CURRENT AFFAIRS - 26/02/2024

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CURRENT AFFAIRS – 26/02/2024

CURRENT AFFAIRS – 26/02/2024

Poverty levels below 5%,claims NITI Aayog chief

(General Studies- Paper II)

Source : The Hindu

B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, CEO of NitiAayog, highlighted positive trends in the Indian economy recently, emphasizing the results of the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) for 2022-23.

Less than 5% of Indians are projected to be below the poverty line, and extreme destitution is nearly eradicated, as per the findings of the HCES.
This indicates a significant improvement in the economic well-being of the population.

Key Highlights

CEO of NitiAayog, dismissed the notion that India’s growth is limited to a few individuals and refuted claims of a weak rural economy.
He asserted that growth is “broad-based,” citing the accelerated rise in incomes and expenditures of rural Indians, surpassing their urban counterparts.
This challenges the perception of an urban-rural divide in economic prosperity.
Narrowing Urban-Rural Consumption Divide and Declining Inequality
- Subrahmanyam highlighted a significant shift in the urban-rural consumption divide, which has narrowed from 91% in 2004-05 to 71% in 2022-23.
- This points to a decline in inequality between urban and rural households.
- Notably, rural households’ spending on food has dropped below 50% of their total expenditure, marking a historic shift.
Changing Spending Patterns:
- The survey revealed noteworthy changes in spending patterns, particularly in food consumption.
- Lower expenditures on pulses and cereals, below 5% of per capita consumer expenditure, were accompanied by increased spending on conveyances, consumer durables, and consumer services.
- This suggests an overall increase in income levels, allowing people to allocate a smaller share of their earnings to food.
- The shift in spending is interpreted as a positive sign, indicating improved incomes and evolving lifestyles.
- The relative decrease in spending on food is accompanied by an increase in consumption of non-essential items like TVs, fridges, mobile phones, and cars.
Significance of Official Data:
- Subrahmanyam emphasized the significance of the 2022-23 HCES data, being the first official information since 2011-12.
- He noted that this release was highly anticipated due to inconsistencies in the 2017-18 Survey data, which coincided with the period just after demonetization, making the current findings particularly relevant and reliable.
Poverty Metrics and Consumption Averages
- Citing Monthly Per Capita Expenditure (MPCE) averages in 2022-23, it was highlighted that ₹1,373 represented the average consumption for the bottom 5% of rural households, while the next 5% showed an average of ₹1,782.
- The poverty lines and estimates are derived from this data.
- Given the absence of the 2017-18 Survey findings, there was a discussion on different informal estimates for poverty.
- If one considers the last accepted poverty line of ₹32 a day (as of 2011-12) and factors in inflation trends, it was suggested that poverty in rural India could be less than 10%, with the average spending of ₹1,782 by the bottom 5% to 10% fractile class.
Inclusive Factors and Reduced Destitution
- The argument was put forth that adding the imputed value of food transfers and subsidies from schemes like the PM GaribKalyan Anna Yojana could bring poverty below 5%.
- It was also highlighted that benefits like healthcare under the Ayushman Bharat scheme and free education were not factored into the consumption expenditure survey.
- It was thus asserted that destitution and deprivation have significantly diminished.
- Referring to the multi-dimensional poverty index, it was stated that 11% of the population was below the poverty line last year, enabling 25 crore people to escape poverty.
- There was an emphasis on a substantial increase in urban and rural consumption, over 2.5 times from 2011-12 levels, indicating robust economic growth.

About the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES)

The Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) for 2022-23 is a comprehensive study conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) to gather information on consumer habits among Indian households.
The survey covers both rural and urban areas, providing estimates of Monthly Per Capita Consumption (MPCE) for states and union territories, along with socio-economic groupings.
Data was collected from 2, 61,746 households, split evenly between rural and urban regions.
Estimation of MPCE is based on actual consumption patterns rather than recall periods.
Key findings:
- The average Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure (MPCE) increased significantly in both rural and urban areas.
  - At current prices, the MPCE rose to ₹3,773 in rural areas and ₹6,459 in urban areas.
  - When adjusted to 2011-12 prices, the MPCE increased to ₹2,008 in rural areas and ₹3,510 in urban areas.
- The difference in average MPCE between rural and urban households decreased to 71.2% in 2022-23 compared to 83.3% in 2011-12.
  - This indicates that rural consumption spending has grown more rapidly than urban consumption spending during the past decade.
- The bottom 5% of rural households had an average MPCE of ₹1,373, while it was ₹2,001 for the bottom 5% of urban households.
  - On the contrary, the top 5% of rural households had an average MPCE of ₹10,501, and the top 5% of urban households had an average MPCE of ₹20,824.
- The share of expenditure on food declined in both rural and urban areas.
  - In 2022-23, the share of expenditure on food in rural India was 46% (₹1,750), and in urban India, it was 39% (₹2,530).
- The share of expenditure on non-food items increased in both rural and urban areas.
  - In 2022-23, the share of expenditure on non-food items in rural India was 54%, and in urban India, it was 61%.
  - These shares were 52.9% and 42.6% in rural and urban India, respectively, in 2011-12.

About the Niti Aayog

NITI Aayog is a premier policy think tank established by the Government of India on January 1, 2015, replacing the erstwhile Planning Commission.
Its primary objectives include fostering cooperative federalism, driving sustainable development goals, and enhancing competitiveness within the nation.
NITI Aayog operates with a full-time organizational framework consisting of a Vice Chairman, four full-time members, two part-time members, four ex-officio members of the Union Council of Ministers, a CEO (ranking as Secretary to the Government of India), and a secretariat staff.
Additionally, NITI Aayog engages with experts and specialists in various fields, including academicians, researchers, and industry leaders

Why were surrogacy rules modified?

(General Studies- Paper II)

Source : The Hindu

The Union government, on February 21, made a significant amendment to the Surrogacy (Regulation) Rules, 2022, permitting married couples to utilize donor eggs or donor sperm for surrogacy.

This reversal of a prior amendment from March 2023, which had banned the use of donor gametes, comes as a relief for couples facing medical complications hindering conception.

Key Highlights

Background
- The Surrogacy Rules, specifically Form 2 and Rule 7, were amended on March 14, 2023, prohibiting the use of donor eggs for gestational surrogacy by intending couples.
- The recent modification, announced by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, allows married couples to use donor gametes, provided a District Magistrate Board certifies a medical condition affecting either the husband or the wife.
Conditions and Limitations of the New Amendment
- While the amended rules permit the use of donor gametes, a crucial stipulation states that the child born through surrogacy must have at least one gamete from the intending parents.
- This means that in cases where both partners are medically unable to provide gametes, surrogacy is not an option.
- However, this change does not apply to widowed or divorced women, who, according to the modified rules, must use self-eggs and donor sperms for surrogacy procedures.
Supreme Court’s Intervention on Surrogacy Amendment
- The Supreme Court addressed the 2023 amendment to the Surrogacy Rules, brought to its attention through a challenge filed by a woman with Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser Syndrome, preventing her from producing eggs.
- The Court considered the amendment’s impact on the right to parenthood and its potential violation of the Surrogacy Act, 2021.
- The petitioner argued that the amendment contradicted sections of the 2021 Act, which acknowledged situations requiring gestational surrogacy due to medical conditions.
- The petitioner, facing MRKH Syndrome, asserted the retrospective implementation of the amendment affected her ongoing surrogacy process.
- The Centre defended the amendment, stating surrogacy must involve a genetic connection between the child and the intending couple.
- The Court noted the exemption for donor eggs and questioned the compatibility of the amendment with the parent law.
- Supreme Court’s Observations
  - The Supreme Court, led by Justices B.V. Nagarathna and UjjalBhuyan, expressed concern that the amendment contradicted the objective of the 2021 Act by hindering intending couples from achieving parenthood through surrogacy.
  - It recognized the woman-centric nature of laws allowing gestational surrogacy for those facing medical or congenital conditions affecting pregnancy.
  - The Court emphasized the significance of Rule 14(a) in recognizing specific medical indications for gestational surrogacy, including the absence of a uterus or related conditions.
- Ongoing Reconsideration by the Centre
  - Following the Court’s observations, the Centre informed a different bench that the amendment barring married couples from using donor gametes was actively under reconsideration.
  - This indicates a potential reevaluation of the amendment in light of the Court’s concerns and interpretation of existing surrogacy laws.
- Exclusion of Single Women from Surrogacy
  - The recent regulatory change allowing the use of donor gametes for surrogacy does not extend to single women, specifying that widows or divorcees undergoing surrogacy must use self-eggs and donor sperm.
  - Legal Challenge in Delhi High Court
    - A 44-year-old unmarried woman has filed a petition in the Delhi High Court challenging provisions of the 2021 Surrogacy Act.
    - She argues that the restrictions on single women’s access to surrogacy violate her fundamental rights under Articles 14 (right to equality) and 21 (right to life) of the Constitution.
    - The petitioner questions the association of marital status with surrogacy eligibility, emphasizing medical recommendations for the use of donor eggs at her age.
  - Criticism and Expert Opinions
    - Legal experts and activists have criticized the limitations imposed on access to surrogacy for single individuals, live-in couples, and LGBTQ couples.
    - The debate revolves around the perceived discrimination and the need for legal reforms to address evolving societal structures and family compositions.
    - The ongoing legal challenge highlights broader discussions on the inclusivity of surrogacy regulations in India.

