Daily Current Affairs 26th and 27th August

Left-wing Extremism

Why in news?

Recently, the Union Home Minister said that left-wing extremism will be completely eradicated from India before March 2026.

What is Left-Wing Extremism?

• Left wing extremism (LWE) is primarily a tribal insurgency, originated in a 1967 uprising in Naxalbari, West Bengal by the Communist Party of India (Marxist). The name Naxalite is derived from the town of Naxalbari.
• The movement quickly extended to less developed regions of states like Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh in Eastern India.
• They believe in the political theory derived from the teachings of the Chinese political leader Mao Zedong.  They want to establish a communist state in India based on Maoist principles.
• The central theme of Maoist ideology is violence. The Maoist insurgency doctrine glorifies violence as the primary means to overwhelm the existing socio-economic and political structures.
• They have been fighting guerrilla warfare for decades, destroying power lines, transportation, and communication systems, as well as attacking politicians, business owners, landlords, and security personnel.

Causes of Left-wing Extremism

• Dissatisfaction from Forest Laws: Tribal dissatisfaction arises from various forest laws, which prohibits tribes who rely on forest resources for their livelihood.  Tribal groups reacted to these forest laws by disobeying the rules and fighting guerrilla warfare for decades. 
• Displacement of Tribal Populations: The implementation of development projects, mining operations, and other factors has resulted in significant displacement of tribal populations in states affected by LWE. Maoists exploit this situation by providing weapons, ammunition, and financial assistance to these individuals.
• Socio-economic Development of Tribals: The country's socio-economic system exhibits gaps. The Naxal groups have established a linkage between under development, regional imbalance, economic disparity and revolutionary violence.
• Land Related Factors:  The socio-economic perspective of Naxalism talks about radical land reforms. The Naxal groups had become successful in exploiting the dissatisfaction among rural masses due to slow implementation of Land reforms. The Naxal movement is aimed to establish a classless society.
• Political Factors: The poor governance, lack of democratic decentralisation, insensitive nature towards tribal problems and delay in implementing tribal policies have given opportunities to Naxal groups to create discontent among masses. 

Challenges 

• Approaches to Containment: There is confusion regarding how to approach Naxalism, whether as a social issue or a security threat. State governments tend to perceive Naxalism as the responsibility of the central government, resulting in a lack of proactive initiatives to combat it.
• Political Attitude:  The most important aspect is the political attitude of the state governments when it comes to implementing the programmes and taking necessary effective measures to deal with the Naxalite problem. 
• Lack of intelligence: Techniques to combat Naxalism are hampered by insufficient technical intelligence. Issues like poor planning, insufficient manpower, a lack of intelligence backup make it difficult to control Naxalism. 
• Geographical Location: The areas where the Naxals operate are thickly forested, hilly, remote, and have limited roads and tracks. There are no proper detailed maps available as some of these areas have not been surveyed properly.
• Local Support: The popularity of Naxalites with the local population is a reflection of the fact that the government is unable to control Naxalism. Urban Naxals are often intellectuals, activists, or professionals who support the Naxalite groups.

Suggestions 

• Socio-economic development: Since the Naxalites thrive on the dissatisfaction of the poor and marginalized, a greater portion of the national budget needs to be devoted to meeting these areas' needs. Initiatives for access to land and water sources, as well as statutory minimum wages, must be carried out by the state and the federal government.
• Political Dialogue & Rehabilitation: Sincere talks between the Naxalites and state leaders, as well as these marginalized groups, should be started by the government. By initiating communication, the government can provide the rebels with a legitimate avenue to integrate into society and the political system.
• Strengthen Coordination: To address internal security threats and coordinate the execution of this multifaceted strategy, the Union Government and the states must work together. Each other's efforts and plans must be complemented and supported.

Unified Pension Scheme

Why in news?

Recently, the Central Government unveiled a new ‘Unified Pension Scheme’ (UPS).

What is the Unified Pension Scheme?

