Polity & Governance: August 2022 Current Affairs | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Manipur to Implement the NRC

• The decision has come after at least 19 apex tribal organisations wrote to the Prime Minister demanding NRC and other mechanism to insulate the indigenous people from the “ever-increasing number of non-local residents”.

What is the National Register of Citizens?

• NRC is a register prepared in respect of each village, showing the houses or holdings in a serial order and indicating against each house or holding the number and names of persons staying therein.
• The register was first prepared after the 1951 Census of India and since then it has not been updated until recently.
  • It has been updated in Assam only for now and the government plans to update it nationally as well.
• Purpose: To separate “illegal” immigrants from “legitimate” residents.
• Nodal Agency: Registrar General and Census Commissioner India.

Why is Manipur Pushing for NRC?

• According to data presented in the Manipur Assembly, the population of Manipur has increased significantly from 1971 to 2011, pointing to a strong possibility of a huge influx of non-Indians, especially Myanmar Nationals primarily Kukis-Chin Communities.
  • Apart from the Kuki-Chin groups, pro-NRC groups have identified “Bangladeshis” and Muslims from Myanmar who have “occupied the constituency of Jiribam and scattered in the valley areas” as well as Nepalis (Gurkhas) who have “risen in tremendous number” as “outsiders”.
• The northeastern States have been paranoid about “outsiders”, “foreigners” or “alien cultures” swamping out their numerically weaker indigenous communities.
  • Manipur, home to three major ethnic groups, is no different.
  • These ethnic groups are the non-tribal Meitei people and the tribal Naga and Kuki-Zomi groups.
• There has been a history of conflict among these three groups, but the NRC issue has seemingly put the Meiteis and the Nagas on the same page.
  • They claim that an NRC is necessary because the political crisis in neighbouring Myanmar, triggered by the military coup in February 2021, has forced hundreds of people into the State from across its 398-km international border.
  • A majority of those who fled or are fleeing belong to the Kuki-Chin communities, ethnically related to the Kuki-Zomi people in Manipur as well as the Mizos of Mizoram.

What are the Other Protective Mechanisms in Manipur?

• In December 2019, Manipur became the fourth northeastern State to be brought under the Inner-Line Permit (ILP) system after Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland.
  • The ILP – a temporary official travel document to allow inward travel of an Indian citizen into a protected area, was implemented under the British-era Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation.
  • However, in less than two years later, an umbrella organisation that spearheaded the ILP movement said the system was flawed and that Manipur needed a stronger and more effective mechanism for protecting indigenous populations.
• Following the “intrusion of immigrants” from Bangladesh (East Pakistan formerly), Myanmar and Nepal, a pass or permit system for Manipur was introduced, which was abolished later on in 1950.
• In June 2021, Manipur government approved 1961 as the base year for identifying the “natives” for the purpose of ILP.
  • Most groups are not happy with this cut-off year and insist on 1951 as the cut-off year for the NRC exercise.
• In 2021, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) directed Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Border Guarding Force (BGF), i.e. Assam rifles. to check illegal influx from Myanmar into India.
  • Similar Instructions were Issued in August 2017 and February 2018.

What is the Status of the NRC Elsewhere in the Northeast?

• Assam is the only State in the region that undertook an exercise to update the NRC of 1951 with 24^th March, 1971, as the cut-off date for citizenship of a person.
• Nagaland attempted a similar exercise called RIIN (Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland) in June 2019 to primarily sift the indigenous Nagas from the non-indigenous Nagas.

Since NRC is related to Citizenship , to read more information on such topic :
Citizenship-1 
Citizenship-2 

Inner – Party Democracy

• This calls for India to seriously consider empowering its elected representatives, to ensure accountability for party leadership.

How are Members of Parliament elected in the United Kingdom?

• To become an MP representing a main political party, a candidate must be authorised to do so by the party's nominating officer. They must then win the most votes in the constituency.
  • They do not owe their nomination to the party leader, but are selected by the local constituency party.
• The UK is divided into 650 areas called constituencies.
  • During an election, everyone eligible to cast a vote in a constituency selects one candidate to be their MP.
    (i) The candidate who gets the most votes become the MP for that area until the next election.
    (ii) If an MP dies or retires, a by-election is held in that constituency to find a new MP for that area.
• At a general election, all constituencies become vacant and a Member of Parliament is elected for each from a list of candidates standing for election.
  • General elections happen every five years.

