UPSC Community Blog

NGOs are considered as independent of the state, and voluntary in nature. They depend on individual donations, foreign funding, and aid from different government agencies and private donors . Their work helps rid India of prejudices, corruption, illiteracy, and poverty. Foreign NGO's and Foreign Funding: Foreign NPOs seeking to establish branch or liaison offices in India are required to obtain approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) under the provisions of Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA). The RBI is the sole registration body relevant for foreign NPOS seeking to operate in India. The liaison office generally only functions as a channel of communication between the organization's home office abroad and parties in India, and is not allowed to undertake any business activity or earn any income in India.  Foreign Funding Any association can receive foreign contribution subject to the following conditions: It must have a definite cultural, economic, educational, ...

First Sector – Market (Tools & Mechanism: Fiscal policy, Monetary policy) Second Sector – Government Machinery & Tools (Fundamental Rights, DPSP, Preamble, Separation of Power, Constitutional, Non-Constitutional & Extra Constitutional Body). Third Sector – Civil Society Civil society refers to a wide variety of communities and groups such as non-governmental organizations (NGOs), labor unions, indigenous groups, charitable organizations, faith-based organizations, professional associations, and foundations that function outside of government to provide support and advocacy for certain people or issues in society (Ex: Like Media, & NGO’s Ex: Public Union Civil Society {Collect date on Criminalization}, Association for democratic Reform {Human Rights Watch}). It was termed “third sector”, “social sector” or “volunteer land” In general, “Civil society is generally defined, as the space, which is on realm of family, market, and state”. Dipankar Gupta defines ci...

Citizen’s Charter is a document which represents a systematic effort to focus on the commitment of the Organisation towards its Citizens in respects of Standard of Services, Information, Choice and Consultation, Non-discrimination and Accessibility, Grievance Redress, Courtesy and Value for Money. This also includes expectations of the Organisation from the Citizen for fulfilling the commitment of the Organisation. Who is a ‘Citizen’ with reference to Citizen’s Charter? The term ‘Citizen’ in the Citizen’sCharter implies the clients or customers whose interests and values are addressed by the Citizen’s Charter and, therefore, includes not only the citizens but also all the stakeholders, i.e., citizens, customers, clients, users, beneficiaries, other Ministries/ Departments/ Organisations, State Governments, UT Administrations etc. Principles of the Citizens Charter Quality - improving the quality of services Choice - for the users wherever possible Standards - specifying what to expect ...

  Electoral Bond is a financial instrument for making donations to political parties. The bonds are issued in multiples of Rs. 1,000, Rs. 10,000, Rs. 1 lakh, Rs. 10 lakh and Rs. 1 crore without any maximum limit. State Bank of India is authorised to issue and encash these bonds, which are valid for fifteen days from the date of issuance. These bonds are redeemable in the designated account of a registered political party. The bonds are available for purchase by any person (who is a citizen of India or incorporated or established in India) for a period of ten days each in the months of January, April, July and October as may be specified by the Central Government. A person being an individual can buy bonds, either singly or jointly with other individuals. Donor’s name is not mentioned on the bond. Join us with  ➣  Telegram Channel  (UPSC Community) Join us with  ➣  Facebook Page

Lokpal Act of 2013: The Act allows setting up of anti-corruption ombudsman called Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayukta at the State-level. Composition: The Lokpal will consist of a chairperson and a maximum of eight members. Applicability: The Lokpal will cover all categories of public servants, including the Prime Minister. But the armed forces do not come under the ambit of Lokpal. The Act also incorporates provisions for attachment and confiscation of property acquired by corrupt means, even while the prosecution is pending. The States will have to institute Lokayukta within one year of the commencement of the Act. The Act also ensures that public servants who act as whistleblowers are protected. Powers: The Lokpal will have the power of superintendence and direction over any investigation agency including CBI for cases referred to them by the ombudsman. As per the Act, the Lokpal can summon or question any public servant if there exists a prima facie case against t...

RTI Act, 2005 : It sets out the rules and procedures regarding citizens’ right to information. It replaced the former Freedom of Information Act, 2002. This act was enacted in order to consolidate the fundamental right in the Indian constitution ‘freedom of speech’. Since RTI is implicit in the Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression under Article 19of the Indian Constitution, it is an implied fundamental right. Key Provisions: Section 4 of the RTI Act requires suo motu disclosure of information by each public authority. Section 8 (1) mentions exemptions against furnishing information under RTI Act. Section 8 (2) provides for disclosure of information exempted under Official Secrets Act, 1923 if larger public interest is served. Genesis of the law It was the Supreme Court that had sown the seeds of the RTI Act. The people of this country have a right to know every public act, everything that is done in a public way by their public functionaries. Thei...

Civil Services In a democracy, the civil services play an extremely important role in the administration, policy formulation and implementation, and in taking the country forward towards progress and development. Democracy is an egalitarian principle in which the governed elect the people who govern over them. There are three pillars of modern democracy: Legislature Executive Judiciary The civil services form a part of the executive. While the ministers, who are part of the executive, are temporary and are reelected or replaced by the people by their will (through elections), the civil servants are the permanent part of the executive. The civil servants are accountable to the political executive, the ministers. The civil services are thus, a subdivision under the government. The officers in the civil services form the permanent staff of the various governmental departments. They are basically expert administrators. They are sometimes referred to as the bureaucracy or also the public se...