Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: National Export Insurance Account Scheme
Mains level: NA
The Centre has approved the contribution of Grant-in-aid (Corpus) of ₹1,650 Crore to the National Export Insurance Account (NEIA).
National Export Insurance Account Scheme
- NEIA Trust was established in 2006 to promote project exports from India that are of strategic and national importance.
- The NEIA Trust promotes Medium and Long Term (MLT) /project exports.
- It extends (partial/full) support to covers issued by ECGC (ECGC Ltd, formerly known as Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India Ltd.) to MLT/project export and to Exim Bank for Buyer’s Credit (BC-NEIA) tied to project exports from India.
Benefits offered
- The capital infusion in NEIA Trust will help the Indian Project Exporters (IPE) to tap the huge potential of project exports in focus market.
- Support to project exports with Indian content sourced from across the country will enhance the manufacturing in India.
- In addition, assuming an average 75% Indian content in the projects, it is estimated that around 12000 workers will move into formal sector.
Performance highlights
- Since inception, NEIA has extended 213 covers, with a consolidated project value of Rs. 53,000 crores, to 52 countries as of 31st August 2021.
- Its impact in enabling project exports has been most significant in Africa and South Asia.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: El nino and La nina
Mains level: Paper 1- Challenges in monsoon prediction
Context
Last month, farmers from Madhya Pradesh threatened to take IMD to court for the inaccurate monsoon forecast this year. A question was also raised in Parliament about whether the Arctic warming had led to an erratic monsoon this year.
Understanding the role of Atlantic Niño in monsoon prediction
- Monsoon predictions are a monumental challenge, especially when it comes to the spatial distribution and the northward migration of the monsoon trough.
- Forecast models tend to rely heavily on El Niño for monsoon predictions.
- But only about 50 per cent of the dry years are explained by El Niño.
- Clearly, Atlantic Niño is a significant player in monsoon evolution and models and forecasters must pay attention to this Atlantic teleconnection.
- Atlantic Niño is El Niño’s little cousin in the Atlantic, also known as the Atlantic Zonal Mode.
- Indian scientists from INCOIS have argued that the Atlantic Niño is in fact predictable up to three months in advance.
- Every few years, from June to August, there is a warming in the eastern equatorial Atlantic, which does not get as much attention as its big brother El Niño.
- The biggest rainfall deficits from the Atlantic Niño tend to occur over the Western Ghats and the core monsoon zone.
How Atlantic Niño plays a role if Indian and Atlantic Oceans are not connected?
- The Atlantic and Indian Oceans are not directly connected in the tropics via the ocean.
- The Atlantic Niño affects the monsoon by producing atmospheric waves, which propagate into the Indian Ocean.
- These waves affect air temperatures over the Indian Ocean and influence the land-ocean thermal contrast as well as Low Pressure Systems (LPS).
Way forward
- Overall, monsoon prediction skill has gone up in the IMD but even a 70 per cent accuracy means the forecasts will be wrong 30 per cent of the time.
- Many of the Atlantic Niños occur during non-El Niño years and this offers a window of opportunity to increase forecast skills based on the accurate prediction of the Atlantic Niño.
Conclusion
No forecasts will ever be 100 per cent accurate. Climate scientists are also aware of the monsoon prediction challenge and they will continue to try to improve monsoon forecasts.
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Back2Basics: El Niño and La Niña
- These periodic weather patterns occur as a result of fluctuating ocean temperatures in one part of the world, namely the east-central equatorial Pacific Ocean.
- This can lead to extreme weather.
- When warm water builds up along the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, an El Niño occurs.
- Conversely, when cool water builds up along the same region, a La Niña occurs with the opposite impact.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Not much
Mains level: Read the attached story
A number of important developments has taken place over the past several weeks. They may appear disconnected but in fact add up to a significant shift in regional and global geopolitics.
Four major recent developments
- Withdrawal of US and NATO forces from Afghanistan: The complete takeover of the country by the Taliban
- Significant domestic political changes in China: The ideological and regulatory assault against its dynamic private high-tech companies and now its real estate companies
- Announcement of the Australia-UK and US (AUKUS): It represents a major departure in US strategy by its commitment to enable Australia to join a handful of countries with nuclear submarines
- Convening of the Quad physical summit in Washington: A major step towards its formalisation as an influential grouping in the Indo-Pacific going beyond security
Risks and opportunity for India
These four developments, taken together, present India with both risks but also with opportunities. In affirmation, one can conclude that the opportunities outweigh the risks.
