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August 12th Current Affairs

Home / UPSC / Current affairs / UPSC Current Affairs – August 12th

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Candidates trained under Grameen Kaushalya Yojana not getting adequate employment, says Parliamentary panel

Why is this in the news?

A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj has highlighted a major gap between skill training and actual employment under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY).

According to the latest figures, 18.38 lakh candidates had been trained under DDU-GKY by March 2026, but only about 11.94 lakh (around 65%) had been placed. The committee has called for stronger industry linkages and better tracking of candidates after training.

What is DDU-GKY?

Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) is a placement-linked skill development programme of the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD).

  • Launched: 25 September 2014
  • Target group: Rural poor youth, primarily 15–35 years
  • Broad objective: Convert rural poor youth into an economically independent and employable workforce.
  • It is linked with the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM).
  • Training is designed to be market-oriented and placement-linked.

Key features

Feature

Details

Ministry

Ministry of Rural Development

Target

Rural poor youth

Age

Generally 15–35 years

Nature

Placement-linked skill development

Training

Vocational + technical + soft skills

Focus

Wage employment

Implementation

Through Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs)

Linkage

National Rural Livelihood Mission

The programme also provides training in areas such as IT, English, soft skills and sector-specific skills, with provisions for on-the-job training and post-placement support.

What has the Parliamentary Committee found?

The central concern is the training-to-employment gap.

Important figures

  • 18.38 lakh candidates trained under DDU-GKY by March 2026.
  • Around 11.94 lakh candidates placed.
  • Thus, placement was approximately 65% of those trained.
  • About 6.44 lakh trained candidates were not reflected in placement figures.

The committee has therefore argued that simply counting the number of people trained is not enough. The real measure of success should be whether training results in sustainable and decent employment.

Major Problems Highlighted

  1. Skill–Job mismatch

Training may not always correspond to the actual requirements of industries.

Example:
A candidate may receive training in a particular occupation, but suitable jobs may not exist locally or may require additional skills.

  1. Low wages

Some candidates reportedly obtain jobs with low wages, making employment unattractive or economically unsustainable.

  1. Poor retention

Getting a job is only the first step. Candidates may leave jobs because of:

  • Low salary
  • Poor working conditions
  • Lack of career progression
  • Migration-related difficulties
  • Distance from their home
  1. Distress migration

When rural youth cannot find suitable employment near their communities, they may migrate to cities or other regions in search of work.

  1. Weak industry linkage

The committee has recommended mandatory industry linkages so that training providers understand what employers actually require.

  1. Inadequate post-placement tracking

A candidate being marked as “placed” does not necessarily mean that he/she continues in employment.

Therefore, post-placement tracking and support are important.

What has the Committee Recommended?

The Parliamentary panel has called for:

  1. Nearly 100% candidate tracking

The Rural Development Department should track candidates more effectively after training and placement.

  1. Stronger industry linkages

Training programmes should be designed according to actual labour-market demand.

  1. Localised placement drives

Instead of relying only on distant employment opportunities, placement drives should be organised closer to rural communities.

  1. Better post-placement support

Candidates should receive support after joining jobs so that they can retain employment and progress in their careers

DDU-GKY vs RSETI

Do not confuse these two schemes:

DDU-GKY
→ Mainly placement-linked wage employment for rural poor youth.

Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs)
→ Focus on self-employment and entrepreneurship, including enabling trainees to access bank credit for micro-enterprises.

India–U.S. space cooperation enters a new phase with proposed lunar outpost partnership

Why in News?

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has invited the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to participate in its Moon Base programme, aimed at establishing a sustained human presence on the Moon.

The invitation was extended during the 9th India-U.S. Civil Space Joint Working Group meeting, held at ISRO headquarters in Bengaluru on August 5–6, 2026. The proposal builds upon cooperation between the two countries under the Artemis Accords.

What is the NASA Moon Base?

NASA’s Moon Base programme is part of its broader Artemis programme.

