AMIGOS IAS Daily Current Affairs (30^th August 2024)

An Overview of Gender Budget of 2024-25

GS 3: Economy: Women-led development

Why is it in the news?

• The 2024-25 Budget highlights a strong focus on women-led development, as emphasized by the Finance Minister’s announcements.
• The Gender Budget Statement (GBS) reflects this commitment with a notable increase in allocations for pro-women programs, reaching 1% of GDP estimates for the first time and exceeding ₹3 lakh crore.

More about the news

Reasons for the Increase

• Since its introduction in 2005-06, the GBS has typically reported an average share of 5% of total budget allocations, with minor fluctuations. This year, however, allocations for pro-women schemes have surged to approximately 6.8% of the total budget expenditure for 2024-25.
• This increase is attributed to two main factors.

1) Firstly, the addition of Part ‘C’ to the GBS now includes pro-women schemes with less than 30% women-specific allocation. For example, the PM Kisan scheme in agriculture is reported in Part C with an outlay of ₹15,000 crore, representing 25% of the program’s total budget.

2) Secondly, the increment in Part A of the GBS, which covers schemes with 100% allocation for women, has significantly boosted overall figures.

• Previously, Part A accounted for 15-17% of total allocations until BE 2022-23. Since BE 2023-24, Part A’s share has risen to nearly 40% due to a change in reporting practices.
• The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) — rural and urban — is now fully reflected in Part A, whereas it was previously only partially reported in Part B. This adjustment has increased allocations but may not accurately represent the proportion of female beneficiaries.

Instances of Over-Reporting and Under-Reporting

• Several instances of over-reporting and under-reporting have been noted in the GBS.
• Over-reporting is evident in cases such as the PM Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), which has an allocation of ₹920 crore reported as 40% of the total, without clear justification.
• On the other hand, under-reporting can be seen in the treatment of the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM), which for the first time is fully reflected in Part A, accurately showing that 100% of its outlay is dedicated to women and girls. This is a significant improvement from previous years, where only 50% was reported.
• However, the GBS missed reporting pro-women allocations for schemes supporting women entrepreneurs, such as PM Vishwakarma, SVANidhi, and Stand-Up India. Additionally, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), which ranks third in allocations for women in the GBS, is reported under Part B with ₹28,888.67 crore, representing only 33.6% of its total budget.
• Considering that women made up 59.3% of all person-days under MGNREGS as of December 2023, this reporting does not reflect their actual share.

Recommendations for Improvement

• To address these reporting anomalies, the GBS should incorporate detailed explanations for its entries. Providing rationales for allocations will enhance accounting accuracy, support gender audits, and improve outcomes for gender-focused programs.
• Although the introduction of Part ‘C’ represents progress, the GBS still lacks a scientific and systematic approach. Continued efforts to refine reporting practices are essential, not just to increase reported allocations but to ensure that actual spending meets women’s needs from the outset.
• Gender-responsive budgeting is a crucial tool for addressing gender disparities and closing gaps in the economy.

Himachal Pradesh: Raising women’s minimum marriage age bill

GS 2: Polity and Governance: Child marriage prohibition

Why is it in the news?

• The Himachal Pradesh Assembly passed the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Himachal Pradesh Amendment) Bill, 2024, which raises the minimum marriageable age for women from 18 to 21 years.

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About:

• This Bill, aimed at amending the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, seeks to advance gender equality and support higher education for women.
• It builds on previous recommendations from the 2008 Law Commission Report and the National Human Rights Commission’s 2018 proposal to set a uniform marriage age of 18 for both men and women.

The Bill introduces several key changes:

1) It redefines a “child” as anyone under 21 years, removing the previous gender-specific age distinctions.

2) It extends the time frame for annulment petitions from two years to five years after reaching the age of majority, aligning with the new marriageable age.

3) It includes a new provision, Section 18A, to ensure that its provisions take precedence over any conflicting laws or cultural practices in Himachal Pradesh.

• The Concurrent List of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution allows both central and state governments to legislate on marriage and divorce, including regulating child marriages.
• Hence, the President’s assent is required for the bill as it could potentially conflict with the central Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006. Under Article 254 of the Constitution, if a state law is inconsistent with a central law, it must be reserved for the President’s consideration to become effective.
• Thus, the Himachal Pradesh’s Governor will likely reserve the Bill for President assent, given that the Bill introduces a new minimum marriageable age that may clash with central legislation.
• However, critics argue that such a change may reinforce patriarchal controls and further penalize young women, especially in cases of inter-caste or inter-religious marriages.
• Moreover, activists worry that increasing the minimum age could lead to more criminal prosecutions of young women and limit their legal protections, potentially exacerbating issues for marginalized communities and increasing the risks of harsh enforcement.

