15 August 2023

• Polity: India celebrated its 77th Independence Day. Prime Minister Modi hoisted the national flag at the Red Fort and addressed the nation for the tenth consecutive year.
• Policy: The PM announced Vishwakarma Yojana, a new scheme for traditional craftspersons, at the Red Fort address.
• Science: Chandrayaan-3 completed its approach to the Moon ahead of the planned 23 August landing.
• Heritage: The Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, launched on 12 March 2021 from Sabarmati Ashram, concluded with the Independence Day celebrations.

GS area: Polity, Governance

India's 77th Independence Day was celebrated on 15 August 2023. The Prime Minister addressed the nation from the Red Fort for the tenth consecutive year.

• Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav: The celebration of 75 years of independence was launched from Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad on 12 March 2021 (the anniversary of the Dandi March). The Mahotsav concluded with the 77th Independence Day.
• Special Guests: Approximately 1,800 Special Guests attended, including Sarpanchs from over 660 vibrant villages, farmer producer organisation members, and construction workers from the Central Vista project.
• Key themes in the PM's address:
  • Corruption and nepotism: These were identified as the biggest threats to the country's development.
  • Women-led development: The PM projected women as the driving force of Viksit Bharat (Developed India by 2047).
  • Panch Pran: The five pledges for a developed India: Developed India by 2047, freedom from colonial mindset, pride in heritage, unity, and fulfilment of citizens' duties. Introduced in the 2022 Independence Day address.
  • Natural farming: The PM called for a shift to natural and organic farming to reduce chemical input dependence.

Static linkage: National movement, India's development agenda (GS Paper 1).

GS area: Governance, Economy (MSMEs)

The Prime Minister announced the PM Vishwakarma Yojana to support traditional craftspersons and artisans, particularly those from the OBC community.

• Target beneficiaries: Artisans in 18 traditional trades including weavers, goldsmiths, blacksmiths, potters, cobblers, carpenters, and sculptors.
• Launch date: The scheme was announced for formal launch on 17 September 2023 (Vishwakarma Jayanti).
• Benefits: Training, modern tools, brand promotion, digital payment integration, and social security coverage. The scheme provides collateral-free credit.
• Relevance: India has millions of traditional craftspersons working in the informal economy. Their skills face disruption from industrialisation and changing consumer preferences.
• Constitutional basis: Article 15(4) allows special provisions for backward classes. Article 16(4) permits reservation in government posts. For scheme-based support, the Constitution authorises Parliament and state legislatures to make laws for welfare of backward classes.

Static linkage: Government schemes, OBC welfare, traditional crafts (GS Paper 2).

GS area: Science and Technology (space)

As of 15 August 2023, the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft was in the lunar transfer trajectory, approaching its planned landing date of 23 August 2023. The mission was launched on 14 July 2023 by PSLV-C56.

• Mission architecture: Chandrayaan-3 has a Propulsion Module (which remains in lunar orbit), a Vikram Lander, and a Pragyan Rover.
• Lander instruments: RAMBHA (Langmuir probe for plasma), ChaSTE (thermal conductivity), and ILSA (seismometer).
• Rover instruments: LIBS (Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscope) and APXS (Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer) for elemental composition analysis.
• Target: The south polar region of the Moon at approximately 70 degrees south latitude.
• Context: Chandrayaan-2 (2019) had a landing failure; its orbiter continues to function. Russia's Luna-25 mission failed in a landing attempt on 19 August 2023, just days before Chandrayaan-3's planned touchdown.

Static linkage: Space science, ISRO missions (GS Paper 3).

GS area: Polity

The Constitution Bench continued hearing the challenge to Article 370 abrogation. August hearings probed the constitutional validity of using President's Rule to permanently alter J&K's constitutional relationship with India.

• Temporary vs permanent: The government argues Article 370 was always temporary and explicitly placed in Part XXI. Its abrogation is therefore constitutionally permissible.
• Petitioners' response: The "temporary" nature referred to the J&K Constituent Assembly's role in finalising J&K's relationship with India. Once the Constituent Assembly dissolved in 1957, the provision became effectively permanent.
• Federal dimension: The petitioners argue the reorganisation of a state requires the consent of the state legislature. Using President's Rule to bypass that requirement sets a dangerous precedent for federal governance.

Static linkage: Federalism, emergency provisions, constitutional law (GS Paper 2).

GS area: Governance, Polity

The Panch Pran (Five Pledges) introduced at the 2022 Independence Day were reiterated on the 77th Independence Day as the framework for India's ambitions for the centenary of independence in 2047.

• Developed India by 2047: Achieving high-income country status. This requires sustained GDP growth of approximately 8 per cent annually.
• Freedom from colonial mindset: Removing practices and laws inherited from colonial rule. The new criminal law codes are part of this agenda.
• Pride in heritage: Promoting India's cultural, linguistic, and philosophical traditions.
• Unity: Strengthening the bonds across the country's diversity.
• Duties of citizens: Emphasising the Fundamental Duties in Part IV-A of the Constitution (11 duties added by the 42nd and 86th Amendments).

Static linkage: India's development goals, constitutional values (GS Paper 2).

• Article 370 and J&K state elections: The Supreme Court, during hearings, also noted the question of when elections would be held in J&K since it is still a Union Territory without a legislature. The government assured elections by September 2024.
• Karnail Singh Isru martyrdom day: 17 August marks the death anniversary of Karnail Singh Isru, a freedom fighter of the Goa Liberation Movement who died in 1955.
• Pension reform discussions: The Old Pension Scheme (OPS) versus New Pension Scheme (NPS) debate intensified before the 2023 state elections. Several states announced reversion to OPS.