How are Members of Parliament elected in India?

• Parliament of India consists of two houses and members are elected for each one of them.
  • Lok Sabha:
    (i) It is also called The House of the People.
    (ii) Election of Representative:
    (iii) For electing representatives, each state is divided into territorial constituencies.
    (iv) Representatives are elected from each constituency using the First-past-the-post system, the candidate who secures the majority of votes is declared elected.
    (v) By the Union Territories (Direct Election to the House of the People) Act, 1965, the members of Lok Sabha from the UTs are chosen by direct election.
• Rajya Sabha:
  (i) It is also called The Council of States.
  (ii) Election of Representative:
  (iii) The representatives of states are elected by the members of state legislative assemblies.
  (iv) The representatives of each Union Territory in the Rajya Sabha are indirectly elected by members of an electoral college specially constituted for the purpose.
  (v) Only three UTs (Delhi, Puducherry and Jammu & Kashmir) have representation in Rajya Sabha (others don’t have enough population).
  (vi) The members nominated by the President are those who have special knowledge or practical experience in art, literature, science and social service.
  (vii) The rationale is to provide eminent persons a place in the house without going through elections.

• What Powers does an MP have in the UK against the Prime Minister?

• A Prime Minister has to be able to maintain the confidence of his ministers at all time to run a stable government.
• If there is a sense that the leader is no longer acceptable to the country, then a well-structured mechanism come into action to protect the party’s electoral gains by providing fresh leadership.
• Individual Conservative MPs write to the 1922 Committee (which comprises backbench MPs, and looks out for their interests) expressing that they have “no confidence” in their leader.
  • If a numerical or percentage threshold (15% of the party’s MPs in the U.K.) is breached, an automatic leadership vote is triggered, with the party leader forced to seek a fresh mandate from the parliamentary party.

What Powers does an MP have in India against the Prime Minister?

• No Confidence Motion:
  • A no-confidence motion is a parliamentary motion which is moved in the Lok Sabha against the entire council of ministers, stating that they are no longer deemed fit to hold positions of responsibility due to their inadequacy in some respect or their failure to carry out their obligations.
  • No prior reason needs to be stated for its adoption in the Lok Sabha.
    (i) A motion of “No Confidence Motion” against the Government can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha under rule 198.
    (ii) The Constitution of India does not mention about either a Confidence or a No Confidence Motion.
    (iii) Although, Article 75 does specify that the Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha.
    (iv) A motion of No Confidence can be admitted when a minimum of 50 members support the motion in the house.
    (v) The Speaker then, once satisfied that the motion is in order, will ask the House if the motion can be adopted.
    (vi) If the motion is passed in the house, the Government is bound to vacate the office.
    (vii) A no-confidence motion needs a majority vote to pass the House.
    (viii) If individuals or parties abstain from voting, those numbers will be removed from the overall strength of the House and then the majority will be taken into account.

What can be considered as Hindrance to MPs Liberty in India?

• Anti-Defection Law:
  • The anti-defection law punishes individual Members of Parliament (MPs)/MLAs for leaving one party for another.
  • Parliament added it to the Constitution as the Tenth Schedule in 1985. Its purpose was to bring stability to governments by discouraging legislators from changing parties.
    (i) The Tenth Schedule - popularly known as the Anti-Defection Act - was included in the Constitution via the 52nd Amendment Act, 1985.
    (ii) It sets the provisions for disqualification of elected members on the grounds of defection to another political party.
    (iii) It was a response to the toppling of multiple state governments by party-hopping MLAs after the general elections of 1967.
  • However, it allows a group of MP/MLAs to join (i.e., merge with) another political party without inviting the penalty for defection. And it does not penalize political parties for encouraging or accepting defecting legislators.
    (i) As per the 1985 Act, a 'defection' by one-third of the elected members of a political party was considered a 'merger'.
    (ii) But the 91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003, changed this and now at least two-thirds of the members of a party must be in Favour of a "merger" for it to have validity in the eyes of the law.
• The members disqualified under the law can stand for elections from any political party for a seat in the same House.
• The decision on questions as to disqualification on ground of defection are referred to the Chairman or the Speaker of such House, which is subject to ‘Judicial review’.
  • However, the law does not provide a timeframe within which the presiding officer has to decide a defection case.

