UPSC Daily Current Affairs| Prelim Bits 24-04-2025

Report on DBT implementation

Prelims – Indian Polity and Governance, Public Policy.

Mains (GS II) – Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Why in news?

Recent report by Blue Kraft Digital Foundation (NGO) reveals India’s Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system has helped to reduce Expenditure on subsidy.

• Direct Benefit Transfer – It is a government initiative that transfers subsidies and benefits directly into the beneficiaries' bank accounts, bypassing traditional intermediaries.
• Launch – DBT was officially launched on January 1, 2013.
• Implementation – DBT Mission was originally created by the Planning Commission to act as the nodal point for the implementation of the DBT programmes.
• The Mission was transferred to the Department of Expenditure in 2013.
• To give more impetus, DBT Mission and matters related thereto has been placed in Cabinet Secretariat under Secretary from 2015.
• JAM trinity – One of the key features of DBT is the use of the JAM trinity, to facilitate direct benefit transfers.

• Aadhaar is preferred but not mandatory for DBT schemes.
• Core objective – Promote "Maximum Governance, Minimum Government" through technology.

Key findings of the report

• Welfare Efficiency Index – Introduced by Blue Kraft Digital Foundation (NGO).
• It is a methodology for assessing the impact of the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.
• It was developed as a composite metric to measure efficiency gains across various dimensions.
• Components
  • DBT Savings (50% weight)
  • Subsidy Reduction (30% weight)
  • Beneficiary Growth (20% weight)
• The Index rose nearly threefold from 0.32 in 2014 to 0.91 and its emphasis the efficiency in governance system.
• Savings to government – Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system has helped the government achieve cumulative savings of Rs. 3.48 lakh crore by plugging leakages in welfare delivery.
• Reduced expenditure – Subsidy allocations have been halved from 16% to 9% of total expenditure.

• Beneficiary growth – Despite reduced budget allocation percentage, beneficiary coverage increased 16-fold.
• Food Subsidies (PDS) – Over 53% of total DBT savings is from food subsidy and is primarily through Aadhaar-linked authentication.
• MGNREGS - 98% of wages were transferred timely through DBT-driven accountability.
• PM-KISAN – Got DBT benefit by deleting 2.1 crore ineligible beneficiaries from the scheme.
• Fertilizer Subsidies - Sales of fertiliser were reduced, through targeted disbursement.

References

1. PIB| DBT in Boosting Welfare Efficiency
2. DBTbharat| Direct Benefit Transfer

Coenzyme Q (ubiquinone)

Prelims – Current events of national and international importance.

Mains (GS III) – Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.

Why in news?

Recent study reveals that CRISPR-edited rice producing CoQ10, coenzyme can play critical role in human food.

• Coenzyme Q (ubiquinone) – It is a metabolite coenzymes type of coenzymes that is present in every cell membrane.
• It is a fat-soluble and water insoluble naturally occurring molecule.
• Types - It comes in 10 different types (CoQ1 to Q10).
• Function – All these coenzymes play a vital role in the function of the mitochondrion, which is the powerhouse of a cell.
• CoQ9 – It is a rich source of nutrition and is abundant in cereals (wheat, rice, oats, barley, corn, rye, millet) and plants like bamboo and avocado.
• CoQ10 – It is critical for high-energy organs like the heart, supports the mitochondrial electron transport chain.
• While humans naturally produce CoQ10, most plant-based foods like rice and wheat primarily synthesize CoQ9.
• The researchers used CRISPR gene editing to modify the native Coq1 gene in rice, specifically targeting the "DdsA" gene.
• This modification allows the rice to synthesize the desired CoQ10.
• Advantages - Developing CoQ10-enriched crops offers a cost-effective and sustainable way to enhance nutritional value and improve health benefits.
• The gene-edited rice demonstrated over 75% CoQ10 accumulation in both grains and leaves.
• This offers a potential solution for increasing CoQ10 intake in the diets of individuals, particularly those at risk of deficiency.
• Supplementing CoQ10 has been shown to help patients with neurological problems.

Reference

The Hindu| Role played by coenzymes in human food

Digambar Jain temples

Prelims – Current events of National Importance

Mains (GS I) – Indian History and Culture

Why in News?

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) recently demolished most of the Digambar Jain temple, which Digambar Jain Mandir Trust managed in Vile Parle in the city’s western suburbs, Mumbai.

• Digambara Jain temples are significant in the religious landscape of India, particularly for the Digambara sect within Jainism.
• These temples, often referred to as Digambara Jain Mandir.
• These temples features elaborate carvings and sculptures of the 24-four Tirthankaras, are integral to the faith's architecture and cultural practices.
• Sub-sects - Digambara temples can be found in different sub-sects, each with its own distinct rituals and practices, such as Mula Sangh, Terapantha, and Taranapantha.
• Key features - The presence of idols, the use of ashtadravya (eight sacred objects)for worship, and offerings of flowers and fruits, though some sub-sects may substitute these with dried versions.
• Examples - Ellora Caves (Maharashtra) and the Sri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir in Delhi.

