Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Not much
Mains level: Paper 2- Implications of situation in Afghanistan for India
Context
The rapid fall of Afghanistan after the withdrawal of the US sent shockwaves across the region.
Cause of concern for India
- The Taliban’s entry into Kabul, marks the beginning of a new phase in the relationship between Afghanistan and India.
- Recent developments in South Asia certainly point to a recurring dynamic between Afghanistan and India.
- The restoration of Taliban rule in Afghanistan with Pakistan’s support undoubtedly presents some very serious potential challenges for Indian security.
- However, a measure of strategic patience could help India cope with the adverse developments in Afghanistan and find ways to secure its interests in the near future.
- For India, a bigger question mark will be about the Taliban’s renewed support for international terrorism and Pakistan’s re-direction of jihadi groups that have allegedly fought with the Taliban towards India.
Afghanistan from 1979 to 2001 and how it changed the subcontinent
- At the end of 1979, the Soviet Union launched a massive military invasion to protect a communist regime in Kabul.
- The US and Pakistan responded by unleashing a religious jihad that compelled Russia to withdraw by 1989.
- Pakistan’s critical role in the Afghan war against Russia allowed Pakistan to secure the political cover for the country’s acquisition of nuclear weapons.
- The Pakistan army turned the jihadi armies to gain control of Afghanistan and launched a proxy war against India, especially in the Punjab and Kashmir regions.
- The turbulence of the 1990s saw deepening conflict between India and Pakistan.
- Al Qaeda, hosted by the Taliban, launched terror attacks against the US on September 11, 2001.
- Swift US retribution brought an end to Taliban rule and compelled Pakistan to reconsider its policies.
- After 2001, there has also been a significant expansion of the India-US strategic partnership.
- By the end of the decade, though, the Pakistan Army had swung back to its default positions — renewed support for the Taliban in Afghanistan.
- Pakistan also teased an increasingly war-weary Washington into a negotiation with the Taliban for a peace settlement.
Way forward for India
- Patience: Like all radical groups, the Taliban will have trouble balancing its religious ideology with the imperatives of state interests.
- India would want to carefully watch how this tension plays out.
- Watch the relation between Pakistan and Taliban: Equally important is the nature of the relationship between the Taliban and Pakistan.
- The Taliban is bound to seek a measure of autonomy from Pakistan, India will have to wait.
- Prepare for cross-border terror: India must fully prepare for a renewal of cross-border terror, but there is a lot less global acceptance of terrorism today than in the permissive 1990s.
- No major power would like to see Afghanistan re-emerge as a global sanctuary of terror.
- The world has also imposed significant new constraints on Pakistan’s support for terror through mechanisms like the Financial Action Task Force.
- Unlike in the 1990s, when Delhi simply absorbed the terror attacks, it now shows the political will to retaliate forcefully.
- Regional geopolitical alignment: It is also important to note that the US and the West will continue to have a say in shaping the international attitudes towards the new regime.
- The Taliban and Pakistan appear to be acutely conscious of this reality.
Conclusion
For a patient, open-minded and active India, there will be no dearth of balancing opportunities in Afghanistan.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Powers of ECI
Mains level: Paper 2- Electoral reforms in India
Context
According to the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), 233 MPs in the current Lok Sabha are facing criminal charges, up from 187 in 2014, 162 in 2009, and 128 in 2004. Recently, the Supreme Court has imposed fines on political parties for failing to comply with its orders regarding complete disclosure of their candidates’ criminal history.
Order adds strength to Election Commission
- Through the order in a recent case, the SC has put a new onus on the Election Commission to do something concrete, for example, create a phone app to display the detailed criminal history of any contesting candidate.
- This should be accompanied with a separate cell in the ECI to monitor the compliance of all the political parties regarding this; any breach should be brought to the attention of the SC without delay.
Why legislature and political parties are reluctant?
- Two excuses: The legislature has been very slow in addressing this issue, and political parties remain extremely reluctant to change their ways, citing two major excuses.
- Winnability of candidate: “Winnability” of candidates is the first reason.
- The logic of a candidate with criminal charges doing good for the people of a constituency is dubious at best.
- The winnability clause is an attempt by the party to absolve itself of all blame and put the onus of sending a criminally charged candidate to Parliament solely on the voter.
- Innocent until proven guilty maxim: The other reason offered by political parties is summarised by the maxim of Indian law, which is that any accused is innocent until proven guilty.
- It is argued that most criminally accused candidates are the victims of “vendetta politics”.
Issues with allowing criminals to contest election
- The logic of a candidate with criminal charges doing good for the people of a constituency is dubious at best.
- Violation of right to equality under Article 14: There were 4.78 lakh prisoners (as of December 2019) of whom 3.30 lakh were under trial, i.e. not yet proven guilty.
- Yet, their fundamental rights — their right to liberty, freedom of movement, freedom of occupation and right to dignity — are curbed completely.
- An “innocent” undertrial cannot vote, but a man chargesheeted for murder can even contest election from jail.
- These blatant double standards are a clear violation of Article 14, which guarantees to all citizens equality before the law.
Suggestions
- ECI suggestion on vendetta politics: The ECI has suggested some safeguards against vendetta politics.
- First, only offences that carry an imprisonment of at least 5 years are to be considered.
- The case against the candidate should have been filed at least six months before the scheduled elections for it to be considered.
- And finally, a competent court must have framed the charges.
- Fast-track court: An alternative solution would be to try cases against political candidates in fast-track courts.
- The Supreme Court had sent a directive in 2014, directing that cases against political candidates must be completed within a year, failing which the matter should be reported to the Chief Justices of the respective High Court.
- This is a matter entirely in the judicial domain.
- Barring political parties: The Supreme Court has, in the recent order stopped short of drastic steps by rejected the suggestion to direct the Election Commission to bar political parties that fail to comply with criminalisation protocols by using its authority derived from Clause 16A of the Election Symbols Order.
- This step, the SC reasons, would be going too far and infiltrating the domain of the legislature.
Conclusion
The legislature and the judiciary need to do more to curb the menace of criminalisation of politics.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Unicorn club
Mains level: Paper 3- How startup ecosystem can help transform India
Context
With 62 per cent of the population in the working-age group and 54 per cent below the age of 25, we have the advantage of leveraging the skill and ability of our youth to drive the nation forward through productive output and innovation.