[A] Risks in Afghanistan
- The Afghan situation is a setback for India in the short run.
- The political capital and economic presence it had built up in the country over the past two decades has been substantially eroded.
- The Taliban government is dominated by more hard-line and pro-Pakistani elements.
- They will help deliver on the Pakistani agenda of preventing a revival of Indian diplomatic presence and developmental activity in Afghanistan.
Future of Taliban
- In the longer run, it seems unlikely that the Taliban will give up its obscurantist and extremist agenda.
- This may lead to domestic inter-ethnic and sectarian conflict.
- The unwillingness of the Taliban to cut its links with various jihadi groups, including those targeting Afghanistan’s neighbours, may revive regional and international fears over cross-border terrorism.
How should India defer the Taliban?
- India’s response should be to bide its time, strengthen its defences against an uptick in cross-border terrorism.
- India can keep its faith with the ordinary people of Afghanistan, provide shelter to those who have sought refuge.
- It can join in any international effort to deliver humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan.
[B] Domestic political change in China
- This is taking an ideological and populist direction.
- The country’s vibrant private sector is being reined in while the State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) are back in a central role.
- After the tech sector, it is the large real estate sector that is facing regulatory assault.
Concerns for investors
- This is leading to deepening concern among foreign investors, including those who have long been champions of long-term engagement with China.
Opportunities for India
- It is not coincidental that while in NYC, our PM had meetings with the CEOs of Blackstone and Qualcomm, both of which are heavily invested in China but are reconsidering their exposure there.
- If India plays its cards well, this time round there could be significant capital and technology flows from the US, Japan and Europe diverted towards India because it offers scale comparable to China.
- Since India has benign partnerships with the US, Japan and Europe, there are no political constraints on such flows.
[C] AUKUS and QUAD
- The AUKUS and progress made by the Quad serve to raise the level of deterrence against China.
- It is useful since it has now become the core of the US’s Indo-Pacific strategy. China will be more focused on its activities.
- The Quad now represents, from the Chinese perspective, a second order threat.
Underlying opportunities
- This offensive against China suits us since we are not ready to embrace a full-fledged military alliance which will constrain our room for manoeuvre.
Why should India gauge these opportunities?
- China has given up the expectation that it could unify Taiwan through peaceful and political means, including through closer economic integration.
- It has lost its credibility after the recent crackdown on civil liberties in Hong Kong.
- China may advance its forcible takeover of Taiwan before the AUKUS gets consolidated.
- The nuclear submarines for Australia may not be built and deployed for several years.
- We may, therefore, be entering a period of enhanced uncertainty and danger in the Indo-Pacific.
India’s area for introspection
- The constraints are policy unpredictability, regulatory rigidities and bureaucratic red tape in India.
- Some of these issues are being addressed, such as dropping of retrospective taxation.
- But there is still a long way to go.
Way forward
All these developments has heightened risk perception among international business and industry who have hitherto seen China as a huge commercial opportunity.
- For India, some bold initiatives are required to take advantage of the window of opportunity that has opened.
- It is a narrow window with a very short shelf life.
- If grasped with both hands, then it could deliver double-digit growth for India for the next two or three decades.
- This will shrink the asymmetry of power with China and expand India’s diplomatic options.
Conclusion
- India should not be caught off guard. Failure of deterrence in the Indo-Pacific will have consequences beyond the region and change the geopolitical context for India.
- For now, let us focus on what we can do to advance India’s economic prospects, for which the times are unexpectedly more propitious.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Various facts related to digital health ID
Mains level: Features of the ABDM
The PM has recently launched the flagship Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) which involves the creation not just a unique digital health ID for every citizen.
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission
What is the unique health ID?
- If a person wants to be part of the ABDM, she must create a health ID, which is a randomly generated 14-digit number.
- The ID will be broadly used for three purposes: unique identification, authentication, and threading of the beneficiary’s health records, only with their informed consent, across multiple systems and stakeholders.
Why is this initiative significant?
- The initiative has the potential to “increase the ease of living” along with “simplifying the procedures in hospitals”.
- At present, the use of digital health ID in hospitals is currently limited to only one hospital or to a single group, and mostly concentrated in large private chains.
- The new initiative will bring the entire ecosystem on a single platform.
