Daily Current Affairs Analysis | 18th August, 2026 | Shankar IAS Academy | UPSC | Mains 2026

Hi, hello. Welcome to Shankar Academyy's daily current affair analysis for the date 18th of August 2026. Please like, comment, share and subscribe our YouTube channel and also have the bell icon pressed for instant notifications and better current affair analysis. So what are the topics for discussion today? So the first one is green India mission where CAG has actually audited green India mission for past decade. So it has come up with certain things saying that green India mission has not lived up to its moment. So we will discuss what is green India mission briefly. what what were its objectives and why it is falling short and also we'll also have a discussion on NAPCC that is national action plan on climate change how it is very important for India in achieving its net zero so next topic will be on why shre tupa which is injane so this tupa which is actually come into news after 90 years because archaeological survey of India actually after 90 has picked this tupa for scientific exc excavation and also restoration. So they are claiming that this tupa will be it will be in the morian period and also it is larger than sanchi stupa. So only after the detailed research we'll come to know what is the unique features about the stupa. So here we will see where is the stupa what are the features that have been excavated up to this moment what were the unique archaeological fe architectural features related to it and our third discussion will be on the groundwater pollution in Uttar Pradesh espec especially in the Kpur and Patipur regions. So what is the reason for groundwater pollution there it is the chromium 6 that is chromium excavalent. So we will see this chromium excavalent deeply. So what are the sources of chromium excavent? What are the diseases or what are the effects it can actually produce to human and as well as the environment. So our mains based discussion will be on delimitation and how it is representing and balancing the federalism. So we have been in and out discussing delimitation. So here we will see quickly the constitutional basis for del limitation. What are the history of del limitation and also how the del limitation is going to affect the federal balance today. So what can be the way forward for deal limitation not only based on population what can be the other criteria that can be included for deal limitation everything will be discussed it will be short and it is also crisp and finally we will end our discussion on with prelims focus. So we'll have three small topics related to puls focus and uh I also have a practice question related to it. So these topics will be very much interesting stay continued. So let's see the first topic of discussion today which is green India missions. So recently CAG has flagged that green India mission is actually facing a shortfall mean it is not actually living up to its uh expectations. There is shortfall in funds that are being provided to the schemes. There are there is a shortfall in monitoring. There's failure to meet the targets. So these are the things which CG is actually flagging off by auditing this green India missions. So here we will see what is green India mission briefly what where its targets where it is falling short today and brief broadly the green India mission comes under national action plan for climate change. We'll also see what is his national action plan for climate change and also problems based practice questions regarding this topic. So green India mission it was launched in 2014. So it comes under ministry of environment forest and climate change. So the NAPCC that is national action plan for climate change. National Action Plan for climate change. So this NAPCC has eight missions under it. So under in the eight mission one such mission is green India mission. So it is a parent plan. NAPC is a parent plan and aim of this green India mission is to protect and restore the India's forest. See it it is going to do two things. The first thing it is going to increase the forest cover. The next thing is it is going to increase the quality. So what are the these two things? See when it is meaning of quality in the sense already when the forest is degraded or already when there is a uh when there is some encroachments in the forest so it is going to restore it. So it is going to rework on it bring the quality as to whatever it was earlier cover in the sense it is going to create new forest on new lands. So it is going to create new cover. So there are two targets which are set set under this cover as well as the quality. The both the targets are actually falling short at the two more than 90%age shortage that is it is not even meeting it's 10 percentage of his targets in the last 10 years that is one decade because it was started in 2014 and today it is 2026. So we will see what what are the shortcomings what are the shortfalls here and we'll also see why uh there was such shortfall in these parts and audit period of c is between 2015 16 to 202425 that is almost 10 years for 16 states and united test so it has not audited all the states 16 states and unit test which has been examined by c for brain damission. So what what were the targets and what were the achievements? The achievements there is nothing as as of much as I said because see for the quality of forest cover this 91.87% shortfall. So not even 10%age achieved. So where they went back mean what what were the reasons for this? We will discuss this. So this is just for a start. Whenever you put some uh start in your mains answer you can say that around 90%age target is not achieved. So this can be just used here if you say it is around 95%age target not achieved. So these are the things which you can quote for forest cover it's 97.57 percentage for quality that is 91.87. So quality also includes the improving the status of forest improving the status of forest. So here forest cover in the sense new forest. So these are two things which you need to understand the difference. So why there was such a problem? Why there was a why there was a shortfall in achievement. The first thing is they actually work in sillos. So in the sylloss in the sense you need to understand what are the different things that are present for green cover for forest enhancement but everything is actually working in