GS PAPER: II

Nazool land dispute

Why in the news?

• Recently Violence erupted in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani district after the administration conducted a demolition drive at the site of a mosque and madrasa, allegedly on Nazool land, killing five and injuring many more.

About Nazool land

• Nazool land is owned by the government but most often not directly administered as state property. The state generally allots such land to any entity on lease for a fixed period, generally between 15 and 99 years.
• In case the lease term is expiring, one can approach the authority to renew the lease by submitting a written application to the Revenue Department of the local development authority. The government is free to either renew the lease or cancel it — taking back Nazool land.
• In almost all major cities of India, Nazool land has been allotted to different entities for a variety of different purposes.

Emergence of Nazool land

• During British rule, kings and kingdoms which opposed the British frequently revolted against them, leading to several battles between them and the British Army. Upon defeating these kings in battle, the British would often take their land away from them.
• After India got Independence, the British vacated these lands. But with kings and royals often lacking proper documentation to prove prior ownership, these lands were marked as Nazool land — to be owned by the respective state governments.

How does the government use Nazool land?

• The government generally uses Nazool land for public purposes like building schools, hospitals, Gram Panchayat buildings, etc. Several cities in India have also seen large tracts of land denoted as Nazool land used for housing societies, generally on lease.
• Very often, the state does not directly administer Nazool land, but rather leases it to different entities.

Governance of Nazool land

• While several states have brought in government orders for the purpose of framing rules for Nazool land, The Nazool Lands (Transfer) Rules, 1956 is the law mostly used for Nazool land adjudication.

Halwani land as Nazool land

• As per the Haldwani district administration, the property where the two structures are situated is registered as the Nagar Nigam’s (Municipal Council’s) Nazool land. The administration says that for the last 15-20 days, a demolition drive has been underway in connection with Nagar Nigam properties to free roads from traffic congestion.

GS PAPER – III

Net direct tax collections picked up pace

Why in the news?

• As per data released by the Finance Ministry India’s net direct tax collections picked up pace over the past month to rise 20.25% year-on-year by February 10, compared to a 19.4% uptick on the same date in January.
• Growth in the Personal Income Tax (PIT) revenues continued to outstrip Corporate Income Tax (CIT), with a 26.91% uptick in net PIT collections vis-à-vis a 13.6% rise in CIT inflows so far this year.
• From Rs. 14.7 lakh crore on January 10, net direct tax collections that are calculated by deducting refunds from gross tax inflows had hit Rs.15.6 lakh crore by Saturday, constituting 80.23% of the revised estimates for direct taxes for this year.

Higher direct tax expectations

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in her Interim Budget for 2024-25, had raised her hopes for the direct tax kitty for this year, pegging revised estimates at Rs.19.5 lakh crore, from the Rs.18.23 lakh crore originally estimated for 2023-24.
• The provisional figures of direct tax collections continue to register steady growth. Direct tax collections up to February 10, 2024 show that gross collections are at Rs.18.38 lakh crore, which is 17.30% higher than the gross collections for the corresponding period of last year.

Rising refunds

• Refunds amounting to Rs.2.77 lakh crore have been issued between April 1, 2023 and February 10, 2024.
• The year before last, it was Rs.2.25 lakh crore and last year, it rose to Rs.3.07 lakh crore.
• Prior to refunds, gross revenue collections from corporate income tax were 9.2% higher than a year ago, while revenues from personal income tax were up 25.7%. 
• Growth in PIT collections, when combined with the Securities Transaction Tax (STT) receipts, stood at 25.93% at the gross level, while it was 27.2% after making refund adjustments.
• As of January 10, the net growth in CIT collections was 12.37%, while PIT revenues, excluding STT receipts, were up 27.26%.

GS PAPER – III

Chinese FDI in Paytm Payments Services

Why in news?

• The government is examining foreign direct investment from China in Paytm Payments Services Ltd (PPSL), the payment aggregator subsidiary of One97 Communications Ltd.

