Indian Polity: December 2023 UPSC Current Affairs | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

Security Breach in Parliament

Context: The article addresses a security breach within the Lok Sabha, underscoring deficiencies in personal screening protocols and outdated technology. It stresses the urgency for enhanced security measures, raises concerns about accountability for technological upgrades, and advocates for the establishment of a comprehensive committee to ensure continual oversight. 

• This incident prompts contemplation on safeguarding the gateways of democracy by implementing ongoing monitoring and technological advancements.

Key Highlights:

• Security Breach: Lok Sabha breach on December 13, 2023, prompts concerns despite heightened security measures post-2001 attack.
• Causes of Breach: Inadequate personal screening, traditional metal detectors’ limitations, and lack of vigilance contribute to breach.
• Technological Need: Emphasizes the necessity for advanced technology like backscatter scanners for effective Parliament screening.

Primary Challenges:

• Screening Constraints: Conventional metal detectors exhibit limitations in detecting non-metallic threats, revealing vulnerabilities in the screening process.
• Vacancies in Security Positions: Crucial roles such as the Joint Secretary of Security, as well as chiefs of CRPF and CISF, remain unfilled.
• Accountability Gap: Ambiguity persists regarding who holds responsibility for implementing and upgrading security technology within the Parliament.

Key Terms and Phrases:

• Parliament Security: Focus on the breach and the need for robust security measures.
• Backscatter Scanner: Technological solution highlighted for enhanced visitor screening.
• Unlawful Activities Act: Sections 16 and 18 invoked against intruders for acts related to terrorism.

Key Quotes and Statements:

• “The youngsters involved…inflicted the gravest damage by revealing gaps in Parliament security.”
• “To protect the hallowed portals…security infrastructure is constantly monitored and upgraded with resolve.”

Prominent Instances and Citations:

• Terrorist Attack Mention: Draws attention to the 2001 assault and subsequent security improvements.
• Legal Measures: Invoking Sections 16 and 18 of the Unlawful Activities Act against trespassers.

Critical Information and Statistics:

• Vacant Roles: Notable security positions, such as Joint Secretary for Security, and leaders of CRPF and CISF, remain unoccupied.
• Technological Deficiency: Lack of sophisticated technology, such as backscatter scanners, for comprehensive screening purposes.

Critical Evaluation:

• Assessment of Access Control: Scrutinizes deficiencies in access control and individual screening protocols.
• Accountability Inquiry: Raises inquiries regarding who is accountable for implementing and enhancing security technology.
• Committee Proposal: Advocates for the establishment of a comprehensive committee comprising MPs and experts to ensure ongoing security oversight.

Way Forward

• Call for Oversight: Urges the Secretary of Security within the Cabinet Secretariat to supervise security measures in Parliament.
• Formation of Committee: Recommends the creation of a committee consisting of MPs and experts to conduct regular security assessments.
• Emphasizing MP Cooperation: Highlights the significance of MPs collaborating to support heightened security measures for safeguarding the gateways of democracy.

AMRIT Technology

Context: This innovation is designed to eliminate Arsenic and Metal ions from water. Utilizing nano-scale iron oxy-hydroxide, the technology selectively eliminates arsenic upon water filtration. This water purification system caters to both domestic and community-level needs.

• Moreover, the technology has received a recommendation from the former 'Standing Committee' of the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation for assessment among the finest technologies addressing water and sanitation issues.

Key Aspects Regarding Arsenic:

• Natural Presence: Arsenic exists naturally in the earth's crust and is widely spread across the environment, including air, water, and land.
• Toxic Nature: Arsenic, particularly in its inorganic form, is highly poisonous.

Properties:

• Elemental State: Arsenic in its most stable elemental form appears as a steel-grey, brittle solid with limited thermal and electrical conductivity.
• Classification: Despite some metallic-like qualities, arsenic is primarily categorized as a nonmetal element.
• Health Hazard: Recognized as a hazardous element for human health.

Consequences of Contamination:

• Health Impacts: Prolonged consumption of arsenic-contaminated water leads to arsenic poisoning or arsenicosis, potentially causing skin, bladder, kidney, or lung cancer and various skin diseases.
• Guideline Values: The World Health Organization's provisional guideline value for arsenic in drinking water is 0.01 mg/l (10 μg/l).
• Permissible Limit in India: In the absence of an alternative source, the permissible limit of arsenic in India stands at 0.05 mg/l (50 μg/l).