• The new Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) offers a combination of benefits that combine elements from the Older Pension Scheme (OPS) and the National Pension Scheme (NPS). It is based on the recommendations of T. V. Somanathan Committee (2023).
• From the OPS, the UPS incorporates features such as an assured pension, inflation indexation, family pension, and a minimum pension. These aspects provide a sense of security and stability to members post-retirement.
• Additionally, the UPS also adopts a key feature from the NPS.  This ensures that members have the opportunity to contribute towards their pension fund, leading to a more personalized and potentially higher pension payout upon retirement.
• The UPS will provide an assured pension after retirement. The scheme will be effective from April 1, 2025.
• Maharashtra became the first State to approve the UPS, deciding to implement it for all State government employees.

Salient Features

• Retirement income guaranteed: For employees with more than 25 years of service, UPS provides a pension equal to 50 per cent of the average basic pay, starting in the last year of employment.
• Assured minimum pension: Regardless of their final salary, pensioners with 10 or more years of service are given a minimum monthly pension of Rs 10,000. This clause creates a basic financial safety net for all retirees and is a crucial differentiator with the NPS.
• Protection of families: If an employee passes away, UPS pays 60 percent of the deceased’s actual or projected pension to the employee's surviving family members. The purpose of this provision is to protect the financial security of the dependents.
• Adjustments for cost of living: In order to maintain retirees’ spending power, UPS uses inflation indexation. Pension amounts are routinely adjusted based on the All-India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (AICPI-IW) to assist retirees in keeping up with rising living expenditures. Employees receive a lump sum payment one time upon superannuation.
• Bonus for retirement: Employees will receive a lump sum payment one time upon superannuation. This bonus will be given in addition to the gratuity and has no bearing on the normal pension amount. It will be computed as one-tenth of monthly emoluments for each completed six-month period of service. It will provide a financial safety net as you move closer to retirement, says the government.

Additional Information

• The Old Pension Scheme was established under the Pensions Act, 1871.
• It was based on a ‘Defined Benefit’ concept, under OPS, retired government employees received 50 per cent of their last drawn salary (basic pay + dearness allowance) as monthly pensions. The amount increased regularly, as DA rates were revised every six months to account for inflation.
• This pension was ‘unfunded’, i.e. there was no corpus (like the Contingency Fund of India) from which the pension was drawn. Hence, employees had no deductions from their salaries for contributing to a pension fund.
• The government made budgetary allocations to pay pensions under a ‘pay-as-you-go’ system i.e. funds were drawn from the government’s income, such as tax collected from citizens.
• Since the late 1990s, the policymakers had raised concerns about the OPS’s long-term sustainability. They argued that since the government bore the entire pension burden without a specific corpus created over time, this liability would rise to fiscally unhealthy and unsustainable levels.
• Thus, the National Pension Scheme (NPS), formerly known as New Pension scheme, on January 14, 2004.
• It is based on a ‘Defined Contribution’ concept. The National Pension Scheme comprises two tiers: Tier 1 accounts and Tier 2 accounts. Tier 1 account holders can only withdraw funds after retirement, whereas Tier 2 accounts allow for early withdrawals, providing more flexibility for investors.

BioE3 Policy

Why in news?

Recently, the Union Cabinet approved the proposal ‘BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) Policy for Fostering High Performance Biomanufacturing.

Key features

• The salient features of BioE3 policy include innovation-driven support to R&D and entrepreneurship across thematic sectors.
• The six thematic verticals of the policy are: bio-based chemicals and enzymes, functional foods and smart proteins, precision biotherapeutics, climate resilient agriculture, carbon capture and its utilisation, futuristic marine, and space research.
• This will accelerate technology development and commercialization by establishing Biomanufacturing & Bio-AI hubs and Biofoundry. Along with prioritizing regenerative bioeconomy models of green growth, this policy will facilitate expansion of India’s skilled workforce and provide a surge in job creation.
• Overall, this Policy will further strengthen Government’s initiatives such as ‘Net Zero’ carbon economy & ‘Lifestyle for Environment’ and will steer India on the path of accelerated ‘Green Growth’ by promoting ‘Circular Bioeconomy’. 
• The BioE3 Policy will foster an advanced future that is more sustainable, innovative, and responsive to global challenges and lays down the Bio-vision for Viksit Bharat.

Vigyan Dhara Scheme

Why in news?

Recently, the Union Cabinet merged three schemes of the Science Ministry into a single scheme, called Vigyan Dhara.

