Weekly Current Affairs (1st to 7th October 2022) - 1 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

New Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)

Context: Recently, the central government appointed the former head of eastern command Lt General Anil Chauhan (retired) as the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

What is Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)?

Background: Its creation was recommended in 2001 by a Group of Ministers (GoM) that was tasked with studying the Kargil Review Committee (1999) report.

• After the GoM recommendations, in preparation for the post of CDS, the government created the Integrated Defence Staff in 2002, which was to eventually serve as the CDS’s Secretariat.
• In 2012, the Naresh Chandra Committee recommended the appointment of a Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee as a midway to eliminate apprehensions over the CDS.
• Finally, the post of CDS was created in 2019 on the recommendations of a committee of defence experts headed by Lt General DB Shekatkar.
• General Bipin Rawat was the first CDS in the country and was appointed on December 31, 2019.

Roles and Responsibilities: His core function will be to foster greater operational synergy between the three service branches of the Indian military and keep inter-service frictions to a minimum.

• He also heads the newly created Department of Military Affairs (DMA) in the Ministry of Defence.
• The CDS will be the single-point military adviser to the Defence Minister on matters involving all three services and the service chiefs will be obliged to confine their counsel to issues pertaining to their respective services.
• As the head of DMA, CDS is vested with the authority in prioritising inter-service procurement decisions as Permanent Chairman-Chiefs of Staff Committee.
• The CDS is also vested with the authority to provide directives to the three chiefs. However, he does not enjoy any command authority over any of the forces.
• CDS is first among equals, he enjoys the rank of Secretary within the DoD (Department of Defence) and his powers will be confined to only the revenue budget.
• He will also perform an advisory role in the Nuclear Command Authority (NCA).

Significance:

• Synergy between Armed forces and Government: CDS’ role is not simply about tri-service (Army, Navy and Indian Air Force) cooperation, it is equally about fostering better cooperation between the Ministry of Defense bureaucracy and the Armed services.
  • Since 1947, there have been three Service Headquarters (SHQ) designated as “Attached Offices” of the Department of Defense (DoD). Due to this, communication between SHQ and DoD takes place largely through the medium of files.
  • With the creation of CDS as Principal Military Adviser (PMA) to Defense Minister, the process of decision-making will be accelerated.
• Jointness in operations: The Chiefs of Staff Committee-COSC (predecessor of CDS), has been dysfunctional because its chairmanship is held by one of the three chiefs on a part-time rotational basis.
  • Historically, the chairman COSC lacked the authority as well as capacity and inclination to tackle tri-service issues of substance.
  • With the CDS now being designated as “permanent chairman of COSC”, he will be able to devote undivided attention to the administration of tri-service organisations.
• Operationalisation of Theatre Command: Creation of DMA will facilitate the operationalisation of joint/theatre command.
  • Although a successful template for joint operations was created in the Andaman & Nicobar Command, the lack of political direction and indifference of the COSC has led to inactivity of this joint command.
  • Theatre commands would need staff with the knowledge and experience to deploy land, maritime and air forces. Given the disruptive impact of each of these measures, they would best be implemented by the CDS.
• CDS as a key functionary in the nuclear command chain will also administer the Strategic Forces Command.
  • This measure will go a long way in enhancing the credibility of India's nuclear deterrent.
  • The CDS would also initiate an early review of India's Nuclear Doctrine.
• In the approaching era of dwindling defence budgets, a crucial function of CDS will be “prioritising” the capital acquisition proposals of individual services.

36th National Games

Context: Recently, the 36th National Games was inaugurated by the Prime Minister in Gujarat.

What are the National Games?

• Background: The Olympic movement, which garnered the attention of the nation in the 1920s, includes the National Games. The National Games in India were first envisioned as the Indian Olympic Games with the goal of promoting Olympic sports in the nation.
  • The first edition of the Indian Olympic Games at Lahore in an undivided Punjab in 1924.
  • The Indian Olympic Games were named as National Games beginning in 1940. This competition sets athletes from several Indian states with one another in a variety of sporting disciplines.
• Objectives:
  • They are held for the benefit of Indian athletes, sports organisations etc.
  • They help in raise awareness among states/UT's about the necessity of developing internationally grade sports infrastructure.
  • It attempts to attract a wide number of youths to participate in sports activities.
  • It aims to inculcate sports culture in individuals from all walks of life and educate them on the value of sports in building a healthy society.
• Jurisdiction: The duration and the regulations of the National Games are entirely within the jurisdiction of the Indian Olympic Association.

What are the key Highlights of 36th National Games?

• Event: The National Games, being held after seven years, will witness India’s best athletes compete in 36 disciplines in six cities of Gujarat.
• Mascot: The Official mascot for the 36th National Games is “SAVAJ”, it portrays a sportsman’s most prominent personality traits of self-confidence, vigour, a strong sense of motivation, an inner desire to succeed, a strong sense of focus, a natural leader, and a goal setter
  • Savaj- taranhar(તારણહાર) in gujarati means “Savior” in English. Savaj is the representation of The Asiatic Lion, which today survives only in wild India.

Midday Meal Scheme (PM Poshan Scheme)

Context: Recently, the Ministry of Finance has approved a hike of 9.6 % cooking cost per child under the Mid-Day Meal Scheme.

