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The Hindu PAPER Summary for UPSC

  Thu Feb 27, 2025  

INDEX: 

Mains Articles: 

1. A Leap Backward for Maternity Entitlements 

2. The Bigger Tragedy is the Railways and its Systemic Inertia 

3. A Message to District Magistrates and the Police 

4. Slow, Unsteady: Influential Criminals Should Not Be Allowed to Evade Justice Indefinitely 

5. Water Blight: Scientific Risk Assessment Prior to Undertaking Tunnel Work is a Must 

6. Why Are PwDs Worried About DPDP Rules?

Prelims Articles: 

1. Over 70% Farmers Still Use Cash to Sell Their Produce 

2. EU Says Ready to Address India’s Specific Concerns on Carbon Tax Levy on Imports 

3. Indian Peacekeepers Serve with Commitment: UN 

4. Coal-Fired Power Plants in India Cut Rice, Wheat Yield by Up to 10% 

5. Govt. Opposes Plea to Ban Convicted Politicians for Life 

6. Trump’s Russia-Ukraine Policy Hangs Over EU-India Talks

1. A Leap Backward for Maternity Entitlements

Syllabus Mapping
Mains-GS-I: Role of Women and Women’s Organizations, Social Empowerment, Issues Related to Women and Child Welfare.
Introduction
Maternity benefits are an essential social security measure aimed at ensuring the health, nutrition, and economic security of both mothers and children.
However, India’s primary maternity benefit scheme, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), has witnessed a drastic reduction in benefits, poor implementation, and budget cuts, leading to the exclusion of many women who need support during pregnancy.
• NFSA 2013 mandates ₹6,000 per pregnancy, but PMMVY provides only ₹5,000.
• Restricts benefits to the first child, excluding second and subsequent children.
• Low coverage: Over 64% of births in 2022-23 received no benefits.
• Administrative delays and lack of transparency further weaken implementation.
Why is this important?
• India has high maternal mortality (103 per 100,000 live births) and infant mortality (28 per 1,000 live births).
• Maternity entitlements are crucial for maternal and child health, as well as gender justice and economic security.
This decline in maternity entitlements is a setback for women’s empowerment and public health.
Historical Background
A. Evolution of Maternity Benefits in India
• Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY) - 2010: Conditional cash transfer for pregnant women.
• National Food Security Act (NFSA) - 2013:
   o Guaranteed ₹6,000 per pregnancy as a maternity benefit.
   o Recognized the importance of maternal nutrition in reducing infant mortality.
• PMMVY - 2017 (Replacement of IGMSY):
   o Benefits reduced to ₹5,000.
   o Restricted to the first child.
   o Implementation issues emerged due to delayed payments and bureaucratic hurdles.
B. International Comparisons
• World Health Organization (WHO) recommends 16 weeks of paid maternity leave.
• Scandinavian countries provide high maternity benefits (12-18 months of paid leave).
• India lags behind in ensuring universal maternity benefits.
Significance of Maternity Benefits
A. Health and Nutrition
• Ensures better prenatal nutrition, reducing risks of anemia, low birth weight, and maternal mortality.
• Helps in breastfeeding support and postnatal recovery.
B. Economic Security
• Compensates for lost wages during pregnancy.
• Essential for marginalized and informal sector workers, who lack paid maternity leave.
C. Child Welfare
• Ensures healthy fetal development.
• Supports early childhood care and immunization.
D. Gender Justice
• Recognizes women’s reproductive labor as an economic contribution.
• Helps in women’s empowerment by reducing financial dependency.
Key Challenges in Maternity Entitlements
A. Reduction in Benefits
• PMMVY provides only ₹5,000, while NFSA mandates ₹6,000 per pregnancy.
• Only firstborns are covered, excluding later pregnancies.
B. Budget Cuts and Low Coverage
• Funding reduced to ₹870 crore in 2022-23, one-third of required funds.
• Only 36% of eligible women received benefits in 2022-23.
C. Implementation and Bureaucratic Delays
• Delayed payments due to technical glitches and verification issues.
• Lengthy documentation process (Aadhaar, bank details, proof of pregnancy).
• Exclusion errors due to lack of awareness.
D. Lack of Transparency
• Ministry of Women and Child Development does not disclose complete data.
• No real-time tracking of fund utilization.
E. Weak Awareness and Outreach
• Many women do not know about their entitlements.
• Rural areas and informal workers remain under-covered.
State Models of Success
Despite PMMVY’s limitations, some Indian states have better maternity benefit programs:
A. Tamil Nadu - Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme
• ₹18,000 per pregnancy (higher than PMMVY).
• Covers all births, not just the first child.
• 84% coverage (compared to 42% national average).
B. Odisha - Mamata Scheme
• ₹10,000 per pregnancy for rural women.
• Coverage extended to second pregnancy.
• Stronger outreach and community health worker involvement.
C. Learning from These States
• Higher payouts improve nutrition and healthcare.
• Simplified application processes reduce exclusion.
• Better implementation ensures timely payments.
The Way Forward
A. Universal Maternity Benefits
• Extend benefits to all pregnancies, not just the firstborn.
• Increase payout to at least ₹6,000 per child as per NFSA.
B. Adequate Budget Allocation
• Current funding is one-third of what is needed.
• Increase allocation to ₹12,000 crore annually.
C. Strengthen Implementation
• Reduce paperwork and delays.
• Ensure direct benefit transfers (DBT) on time.
D. Improve Transparency
• Publish real-time data on beneficiaries.
• Strengthen grievance redressal mechanisms.
E. Community Involvement
• Use ASHA workers and Anganwadi centers for outreach.
• Conduct awareness programs in rural areas.
Conclusion
The weakening of maternity entitlements under PMMVY is a regressive step. India must ensure universal maternity benefits to protect maternal and child health, economic security, and gender justice.
A well-funded and efficiently implemented maternity benefit scheme can help India achieve:
• Lower maternal and infant mortality.
• Better health outcomes.
• Gender-inclusive growth.
Key Takeaways
• PMMVY has reduced benefits and restricted eligibility.
• Tamil Nadu and Odisha’s models show better implementation is possible.
• Expanding benefits, increasing funding, and streamlining administration is the way forward.
UPSC Mains Question:
Q. Compare India’s maternity benefit schemes with global best practices. What lessons can India learn? (250 words)