- The system also makes it easier to find doctors and specialists nearest to you.
- Currently, many patients rely on recommendations from family and friends for medical consultation, but now the new platform will tell the patient who to reach out to, and who is the nearest.
- Also, labs and drug stores will be easily identified for better tests using the new platform.
How can one get it?
- One can get a health ID by self-registration on the portal or by downloading the ABMD Health Records app on one’s mobile.
- Additionally, one can also request the creation of a health ID at a participating health facility.
- Health facilities may include government or private hospitals, community health centres, and wellness centres of the government across India.
- The beneficiary will also have to set up a Personal Health Records (PHR) address for consent management, and for future sharing of health records.
What is a PHR address?
- It is a simple self-declared username, which the beneficiary is required to sign into a Health Information Exchange and Consent Manager (HIE-CM).
- Each health ID will require linkage to a consent manager to enable sharing of health records data.
- An HIE-CM is an application that enables sharing and linking of personal health records for a user.
- At present, one can use the health ID to sign up on the HIE-CM; the National Health Authority (NHA), however, says multiple consent managers are likely to be available for patients to choose from in the near future.
What does one need to register for a health ID?
- Currently, ABDM supports health ID creation via mobile or Aadhaar.
- The official website states that ABDM will soon roll out features that will support health ID creation with a PAN card or a driving licence.
- For health ID creation through mobile or Aadhaar, the beneficiary will be asked to share details on name, year of birth, gender, address, mobile number/Aadhaar.
Is Aadhaar mandatory?
Ans. No, it is voluntary.
- One can use one’s mobile number for registration, without Aadhaar.
- If the beneficiary chooses the option of using her Aadhaar number, an OTP will be sent to the mobile number linked to the Aadhaar.
- However, if she has not linked it to her mobile, the beneficiary has to visit the nearest facility and opt for biometric authentication using Aadhaar number.
- After successful authentication, she will get her health ID at the participating facility.
Are personal health records secure?
- The NHA says ABDM does not store any of the beneficiary health records.
- The records are stored with healthcare information providers as per their “retention policies”.
- They are “shared” over the ABDM network “with encryption mechanisms” only after the beneficiary express consent.
Can one delete my health ID and exit the platform?
Ans. Yes, the NHA says ABDM, supports such a feature. Two options are available: a user can permanently delete or temporarily deactivate her health ID.
- On deletion, the unique health ID will be permanently deleted, along with all demographic details.
- The beneficiary will not be able to retrieve any information tagged to that health ID in the future, and will never be able to access ABDM applications or any health records over the ABDM network with the deleted ID.
- On deactivation, the beneficiary will lose access to all ABDM applications only for the period of deactivation.
- Until she reactivates her health ID, she will not be able to share the ID at any health facility or share health records over the ABDM network.
What facilities are available to beneficiaries?
- Users can access personal digital health records right from admission through treatment and discharge.
- One can access and link his/her personal health records with your health ID to create a longitudinal health history.
What other features will be rolled out?
- Upcoming new features will enable access to verified doctors across the country.
- The beneficiary can create a health ID for her child, and digital health records right from birth.
- Third, she can add a nominee to access her health ID and view or help manage the personal health records.
- Also, there will be much inclusive access, with the health ID available to people who don’t have phones, using assisted methods.
How do private players get associated with a government digital ID?
- The NHA has launched the NDHM Sandbox: a digital architecture that allows helps private players to be part of the National Digital Health Ecosystem as health information providers or health information users.
- The private player sends a request to NHA to test its system with the Sandbox environment.
- The NHA then gives the private player a key to access the Sandbox environment and the health ID application programming interface (API).
- The private player then has to create a Sandbox health ID, integrate its software with the API; and register the software to test link records and process health data consent requests.
- Once the system is tested, the system will ask for a demo to the NHA to move forward. After a successful demo, the NHA certifies and empanels the private hospital.
Now try this PYQ:
Consider the following statements:
- Aadhaar metadata cannot be stored for more than three months.
- State cannot enter into any contract with private corporations for sharing of Aadhaar data.
- Aadhaar is mandatory for obtaining insurance products.
- Aadhaar is mandatory for getting benefits funded out of the Consolidated Fund of India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 4 only
(b) 2 and 4 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3 only
Post your answers here.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Anti-defection law
Mains level: Read the attached story
An independent MLA from Gujarat is said to have has joined a national political party “in spirit” as he could not formally do so, having been elected as an independent.