Merit Over Reservation in Appointments of Law Officers

Context: The Madras High Court recently decreed that the reservation rule is not mandatory in the selection of law officers.

• The court emphasized that merit should be the exclusive factor in such appointments, asserting that the government has an obligation to appoint highly proficient, competent, and capable lawyers to represent it in court.

What are the Key Points of the Verdict?

• The verdict was delivered while dismissing a public interest litigation petition filed in 2017 insisting upon transparency and adequate representation for women, the Scheduled Caste, the Scheduled Tribe and the minorities in the appointment of law officers.
  • The petitioner highlighted that the Appointment of Law Officers of the High Court of Madras had failed to provide vertical as well as horizontal reservation.
• The Division Bench has stated that the relationship between an advocate and their client is one of active confidence and trust and is governed by the doctrine of uberrima fides.
  • The relationship between the government and the law officer is purely professional and not that of a master and a servant.
• The law officers are not appointed to a civil post nor are they employees of the government. Therefore, it cannot be held that reservation needs to be provided while appointing law officers by the government.
• The court suggested that the invitation for applications should be inclusive, allowing the government to select highly competent and meritorious lawyers as law officers.

Doctrine of Uberrima Fides:

• The doctrine of Uberrima Fides is a Latin phrase that translates to “utmost good faith”. It requires the advocate to act in the best interests of the client.

Rules and Legal Decisions on Reservation in Public Employment

• As per a 2021 Office Memorandum by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), the reservation rule must be applied to contractual and temporary appointments, except for those lasting less than 45 days.
• In the 1992 Indra Sawhney case, the Supreme Court ruled that reservations in certain services and positions might not be advisable for effective duty performance. Positions like that of a law officer were considered exempt from reservation.
• Justices Nageswara Rao, Sanjiv Khanna, and B.R. Gavai issued a 2022 ruling emphasizing that state governments must provide concrete data to justify reservation policies for promoting SC and ST candidates. They upheld the need for measurable evidence supporting decisions to promote SC/ST candidates.

Constitutional Provisions Governing Reservation in India:

• Articles 15(4) and 16(4) of the Constitution allow State and Central Governments to reserve government service positions for SC and ST members.
• The Constitutional 81st Amendment Act, 2000 introduced Article 16 (4B), enabling states to fill unfilled reserved vacancies of a year in the subsequent year, bypassing the 50% reservation cap on that year's total vacancies.
• Article 335 of the Constitution emphasizes considering the claims of SCs and STs while maintaining administrative efficiency.

Advocate General:

• Article 165 of the Indian Constitution empowers the Governor of each State to appoint a qualified individual, eligible to be a High Court Judge, as the Advocate General.
• The Advocate General serves as the top legal officer in the state, representing the state in any court within its jurisdiction.
• While lacking voting rights in state legislature proceedings or committees, the Advocate General holds the right to speak and participate in these sessions.

Global River Cities Alliance: NMCG

Context: At COP28, the Global River City alliance, spearheaded by India, was inaugurated.

More about the news

• During the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP28 in Dubai, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) introduced the Global River Cities Alliance (GRCA). This initiative expands upon the River Cities Alliance established by NMCG, which initially comprised 142 Indian river cities. The GRCA now includes river cities from Den Haag (Netherlands), Adelaide (Australia), and Szolnok (Hungary), aiming to promote global collaboration for river conservation and sustainable water management.
• Previously, the River Cities Alliance had entered into a Memorandum of Common Purpose with the Mississippi River Towns and Cities Initiative in the United States. The Director General of NMCG stressed the significance of incorporating rivers into urban planning efforts.

Some facts about River Cities Alliance

• The River Cities Alliance was launched in 2021, to represent a pioneering collaboration between the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
• It is the first-of-its-kind global initiative, symbolizing the successful partnership between the two ministries.
• The primary objective is to provide member cities with a platform for discussing and exchanging vital information related to sustainable urban river management, sharing best practices, and promoting innovation.
• The alliance is open to all river cities in India, the Alliance allows cities to join at any time.
• The alliance has been launched initially with 30 cities namely Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Srinagar, Varanasi, Kanpur, Prayagraj, Farrukhabad, Mirzapur, Mathura, Bijnor, Ayodhya, Patna, Bhagalpur, Begusarai, Munger, Sahibganj, Rajmahal, Howrah, Jangipur, Hugli-Chinsurah, Berhampore, Maheshtala, Aurangabad, Chennai, Bhubaneshwar, Hyderabad, Pune, Udaipur and Vijayawada.
• The Alliance focuses on three broad themes: Networking, Capacity Building, and Technical Support.
• The Secretariat of the Alliance is established at the National Institute for Urban Affairs (NIUA).

