Daily News Discussion (DND)

23rd March 2021

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Table of Contents

1. Environment ...... 1 1.1.GRAM UJALA programme ...... 1 2. Science & Technology ...... 2 2.1.Half a million more TB deaths in 2020 due to pandemic disruptions: WHO ...... 2 3. Geography ...... 6 3.1.Water Crisis in Himachal ...... 6 3.2.H2Ooooh! ...... 8 4. Economy ...... 9 4.1.MGNREGA ...... 9 5. Polity ...... 11 5.1.Right to Health ...... 11 5.2.Rajasthan brings private medical colleges within RTI Act purview ...... 12 6. History ...... 19 6.1.Ahom general Lachit Borphukan ...... 19 Current affairs Worksheet (23 March 2021) ...... 22 T.me/SleepyClasses Click here to watch the following topics on YouTube 1. Environment 1.1.GRAM UJALA programme • Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ministry of Power and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and Minister of State, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship ,Shri R K Singh launched the GRAM UJALA programme in Arrah, Bihar through a virtual event today .

GRAM UJALA programme • Under the programme, 7 watt and 12-Watt LED bulbs with 3 years warranty will be given to rural consumers against submission of working Incandescent bulbs • LEDs will be available for only Rs 10 each for each household, in exchange for working condition old incandescent lamps. Each household will get up to 5 LEDs. • The Gram Ujala programme will be implemented in villages of the 5 districts only and consumers can exchange a maximum of 5 LED bulbs • These rural households will also have metres installed in their houses to account for usage. • Implemented by Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL), is a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Effciency Services Limited (EESL), a PSU under Ministry of Power. • In the frst phase of this programme, 15 million (1.5 crore) LED bulbs will be distributed across villages of Aarah (Bihar), Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), Vijaywada (Andhra Pradesh), Nagpur (Maharashtra), and village in western Gujarat. • Gram Ujala programme will be fnanced entirely through carbon credits and will be the frst such programme in India • The revenue earned from carbon credits will contribute Rs. 60 per LED bulb piece, with the balance Rs. 10 to be paid by the rural consumer.

Carbon credit • A carbon credit is a-permit that allows the company that holds it to emit a certain amount of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases. One credit permits the emission of a mass equal to one ton of carbon dioxide. • Further on, carbon credit documentation will be sent to UN accredited validators for inclusion into the Shine Program of activities. • Carbon credits will be prepared under the Shine Program of Activities with an option for verifying under the Voluntary Carbon Standard, depending on the needs of buyers. • Carbon Credit Buyers will also be sought through an open process based on initial discussions with the market. • The balance cost and margin on the LED cost will be recouped through the carbon credits earned.

www.sleepyclasses.com Available on App Store 1 Call 6280133177 and Play Store T.me/SleepyClasses 2. Science & Technology 2.1.Half a million more TB deaths in 2020 due to pandemic disruptions: WHO • Fewer cases of tuberculosis (TB) were notifed in 2020 because of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and this led to half a million excess deaths from the disease globally, according to data released by World Health Organisation March 21, 2021.

Key Findings • There was a 21 per cent decrease in TB notifcation owing to lockdowns and other disruptions caused by the pandemic. • While 6.3 million TB infections were notifed in 2019, the fgure fell to 4.9 million last year. • This means, 1.4 million people did not receive treatment for TB in 2020. • This led to half a million additional deaths caused by the disease, according to a WHO modelling • The biggest shortfall in average monthly notifcation compared to 2019 was in Indonesia (42 per cent). • This was followed by South Africa (41 per cent), Philippines (37 per cent) and India (25 per cent). • India has the highest TB burden in the world. • Symptoms of both the diseases cough, fever, and breathlessness, are same, a more rigorous TB testing becomes all the more important • Tuberculosis ✓Caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) • Transmission ✓Spread from person to person through the air.

✓Like cough, sneeze or spit, they propel the TB germs into the air. • Symptoms: ✓Cough with sputum and blood at times, chest pains, weakness, weight loss, fever and night sweats. • Treatment ✓ TB is a treatable and curable disease.