The objective is to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon, particularly around the lunar South Pole.

The proposed lunar outpost would support:

  • Astronauts living and working on the Moon
  • Scientific research
  • Lunar resource utilisation
  • Development of technologies for long-duration missions
  • Preparation for future deep-space exploration, including Mars

The programme is expected to involve both crewed and uncrewed missions and contributions from international partners.

Why is the Lunar South Pole Important?

The South Polar region of the Moon is strategically and scientifically important.

  1. Water ice

Scientists have detected evidence of water ice in permanently shadowed regions near the lunar poles.

Water can potentially be converted into:

Water → Oxygen + Hydrogen

  • Oxygen → breathing and potentially rocket oxidiser
  • Hydrogen + Oxygen → rocket propellant

Thus, lunar water could reduce the need to transport resources from Earth.

  1. Permanently shadowed regions

Some polar craters receive little or no direct sunlight. These extremely cold regions can preserve volatile substances such as water ice for long periods.

  1. Near-continuous sunlight

Some elevated areas near the poles receive sunlight for relatively long periods, making them potentially useful for solar power generation.

What are the Artemis Accords?

The Artemis Accords are a set of principles for peaceful and responsible exploration of the Moon, Mars and other celestial bodies.

They were established by NASA and partner countries to promote cooperation in space exploration.

Important principles include:

  • Peaceful exploration
  • Transparency in activities
  • Interoperability of systems
  • Emergency assistance to astronauts
  • Registration of space objects
  • Sharing of scientific data
  • Preservation of space heritage
  • Responsible use of space resources

India joined the Artemis Accords in 2023.

Artemis Accords ≠ Artemis programme

Artemis Programme

Artemis Accords

NASA-led exploration programme

International cooperation framework

Focuses on Moon exploration and human return

Establishes principles for responsible exploration

Includes missions, spacecraft and infrastructure

Includes participating countries

Why is this important for India?

  1. Recognition of India’s growing space capability

India’s successful Chandrayaan-3 landing near the lunar South Pole demonstrated ISRO’s ability to conduct complex lunar missions.

The new invitation indicates growing international confidence in India’s capabilities.

  1. Opportunity for advanced technology cooperation

Participation could provide opportunities for cooperation in:

  • Lunar robotics
  • Space habitats
  • Life-support systems
  • Navigation
  • Communication
  • Human spaceflight
  • Lunar science
  • Resource utilisation
  1. Supports India’s human-spaceflight ambitions

India is developing its own human-spaceflight capabilities through Gaganyaan.

ISRO is also planning the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), with the long-term objective of developing an Indian space station. ISRO has stated that BAS could eventually serve as a platform for international collaboration and future lunar exploration.

  1. Strengthens India-U.S. strategic partnership

Space cooperation is increasingly becoming an important component of India-U.S. relations alongside:

  • Defence
  • Critical technologies
  • Semiconductors
  • Space
  • Artificial intelligence
  • Telecommunications

India's Existing Lunar Cooperation

India is already involved in important international lunar missions.

Chandrayaan-5 / LUPEX

India and Japan (JAXA) are collaborating on the Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) mission.

Its objective includes studying lunar polar volatiles, particularly water/ice, using a lander and rover.

ISRO’s 2025–26 Annual Report states that the mission received financial sanction in March 2025, while the implementation arrangement between ISRO and JAXA was signed in August 2025.

Chandrayaan-4

India’s planned Chandrayaan-4 is a lunar sample-return mission, designed to collect samples from the lunar polar region and return them to Earth for laboratory analysis.

Significance of International Cooperation in Lunar Exploration

Lunar exploration is becoming increasingly complex and expensive.

International cooperation allows countries to share:

Cost + Technology + Scientific Expertise + Infrastructure + Data

It also reduces duplication of efforts and promotes peaceful utilisation of outer space.

India’s growing participation in multinational space missions indicates a shift from being primarily a space technology user to becoming an important space exploration partner.

