Current Affairs 27th June 2023 for UPSC Prelims Exam

Criteria for ST Status

Context: A Manipur High Court order on the demand for ST status for Meitei people observed that no action had been taken by the government despite the multiple requests submitted by the community since 2013.

Background

There was a recent plea before the Manipur High Court by the Meetei (Meitei) Tribe Union, seeking directions to the Manipur government to submit a recommendation to the Union Ministry for Tribal Affairs for the inclusion of the community in the list of Scheduled Tribes in the Indian Constitution, as a “tribe among tribes in Manipur”.
A Manipur High Court order observed that no action had been taken by the government despite the multiple requests submitted by the community since 2013.
The order triggered protests by tribal groups in the hill districts and started a cycle of ethnic violence that has plunged the state into a deep crisis.

Who are Meitei Tribes?

Definition: The Meiteis also known as Meetei are the dominant ethnic group of the North Indian state of Manipur.
Clan: The Meiteis are divided into seven Salai or clans — Mangang, Luwang, Khuman, Angom, Moirang Kha, Ngangba, and Sarang Leishangthem.
Area: Meiteis mainly live in the Imphal Valley region of today’s Manipur, though a sizeable population has settled in the other Indian states of Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Mizoram.
Population: The Meitei ethnic group makes up around 53% of the population of
Manipur (Census of India, 2011).
Language: The Meitei people speak the Meitei language which is also known as the Manipuri language, and comes under the sub-family of the Tibeto-Burman language.
- One of India’s recognised official languages, Meitei, was added to the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India in 1992.
Religion: Meiteis follow only two religions, with an overwhelming majority of Meiteis practicing Hinduism.
- Around 16% of Meiteis traditionally believe in Sanamahi religion named after god Sanamahi.
- Around 8% of Meiteis follow Islam.

Why are Meiteis Demanding ST Status?

Before the merger agreement between the Manipur kingdom and the Union of India in 1949, the British had designated the Meiteis as a “tribe amongst tribes”.
The Meiteis want to be designated as a Scheduled Tribe in order to protect their “ancestral land, traditions, culture and language”.
- In 1951, the population of Meiteis was 59%, which came down to 44% in 2011.
Meiteis argue that they occupy only 8% of Manipur’s land despite being the dominant community. Anybody from outside can come, buy land, and settle down but they can’t even go to the hills, which is a part of their state, and buy land there. Hence, they want equal status.

Old Permit System

The first census of Manipur in 1881 reported a total population of 2,21,070 — 1,17,108 Meiteis, 85,288 individuals belonging to the hill tribes, 105 foreigners and Muslims, and 18,569 Mayangs (any non-Manipuri Indian).
In 1901, the Manipur kingdom devised a “permit” or “passport” system to control the entry of “foreigners” (included other Indians too) and non-Manipuris.
The population of Manipur at this time was 2,84,465 (1901 Census).
Subsequently, “foreigners” who wished to visit Manipur would need permission from the Manipur Durbar, and pay a tax.
The “permit” system regulated the influx of non-Manipuris and served as a source of revenue.
Non-Manipuris could not buy property in Manipur.

What are the Criteria for ST Status?

The criteria for ST status are primitive traits, distinctive culture, backwardness, geographical isolation, and shyness of contact with the large community.
The Process of Inclusion in the ST List:
- The process of adding tribes to the ST list starts with a recommendation from the State governments.
- It is sent to the Tribal Affairs Ministry, which reviews and sends them to the Registrar General of India, Under the Home Ministry for approval.
- After approval, it is sent to the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes and then sent to the Cabinet for a final decision.
- Once the cabinet finalizes it, then it introduces a bill in the parliament to amend the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, and the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950.
- After the amendment bill is passed by both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, the President’s office takes the final decision under Articles 341 and 342 of the Constitution:
Benefits in the Inclusion in the ST List:
- Some of the major benefits include post-matric scholarship, overseas scholarship and the national fellowship, besides education, concessional loans from the National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation, and hostels for students.
- In addition, they will also be entitled to benefits of reservation in services and admission to educational institutions as per the government policy.

What is the Status of Scheduled Tribes in India?

As per Census-1931, Schedule tribes are termed as “backward tribes” living in the “Excluded” and “Partially Excluded” areas. The Government of India Act of 1935 called for the first time for representatives of “backward tribes” in provincial assemblies.
The Constitution does not define the criteria for recognition of Scheduled Tribes and hence the definition contained in 1931 Census was used in the initial years after independence.
However, Article 366(25) of the Constitution only provides process to define Scheduled Tribes: “Scheduled Tribes means such tribes or tribal communities or parts of or groups within such tribes or tribal communities as are deemed under Article 342 to be Scheduled Tribes for the purposes of this Constitution.”
342(1): The President may with respect to any State or Union Territory, and where it is a State, after consultation with the Governor, by a public notification, specify the tribes or tribal communities or part of or groups within tribes or tribal communities as Scheduled Tribe in relation to that State or Union Territory.
The Fifth Schedule of the Constitution lays out provision for Administration and Control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes.
The Sixth Schedule deals with the administration of the tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.

Current Affairs 26th June 2023 for UPSC Prelims Exam

National Medical Commission (NMC)

Context: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has withdrawn the recently issued Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023 for MBBS admissions.