Issues • Multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) ✓Form of TB caused by bacteria that do not respond to isoniazid and rifampicin, the 2 most powerful, frst-line anti-TB drugs.

✓MDR-TB is treatable and curable by using second-line drugs • Extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) Available on App Store www.sleepyclasses.com 2 and Play Store Call 6280133177 T.me/SleepyClasses ✓ Serious form of MDR-TB caused by bacteria that do not respond to the most effective second-line anti-TB drugs, often leaving patients without any further treatment options.

Pretomanid • is the third new drug developed for the treatment of people with Extensively Drug-Resistant TB (XDR-TB) or Multi Drug-Resistant TB (MDR-TB) affecting the lungs. • It is a part of three-drug, six-month, all-oral regimen treatment along with the other two drugs namely, Bedaquiline, Linezolid.

Annual Tuberculosis (TB) Report 2020 (Min of Health) State TB Index: • Category of states with 50 lakh population ✓Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh best performing to control TB • Category of states with less than 50 lakh population ✓Tripura and Nagaland were best-performing

UT • Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu were best performing Rising Tobacco Consumption • It also revealed that Tobacco consumption is rising among Indian TB patients. • 8% of TB cases can be attributable to tobacco usage. HIV-associated TB • India accounts for 9% of all HIV-associated TB deaths in the world, the second-highest number globally.

Diabetes Associated TB • The other such group is patients suffering from diabetes. • According to the report, 20% of all TB cases in India also suffer from diabetes. Lower Reporting than WHO www.sleepyclasses.com Available on App Store 3 Call 6280133177 and Play Store T.me/SleepyClasses • India notifed the highest number of 24.04 lakh tuberculosis cases last year (2018) as against an estimated 26.9 lakh cases by WHO, indicating that around three lakh patients missed out from the national TB programme.

Low Fatality • It stated that 79,144 deaths due to tuberculosis were reported in 2019, which is much lower than the WHO estimate of 4.4 lakh fatalities.

Treatment Success Rate • It is around 70-73% in the last two years. From 2014-2016, it was between 76 and 77% Eliminating TB by 2025 • India is committed to eliminating tuberculosis from the country by 2025, fve years ahead of the global target by the World Health Organisation (WHO) i.e. 2030.

India efforts • India started its TB program with National TB Control Project in 1962 • India launched Revised National TB Control Program on the backdrop of WHO recommended DOTS strategy after piloting tests from 1993 to 1996.

RNTCP • is a fully Central Sponsored Scheme and works for free from diagnosis to treatment. • It uses DOTS strategy of WHO and all component of STOP TB strategy of WHO. DOTS: Direct Observatory Treatment Short-course • It is a key component of the WHO campaign to Stop TB strategy. India's RNTCP is premised upon DOTS. • It involves the volunteers (trained health professionals) based health services to patients, drugs and services are provided at the doorstep of patients and service provider keeps a track on the diseased.

Key elements • Sustained political and fnancial commitment • Diagnosis by quality ensured sputum-smear microscopy test • Standard short course anti TB treatment given under direct and supportive observation • Regular and uninterrupted supply of anti TB drugs. • Standardized treatment and reporting Other Initiatives • The Nikshay Ecosystem ✓It is the National TB information system which is a one-stop solution to manage information of patients and monitor program activity and performance throughout the country. • Nikshay Poshan Yojana (NPY)

Available on App Store www.sleepyclasses.com 4 and Play Store Call 6280133177 T.me/SleepyClasses • This scheme is aimed at providing fnancial support to TB patients for their nutrition. • TB Harega Desh Jeetega Campaign ✓Launched In September 2019 it is showcasing the highest level of commitment for the elimination of TB. • The Saksham Project ✓It is a project of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) that has been providing psycho-social counselling to DR-TB patients.

www.sleepyclasses.com Available on App Store 5 Call 6280133177 and Play Store T.me/SleepyClasses 3. Geography 3.1.Water Crisis in Himachal • Himachal Pradesh is likely to face an acute water scarcity this summer, State Water Minister Mahender Singh Thakur repeatedly warned the Legislative Assembly this week.