Significance of startup ecosystem in the country
- In 2021 alone, Indian startups have so far raised upward of $20 billion in funding.
- Today, India is home to more than 40,000 startups and is building a robust tech and internet infrastructure.
- The last decade-and-a-half has witnessed a significant change in the landscape — from the founding of new startups, to global investor interest, to the advances made in infrastructure and policies.
- Global investors too are realising the potential upside in India’s huge, under-penetrated market as the country steadily makes a place for itself as a leading R&D hub for many Silicon Valley companies.
- Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Indian startups have rapidly innovated to provide indigenous, tech-enabled solutions to combat challenges from testing kits and ventilators to remote monitoring, and preventive technologies, as well as innovations in supply chain management, logistics, and education.
Factors driving startup economy in India
- The steady rise of Indian IT companies in the 2000s, a large talent pool of a skilled workforce, increased expendable income, and rising capital inflows have collectively contributed in large part.
- Young generation: Moreover, the ability of the young generation to take risks, move fast, and disrupt things without fear, has become our biggest asset today.
- Increasing internet use: In the next five years and likely to have an estimated 850 million internet users by 2030, the country stands at the cusp of unprecedented economic growth.
How it helps economy
- The proliferation of this startup economy has brought with it new business opportunities, innovation, tech-centric approaches and job creation across sectors.
- A mature startup ecosystem, with seasoned entrepreneurs and technology-led solutions, paves the way for innovation and expanding its global footprint.
- While value creation lies at the centre of entrepreneurship, Indian startups are also taking big strides in building synergies and partnerships with global entities, further demonstrating the evolution of the startup ecosystem and its appetite for innovation, collaboration and disruption.
- In fact, one of the paradigm shifts brought about through technology during the pandemic has been systemic shift to online education and remote learning at scale.
- Solutions built by Indian startups saw widespread adoption not just domestically but also on a global scale, firmly establishing the country as a cornerstone of tech and innovation in the world.
Suggestions
- Educations and reskilling: In order to transition beyond the current capabilities and achieve the demographic dividend, education, and reskilling, and upskilling of our workforce is crucial.
- Policy environment: Apart from the domestic policy environment, the global environment and technological advances are also changing, and it is imperative that India is prepared for this revolution.
- Foster entrepreneurship: Apart from policy-level decisions that promote entrepreneurship, the onus is also on India’s corporate sector to foster entrepreneurialism, and create synergies to build impactful technology solutions, sustainable and resource-efficient growth.
- Inclusion and sustainability: As country stands at the cusp of unprecedented economic growth, speed, inclusion, and sustainability are key elements in this mission.
- Tap the potential of rural and semi-urban India: The collective future efforts of the public and private sectors to improve physical and digital connectivity will also help unlock the untapped potential of rural and semi-urban India to truly lead Industry 4.0 and beyond.
- Focus on goals of national importance: In view of achieving this transformation at scale, the Indian startup ecosystem must focus on developing solutions that allow businesses in key sectors to meet goals of national importance.
Conclusion
Coupled with the nation’s focus on strengthening digital infrastructure in healthcare and education, and boosting employment in manufacturing, there is little doubt that India@100 will be a powerhouse of the global economy.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Official Opposition, LoP
Mains level: Parliamentary Conduct and decorum of the houses
The 60-member Nagaland Assembly now has no MLA in the Opposition.
Official Opposition
- It is a term used in Parliament and State Legislatures to designate the political party which has secured the second largest number of seats in either upper or lower houses.
- In order to get formal recognition in either upper or lower houses, the concerned party must have at least 10% of the total strength of the house.
- A single party has to meet the 10% seat criterion, not an alliance.
- Many of the Indian state legislatures also follow this 10% rule while the rest of them prefer the single largest opposition party according to the rules of their respective houses.
Why study the Opposition?
- The Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu recently broke down when he condemned the violent ruckus that erupted in the Upper House very recently.
- This has raised questions about the decency of the conduct of our elected representatives.
Role of the Opposition
- The role of the opposition in the legislature is basically to check the excesses of the ruling or dominant party, and not to be totally antagonistic.
- Their main role is to question the government of the day and hold them accountable to the public. This also helps to fix the mistakes of the Ruling Party.
- The Opposition is equally responsible for upholding the best interests of the people of the country.
- They have to ensure that the Government does not take any steps, which might have negative effects on the people of the country.
In the legislature, Opposition Party has a major role, which is:
- Constructive criticism of the government.
- Putting restriction of the arbitrariness of ruling party
- Safeguarding liberty and right of people
- Preparation to form a government
- Expression of public opinion
Leader of the Opposition
- They are the politicians who lead the official opposition in either House of the Parliament of India.
- The LoP is the parliamentary chairperson of the party with the most seats after the government party.
- S/He is given the status of a minister in recognition of his importance.
- The LoP received statutory recognition through the Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977.
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[Burning Issue] Democide: Causes and ways to avoid it
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Tribunals
Mains level: Issues with Tribunals Reform Bill 2021
The Supreme Court has challenged the government to produce material showing its reasons for introducing the Tribunal Reforms Bill of 2021, which abolishes nine appellate tribunals and revives provisions of an ordinance struck down by the Supreme Court, in the Parliament.
What are Tribunals?
- Tribunals are specialist judicial bodies that decide disputes in a particular area of law.
- They are institutions established for discharging judicial or quasi-judicial duties.
- The objective may be to reduce the caseload of the judiciary or to bring in subject expertise for technical matters.
Do you know?
The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal was established as the first Tribunal in India back in 1941.
Creation of Tribunals
In 1976, Articles 323A and 323B were inserted in the Constitution of India through the 42nd Amendment.
- Article 323A: This empowered Parliament to constitute administrative Tribunals (both at central and state level) for adjudication of matters related to recruitment and conditions of service of public servants.
- Article 323B: This specified certain subjects (such as taxation and land reforms) for which Parliament or state legislatures may constitute tribunals by enacting a law.
- In 2010, the Supreme Court clarified that the subject matters under Article 323B are not exclusive, and legislatures are empowered to create tribunals on any subject matters under their purview as specified in the Seventh Schedule.