About the issue

• In November 2020, PPSL had applied for licence with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as a payment aggregator under the guidelines on Regulation of Payment Aggregators and Payment Gateways.
• However, in November 2022, RBI rejected PPSL’s application and asked the company to resubmit it, so as to comply with Press Note 3 under FDI rules.
• One97 Communications Ltd (OCL) has investment from Chinese firm Ant Group Co.
• Subsequently, the company filed the required application on December 14, 2022, with Government of India for past downward investment from OCL into the company in order to comply with Press Note 3 prescribed under FDI guidelines.
• An inter-ministerial committee is examining investments from China in PPSL and decision would be taken on the FDI issue after due consideration and comprehensive examination, sources said.
• Under Press Note 3, the government had made its prior approval mandatory for foreign investments in any sector from countries that share land border with India to curb opportunistic takeovers of domestic firms following the COVID-19 pandemic.

RBI Warning

• The Reserve Bank last month barred Paytm Payments Bank Ltd (PPBL), an associate company of OCL, from accepting deposits or top-ups in any customer account, prepaid instruments, wallets, and FASTags, among others after February 29, 2024.
• The Reserve Bank’s action against PPBL follows a comprehensive system audit report and subsequent compliance validation report of external auditors.
• RBI had said that these reports revealed persistent non-compliances and continued material supervisory concerns in PPBL, warranting further supervisory action.
• On March 11, 2022, RBI had barred PPBL from onboarding new customers with immediate effect.

GS PAPER – III

ASHA workers to be covered under Ayushman Bharat

Why in news?

• The Narendra Modi government extended the benefits of its flagship health insurance scheme, Ayushman Bharat, to Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers, Anganwadi workers, and helpers on Thursday.
• These community health volunteers serve as a vital link between rural communities and the healthcare system, and their contribution has been acknowledged by the government. “Healthcare coverage under the Ayushman Bharat scheme will be extended to all ASHA workers, Anganwadi Workers, and Helpers,” announced Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during her interim budget speech for 2024-25.

What is Ayushman Bharat Yojana

• Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), launched in 2018, aims to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in India by providing preventive and curative healthcare services.
• The scheme provides cashless and inpatient medical care services up to Rs. 5 lakh per family per year to over 50 crore beneficiaries identified as economically disadvantaged through the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011.
• It is touted as the world’s largest government-funded health insurance scheme.
• Giving Ayushman Bharat coverage to our precious frontline health workers – ANM, ASHA, etc.
• In India, currently 55 crore individuals corresponding to 12 crore families are covered under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, according to government figures while many States/UTs implementing AB-PMJAY have further expanded the beneficiary base, at their own cost.
• The government has created approximately 28.45 crore Ayushman cards till December 20, 2023 and a total of 6.11 crore hospital admissions amounting to Rs.78,188 crores had been authorised under the scheme, of which 1.7 crore hospitals admissions worth over Rs.25,000 crores have been authorised during the year 2023 (Jan-Dec 2023).
• Also, a total of 26,901 hospitals including 11,813 private hospitals have been empanelled under AB-PMJAY to provide healthcare services to scheme beneficiaries and the scheme has ensured gender equity in access to healthcare services with women accounting for approximately 49% of the total Ayushman cards created and approximately 48% of total authorised hospital admissions.

Changes since the inclusion:

• After the Central government announced its decision to include Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and Anganwadi workers and helpers into the free cover for health treatment under Ayushman Bharat Scheme, the Health Ministry has so far received Aadhaar details of 23 lakh Anganwadi workers and helpers and over three lakh ASHA workers from various States.
• The government aims to get their cards ready by the end of the month as the scheme comes into effect from March 1 this year.

What is Asha Programme?

• The Ministry has noted that the ASHA programme is a key component of community processes that has continuously evolved over the last decade and a half.
• Serving as a facilitator, mobiliser and provider of community level care, ASHA has emerged as the cornerstone of the National Health Mission and the group has been acknowledged for their substantial contribution in improving access to care for communities.
• ASHAs are also a critical component of the Community platforms like Village Health and Sanitation Committees, Mahila Arogya Samiti and Community Based Planning and Monitoring under National Health Mission.
• ASHAs have been playing a key role in the country’s response for prevention and management of the COVID-19.
• In addition to performing tasks related to COVID-19, ASHAs also continued to support community members for accessing essential health services.

GS PAPER – II

Regulation of e-gaming

Why in news?

• The government will act as a regulator for the online gaming sector rather an industry-led self-regulatory organisation (SRO).
• The ministry of electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) will now prepare a framework for permitting and certifying online games which involve money.