Why is the state with perennial sources of water such as Sutlej and Beas rivers staring at a water crisis? • Himachal Pradesh received less snow and rain this winter. • After winter, melt-water from glaciers and the snow cover regularly feeds the groundwater as well as other downhill water sources such as springs, wells, bawries, lakes, rivulets, streams and rivers. • But water sources have already started drying up this year due to defcient snowfall • Generally, over the decades, demand for water has been growing due to increasing population in the state, with people now relying more on piped water supply schemes rather than traditional sources such as springs and bawries. • During dry periods, water sources dry up quickly in some areas, especially in the Shiwalik hills where the water-holding capacity of the soil is low. • Himachal had received defcient snowfall in 2018, too, when drinking water shortage in the capital town of Shimla in summer had invited global media attention.

What are the proposed solutions? • As per govt installation of hand-pumps and borewells was stopped last year in view of depleting water table. But it will be resumed now wherever necessary. • Water harvesting tanks will be built throughout the state • A large number of habitations in Himachal Pradesh are not connected by road, but the connected villages will be provided water tankers during periods of shortage, the minister said. • He said that in future, the Jal Shakti department will try to explore the option of snow harvesting in the higher reaches

World water day • Main focus of the day is to support the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDG) 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030. • First adopted by the UN General Assembly on 22nd December 1992. • After which 22nd March was declared as World Water Day and is being celebrated around the world since 1993. • Theme of World Water Day 2021: ✓Valuing Water - To highlight the value of water in our daily lives.

Available on App Store www.sleepyclasses.com 6 and Play Store Call 6280133177 T.me/SleepyClasses Global water Crisis : UNICEF (part of UNICEFs Water security for all ) • UNICEF identifed 37 hot-spot countries where children faced especially distressing circumstances in terms of absolute numbers, where global resources, support and urgent action had to be mobilised. • Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Haiti, Kenya, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Sudan, Tanzania and Yemen were especially vulnerable. • Eastern and Southern Africa has the highest proportion of children living in such areas, with more than half of children 58% facing diffculty accessing suffcient water every day. • It is followed by West and Central Africa (31%), South Asia (25%), and the Middle East (23%). NITI Aayog • 45% of the population in India is facing high to severe water stress. • The report says that nearly 40% of the population will have absolutely no access to drinking water by 2030 and 6% of India's GDP will be lost by 2050 due to the water crisis

Measures Taken by State Governments • Punjab - Pani Bachao Paise Kamao • Rajasthan - Mukhya Mantri Jal Swalambhan Abhiyan • Gujarat - Sujalam Sufalam Yojana • Madhya Pradesh - Kapil Dhara Yojana • Maharashtra -Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan • Andhra Pradesh - Neeru Chettu Programme • Telangana -Mission Kakatiya Program • Uttar Pradesh - Jakhni Village (water village), Bundelkhand What is the Water Footprint? • Water footprint measures the amount of water used to produce each of the goods and services we use. • It can be measured for any process, like growing crops, for producing clothes, for the fuel we use in our travels, or for a multinational company.

Nations water footprint • is defned as the total amount of water needed for the production of goods and services calculated by adding all the water consumed plus the water inherent in products imported, then subtracted by water in exports.

India • India's water footprint is 980 cubic metres per capita, ranks below the global average of 1243 cubic metres. • India contributes roughly 12 % of the worlds total water footprint www.sleepyclasses.com Available on App Store 7 Call 6280133177 and Play Store T.me/SleepyClasses 3.2.H2Ooooh! • Launched by UNESCO • For school children in India, in partnership with the National Mission for Clean Ganga, the United Schools Organization (USO), Water Digest and India based global animation major Toonz Media Group. • Entitled H2Ooooh! Waterwise program for children of India, this innovative initiative encouraged school students between the age of 6-14 years to submit story ideas for animated short flms to raise awareness on water conservation and its sustainable use.

