In recent developments, India’s ecological sustainability and social welfare programs have seen significant strides and challenges. In particular, the governmental decisions surrounding the Bhoj Wetland, Foreigners’ Tribunals, the Quad, and the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) have drawn much attention. Let’s delve deeper into these topics.
Bhoj Wetland and its protection
The Bhoj Wetland is a Ramsar site, which indicates it is a wetland of international importance as per the Ramsar Convention of 1971. This wetland comprises two human-made reservoirs – the Upper Lake created in the 11th century and the Lower Lake formed about 200 years ago from leakage from the Upper lake. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) recently ordered the Madhya Pradesh state government to halt the operation of cruise vessels and other motor-propelled boats in the Bhoj Wetland, citing severe damage to the water bodies.
Functioning of Foreigners’ Tribunals in Assam
The Assam state government recently revealed that in the past two decades, 3,100 people have been officially declared as foreigners by the tribunals and subsequently deported. Foreigners’ Tribunals (FTs), quasi-judicial bodies, verify an individual’s citizenship based on the documents provided. A person can approach FTs if they are excluded from the final National Register of Citizens (NRC). By law, only FTs can declare someone as a foreigner.
South Korea’s interest in Quad
South Korea has expressed its intent to join the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or Quad for short, which presently includes India, Australia, the US, and Japan. These countries united on shared democratic values aim to maintain a “free, open and prosperous” Indo-Pacific region. Simultaneously, India and South Korea are negotiating the expansion of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), in operation since 2010.
Expansion of PM Ujjawala Yojana
The Indian Union Cabinet recently green-lit the extension of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) program, which aims to distribute an additional 75 lakh LPG connections over three years, from FY 23-24 to FY 25-26. This move will increase the total number of beneficiaries to 10.35 crore. The government has also initiated a PAHAL scheme to reduce fraudulent activities related to LPG distribution, and the ‘GIVE IT UP’ initiative encourages people to voluntarily surrender their subsidies, thus aiding those who are in dire need of support to afford LPG cylinders.