What was done by SRO?

• Earlier, Meity had proposed an SRO and asked the industry to submit proposals to this effect.
• However, officials said that the proposals received were heavily dominated by gaming companies and their industry associations, and therefore would not have been able to act as a neutral regulatory body.
• As per IT rules, online real money games need to be approved by a regulatory body. Online games, which do not involve real money, do not require any regulatory nod.
• The government had notified the online gaming rules on April 6, 2023 and had given three-months to the industry to come up with proposals for SROs.
• It had planned to notify three SROs.

View of government about application?

• The SRO applications we are getting are too industry dominated. So rejection is required.
• They don’t want SROs that to be controlled by industry. They want it to be representative of a wider base and they didn’t receive any application like that.
• Though the further details on the framework the government is not explained but it was expected that apart from people with experience in online gaming, SROs will also include educationists, psychologists, individuals dealing with protection of child rights and information & communication technology experts.
• Officials said that government analysed four proposals submitted by All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), Esports Players Welfare Association (EPWA), All India Gaming Regulator (AIGR) Foundation & from a consortium of the E-Gaming Federation (EGF) and the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS). But, none of them met the stated requirements.
• The government has recently set up a group of ministers to discuss the regulatory framework for the industry but it’s likely that a clear regulatory structure will emerge only after the general elections.
• In December, companies such as Dream Sports, Games 24×7, as well as industry associations had sought clarity from the government on a code of conduct for the sector.
• This was related to actual implementation of notified rules, framework on responsible gaming and player protection, financial frauds, gaming certification, among other aspects. These aspects need to be defined by the regulator.
• Among other things, the industry has sought a Sebi-like regulator for the sector.

Why there is a need of centre regulation?

• Last year, the Madras High Court partially upheld the Tamil Nadu state assembly’s Online Gaming Act that sought to ban all online games in the state.
• The court ruled that while the ban is valid for games of chance, it will not apply to online games that require skill – such as poker and rummy.
• States have, over the years, attempted to regulate online gaming. Some states have only regulated or prohibited online gambling and betting, which involve games of chance.
• Others have opted for a complete ban on all online games played for stakes, including games of skill.
• The Madras High Court order is a latest in a series of judgments around state legislations relating to online gaming.
• However, experts argue that states do not have the legal competence to regulate online games of skill.
• Moreover, centrally regulating all online games would help the growth of the industry.

GS PAPER – II

PM visit to Abu Dhabi

Why in news?

• Describing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates for the inauguration of the BAPS Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi as a “special occasion”, Abdulnasser Alshaali, UAE’s Ambassador to India, has said it aligns with the values of tolerance and acceptance that guide our bilateral ties.

About Prime minister visit:

• Prime Minister Modi’s February 13-14 visit to the UAE will be his third in the last eight months and the seventh since 2015.
• He will hold bilateral meetings with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and, according to the Ministry of External Affairs, the two leaders will discuss ways to further deepen, expand and strengthen the strategic partnership between the countries and exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.
• Modi will also meet Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum who is the Vice President, Prime Minister and Defence Minister of the UAE. At his invitation, the Prime Minister will participate in the World Government Summit 2024 in Dubai as Guest of Honour and deliver a special keynote address at the Summit.
• The visit holds symbolic importance, showcasing the friendship between the two nations.
• UAE values the cultural diversity represented by the Indian diaspora, the largest group in the UAE with a population of 3.5 million.

India UAE relation:

• The two countries, according to the MEA, are among each other’s top trading partners with a bilateral trade of about US$ 85 billion in 2022-23.
• UAE is also among the top 4 investors in India in terms of foreign direct investments in 2022-23.
• UAE is India’s fourth-largest investor, third-largest trading partner, and the second-largest export destination.
• The UAE prioritises its bilateral and diplomatic ties with India based upon the two countries’ common political, economic, and diplomatic interests, desire to promote peace and prosperity in the international arena, and deep shared history.
• The Indian Cabinet recently approved the Bilateral Investment Treaty between the two countries. “This treaty reflects the joint efforts to transform the relationship from a traditional import-export dynamic to a strategic partnership. The emphasis on defence, energy, space, and IT sectors highlights the forward-looking nature of our relationship.