Can the IMEC address the Red Sea crisis?

(General Studies- Paper II)

Source : The Hindu

The prolonged Red Sea crisis, now in its fourth month, is significantly disrupting global supply chains, leading to inflated freights, delayed vessel schedules, and product shortages.

The crisis underscores the vulnerabilities of global supply chains, prompting a reconsideration of alternative routes for global trade.

Key Highlights

Strategic Importance of the Red Sea Route
- The Red Sea’s strategic significance in global trade is attributed to the Bab el-Mandab Strait, situated between Yemen and Djibouti.
- This waterway represents one of the world’s busiest transit points for cargo and oil, with nearly 12% of international merchandise trade passing through it.
- The ongoing Red Sea conflict has compelled major container and oil carriers to reroute shipments via the Cape of Good Hope, resulting in increased ocean freight, higher insurance costs, longer voyage times, delays, and product shortages.
- These challenges contribute to elevated transportation costs that are ultimately transferred to consumers in the form of increased commodity prices.
Impact on India’s Trade
- India is particularly affected as its trade with European and North African countries relies heavily on the Red Sea route, representing almost 24% of its exports and 14% of its imports.
- In the fiscal year 2022-23, India’s bilateral trade with Europe and North Africa reached $189 billion and $15 billion, respectively.
- The heightened concerns among traders have led to a decrease in Indian shipments, with around 25% of cargo ships holding back due to rising threats in the Red Sea.
- The Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) reports this trend, highlighting the immediate consequences for India’s trade.
China’s Alternative Projection:
- Amid the challenges faced by global supply chains, China is actively promoting China-Europe freight trains as an alternative route.
- These freight trains are part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
- While the Red Sea crisis prompts a reassessment of traditional trade routes, China is positioning its BRI infrastructure to offer an alternative and potentially more stable pathway for global trade.
Challenges and Potential Solutions for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC)
- The IMEC, announced during the 2023 G-20 summit, presents an alternative trade route; however, it faces challenges hindering its viability.
- The corridor, spanning from India to the Middle East and Europe, has not garnered significant attention, partly due to the absence of investments or operations and complications arising from the Israel-Palestine conflict.
- Additionally, the strategic vulnerability of the Strait of Hormuz poses a considerable risk.
- Experts suggest that incorporating Oman into the IMEC architecture could mitigate this risk, but it would entail further delays in infrastructure development.
Making IMEC Viable: Proposed Strategies
- Empirical Study on Economic Benefits:
  - A comprehensive empirical study is essential to quantify the economic advantages of the corridor.
  - Despite estimations that the IMEC could reduce journey time from India to Europe by 40% and transit costs by 30%, concerns about increased carriage and compliance costs need empirical validation.
  - Such a study would attract stakeholders by providing a clearer economic rationale.
- Establishing a Robust Financial Framework:
  - Currently lacking binding financial commitments from corridor signatories, attracting investments is crucial.
  - Governments, international organizations, and private sector entities need to be engaged to contribute to the financial framework, ensuring sustained development and operations of the corridor.
- Multi-Nation Operational Framework:
  - Given the diverse legal systems involved in facilitating trade across nations, the establishment of a comprehensive multi-nation operational framework is imperative.
  - This framework would address operational intricacies, fostering cooperation and coordination among participating countries.
- Constituting a Dedicated Forum:
  - To oversee the various activities required for the corridor’s development, a dedicated forum should be constituted.
  - This forum would play a central role in coordinating efforts, addressing challenges, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders.