Ganga Quest 2021 • an an online competitive quiz organized by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and TREE Craze Foundation was also launched at the event. • The online competition conceptualized in 2019, has garnered a stupendous response from students of all ages. • This quiz will encourage everyone to learn more about our rivers and to respect them the quiz can be taken in Hindi or English and this year it is open for international participants also.

Available on App Store www.sleepyclasses.com 8 and Play Store Call 6280133177 T.me/SleepyClasses 4. Economy 4.1.MGNREGA • The Union government has also acknowledged the role MGNREGA plays in mitigating rural distress by allowing its implementation, right from the second fortnight of April and subsequently, by allocating an additional sum of Rs 40,000 crore over and above the budget estimate of Rs 63,000 crore • However some inherent faws in the design of schemes under MGNREGA, which limit its effectiveness as a tool of poverty alleviation.

Flaws Poverty target • The programme is primarily targeted at the states with high incidence of poverty. • But better-governed states manage to capture a much higher share of the spending under MGNREGA despite their relatively lower levels of poverty. • For instance, in 2014-15, the combined share of the six high poverty states (HPS) Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh in the total expenditure was only half of their share of rural poor

Creation of productive assets with prescribed quality and durability • As one of the core objectives of MGNREGA, a structured quality monitoring mechanism has not been embedded in the programme. • As a result, the programme is overwhelmingly focused on short-term unproductive employment generation, with a marginal contribution to the long-term objectives of soil and water conservation, strengthening the livelihood resource base of the rural poor and drought-proofng

Delays in the payments • Despite the legal requirement of ensuring it within 15 days of closure of the muster roll. • A 2018 study, by Azim Premji University, Bengaluru, based on a large sample survey, found that in 2017-18, only 32 per cent of wage payments were made within the prescribed 15 days.

About MGNREGA • 2005 ✓Parliament enacted MGNREGA Act. • 2006 ✓launched in 200 districts • 2008 ✓launched in the whole country as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme

Key points about MGNREGA • By Ministry of Rural Development www.sleepyclasses.com Available on App Store 9 Call 6280133177 and Play Store T.me/SleepyClasses • Centrally sponsored scheme (not 100% funded by the Union) • It promises to give minimum 100 days of unskilled manual labour to rural household whose adult members volunteer for it. • Households are eligible for unemployment allowances if employment not been provided within 15 days of demand. • MNREGA labourers are used for creating durable assets as per local needs e.g. ponds, wells, cattle sheds, granary, vermicompost plants, crematorium, renovation of Anganwadi centres, school buildings • No contractors / machinery allowed. • In any project, 60% of amount should go towards wages and 40% towards material. • Union bears 100% wage cost and 75% of material cost. • Wages are linked to Consumer Price Index (Agriculture labour:AL). • Social audit by the gram sabha at least once in every 6 months • Funding: Funding is shared between the centre and the states.There are three major items of expenditure wages (for unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled labour), material and administrative costs.The central government bears 100% of the cost of unskilled labour, 75% of the cost of semi- skilled and skilled labour, 75% of the cost of materials and 6% of the administrative costs.

MGNREGA: Use of JAM-DBT • Aadhar linked Payments (ALP):Biometric data, ghost accounts removed. NREGA Soft • Provides information to citizen in compliance with the right to information Act (RTI Act). • It makes available all the documents like Muster Rolls, registration application register, job card/ employment register/muster roll issue register, muster roll receipt register which are hidden from public otherwise.

Geo-tagging • is a process of adding latitude and longitude to a photo/video. In MNREGA, PM Awas Yojana, Gram Sadak Yojana etc.

JanMnREGA • an asset tracking + feedback app for MGNREGA assets.