Tobacco Endgame

• Emulating New Zealand, Malaysia is also considering a ban on smoking and the sale of all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to people born after 2007.

What is the New Zealand's Bill on Tobacco Endgame?

• About:
  • The Tobacco Endgame refers to a policy approach that focuses on ending the Tobacco Epidemic, aiming at a ‘tobacco-free future’.
  • The Bill seeks three Strategies to reduce Smoking significantly or ending it.
  • If implemented, it will be the world-first legislation that will stop the next generation from ever being able to legally buy cigarettes.
• Strategies Proposed:
  • Drastically reducing nicotine content in tobacco so it is no longer addictive (known as “denicotinisation” or “very low nicotine cigarettes” (VLNC)).
  • A 90% to 95% reduction in the number of shops that can sell tobacco.
  • Making it illegal to sell tobacco to people born on or after 1 January 2009. (thus, creating a “smoke free generation”).

What is the Status of Tobacco Consumption?

• Globally:
  • The tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced, killing more than 8 million people a year (as per the World Health Organisation), including around 1.2 million deaths from exposure to second-hand smoke.
    • Nearly one in four people across the globe use tobacco.
  • All forms of tobacco are harmful, and there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco.
    • Cigarette smoking is the most common form of tobacco use worldwide.
    • Other tobacco products include waterpipe tobacco, various smokeless tobacco products, cigars, cigarillos, roll-your-own tobacco, pipe tobacco, bidis and kreteks.
  • Tobacco use is a major risk factor for many chronic diseases, including cancer, lung disease, cardiovascular disease and stroke.
• Status in India:
  • 38% men and 9% women above 15 years of age use tobacco products, as per the National Family Health Survey 5 (2019-21).
  • Women (19%) and men (51%) belonging to Scheduled Tribes are more likely to use tobacco than those from any other caste/tribe groups.
  • Among men as well as women, the use of tobacco is higher in rural areas (43% for men and 11 % for women) than in urban areas.
  • Nearly three-fifths of men and 15% of women with no schooling or less than 5 years of schooling use tobacco.
• Socio-Economic Burden of Tobacco Consumption:
• Tobacco use contributes to poverty by diverting household spending from basic needs such as food and shelter to tobacco.
• The economic costs of tobacco use are substantial and include significant health care costs for treating the diseases caused by tobacco use as well as the lost human capital that results from tobacco-attributable morbidity and mortality.
• It is one of the major causes of death and disease in India and accounts for nearly 1.35 million deaths every year.
  • India is also the second largest consumer and producer of tobacco. A variety of tobacco products are available at very low prices in the country.
  • The total economic costs attributed to tobacco use (from all diseases in India in the year 2017-18 for persons aged 35 years and above) amounted to INR 177 341 crore.

What Measures have been Taken to Tackle High Tobacco Consumption?

• Global Initiatives:
  • WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC):
    • It was developed in response to the globalisation of the tobacco epidemic and is an evidence-based treaty that reaffirms the right of all people to the highest standard of health.
    • India has adopted the tobacco control provisions under the WHO FCTC.
  • World No Tobacco Day:
    • 31^st May is observed as ‘World No Tobacco Day’ every year to spread awareness around the deadly effects of tobacco consumption.
• India’s Initiatives:
  • Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003:
    • It replaced the Cigarettes Act of 1975 (largely limited to statutory warnings- ‘Cigarette Smoking is Injurious to Health’ to be displayed on cigarette packs and advertisements. It did not include non-cigarettes).
    • The 2003 Act also included cigars, bidis, cheroots, pipe tobacco, hookah, chewing tobacco, pan masala, and gutka.
  • Promulgation of the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Ordinance, 2019:
    • It prohibits Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement of e-Cigarettes.
  • National Tobacco Quitline Services (NTQLS):
    • Tobacco Quitline Services have the potential to reach a large number of tobacco users with the sole objective to provide telephone-based information, advice, support, and referrals for tobacco cessation.
  • mCessation Programme:
    • It is an initiative using mobile technology for tobacco cessation.
    • India launched mCessation using text messages in 2016 as part of the government’s Digital India initiative.