About National Medical Commission (NMC)

Constitution: The National Medical Commission (NMC) was constituted by National Medical Commission Act, 2019.
- NMC replaced the Medical Council of India (BoG-MCI) and consequently, the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 was repealed.
Function:
- Improve access to quality and affordable medical education.
- Ensure availability of adequate and high quality medical professionals in all parts of the country.
- Promote equitable and universal healthcare that encourages community health perspective.
- It also provides for a common entrance examination for MBBS, the National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET), along with common counselling for all medical institutions in the country.
  - This provision prevents seat blocking in parallel counselling processes and eliminates the need for students to approach multiple colleges and take part in multiple counselling processes for admission.
- Objectively assess medical institutions periodically in a transparent manner.
- Maintain a medical register for India.
- Have an effective grievance redressal mechanism.
Regulation of Boards: NMC is an overarching body that frames policies and co-ordinates the activities of the autonomous boards:
- Under-Graduate Medical Education Board
- Post-Graduate Medical Education Board
- Medical Assessment and Rating Board
- Ethics and Medical Registration Board.
Composition of NMC: Besides the Chairperson the NMC has 10 ex-officio members that include Presidents of the four Autonomous Boards.

What is NEXT?

According to the National Medical Commission (NMC) Act, the National Exit Test (NEXT) will serve as a common qualifying final year MBBS exam, a licentiate exam to practice modern medicine and for merit-based admission to postgraduate courses.
It shall also be a screening exam for foreign medical graduates who want to practice in India.
NEET and NEXT will also be applicable to institutes of national importance such as all the AIIMS, to ensure a common standard in the medical education sector in India.
NMC will work on modalities of NEXT exam.
NEXT is likely to be held in 2024.

Global Liveability Index 2023

Context: The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has recently unveiled the Global Liveability Index for 2023.

What is Global Liveability Index?

Definition: EIU’s index quantifies the challenges presented to an individual’s lifestyle in 173 cities worldwide.
Parameters: Healthcare, education, culture, environment and stability were used as parameters in the ranking.
Key Highlights of the Index:
- The index rose last year to reach a 15-year high as the world recovered from the pandemic.
- The average index score is now 76.2 out of 100, up from 73.2 a year ago.
- Despite overall growth in the index score, stability saw a marginal decline.
  - It is because of instances of civil unrest in many cities amid a cost-of-living crisis and an uptick in crimes in some cities.
  - Those in Western Europe have slipped in rankings due to increased instances of workers’ strikes failing to “match gains” made by cities in Asia and the Middle East.
- Vienna (Austria), Copenhagen (Denmark), Melbourne and Sydney (Australia) has been named the best city to live in the world.
- Algeria’s Algiers, Libya’s Tripoli and Syria’s Damascus were ranked the three least liveable cities in the world.
  - These cities which are plagued by ongoing civil unrest and military conflicts, amongst other issues, remained at the bottom of the list.
- From Asia, Japan’s Osaka was ranked number 10 in the rankings.

Bank for International Settlements (BIS)

Context: The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has called for more interest rate increases, warning the world economy was now at a crucial point as countries struggle to rein in inflation.

What is Bank for International Settlements (BIS)?

Definition: The Bank for International Settlements (BIS), founded in 1930, is the oldest international organization in the field of international monetary cooperation.
Aim: It aims to support central banks’ pursuit of monetary and financial stability through international cooperation, and to act as a bank for central banks.
- BIS has played several key roles in the global economy, from settling reparation payments imposed on Germany following the First World War, to serving central banks in their pursuit of monetary and financial stability.
Members: 63 central banks are currently members of the BIS that together account for about 95% of world GDP.
- The Reserve Bank of India is a member of BIS.
Board: The Board of Directors is responsible for determining the strategic and policy direction of the BIS.
- The Board may have up to 18 members, including 6 ex officio Directors, comprising the central bank Governors of Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States.
- The Board elects a Chair and may elect a Vice-Chair from among its members, each for a three-year term.
Head Office: Basel, Switzerland.

The India-U.S. deal for MQ-9B Drones

Context: India will start the formal acquisition process for the 31 weaponized MQ-9B Reaper drones, also known as Predator-B drones from the US in July,2023.

About MQ-9B Reaper drone

The MQ-9B Reaper drones are high-altitude long-endurance drones (or Unmanned Aerial vehicles) having strike missiles that can eliminate enemy targets with absolute accuracy.
It is developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) primarily for the United States Air Force (USAF).
Variants: The MQ-9B has two variants — SkyGuardian and its sibling SeaGuardian.
- The India-U.S. deal for 31 MQ-9B Reaper drones include 15 SeaGuardians for the Indian Navy and 16 SkyGuardians — eight each for the Indian Army and Air Force.
- The Indian Navy has been operating the MQ-9B Sea Guardian since 2020.
Features:
- It can operate at over 40,000 feet.
- It also has a maximum endurance of 40 hours, making it useful for long-hour surveillance.
- It can support land, maritime surveillance, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, strike, electronic warfare and expeditionary roles.
- It is equipped with advanced features such as automatic take-off and landing, detect and avoid system, anti-spoofing GPS, and encrypted communication links.
- The drones are equipped with air-to-ground missiles and smart bombs for long-range precision strikes.

Significance of MQ-9B Reaper drones for India

Cost-effectiveness: The MQ-9B Reaper drones provide approximately 80% of the capabilities of large human-flown maritime patrol aircraft at only around 20% of the cost per hour. This makes them a much more economical option for navies.
Enhanced Surveillance: The drones enable round-the-clock surveillance capabilities, extending the reach of India’s Army and Air Force beyond borders. They can provide valuable intelligence on activities such as Chinese military buildup and troop movements along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and even deep inside enemy territory.
Integration with Existing Platforms: The MQ-9B Reaper seamlessly integrates with other U.S.-origin platforms that India already operates, such as the P-8Is, AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, and MH-60R multi-role helicopters.