Available on App Store www.sleepyclasses.com 10 and Play Store Call 6280133177 T.me/SleepyClasses 5. Polity 5.1.Right to Health • A Jaipur-based research institution has joined the efforts for bringing a “robust legislation” on right to health in Rajasthan with the emphasis on setting the standards for delivery of services, human resources and medical facilities. The 2021-22 State budget has made a provision for the law along with a new model of public health

Right To Health Includes both freedoms and entitlements • Freedoms ✓include the right to control ones health and body (for example, sexual and reproductive rights) and to be free from interference (for example, free from torture and non-consensual medical treatment and experimentation). • Entitlements ✓include the right to a system of health protection that gives everyone an equal opportunity to enjoy the highest attainable level of health. • International Conventions: ✓India is a signatory of the Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) by the United Nations that grants the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being to humans including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services • Other convetions ✓International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), 1966;(India signed )

✓Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), 1979; (India signed)

✓Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), 1989 (India signed) • Constitution and the Right to Health ✓The Constitution of India does not expressly guarantee a fundamental right to health.

✓However, there are multiple references in the Constitution to public health and on the role of the State in the provision of healthcare to citizens.

✓Fundamental Rights: Article 21 of the Constitution of India guarantees a fundamental right to life & personal liberty. The right to health is inherent to a life with dignity.

✓Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP): Articles 38, 39, 42, 43, & 47 put the obligation on the state in order to ensure the effective realization of right to health. • Judicial Pronouncements: ✓Supreme Court in Paschim Bangal Khet Mazdoor Samity case (1996) held that in a welfare state, primary duty of the government is to secure the welfare of the people and moreover it is the www.sleepyclasses.com Available on App Store 11 Call 6280133177 and Play Store T.me/SleepyClasses obligation of the government to provide adequate medical facilities for its people.

✓Also in its landmark judgment in Parmanand Katara Vs Union Of India (1989), Supreme Court had ruled that every doctor whether at a government hospital or otherwise has the professional obligation to extend his services with due expertise for protecting life.

Challenges • Right to health is more inclusive ✓Right to health extends not only to timely and appropriate health care but also to the underlying determinants of health, such as access to safe and potable water and adequate sanitation, an adequate supply of safe food, nutrition and housing, healthy occupational and environmental conditions, and access to health-related education and information, including on sexual and reproductive health. • Government has to focus on all these determinants when it wants to ensure Right to health. • Poor doctors- people ratio ✓India has less than one doctor for every 1,000 people. The condition of primary health care is deplorable. • Notion of a right to health ✓The notion of a right to health itself is problematic. In the case of diseases such as malaria and infectious diseases, one can pin the blame on someone for lack of care • Other ✓Health care is a state subject. Is it possible to have a central law

Benefts of Right to Health for India • Puts a compulsion for the government to take steps toward this. • Enables everyone to access the services and ensures that the quality of those services is good enough to improve the health of the people who receive them. • Reduce Out of Pocket Expenditure 5.2.Rajasthan brings private medical colleges within RTI Act purview • The private medical colleges in Rajasthan have been brought within the purview of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, following an order of the State Information Commission, which has imposed a fne of ₹25,000 on the principal of Geetanjali Medical College in Udaipur for fouting the transparency law and refusing to provide information.

What information commission says • The Information Commission held in its recent order that the State government had allotted land to the institution at concessional rates and the college was established under a law passed by the State Legislature.

Available on App Store www.sleepyclasses.com 12 and Play Store Call 6280133177 T.me/SleepyClasses • Based on these facts, the college falls within the purview of the RTI Act. The college is governed by the rules and regulations framed by the State government • He also cited a judgment of the Supreme Court in the D.A.V. College case, holding that the institutions like schools, colleges and hospitals which received substantial aid from the government in the form of land at discounted rate were bound to give information to the citizens under the RTI Act.

History of RTI • 1766- First right to information law was enacted by Sweden • 1948-Universal Declaration of Human Rights ✓ Giving everyone the right to seek and receive information and ideas through any media, regardless of frontiers • 1966-International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ✓ Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression, freedom to seek and impart information and ideas of all kinds. • 1986-Supreme Court in Mr Kulwal vs. Jaipur Municipal Corporation Case. ✓Freedom of Speech and Expression provided under Article 19 of the Constitution clearly implies Right to Information as without information the freedom of speech and expression cannot be fully used by the citizens. • 1990-Former Prime Minister of India, Shri. V.P. Singh . ✓The idea of RTI Act in India • 1994-Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS)-Raj ✓Demand for information by the poor instead of expected basic needs like food and shelter • 1996-National Campaign for People’s RTI ✓Formulated initial draft of RTI law for the Government. • 1997-Tamil Nadu ✓First Indian State to pass RTI law • 2002- Freedom of Information (FOI) Act ✓Passed by Parliament, could not be implemented. • 2005-RTI Act ✓Passed on the recommendations of National Advisory Council (NAC) in May 2005, and RTI Act, 2005 became effective from October 12, 2005.