Mother's Right to Decide Surname of Child

• The court was dealing with a plea challenging a judgement passed by the High Court of Andhra Pradesh in January 2014, which asked to restore the child’s surname to the previous one and to show the name of the late husband in records as his natural father and if that is not possible, to mention the new husband as his stepfather.

What did the SC Rule?

• Surname is not only indicative of lineage and should not be understood just in the context of history, culture and lineage but more importantly the role it plays with regard to the social reality along with a sense of being for children in their particular environment.
• Homogeneity of surname emerges as a mode to create, sustain and display ‘family'.
• The SC also opined that the mother, being the only natural guardian, also has the right to give up the child in adoption.

What are the Laws Related to Guardianship in India?

• Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act:
  • Indian laws accord superiority to the father in case of guardianship of a minor (below the age of 18 years).
  • Under the religious law of Hindus, or the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, (HMGA) 1956, the natural guardian of a Hindu minor in respect of the minor’s person or property “is the father, and after him, the mother.
  • Provided the custody of a minor who has not completed the age of five years shall ordinarily be with the mother.”
• Guardian and Wards Act of 1890 (GWA):
  • It deals with the appointment of a person as a ‘guardian’ to a child, both with respect to the child and property.
  • Child custody, guardianship and visitation issues between parents are determined under the GWA, if a natural parent wants to be declared as an exclusive guardian to his/her own child.
  • Upon disputes between parents in a petition under the GWA, read with the HMGA; guardianship and custody can be vested with one parent with visitation rights to the other parent.
  • In doing so, the welfare of the minor or “best interests of the child” shall be of paramount consideration.

What is Understood by 'Best Interests of the Child’?

• India is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
• The definition of “best interests of the child” has been incorporated from the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
• The “best interests of the child” means “the basis for any decision taken regarding the child, to ensure fulfilment of his basic rights and needs, identity, social well-being and physical, emotional and intellectual development” and is paramount in any custody battle.
• Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937:
  • It says that the Shariat or the religious law will apply in case of guardianship according to which the father is the natural guardian, but custody vests with the mother until the son reaches the age of seven and the daughter reaches puberty though the father’s right to general supervision and control exists.
  • The concept of Hizanat in Muslim law states that the welfare of the child is above all else.
  • This is the reason why Muslim law gives preference to the mother over father in the matter of custody of children in their tender years.
• Supreme Court Judgements:
• The Supreme Court’s landmark judgement in Githa Hariharan v. The Reserve Bank of India in 1999 provided partial relief.
• In this case, the HMGA was challenged for violating the guarantee of equality of sexes under Article 14 of the Constitution of India.
  • Article 14 says that no person shall be denied treatment of equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India.
• The court held that the term “after” should not be taken to mean “after the lifetime of the father “, but rather “in the absence of the father”.
  • However, the judgement failed to recognise both parents as equal guardians, subordinating a mother’s role to that of the father.
• Though the judgement sets a precedent for courts, it has not led to an amendment to the HMGA.

Way Forward

• A child-centric human rights jurisprudence that has evolved over a period of time is founded on the principle that public good demands proper growth of the child, who is the future of the nation.
  • Therefore, shared or joint parenting with equal rights can be a viable, practical, balanced solution for the child’s optimal growth.
• The Law Commission of India in its 257th report on “Reforms in Guardianship and Custody Laws in India” in May 2015 recommended that the “superiority of one parent over the other should be removed”.
  • Both the mother and the father should be regarded, simultaneously, as the natural guardians of a minor.
  • The HMGA should be amended to “constitute both the father and the mother as being natural guardians ‘jointly and severally,’ having equal rights in respect of a minor and his property.