Challenges

  1. High cost

Establishing a permanent lunar outpost requires enormous investment.

  1. Harsh lunar environment

The Moon has:

  • No substantial atmosphere
  • Extreme temperature variations
  • High radiation exposure
  • Lunar dust
  • Difficult terrain
  1. Resource utilisation

Extracting water and other resources from lunar soil is technologically challenging.

  1. Space governance

As multiple countries and private companies plan lunar activities, questions surrounding resource extraction, safety zones and international law will become increasingly important.

Strengthening rehabilitation and victim support under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) framework

Why is it in News?

A government panel has recommended enhanced financial relief and counselling support for victims of atrocities belonging to Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).

The recommendations are aimed at improving the implementation of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, particularly its victim-relief and rehabilitation provisions. The government has also proposed increasing the maximum compensation for victims of atrocities to ₹12 lakh, along with strengthening the institutional mechanisms for investigation and prosecution.

National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)

The NCST is a constitutional body established under Article 338A of the Constitution.

It came into existence in 2004, following the bifurcation of the earlier National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

The Commission’s broad purpose is to safeguard the rights and interests of Scheduled Tribes and monitor their constitutional and legal protections. The NCST itself maintains provisions and resources relating to the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Fifth and Sixth Schedule areas, Forest Rights Act and PESA.

What is the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989?

The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 was enacted to:

  • Prevent atrocities against SCs and STs.
  • Provide special protection against caste-based violence and discrimination.
  • Establish mechanisms for investigation and prosecution.
  • Provide relief and rehabilitation to victims.
  • Create Special Courts/Exclusive Special Courts for speedy trial of offences.

The law was strengthened through subsequent amendments, particularly in 2015 and 2018.

 

Why is enhanced relief important?

Financial compensation alone may not be sufficient for victims of serious atrocities.

Victims may suffer:

  1. Economic loss

Loss of property, livelihood, employment or earning capacity.

  1. Social displacement

Victims may be forced to leave their homes or communities.

  1. Psychological trauma

Violence and humiliation can have long-term mental and social consequences.

  1. Difficulty in accessing justice

Victims may face intimidation, delays in investigation and difficulties in navigating the legal system.

Therefore, the panel’s emphasis on counselling + financial assistance + rehabilitation + legal support reflects a more comprehensive victim-centred approach.

What does the proposed increase in relief mean?

The government has proposed a more than 40% increase in compensation, taking the maximum assistance to ₹12 lakh for eligible victims of atrocities.

The proposal also includes financial support to States for establishing special police stations and courts, with the objective of improving enforcement of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The broader approach:

Atrocity → Immediate protection → Relief → Medical/psychological support → Investigation → Prosecution → Rehabilitation

This is important because justice should not end with the registration of an FIR or conviction of the accused.

NCST: Constitutional Position

Article 338A

Article 338A provides for the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes.

Composition

The Commission consists of:

  • Chairperson
  • Vice-Chairperson
  • Three other Members

They are appointed by the President of India.

Major Functions of NCST

The Commission:

  1. Investigates and monitors

It investigates and monitors matters relating to the constitutional and other legal safeguards for STs.

  1. Inquires into complaints

It can inquire into specific complaints regarding deprivation of rights and safeguards of STs.

  1. Advises governments

It participates in and advises on the planning process for socio-economic development of Scheduled Tribes.

  1. Reports to the President

The Commission submits reports to the President of India regarding the working of safeguards for STs.

  1. Recommends measures

It recommends steps for improving the protection and socio-economic development of ST communities.

  1. Civil court powers

While investigating matters, the Commission has powers similar to those of a civil court in specified matters.

A new security alignment in West Asia and what it means for India

Why in News?

On August 7, 2026, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye signed a trilateral defence agreement in Mecca, widely referred to as the Mecca Pact.

A key provision is the principle that an armed attack against one signatory will be treated as an attack against all three. The agreement institutionalises closer military coordination and collective deterrence among the three countries.