2019- Amendment Objectives www.sleepyclasses.com Available on App Store 13 Call 6280133177 and Play Store T.me/SleepyClasses • To empower citizens • To ensure transparency and accountability of the government • To contain corruption • To enhance people participation in the democratic process. Section- 2 (f) • "Information" means any material in any form, including Records, Documents, Memos, e-mails, Opinions, Advices, Press releases, Circulars, Orders, Logbooks, Contracts, Reports, Papers, Samples, Models, Data material held in any electronic form and information relating to any private body which can be accessed by a Public Authority under any other law for the time being in force.

Sec 2 (h) • ‘public authority’ means any authority or body or institution of self-government established or constituted, • by or under the Constitution; • by any other law made by Parliament; • by any other law made by State Legislature; • by notifcation issued or order made by the appropriate Government, and includes any • body owned, controlled or substantially fnanced; • nonGovernment Organisation substantially fnanced, directly or indirectly by funds provided by the appropriate Government;

Private body? • Not covered directly • Sec 8 (j) info cant be denied to public authority with which private entity is registered • Hence, Private Entities are covered under the RTI Act through the Public Authority with which they are registered • Co-operative Societies register themselves through Deputy Registrar of Co-operative Society and Banks through the Reserve Bank of India • M.M. Ansari, Information Commissioner at the Central Information Commission(CIC), told that as long as these companies reported to a regulator or a government department, they were within the purview of the law.

RTI vs OSA • The OSA was enacted in 1923 by the British to keep certain kinds of information confdential, including, but not always limited to, information involving the affairs of state, diplomacy, national security, espionage, and other state secrets. • Whenever there is a confict between the two laws, the provisions of the RTI Act override those of the OSA.

Available on App Store www.sleepyclasses.com 14 and Play Store Call 6280133177 T.me/SleepyClasses Section 22 of the RTI Act • states that its provisions will have effect notwithstanding anything that is inconsistent with them in the OSA. • Similarly, under Section 8(2) of the RTI Act, a public authority may allow access to information covered under the OSA, if the public interest in disclosure outweighs the harm to the protected interest

Sec 8 (Info can be denied) • Sovereignty & integrity of India • Info prohibited by court • Privilege breach of parli or state leg • Trade secrets or IPR • Endangered lifeImpede investigation etc Exempted list

RTI vs Legislations for Non Disclosure of Information • Indian Evidence Act ✓(Sections 123, 124, and 162) provide to hold the disclosure of documents.

✓Head of department may refuse to provide information on affairs of state and only swearing that it is a state secret will entitle not to disclose the information. • The Atomic Energy Act, 1912 ✓provides that it shall be an offence to disclose information restricted by the Central Government. • The Central Civil Services Act www.sleepyclasses.com Available on App Store 15 Call 6280133177 and Play Store T.me/SleepyClasses ✓Government servant not to communicate or part with any offcial documents except in accordance with a general or special order of government. • The Offcial Secrets Act, 1923 ✓Any government offcial can mark a document as confdential so as to prevent its publication • Who can seek information under the Right to Information Act, 2005? ✓As per section 3 of the RTI Act any Indian citizen can seek information under the Act • In which language a request may be made for seeking information? ✓As per section 6 (1) of the RTI Act, a request may be made in English or Hindi or in the offcial language of the area in which the application is made • Are there any public authorities exempt from providing information? ✓Yes, intelligence and security organizations specifed in the Second Schedule to the Act are exempt from furnishing information under the Act. However, this exemption does not apply if the requested information pertains to the allegations of corruption and human rights violations. • Has this Commission power to order for penalty while deciding a complaint or an appeal? ✓Yes, this Commission may impose penalty on the CPIO if this Commission is of the opinion that the CPIO has, without any reasonable cause, refused to receive an application for information or has not furnished information within the time specifed etc