Some facts about The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG):

• It was registered as a society in 2011 under the Societies Registration Act 1860.
• It acted as the implementation arm of National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) which was constituted under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act (EPA),1986.
• NGRBA has since been dissolved with effect from 2016 consequent to the constitution of National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection and Management of River Ganga which is referred as National Ganga Council.

What is the Aim & Objective of NMCG

• To employ a river basin approach for comprehensive planning and management, aiming at the effective reduction of pollution and revitalization of the river Ganga while promoting inter-sectoral coordination.
• To ensure the maintenance of minimum ecological flows in the river Ganga, with the goal of sustaining water quality and fostering environmentally sustainable development.

To implement a five-tier structure at the national, state, and district levels, as per the Act, to address environmental pollution in the river Ganga and guarantee a continuous and adequate flow of water for its rejuvenation:

• National Ganga Council, chaired by the Prime Minister of India.
• Empowered Task Force (ETF) on river Ganga, led by the Union Minister of Jal Shakti (Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation).
• National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).
• State Ganga Committees.
• District Ganga Committees established in specified districts along the river Ganga and its tributaries in the respective states.

SC Verdict on Revocation of Article 370

Context: The Constitutional bench led by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) delivered its judgment on petitions challenging the revocation of Article 370 and the division of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union territories.

• Significance for Prelims: Pertains to the Supreme Court of India, Article 3, Article 370, Article 35A, Article 367 of the Indian Constitution, and Presidential Orders CO (The Constitution (Application To Jammu and Kashmir) Orders 272 and 273).
• Relevance for Mains: Focuses on Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, its historical context, chronological events, the process of its revocation, and the recent ruling by the Supreme Court.

Supreme Court Verdict On Article 370 Abrogation: Key Highlights

• Key Aspect of Decision: The SC upheld the government’s decision to suspend Article 370 and ordered that the parliament hold elections in the assembly by September 30 next year. 
  • The bench also affirmed Ladakh’s reorganization as a Union Territory. 
• Validity of Presidential Order: The court also held the validity of the Constitution (Application to Jammu & Kashmir) Order, 2019 for the abrogation of Article 370.

About Article 370

• Article 370 of the Constitution gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir in the Indian Union.
• It restricted the Centre’s legislative powers concerning the state and gave the state legislature to make its laws in all matters except for finance, defence, foreign affairs, and communications.

Timeline of Article 370:

• October 26th, 1947: Maharaja Hari Singh signs the Instrument of Accession, joining the Dominion of India.
• January 26th, 1950: Article 370 stipulates that India cannot legislate in Jammu & Kashmir beyond the scope outlined in the Instrument of Accession without the 'concurrence' of its government.
• January 26th, 1950: The President of India issues the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1950, under Article 370.
• The Instrument of Accession grants the Union control over the State's external affairs, communications, and defense.
• October 31st, 1951: Constituent Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir is established.
• Delhi Agreement, 1952: Residuary powers are vested in the Government of Jammu and Kashmir.
• May 14th, 1954: Presidential order issued to execute the terms agreed upon in the Delhi agreement of 1952.
• November 17th, 1956: The Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir comes into force.
• Prem Nath Kaul v Union of India, 1959: Supreme Court holds that all Presidential Orders are subject to the Constituent Assembly's approval.
• Puranlal Lakhanpal v The President of India, 1962: Supreme Court holds that the President possesses broad powers to amend Constitutional provisions in Jammu and Kashmir.
• Sampat Prakash v State of Jammu & Kashmir, 1968: Supreme Court determines that Article 370 is a permanent element of the Constitution.
• Maqbool Damnoo v State of Jammu & Kashmir, 1972: The President issues an Order modifying Article 367.
• State Bank of India v Santosh Gupta, 2016: Supreme Court rules that Article 370 will cease to operate only after the Constituent Assembly's recommendation.
• June 20, 2018: Governor's Rule is imposed in Jammu and Kashmir.
• December 19, 2018: President's Rule is imposed in Jammu & Kashmir.
• August 5, 2019: The President issues an Order amending the interpretation of 'Constituent Assembly'.
• August 6, 2019: Abrogation of Article 370.
• August 9, 2019: Jammu and Kashmir is bifurcated into Two Union Territories.