SC stance on Tribunals
- The Supreme Court has ruled that tribunals, being quasi-judicial bodies, should have the same level of independence from the executive as the judiciary.
- Key factors include the mode of selection of members, the composition of tribunals, and the terms and tenure of service.
- In order to ensure that tribunals are independent of the executive, the Supreme Court had recommended that all administrative matters be managed by the law ministry rather than the ministry associated with the subject area.
- Later, the Court recommended the creation of an independent National Tribunals Commission for the administration of tribunals.
- These recommendations have not been implemented.
Issues with tribunals
- Pendency: Whereas the reasoning for setting up some tribunals was to reduce the pendency of cases in courts, several tribunals are facing the issue of a large caseload and pendency.
- No appointment: With over 240 vacancies in key tribunals where thousands of cases were pending, not a single appointment had been made by the government in any of these tribunals till date.
Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2021
What is the recent news?
- A three-judge Bench led by CJI has put the government on the dock about the complete absence of material justifying the Bill and also the lack of proper debate in the Parliament.
- The provisions regarding conditions of service and tenure of Tribunal Members and Chairpersons were struck down by the Supreme Court.
- However, the same provisions re-appeared in the Tribunal Reforms Bill recently passed.
- The court has also noted its reservations against the complete dissolution of some tribunals.
What happens to cases pending before the tribunals are dissolved?
- These cases will be transferred to High Courts or commercial civil courts immediately. Legal experts have been divided on the efficacy of the government’s move.
- While on the one hand, the cases might get a faster hearing and disposal if taken to High Courts, experts fear that the lack of specialization in regular courts could be detrimental to the decision-making process.
- For example, the FCAT exclusively heard decisions appealing against decisions of the censor board, which requires expertise in art and cinema.
Observations made by the Court
- With over 240 vacancies in key tribunals where thousands of cases were pending, not a single appointment had been made by the government in any of these tribunals to date.
- The CJI repeated his question of whether the government was moving towards closing down the tribunals.
A new flashpoint between Executive and Judiciary
- The verdict discussed the possibility of legislation overriding the court’s directions.
- In other cases, too, the SC and Parliament have been at loggerheads on the issue of rationalization of tribunals.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Positive Pay System
Mains level: Not Much
Banks have been informing customers about making mandatory, the positive pay system, a process of reconfirming the key details of high-value cheques.
What is the Positive Pay System?
- The Positive Pay System, developed by the National Payments Corporation of India, is a process of reconfirming the key details of large value cheques.
- Under this system, a person issuing the high-value cheque submits certain essential details of that cheque like date, name of the beneficiary/payee amount etc. to the drawee bank.
- The details can be submitted through electronic means such as SMS, mobile app, internet banking, ATM etc.
- The details are cross-checked while issuing the cheque and any discrepancy is flagged.
Try answering this PYQ:
Q.Which one of the following links all the ATMs in India? (CSP 2018)
(a) Indian Banks’ Association
(b) National Securities Depository Limited
(c) National Payments Corporation of India
(d) Reserve Bank of India
(Note: You need to sign-in to answer this PYQ)
Post your answers here.
What is the limit on the amount for the system?
- RBI has told banks to enable the facility for all account holders issuing cheques for amounts of ₹50,000 and above.
- It has also been said that while availing of the facility is at the discretion of the account holder, banks may consider making it mandatory in case of cheque values of ₹5 lakh and above.
Why is this system important for customers?
- Some banks have been telling customers that if the details of large-value cheques are not pre-registered, the cheque will be returned.
- On issuance of a high-value cheque, customers should ensure that details are provided within the timeframe prescribed by the banks for hassle-free clearance.
- RBI has said only cheques that are registered in the Positive Pay System will be accepted under the dispute resolution mechanism.
- Customers would get an SMS on whether the cheque is accepted or rejected for any reason.
What are the details of the cheque that must be submitted?
- Account number, cheque number, date of the cheque, amount, transaction code, beneficiary name, MICR CODE.
How can these details be submitted?
- These details can be submitted through the respective bank’s website, internet banking, or mobile banking.
- In case a customer does not use electronic banking services, they can submit the details by visiting bank branches.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: National Gene Bank
Mains level: Not Much
The Union Agriculture Minister has inaugurated the world’s second-largest refurbished gene bank at the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources.
National Gene Bank
- The National Gene Bank was established in the year 1996 to preserve the seeds of Plant Genetic Resources (PGR) for future generations.
- It has the capacity to preserve about one million germplasm in the form of seeds.
- Presently it is protecting 4.52 lakh accessions, of which 2.7 lakh are Indian germplasm and the rest have been imported from other countries.
- National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources is meeting the need of in-situ and ex-situ germplasm conservation through Delhi Headquarters and 10 regional stations in the country.
Key facilities provided
- The NGB has four kinds of facilities to cater to long-term as well as medium-term conservation namely:
- Seed Gene bank (- 18°C),
- Cryo gene bank (-170°C to -196°C),
- In-vitro Gene bank (25°C), and
- Field Gene bank
- It stores different crop groups such as cereals, millets, medicinal and aromatic plants, and narcotics, etc.
What is the latest update?
- This is the world’s second-largest gene bank located in the national capital.
- It has the capacity to preserve about one million germplasm in the form of seeds.
- Presently, it is protecting 4.52 lakh accessions, of which 2.7 lakh are Indian germplasm and the rest have been imported from other countries.
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Svalbard Global Seed Vault
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Slender Loris
Mains level: Various endemic species of India
The Kadavur hills in central Tamil Nadu’s Karur district are home to the Kadavur Reserve Forest. These forests are home to the shy and reclusive slender loris, a species of primate.
Slender Loris
- Slender loris (Loris tardigradus) is secretive and has nocturnal habits. It usually travels from the canopy of one tree to another. But, at times, it also comes down to bushes at the ground level to feed.
- It is also found in the adjoining forest areas on the eastern, southern and western slopes of the Kadavur hills.
- It sleeps by day in the foliage or in a hole or crevice. It comes out at dusk in search of prey.
- They are fond of lantana berries and also eat insects, lizards, small birds, tree frogs, tender leaves and buds.
- They are usually solitary but sometimes found in pairs.
Conservation
- The slender loris has been listed as ‘Endangered’ by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
- It has been brought under Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 in order to provide the highest level of legal protection.