Assam’s bill mandating registration of Muslim marriages passed

GS 2: Polity and Governance: Regulating Muslim marriages

Why is it in the news?

• The Assam Legislative Assembly passed the Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorces Bill, 2024.

About the new law

• The new law aims to prevent child marriages, ensure consent in marriages, and address polygamy. It replaces the 89-year-old Assam Muslim Marriage and Divorce Registration Act, 1935, which had been in effect under colonial-era provisions and allowed kazis to register such marriages.
• The repeal of the 1935 Act, enacted through an Ordinance in March, was driven by concerns that the old law permitted the registration of child marriages. Sections 8 and 10 of the Act allowed for such registrations if done through guardians, which the government deemed inadequate.
• The new legislation requires that marriages be registered by a government official rather than a kazi.
• Some of the key conditions include: the woman must be 18, the man must be 21; both parties must consent; at least one must have lived in the district for 30 days; and they must not be closely related.
• The process involves a 30-day notice period and documentation for identity and residence. Objections can be raised during this period, with appeals available if registration is denied. The law also mandates reporting of underage marriages to the Child Marriage Protection Officer and imposes penalties for non-compliance.
• The Assam Chief Minister has defended the new law, citing issues with kazis facilitating child marriages and arguing for greater government oversight to ensure accountability.

• However, critics questioned the need for the repeal, suggesting that amendments to the old Act could have addressed child marriage issues.

Cabinet approves 12 Industrial projects under NICDP

GS 3: Economy: Industrial projects

Why is it in the news?

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved 12 new projects under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP).

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• The new industrial projects will be established across 10 states, including Khurpia in Uttarakhand, Rajpura-Patiala in Punjab, Dighi in Maharashtra, Palakkad in Kerala, Agra and Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, Gaya in Bihar, Zaheerabad in Telangana, Orvakal and Kopparthy in Andhra Pradesh, and Jodhpur-Pali in Rajasthan.
• These projects are part of six major industrial corridors aimed at enhancing India’s manufacturing sector and economic growth.
• The initiative aligns with the ‘Viksit Bharat’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ visions, aiming to position India as a significant player in global value chains (GVC).
• The industrial cities will be developed as greenfield smart cities, incorporating ‘plug-n-play’ and ‘walk-to-work’ concepts with sustainable, world-class infrastructure.
• The programme integrates with the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, ensuring multi-modal connectivity to improve the movement of people, goods, and services.
• The NICDP is projected to create approximately 1 million direct jobs and up to 3 million indirect jobs, boosting regional socio-economic development.
• The projects will focus on sustainable development, incorporating ICT-enabled utilities and green technologies to create economic hubs that are also models of environmental stewardship.

About the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP)

• The NICDP is a major initiative by the Indian government aimed at developing new industrial cities as “Smart Cities” with advanced technologies across various infrastructure sectors.
• The programme seeks to build a vibrant industrial ecosystem by attracting investments from large industries and MSMEs.
• It involves the development of 11 industrial corridors, with 32 projects planned to be completed in four phases by the 2026-27 timeline.
• The NICDP is managed by the National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT) and the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation Limited (NICDC).

RESET Programme

Why is it in the news?

• On National Sports Day (August 29^th), the Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports unveiled the “Retired Sportsperson Empowerment Training” (RESET) Programme in New Delhi.

More about the news

• The initiative is designed to enhance the career prospects of retired athletes by providing them with essential skills and knowledge, boosting their employability.
• It aims to bridge generational gaps by harnessing the experience of retired athletes to benefit aspiring sportspeople. Further, the initiative will support the growth of sports in India and contribute to nation-building.
• Eligible participants are retired athletes aged 20-50 with notable achievements at international, national, or state levels. The programme will be offered at two educational levels: Class 12th and above, and Class 11th and below.
• Led by the Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education (LNIPE), the RESET Programme will combine self-paced online learning with on-ground training and internships.
• Internships will be available in sports organizations, training camps, and leagues, with placement assistance and entrepreneurial guidance provided upon course completion.