State PCS - Maharashtra (MPSC)

• 25 Apr 2025

Legal Action on Dharavi Rehab Project

Why in News? 

A legal notice has been sent to the Maharashtra government and Mumbai Municipal Commissioner, demanding cancellation of the cabinet decision to hand over Deonar dumping ground for the Dharavi rehab project, citing violation of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) guidelines. 

 Key Points 

• About Dumping Ground:  
  • The State government has decided to hand over 124 acres of Deonar dumping ground for the Dharavi Rehabilitation Project (DRP). 
  • The Mulund dumping ground is also being considered for inclusion in the DRP. 
• Environmental and Legal Concerns: 
  • Mulund-based activist issued a legal notice opposing the decision. 
  • He flagged serious environmental risks highlighting that high-rises built on rotting mixed waste at Deonar and Mulund generate methane, which causes 21 times more global warming than Carbon Dioxide (CO₂). 
  • He pointed out that these sites also produce leachate, a toxic liquid that pollutes groundwater, making them unsuitable for residential construction. 
• Active Methane-Emitting Site: 
  • The activist emphasized that Deonar is not a closed landfill. 
  • It remains one of India’s top 22 methane hotspots, releasing around 6,202 kg of methane per hour. 

 Central Pollution Control Board 

• CPCB is a statutory organisation which was constituted in September, 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. 
• It was entrusted with the powers and functions under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. 
• It serves as a field formation and also provides technical services to the Ministry of Environment and Forests of the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. 
• Principal Functions of the CPCB, as spelt out in the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. 
  • to promote cleanliness of streams and wells in different areas of the States by prevention, control and abatement of water pollution. 
  • to improve the quality of air and to prevent, control or abate air pollution in the country.

School Registration Portal Launched

Why in News? 

The Maharashtra government launched a portal for private pre-schools to register, aiming to build a unified database of all pre-schools in the state. 

 Key Points 

• About the Portal: 
  • The State government has made pre-school registration voluntary for the time being. 
    • A dedicated Act to regulate pre-primary education is currently in progress. 
  • Until now, formal education in Maharashtra began at Class 1, after children turned 6. 
    • Pre-schools (nursery to senior kindergarten, for ages 3–6) were not part of the mainstream system. 
• ECCE under NEP 2020: 
  • The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 includes Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) in formal schooling. 
    • With Maharashtra implementing NEP in schools, pre-schools will also be brought into the mainstream. 
  • The school education department has data on government-run anganwadis and balwadis (under Women and Child Development Department). 
    • However, there is no formal data on the large number of privately run pre-schools. 

 National Education Policy 2020 

• About:  
  • The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 aims to address India's evolving development needs by overhauling the education system to meet 21st century goals and Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4), while preserving India's cultural heritage.  
  • It replaced the National Policy on Education, 1986, which was modified in 1992. 
• Salient Features: 
  • Universal Access: Focuses on providing access to education from pre-school through secondary levels. 
  • Early Childhood Education: Transitions from the 10+2 to a 5+3+3+4 system, including children aged 3-6 in the school curriculum with an emphasis on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE). 
  • Multilingualism: Promotes using mother tongues or regional languages as the medium of instruction up to Grade 5, with options for Sanskrit and other languages. Indian Sign Language (ISL) will be standardised. 
  • Inclusive Education: Emphasises support for Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs), children with disabilities, and the establishment of "Bal Bhavans." 
  • Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) Enhancement: Aim to raise the Gross Enrolment Ratio from 26.3% to 50% by 2035, adding 3.5 crore new seats. 
  • Research Focus: Establishes the National Research Foundation to enhance research culture and capacity. 
  • Language Preservation: Supports Indian languages through the Institute of Translation and Interpretation (IITI) and strengthens language departments. 
  • Internationalisation: Encourages international collaborations and the entry of top-ranked foreign universities. 
    • For example, in 2023 UGC released regulations to facilitate foreign universities to set up campuses in India. 
  • Funding: Targets increasing public investment in education to 6% of GDP. 
  • PARAKH Assessment Center: Introduces PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development) for competency-based and holistic assessments. 
  • Gender Inclusion Fund: Establishes a fund to promote gender equality in education and support initiatives for disadvantaged groups. 
  • Special Education Zones: Creates Special Education Zones to cater to the needs of disadvantaged regions and groups, reinforcing the commitment to equitable access to quality education.