Threats
- As it is believed that these animals have some medicinal properties, they are captured and sold.
- Since there is great demand for keeping these animals as pets, they are illegally smuggled.
- Habitat loss, electrocution of live wires, and road accidents are other threats that have caused its populations to dwindle.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Not much
Mains level: Paper 2- How interaction with the rest of the world shaped India
Context
Ever since Independence, India’s fate has been closely tied to the rest of the world.
How global interactions and how it shaped India
- A large, newly independent, impoverished, and diverse country required active engagement with a variety of partners for its survival, security, and development.
- But a constantly evolving international environment presented India not just with opportunities but numerous challenges.
- Poorly demarketed borders: Its frontiers were initially poorly demarcated and poorly integrated.
- Nuclear-armed neighbours: India came to have two nuclear-armed neighbors with which it competed for territory.
- Relations with the US and Russia: India’s first leaders opted for flexible and friendly relations with both the U.S. and the Soviet Union and their respective allies.
- The Indo-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation and the Bangladesh war altered India’s relations with both superpowers and shifted the dynamics of the rivalry with Pakistan.
- Role in global politics: India also played an activist role in the decolonizing world, extending diplomatic and (in some cases) security assistance to independence movements in Asia and Africa and sending military missions to Korea and the Congo.
- Economic progress: There were also important economic strides made, including the Green Revolution, undertaken with considerable foreign technical and financial assistance.
- Independent policy: India often found itself at odds with the great powers when it felt its greater interests were threatened, as on intervention in Bangladesh, nuclear non-proliferation, or trade.
India after the Cold War
- The 1991 Gulf war resulted in a balance of payments crisis and the liberalization of the economy.
- India then adopted a range of reforms to liberalize the economy, but it faced more than just economic turmoil.
- Yet, the period that followed witnessed some important developments under the prime ministership of P.V. Narasimha Rao:
- The period saw the advent of the Look East Policy and relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
- It also saw the establishment of diplomatic ties with Israel.
- The signing of a border peace and tranquility agreement with China took place in the same period
- The period also witnessed initial military contracts with the U.S., and preparations for nuclear tests.
- The Atal Bihari Vajpayee government built further upon these developments, conducting a series of tests in 1998, negotiating a return to normal relations with most major powers within two years.
- Economic development: These years also witnessed a rapid growth of the Indian economy, fuelled by a boom in information and communication technology companies, the services sector, and a rising consumer market.
- After 2004, the Manmohan Singh government worked extensively to resolve the outstanding question of India’s nuclear status.
- By eliminating barriers to ‘dual use’ technologies and equipment, as well as a host of associated export controls, India had the opportunity to establish robust defense relations with the U.S. and its allies.
- Coupled with an economic deceleration after 2011, India’s relations with the U.S. and Europe grew more contentious over the next three years.
Relationship with China
- The global financial crisis in 2008-09 presaged a slight change in approach, whereby India sought to partner with China and other rising powers on institutional reform, financial lending, climate change, and sovereignty.
- Beginning in 2013, China began to test India on the border and undermine Indian interests in South Asia and the Indian Ocean Region.
- With further stand-offs at Doklam and Ladakh between 2017 and 2021, India opted to boycott China’s Belt and Road Initiative, raise barriers to Chinese investment.
- In response, India began consulting more closely with other balancing powers in the Indo-Pacific.
- Security relations and understandings with the U.S. and its allies (Japan, France, Australia) accelerated after 2014.
- A greater emphasis on neighborhood connectivity was adopted.
Way forward
- As India enters its 75th year of independence, there are plenty of reasons for cautious optimism about its place in the world.
- COVID-19 and growing international competition also underscore the difficulties that India will likely face as it attempts to transform into a prosperous middle-income country.
- What is certain is that India will not have the luxury to turn inwards.
Conclusion
India’s objectives have been broadly consistent: development, regional security, a balance of power, and the shaping of international consensus to be more amenable to Indian interests. At the same time, India’s means and the international landscape have changed, as have domestic political factors.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Third schedule of Constitution
Mains level: Paper 2- Oath of an elected representative
Context
Some Cabinet Ministers in Karnataka who took oath recently stood out from the rest. All these oaths run against the spirit of the Constitution.
Background of agnostic Constitution
- The public officials who took office under the Government of India Act, 1935 had to take oath which had no mention of God.
- During the Constituent Assembly debate, B.R. Ambedkar proposed the Preamble, “We, the people of India…”.
- H.V. Kamath moved an amendment to the Preamble, “In the name of God, we, the people of India…”.
- To this proposal, another member, A. Thanu Pillai said that if this amendment is accepted it would affect the fundamental right of freedom of faith.
- He said that a man has a right to believe in God or not, according to the Constitution.
- H.N. Kunzru opposed Kamath’s amendment stating that in a matter that vitally concerns every man individually, the collective view should not be forced on anybody.
- The amendment was defeated, thereby excluding ‘God’ from the Preamble.
- Thus, our founding fathers gave us an agnostic Constitution.
What are provisions in Consitution
- The public officials who took office under the Government of India Act, 1935 had to take oath which had no mention of God.
- However, the framers of the Indian Constitution rejected this conception of secularism.
- Constitution gives office-holders an option to swear in God’s name if they so wished.
- The Supreme Court of India observed in 2012 that the oath by an elected representative should be taken “in the name of God” if the person is a believer or should be “solemnly affirmed” if the person is a non-believer.
- The Supreme Court said that the oath of an elected representative should be in strict compliance with the wordings of the Constitution.
Way forward
- As the Republic belongs to all the citizenry, irrespective of whether he is a theist, atheist or agnostic, and irrespective of his caste or religion, a person occupying a constitutional post should take oath in the format of ‘“solemnly affirm”.
- The Constitution should be amended accordingly.
Conclusion
If a person takes the oath in the name of a God affiliated to a particular religion or caste, the citizenry cannot expect the absence of affection or ill-will from him. The allegiance of a person holding a constitutional post should only be to the Constitution.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Not much
Mains level: Paper 3- Lessons from China's economic progress
Context
As we look back on our own journey after independence and feel proud of our achievements, wisdom lies in also looking around to evaluate how other nations have performed, especially those which started with a similar base or even worse conditions than us.
How India’s neighbouring countries have performed?
