AMIGOS IAS Daily Current Affairs (13^th Sept 2024)

Does the Polaris Dawn Mission violate a 50-year-old International Treaty?

GS 3: Science and Technology: Adhering to space treaty

Why is it in the news?

• The Polaris Dawn mission, which recently achieved the first private spacewalk, has sparked debate over its compliance with a longstanding international treaty.
• This mission, executed by billionaire Jared Isaacman and SpaceX, operates independently of NASA or U.S. government oversight, raising concerns about its adherence to the Outer Space Treaty (OST) signed over 50 years ago.

More about the news

• The OST, effective from October 1967 during the Cold War, lays the foundation for international space law with principles that include the free exploration and use of outer space, the prohibition of national appropriation, and the responsibility of states for space activities conducted by their entities.
• A key component relevant to the discussion is Article VI, which mandates that non-governmental space activities require authorization and continuous supervision by the appropriate State Party.
• Historically, the OST aimed to balance the interests of private and governmental space endeavours, with Article VI ensuring that states are accountable for all space activities originating from their territory.
• However, in recent years, the U.S. Congress has limited the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) oversight to rocket and spacecraft safety on Earth, exempting commercial human spaceflight from regulatory scrutiny. This has led some experts to argue that this approach contravenes Article VI, as missions like Polaris Dawn lack proper governmental oversight.
• On the other hand, some legal scholars believe that the lack of precise international regulations and technical standards leaves room for interpretation regarding Article VI. They argue that the absence of specific definitions and procedures for supervision creates ambiguity in enforcing compliance.
• As private space ventures like SpaceX and Virgin Galactic become more prominent, there are calls to update the OST to address these challenges.
• Some of the suggestions include establishing an international space safety institute to provide independent oversight and reviewing regulations for emerging space activities.
• The U.S. National Space Council has proposed a draft bill to address these issues, though it has yet to be passed. Further, experts advocate for a global solution to ensure effective regulation and safety in space exploration.

Role of CSTT in standardising technical terms

GS 2: Polity and Governance: Promoting standardised terminologies

About the news

• In line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which promotes education in Indian languages, the government is advancing technical education in these languages.
• The All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has introduced the “AICTE Technical Book Writing and Translation” initiative in 12 Indian languages. Additionally, the government is distributing sets of Indian language books to libraries in degree and diploma-level institutions.
• The Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (CSTT) has launched a website to provide technical terms in all 22 official Indian languages for educational subjects.
• Established on October 1, 1961, the CSTT is dedicated to standardizing scientific and technical terminology in Indian languages.
• It publishes bilingual, trilingual, and multilingual glossaries, definitional dictionaries, and monographs, and releases quarterly journals like ‘Vigyan Garima Sindhu’ and ‘Gyan Garima Sindhu’.
• The CSTT also produces university-level textbooks through its Granth Academies and other publication cells and organizes events to promote standardized terminology.
• The CSTT’s new website, “Shabd,” functions as a searchable digital repository for its glossaries. It allows users to search scientific and technical terms across Indian languages, provide feedback, and explore terms by language, subject, or dictionary type. Further, the Institutions can also host their terminologies on this platform.
• The CSTT prepares terminology with Expert Advisory Committees of subject experts and linguists. These terms are used by Granth Academies and educational institutions like NTA, NCERT, and AICTE. “Shabd” features terms from CSTT’s various glossaries and dictionaries, which were compiled over the years.
• Since its launch in March, the “Shabd” website has received 136,968 hits globally. The portal includes about 322 glossaries with approximately 21,84,050 headwords across disciplines such as Humanities, Social Sciences, Medical Sciences, Engineering, Agricultural Sciences, and over 60 subjects.

Expansion of Ayushman Bharat health cover for the Elderly

GS 2: Polity and Governance: PM-JAY expansion

Why is it in the news?

• The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved an extension of health coverage under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) to include all senior citizens aged 70 and above, regardless of their income.

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY)

About:

• The scheme, which is already the world’s largest public health insurance initiative, provides free coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh annually to members of eligible families from the bottom 40% of the economic spectrum. The expansion represents the first complete age-cohort to benefit from the scheme.

Registration Process:

• Eligible individuals will be able to register and obtain an Ayushman Bharat card through an updated module on the existing portal.
• Registrations can be completed via the Ayushman App or at Ayushman Bharat counters at government health facilities.
• Eligibility is determined based on Aadhaar records, and there will be no exclusions for pre-existing conditions.
• The portal will also include face-authorisation technology to accommodate elderly individuals with difficulty in fingerprint recognition.

Coverage Details:

• Elderly individuals aged 70 and above will receive an annual coverage of Rs 5 lakh, which will be shared among the beneficiaries in a household.
• For families already covered under the scheme based on their economic status, elderly members will receive a top-up cover of Rs 5 lakh specifically for their needs.
• The scheme aims to cover around 6 crore individuals from 4.5 crore families, with 1.78 crore already covered under the existing plan.
• Additional geriatric packages are being added to the scheme to better address the needs of older beneficiaries.