✓it shall impose a penalty of two hundred and ffty rupees each day till application is received or information is furnished, so however, the total amount of such penalty shall not exceed twenty-fve thousand rupees. • How do I write my application for seeking the information as per RTI Act 2005? • The text of the application may be written in the prescribed column of the RTI request form. • At present, the text of the application is confned up to 3000 characters only. In case, the text of an application contains more than 3000 characters, it can be uploaded as a PDF attachment in the "Supporting Document" column of the form • How do I make the payment for RTI fee? ✓The applicant can pay the prescribed RTI fee through the following modes: Internet banking through SBI and its associated banks.

✓Using ATM-cum-Debit card of State Bank of India.

✓Credit/Debit card of Master/Visa.

✓It may be noted that no RTI fee is required to be paid by a citizen who is below poverty line, as per RTI Rules, 2012.

✓ However, the BPL applicant must attach a copy of the certifcate issued by the appropriate government in this regard, along with the application.

Available on App Store www.sleepyclasses.com 16 and Play Store Call 6280133177 T.me/SleepyClasses Governing of RTI • Public information offcer ✓PIO-every government offce should have someone in them who is designated as the PIO who will be responsible for receiving and processing applications.

✓PIO should be a senior person in the offce so that they have the authority to make decisions on whether to release documents. • PIOs generally have two key responsibilities: ✓Receiving/facilitating requests

✓Responding to requests • Appellate Authority ✓Central Act requires that offcers are appointed to who are "senior in rank" to the Public Information Offcer (PIO) to deal with appeals from requesters who are unhappy with how their request has been handled.

✓These offcers are commonly referred to as Appellate Authorities.

✓Whoever is appointed as an Appellate Authority needs to have the capacity to genuinely review the decision of a PIO and make hard decisions about whether information should be released • Central Information Commission (CIC) – ✓Chief Information commissioner who heads all the central departments and ministries- with their own public information offcers (PIO)s.

✓CICs are directly under the President of India. • State Information Commissions (SIC) ✓State Public Information Offcers or SPIOs head over all the state department and ministries.

✓The SPIO offce is directly under the corresponding State Governor

Section 12(3) of the RTI Act 2005 • The Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners shall be appointed by the President on the recommendation of a committee consisting of

✓The Prime Minister, who shall be the Chairperson of the committee.

✓The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

✓A Union Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the Prime Minister. • Time period ✓In normal course, information to an applicant is to be supplied within 30 days from the receipt of application by the public authority.

✓If information sought concerns the life or liberty of a person, it shall be supplied within 48 hours.

www.sleepyclasses.com Available on App Store 17 Call 6280133177 and Play Store T.me/SleepyClasses ✓In case the application is sent through the Assistant Public Information Offcer or it is sent to a wrong public authority, fve days shall be added to the period of thirty days or 48 hours, as the case may be • Right to Information (Amendment) Act, 2019 ✓It provided that the Chief Information Commissioner and an Information Commissioner (of Centre as well as States) shall hold offce for such term as prescribed by the Central Government. Before this amendment, their term was fxed for 5 years.

✓It provided that the salary, allowances and other service conditions of the Chief Information Commissioner and an Information Commissioner (of Centre as well as States) shall be such as prescribed by the Central Government.

✤Before this amendment, the salary, allowances and other service conditions of the Chief Information Commissioner were similar to those of the Chief Election Commissioner and that of an Information Commissioner were similar to those of an Election Commissioner (State Election Commissioners in case of States). • It removed the provisions regarding deductions in salary of the Chief Information Commissioner, an Information Commissioner, the State Chief Information Commissioner and a State Information Commissioner due to pension or any other retirement benefts received by them for their previous government service.