Governing Telecommunication in India

• It has also released a consultation paper which suggested the need for a new legal framework that is clear, exact, and in tune with the altering occasions and applied sciences.

Why the Need for a New Framework?

• The legal foundation for telecommunications in India is defined by laws created long before India's independence. 
• Technology has advanced substantially in recent decades since the Indian Telegraph Act, came into force on October 1, 1885. Hence, the stakeholders have been demanding evolution of legal framework to keep it in tune with changing technology.

What are the Suggestions?

• Collaborative Regulation:
  • To evolve a new legal framework enabling spectrum utilization in a liberalized and technologically impartial method.
  • Also, guarantee flexibility to the central authorities for spectrum utilization in the public curiosity.
• Rethink Frequency Range:
  • The law needs to contain provisions for re-framing and harmonization of the frequency range.
• Simple Framework:
  • To further, simplify the framework for mergers, demergers, and acquisitions, or different types of restructuring.
  • To strike a crucial balance between continuity of service and safeguarding public interests.
• Enhance Security:
  • Must have applicable provisions for addressing conditions of public emergency, and public security and for taking measures within the pursuits of nationwide safety.
• Continuation of Service:
  • In case of insolvency-related issues in the telecom sector, the focus should be on continuity of service. 
  • The proceedings should not lead to suspension of license as long as the services continue to be provided, and there is no default in payment of dues against the telecom license or use of spectrum.

What is the Present Status of the Telecom Sector in India?

• About:
  • The telecommunications industry is divided into the following subsectors: Infrastructure, Equipment, Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MNVO), White Space Spectrum, 5G, Telephone service providers, and Broadband.
    • The Telecom industry in India is the second largest in the world with a subscriber base of 1.17 bn as of April 2022 (wireless + wireline subscribers). India has an of which, 
  • The teledensity (the number of telephone connections for every hundred individuals living within an area) of the rural market, which is largely untapped, stands at 58.16% while the teledensity of the urban market is 134.70%. 
  • The Telecom sector is the 3rd largest sector in terms of FDI inflows, contributing 7% of total FDI inflow, and contributes directly to 2.2 mn employment and indirectly to 1.8 mn jobs. 
    • Between 2014 and 2021, the FDI inflows in the Telecom sector rose by 150% to $20.72 bn from $8.32 bn during 2002-2014.
• Issues:
  • Declining Average Revenue Per User (ARPU): ARPU's decline now is sharp and steady, which, combined with falling profits and in some cases, serious losses, is prompting the Indian telecom industry to look at consolidation as the only way to boost revenues.
  • Lack of Telecom Infrastructure in Semi-rural and Rural areas: Service providers have to incur huge initial fixed costs to enter semi-rural and rural areas.
  • Pressure on Margins Due to Stiff Competition: With competition heating up post entry of Reliance Jio, other telecom players are feeling the heat of a substantial drop in tariff rates both for voice call and data (more significant for data subscribers).
• Government Initiatives:
  • The Department of Information Technology intends to set up over 1 million internet-enabled common service centres across India as per the National e-Governance Plan.
  • FDI cap in the telecom sector has been increased to 100% from 74%. Out of 100%, 49% will be done through the automatic route and the rest will be done through the Foreign Investment Facilitation Portal (FIPB) approval route.
  • FDI of up to 100% is permitted for infrastructure providers offering dark fiber, electronic mail, and voicemail.
  • In 2021, the Union Cabinet approved a number of structural and process reforms in the Telecom sector.

Way Forward

• A proactive and facilitatory government role in the telecom sector is the need of the hour given the huge opportunities provided by the sector.
  • Independent and statutory body, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has an important role to play as a watchdog of the sector.
• A more proactive and timely Dispute Resolution by TDSAT (Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal) is the need of the hour.
• The new regulatory act must contain relevant provisions on taking measures to ensure emergency situations, public safety and national security.
  • Further, the punishment must be proportionate to the violation, with this in mind, the new law needs to be updated, bringing together various provisions on fines and offences.

Higher Education Commission of India

Recently, the Government of India announced that they’re reworking a draft of the Bill (Draft Higher Education Commission of India (Repeal of University Grants Commission Act) Bill, 2018) that will bring to life the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI), for college and university-level education, cutting across disciplines.