Existing Coverage Options:

• Approximately 80 lakh people are currently covered under various government health schemes such as the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) and the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme. These individuals can choose between continuing with their existing coverage or opting for the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
• Those covered under the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) will be eligible to hold both their current insurance and the new Ayushman Bharat cover. Private insurance holders can also benefit from the Ayushman Bharat scheme.

Financial Implications:

• The initial expenditure for the scheme’s expansion will amount to Rs 3,437 crore, covering the next six months and the entire following year. States will be responsible for contributing 40% of this cost.
• Notably, the scheme has not yet been implemented in Delhi, West Bengal, and Odisha, though Odisha is in discussions with the Centre about its rollout.

Significance of the Scheme:

• The expansion of health cover to all Indians aged 70 and older is particularly significant given India’s aging population.
• The proportion of individuals over 60 is expected to rise from 8.6% in 2011 to 19.5% by 2050, with the elderly population projected to increase from 103 million in 2011 to 319 million by 2050.
• Elderly individuals are more likely to be hospitalized and experience longer stays, with those already covered under the scheme exhibiting higher admission rates compared to younger beneficiaries.
• Currently, just over 20% of the elderly population is covered by any form of insurance. This scheme will particularly benefit older women, who constitute a larger share of the elderly population and may lack sufficient healthcare support, including many who are widowed.

GNSS-Based toll collection system

GS 3: Miscellaneous

Why is it in the news?

• The government plans to implement a new Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) for toll collection by April 2025. Vehicles equipped with GNSS will be able to travel up to 20 km in each direction daily on national highways and expressways for free.
• Unlike the current FASTag system, which charges fixed amounts for specific distances, GNSS will charge users based on the actual distance travelled, tracked via satellite.

More about the news

• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has updated the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, to incorporate GNSS-based tolling. This includes designating specific lanes for GNSS and mandating its use.
•  On July 2, the Indian Highways Management Company Ltd (IHMCL) issued a tender for constructing GNSS lanes at toll plazas, with the process currently ongoing. Pilot studies for GNSS have been completed on the Bengaluru-Mysuru section of NH-275 in Karnataka and the Panipat-Hisar section of NH-709 in Haryana.
• GNSS will allow for toll collection without vehicle stoppage at toll booths, thereby reducing congestion and delays. Vehicles will need a non-transferable “on-board unit” (OBU), which might eventually be factory-fitted in new vehicles.
• GNSS lanes will feature advanced signage, markings, and lighting to ensure smooth traffic flow. As vehicles pass through GNSS lanes, the OBU will send distance and time stamps to toll collectors, with payment managed by fintech companies. Non-GNSS vehicles in these lanes will incur double the toll as a penalty.
• Initially, GNSS and FASTag systems will operate concurrently. Eventually, all lanes will transition to GNSS. FASTag, using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), has been mandatory for toll payments since February 2021.
• By March 2024, FASTag accounted for over 98% of toll payments at 1,200 plazas covering 45,000 km of National Highways and expressways.

September 12 observed as Saragarhi Day

GS 1: Miscellaneous

About the news

• September 12 commemorates the 127th anniversary of the Battle of Saragarhi, recognized as one of the most remarkable last stands in military history. On this day in 1897, 21 soldiers from the 36th Sikh Regiment (now 4 Sikh) faced over 8,000 Afridi and Orakzai tribal militants and valiantly defended their post for seven hours.
• Despite being heavily outnumbered, they managed to kill 200 militants and injure 600 before ultimately succumbing. Havildar Ishar Singh led the troops, showcasing extraordinary bravery under dire circumstances.
• Saragarhi was a critical communication tower linking Fort Lockhart and Fort Gulistan in the North West Frontier Province (now Pakistan). On September 12, 1897, it was manned by just 21 soldiers and a non-combatant, Daad, who performed support tasks.
• Saragarhi was crucial in maintaining communication between the two forts, which housed British troops and their families.
• The battle began when a sentry spotted a massive tribal army approaching. Despite requests for reinforcement, the supply lines were cut, leaving the defenders isolated.
• Sepoy Gurmukh Singh managed communications through Morse code, but the message to hold position came with no support. The soldiers, knowing they were likely to face death, resolved to fight until the end.
• In addition to being vastly outnumbered, the soldiers had limited ammunition, with only 400 rounds per man. The heliograph communication system, typically operated by three men, was handled by Sepoy Gurmukh Singh alone due to a shortage of personnel. This added to the overwhelming challenges faced by the defenders.
• Queen Victoria awarded the 21 deceased soldiers posthumously with the Indian Order of Merit, along with land and monetary compensation.
• Saragarhi Day is now observed annually on September 12, a public holiday in Punjab. The memory of the battle is preserved through memorials and gurdwaras, and the Khyber Scouts regiment of Pakistan honours the site. The battle has also been depicted in popular media, including the film Kesari.