silos. The first one is the campa. So campaire is under compensatory aforestation where the private bodies or any projects done by the government bodies when they are going to deforest certain land let's say today there is a project in Nikov so they are going to cut certain number of trees so when they do it they're going they're saying that they'll replace it in the other places like Ariana Rajasthan or maybe Madhya Pradesh so they said they're going to replace a forest somewhere else That is compensatory of forestation. Though there are plus and minus for it, we will not go deep into it but here what they're going to do they compensate the deforestation that they did. So the compensator of forestation it is not getting converged with this green India mission. So when it when it is converged India mission we will say the forest of forestation or forest cover has been increased. The net forest cover has been increased. Whatever you deforest at one place you're going to put it put it in a more significant level in other states. So the net forest cover would have been increased. So that is not being accounted under green India mission. So this works in silos. That is the first point. Next the M&G Mahatma Gandhi national rural employment guarantee schemes it is not also integrative GM because in many rural development projects many projects in under Mandrea what it is they are going to have the forest development they're going to plant trees saplings. These are the projects that have been taken by these Mandrea uh Mandrea people working under the Mandrea but that is also not integrated with GIM. So these are all going unappointed and it it is like in patches here and there different projects have been doing the same thing but they are not getting it at one place or they're not calculating it at aggregating and calculating it as one thing and Nagar one in the sense urban places where urban places you're going to plant or increase the forestry. So these things are also not included under this GIM school nursering these are things these things are also not put into place along with GIM. So basically what it happens is GIM is something uh something which is working independently let's say it is not considering anything anything related to forestry anything related to forest development done by other schemes. So when these schemes are going to argument GIM so GIM is still not getting bolstered by these schemes it is it is working in silos and saying that I I only this much because what happens is the fund that is going on for GIM for Mandrea for Nagaran Yojana everything is for same purpose but the fund is not getting consolidated for for putting it under for making the project more significant. So the impact is poor convergence affected financing as I said the fund is getting diverged for same purpose different to different channels it is getting diverged unnecessarily so there is leakages accordingly in different channels because when you put in one channel there's very some leakages when you put in different channels there are a lot of leakages and ultimately the purpose is not met and planning and on ground delivery is not it is not in sync with whatever the targets are so that that is the main concern for this GIM which is not uh shining as it is expected. So accounts if you see only eight states and union territories did did not maintain annual accounts. So eight states and union terror did not maintain the annual accounts for relating to GIM and several states accounts were uni or contain discrepancies because they're not because everything is patched everything is working in different streams. So they're not able to put it under one file planning deficiency weak baselines and unrealistic targets. So whenever there is unrealistic targets let's say tomorrow we are going to plant we are going to reduce 1 billion tons of carbon dioxide within 1 month. So these are unrealistic. So when there are unrealistic planning that has been placed so the fund is not basically managed properly and the resources are not basically managed properly and monitoring and other systematic issues persist in every targets every purpose. So here also there is issues relating to monitoring and systemic failures. So why this green India mission matters for India? Because India has promised 2.5 to 3 billion tons of carbon carbon dioxide reduction that is trapping of 2.5 to 3 billion tons of carbon dioxide elimination by 2030. But recently after updating its nationally determined targets, India said that it is going to reduce 3.5 to 4 billion tons. It has increased from 2.5 to 3 billion to 4.5 3.5 to 4 billions by 2035. So you have to note it down because it will be tested in your films. By 2030 according to Paris agreement what India promised it it is going to reduce 2.5 to 3 billion tons of carbon dioxide means it is going to eliminate that much amount of carbon dioxide. But again when the targets are getting revised in the nationally determined targets India said that the nationally determined contributions you can say NDC's India said that by 2035 3.5 to 4 billion tons of CO2 will be eliminated or will be trapped. So that is the that is the target India has been setting and for which green India mission is very much important because when you increase the forest cover and forest quality automatically this carbon secessionization will be happening. So carbon trapping will happen when you increase forest cover significantly for which green India mission is very much significant and the Paris agreement as I said the forest and tree cover is central to India's climate pledge because India has ratified the Paris agreement so it is going to it has to follow the uh targets that it has set for itself because it has it it is doing very well in renewable energy targets but it has to do well in these kind of targets as well and low carbon strategy because identifying GIM as a key program to meet this target and co- benefits that that is where the quality of forest comes in very beautifully put here biodiversity water security carbon secessionization forest based livelihoods so these are related to the quality of forest mean so it is a part of green India mission the quality of forest so quality of forest include biodiversity water security carbon trapping forest based livelihoods as well so that is why green India mission is very much important to India. So