Current Affairs

Aadhaar 

• Aadhaar is a 12-digit individual identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India on behalf of the Government of India. The number serves as proof of identity and address, anywhere in India. 
• The Aadhaar number is unique for each individual and will remain valid for life time. 
• Aadhaar number will help the residents to avail various services provided by banking, mobile phone connections and other Govt. and Non-Govt. services in due course. 
• Establishes identity of individuals on the basis of demographic and biometric information. 
• It is a voluntary service that every resident can avail irrespective of present documentation. Concerns for Aadhaar in India 

News: - 

• In the midst of India's extensive digital infrastructure development, Moody's report “Decentralized Finance and Digital Assets” has underscored that the world's largest digital identification program frequently denies services to users. 
• The report raises concern about the dependability of biometric technology Analysis of Moody's Report: - 
• Biometric Authentication Concerns: 
• The Rating Agency remarked in its report about the government's adoption of Aadhaar for routing Direct Benefit Transfers to beneficiaries of welfare schemes such as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) etc, which is hindering their effective Implementation. 
• Aadhaar biometric faces hurdles, including the burden of establishing authorization and concerns about biometric reliability. 
• Aadhaar system enables access to public and private services, with verification via fingerprint or iris scans and alternatives like One-Time Passcodes (OTPs). 

Concerns Related to Service Denials: 

• The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) administers Aadhaar, aiming to integrate marginalized groups and expand welfare benefits access. 
• The system often results in service denials, and the reliability of biometric technologies, especially for manual labourers in hot, humid climates, is questionable. 

Government's Response to Moody's report Recognition by International Agencies: 

• Government held that a number of international agencies, including the IMF and the World Bank, have lauded Aadhaar and several nations have also engaged with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to understand how they may deploy similar digital ID systems. 
• Facilitation of Schemes like MGNREGA: Government said that authors of the report are unaware that the seeding of Aadhaar in the MGNREGS database has been done without requiring the worker to authenticate using their biometrics. 
• Advantages of Direct Benefit Transfer: Government stressed that even payment to workers under the scheme is made by directly crediting money into their account and does not require the worker to authenticate using their biometrics.

News– 

• Recently, Canada has decided to cap the number of international student visas for a two-year period. It will begin with the upcoming academic session. This article explores the various implications of this decision. 

Decisions have been taken by the Canadian Government 

• Foreign students visa cap– It has announced a 35% reduction in the number of new international student permits (as compared to 2023) for the academic session starting on September 1, 2024. 2) 
• PGWP modifications– It has also announced modifications to the Post Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWP). PGWP enabled international students to work in Canada upon finishing their studies. 
• Restriction on spousal work permits– Work permits for spouses of international students will no longer be issued, except for those enrolled in master’s and doctoral programs. 
• Note– A review will take place at the end of this year to determine the number of study permits for 2025. 
• The limit on permits is temporary. 

The implications of this decision for foreign students, especially for Indians 

• The two-year cap on student permits applies only to undergraduate courses. Masters, PhD, and elementary/secondary school courses are exempted. 
• The restrictions will apply to only new applicants. Current international students in Canada, whether in undergraduate or other programs, remain unaffected. 
• The visa cap will hit Indian students. As per data from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the majority of student visas are granted to applicants from Asia, with India ranking as the top country on the list (followed by China).

PADMA AWARDS Background: 

• The Padma Awards are announced annually on Republic Day (26th January). 
• Instituted in 1954, it is one of the highest civilian honours of India. 

Objective: 

• To recognize achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines where an element of public service is involved.  Padma Awards were instituted in 1954 to be awarded to citizens of India in recognition of their distinguished contribution in various spheres of activity. 
• The government suspended the practice of granting the Padma awards for two years in 1977. 
• It was again suspended during mid-1992 when 2 PILs were filed in the High Courts of India 

Categories: 

The Awards are given in three categories: 

• Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), 
• Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher-order) and 
• Padma Shri (distinguished service). 
• Padma Vibhushan is highest in the hierarchy of Padma Awards followed by Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. Disciplines: 

• The Awards are given in various disciplines/ fields of activities, viz.- art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service etc.

Eligibility: 

• All persons without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex are eligible for these Awards. 

Selection Process: 

Padma Awards Committee:

• The Awards are conferred on the recommendations made by the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year. 

Awarded by President: 

• The awards are presented by the President of India usually in the month of March/April every year.

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