About the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC)

The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) is a proposed economic corridor aimed at enhancing economic development and connectivity between Asia, the Arabian Gulf, and Europe.
Key details about the IMEC include:
- Formation:
  - The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the IMEC was signed on September 10, 2023, during the 2023 G20 New Delhi summit by the governments of India, United States, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, Italy, and the European Union.
- Purpose:
  - The IMEC seeks to promote economic development and inter-regional connectivity by establishing transportation and communication links between Europe and Asia through rail and shipping networks.
- Geographical Scope:
  - The corridor is proposed to run from India to Europe through countries like the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, and Greece.
- Infrastructure:
  - The IMEC will consist of two separate corridors – an east corridor connecting India to the Arabian Gulf and a northern corridor connecting the Arabian Gulf to Europe.
  - It will include a railway network and other infrastructure for enhanced connectivity.
- Counter to BRI:
  - The project is seen as a counter to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and aims to provide an alternative route for trade and connectivity between Asia and Europe.
- Challenges:
  - The project has faced delays due to factors like the 2023 Israel-Hamas war.
  - Additionally, there have been criticisms from Turkish President RecepTayyip Erdogan for bypassing Turkey in the corridor plans.

The Geography Around

Red Sea:
- The Red Sea is a narrow sea located between northeastern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
- It connects to the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal in the north.
- The Red Sea has been historically important for maritime trade, linking Europe to the Indian Ocean and the countries of East Asia.
- The northern part of the Red Sea is connected to the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal, a crucial artificial waterway that significantly shortens the maritime route between Europe and Asia.
Bab el-Mandab Strait:
- The Bab el-Mandab Strait is a narrow passage connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and ultimately the Arabian Sea.
- It is a crucial maritime chokepoint, and control over this strait is strategically important for international shipping and trade.
- The strait is located between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula and Djibouti and Eritrea in the Horn of Africa.
- Importance:
  - A significant portion of the world’s oil and natural gas shipments pass through this strait, making it a vital route for global energy transportation.
- Security Concerns:
  - The Bab el-Mandab has been a region of geopolitical tension, with concerns about piracy, terrorism, and political instability in the surrounding areas affecting maritime activities.
- Strait of Hormuz:
  - The Strait of Hormuz is situated between Oman and Iran, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
  - It is one of the most important and strategic waterways globally, as a significant portion of the world’s oil exports, particularly from the Gulf countries, passes through this narrow strait.
  - Geopolitical Significance:
    - Control over the Strait of Hormuz has implications for global energy security.
    - Tensions in the region, involving countries like Iran, have led to concerns about disruptions to maritime traffic and energy supplies.

Why has Google paused Gemini’s ability to generate AI images of people?

(General Studies- Paper III)

Source : The Hindu

Google’s Gemini chatbot has faced significant criticism and concerns from users, prompting Google to temporarily halt its ability to generate images of people.

The controversies emerged as the generative AI tool produced historically inaccurate images, including diverse depictions of U.S. Founding Fathers and individuals from Nazi-era Germany, challenging conventional gender and racial stereotypes present in generative AI.