- Independent India has done better than Pakistan if measured on a per capita income basis:
- Comparison with Pakistan: India’s per capita income stood at $1,960 (in current PPP terms, it was $6,460) in 2020, as per the IMF estimates, while Pakistan’s per capita income was just $1,260 (in PPP terms $5,150).
- Comparison with Bangladesh: Bangladesh, whose journey as an independent nation began in 1971, had a per capita income of $2,000 (though $5,310 in PPP terms), marginally higher than India, and certainly much higher than Pakistan in 2020.
- Comparison with China: The real comparison of India should be with China, given the size of the population of the two countries and the fact that both countries started their journey in the late 1940s.
- By 2020, China’s overall GDP was $14.7 trillion ($24.1 trillion in current PPP terms), competing with the USA at $20.9 trillion.
- India, however, lags way behind with its overall GDP at $2.7 trillion ($8.9 trillion in PPP terms).
- The quality of life, however, depends on per capita income in PPP terms, with the USA at $63,420, China at $17,190 and India at $6,460.
What made the difference between India and China?
- India adopted a socialist strategy while China took to communism to provide people food, good health, education, and prosperity.
- China, having performed dismally on the economic front from 1949 to 1977, started changing track to more market-oriented policies, beginning with agriculture.
- Agriculture reforms: Economic reforms that included the Household Responsibility System and liberation of agri-markets led to an annual average agri-GDP growth of 7.1 percent during 1978-1984.
- Reform in the non-Agri sector: Success in agriculture reforms gave political legitimacy to carry out reforms in the non-agriculture sector.
- Manufacturing revolution: The success of reforms in agriculture created a huge demand for manufactured products, triggering a manufacturing revolution in China’s town and village enterprises.
- Population control measures: China adopted the one-child norm from 1979-2015.
- As a result, its per capita income grew much faster.
- India’s attempts to control its population succeeded only partially and very slowly.
- India’s sluggish performance when compared to China raises doubts about its flawed democratic structure that makes economic reforms and implementation of policy changes more challenging, unlike China.
Way forward for India
- Liberating agri-markets is part of the reform package that China followed. That’s the first lesson.
- Increase purchasing power of rural areas: Even for manufacturing to grow on a sustainable basis, we have to increase the purchasing power of people in rural areas.
- This has to be done by raising their productivity and not by distributing freebies.
- Investment in various areas: Increasing productivity requires investments in education, skills, health and physical infrastructure, besides much higher R&D in agriculture, both by the government as well as by the private sector.
- Create institutional setup: This requires a different institutional setup than the one we currently have.
Conclusion
India’s sluggish performance when compared to China raises doubts about its flawed democratic structure that makes economic reforms and implementation of policy changes more challenging, unlike China. But India has lessons to learn from China.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Fortification of food
Mains level: Addressing malnutrition issues
PM in his I-day speech has announced the fortification of rice distributed under various government schemes, including the Public Distribution System (PDS) and mid-day meals in schools, by 2024.
What is Fortification?
- FSSAI defines fortification as “deliberately increasing the content of essential micronutrients in a food so as to improve the nutritional quality of food and to provide public health benefit with minimal risk to health”.
What is Fortified Rice?
- Rice can be fortified by adding a micronutrient powder to the rice that adheres to the grains or spraying the surface of ordinary rice grains with a vitamin and mineral mix to form a protective coating.
- Rice can also be extruded and shaped into partially precooked grain-like structures resembling rice grains, which can then be blended with natural polished rice.
- Rice kernels can be fortified with several micronutrients, such as iron, folic acid, and other B-complex vitamins, vitamin A and zinc.
- These fortified kernels are then mixed with normal rice in a 1:100 ratio, and distributed for consumption.
Note: Biofortification is the process by which the nutritional quality of food crops is improved through agronomic practices, conventional plant breeding, or modern biotechnology. It differs from conventional fortification in that Biofortification aims to increase nutrient levels in crops during plant growth rather than through manual means during the processing of the crops.
What is the plan announced by the PM?
- Malnutrition and lack of essential nutrients in poor women and poor children pose major obstacles in their development.
- In view of this, it has been decided that the government will fortify the rice given to the poor under its various schemes.
- Be it the rice available at ration shops or the rice provided to children in their mid-day meals, the rice available through every scheme will be fortified by the year 2024.
Why such a move?
- The announcement is significant as the country has high levels of malnutrition among women and children.
- According to the Food Ministry, every second woman in the country is anemic and every third child is stunted.
- India ranks 94 out of 107 countries and is in the ‘serious hunger’ category on the Global Hunger Index (GHI).
- Fortification of rice is a cost-effective and complementary strategy to increase vitamin and mineral content in diets.
- According to the Food Ministry, seven countries have mandated rice fortification – the USA, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, and the Solomon Islands.
Advantages offered
- Health: Fortified staple foods will contain natural or near-natural levels of micro-nutrients, which may not necessarily be the case with supplements.
- Taste: It provides nutrition without any change in the characteristics of food or the course of our meals.
- Nutrition: If consumed on a regular and frequent basis, fortified foods will maintain body stores of nutrients more efficiently and more effectively than will intermittently supplement.
- Economy: The overall costs of fortification are extremely low; the price increase is approximately 1 to 2 percent of the total food value.
- Society: It upholds everyone’s right to have access to safe and nutritious food, consistent with the right to adequate food and the fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger
Issues with fortified food
- Against nature: Fortification and enrichment upset nature’s packaging. Our body does not absorb individual nutrients added to processed foods as efficiently compared to nutrients naturally occurring.
- Bioavailability: Supplements added to foods are less bioavailable. Bioavailability refers to the proportion of a nutrient your body is able to absorb and use.
- Immunity issues: They lack immune-boosting substances.
- Over-nutrition: Fortified foods and supplements can pose specific risks for people who are taking prescription medications, including decreased absorption of other micro-nutrients, treatment failure, and increased mortality risk.
Adhering to FSSAI standard
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) sets standards for food items in the country.
- According to FSSAI norms, 1 kg fortified rice will contain iron (28 mg-42.5 mg), folic acid (75-125 microgram), and Vitamin B-12 (0.75-1.25 microgram).