What is Anti-defection Law?
- The Anti-Defection Law under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution punishes MPs/ MLAs for defecting from their party by taking away their membership of the legislature.
- It gives the Speaker of the legislature the power to decide the outcome of defection proceedings.
- It was added to the Constitution through the Fifty-Second (Amendment) Act, 1985 when Rajiv Gandhi was PM.
- The law applies to both Parliament and state assemblies.
Why in news?
- The anti-defection law specifies the circumstances under which changing of political parties by legislators invites action under the law.
- It includes situations in which an independent MLA, too, joins a party after the election.
Why are independents important?
- Independents give voters better opportunities to express their preferences.
- This can improve political representation, as independents are free from the dictates of a party line, and have the flexibility to represent local preferences in a way that party-affiliated candidates often do not.
Cases consider under the anti-defection law
The law covers three scenarios with respect to shifting of political parties by an MP or an MLA.
(1) Voluntary give-up
- The first is when a member elected on the ticket of a political party “voluntarily gives up” membership of such a party or votes in the House against the wishes of the party.
- Such persons lose his seat.
(2) Independent members
- When a legislator who has won his or her seat as an independent candidate joins a political party after the election.
- In both these instances, the legislator loses the seat in the legislature on changing (or joining) a party.
(3) Nominated MPs
- In their case, the law gives them six months to join a political party, after being nominated.
- If they join a party after such time, they stand to lose their seat in the House.
Covering independent members
- In 1969, a committee chaired by Home Minister Y B Chavan examined the issue of defection.
- It observed that after the 1967 general elections, defections changed the political scene in India: 176 of 376 independent legislators later joined a political party.
- However, the committee did not recommend any action against independent legislators.
- A member disagreed with the committee on the issue of independents and wanted them disqualified if they joined a political party.
- In the absence of a recommendation on this issue by the Chavan committee, the initial attempts at creating the anti-defection law (1969, 1973) did not cover independent legislators joining political parties.
- The next legislative attempt, in 1978, allowed independent and nominated legislators to join a political party once.
- But when the Constitution was amended in 1985, independent legislators were prevented from joining a political party and nominated legislators were given six months’ time.
Powers to disqualification
- Under the anti-defection law, the power to decide the disqualification of an MP or MLA rests with the presiding officer of the legislature.
- The law does not specify a time frame in which such a decision has to be made.
- As a result, Speakers of legislatures have sometimes acted very quickly or have delayed the decision for years — and have been accused of political bias in both situations.
Try this easy PYQ:
Which one of the following Schedules of the Constitution of India contains provisions regarding anti-defection?
(a) Second Schedule
(b) Fifth Schedule
(c) Eighth Schedule
(d) Tenth Schedule
Post your answers here
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Ordinance Factory
Mains level: Strategic disinvestment
The Defence Ministry has issued an order for the dissolution of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) with effect from October 1.
Ordnance Factory Board (OFB)
- OFB consisting of the Indian Ordnance Factories is a government agency under the control of the department of defence production (DDP).
- It is engaged in research, development, production, testing, marketing and logistics of a product range in the areas of air, land and sea systems.
- OFB comprises 41 ordnance factories, nine training institutes, three regional marketing centres and four regional controllers of safety, which are spread all across the country.
Take a look at this timeline
1712 – Establishment of the Dutch Ostend Company’s Gun Powder Factory at Ichhapur
1775 – Establishment of the Board of Ordnance at Fort William, Kolkata.
1787 – Establishment of the Gun Powder Factory at Ishapore.
1935 – Indian Ordnance Service was introduced to administer the whole Defence Production Industry of India.
1954 – Indian Ordnance Service (IOS) renamed to Indian Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS).
1979 – Ordnance Factory Board is established on 2 April.
Why are OFBs significant?
- OFB is the world’s largest government-operated production organization and the oldest organization in India.
- It has a total workforce of about 80,000.
- It is often called the “Fourth Arm of Defence” and the “Force Behind the Armed Forces” of India.
- OFB is the 35th largest defence equipment manufacturer in the world, 2nd largest in Asia, and the largest in India.
Why corporatization?
- It is a major decision in terms of national security and also make the country self-sufficient in defence manufacturing as repeatedly emphasized by PM.