it is going to help India achieve its net zero very quickly and also the carbon dioxide elimination in tons it is going to help help India. So NAPCC that is national action plan for climate change. So there are eight national missions under this. So you need to know this comes under ministry of environment and 2008 it was started it was initiated and it is a centrally sponsored scheme. It is not central sector central scheme. It is centrally sponsored uh initiative by union government and the nabad is actually going to fund this. Nabad is going to actually monitor and fund this NAPCC which is very much important because you you'll you'll not be surprised that why Nabad here because Nabad is actually playing a crucial role here by funding this and also monitoring this. Nabad is you should remember Nabad for this NAPCC and what are these eight national missions? The first one is National Solar Mission. The next is enhanced energy efficiency. energy efficiency. You have the sustainable building codes as well under bureau of energy efficiency. Then sustainable habitat water mission, sustainable Himalayan ecosystem, this green India mission, sustainable agriculture and finally the strategic knowledge for climate change. So these are the eight missions under NAPCC. You need to remember what are these missions? Which ministry centrally sponsored? Nabad because Nabad is going to fund it and which year that's it. That's it about NAPCC. So we'll have practice question related to our discussion now. So with reference to green mission consider the following statements. It was launched in 2014 by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. That is exactly true. It is one of the eight missions under the NAPCC launched in 2008. Exactly correct. We have seen what are those eight missions and it aims to create an additional carbon sync of 3.5 to 4 billion tons of CO2 equivalent by 2035 under the India's nationally determined contribution. See 2.5 to 3 billion tons was till 2030. Now there is an update that is nationally determined contribution India's updated that it is going to uh reduce it is going to add an additional carbon sink of 3.5 to 4 billion tons. So that is exactly true. It is implemented in convergence with compa and mandrea as it is a satary mandated partner schemes. No that is a concern right it is not implemented in convergence because that is where they're working in silos that is a problem. So fourth statement is incorrect. So answer should be 1 2 3. So answer should be B. Let's check. Yes the answer is B. Let's move on to the next part of discussion. So let's discuss the next topic which is why Tupa which is in Ujain. So this stupa is actually claimed to be Nashoka era stupa by archaeological survey of India. So briefly we will see what is this tupa where it is what are the characteristics unique characteristics about the stupa how it is compared with Sanchi because Sanchi is actually the largest stupa at present in India. So these points will be discussed and also a problem based practice question we will have a go. So why it is in use? So ujin sojane basically it is in Madhya Pradesh. So why in Ujain is a new because the Madhya Pradesh government and ASA are planning to undertake fresh excavation and restoration. So basically 1938 and 1940s itself these two kind of structure was witnessed by archaeological survey of India and they had excavated to some extent and they actually had an analysis of this tupa but post that there was no such development and only after 90 years now that is 1940 around now it is 2026 that is around 86 6 years. So after 90 odd years, the archaeological survey of India is actually more interested to see what is there in this region and they're trying to excavate and restore this site. So what are the key facts related to this uh stupa? All you need to know is from the fluence perspective. So we'll see what are the facts along. The fact first fact is va jak is an ancient mount at bjin identifies as the remains of major stupa. So it is going it is actually identified as a remains of major stupa and this fresh excavation is being proposed after a gap of 90 years as I said because 1938 and 39 was the last survey that has been done at this region and the stupa is estimated to have base diameter of 350 ft. So diameter in the sense the base diameter of the circle and height of at least 50 ft. So this is compared to Sanji stupa because in Sanji stupa it is 54 ft foot that is feet. So the the stupa which is been identified in Ujain is twice almost twice the height of Sanchi stupa. So that is the significance of this tupa and also the ASA believes that there may be stupa larger than stansi which is required for the scientific excavation because this excavations is actually at the starting stage. So any analysis or any outcome will be out after only a deep deep scientific excavation. So how this tupa is actually connected to Ashoka era because earlier we were mentioning that it is an Ashoka era tupa. Ashoka was a important Morian king and this archeological evidence points out towards the Morian period of 3 BC that is 3rd century BC almost 2,300 years behind our present age and there is unusually large bricks were considered in the chronological evidence. They also found few coins related to that period. So these are punch mark coin and and aanti coin. So aanti these sani these are these places are very much important in the ashokan era or in the morian period because they are more they was more culturally rich because Buddhism was sparing in in a in a significant manner in those places. So this such convergence could also bring a bring a analysis here that this tupa could have been a mian era tupa. So there is a possible association with emperor Ashoka because as I said and many places were close to Ashoka and such traditional and cultural background actually brings the focus to this place and what are the architectural features unique architectural features about this tupa. So it is a unlike conventional solid mix it is a mix of local blackish mum. So this mum is also called morum. So it is a mix of sand, silt and clay which is will be in dark gray color or darkish color. There are also small granular rocks mixed here. So the local blackish morum is actually a mix of sand, silic lake and smaller granular rocks. So this will be dark in color that was been used that is being used in