- In addition, rice may also be fortified with micronutrients, singly or in combination, with zinc(10 mg-15 mg), Vitamin A (500-750 microgram RE), Vitamin B1 (1 mg-1.5 mg), Vitamin B2 (1.25 mg-1.75 mg), Vitamin B3 (12.5 mg-20 mg) and Vitamin B6 (1.5 mg-2.5 mg) per kg.
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Back2Basics: Public Distribution System (PDS)
- The PDS is an Indian food Security System established under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution.
- PDS evolved as a system of management of scarcity through the distribution of food grains at affordable prices.
- PDS is operated under the joint responsibility of the Central and State Governments.
- The Central Government, through the Food Corporation of India (FCI), has assumed the responsibility for procurement, storage, transportation, and bulk allocation of food grains to the State Governments.
- The operational responsibilities including allocation within the State, identification of eligible families, issue of Ration Cards and supervision of the functioning of FPSs etc., rest with the State Governments.
- Under the PDS, presently the commodities namely wheat, rice, sugar, and kerosene are being allocated to the States/UTs for distribution.
- Some states/UTs also distribute additional items of mass consumption through PDS outlets such as pulses, edible oils, iodized salt, spices, etc.
Mid-Day Meal Scheme
- The Midday Meal Scheme is a school meal program in India designed to better the nutritional standing of school-age children nationwide.
- It is a wholesome freshly-cooked lunch served to children in government and government-aided schools in India.
- It supplies free lunches on working days for children in primary and upper primary classes in government, government-aided, local body, and alternate innovative education centers, Madarsa and Maqtabs.
- The programme has undergone many changes since its launch in 1995.
- The Midday Meal Scheme is covered by the National Food Security Act, 2013.
The scheme aims to:
- avoid classroom hunger
- increase school enrolment
- increase school attendance
- improve socialization among castes
- address malnutrition
- empower women through employment
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Hydrogen
Mains level: National Hydrogen Mission
During his I-Day speech, the PM has announced a National Hydrogen Mission and said India will become the world’s largest exporter of green hydrogen in the years to come.
National Hydrogen Mission
- The PM’s announcement takes forward the proposal, made in the 2021 Budget, for the launch of NHM that would enable the generation of hydrogen “from green power sources”.
- The added advantage of hydrogen is that, apart from transportation, it can be a “decarbonizing agent” for industries like chemicals, iron, steel, fertilizer and refining, transport, heat and power.
- While the details of the NHM are yet to emerge, India has taken several exploratory steps.
- India has been working on a pilot project on Blue Hydrogen, Hydrogen CNG (H-CNG), and Green Hydrogen.
- Several programs are focusing to blend hydrogen with compressed natural gas for use as a transportation fuel as well as an industrial input to refineries.
Hydrogen as a fuel
- Hydrogen is the fuel of stars and packs awesome energy. It is also the most abundant element in the universe.
- But on Earth, it is found in complex molecules such as water or hydrocarbons.
- Hydrogen is not a source of energy, like fossil fuels or renewable sources like sunlight and air, but an energy carrier, which means it has to be produced, or extracted, and stored before it can be used.
- But no matter how it is used, the by-product the burning of hydrogen produces is water.
How is Hydrogen produced?
- There are several ways of extracting hydrogen and, depending on the method, the hydrogen produced is classified as ‘grey’, ‘blue’, or ‘green’ hydrogen.
- According to WEC, as of 2019, 96 percent of hydrogen is produced from fossil fuels via carbon-intensive processes.
- Hydrogen thus obtained is called ‘grey’ hydrogen as the process, though not as expensive as the other methods, releases a lot of carbon dioxide.
What Is Grey, Blue, Green Of Hydrogen?
- ‘Grey’ hydrogen becomes ‘blue’ hydrogen when the CO2 given out during its production is locked up through carbon capture and storage (CCS) processes.
- But while the CO2 output is lowered, this process is quite expensive.
- ‘Grey’ and ‘blue’ hydrogen, thus, are both produced by the same processes, the only difference for ‘blue’ hydrogen being that the CO2 produced is sequestered.
- But it is ‘green’ hydrogen that governments are aiming at. This is any hydrogen that is produced from clean energy sources like renewables.
- ‘Green’ hydrogen is released via the electrolysis of energy from renewable sources. This process, though it gives rise to no CO2 emissions, is expensive and not commercially viable yet.
Key challenges
- Lack of infrastructure: India does not have enough storage capacity for the current state of domestic consumption.
- Safety concerns: Hydrogen is highly inflammable.
Way ahead
- Developing technologies to produce ‘green’ hydrogen is cost-intensive.
- However, falling renewable energy and fuel cell prices and stringent climate change requirements have provided an impetus for investments in this area.
- In India, the IITs, IISc, Benaras Hindu University, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research laboratories etc. are exploring different aspects of hydrogen production.
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Also read:
[Burning Issue] India’s push for a Gas-based Economy
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Various Naga tribes
Mains level: Tribal assertiveness in NE region
The Parliament has passed a bill that seeks to amend the nomenclature of certain tribes from Arunachal Pradesh mentioned in the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950.
What does the Bill amend?
- The Bill seeks to modify Part-XVIII of the Schedule to the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950.
- Part-XVIII lists 16 tribes of Arunachal, in order: Abor, Aka, Apatani, Nyishi, Galong, Khampti, Khowa, Mishmi [Idu, Taroon], Momba, Any Naga tribes, Sherdukpen, Singpho, Hrusso, Tagin, Khamba, and Adi.
- The Bill corrects the names of tribes spelled incorrectly and adds names of a few tribes that were either named ambiguously or had their parent group named only.
Why is it significant?
- Self-identification: It is an essence for much-needed respect for small indigenous communities in the Northeast.
- Indigenous nomenclature of tribes: This has been a long-standing demand in Arunachal Pradesh for two reasons: for the recognition of individual identity and to do away with the ambiguity as a result of errors in their names.
- Identity assertion: For long, communities — whether civil society members or student leaders — have demanded that they must be known by their respective names.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Gati Shakti Master Plan
Mains level: Infrastructure development
In his I-day speech, the PM has announced a ₹100 lakh crore “Gati Shakti” infrastructure plan.
What is Gati Shakti Master Plan?
- The PM has pegged the project as a source of employment opportunities for the youth in the future.