- This move would allow these companies autonomy and help improve accountability and efficiency.
- This restructuring is aimed at transforming the ordnance factories into productive and profitable assets, deepening specialization in the product range, enhancing competitiveness, improving quality and achieving cost efficiency.
What about employees?
- All employees of the OFB (Group A, B and C) belonging to the production units would be transferred to the corporate entities on deemed deputation.
- The pension liabilities of the retirees and existing employees would continue to be borne by the government.
Significance of the move
- With OFB dissolution, its assets, employees and management would be transferred to seven newly constituted defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs).
- This would mean the end of the OFB, the establishment of which was accepted by the British in 1775.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Electronic Gold Receipts
Mains level: NA
The board of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has approved the framework for a gold exchange as well as for vault managers. This approval paves the way for gold exchanges to be set up for trading in ‘Electronic Gold Receipt’ (EGR).
What is EGR?
- SEBI’s concept paper proposes issuing an electronic gold receipt in exchange pf physical gold (similar to equity shares), deposited with a vault manager (like a depositary participant) and this receipt can then be traded.
- The government wants India’s outsized influence in the physical market for gold to be visible in the financial market for gold as well.
Why need EGRs?
- EGI is a way of getting people to not hoard gold, by creating an exchange that provides transparent pricing and liquidity (to cash or back to gold).
- India is a net importer of gold. We are price takers and not price setters. The whole idea is to move from being price takers to be price setters.
- Price discovery at the exchanges will thus lead to transparency in gold pricing.
- The gold exchanges would provide transparent price discovery, investment liquidity and assurance in the quality of gold.
What is the SEBI regulation?
- SEBI has also proposed a regulatory framework for setting up a gold exchange.
- Existing stock exchanges will be allowed to provide the platform for trading of EGRs.
- The denomination for trading of EGR and conversion of EGR into gold will be decided by the stock exchange with the approval of SEBI.
- The clearing corporation will settle the trades executed on the stock exchanges by way of transferring EGRs and funds to the buyer and seller, respectively.
How will EGR work?
- EGR holders, at their discretion, can withdraw the underlying gold from the vaults after surrendering the EGRs.
- SEBI-accredited vault managers will be responsible for the storage and safekeeping of gold deposits, creation of EGRs, withdrawal of gold, grievance redressal and periodic reconciliation of physical gold with the records of depository.
- The vault manager will have a networth of at least ₹50 crore.
Back2Basics: Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
- The SEBI is the regulatory body for securities and commodity market in India under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Finance Government of India.
- It was established on 12 April 1988 and given Statutory Powers on 30 January 1992 through the SEBI Act, 1992.
Jurisdiction of SEBI
- SEBI has to be responsive to the needs of three groups, which constitute the market:
- Issuers of securities
- Investors
- Market intermediaries
SEBI has three powers rolled into one body: quasi-legislative, quasi-judicial and quasi-executive.
- It drafts regulations in its legislative capacity, it conducts investigation and enforcement action in its executive function and it passes rulings and orders in its judicial capacity.
- Though this makes it very powerful, there is an appeal process to create accountability.
- There is a Securities Appellate Tribunal which is a three-member tribunal and is currently headed by Justice Tarun Agarwala, former Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court.
- A second appeal lies directly to the Supreme Court.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Meningitis
Mains level: NA
The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched the first-ever global strategy to defeat meningitis, a debilitating disease that kills hundreds of thousands of people each year.
What is Meningitis?
- Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord.
- People of any age can get meningitis.
What Causes Meningitis?
- Most cases are caused by bacteria or viruses, but some can be due to certain medicines or illnesses.
- Meningitis is usually caused by a viral infection but can also be bacterial or fungal.
- Both kinds of meningitis spread like most other common infections do — someone who’s infected touches, kisses, or coughs or sneezes on someone who isn’t infected.
- Bacterial meningitis is rare, but is usually serious and can be life-threatening if not treated right away.
- Viral meningitis (also called aseptic meningitis) is more common than bacterial meningitis and usually less serious.
- Many of the viruses that cause meningitis are common, such as those that cause colds, diarrhea, cold sores, and the flu.
What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Meningitis?
- Meningitis symptoms vary, depending on the person’s age and the cause of the infection.
- The first symptoms can come on quickly or start several days after someone has had a cold, diarrhea, vomiting, or other signs of an infection.
