GS Analyst: Daily Current Affairs

Context:

The Indian examination system is undergoing scrutiny due to its impact on student mental health and its alignment with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is piloting open book exams (OBE) for Classes 9 to 12 to explore alternatives to traditional examination methods.

Traditional Examination System:

• Prime objective: The Indian examination system, dating back to the early 20th century, was primarily designed as an elimination process.
• Unchanged: This system, unchanged for decades, has been associated with high levels of exam-related anxiety among students, as revealed by an NCERT survey.
• Contributing to metal health issues: Despite minor adjustments, the traditional exam system persists and contributes to student stress and mental health issues.

Introduction of Open Book Exams (OBE):

• Addressing shortcomings of traditional exams: The CBSE's decision to conduct a pilot study on OBE for Classes 9 to 12 is a welcome initiative aimed at addressing the shortcomings of traditional exams.
• Competency: While OBE is a relatively new concept in India's school system, it aligns with the paradigm shift envisioned by NEP 2020 towards competency-based learning and analytical skill development.
• Creativity among educators: The OBE pilot emphasizes student- and teacher-centric learning, necessitating pedagogical changes and fostering creativity among educators.

 Implementation and Future Directions:

• Goal oriented: The transition to OBE requires careful consideration to ensure it aligns with NEP's inclusivity goals and does not exacerbate existing inequalities.
• Role of educator: Educators play a crucial role in implementing OBE effectively by mentoring students and assessing their analytical abilities through writing and language skills.
• Feedback: Continuous feedback from teachers and ongoing conversations among education stakeholders are essential for refining the OBE model and enhancing its effectiveness in the long term.

Context

The recent suicide of a differently-abled man in Kerala due to delayed pension payments has sparked a debate on the state's fiscal challenges and its ability to fulfill welfare obligations amidst constraints imposed by the Central government. Kerala has petitioned the Supreme Court to arbitrate on the issue of Central restrictions on its borrowing, highlighting the broader issue of Centre-State fiscal relations.

Fiscal Challenges and Central Restrictions:

• Constraints: Kerala faces fiscal constraints in fulfilling welfare obligations, exacerbated by restrictions on borrowing imposed by the Central government.
• Questionable authority: The state's plea to the Supreme Court questions the authority of the Centre to constrain states' financial decisions, particularly regarding welfare expenditures.
• Main issue: Despite claims of high spending on public services, Kerala's fiscal challenge stems from limited resource mobilization and skewed allocation of public expenditure, notably towards non-development expenditures.

Resource Mobilization and Expenditure Allocation:

• The fund fact: Kerala's per capita expenditure on social and economic services lags behind states like Goa due to lower resource mobilization.
• Skewed allocation: Non-development expenditure, including interest payments and administrative services, surpasses development expenditure, indicating skewed allocation of public funds.
• Necessary restructuring: Legacy burdens such as high interest payments further strain Kerala's capacity for welfare provision, necessitating a restructuring of finances.

Evaluating Borrowing and Fiscal Restructuring:

• Challenges: Kerala's projected revenue deficit highlights the challenge of borrowing for non-revenue-generating expenditure, signaling the need for fiscal restructuring.
• Prioritizing: While challenging Central restrictions on borrowing, Kerala must prioritize financial stability by reducing debt burden and enhancing revenue generation.
• Balanced approach: Sustainable welfare provision requires a balanced approach of raising revenue, trimming expenditure, and ensuring sturdy financial foundations for the state.

Context:

Moon landings are becoming increasingly common, with multiple countries and private companies involved, reshaping the dynamics of space exploration and collaboration.

Chandrayaan-3 and Luna 25 Missions:

• Emergence of India: Chandrayaan-3's successful soft-landing confirms ISRO's competence in space technology, marking India's emergence as a significant player in space research.
• Challenges of established organizations: The failure of Russia's Luna 25 mission highlights the challenges faced by established space agencies like Roscosmos, prompting lessons for future endeavors.
• Global interest: The recent achievements underscore the global interest and competition in lunar exploration, with nations and private entities vying for success and recognition.

Intuitive Machines' Success and NASA's CLPS Program:

• Commercial program: Intuitive Machines (IM) became the first private company to soft-land a robotic craft on the moon, showcasing the potential of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program.
• Importance of collaboration: IM's successful mission demonstrates the importance of collaboration between NASA and private space companies, fostering innovation and advancement in lunar exploration.
• Diversification of space landscape: The CLPS program represents a shift in NASA's approach, enabling private companies to lead lunar missions with limited oversight from the space agency, thereby diversifying the space service landscape.

Implications for Global Space Exploration:

• 100% FDI: India's recent approval of up to 100% automatic foreign direct investment in its national space program signals a potential for increased competition among Indian startups, easing the burden on ISRO and fostering innovation.
• Need for expansive collaboration: The evolving landscape of lunar exploration underscores the need for expansive collaboration among nations and private entities, emphasizing the importance of shared resources and expertise.
• New era: As space exploration enters a new era of diversity and collaboration, the successes and challenges faced by various players highlight the evolving dynamics of global space exploration and the potential for future advancements.