Key Features

• The primary objective of the 'Vigyan Dhara' scheme is to promote S&T capacity building as well as research, innovation and technology development towards strengthening the Science, Technology and Innovation ecosystem in the country.
• The scheme endeavours to promote research in areas such as basic research with access to the international mega facilities, translational research in sustainable energy, water, etc. and collaborative research through international bilateral and multilateral cooperation. 
• It will also contribute to building a critical human resource pool to strengthen the science and technology landscape and expand the R&D base of the country towards improving the Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) researcher count. 
• Under the scheme, focused interventions will be taken up to enhance the participation of women in the field of Science and Technology (S&T) with the ultimate goal of bringing gender parity in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI). 

PM-JANMAN

Why in news?

Recently, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched a nationwide campaign for the PM-JANMAN.

About the scheme

• PM-JANMAN has been launched to provide PVTG households and habitations with basic facilities such as safe housing, clean drinking water and improved access to education, health and nutrition, road and telecom connectivity, electrification of unelectrified households and sustainable livelihood opportunities in 3 years.
• This initiative will ensure to cover every PVTG household that has remained unreached because of distance, lack of road and digital connectivity and will provide facilities at their doorstep.
• The scheme has a target of establishing 50,000 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras across the country, which will benefit around 10 lakh tribal entrepreneurs.
• The scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, in collaboration with the State governments and the PVTG communities.

Sonobuoys

Why in news?

Recently, the United States has approved a potential sale of Sonobuoys equipment to India.

About Sonobuoys

• Sonobuoys are small, expendable devices used to detect and track underwater sounds, especially submarines. They are a key technology in anti-submarine warfare (ASW).
• Sonobuoys are dropped from ships or aircraft into the water, where they float on the surface or hang underwater. 
• They have a radio transmitter above the water and hydrophone sensors underwater to monitor sound waves.
• Sonobuoys are used to track submarines and other underwater objects, both in coastal areas and in the open ocean. 
• The information they provide can help enable precision attacks with air-launched torpedoes.

Great Nicobar Project

Why in news?

Recently, the Union Environment Minister said the Great Nicobar Project will not adversely affect the tribal population.

About Great Nicobar Project

• The Great Nicobar Project is a mega-infrastructure project that involves building a variety of facilities on the Great Nicobar Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• It includes the construction of an international transshipment terminal, an international airport, a power plant, and a township.
• The proposed port will allow Great Nicobar to participate in the regional and global maritime economy by becoming a major player in cargo transshipment. 
• The proposed airport will support the growth of maritime services and enable Great Nicobar Island to attract international and national visitors to experience the outstanding natural environment and participate in sustainable tourism activity.
• The project is being implemented by the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation. 

About the Great Nicobar

• The island of Great Nicobar is the southernmost tip of India and a part of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago that comprises 600-odd islands. 
• It is hilly and covered with lush rainforests that are sustained by around 3,500 mm of annual rainfall. 
• The rainforests and beaches host numerous endangered and endemic species including the giant leatherback turtle, the Nicobar megapode, the Great Nicobar crake, the Nicobar crab-eating macaque, and the Nicobar tree shrew.
• The island is home to two tribal communities — the Shompen and the Nicobarese. The Shompen, around 250 in total, mostly live in the interior forests and are relatively isolated from the rest of the population. 
• They are predominantly hunter-gatherers and are classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group within the list of Scheduled Tribes.

Marshyangdi River

Why in news?

Recently, a tourist bus plunged into the Marshyangdi River.

About Marshyangdi River

• Marsyangdi is a mountain river in Nepal with a length of 150 km.
• The river forms after the confluence of two other mountain rivers, Khangsar Khola and Jharsang Khola, in the northwest of the Annapurna Range.
• It is also one of the major tributaries of the Gandaki that joins the Ganga.

Additional Information

• Annapurna is the Himalayan range in the central Himalayan region of Nepal.
• The Annapurna Mountain Range, including other peaks in the Himalayas, was formed after the collision between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plate.
• This mountain forms a ridge about 55 km (34 miles) between the gorge of Kali Gandaki on the west side and Marsyangdi on the east.
• The top summit part of the Annapurna region is formed of limestone like other Himalayan peaks like Dhaulagiri and Everest.