Key Highlights

Accuracy Challenges
- Users have raised issues about the chatbot generating images that deviate from historical accuracy.
- Instances include the tool presenting images of U.S. Founding Fathers and individuals from Nazi-era Germany that seemingly subverted traditional gender and racial stereotypes, leading to concerns about the biases embedded in the tool.
- Refusal to Generate Images of White People
  - Criticism emerged as users observed instances where the Gemini chatbot appeared to refuse to generate images of white people.
  - Even when prompted with requests for historically significant figures like the “Founding Fathers of America” or “Pope,” the tool produced images of people of color, raising questions about biases and inaccuracies in the chatbot’s responses.
- Ethnicity-Specific Image Generation Challenges
  - Users highlighted the persistence of issues when prompting the chatbot with requests for images of specific ethnicities.
  - For example, prompts asking for images of a “white family” resulted in the chatbot stating it was unable to generate images specifying a certain ethnicity or race.
  - However, when asked for images of a black family, the chatbot easily provided them.
- Implementation of New Image-Generating Feature
  - The concerns arose approximately three weeks after Google introduced a new image-generating feature to the Gemini chatbot, formerly known as Bard.
  - The current model is based on Google’s research experiment called Imagen 2.
- Criticism in India Over Statements About Prime Minister Modi
  - Separately, the Gemini chatbot faced criticism in India for generating a response that suggested Prime Minister Narendra Modi had “been accused of implementing policies that some experts have characterized as fascist,” leading to controversy and further questioning of the chatbot’s accuracy and potential biases.
  - This response has led to criticism and accusations of violating Indian laws.
- Google’s Response to Criticisms of Gemini AI Chatbot
  - In response to the criticisms surrounding Gemini, Google’s AI chatbot, the company has taken steps to address the issues and temporarily disabled the image generation feature.
  - Jack Krawczyk, a senior director of products at Google, acknowledged the problems with Gemini and emphasized the company’s commitment to designing AI systems that reflect a global user base.
  - He recognized the need for further tuning to accommodate historical contexts and expressed Google’s dedication to refining Gemini’s responses based on user feedback.
- Similar Issues with Other AI Chatbots:
  - Microsoft’s Designer Tool:
    - Microsoft faced challenges with its Designer tool, which prompted adjustments due to users generating deepfake pornographic images of celebrities, including Taylor Swift.
  - OpenAI’sSora:
    - OpenAI’s AI video-generator tool, Sora, capable of producing realistic videos, raised concerns about potential misuse for spreading misinformation.
    - OpenAI implemented filters to block prompts containing violent, sexual, or hateful language, as well as images of prominent personalities.

What is Google Gemini?

Google Gemini is Google’s latest large language model (LLM) that offers a wide range of AI capabilities.
Gemini can answer simple questions, summarize text, create images, and is integrated with various Google services like Gmail, Google Maps, and YouTube.
It can provide sightseeing recommendations, run queries, and perform AI tasks through other Google services.
Versions:
- There are two versions of Gemini – Gemini Pro and Gemini Advanced.
- Gemini Pro is the free version available to all users, while Gemini Advanced is part of the Google One AI Premium Plan, offering more features and capabilities for a subscription fee.
Functionality:
- Google Gemini is a multimodal tool capable of handling various forms of input and output, including text, code, audio, and video.
- It uses a transformer model-based neural network architecture to process different data types effectively.

Railways brings down the curtain on ‘passenger trains’

(General Studies- Paper II and III)

Source : The Hindu

The Indian Railways has brought an end to the era of passenger trains, reclassifying them as express specials and implementing a significant fare hike.

The traditional ‘second class ordinary fare’ for passenger trains has been eliminated, leading to commuters being charged express fares, nearly double the previous rates.

Key Highlights

Details of Operational Changes:
- Passenger trains continue to operate as express specials, utilizing the same old rakes and serving the same routes and stoppages.
- In the Chennai Division, passenger trains have been replaced with Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU), while in Tiruchi and Madurai divisions, Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMUs) are deployed.
Impact on Affordability:
- Passenger trains, known for stopping at almost all stations, were preferred by economically disadvantaged passengers, including small vendors, farm workers, and daily wage laborers due to their affordability.
- The reclassification as express specials has resulted in fare parity with express trains, adversely affecting the affordability of rail travel for the lower-income demographic.
- At MGR Chennai Central, booking clerks noted that the ordinary fare structure no longer applied to suburban trains, resulting in doubled fares on certain routes.
- Examples include the Chennai to Tirupati route, where the fare increased from ₹35 to ₹70 post-COVID lockdown.
- Similarly, the Chennai Beach to Vellore and Chennai Egmore to Puducherry routes saw fare hikes from ₹30 and ₹45 to ₹65 and ₹80, respectively.
Response from Railway Officials:
- Senior railway officials clarified that the ordinary fare structure is now dependent on the classification of the train, whether it is designated as a passenger or express train, rather than considering factors such as speed or stoppages.
- The dispensing of the second class ordinary fare for passenger trains occurred post the pandemic, leading to the conclusion that there are no longer passenger trains in the conventional sense.
Outdated Fare Display:
- The Southern Railway has encountered challenges as fare charts at booking counters continue to display pre-pandemic tariffs or second-class ordinary fare structures that are no longer applicable.
- Commuters often cite the displayed fares, leading to confusion and arguments with booking clerks.
- Public complaints prompted the South Western Railway to restore the pre-COVID fare structure in its zone.
Conceptual Changes Post-Pandemic:
- Railway officials acknowledge that the decades-old concept of operating passenger trains has seemingly been discarded after the pandemic.
- The distinction between passenger and express trains has become less apparent, with slower-moving trains now designated as express specials, resulting in doubled fares.
Revenue Impact and Lack of Formal Announcement:
- The doubling of fares for passenger trains or express specials has contributed significantly to passenger earnings in 2022-23.
- While the Southern Railway reported its highest-ever revenue of ₹6,345 crore in the passenger segment, there has been no formal announcement regarding the withdrawal or redesignation of passenger trains.

