The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Fourth Amendment) Bill, 2019

• The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Fourth Amendment) Bill, 2019 was introduced in Lok Sabha by the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment. The Bill seeks to provide for the advancement of “economically weaker sections” of citizens.
• Article 15 of the Constitution prohibits discrimination against any citizen on the grounds of race, religion, caste, sex, or place of birth. However, the government may make special provisions for the advancement of socially and educationally backward classes, or for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. 
• The Bill seeks to amend Article 15 to additionally permit the government to provide for the advancement of “economically weaker sections”.  Further, up to 10% of seats may be reserved for such sections for admission in educational institutions.  Such reservation will not apply to minority educational institutions.
• Article 16 of the Constitution prohibits discrimination in employment in any government office. However, the government can allow reservation for any “backward class of citizens”, if they are not adequately represented in the services under the state. 
• The Bill seeks to amend Article 16 to permit the government to reserve up to 10% of all posts for the “economically weaker sections” of citizens.
• The reservation of up to 10% for “economically weaker sections” in educational institutions and public employment will be in addition to the existing reservation.
• The central government will notify the “economically weaker sections” of citizens on the basis of family income and other indicators of economic disadvantage.

Importance:

• Passage of The Constitution (One Hundred And Twenty-Fourth Amendment) Bill, 2019 in both Houses of Parliament is a victory for social justice.
• It ensures a wider canvas for our Yuva Shakti to showcase their prowess and contribute towards India’s transformation.
• By passing The Constitution (One Hundred And Twenty-Fourth Amendment) Bill, 2019, we pay tributes to the makers of our Constitution and the great freedom fighters, who envisioned an India that is strong and inclusive".
• Poor citizens outside the SC, ST and OBC categories are able to compete with those who are better off.
• Reservation benefits in line with the directive principles of state policy which call for extending help to the weaker sections.
• Economically weaker sections’ to be defined by the State from time to time on the basis of family income and other indicators of economic disadvantage.

Khelo India Youth Games

About Khelo India Youth Games:

• Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG), formerly Khelo India School Games (KISG), meaning Play India Youth Games, held annually in January or Februrary, are the national level multidisciplinary grassroot games in India held for two categories, namely under-17 years school students and under-21 college students.
• Every year best 1000 kids will be given an annual scholarship of INR500,000 for 8 years to prepare them for the international sporting events.
• The Training of Trainers (TOT) Programme will be held in December 2018- January 2019 in the first phase. Here total of 160 trainers will be trained in 4 batches of 40 each in December-January period.
• This TOT Programme will be carried out semi-annually or quarterly to include all the interested teachers, principals, vice-principals and physical education trainers.
• On 31 January 2018, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, declared open the inaugural Khelo India School Games at the opening ceremony based on Guru–shishya tradition held at Indira Gandhi Arena. from the 2019 events, Khelo India School Games were renamed to Khelo India Youth Games after Indian Olympic Association came on board earlier in September 2018.
• The second edition of the event was kicked off in Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, a sports complex situated in belawadi, Pune, by Sports Minister, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, and, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis.

Annual games

Sports

The inaugural 2018 games had students competing for 209 gold medals across 16 sports. Badminton, basketball, boxing (26 gold medals), gymnastics (20 gold medals), judo (16 gold medals), kabaddi, volleyball and wrestling (30 gold medals) were held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium Complex. Athletics (36 gold medals), football, kho kho and weightlifting (16 gold medals) were held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Swimming at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Swimming Complex (35 gold medals), hockey at the Dhyan Chand National Stadium and shooting at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range were other venues.

Selection criteria

• Only selected school kids below the age of 17 years are eligible to compete. In the individual sports, top 8 sportsperson from the School Games Federation of India's National School Games, 4 nominations from federation, one from Central Board of Secondary Education, one from the host State and 2 wild card entries for the individual events will be selected.
• In team sports, the top 4 from the National School Games, 2 nominations by the federation, 1 from the host State and one from the organising committee will be selected.
• For archery, badminton and shooting, the top 16 from the National School Games, 8 nominations by the federation, 1 from CBSE, 1 from host State, 1 from organising committee, and 6 from wild cards will be selected.

Talent hunt and scholarship

To identify the talent at grassroot level, each sports has a dedicated talent hunt committee, who will identify top 2 sportsperson for each sports and they will be given an annual scholarship of INR598,000 for 8 years.

E-Mobility Programme

About E-Mobility Programme:

• Union Minister of State (IC) Power and New & Renewable Energy, launched the National E-Mobility Programme in March 2018.
• The Programme aims to provide an impetus to the entire e-mobility ecosystem including vehicle manufacturers, charging infrastructure companies, fleet operators, service providers, etc.
• The Programme will be implemented by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) which will aggregate demand by procuring electric vehicles in bulk to get economies of scale.
• These electric vehicles will replace the existing fleet of petrol and diesel vehicles. EESL had procured 10,000 e-vehicles last year and will issue a new tender very soon for 10,000 more e-vehicles to cater to the growing demand.
• With these 20,000 electric cars, India is expected to save over 5 crore litres of fuel every year leading to a reduction of over 5.6 lakh tonnes of annual CO2 emission.

About EESL

• Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), under the Ministry of Power, Government of India, is working towards mainstreaming energy efficiency and is implementing the world’s largest energy efficiency portfolio in the country.
• Driven by the mission of Enabling More – more efficiency, more innovation, EESL aims to creating market access for efficient and future ready transformative solutions that create a win-win situation for every stakeholder.
• Thus far, EESL has distributed over 29 crore LED bulbs and retrofitted 50 lakh LED streetlights across India through self-sustaining commercial models.
• EESL aims to leverage this implementation experience and exploit new opportunities in overseas market for diversification of its portfolio. As on date, EESL has begun its operations in UK, South Asia and South-East Asia.

Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950

Gist of Bill: On the basis of recommendation of State of Assam, it is proposed to amend the Schedule to the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 relating to Assam, to grant Scheduled Tribe status to the communities, namely,

Chutiya, Matak, Moran, Koch Rajbongshi, Tai Ahom, Mal Paharia, Kawar, Lodha, Baiga, Nagasia, Bhil, Gorait, Halba, Majwar, Dhanwar, Asur, Pradhan, Khond, Korwa, Kherwar, Chero, Koya, Birhor, Parja, Mirdha, Kishan, Chik Baraik, Kol, Saora, Birjia , Damdari, Bonda, Mahli, Shabar, Kharia, Gond, Munda, Oraon, Bedia, Santal and Bhumij.

Background: The first specification of Scheduled Tribes in relation to a particular State or Union territory is by a notified Order of the President, after consultation with the State Government / UT concerned. Any subsequent inclusion in or exclusion from and other modifications in the list of Scheduled Tribes can be made only through an amending Act of Parliament.

Major Impact: This will fulfill the long term demand of the above communities for granting Scheduled Tribes status to them in the State of Assam. The persons belonging to the above communities will be eligible to get the Scheduled Tribe certificate from the State of Assam and will also be eligible for all benefits meant for the Scheduled Tribes in the State.