this construction of this wise stupa and the exterior was spaced with brick machinery using mud motor. So these are all different these are different compared to other stupas and the one important thing is that there is square mode means the stupa is actually been given a specific entrance from west side. So once the stupa is there stupa is covered on covered by water or covered by drainage in all the sides all and in one side that is in the western side where there's a passage for the worshippers to enter the stupa. So that kind of structure that kind of architecture is been witnessed. So that is also something unique to uh this stopa which is not seen in Sani or other places. And there's unusual B-shaped masonary structure at the base which else support this superructure. So this B-shaped structure which is very much big because as we saw the diameter itself is 350 ft. So this B-shaped structure at the bottom is actually supporting the super structure which is very much unique to stop. So we'll have film space practice question related to this. So all you need to know is where is the stupa? what are these unique features and few facts related to it. So first one it is an ancient stupa located in Ujin Madhya Pradesh. That is correct because the place is very much important for any historical or any history that you read and archaeological evidence suggests that the structure belongs to the Morian period. Yeah, there are few evidences like the coins and as well as the convergence of traditional importance of Wujene suggests that it can be related to Morian period. So that second statement also remains correct. Its definite association with emperor Rashoka has been conclusive established through archeological evidence. There is no conclusive evidence as of now because archeological survey of India said that there need to be scientific excavation deep scientific excavation before coming with the future facts and excavations have revealed that use of compacted local murmurum in the core of structure. Yes, local murmum as I said it is blackish, dark sand, silt, clay are its components. So fourth statement is correct. Third statement is incorrect as as there is no conclusive evidence. So the answer should be 1 2 and four which should be a. Let's check. Yes, the answer is a. Let's move on to the next part of discussion. So moving ahead we will see the next part of discussion which is groundwater pollution in Uttar Pradesh. So this groundwater pollution in and around regions of Kpur Pipur has actually put villages in a more vulnerable situation where they are facing many diseases many many problems related to skin diseases and other issues because of extra valent chromium. So we'll see what is Xavalent chromium, what are the sources of these Xavalent chromium and also what is the government response to this and finally we'll have a films based practice question on Xavalent chromium. So in this discussion you need to all need to need to know is about the extraent chromium which is a pollutant. So it is a primary pollutant and you need to know what it is that's it. So in this news what it is the parts of Kpur and Fatipur has been contaminated with Xavalent chromium. So Xavalent chromium in sense chromium 6+ which is Xavalent chromium. So the the contaminated contamination is linked mainly to industrial waste particularly such as tanneries and chemical manufacturing. What is channeries? Tanneries is by nothing but leather factories. So the factories which works on animal skins. So the tanneries and also other chemical manufacturing are the main sources for these excavent chromium according to the article and NGT which is green tribal national green tribunal has has actually addressed this problem and told that the water should be pre-treated before it is let out. So that is a observation of NGT. NGT is a national green tribunal. And what is this exalent chromium? So this is an highly toxic and reactive form of chromium. And it is used in industries such as leather tanning, electroplating, chemical manufacturing or wood preservation. So whenever the pollutant is asked where you will be tested, what are the sources of this pollutant? where it is exactly used or where it is max used widely. So you need to know for if you if you read a bulletin you need to know what are the critical sources like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, NH3 whatever it is PM particulate matter whatever it is you need to you need to understand what are the sources from where it is coming then also a few points related to its characteristics. So it it it can it contaminates soil and groundwater. It's it can contaminate both soil and ground water where industrial waste is improperly disposed of. Whenever the waste is not treated, whenever waste not disposed properly, this can contaminated both soil and ground water. What are the health impacts? The people of Pangur the people of Fipur has been vulnerable to skin problems, respiratory problems, organ damage and cancer risk. So this is this is where the criticality comes in because the international agency for research on cancer that is IARC which is a cancer arm of WH just for your understanding it is a cancer arm of WH. So this ARC actually classifies this chromium that is Xavalent chromium as cartogenic. So whenever humans humans inhale it is classified as carciogenic. So carcoenic means cancer creating or cancel potential of actually creating cancer this carcenic particles. So what is the government response? Government's government has actually involved IIT Kpur in this and they said ID Kpur has proposed a mapping of contaminated areas and they said they are actually advising the pollution control board to to make to to pull out these uh sea wool out these uh indust waste and treat it before it is getting let out in the groundwater or in the river bodies and testing blood water and soil samples are being tested regularly. Safe water is being is being provided through jalan missions to all to these villages. So government is taking steps to provide purified water provide the industries and also other bodies to have a pre-treatment facility and also regulate them in pre-treatment. So both it is working at the end side and also at the source side. So in both the sides it is trying to balance and medical care health monitoring and treatment for affected people is also being taken care