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
- categories of membership
- the question of the veto held by the five permanent members
- regional representation
- the size of an enlarged Council and its working methods
- 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.