Article 35A

• Presidential Order: It was introduced through a presidential order in 1954 to continue the old provisions of the territory regulations. 
• Permanent Resident of State: It empowered the Jammu and Kashmir state legislature to define permanent residents.
• Prohibit Outsider: It forbade outsiders from permanently settling, buying land, holding local government jobs, or winning education scholarships.
• Gender Discriminatory: It also barred female residents of Jammu and Kashmir from property rights if they married a person from outside the erstwhile state.

About Abrogation of 370

• Passing of Presidential Orders: Two Presidential Orders CO (The Constitution (Application To Jammu and Kashmir) Orders 272 and 273 were passed on August 5 and 6, 2019 respectively.
  • Article 370 (3) gave the President the power to declare that Article 370 shall cease to operate. Under this provision,  a recommendation of the J&K Constituent Assembly was necessary for the President to issue such a declaration. However, the State’s Constituent Assembly was dissolved in 1957. 
• Constitution (Application to Jammu & Kashmir) Order, 2019/CO 272 order:  It was passed as a first step before the abrogation of Article 370.
  • It superseded the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954 and declared that all the provisions of the Constitution of India would apply to J&K. 
• Amendment to Article 367: The CO 272 order amended Article 367 of the Constitution and introduced a clause to Article 367 which stated that the expression “Constituent Assembly of the State,” referred in clause (2) of Article 370, should be read as the “Legislative Assembly of the State.”
• Change in recommending Body: This changed the recommending body from the Constituent Assembly to the Legislative Assembly.
  • Since there was no legislative assembly of J&K owing to its dissolution and the state was under Presidential rule, the recommendation of the Parliament was treated as equivalent to the recommendation of the legislative assembly.
• Redefining Government: CO 272 introduced further clauses in Article 367 to state that reference to the “Government of J&K” can be considered as the “Governor of J&K”. 
  • Following this, the Parliament passed a Statutory Resolution recommending the abrogation of Article 370.
• Constitution (Application to Jammu & Kashmir) Order, 2019/CO 273 order: The President issued CO 273 under Article 370 (3) according to which,  all clauses of Article 370 would cease to be operative from 6th August 2019. Thus revoking the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.

Impact of the Abrogation of Article 370:

• Enforceability of Indian Constitution in J&K: This action resulted in the complete application of the Indian Constitution to Jammu and Kashmir, rendering all provisions of Article 370 null and void.
• Termination of Special Status: The abrogation marked the conclusion of the special status previously granted to the former state of Jammu and Kashmir. Subsequently, the central government restructured J&K into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

Arguments Against the Revocation of Article 370:

• Article 370's Permanence: Critics argued that Article 370 ceased to be a "Temporary Provision" and attained permanence after the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir.

Distinguishing between Constituent Assembly and Legislative Assembly:

• A Constituent Assembly was specifically entrusted with framing a Constitution and exercising constituent power, which was distinct from the legislative power held by the Legislative Assembly. Hence, they argued that the latter couldn't equate to the former.
  • Authority to Repeal Article 370: Opponents contended that following the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly, necessary approval for the repeal of Article 370 was unavailable. They referred to Article 354, which prohibits Parliament from acting as Jammu and Kashmir's legislature, asserting that Parliament had no authority to repeal Article 370.
  • Limitations on Power under Article 356: It was argued that the power under Article 356 couldn't be used to enforce irreversible constitutional changes.
  • Interpretation of President's Power under Article 370(1) (d): Opponents emphasized that the President's power under this Article wasn't a "constituent power" but rather a power to apply provisions with "modifications and exceptions." Hence, they argued that Article 370 could only be abrogated if proposed by the State's Constituent Assembly.
  • State Bifurcation Dispute: Petitioners contested that the division of the State into two Union Territories, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, violated Article 3 of the Constitution, which limits alterations to the federal nature of the Union.
  • Application of J&K Constitution: They argued that the central government's actions contradicted Article 147 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir.

