PIB – May 28 , 2019


Topics covered- Important International institutions, agencies and fora, their structure, mandate

 UN Security Council

Context

  • Vice President calls for renewed efforts for India to gain permanent membership of the UN Security Council

About UN Security Council

  • The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security.
  • Its powers include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of international sanctions, and the authorization of military action through Security Council resolutions.
  • It is the only UN body with the authority to issue binding resolutions to member states.
  • The Security Council held its first session on 17 January 1946.
  • UN Security Council Chamber in New York is also known as the Norwegian Room.

UNSC Members

  • The Security Council consists of fifteen members.
  • The council has five permanent members (P-5) United States, Russia, China, United Kingdom and France.
  • These permanent members can veto any substantive Security Council resolution, including those on the admission of new member states or candidates for Secretary-General.
  • The Security Council also has 10 non-permanent members, elected on a regional basis to serve two-year terms. The body’s presidency rotates monthly among its members.
  • India has been elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for seven terms (a total of 14 years).

 What are the proposed reforms in UNSC

  • Reforms of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) have five key issues
  1. categories of membership
  2. the question of the veto held by the five permanent members
  3. regional representation
  4. the size of an enlarged Council and its working methods
  5. The Security Council-General Assembly relationship

India’s demand to become a permanent member

  • India has been calling for the reform of the UN Security Council along with Brazil, Germany and Japan for long.
  • India believes that the UNSC constituted post World War II does not reflect the geopolitical realities of today.
  • India is a founding member of the UN, and it has been the temporary member of the UNSC for 7 terms.
  • India has provided the 2nd largest number of troops in peacekeeping missions. In Africa alone 6000 of our troops have been stationed under UN peacekeeping missions.
  • India has been a responsible power and it has contributed significantly in global peace efforts.
  • India rescued not only Indians but also many persons from other countries including Pakistan and USA from war ravaged Yemen and South Sudan under its operation Rahat and Sankat Mochan
  • The veto power which could be used by India to defend its own interests, especially in case of Pakistan and China.

Topics covered- Prelims Specific

‘ShaGun’ Portal

 What is it?

  • ‘ShaGun’ is a web-portal for monitoring the progress of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA).
  • The portal was developed by World Bank in collaboration with Union Ministry of Human Resource Development.

Key facts

  • It is Government of India’s flagship programme for achieving the objectives of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan in a time bound manner, as mandated by 86th amendment to the Constitution of India making free and compulsory Education to the Children of 6-14 years age group, a Fundamental Right.
  • It is being implemented in partnership with State Governments.
  • It seeks to open new schools in those habitations which do not have schooling facilities and strengthen existing school infrastructure.
  • Existing schools with inadequate teacher strength are provided with additional teachers, along with extensive training, grants for developing teaching-learning materials at a cluster, block and district level.
  • It also seeks to provide quality elementary education including life skills.
  • SSA has a special focus on girl’s education and children with special needs. SSA also seeks to provide computer education to bridge the digital divide.

Topics Covered- “E-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential”

Operation Digital Board

Context

  • The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has launched Operation Digital Board (ODB) to leverage technology in order to boost quality education in the country.

About ODB

  • The digital board will be introduced all over the country in government and government aided schools from class 9thonwards as well as in higher education institutions.
  • The process will begin from the coming session of 2019 itself.
  • University Grants Commission (UGC) will be the implementing agency for ODB in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
  • It will be implemented as a Central scheme, as a loan from Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA).
  • At school level, Digital / SMART board will be provided in all Government and Government – aided schools by the Central Government in collaboration with the State and UTs.
  • It aims at converting a classroom into a digital classroom.
  • Ensure availability of e-resources at any time and at any place to students.
  • It will help in provisioning of personalised adaptive learning as well as Intelligent Tutoring by exploiting emerging technologies like Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence & Data Analytics.

Benefits of ODB

  • Nearly 1.5 lakh Secondary / Sr. Secondary schools will be covered under the scheme in collaboration with the State and UTs.
  • ODB aims at converting a class room into a digital class room.
  • Other initiatives like e-Pathshala, DIKSHA, National Repository of Open Educational Resources (NROER), National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL), e-PG Pathshala, SWAYAM and SWAYAM-Prabha DTH Channels etc. have also provided adequate content of high quality which can be taken to every classroom, and thereby facilitating blended learning and flip class learning.

 

Leave a Reply