GS Analyst: Daily Current Affairs

Context:

The Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), 2019, has recently garnered attention due to the government's decision to implement it shortly before the expected announcement of general election dates. The CAA introduces a religion-based criterion for granting citizenship to immigrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, which has raised concerns among various communities in India.

Controversial Implementation Timing:

• Questionable motives: The timing of the CAA's implementation, after a prolonged period since its enactment in 2019, has led to questions regarding the government's motives.
• Wrong timing: Some critics speculate that the timing of the implementation may be aimed at diverting public attention from other contentious issues, such as the electoral bonds controversy.

Implications and Criticisms of the CAA:

• Criticism: The CAA's focus on expediting citizenship for minority communities from specific countries has faced criticism for its potential discriminatory nature and its perceived connection to the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
• Concerns have been raised about the act's religious criteria for eligibility and its implications for the citizenship status of certain communities, which has led to apprehensions and debates regarding its alignment with principles of inclusivity and social harmony.

Context: The announcement in the interim Budget for 2024-25 of a substantial corpus aimed at enhancing the research and innovation ecosystem in India has generated optimism within the scientific and research communities. This move, coupled with the rebranding of the slogan 'Jai Jawan Jai Kisan' to 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan, Jai Anusandhan' underscores the government's commitment to prioritize research and innovation for national development.

Investment in R&D:

• Increase in GERD: India has witnessed a notable increase in Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) over the past decade, reaching Rs 12,73,810 million in 2020-21.
• Low: However, despite this growth, India's R&D expenditure as a percentage of GDP remains relatively low compared to major economies like China, Germany, and the United States.
• The bulk of India's R&D investment originates from the government sector, with significant allocations directed towards key scientific agencies such as the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Department of Space.

Research Output and Innovation:

• Significant output: Despite India's lower R&D expenditure as a percentage of GDP, the country has emerged as a significant producer of academic talent and research output.
• Higher rank: Annually, India produces a substantial number of PhDs, ranking third globally after the United States and China.
• Good performance: Additionally, India demonstrates commendable performance in terms of research publications and patent grants, highlighting its robust research ecosystem and potential for further growth in innovation and intellectual property creation.

Context:

The Annual Status of Education Report 2023 highlights a concerning disparity between enrollment rates and learning outcomes among adolescents in India. Despite a high enrollment rate of over 86.8% in the age group of 14-18, a significant portion struggles to read fluently at a Class 2 level in their regional languages, shedding light on the persistent learning deficit in the country's education system.

A Learning Deficit:

• Learning Deficit: India grapples with a longstanding learning deficit, evident through low attendance rates in public schools and limited academic progress among enrolled students.
• Poor learning outcome: Despite enrollment, many students fail to engage meaningfully in the learning process, resulting in poor learning outcomes.
• Cycle of disengagement: Government school teachers often attribute this challenge to poor student attendance, creating a cycle of disengagement where both teachers and students lack motivation to actively participate in the learning process.

A Two-Way Communication:

• Effective student engagement is pivotal for meaningful learning experiences in classrooms.
• Creativity: Unlike traditional rote learning methods, engaging classrooms foster active participation, curiosity, and problem-solving skills among students.
• Systematic challenges: However, implementing such interactive teaching practices faces hurdles due to systemic challenges within the education system, including inadequate teacher training, outdated teaching methods, and insufficient support mechanisms for educators.