19 May 2025 Current Affairs

Gyan Bharatam Mission

• The Union Budget 2025-26 has introduced the ‘Gyan Bharatam Mission’, aimed at surveying, documenting, and conserving India’s vast manuscript heritage. 
• Objective: The initiative seeks to conserve over one crore manuscripts housed in academic institutions, museums, libraries, and private collections.
• Budget Allocation:  To accommodate this new initiative, the budget allocation for the National Manuscripts Mission (NMM), has been increased from Rs 3.5 crore to Rs 60 crore. 
• National Manuscripts Mission (NMM):  NMM was launched by the Ministry of Culture in 2003 under the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA). It aims to preserve and make accessible India's vast manuscript heritage. 
• IGNCA was established in 1987 as an autonomous institution for research, academic pursuit, and dissemination in the arts.
• Manuscript:  A manuscript is a handwritten composition created on materials such as paper, bark, cloth, metal, or palm leaf, and it must be at least 75 years old. 
• India holds an estimated 5 million manuscripts, probably the largest collection in the world.

UN Peacekeeping Mission

The United Nations Peacekeeping Mission is a globally coordinated effort to restore and maintain peace in conflict zones, by deploying military, police, and civilian personnel. It serves as a tool for the UN Security Council (UNSC) to fulfill its mandate of ensuring international peace and security, especially in post-conflict societies.

Mandate Source:

• UN Charter, particularly Chapter VI (Pacific Settlement of Disputes) and Chapter VII (Action with Respect to Threats to the Peace).
• The UN Security Council is empowered to establish peacekeeping operations.

Key Doctrine:

• Capstone Doctrine – The official UN policy document outlining principles and strategies for peacekeeping.

Basic Principles of UN Peacekeeping: 

As per the Capstone Doctrine, all UN peacekeeping operations are guided by three non-negotiable principles:

• Consent of the parties - Operations are undertaken with the consent of the host state or conflict parties.
• Impartiality - Forces must remain neutral and avoid favoring any side.
• Non-use of force - Except in self-defense or defense of the mandate.

Mandates and Functions

UN peacekeepers carry out multidimensional roles, including:

• Monitoring Peace Agreements - Overseeing ceasefires and DDR (Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration).
• Building Confidence - Electoral assistance, mediation, and institutional reforms.
• Upholding Rule of Law & Human Rights - Support in legal reform, police training, and human rights protection.
• Protecting Civilians - Ensuring the safety of women, children, and displaced populations.
• Facilitating Democratic Processes - Assisting in organizing free and fair elections.
• Deployment of Peacekeeping Forces

First Mission:

UNTSO (1948) – United Nations Truce Supervision Organization in the Middle East to supervise armistice agreements between Israel and Arab States.

Current Deployment (as of 2025):

• 11 UN peacekeeping missions are active across three continents.
• Key areas: South Sudan (UNMISS), Central African Republic (MINUSCA), DR Congo (MONUSCO), Mali (MINUSMA), Lebanon (UNIFIL), Kosovo (UNMIK), etc.

Successes of UN Peacekeeping

• Conflict Resolution: Played vital roles in stabilizing and rebuilding Cambodia, Mozambique, El Salvador, Namibia, and Tajikistan.
• Recognition: Nobel Peace Prize (1988) awarded to UN Peacekeepers.
• Democratization: Supported democratic transitions through election monitoring and constitution-building.

Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS)

Launched by: Ministry of Railways

Launch Date: February 2023

Type: Ongoing redevelopment mission for Indian railway stations

Objective:

To redevelop and modernize railway stations across India by creating master plans with a long-term and phased implementation approach.

Salient Features:

1. Holistic Development

• Customized redevelopment plan for each station based on local needs.
• Focus on modernization, sustainability, and commercial integration.

2. Improved Passenger Amenities

• Clean and hygienic waiting areas
• Modern restrooms
• Facilities for differently-abled persons
• Food & beverage outlets

3. Enhanced Traffic Circulation

• Separate entry/exit points for vehicles and passengers
• Wider roads and footpaths
• Better parking infrastructure

4. Inter-modal Integration

• Seamless connectivity with buses, taxis, auto-rickshaws
• Promotes last-mile connectivity

5. Upgraded Signage

• Multi-lingual, clear signage
• Aims to improve passenger guidance and navigation

6. Sustainable Development

• Energy-efficient lighting and appliances
• Emphasis on eco-friendly infrastructure

7. Eco-Friendly Initiatives

• Rainwater harvesting systems
• Green open spaces
• Ballastless tracks to reduce noise and vibration

8. Commercial Utilization

• Development of roof plazas for:
• Commercial activities
• Passenger amenities
• Public spaces

Higher defence spending won’t stretchIndia’s finances

Higher Defence Spending & Fiscal Space:

1. The Central Government has sufficient fiscal space to absorb an increase in defence expenditure without breaching the fiscal deficit target of 4.4% for FY 2025-26.

2. The Ministry of Defence is expected to seek an additional ₹50,000 crore in the Supplementary Demand for Grants.

3. This increase is considered manageable due to:

• Higher-than-expected dividends from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
• Lower global oil prices reducing fiscal burden
• Stable tax revenue growth
• Flexibility to re-prioritize or cut other expenditures, especially in revenue expenditure across multiple schemes

Role of RBI Dividend:

• RBI transferred a record ₹2.1 lakh crore dividend in FY 2023-24, which is 141% higher than the previous year.
• The government expects even higher dividend transfers in the current fiscal year, which will provide a cushion for increased defence spending.

Historical Context of Fiscal Deficit During Conflicts:

India's fiscal deficit has generally remained under control during periods of heightened tensions with Pakistan, except when there was:

• A full-scale war
• Global crises impacting the economy

Examples:

• Fiscal deficit rose from 3% in 1970-71 to 3.45% in 1971-72 during the 1971 Indo-Pak war.
• Fiscal deficit rose from 5.3% in 2000-01 to 6.1% in 2001-02 during the Kargil War.
• The deficit fell after the 2001 Parliament attack and 2016 Uri attack despite heightened tensions.
• The 2008 Mumbai terror attack coincided with the Global Financial Crisis, causing a spike in deficit due to economic stimulus, not just security concerns.
• The deficit ballooned in 2019-20 and 2020-21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic response, not just because of the Pulwama attack.

Key Takeaways

• The government’s fiscal deficit target of 4.4% is unlikely to be breached due to higher defence spending.
• If expenditure cuts are needed, they will likely be spread across multiple revenue expenditure heads instead of focusing on any single sector.
• Macroeconomic tailwinds (like low oil prices and robust tax collections) provide flexibility for defence budget augmentation.