References to India's Union and J&K's Integral Status:

• Article 1 of the Indian Constitution denotes India as a Union of States. Previously, Jammu and Kashmir was listed as a Part III state in the First Schedule.
• Section 3 of the J&K Constitution declares Jammu and Kashmir as an integral part of India. Section 147 of the J&K Constitution prohibits amendments to Section 3.
• Parallel Constitutional Authorities: Critics asserted that the constitutions of J&K and India operated independently of each other, and executive actions couldn't override constitutional authority.

EU’s Landmark AI Legislation

Context: Policymakers in the European Union have reached a preliminary agreement on significant regulations concerning the utilization of artificial intelligence (AI).

• International Perspectives on AI Governance (United States, European Union, China)
• India's Position on AI
• Summary of News (Regarding the EU's AI Act)

Global Governance Stand on Artificial Intelligence:

• The rapidly evolving pace of Artificial Intelligence development has led to diverging global views on how to regulate these technologies.
• In May 2023, members of the European Parliament reached a preliminary deal on a new draft of the European Union’s ambitious Artificial Intelligence Act.
• The Act envisages establishing an EU-wide database of high-risk AI systems and setting parameters so that future technologies can be included if they meet the high-risk criteria.
• The U.S. does not currently have comprehensive AI regulation and has taken a fairly hands-off approach.
• On the other end of the spectrum, China over the last year came out with some of the world’s first nationally binding regulations targeting specific types of algorithms and AI.
• It enacted a law to regulate recommendation algorithms with a focus on how they disseminate information.

India's Position on Artificial Intelligence:

• Previously, the Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology stated that the government wasn't contemplating any legislation to regulate the expansion of AI within India. However, ahead of the G20 summit in September 2023, the Indian government hinted at the possibility of AI regulation.
• Officials indicated that the forthcoming Digital Personal Data Protection Bill of 2022 will extend its jurisdiction to AI developers engaged in creating and facilitating AI technologies. These developers, due to their collection and utilization of substantial data to refine AI algorithms, may potentially be categorized as data fiduciaries, thereby bearing responsibility for the appropriate use of personal data.
• PM Modi recently expressed India's ambition to "leap forward in AI to empower its citizens," positioning the nation as an active contributor to the advancement of AI.
• Moreover, India is slated to host the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Summit 2023 in New Delhi from December 12-14. As a co-founder of GPAI, India collaborates with 28 member countries and the EU to steer the ethical and judicious development and deployment of AI technologies.

News Summary:

• EU member states and lawmakers clinched a deal on December 8 on how to draft "historic" rules regulating artificial intelligence models such as ChatGPT – after a long period of negotiations.
• The rules, however, won't take effect until 2025 at the earliest, leaving room for a lot of technological evolution until then.

Key highlights

• The Artificial Intelligence Act was first drafted in 2021 with the aim of bringing transparency, trust, and accountability to AI.
• It also aims to create a framework to mitigate risks to the safety, health, fundamental rights, and democratic values of the EU.
• The Act includes a two-tier approach, with transparency requirements for all general-purpose AI models and tougher requirements for the more powerful models.
• The Act envisages establishing an EU-wide database of high-risk AI systems and setting parameters so that future technologies can be included if they meet the high-risk criteria.
• The legislation seeks to strike a balance between promoting “the uptake of AI while mitigating or preventing harms associated with certain uses of the technology”.

EU AI Office

• Under the Act, the EU will be able to monitor and sanction those who violate the law through a new body called the EU AI office that will be attached to the commission.
• The office will have the power to slap a fine worth seven percent of a company's turnover or 35 million euros, whichever is larger.
• The law will still need to be formally approved by member states and the EU parliament.

Way Ahead

• The new regulations will be closely watched globally. They will affect not only major AI developers but other businesses that are expected to use the technology in areas such as education, health care and banking.
• The law sets a global benchmark for countries seeking to harness the potential benefits of the technology, while trying to protect against its possible risks, like automating jobs, spreading misinformation online and endangering national security.

PM-JANMAN Scheme

Context: The Rajya Sabha was informed by the Union Tribal Ministry that the population of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) is not decreasing, in contrast to previous data. The Pradhan Mantri-Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) seeks to ensure essential amenities for PVTGs, with a substantial budget allocation.