Available on App Store www.sleepyclasses.com 18 and Play Store Call 6280133177 T.me/SleepyClasses 6. History 6.1.Ahom general Lachit Borphukan • Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called 17th century Ahom general Lachit Borphukan a symbol of India’s “atmanirbhar” military might..

Lachit Borphukan • Born on 24th November, 1622, Borphukan was known for his leadership in the Battle of Saraighat, 1671 in which an attempt by Mughal forces to capture Assam was thwarted. • On one side was Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb’s army headed by Ram Singh of Amer (Jaipur) and on the other was the Ahom General Lachit Borphukan. • He was the inspiration behind strengthening India’s naval force and revitalising inland water transport and creating infrastructure associated with it due to his great naval strategies. • The Lachit Borphukan gold medal is awarded to the best cadet from the National Defence Academy. • The medal was instituted in 1999 to inspire defence personnel to emulate Borphukan’s heroism and sacrifces

Battle of Saraighat • The battle of Saraighat was fought on the banks of the Brahmaputra in Guwahati in 1671. • It is considered as one of the greatest naval battles on a river which resulted in the victory of Ahoms over the Mughals.

Past News • Amidst the ongoing India-China border tension, Chaolung Sukaphaa has been repeatedly referred to as a Chinese invader. • Chaolung Sukaphaa www.sleepyclasses.com Available on App Store 19 Call 6280133177 and Play Store T.me/SleepyClasses ✓He was a 13th century ruler who founded the Ahom kingdom that ruled Assam for six centuries.

✓The Ahoms ruled the land till the province was annexed to British India in 1826 with the signing of the Treaty of Yandaboo

✓He entered the Brahmaputra valley by crossing the Patkai mountain range.

✓Sir Edward Gait, in his book ‘A History of Assam’, wrote that Sukapha is said to have left a place called Maulung (Burma which is now known as Myanmar) in 1215 AD with eight nobles and some people. • Chaolung Sukapha ✓He and his people reached Brahmaputra valley and in 1235 AD, fnally settled in Charaideo in upper Assam.

✓Sukapha established his frst small principality in Charaideo, sowing the seeds of further expansion of the Ahom kingdom • Ahoms ✓They created a new state by suppressing the older political system of the bhuiyans (landlords). • Paik system ✓The economy of the Ahom Kingdom was based around the Paik system.

✓In this system, able-bodied adult males referred to as paiks, were obligated to provide service to the state and form its militia in return for land.

✓Coinage was frst introduced in the 16th century by Suklenmung although the Paik system was still in effect.

Administrative makeup • Swargadeo: ✓The kingdom was ruled by a king called Swargadeo who had to be from the same lineage as that of the frst king Sukaphaa. • Royal offcers: ✓Two royal offces were added under the reign of Pratapa Singha, the Borbaru and Borphukan.

✓Borabaru was a military and judicial head

✓ Borphukan was a military commander who acted as a Viceroy of sorts to the Swargadeo’s territories in the west.

✓The most famous of the latter was Lachit Borphukan • Patra Mantris: ✓Five positions of importance constituted the Council of Ministers otherwise known as Patra Mantris.

✓They advised the king on important matters of the state. • Paik Offcials Available on App Store www.sleepyclasses.com 20 and Play Store Call 6280133177 T.me/SleepyClasses ✓Every common subject was a paik, and four paiks formed a got.

✓At any time of the year, one of the paiks in the got rendered direct service to the king, as the others in his got tended to his felds.

Society • Ahom society was divided into clans or khels. A khel often controlled several villages. ✓Ahoms worshipped their own tribal gods, yet they accepted the Hindu religion and the Assamese language.

✓Historical works, known as buranjis, were also written, frst in the Ahom language and then in Assamese.

✓They also learnt the technique of constructing boat bridges in the Brahmaputra.

www.sleepyclasses.com Available on App Store 21 Call 6280133177 and Play Store T.me/SleepyClasses Current affairs Worksheet (23 March 2021) Factual sheet for Quick revision

Available on App Store www.sleepyclasses.com 22 and Play Store Call 6280133177