2. The Bigger Tragedy is the Railways and its Systemic Inertia

Syllabus Mapping
Mains-GS-II: Government Policies and Interventions, Issues Relating to Transport and Infrastructure, Governance and Accountability.
Key Issues
A. Lack of Crowd Control Measures
• Stampedes can be prevented with:
    o Smooth, unidirectional movement of crowds.
    o Adequate barricading and security personnel.
    o Clear communication and announcements.
• In this case, these measures were ignored despite prior warnings.
B. Poor Infrastructure Planning
• CCTV-equipped control rooms failed to anticipate bottlenecks at escalators and platforms.
• Lack of platform coordination: Announcing an unreserved train on a crowded platform (Platform 12), when another was already packed (Platform 14), led to chaotic crowd movement.
C. Overcrowding and Operational Mismanagement
• Railways announced 15 lakh passengers traveled to Prayagraj for Kumbh Mela in February.
• Nearly 750 unreserved passengers per coach – an unsafe level.
• Such situations demand extra trains, better crowd management, and clear announcements.
D. Deflecting Blame and Lack of Accountability
• Railway officials shifted the blame to travelers for:
    o Gathering in large numbers.
    o Buying tickets late.
    o Not heeding announcements.
• However, none of this was unanticipated. The Railways failed in preparedness.
• Government statements later suggested fake news triggered the stampede, showing insensitivity and deflection.
E. Conflicting Statements and Poor Crisis Management
• Railway spokespersons gave confusing and conflicting statements.
• Emergency measures like CCTV monitoring, crowd control personnel, and barricades were either absent or ineffective.
• Families of victims were left without answers, as the Railways focused more on grandiose statements than concrete action.
F. Weak Investigative Mechanism
• The "High-Level Inquiry" is to be conducted by Railways’ internal executives—raising concerns of bias.
• No independent probe by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) or an external agency.
• This raises questions on transparency, as in minor train accidents, an independent CRS inquiry is mandatory.
The Larger Systemic Issues
A. Bureaucratic Apathy
• Railways continues to function in crisis mode, reacting only after disasters occur.
• Similar past tragedies (Elphinstone 2017, Allahabad 2013) indicate a lack of institutional learning.
B. Overcrowding and Underinvestment in Passenger Safety
• Indian Railways is among the world’s busiest networks, yet:
   o Safety infrastructure is outdated.
   o More focus on revenue generation than passenger comfort.
   o Unreserved travel is chaotic, but remains neglected in policy-making.
C. Accountability Deficit
• Unlike aviation or metro rail networks, Indian Railways lacks strict accountability frameworks.
• No independent audits or systematic reforms post-tragedies.
• Political interference and bureaucratic inertia slow down modernization.
D. Neglect of Public Safety in Mega Events
• The Kumbh Mela crowd surge was entirely predictable.
• Yet, no emergency protocols were activated, and no additional infrastructure was created.
• Failure to anticipate risks is a recurring issue in India’s public event management.
Lessons from International Best Practices
A. Japan’s Railway System
• Automated crowd control at stations.
• AI-based monitoring to detect congestion and alert officials.
• Frequent public announcements and digital signboards.
• Strict adherence to safety protocols.
B. UK’s Railway Safety Reforms
• Independent regulatory bodies conduct investigations.
• Heavy penalties for negligence.
• Focus on reducing unreserved travel and ensuring seat reservations.
C. Singapore’s MRT Model
• Dedicated personnel for passenger movement during peak hours.
• Use of mobile applications to provide real-time crowd updates.
• High penalty for mismanagement by railway authorities.
India can adopt similar models to ensure passenger safety and better crowd management.
The Way Forward
1. Independent Safety Investigations:
   o All major railway accidents should have mandatory CRS or external agency inquiry.
   o Transparency in findings should be ensured.
2. Safety Infrastructure Overhaul:
   o Real-time crowd monitoring using AI.
   o Better barricading, unidirectional pathways, and station redesigns.
3. Overhaul of Unreserved Travel Policy:
   o Introduce pre-booking for unreserved travel during peak seasons.
   o Add more unreserved trains to prevent overcrowding.
4. Better Disaster Preparedness:
   o Mock drills and crisis response training for railway personnel.
   o Emergency action plans for mass gatherings like Kumbh Mela.
5. Passenger-Centric Approach:
   o Clear and consistent public announcements.
   o Deploy additional staff for managing crowds at major transit hubs.

