha) and the MLAs from each state whose constituencies are being delimited as associate members. They assist the Commission in its task but do not have voting rights.

What are the challenges faced by the Delimitation Commission?

• The Delimitation Commission faces several challenges such as:
• Dealing with political pressures and public protests from various stakeholders who may have vested interests in the outcome of delimitation.
• Balancing the competing demands of different regions, communities, ethnic groups, etc., while ensuring fair representation³.
• Adhering to the constitutional provisions and the legal framework that govern delimitation.
• Using the latest and accurate data on population, geography, demography, etc., for delimitation.
• Ensuring the transparency and the credibility of the delimitation process and its results.

What is the current status of the delimitation exercise in J&K?

• The Delimitation Commission published its draft proposals on March 14, 2022 in the Gazette of India and the Gazette of Jammu and Kashmir.
• The draft proposals suggest that Jammu region will get six more seats and Kashmir region will get one more seat in the Assembly, taking the total number of seats to 90.
• The draft proposals also suggest that nine seats will be reserved for Scheduled Tribes and seven for Scheduled Castes in the Assembly, and that the Lok Sabha constituencies will remain at six but their boundaries will be redrawn .
• The draft proposals have been met with strong opposition from the Kashmir-based parties, especially the National Conference, which have accused the Commission of violating the constitutional and legal norms and favouring the BJP.
• The Commission has invited objections and suggestions from the public on its draft proposals till March 21, 2022.

 What are the implications of the delimitation exercise for J&K’s politics?

• The delimitation exercise is likely to have a significant impact on the political landscape of J&K, as it will affect the representation, participation and power-sharing of different regions, communities and parties .
• The proposed increase in seats for Jammu region may give an advantage to the BJP, which has a strong base there, and may help it to form a government or a coalition in the UT .
• The proposed decrease in seats for the Kashmir region may create a sense of alienation and marginalisation among the Kashmiri people, especially the Muslims, who constitute the majority of the population there .
• The proposed reservation of seats for SCs and STs may also affect the balance of power between different social groups, as it may benefit some sections while depriving others of their existing representation .
• The proposed redrawing of Lok Sabha constituencies may also alter the electoral prospects of different parties and candidates, as it may change the demographic composition and voting patterns of different areas .

CHANDRAYAAN 3    

Chandrayaan-3: India’s Third Lunar Mission

Overview

• Chandrayaan-3 is a planned third lunar exploration mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
• It will consist of a lander and a rover similar to Chandrayaan-2, but would not have an orbiter.
• Its propulsion module will behave like a communication relay satellite.
• The launch of Chandrayaan-3 has been scheduled for July 14, 2023, at 2:35 pm IST from Satish Dhawan Space Centre using LVM3 M4 launch vehicle.
• The landing site is located at 69.367621 S, 32.348126 E in the lunar south pole region.
• The mission duration is expected to be one lunar day (about 14 Earth days) for both the lander and the rover.
• The mission objectives are to demonstrate India’s ability for a safe and soft landing on the lunar surface, to conduct scientific experiments and to test new technologies.

Background

• Chandrayaan-3 is a follow-up mission to Chandrayaan-2, which was launched in July 2019 with an orbiter, a lander and a rover.
• Chandrayaan-2 successfully inserted into lunar orbit, but the lander Vikram failed to soft land on the lunar surface due to a software glitch in the final descent phase.
• The orbiter continues to function and has been extended for another year till August 2022.
• Chandrayaan-3 was proposed as another attempt to demonstrate soft landing on the Moon, which is essential for future lunar missions such as the Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LUPEX) in collaboration with Japan.
• Chandrayaan-3 was initially planned for launch in late 2020 or early 2021, but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other technical issues.

Payloads

• Chandrayaan-3 will carry four scientific payloads on the lander and two on the rover.
• The payloads are:

Lander

• Radio Anatomy of Moon Bound Hypersensitive ionosphere and Atmosphere (RAMBHA): To study the plasma environment of the Moon and its interaction with the solar wind and Earth’s magnetosphere.
• Chandra’s Surface Thermo physical Experiment (ChaSTE): To measure the vertical temperature gradient and thermal conductivity of the lunar regolith.
• Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA): To detect and characterize seismic events on the Moon.
• Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA): To provide a passive source of laser ranging for future missions.