• The new reworked draft will also be in tune with the National Education Policy of India.

What is the Draft Higher Education Commission of India Bill, 2018?

• About:
  • The bill stands for “Draft Higher Education Commission of India (Repeal of University Grants Commission Act) Bill, 2018”.
  • It was introduced in January, 2018.
    • But it was never finalised, and within two years, the National Education Policy 2020 was announced.
• Key Points:
  • The Bill repeals the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 and establishes the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI).
  • The HECI will maintain academic standards in higher education by:
    • Specifying learning outcomes for courses.
    • Specifying eligibility criteria for Vice Chancellors.
    • Ordering closure of higher educational institutions which fail to adhere to minimum standards.
  • Every higher educational institution empowered to award degrees or diplomas will have to apply to the HECI to commence its first academic operations.
    • The HECI also has the power to revoke permission on specified grounds.
  • The Bill sets up an Advisory Council chaired by the Union Minister of Human Resource Development.
    • The Council will advise on coordination and determination of standards in higher education between the centre and states.
• Coverage:
  • The Bill will apply to ‘higher educational institutions’ which include:
    • Universities set up by Acts of Parliament or state legislatures.
    • Institutions deemed to be a university, and colleges.
    • It excludes institutions of national importance.

What were Major Challenges in 2018’s Bill?

• Autonomy:
  • The Bill aims to promote autonomy of higher educational institutions.
  • However, certain provisions of the Bill do not meet this stated objective.
  • It may be argued that instead of granting higher educational institutions increased autonomy, the Bill provides HECI with extensive regulatory control.
• Regulatory Ambit:
  • Currently, institutions offering professional courses are regulated by 14 professional councils.
  • Of these, the Bill seeks to bring legal and architecture education within the purview of HECI.
  • It is unclear why only these two areas are included within the regulatory ambit of the HECI and not the other fields of professional education.
• Disbursal of Grants:
  • At present, the UGC has the power to allocate and disburse grants to universities and colleges.
  • While the Bill replaces the UGC, it does not include any provisions regarding disbursal of grants.
  • This raises a question whether HECI will have any role in the disbursal of grants to higher educational institutions.
• Independent Regulations:
  • Presently, the Central Advisory Board of Higher Education (CABE) co-ordinates and advises the centre and states on education related matters.
  • The Bill creates an Advisory Council and requires HECI to implement its recommendations.
  • This may restrict HECI from functioning as an independent regulator.

What are the Functions of HECI?

• The HECI will recommend ways to promote autonomy of higher educational institutions and ensure maintenance of academic standards in higher education.
• It will specify norms for:
  • Learning outcomes for courses.
  • Standards of teaching and research.
  • Evaluation procedure to measure yearly academic performance of institutions.
  • Accreditation of institutions.
  • Ordering closure of institutions.
• Further, the HECI may specify norms for:
  • Granting authorisation to institutions to commence academic operations.
  • Award of degree or diploma.
  • Affiliation of institutions with universities.
  • Grant of autonomy.
  • Graded autonomy.
  • Eligibility criteria for appointment of Vice Chancellors.
  • Setting & winding up of institutions.
  • Fee regulation.

What is the Significance of National Education Policy, 2020?

• Recognising Importance of Formative years:
  • In adopting a 5+3+3+4 model for school education starting at age 3, the policy recognises the primacy of the formative years from ages 3 to 8 in shaping the child’s future.
• Departure from Silos Mentality:
  • Another key aspect of school education in the new policy is the breaking of the strict division of arts, commerce and science streams in high school.
• The Confluence of Education and Skills:
  • Introduction of vocational courses with an internship.
  • This may nudge the vulnerable sections of society to send their children to school.
• Making Education More Inclusive:
  • The NEP proposes the extension of the Right to Education (RTE) to all children up to the age of 18.
• Allowing Foreign Universities:
  • The document states universities from among the top 100 in the world will be able to set up campuses in India.
• Ending Hindi vs English Debate:
  • It emphasizes on making mother tongue, local language or the regional language the medium of instruction at least till Grade 5, which is considered the best medium of teaching.