- The plan will make a foundation for holistic infrastructure and give an integrated pathway to our economy.
- More details and the launch date of the project are awaited.
What are the focus areas of the project?
- The Gati Shakti plan will help raise the global profile of local manufacturers and help them compete with their counterparts worldwide.
- It also raises possibilities of new future economic zones.
- The PM also said that India needs to increase both manufacturing and exports.
Why need such a plan?
- The push for infrastructure is in line with the government’s efforts to step up capital expenditure in infrastructure to promote economic growth.
- Infrastructure development has the ability to create a multiplier effect with every rupee invested, yielding much higher returns.
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Back2Basics:
National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP)
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Karez/ Qanat
Mains level: Not Much
The Taliban are set to seize Kabul, but some expert believes they will spare the age-old Karez system of underground aqueducts in the country given its importance.
What is a Qanat / Karez?
- This system of underground vertical shafts in a gently sloping tunnel that is built from an upland aquifer to ground level.
- Some historians and archaeologists have attributed people in the southeast Arabian Peninsula as the first developers. Others, however, ascribe it to the ancient Persians.
- The Qanat / Karez system, wherever it was developed, soon spread to many Persian, Arab and Turkic lands.
- It even came to the Indian Subcontinent during the 800-year-old Islamic Period.
Karez in India
- The system was brought in the Indian Subcontinent during the Bahamani Sultanate, founded by Alaudin Bahman Shah.
- It later broke into five other Sultantates: Bijapur, Golconda, Ahmadnagar, Bidar and Berar.
- The Bahamani Sultanate was Persianate in nature and encouraged many things Persian, among them, the Karez.
- They was built in the city of Bidar during the reign of Bahamani Sultan Ahmad Shah Wali (1422-1436), who shifted the capital from Gulbarga to Bidar.
- By the 15th century, Bijapur city had a network of pipelines. Everyone got 24×7 supply of water.
- It also worked as confidence-building measure between the Sultan and his subjects since the Karez was built the state.
Try answering this PYQ:
With reference to the economic history of medieval India, the term Araghatta’ refers to:
(CSP 2016)
(a) bonded labour
(b) land grants made to military officers
(c) waterwheel used in the irrigation of land
(d) wastel and converted to cultivated land
Post your answers here.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Greater Adjutant Storks
Mains level: NA
In a first, Bihar has decided to tag endangered greater adjutant storks (Leptoptilos dubius), locally known as ‘Garuda’, with GPS trackers to monitor their movement as a part of their conservation.
Greater Adjutant Storks
- Bhagalpur’s Kadwa Diara floodplains area is the third-most-popular breeding centre for the greater adjutant stork in the world after Assam and Cambodia.
- Historically the range of the Greater Adjutant covered India and Southeast Asia, but today the endangered storks are mostly found in the Indian state of Assam and in Cambodia.
- In India, the Greater Adjutant is now confined to the northeastern state of Assam, their last stronghold.
Try answering this PYQ:
Q.If you walk through the countryside, you are likely to see some birds stalking alongside the cattle to seize the insects, disturbed by their movement through grasses. Which of the following is/are such bird/ birds?
- Painted Stork
- Common Myna
- Black-necked Crane
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 3 only
Post your answers here:
Their conservation
- The greater adjutant is one of the most threatened stork species of the world and is widely considered to be a rare bird.
- However, the global population of the Greater Adjutant Stork is estimated to be roughly not more than 1,500 now.
- Hence it is classified as ‘endangered ‘on the IUCN’s Red List 2004 of threatened species and listed under Schedule IV of the Indian Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
- The Bombay Natural History Society will help and work along with the state forest, environment, and climate change department to start the process of tagging greater adjutant storks with GPS tracker.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: IndiGau
Mains level: Not Much
The National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB), Hyderabad has launched a chip called IndiGau.
IndiGau
- IndiGau is India’s first Cattle Genomic Chip for the conservation of pure varieties of indigenous cattle breeds like, Gir, Kankrej, Sahiwal, Ongole etc.
- It is purely indigenous and the largest cattle chip in the world.
- It has 11,496 markers more than that placed on 777K Illumina chip of US & UK breeds.
- The manufacturing of this chip is in synergy with Rashtriya Gokul Mission and is a great example of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Utility of IndiGau
- Indigenous bovines are robust and resilient and are particularly suited to the climate and environment of their respective breeding tracts,
- Their productivity is less likely to be impacted by the adversities of climate change.
- The milk of indigenous animals is high in fat and SNF (solids-not-fat) content.
(SNF content are the substances in milk other than butterfat and water in the form of casein, lactose, vitamins, and minerals which contribute significantly to the nutritive value of milk.)
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Back2Basics: National Programme for Bovine Breeding and Dairy Development
- The NPBBDD has been formulated by merging four ongoing schemes of the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries in the dairy sector.
- It was launched in Feb 2014.
- This merger has been done to integrate milk production and dairying activities in a scientific and holistic manner to meet the increasing demand for milk in the country.
Components of the scheme
NPBBDD has the following three components.
- National Programme for Bovine Breeding (NPBB)
- National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD) and
- Rashtriya Gokul Mission.
Differences between all these schemes:
1) National Programme for Bovine Breeding
It aims-
- To arrange quality Artificial Insemination services at farmers’ doorstep
- To bring all breedable females under organized breeding through Artificial Insemination or natural service using germplasm of high genetic merits
2) National Programme for Dairy Development
It aims-
- To create and strengthen infrastructure for the production of quality milk including cold chain infrastructure linking the farmer to the consumer
- To strengthen dairy cooperative societies/Producers Companies at the village level
- To increase milk production by providing technical input services like cattle-feed, and mineral mixture etc.
3) Rashtriya Gokul Mission
It aims-
- To undertake breed improvement programme for indigenous cattle breeds so as to improve the genetic makeup and increase the stock.
- To enhance milk production and productivity of indigenous bovines.
- To upgrade nondescript cattle using elite indigenous breeds like Gir, Sahiwal, Rathi, Deoni, Tharparkar, Red Sindhi.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: UNCLOS
Mains level: Paper 3- Maritime security
Context
Indian PM recently addressed the UNSC High-Level Open Debate on “Enhancing Maritime Security: A Case For International Cooperation”, convened by India.