For India, the development is important because it connects West Asian security with South Asian security through Pakistan and reflects a wider trend of countries adopting strategic hedging rather than depending exclusively on one major power.

What is the Makkah Pact?

The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement is a trilateral defence arrangement among:

🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia

🇹🇷 Türkiye

🇵🇰 Pakistan

Its broad objectives are:

  • Strengthening collective deterrence
  • Increasing defence cooperation
  • Enhancing military coordination
  • Protecting the security of the three countries
  • Promoting regional stability
  • Developing closer strategic and defence-industrial ties.

The pact does not replace existing bilateral or multilateral agreements of the three countries.

What is "Strategic Hedging"?

Strategic hedging = avoiding excessive dependence on any one major power by maintaining relationships with multiple competing powers.

In simple words:

Don’t put all your eggs in one geopolitical basket.

A country may simultaneously cooperate with:

USA + China + Russia + regional powers

without becoming a formal ally of any single one.

This gives the country:

  • Greater diplomatic flexibility
  • Multiple security options
  • Economic alternatives
  • Greater bargaining power
  • Protection against uncertainty in the international system

Saudi Arabia’s foreign policy is increasingly described in terms of strategic hedging: it seeks to diversify its external partnerships rather than rely entirely on the United States.

Why is Strategic Hedging Increasing?

  1. Perceived uncertainty about U.S. security guarantees

For decades, the U.S. has been a major security provider in the Gulf.

However, regional countries increasingly believe that they cannot depend entirely on Washington during every crisis.

Therefore, Saudi Arabia has been diversifying its security relationships.

Saudi approach:

USA
↓
China
↓
Pakistan
↓
Türkiye
↓
Regional diplomacy

The objective is not necessarily to abandon the U.S., but to reduce dependence on it.

Saudi Arabia's Multi-Alignment

Saudi Arabia is simultaneously maintaining relationships with several competing powers.

With the United States

  • Defence cooperation
  • Security partnership
  • Investment and technology links

With China

  • Major energy and trade relationship
  • China brokered the Saudi-Iran rapprochement in 2023

With Iran

  • Diplomatic relations restored in 2023
  • Attempts to manage regional rivalry through dialogue

With Pakistan

  • Defence and security cooperation
  • Long-standing military relationship
  • New mutual-defence framework

With Türkiye

  • Defence, economic and political cooperation

This is the essence of strategic hedging: maintaining multiple relationships so that no single external power becomes indispensable.

Why did Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye come together?

Saudi Arabia’s interests

Saudi Arabia wants:

  • Greater deterrence
  • More security partners
  • Reduced dependence on the U.S.
  • Protection of critical infrastructure
  • Greater strategic autonomy

The 2019 attacks on Saudi oil facilities reinforced concerns about the vulnerability of relying on a single security provider.

Pakistan's interests

Pakistan gains:

  • Greater strategic importance
  • Defence cooperation
  • Economic and financial opportunities
  • Stronger relations with a major Gulf power
  • Enhanced diplomatic relevance beyond South Asia

Pakistan’s long-standing military relationship with Saudi Arabia provides the historical foundation for the partnership.

Türkiye's interests

Türkiye seeks:

  • Greater influence in West Asia
  • Expansion of defence partnerships
  • Strategic autonomy
  • Markets for its growing defence industry
  • A stronger regional role

Why is this important for India?

This is the most important UPSC dimension.

India should neither overreact nor ignore the development.

Potential concerns for India

  1. Pakistan’s enhanced strategic role

Pakistan is now directly connected to a Gulf security framework involving Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.

This could provide Islamabad with additional diplomatic and defence space.

  1. Nuclear dimension

Pakistan is a nuclear-armed country.

Any security arrangement that brings Pakistan’s strategic capabilities into a broader regional framework deserves careful monitoring.

However, do not automatically interpret the pact as a formal transfer of nuclear weapons or a nuclear-sharing arrangement. That would go beyond what is publicly established.