Rover

• Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS): To determine the elemental composition of the lunar surface rocks and soil.
• Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS): To measure the abundance of major elements in the lunar regolith.

Propulsion Module

• Spectro-polarimetry of HAbitable Planet Earth (SHAPE): To observe the Earth as an exoplanet and study its polarization characteristics.

Sensors and Actuators

• Chandrayaan-3 will use various sensors and actuators to perform its landing and roving operations.
• The sensors and actuators are:

Lander Sensors

• Laser Inertial Referencing and Accelerometer Package (LIRAP): To provide attitude and velocity information during descent and landing.
• Ka-Band Altimeter (KaRA): To measure the altitude of the lander from the lunar surface.
• Lander Position Detection Camera (LPDC): To provide images of the landing site for hazard detection and avoidance.
• Lander Hazard Detection & Avoidance Camera (LHDAC): To identify safe landing zones and avoid obstacles such as craters and boulders.
• Laser Altimeter (LASA): To measure the distance between the lander and the rover during deployment.
• Laser Doppler Velocimeter (LDV): To measure the horizontal and vertical velocity of the lander during descent and landing.
• Lander Horizontal Velocity Camera (LHVC): To provide images of the horizon for velocity estimation and attitude control.
• Micro Star sensor: To provide attitude information during cruise phase.
• Inclinometer & Touchdown sensors: To measure the tilt angle and detect contact with the lunar surface.

Lander Actuators

• Reaction wheels: To control the attitude of the lander during cruise phase.
• Bi-propellant propulsion system: To provide thrust for orbit insertion, de-orbiting, descent and landing maneuvers.

Operation Green

Introduction

• Operation Green is a central sector scheme launched by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) in 2018-19 with a budget of Rs. 500 crore.
• The scheme aims to stabilize the supply and prices of Tomatoes, Onions and Potatoes (TOP vegetables) by connecting farmers with consumers, enhancing value realization, reducing post-harvest losses, developing food processing capacity and value addition1234.
• The scheme is inspired by the success of Operation Flood (or White Revolution) which transformed India’s dairy sector12.
• In 2021-22, the scope of the scheme was expanded to include 22 perishable crops such as fruits, vegetables, spices, coconut, honey, etc.

Objectives

• The main objectives of Operation Green are ;
  • To improve the value realization of TOP farmers by strengthening production clusters and their Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and linking them with the market.
  • To create an infrastructure to reduce post-harvest losses along with developing suitable agri-logistics.
  • To increase food processing industries and value addition in value chains.
  • To establish a market intelligence network to gather and compile current information on listed crop demand, supply and price.

Components

• The scheme has three main components:
  • Long-term intervention: This involves integrated value chain development projects for each crop in specified production clusters. The projects include formation of new FPOs or training of existing ones, post-harvest processing facilities, agri-logistics, marketing infrastructure, etc. The maximum grant-in-aid per project is Rs. 15 crores.
  • Short-term intervention: This involves price stabilization measures such as procurement of surplus produce from farmers or FPOs at pre-determined prices and distribution of the same through government or private agencies. The maximum grant-in-aid per project is Rs. 50 lakhs.
  • Quality production: This involves promotion of good agricultural practices, organic farming, integrated pest management, etc. for improving the quality and productivity of the crops. The maximum grant-in-aid per project is Rs. 5 lakhs.

Eligibility

• The eligible entities that can avail financial assistance under the scheme are:
  • State Agriculture and other Marketing Federations
  • Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)
  • Cooperatives
  • Companies
  • Self-help groups
  • Food processors

Challenges

• Some of the challenges in the implementation of Operation Green are4:
  • Lack of adequate storage and cold chain facilities for perishable crops
  • High transportation costs and wastage due to poor road connectivity
  • Inadequate processing and value addition capacity in the country
  • Lack of awareness and access to quality inputs and technology among farmers
  • Fragmented and unorganized market structure with multiple intermediaries
  • Volatile demand and supply patterns due to seasonal variations and climatic factors

Way forward

• Strengthening the infrastructure for storage, transportation, processing and marketing of perishable crops
• Promoting contract farming, direct marketing, e-NAM platform and other innovative models to link farmers with consumers
• Encouraging private sector participation and investment in food processing industries and value chains
• Providing training, extension services, credit facilities and quality certification to farmers and FPOs
• Developing a robust market intelligence system to monitor demand and supply trends and provide timely information to stakeholders