and NGT directing action against this chromium dumps and polluting industry. So as I said NGT has actually taken this case and said that these pollution should be regulated. What are the what is this monitoring facility or monitoring thing that government is doing is heavy metal testing laboratories are are proposed because whenever this this chromium and lead nickel these are all heavy metals lead chromium nickel these are all heavy metals which are which are actually the pollutants. So these things are actually uh need uh for needed these things should be tested by these heavy metal testing laboratories which are also proposed in this area. So you need to understand this chromium is not present in air quality index or maybe because it doesn't it is not going to affect your air it is going to affect your soil and groundwater but lead nickel lead is present in air quality index air quality index which is which can be discussed separately. already know this air quality index which is there under switch bar there are eight pollutants that have been listed there in that let this one part of it but not the chromium because chromium is going to affect your soil and ground water but not the air so we'll have a practice question related to this chromium is highly toxic and can p carogenic risk yeah that is exactly correct cancer risk industrial activities such as leather tanning can contribute to chromium ium contamination. Chromium 6 contamination is tanneries is where the main source of this chromium. So you'll be tested exactly like this. So second statement is correct. Chromium 6 contamination can affect both soil and groundwater. Exactly correct but not air. So all statements should be correct. Let's check. Yes, all statements are correct. Let's move on to the next part of discussion. Now let's move ahead and see the next part of discussion which is on delimitation. So here Mr. Rangar Rajan has written about the federal dilemma of delimitation. So we will see what is del limitation because many in many articles in many discussions you have you would have seen what is del limitation why it is in news why the opposition is so uh against these bills like women's resolution bill and what is the government is what the government is trying to do with the del limitation so these all discussions it have been regularly seen in the news now and then so here everything put together in a simple simple discussion we will see what is delimitation what are its constitutional backgrounds why the southern states and some northeastern states are more anxious about it and what is the government willing to do with this amendment bill and also a way forward for it. So first delimitation it's a process of redrawing. So it's a process of redrawing your boundaries of constituencies and Lok Sabha and state assemblies. So in state assemblies and Lok Sabha so you have to note it. It is not for councils. It's not for Raja Sabha. So it is only for Lok Sabha constituencies and state assemblies. For these the constituencies should be redrawn. The the representation of MP to the ratio of people who is representing should be make made more uniform across the country for which delimitation is to be done. What is the purpose of delimitation? As I said, it ensures equal representation of people. Let's say in Tamil Nadu there is 1 MP representing 20 lakh people but in Arunachal Pradesh or in Manipur there is 1 MP representing only five lakh to six lakh people. So the O the value of O changes. So the D limitation what it does is it actually brings the value of to a uniform scale that is it normalizes to one or maybe around one. So this is the purpose of del limitation. That is the one important purpose of del limitation for which the constitution has said that the constitution should be done based the del limitation should be done on the population changes because the population is what is deciding your representation. Right? So based on the population the del limitation should be carried forward was the statement in constitution. It also decides SCST reserved constituencies. Now what now what is the status for SCST reserved constabant state that based on the population based on the population of SCST the number of seats is allocated let's say 10% is 15% 5% whatever it is based on the population so that population data comes from the census so what it says is after every census after every 10 years the actually the population census which is taken should be reflecting in the delimitation so that is the purpose of delimitation and what is a delimmit imitation commission. This commission is going to recommend the delimitation process that what are the constitution should be changed? What are the what are the constituencies should be changed? What are the what what should be the ratio of MP to the population he repres he or she represents. So it is an independent body appointed by the government of India. So it is government of India not president. You need to understand it is government of India to redraw the boundaries of Lok Sabhan state assembly constituency. So these things will be checked. You see government of India present they'll just twist it and they'll check you. It should be government of India. It is constituted under the delimitation act of parliament which is article 82. We will see what is article 82 briefly next coming slides. It orders the force of law. That means whatever the recommendation it is giving whatever the uh things that it is suggesting it is it is as a force of law and it cannot be questioned in any court of law too means the court cannot say that you whatever the del limitation you have done is wrong you should change it. So that cannot be done because that is it that is the independence given to this commission they they stick to the principle of population changes that is coming in that is that has been taken out from the latest census. So what is the constitutional basis? As I said, article 82 is very much important here because that is what this talks about the delimitation. So your article 82 says that readjustment after each census and each census is where the contention year is now because as we know the census has been delayed since 2011. Uh since 2011 there have been no census because due to COVID 2021 census have been delayed. how the government is actually do uh coming forward or actually initiated that census after 