3. A Message to District Magistrates and the Police

Syllabus Mapping
Mains-GS-II: Governance, Role of District Administration, Law and Order, Police Reforms
Key Issues Discussed
A. Legal Provisions Governing Prohibitory Orders
1. Section 163 of BNSS (Corresponding to Section 188 IPC):
   o Allows District Magistrates to issue prohibitory orders in urgent cases of nuisance, public disturbance, or danger.
   o Violation of these orders is a non-cognizable offense.
2. Section 223 of BNS (Corresponding to Section 188 IPC):
   o States that violation of a District Magistrate’s order is punishable.
   o However, an FIR cannot be directly registered by police; a court complaint is required.
B. Issues in Registering FIRs for Non-Cognizable Offenses
• BNS Section 215(1)(a):
   o Courts can only take cognizance of violations on a written complaint by the District Magistrate or an authorized public servant.
• Section 195 CrPC (now BNSS Section 215):
o Restricts the power of police to register FIRs for non-cognizable offenses.
o Ensures that trivial violations do not turn into criminal cases.
Example:
• Indore case: Police registered FIRs for violating a DM’s order against begging. However, this should have been filed in court by the DM, not as an FIR.
Supreme Court and High Court Rulings on Such Cases
• M. Mutaniappa & Others vs. State of Tamil Nadu (2010):
   o Section 195 CrPC is mandatory to prevent misuse.
   o Violation of procedure can invalidate prosecution.
• State of U.P. v. Mata Bukhsh (1994):
o Objective of this restriction is to prevent police from using trivial complaints to harass individuals.
• Jeewanandham & Others v. State of Tamil Nadu:
o Courts held that police cannot directly register FIRs for Section 188 IPC (now Section 223 BNS) offenses.
• Chhattisgarh High Court (COVID-19 lockdown case):
   o FIR against a doctor for failing to inform authorities of his arrival was quashed.
   o Court ruled that such violations should be handled through the proper legal process (court complaint by DM), not police FIRs.
Key Takeaway: The judiciary has consistently restricted the misuse of Section 188 IPC (now 223 BNS) to prevent arbitrary arrests.
The Larger Debate: Balancing Law Enforcement and Individual Rights
A. Concerns of Overcriminalization
• Strict enforcement of administrative orders as criminal offenses can lead to misuse and harassment.
• Example: Penalizing beggars instead of addressing poverty is a flawed approach.
B. Role of District Magistrates and Police
• District Magistrates must be aware that certain offenses cannot be pursued via police FIRs.
• Police should refrain from arbitrary FIR registrations.
C. Need for Legal and Policy Reforms
• Potential Amendment in BNSS:
   o The government can amend BNSS to allow police action for serious violations.
• Judicial Oversight Needed:
   o Cases should be scrutinized to prevent misuse of executive powers.
The Way Forward
A. Clear Guidelines for Law Enforcement
• District Magistrates should issue precise, justified orders.
• Police must ensure compliance with legal procedures.
• Public awareness should be increased to prevent misuse.
B. Judicial and Legal Reforms
• BNSS amendments to define clear rules for FIR registration.
• Independent review of administrative orders to ensure they do not infringe on fundamental rights.
• Improve the grievance redressal mechanism for affected individuals.
C. Addressing Social Issues Beyond Law Enforcement
• Instead of penalizing beggars, the government should focus on rehabilitation programs.
• Better governance and policymaking to tackle underlying issues.

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