Highlights of the UNSC debate on Maritime Security
- India’s leadership: As President of the UN Security Council for the month of August, India’s leadership in the debate on maritime security has strengthened its credentials as a key stakeholder in the maritime commons.
- Ocean as a common heritage: Prime Minister Modi described the oceans as a common heritage for humankind and a lifeline for the future of the planet.
- Culture, history, geography: In enunciating five principles, Mr. Modi linked free and open trade to India’s civilisational ethos.
- He outlined a far-sighted vision rooted in India’s culture, history and geography.
- SAGAR: The relevance of SAGAR (Security And Growth For All In The Region) was also reiterated.
- Need for a common framework: The global community needs to develop a common framework to deal with contemporary challenges, including maritime disputes and natural disasters.
Importance of high seas
- Ninety per cent of global trade is conducted on the high seas, for the simple reason that it continues to be the most cost-effective mode of transport.
- Spread of prosperity: Freedom of navigation and unimpeded commerce are key to the spread of prosperity.
- Critical supply chains depend on the concept of mare liberum (open seas).
Suggestions and role of India
1) Maritime dispute settlement based on international law
- The Prime Minister advocated the peaceful settlement of maritime disputes on the basis of international law.
- The importance of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea as the legal framework governing all maritime activity needs to be emphasised.
- India’s acceptance of the award by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2014 paved the way for India and Bangladesh to put aside their maritime dispute and forge even closer ties.
- In 2016, China summarily rejected the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling in favour of the Philippines.
- The neo-colonial concept of mare clausum (closed seas) in the South China Sea is anathema to the future of the global economy.
2) Deling with natural disasters and maritime threats
- Natural disasters and maritime threats posed by non-state actors have grown exponentially.
- The global community needs to rally together to deal effectively with the ravages of cyclones, tsunami and maritime pollution.
- First responder: India’s role as ‘first responder’ in the Indian Ocean, whether in thwarting piracy or providing relief after the Boxing Day tsunami in 2004, is well-documented.
- The Indian Coast Guard’s operational reach and capability has vastly improved in dealing with environmental hazards and piracy.
- White shipping agreements: India now has white shipping agreements with several countries.
- Cooperation: The Indian Navy’s state-of-the-art Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) based in Gurugram hosts officers from the United States, Japan, France, Australia and the United Kingdom.
- Training:The Indian Navy regularly offers a large number of training slots to friendly countries.
3) Environmental concerns
- The oceans remain our lifeline.
- Yet, they have been overwhelmed by plastic waste which chokes all forms of marine life.
4) Connectivity and infrastructure
- Connectivity: The development of connectivity and infrastructure are also a major priority.
- There are heightened concerns today over China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
- Openness and transparency India stands for openness and transparency in the execution of projects, based on local priorities, with in-built fiscal viability and environmental sustainability.
- Blue Dot Network: The U.S., Japan and Australia are also promoting better standards for global infrastructure through the Blue Dot Network.
Conclusion
India’s natural interests stretch across both the Indian and Pacific Oceans as reflected in its inclusive Indo-Pacific vision. No doubt, India’s initiative will further the prospects for a stable and enduring maritime environment.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Growth rate after 1991
Mains level: Paper 3- Impact of economic reforms on growth
Why 1991 stands out as a watershed year in the economic history of India
- This was the year in which the economy was faced with a severe balance of payments crisis.
- In response, we launched a wide-ranging economic program to reform, restructure and modernize the economy.
- The break with the past came in three important ways:
- Dismantling of license and permit requirements: The vast network of licenses, controls, and permits that dominated the economic system was dismantled.
- Redefining the role of the state: Changes were made by redesigning the role of the state and allowing the private sector a larger space to operate within,
- Integration with world economy: The inward-looking foreign trade policy was abandoned and the Indian economy was integrated with the world economy and trade.
Judging the performance of the economy after liberalisation
- It is appropriate to look at three broad parameters to judge the performance of the economy after liberalisation — growth rate, current account deficit, and poverty reduction.
1) Growth rate after 1991
- Between 1992-93 and 2000-01, GDP at factor cost grew annually by 6.20%.
- Between 2001-02 and 2010-11, it grew by 7.69% and the growth rate between 2011-12 and 2019-20, was 6.51%.
- Best growth rate: The best performance was between 2005-06 and 2010-11 when showing clearly what the potential growth rate of India was.
- This is despite the fact that this period included the global crisis year of 2008-09.
2) Foreign reserves
- BoP: The balance of payments situation had remained comfortable.
- Most of the years showed a small deficit.
- The exceptions were 2011-12 and 2012-13 when the current account deficit exceeded 4%. This was taken care of quickly.
- Forex reserves: Foreign exchange reserves showed a substantial increase and touched $621 billion as of last week.
- The opening up of the external sector, which included liberal trade policy, market-determined exchange rate, and a liberal flow of external resources, has greatly strengthened the external sector.
3) Poverty ratio
- Going the Tendulkar expert group methodology, the overall poverty ratio came down from 45.3% in 1993-94 to 37.2% in 2004-05 and further down to 21.9% in 2011-12.
- The post-reform period up to 2011-12 did see a significant reduction in poverty ratio because of faster growth supplemented by appropriate poverty reduction programmes such as the Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and the Extended Food Security Scheme.
- With the decline in growth rate since then and with negative growth in 2020-21, this trend must have reversed, i.e. the poverty rate may have increased.
Way forward
- Growth requires more than reforms. Reforms are, in the words of economists, only a necessary condition. It is not sufficient.
- Need to increase investment: It is the decline in investment rate of nearly five percentage points since 2010-11 that has led to the progressive decline of the growth rate.
- Reforms supplemented by a careful nurturing of the investment climate are needed to spur growth again.
- Reform agenda must continue: First of all, there is a need to move in the same direction in which we have been moving in the past three decades.
- Policymakers should identify the sectors which need reforms in terms of creating a competitive environment and improving performance efficiency.
- From this angle, we need to take a relook at the financial system, power sector, and governance. Centre and States must be joint partners in this effort.
- Second, in terms of government performance, there should be an increased focus on social sectors such as health and education.
Conclusion
Growth and equity must go together. They must not be posed as opposing considerations. They are truly interdependent. It is only in an environment of high growth, equity can be pushed aggressively.
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