2 April 2025 Current Affairs

Government Pushes for Wakf Bill

Issue Overview

• The Waqf (Amendment) Bill is set to be discussed and passed in the Lok Sabha on April 2, 2025, amid opposition resistance.The Congress has issued a three-line whip to all its MPs, ensuring their presence in the House for the debate.

Current Developments

• The government is determined to pass the bill, while the opposition calls it unconstitutional and demands more discussion.
• The Lok Sabha Business Advisory Committee (BAC), chaired by Speaker Om Birla, allocated eight hours for debate, which may be extended.
• Opposition parties, including Congress and the INDIA bloc, walked out of the BAC meeting, alleging their concerns were ignored.
• Kiren Rijiju (Minister for Minorities & Parliamentary Affairs) confirmed the scheduled debate and stated that all parties had been consulted.
• The opposition demands a broader discussion, including issues like Manipur violence and electors' photo identity card row.

Background of the Waqf Bill

• Waqf refers to endowments made for religious or charitable purposes in Islam, managed by Waqf Boards.
• The Waqf Act, 1995, established State Waqf Boards and a Central Waqf Council to regulate waqf properties.
• Amendments were made in 2013, expanding the powers of Waqf Boards over disputed properties.
• The 2025 amendment is expected to introduce further reforms, possibly altering how waqf properties are governed and acquired.
• The opposition fears the bill may dilute minority rights and government control over waqf properties.

El -Nino Unlikely This Year.

Issue Overview

• The El Nino phenomenon, which warms parts of the Pacific Ocean and is blamed for ocean warmth and extreme weather, has officially ended.
• The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) confirmed that El Nino has dissipated and predicted a 65% probability of La Nina forming between July and September 2025.
• La Nina is characterized by the cooling of the Pacific Ocean and has contrasting effects compared to El Nino.

Current Developments

1. Neutral ENSO conditions are currently in place, meaning weather patterns align more closely with long-term averages.

2. However, NOAA’s Michelle L'Heureux states this neutral phase is unlikely to persist for long.

3. La Nina’s Impact:

• Expected to intensify the Atlantic hurricane season, peaking in August 2025.
• Causes drier conditions across the southern U.S., potentially worsening droughts.
• Can lead to wildfires, tropical cyclones, floods, and prolonged droughts affecting global agriculture.

4. Economic Impact:

• Crops grown in geographically concentrated areas are more vulnerable to weather-related price increases.
• However, global wheat and corn prices are less likely to be significantly impacted.

5. Other Agencies’ Reports:

• World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and Japan’s weather bureau also confirm El Nino’s end and predict La Nina’s arrival.

6. Impact on India:

• AccuWeather’s Jason Nicholls predicts a wetter monsoon due to the El Nino to La Nina transition.
• The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) can further influence rainfall:

- Positive IOD → Increased monsoon rainfall.

- Negative IOD → Reduced monsoon rainfall.

Background of El Nino & La Nina

1. El Nino:

• A natural warming of eastern and central Pacific Ocean surface temperatures.
• Can lead to droughts, wildfires, and weakened monsoons in some regions while causing floods and storms in others.

2. La Nina:

• A natural cooling of the same Pacific Ocean regions.
• Typically results in harsher winters, stronger hurricanes, and drier conditions in some parts of the world.

3. ENSO Cycle (El Nino–Southern Oscillation):

• The shift between El Nino, La Nina, and Neutral phases occurs every 2 to 7 years.
• These changes impact global climate and weather systems, influencing agriculture, water supply, and disaster risks worldwide.

Tourist Ministry Not Utilizing Funds

A Parliamentary Standing Committee has expressed serious concerns over the chronic underutilisation of funds by the Union Tourism Ministry, calling it a fundamental challenge to India's tourism growth. The report, submitted to the Rajya Sabha, highlights deep-rooted systemic inefficiencies and recommends urgent structural reforms to address the issue.

Key Findings of the Report

1. In 2023-24, only ₹801.81 crore (33.4%) of the allocated ₹2,400 crore was utilised.

2. In 2024-25, the utilisation dropped further to ₹396.82 crore out of ₹2,479.62 crore.

3. The committee termed these figures “alarming”, indicating severe inefficiencies in fund allocation and project execution.

4. The Tourism Ministry attributed this underutilisation to:

• Administrative bottlenecks
• Procedural delays
• Coordination challenges with implementing agencies

5. However, the committee found these reasons inadequate, citing deep operational weaknesses that require immediate redressal.

Recommendations by the Committee

1. Digital Initiatives – Integrated Digital Project Management System (IDPMS)

• The committee suggested adopting an Integrated Digital Project Management System (IDPMS), inspired by Tamil Nadu’s tourism data collection model.
• The system would provide:

- End-to-end project lifecycle management (proposal submission to fund disbursal).

- Automatic alerts & escalation mechanisms for pending actions.

- Real-time dashboards for transparency, accessible by Ministry officials and State tourism departments.

2. Incentives for States – Tourism Implementation Rating System (TIRS)

a. The Tourism Implementation Rating System (TIRS) would:

• Evaluate and rank States based on tourism project implementation efficiency.
• Consider fund utilisation, documentation submission, and project completion rates.
• Create healthy competition among States to improve efficiency.

b. High-performing States will receive:

• Priority funding for new projects.
• Relaxed procedural requirements.
• Recognition through annual tourism implementation excellence awards.

Background of Tourism in India

1. India has a rich cultural and natural heritage, making it a major global tourism destination.

2. The tourism sector contributes significantly to GDP and employment, with millions dependent on it for livelihoods.

3. The Government of India has launched several initiatives to boost tourism:

• Swadesh Darshan Scheme (Theme-based tourism circuits).
• PRASHAD Scheme (Pilgrimage and spiritual tourism development).
• Dekho Apna Desh (Domestic tourism promotion).

4. India’s travel and tourism market is projected to grow to $34.1 billion by 2029, but inefficiencies in fund utilisation hinder growth.

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