Who are the PVTGs?

• Definition and Characteristics: PVTGs, formerly known as Primitive Tribal Groups, are identified by criteria like declining population, pre-agrarian technology, economic backwardness, and low literacy.
• Distribution: Spread across 18 States and Union Territories, India has 75 PVTGs, with the highest numbers in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
• Historical Context: These groups inhabit remote areas and have historically been among the most vulnerable sections of Scheduled Tribes.

PM-JANMAN: Objectives and Funding

• Mission Goals: The mission, announced earlier in the year, focuses on improving infrastructure and basic amenities in PVTG areas.
• Budget Allocation: The Cabinet approved a ₹24,000 crore package, with contributions from both the central and state governments.
• Implementation Strategy: The program involves nine ministries and aims to enhance housing, connectivity, healthcare, education, and economic opportunities in PVTG villages.

Implementation Challenges:

• Data Deficiencies: The absence of up-to-date and precise information regarding the populations and socio-economic status of PVTGs poses a significant challenge.
• Baseline Studies: Although surveys are underway, their findings have not yet been made public, and there hasn't been a dedicated census for PVTGs since 1951.
• Recommendations: The National Advisory Council has proposed conducting a specific census focused on PVTGs to gain a better understanding of their educational, healthcare, and housing needs.

Conclusion

• Essentiality of Accurate Data: The effective execution of developmental initiatives for PVTGs heavily relies on the availability of dependable data.
• Comprehensive Approach: The government's endeavor signifies a holistic strategy to enhance the quality of life for PVTGs by addressing diverse facets of their well-being.
• Continual Oversight and Evaluation: Continuous scrutiny and adaptation of strategies will be pivotal in ensuring the success of these developmental endeavors targeting PVTGs.

Gram Manchitra and mActionSoft

Context: In the Lok Sabha, the Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj unveiled the Gram Manchitra initiative, which seeks to empower Gram Panchayats for enhanced spatial planning at the grassroots level.

Gram Manchitra Application

• The Gram Manchitra application is primarily designed to equip Gram Panchayats with a robust spatial planning platform, utilizing geospatial technology for enhanced effectiveness.

Features:

• Centralized Geospatial Platform: This application serves as a unified platform allowing Gram Panchayats to visualize and plan developmental activities spanning various sectors like infrastructure, natural resource management, sanitation, agriculture, and more.
• Decision Support Tools: Gram Manchitra offers multiple planning tools employing GIS technology, assisting Gram Panchayat officials in formulating practical and feasible development strategies. These tools encompass:
• Site Identification: Leveraging geographical data, the application aids in pinpointing ideal locations for new development initiatives.
• Asset Monitoring: The application streamlines asset tracking and management through geo-tagging, ensuring transparency and efficient resource utilization.
• Cost Estimation: Tools are available for estimating project costs, facilitating budgeting and resource allocation.
• Impact Evaluation: Enables the assessment of potential project impacts on the local community and environment.

mActionSoft Mobile-Based Solution

• Complementing Gram Manchitra, mActionSoft is a mobile-based solution designed to capture photos with geo-tags (GPS Coordinates) specifically for works where assets are created as outputs.

Geo-Tagging Process

• Three-Stage Geo-Tagging: The mobile application enables the geo-tagging of assets at three crucial stages of development projects: before the commencement of work, during the work progress, and upon completion of the work.
• Asset Repository: This initiative helps create a comprehensive repository of information related to various developmental works, such as natural resource management, water harvesting, sanitation, agriculture, etc. It ensures a detailed record of assets and their development stages.

Integration with Gram Manchitra

• The assets geo-tagged using mActionSoft are seamlessly integrated into the Gram Manchitra application. This integration enhances the visual representation and mapping of various developmental works within Gram Panchayats.

Geo-Tagging Finance Commission Funded Assets

• Assets created under the finance commission funds are geo-tagged using photographs by the respective Panchayats.
• The GIS data of these geotagged assets can be visualized on the map of the Panchayat within the Gram Manchitra application.

Conclusion

The initiatives collectively aim to leverage modern technology to empower local governance bodies. They enable efficient planning, monitoring, and decision-making for development projects at the grassroots level. The use of GIS technology and geo-tagging ensures transparency, effective asset management, and informed decision-making, crucial for sustainable rural development.