Digambara Sect

• The Digambara sect is one of the two main branches of Jainism, the other being the Shvetambara sect.
• The term "Digambara" literally translates to "sky-clad," referring to the Digambara monks practice of wearing no clothes.
• They believe that renouncing all material possessions, which is essential for achieving liberation.

• Historical Influence - Digambara sect has a significant presence in South-West India, particularly in Maharashtra and Karnataka.
• Text - They does not believe in the existence of original canonical texts.
• Possessions - Digambara monks are allowed only two possessions, a Jainworld states peacock feather whisk (pinchi) for cleaning the path and a water gourd (kamandalu) for drinking water.
• Diet and Eating Practices - Digambara monks eat only once a day in a standing posture, at a single house.

Reference

The Indian Express | Digambar Jain temple

Kinshasa Floods & Democratic Republic of Congo

Prelims – Current events of International Importance | World Geography

Mains (GS I) – Geography of the World | Important Geophysical phenomena

Why in News?

The flooding disaster in Kinshasa was a symptom of recent land use change, which has occurred rapidly in the city, turning it into a sprawling urban settlement without the necessary drainage infrastructure.

• Kinshasa – It is the capital of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
• The city is the most densely populated city in the DRC, the most populous city and 3^rd-largest metropolitan area in Africa.
• The Ndjili River and its tributary (Lukaya) flows through the city.
• At least 2% of the population live in areas prone to flooding. Urban infrastructure, especially flood-related, is non-existent or inadequate.
• Local rains combined with runoff from torrential rains coming from neighboring Congo Central Province overwhelmed the city’s small urban tributaries.

Democratic Republic of Congo

• It is a country located in Central Africa.
• Nomenclature - Refers to the Congo River, which drains a large basin that lies mostly in the republic.
• It has a coastline on the Atlantic Ocean but is otherwise landlocked.
• By land area, it is the 2^nd-largest country in Africa and the 11^th-largest in the world.
• Bordered countries - Congo is bounded to the
  • North by the Central African Republic and South Sudan
  • East by Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania
  • Southeast by Zambia; and to the southwest by Angola
  • West are the country’s short Atlantic coastline, the Angolan exclave of Cabinda, and Congo (Brazzaville).
• Geographical features - The lowest point occurs at Lake Mai-Ndombe and the highest point is reached in the hills of Mobayi-Mbongo and Zongo in the north.
• The volcanic Virunga Mountains stretch across the Western Rift Valley north of Lake Kivu.
• The Mitumba Mountains stretch along the Western Rift Valley
• Important Lakes - Albert, Edward, Kivu, Tanganyika, and Mweru.
• Natural Resources - Boasts vast deposits of industrial diamonds, cobalt, and copper; one of the largest forest reserves in Africa; and significant hydroelectric potential.
• Economy - It is one of the poorest countries in the world.
• Society - DRC ranks 164 out of 174 countries on the 2020 Human Capital Index.
• DRC has one of the highest stunting rates (42% of children under age five), and malnutrition is the underlying cause of almost half of the deaths of children under the age of five. It has very high fertility rate.

Reference

Down to Earth | Democratic Republic of Congo

Gonorrhea

Prelims – Current events of National Importance| General Science

Mains (GS I) – Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health.

Why in News?

A new study finds that a new type of antibiotic, gepotidacin for the treatment of urinary tract infections in women could also work against gonorrhoea infections

• It is a contagious sexually transmitted infection.
• Caused by - Neisseria gonorrhoeae, type of bacteria.
• It is often called "the clap" and can affect the genitals, mouth, or rectum.
• Transmission - Primarily occurs through vaginal, oral, or anal sex.
• It can also be transmitted from a mother to her baby during childbirth.
• Symptoms
  • Men - May experience pain or burning while urinating, discharge from the penis, and/or testicular pain.
  • Women - May experience vaginal discharge, pain or burning while urinating, and/or pelvic pain.
  • Rectal Gonorrhea - May cause anal itching, discharge, or pain during bowel movements.
  • Throat Gonorrhea - Can cause sore throat.
  • Asymptomatic Infections - Many people with gonorrhea have no symptoms, making it easy to spread unknowingly.
• High -Risk Category - Sexually active women younger than 25 and men who have sex with men are at increased risk of getting gonorrhea.
• Severity - Gonorrhea can lead to serious health problems if left untreated, and though rare, can even spread to the blood or joints.
• Among women, untreated gonorrhea can cause an infection of the reproductive organs called pelvic inflammatory disease, which can lead to a greater risk of pregnancy complications and infertility.
• In men, gonorrhea also can lead to infertility in rare cases.
• Treatment - The primary treatment for gonorrhea is ceftriaxone, an injectable cephalosporin antibiotic.
• However, due to the emergence of drug-resistant strains, dual therapy with ceftriaxone and azithromycin is often recommended, especially in areas with high rates of resistance.
• Prevalence - Gonorrhea is the 2^nd most common sexually transmitted disease caused by bacteria, just behind chlamydia.
• In the United States, gonorrhea and other sexually transmitted infections or STIs have become more common.

Reference

CNN |Gonorrhea