2026. So almost 15 years we are without any data. So that is that is a contention point here. So the readjustment of each census after each census is what article 82 gives. So article 82 gives power to the delimitation commission. Article 81 says composition of Lok Sabha which you can just uh remember. Article 172nd composition of state assemblies. So here we will see an historical history before delimitation. Quickly we you would have all known that since 1951 that was the first election that was the first census that was taken in India that is independent India. So 1951 after 9 1951 census there was a del limitation after 1961 there was a delimitation after 1971 there were del limitation. There were three delimitation till 1971. But what happened after 1971 is that many many states have actually made efforts to control their population because union government forced or actually union government made the state government to reduce the population of the country. So many states have did it. Since the states have reduced the population so they cannot be punished or they cannot be said that you are reduced the population so your MP representation also will be less because of because the del limitation is especially focused on population. So what happened the union government then in 1971 and Indra told that it has freezed the del limitation for next 25 years. So since so from 1976 that is in 42nd amendment what happened 42nd constitution amendment the del limitation has been freezed till for 25 years. Okay so they said that the same census of 1971 will be used for next 25 years. Okay that is that was agreed by all the states and all the union terriies. Then came after 25 years the 2001 and 2003. So here again same thing happened. So the state cannot be punished because they have reduced the population because they have taken steps to reduce the population. So again what they did they fixed the number of seats that is 543 but what they did is they changed the boundaries that changed the constitution size like say boundaries of constitution have changed. Let's say you have two constitution two constituencies like this they changed it like this. So they said two constituencies constituencies within the state have been changed. So let's say if Tamadu is having 39 MPs the constituencies the boundaries of constituencies within Tamilad has changed so that the toall count for that states remains the same. So in 19 in 1976 till 1976 there were three del limitation and in 2003 there was one del limitation but not based on population but only for the boundaries. So there were totally only four delimitation excise taken till now you have to remember it only four. So now they are going to bring a bill saying that we have to deal we have to have the del limitation exercise based on the population or based on the census that we are going to take. So what are the contentions? Why southern states and other few northeastern states are more anxious? They say that lower population growth due to successful population control. So they were having they are having now lower population because they tried they use maximum state means state state capital to actually reduce the population and bring the population under control because if you see the fertility rate in southern states like Tamil Nadu is 1.4 or hair light is around 1.5 or 1.4. So the the fertility rate is below 2.1 that is replacement fertility rate. So they they made maximum efforts to reduce the population or bring the population under control. So now by delimitation they cannot be punished saying that now you have less population so you should have only less representation in your in from your state. So that is the contention and del limitation based on population may favor i growth states. So when it favors iiggro states the political balance is going to shift and only few states will be more concentrated for the uh projects or for any for any welfare schemes but other states will be left out because they don't have that much weight in the lo sabha and the share of loava seats is going to decline as I said and fear of losing political and federal influence. So once you lose your representation your influence in political making your influence in constitutional amendment is going to bring bring it is going to bring down so that the people the aspirations of people from south or northeast or maybe other northwestern states like Punjab too. So there are concerns that these these states will actually have less political influence and say and also the less voices from their state. core concern is that population control should not become a political penalty. So they say that only based on population you don't fix the seats have some other criteria or bring some other formula so that everything is actually normalized and no one is facing a loss. What is this 131st amendment bill that is bought by government that the government is trying to bring it on? The government is saying that they're going to bring a woman's reservation bill for which they want to increase the size of Lok Sabha. So they say they want to increase the size of Lok Sabha from 543 to 850 and give within 850 they are trying to give 33%age of reservation for women which is very good actually bringing women more representation for women in parliament and state registered is very much welcome but they're trying to increase the seat then give the representation give all states about 50% is more seats keeping their relative share broadly unchanged see they are the union government Actually Mr. Amita and also other leaders have said that they're going to give 50% increase for all the states from the present number of from the present count but that is not assured in the bill as many opposition say that is not assured in the bill. If there is 50%age increase for every states the overall percentage of the states respective states remains the same. So the the respective percentage remains the same. So the voice or the concern of population is not matter now. But when there is based on population census let's say they're saying that they use the 2011 census for the proposed delimitation excess and they aim to create smaller constences and facilate women's reservation. Now they say after saying that they're going to increase 50%age for all states and territories but they also link it with the 2011 census. So once it has been