• Since the last hike in early 2020, the cooking cost per child has been Rs 4.97 per child per day in primary classes (class I-V), and Rs 7.45 (class VI-VIII) in upper primary classes. After the hikes come into effect, the allocation at the primary level and upper primary levels will be Rs 5.45 and Rs 8.17, respectively.

What is the Midday Meal Scheme?

About:

• The Midday meal scheme (under the Ministry of Education) is a centrally sponsored scheme which was launched in 1995.
• It is the world’s largest school meal programme aimed to attain the goal of universalization of primary education.
• Provides cooked meals to every child within the age group of six to fourteen years studying in classes I to VIII who enrolls and attends the school.
• In 2021, it was renamed as 'Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman' scheme (PM Poshan Scheme) and it also covers students of balvatikas (children in the 3–5-year age group) from pre-primary classes.

Objective:

• Address hunger and malnutrition, increase enrolment and attendance in school, improve socialisation among castes, provide employment at grassroot level especially to women.

Quality Check:

• AGMARK quality items are procured, tasting of meals by two or three adult members of the school management committee.

Food Security:

• If the Mid-Day Meal is not provided in school on any school day due to non-availability of food grains or any other reason, the State Government shall pay food security allowance by 15th of the succeeding month.

Regulation:

• The State Steering-cum Monitoring Committee (SSMC) oversees the implementation of the scheme including establishment of a mechanism for maintenance of nutritional standards and quality of meals.

Nutritional Standards:

• Cooked meals having nutritional standards of 450 calories and 12 gm of protein for primary (I-V class) and 700 calories and 20 gm protein for upper primary (VI-VIII class)

Coverage:

• All government and government aided schools, Madarsa and Maqtabs supported under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA).
• The scheme covers 11.80 crore children across Classes 1 to 8 (age group 6 to 14) in11.20 lakh government and government-aided schools and those run by local bodies such as the municipal corporations in Delhi under the provisions of the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA).
• In the Budget for 2022-23, the Centre has earmarked Rs 10,233 crore for the scheme, while the states are expected to spend Rs 6,277 crore.

What are the Issues and Challenges?

Corrupt Practices

• There have been instances of plain chapatis being served with salt, mixing of water in milk, food poisoning etc.

Caste Bias and Discrimination

• Food is central to the caste system, so in many schools, children are made to sit separately according to their caste status.

Covid-19

• Covid-19 has posed serious threats to children and their health and nutritional rights.
• The nationwide lockdown has disrupted access to essential services, including Mid-Day Meals.
• Although dry foodgrains or cash transfers have been provided to families instead, food and education advocates have warned that this would not have the same impact as hot cooked meals on the school premises, especially for girl children who face more discrimination at home and are more likely to drop out of school due to the closures.

Menace of Malnutrition:

• According to the National Family Health Survey-5, several states across the country have reversed course and recorded worsening levels of child malnutrition.
• India is home to about 30% of the world’s stunted children and nearly 50% of severely wasted children under the age of five.

Global Nutrition Report-2020:

• As per the Global Nutrition Report 2020, India is among 88 countries that are likely to miss global nutrition targets by 2025.

Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2020:

• India has been ranked at 94 among 107 countries in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2020. India has a level of hunger that is “serious”.

Way Forward

• Interventions to improve maternal height and education must be implemented years before those girls and young women become mothers.
• The fight against stunting has often focussed on boosting nutrition for young children, but nutritionists have long argued that maternal health and well-being is the key to reduce stunting in their offspring.
• Expansion and improvement of school meals is needed for inter-generational pay-offs. As girls in India finish school, get married and have children all in just a few years — so school-based interventions can really help.

IMEI Number

Context: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has made it mandatory for mobile phone manufacturers to register the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) of all handsets made in India with the Indian Counterfeited Device Restriction portal of Government of India.

• The IMEI number of mobile phones imported to India will also have to be registered on the same portal of the Government prior to the import of the mobile phone into the country.

What is an IMEI Number?

About: The IMEI is a unique number that is used to identify a device on a mobile network. It has 15 digits and is like a phone’s unique identity.

• The telecom department and the customs department work together to check and record the IMEI numbers of handsets that come into India.

Functions: The number is used to verify the identity of a device when a user uses the Internet or places a call through it. Phones with a dual-SIM option has two IMEI numbers, one for each SIM.

• The IMEI number can help network providers track down a device in case it gets stolen or is lost. Once such loss or theft is reported, the carriers can deny the device access to the cellular network even with a new SIM card.

Categorisation: The Communications Ministry had earlier rolled out a Central Equipment Identity Register (CIER), which categorises mobile phones based on their IMEI status in three lists – white, grey and black.

• Mobile phones with IMEI numbers on the white list are permitted for use, while those on the blacklist are the ones that are reported stolen or lost and are not allowed to access the network.
• Devices with IMEI numbers in the greylist do not conform to standards but are permitted to connect under supervision. The register also allows the DoT to carry out IMEI-based lawful interception.

Prevention of Tampering: In 2017, the government had notified rules to prevent tampering with IMEI numbers of phones by making it a punishable offence which could also attract a jail term.

What was the need for Making IMEI Number Mandatory?

• It has been found that the IMEI numbers have been reprogrammed for creating duplicate handsets as well, right from the supplier to the seller, one may not realise that a phone with a duplicate code has been sold.
• Reduce Theft & Cloning of Mobile Phones: The theft and cloning of mobile phones has become a serious problem. The theft of mobile phones is not just a financial loss but also a threat to the personal life of the citizens as well as national security.