National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) – 1995
- Background: A recent study indicates that the monthly old-age pension of ₹200 to ₹500 provided by the Central Government under NSAP has lost a significant portion of its value due to years of inflation.
- The report states inflation has reduced the value of pensions by approximately 45%. To maintain the same purchasing power, a ₹200 pension should now be approximately ₹353.
About NSAP
- Launched in 1995, it is a social welfare scheme providing financial aid to the poor and vulnerable.
- Under IGNOAPS, the Centre provides ₹200/month for those aged 60–79 and ₹500/month for those 80 and above. Currently, over 221 lakh people benefit from this.
- It is a ‘Centrally Sponsored Scheme’.
- Managed by the Ministry of Rural Development.
- Constitutional Basis: Based on Article 41 of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP), which urges the state to provide public assistance to those in need.
Key Beneficiaries
- Elderly living below the poverty line (BPL).
- Widows and Persons with Disabilities (PwD).
- Families who have lost their primary breadwinner.
Sub-schemes under NSAP
- Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (1995): Old age pension for the poor.
- Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme. (2009): Pension for widows.
- Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (2009): Pension for persons with disabilities.
- National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS – 1995): One-time grant after the death of a primary breadwinner.
- Annapurna Scheme (2000): Food security for eligible seniors not receiving a pension.
DigiLocker
- Background: Gujarat, along with five other states, was honored for its outstanding contribution to expanding the use of DigiLocker in state government services.
About DigiLocker
- Launched in 2015 by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) under the Digital India mission.
- It is an officially recognized government app following high security standards.
- Allows users to store authentic documents digitally (e.g., passports, mark sheets, ID proofs) for verification during travel or applications.
- Under Rule 9A of the IT Rules, 2016, digital documents issued via DigiLocker are legally equivalent to original physical documents.
- Promotes paperless governance, reduces administrative overhead, and allows instant, secure document sharing.
- Subhash Desai vs Principal Secretary to the Governor 2023
- The 2023 judgment in Subhash Desai vs Principal Secretary to the Governor laid down key principles on anti-defection disputes involving rival factions within a political party.
- It held that the political party, and not the legislature party, has the authority to appoint the whip and issue directions on voting in the legislature.
- Consequently, any claim by a rival faction within the Assembly that it has its own whip or independent voting direction cannot be accepted as valid.
- The Court further clarified that the numerical strength of competing factions is irrelevant in determining disqualification under the Tenth Schedule.
- At the same time, the Speaker may be required to identify which group represents the original political party, for which the party constitution, rules, and organisational structure outside the House become relevant.
- Importantly, the Speaker cannot decide legitimacy solely on the basis of which faction holds a majority in the Assembly, as such an approach is legally impermissible.
- The Speaker’s decision on which faction constitutes the party is only a prima facie finding and has no binding effect on the Election Commission of India.
- Under Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, the Election Commission independently decides
- Party recognition.
- Allocation of election symbols.
- Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (RTE Act),
- The Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009 derives its genesis from the Supreme Court judgment in Unnikrishnan vs State of Andhra Pradesh, which held that education is a fundamental right under Article 21 up to the age of 14 years.
- This led to the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002, which inserted Article 21A, making free and compulsory education for children aged 6–14 years a Fundamental Right.
- The same amendment modified Article 45 (Directive Principles) to focus on early childhood care (0–6 years) and added Article 51A(k), making it a Fundamental Duty of parents/guardians to provide education to children aged 6–14 years.
- To operationalise Article 21A, the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (RTE Act) was enacted, making elementary education a justiciable right.
- Key provisions include free and compulsory education (6–14 years), no detention policy, teacher qualification via TET, teacher–student ratio of 1:30, and 25% reservation in private schools for disadvantaged groups.
- The Act also provides institutional mechanisms such as School Management Committees (SMCs), National/State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights, and shared financial responsibility between Centre and States for implementation.
- Whip
- A whip is a directive issued by a political party to its MPs/MLAs to ensure attendance in the House and adherence to party’s voting instructions on Bills, motions, or resolutions.
- It is a parliamentary convention (not mentioned in the Constitution), derived from the British practice of “whipping in” members to maintain party discipline.
- Each party appoints a Chief Whip, who enforces discipline, ensures attendance, and communicates the party’s instructions to legislators.
- Types of whip: one-line (informative, allows abstention), two-line (attendance mandatory), and three-line (strict binding direction to vote as per party line), with the three-line whip used in crucial matters like no-confidence motions and major Bills.
- Violation of a whip may lead to disqualification under the Anti-Defection Law (Tenth Schedule) by the Speaker/Chairman, subject to exceptions like merger with two-thirds support under the 91st Constitutional Amendment, 2003.
- Great Nicobar Island (GNI) Project
- The Great Nicobar Island (GNI) Project was conceived by NITI Aayog and launched in 2021 as a mega infrastructure initiative to develop the southernmost island of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago into a strategic and economic hub aligned with Maritime Vision 2030 and Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
- The project includes:
- International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT) with a capacity of 14.2 million TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit)
- Greenfield International Airport (4000 Peak Hour Passengers-PHP) A 450 MVA (Megavolt Ampere) gas and solar-based power plant,
- A new township spanning 16,610 hectares.
- It is implemented by Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO).
- Appointment of the CBI Director
- According to the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act of 1946, the Director of the CBI is appointed by the Central Government based on the recommendation of a three-member Selection Committee.
- Members of the Selection Committee:
- Prime Minister – Chairperson
- Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha
- Chief Justice of India or a Supreme Court Judge nominated by the Chief Justice
- Subhash Desai vs Principal Secretary to the Governor 2023