increased 50%age later they might say that because of 2011 census this is not going to happen. So we have to decrease. So that is a contention now. Now what is going to happen now? Whether you're going to increase 50%age to all or whether you're going to say you're going to make it based on census. Now you increase 15%age and then you say it is now going to be based on census. So that confusion is there between the opposition and the ruling government that that clarity will become will be clear when they discuss more on the parliament floor. So what are the expected outcomes when this bill is passed? When this 131 amendment bill is passed because it's a constitutional amendment, you need 2/3 of majority 2/3 of people present and voting plus 50%age of strength. Means out of 543 that is a present sen you need 360 to pass this bill but at present the government is not having the 360 or the NDA government is not having 360. So they're trying to uh say that the bill will be bill is going to represent every people bill is going to be positive for all. So they're trying to bring the opposition on par or on page with the delimitation bill. So what the what are the expected outcomes? First one is the increase in the log saba seats gives citizens better representation because now people in UP if you say there are 32 lakhs people is represented by one MP but tomorrow if it becomes 20 lakhs there can be more representation better representation in the Lok Sabha and small constitution can be more manageable by the MPs because the funds MLAD funds can be used better lads funds so these things can be used better and bone managed in the smaller constituencies and protects federal balance because it broadly maintains the existing states ratio because when you increase 50%age of all the ratio is going to remain the same. So this point of contention will be more when it is this point of contraction will be better when they are discussing it on the floor and facilitates women's reservation. So woman's reservation is getting tied up with this del limitation bill. But many opposition players are saying that why not give 33% reservation within this 543. Why you increase it and then give 33%. Why not give it in the give it in the same strength? That is a argument that is well argu that is a argument to put in place but it should be well thought and it should be brought into the brought into the discussion or brought into the attention of the government whether within 543 give 33%age to women and then let us see if there is a need to increase or not then reduce representation gap so it addresses the mismatch between India's growing population and the number of MPs so once again India's population is growing it is not stable it It's not like it's not declining, it is going to grow. So since it is going to grow, you have to make efforts now saying that this much of people that there should be a range that saying this much of people should be represented by NMP. So that range can be fixed so that that would reduce the representation gap. So these are the things expected from these 131st amendment bill. So here is a stat which you can understand. See here as I said if you see in Uttar Pradesh there there are 80 seats today but the pro population represented by 1 MP is around 32 lakhs. So the old the value of one vote is around.56 but if you see if you take Tamil ladu it is 39 seats and 20 lakhs will be represented by 1 MP. So the value of becomes.9 so there is a disparity. So this disparity will be addressed by delimitation. So how this disparity should be addressed? It is it should not address only through population but through other criteria is what the concern of many states. Not only through the population but also other criterias but let's say when everything when everybody gets 50% is increase. So here if you say when Tam gets when Tam has 39 when it gets 50% increase it will be around 59 it will be around 60. So the percentage of 7.8 or 7.9 will be remaining same in the overall 8 850 but when it is linking to census of 2011 what happens if you take a load it moves from 39 to 49 so the representation decreases from 7.8 to 7.2%age 2% but if you take Bhar it is 40 now and it will make it will move to 79 so the representation increases to 7.4%age 4 percentage which is huge. So this increase is actually the sorry this increase yeah this increase is actually is alarming because few states will dominate the seats in the Lok Sabha which will be which will shift the balance of power in India and it will be an an shock for the federal unity in India. So such such are the concerns given by the states and as well as by opposition a a balanced approach where you can actually have where you can actually have population criteria economic criteria other criteria put into place for the delimitation and bring all states on parity that will that will be better for everybody and what are the measures to to have a balance so increase the low subsidies that should be done because you have to increase because see uh 543 today 32 lakhs per MP is too much 32 lakh tax is too much in UP, Bihar and maybe Rajasth and MP other states. So these states so for these states to reduce the reduce the representation or reduce the representation per MP you need to increase the seats and also parallelly the governments in those states should work on population control. So both should go on together. It should not one it should not it's not that one should be for more focused both should go on together. And next is protect federal balance. See in Senate, US Senate what happens? US Senate is similar to Raja Sappa in India upper house. In US Senate, every state that is 50 states in US are given two seats each. So there are 100 irrespective of their population every state is given two representatives. So similarly in Radha Sabha you can give such a representation so that you balance the deficit that is there in Lok Sabha and use a transparent independent delimitation commission that is that will be welcomed by everybody and consider the population control efforts while deciding the representation that is you have to also consider other criterias that is what the point is so we see what we saw what is limitation what the constitution status what the government is trying to bring what are the anxious what why the states are anxious southern states and northeast particular anxious