IGNCA’s ‘language atlas’ to shine a light on India’s linguistic diversity

(General Studies- Paper I)

Source : The Hindu

As India emphasizes education in mother tongues, particularly at the primary level, questions arise about the actual number of “active” languages in the country.

The Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA), under the Union Culture Ministry, proposes a comprehensive linguistic survey to enumerate the languages spoken in various states and regions.

Key Highlights

Official Recognition and Census Data:
- India officially recognizes 22 languages listed in Schedule 8 of the Indian Constitution, spoken by 97% of the population according to Census data.
- An additional 99 non-scheduled languages are identified by around 37.8 million people as their mother tongue.
- Languages with fewer than 10,000 speakers have been excluded from Census records since 1971, leaving the native language of 1.2 million people unaccounted for.
- Many of these unrecorded languages are spoken by tribal communities.
1961 Census: A Comprehensive Record:
- The official Census of 1961 remains the most exhaustive and detailed regarding linguistic data.
- It included languages with even a single speaker, documenting 1,554 languages spoken in India.
Call for Comprehensive Linguistic Survey:
- Experts, including Prof. Ramesh C. Gaur, Director and Head of IGNCA’s Kala Nidhi Division, advocate for a comprehensive linguistic survey to create the Language Atlas of India.
- This survey can provide accurate data on the number of speakers for each language and serve as a crucial database for future policy decisions.
- A comprehensive linguistic survey can pave the way for future Census efforts to accurately count the number of people speaking each language or considering them as their mother tongues.
- This data can inform policy decisions and initiatives related to linguistic diversity and education in mother tongues.
Project Stakeholders:
- The Detailed Project Report (DPR) by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA) outlines a comprehensive linguistic survey in collaboration with various ministries, including Culture, Education, Tribal Affairs, Home, Social Justice and Empowerment, and Development of North East Region.
- Collaborative partners include the Central Institute of Indian Languages, National Museum, Centres for Endangered Languages, and Linguistic Departments of universities.
Survey Objectives:
- The survey aims to determine the number of languages, dialects, scripts, and extinct or endangered languages in India.
- It emphasizes the importance of languages in preserving local wisdom, knowledge, stories, and culture.
- The survey also recognizes the role of languages in transmitting indigenous knowledge, such as medicinal practices among tribal communities.
- The survey will be conducted in phases, starting with State-wise data collection followed by region-wise analysis.
- The Digital archive will store audio recordings of all languages spoken, contributing to the preservation of linguistic diversity.
Significance of Language Preservation:
- Languages are not just means of communication but crucial for preserving local knowledge and culture.
- The survey acknowledges the unique medicinal practices, stories, and cultural nuances embedded in various languages, especially within tribal communities.
Historical Context and Linguistic Survey of India (LSI):
- The first and most exhaustive Linguistic Survey of India (LSI) was conducted by Sir George Abraham Grierson in 1928.
- The LSI, while comprehensive, includes languages and dialects that may not align with contemporary Indian States due to post-Independence changes in the country’s map.
- The proposed survey aims to provide updated and accurate linguistic data.

About the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution

The Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution specifically deals with the recognition of languages.
It lists the languages that are recognized by the Constitution.
There are 22 languages listed in the Eighth Schedule.
These languages are recognized as scheduled languages, and they include Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, Punjabi, Assamese, Maithili, Santali, Kashmiri, Nepali, Konkani, Sindhi, Dogri, Manipuri, Bodo, and Santhali.