  1. Türkiye-Pakistan relationship

Türkiye has maintained close defence and political relations with Pakistan.

Greater institutionalisation could strengthen this relationship further.

  1. West Asia–South Asia linkage

The pact demonstrates that developments in West Asia can directly affect India’s neighbourhood.

India therefore needs to view West Asia and the Indian Ocean/South Asia as interconnected strategic theatres.

Why India should pursue Strategic Hedging too?

India already follows a broadly multi-aligned/strategically autonomous foreign policy.

India maintains strong relationships with:

USA → QUAD, defence and technology

Russia → defence, energy and strategic cooperation

France → defence, Indian Ocean and strategic partnership

Israel → defence and technology

Iran → connectivity and Chabahar

Saudi Arabia & Gulf → energy, trade, investment and diaspora

UAE → investment, connectivity and strategic cooperation

This allows India to avoid being locked into one geopolitical bloc.

India’s strategy can be summarised as:

Strategic Autonomy + Multi-Alignment + Issue-based Partnerships

Major Challenges of the Mecca Pact

  1. Different strategic priorities

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye do not have identical interests.

  1. Institutionalisation

A defence pact on paper does not automatically create an integrated military alliance.

  1. Regional rivalries

The pact could intensify competition involving Iran, Israel and other regional actors.

  1. Risk of arms race

Greater military cooperation could encourage other countries to strengthen their own defence partnerships.

  1. Alliance credibility

The real test will be how the members respond during an actual security crisis.

Tribunal independence, separation of powers and the proposed National Tribunals Commission

Why in News?

The issue of independence of tribunals has come into focus with the proposed Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2026, which seeks to establish a National Tribunals Commission (NTC).

The key concern is that excessive executive control over appointment, tenure and removal of tribunal members can compromise judicial independence.

What are Tribunals?

Tribunals are specialised adjudicatory bodies created to provide speedy and expert resolution of specific disputes.

Examples:

  • CAT – Service matters
  • NCLT – Company and insolvency matters
  • NGT – Environmental matters
  • AFT – Armed forces matters

Objectives

  • Reduce burden on courts
  • Provide specialised expertise
  • Speedy dispute resolution

Core Issue: Independence of Tribunals

The Executive is often a litigant before tribunals. If the same Executive has significant control over:

Appointment → Tenure → Service conditions → Removal

it can create a conflict of interest.

UPSC Concept:

A tribunal exercising judicial functions must be independent of the Executive.

Arbitrary removal can create fear among members and affect impartial decision-making.

National Tribunals Commission (NTC)

The proposed NTC aims to provide a more independent and uniform administrative framework for tribunals.

Significance:

  • Reduces executive interference
  • Ensures uniformity in appointments and service conditions
  • Improves administrative efficiency
  • Strengthens tribunal independence

Important Supreme Court Judgments

  1. L.Chandra Kumar v. Union of India (1997) ⭐

The Supreme Court held that:

  • Judicial review by High Courts under Articles 226 and 227 is part of the basic structure.
  • Tribunals are supplementary to courts, not replacements for constitutional courts.
  • Decisions of tribunals are subject to scrutiny by High Courts.

Madras Bar Association Case

The Supreme Court has repeatedly emphasised that tribunal appointments, tenure and conditions of service must preserve judicial independence.

Constitutional Provisions

Article

Provision

323A

Administrative Tribunals

323B

Tribunals for specified matters

226

High Court writ jurisdiction

227

High Court superintendence

32

Supreme Court – Fundamental Rights

Key Issues with Tribunals

  • Executive interference
  • Vacancies
  • Pendency of cases
  • Lack of infrastructure
  • Financial dependence
  • Lack of uniformity
  • Concerns over security of tenure

Way Forward

Independent appointment + secure tenure + due-process-based removal + financial/administrative autonomy + National Tribunals Commission

The objective should be to balance efficiency with judicial independence.

 

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