and how to have a balance. So in main's practice question we will see delimitation is necessary to ensure equitable representation but it may also create challenges to India's federal balance. Discuss the concerns of southern states and sgest measure. So in first part you should say why it is why it is how it is ensuring equitable why why it is how it is ensuring the equity. So you need to say the functional effects functional effects of delimitation then you should say it also challenges the India's federal balance by saying how it is going to affect certain state how it's going to affect some few nor eastern states and what are the s what are the concerns of these states parallelly you discuss both together and finally suggest the measures to have a balance so that is all about the discussion for this topic let's move on now let's have focus discussion uh the first one is the triumph of the Indian republic the book which is written by Ramlad Goin. So Ramad Goin was the first person from the Uttar Pradesh as well as the first person from the Bahad Janata party to become the president of India. So he was a 14th president of India uh and he served from 2017 to 2022. So this book is all about his bio autobiography where he has actually written about his life his struggles and also the the things that he has done when he was in the role of president. So this book will actually this book was released by prime minister Narendra Modi and uh this has a significance because in many places in many test you have been asked what are the who is the author for certain books. So since it was written by president it actually comes under the our radar. So that's all about it. You need to know about the book name and also who's the author. He was the 14th president of India and the first person from UP to become president. Our next topic will be on 8th bricks ocean polar science and tech. So bricks actually is presided by India in this year that is in 2026. So there are many many such meetings related to uh foreign affairs related to defense and there is there in this continuation we have this oceanic polar science and tech meeting. So this was initiated in 2018. So since 2018 it has been uh these groups the working groups are actually meeting regularly that is annually all the 11 members are expected to attend this meeting in India and who are those 11 members which that is that is those are the bricks members though South Africa Saudi Arabia sorry Saudi Arabia is not an is not officially confirming that they are part of bricks but still they are under the bricks according to the statute. So we will see what is this meeting is about. This meeting is being hosted by National Center for Polar and Ocean Research under the Ministry of Earth Sciences because any related to ocean anything related to uh polar science it will be coming under the Ministry of Earth Sciences and the delegates of all the countries that is all the 11 member countries and also other countries participating countries are going to attend this and they are going to have five year road map for this ocean polar science and they're going to exchange knowledge capacity building and collaborative research were also being focused in this meeting. So who are those 11 members? If you see the founding members are Brazil, Russia, India, China, brick and then comes South Africa and makes it bricks. So from then on we have Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE, Saudi who has not officially confirmed its stance on bricks but still it's a part of brick and the latest member is Indonesia. There is a possibility of expansion of bricks in 2026 which will be awaited after the meet. So our third topic in this focus will be on global employment trends for youth 2026 which is back to the future. So new report by UN's interest label organization that is ILO has stated that the unemployment among the youths have been in decrease postcoid that is after 2020 2021 there is decrease in unemployment till 2023 there was decrease in unemployment but post that the unemployment among youth have been in increased so that was the concern raised by this report of UN's international labor organization it says that the increase across it the increase that is seen in the youth unemployment is also across high inome countries, middle- inome countries and low-inccome countries. So there is some factor that is that is having a trigger that is having that is causing this unemployment. So it is alarming the states especially the Arab states and North African countries to take steps for this unemployment crisis. So that is that is what you need to know. You need to know what is the report is all about and who is who is actually authoring the report and what is the main thing that they have mentioned in the report that is the unemployment rise in youth is back. So we'll have practice question related to our discussion for the film's focus. The first the question is with reference to the eight bricks working group meeting on ocean and polar science and technology. Consider the following statements. Why it is eighth working group? Because though bricks have been established in 2009 itself. This has actually come into action in only 2018. So that is why it's eight working group. The meeting aims to promote scientific cooperation among bricks countries in oceanic and polar research. That is correct. It is hosted by Indian National Center for Polar and Ocean Research under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. That is correct. You will be tested in this ministry where you have to you have to be more aware. And third statement is bricks cooperation in this field includes joint research, data sharing, capacity building and technology development. Yeah, that is also correct. That is the objective of this mission and the bricks ocean and polar science initiatives restricted to research in the Arctic region. No, it is not restricted to research in Arctic region. It is going to have include the Pacific region and also Atlantic. So it is not restricted to Arctic region. So statement four is incorrect. The answer should be 1 2 3 which is B. So answer should be B. Let's check. Yes, the answer is B. Thank you for watching. Please like, comment, share and subscribe our YouTube channel and also have the bell icon press for instant notifications. See you again in the next interesting session.