Dudhwa Tiger Reserve

Introduction

• Dudhwa Tiger Reserve is a protected area in Uttar Pradesh that stretches mainly across the Lakhimpur Kheri and Bahraich districts and comprises the Dudhwa National Park, Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary and Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary1.
• It covers an area of 1,284.3 km2 and shares the north-eastern boundary with Nepal1.
• It was established in 1987 as part of Project Tiger and is one of India’s 53 Tiger Reserves12.
• It is known for its rich biodiversity, unique ecosystem and diverse range of wildlife, including tigers, leopards, elephants, rhinoceros, swamp deer, barasingha and over 450 species of birds.

History

• The history of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve dates back to the early 20th century when the area was used as a hunting ground by the British rulers of India In 1958, the area was declared a wildlife sanctuary by the government of Uttar Pradesh, with the aim of protecting the swamp deer population, which was facing the threat of extinction.
• In 1977, the sanctuary was upgraded to a national park, and additional areas were added to the protected area.
• In 1988, the Dudhwa National Park and the Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary were designated as Dudhwa Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger. The Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary was added in 2000.
• In 1976, Billy Arjan Singh acquired a tiger cub named Tara from Twycross Zoo in the United Kingdom, hand reared her and later reintroduced her to the wild in the Dudhwa National Park with the permission of India’s then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Tara was suspected to be a Bengal-Siberian tiger hybrid, but genetic analysis confirmed that she had a Bengal tiger mitochondrial haplotype.

Flora and Fauna

• The Dudhwa Tiger Reserve has a diverse range of flora and fauna, including grasslands, swamps, dense forests and wetlands.

• The reserve is home to over 1,800 flowering plants, including sal, teak, shisham, khair, jamun and many medicinal plants.

• The reserve is also home to over 450 species of birds, including resident and migratory ones. Some of the notable birds are Bengal florican, swamp francolin, sarus crane, painted stork, black-necked stork, hornbill, woodpecker and kingfisher.

• The reserve is famous for its population of tigers, leopards, elephants and rhinoceros. Other mammals include Asiatic black bear, sloth bear, swamp deer (or barasingha), cheetal (or spotted deer), hog deer, barking deer (or muntjac), sambar deer (or rusa), wild boar and hispid hare.

• The reserve also has a variety of reptiles and amphibians, such as crocodiles (or mugger), gharials (or fish-eating crocodiles), turtles (or terrapins), snakes (such as python, cobra and krait) and frogs (such as bullfrog and tree frog).

                                Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana

 Introduction

• Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY) is a central sector scheme launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in 2018 to improve the quality of life of the senior citizens by providing basic amenities, health care, entertainment opportunities and encouraging productive and active ageing1.
• The scheme is implemented by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, which is the nodal department for welfare of senior citizens in India2.
• The scheme subsumes the National Action Plan for Senior Citizens (NAPSC) and comprises two major components: Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC) and Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY)2.

Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC)

• This component provides financial assistance to eligible organizations such as state governments, NGOs, panchayati raj institutions, local bodies etc. for running and maintenance of senior citizen homes, continuous care homes, mobile medicare units and physiotherapy clinics.
• The objective of this component is to provide shelter, food, medical care and social security to the destitute, indigent and vulnerable senior citizens.
• The achievements under this component are that presently a total of 552 senior citizen homes, 14 continuous care homes, 19 mobile medicare units and 5 physiotherapy clinics are being assisted and maintained by different NGOs across the country. Nearly 1.5 lakh beneficiaries are staying in the senior citizen homes. 361 districts across the country have been covered. During the last 3 financial years a total of Rs. 288.08 crore grants in aid released and number of beneficiaries is 3635702.

Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY)

• This component provides eligible senior citizens suffering from any of the age-related disability or infirmity with assisted living devices such as walking sticks, wheelchairs, hearing aids, dentures etc. which can restore near normalcy in their bodily functions.
• The objective of this component is to enable senior citizens to overcome their disability or infirmity and lead a dignified and productive life.
• The eligibility criteria for beneficiaries are either the senior citizen belongs to below poverty line (BPL) category or he/she has income up to Rs. 15,000 per month.

The achievements under this component are that a total of 269 camps have been held till date and the number of beneficiaries of this camp is over 4 lakhs.