Common symptoms include:
- fever
- lack of energy
- irritability
- headache
- sensitivity to light
- stiff neck
- skin rash
Treatment
- Several vaccines protect against meningitis, including meningococcal, Haemophilus influenzae type b and pneumococcal vaccines.
- If dealt with quickly, meningitis can be treated successfully.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Zoji La Pass and other himalayan passes
Mains level: Critical border infrastructures
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways has inspected the work on Zojila and Z Morh tunnels.
Zojila Tunnel
- The Zojila is set to be Asia’s longest bi-directional tunnel.
- It will connect Srinagar, Dras, Kargil and Leh via a tunnel through the famous Zojila Pass.
- Located at more than 11,500 feet above sea level, the all-weather Zojila tunnel will be 14.15 km long and ensure road connectivity even during winters.
- It will make the travel on the 434-km Srinagar-Kargil-Leh Section of NH-1 free from avalanches, enhance safety and reduce the travel time from more than 3 hours to just 15 minutes.
- The speed limit inside the tunnel is likely to be the same as in the Atal tunnel – 80 kmph.
Z-Morh tunnel
- The Z-Morh tunnel — being developed at Sonmarg — will provide it all-weather connectivity with Srinagar allowing it to remain open to tourists all year round.
- It is likely to be ready by December 2023 and is being developed at a cost of ₹2,378 crore.
Significance of these tunnels
- The project holds strategic significance as Zojila Pass is situated at an altitude of 11,578 feet on the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh National Highway and remains closed during winters due to heavy snowfall.
- At present, it is one of the most dangerous stretches in the world to drive a vehicle and this project is also geo-strategically sensitive.
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Back2Basics: Major Passes in India
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: PM-KUSUM
Mains level: Paper 3- Revitalising PM-KUSUM
Context
The Union Minister of Power, New and Renewable Energy recently reviewed the progress of the PM-KUSUM scheme and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to accelerating solar pump adoption.
Background
- It was launched in 2019.
- PM-KUSUM aims to help farmers access reliable day-time solar power for irrigation, reduce power subsidies, and decarbonise agriculture.
- PM-KUSUM provides farmers with incentives to install solar power pumps and plants in their fields.
- Three deployment models: Pumps come in three models: off-grid solar pumps solarised agricultural feeders, or grid-connected pumps.
- Off-grid pumps have been the most popular, but the nearly 2,80,000 systems deployed fall far short of the scheme’s target of two million by 2022.
- The other two models are also worth scaling up for they allow farmers to earn additional income by selling solar power to discoms, and discoms to procure cheap power close to centres of consumption.
Challenges
- Awareness challenge: Barriers to adoption include limited awareness about solar pumps.
- Upfront contribution: The other barrier includes farmers’ inability to pay their upfront contribution.
- Limited progress on two models: Progress on the other two models has been rather poor due to regulatory, financial, operational and technical challenges.
Suggestions
- Extend the scheme’s timelines: Most Indian discoms have a surplus of contracted generation capacity and are wary of procuring more power in the short term.
- Extending PM-KUSUM’s timelines beyond 2022 would allow discoms to align the scheme with their power purchase planning.
- Level playing field: Discoms often find utility-scale solar cheaper than distributed solar (under the scheme) due to the latter’s higher costs and the loss of locational advantage due to waived inter-State transmission system (ISTS) charges.
- To tackle the bias against distributed solar, we need to address counter-party risks and grid-unavailability risks at distribution substations, standardise tariff determination to reflect the higher costs of distributed power plants, and do away with the waiver of ISTS charges for solar plants.
- Streamline regulation: We need to streamline land regulations through inter-departmental coordination.
- States should constitute steering committees comprising members from all relevant departments for this purpose.
- Financing farmers contribution: There is a need to support innovative solutions for financing farmers’ contributions.
- Many farmers struggle to pay 30-40% of upfront costs in compliance with scheme requirements.
- To ease the financial burden on farmers, we need out-of-the-box solutions.
- Grid-connected solar pumps: Current obstacles to their adoption include concerns about their economic viability in the presence of high farm subsidies and farmers’ potential unwillingness to feed in surplus power when selling water or irrigating extra land are more attractive prospects.
- Further, the grid-connected model requires pumps to be metered and billed for accounting purposes but suffers from a lack of trust between farmers and discoms.
- Adopting solutions like smart meters and smart transformers and engaging with farmers can build trust and address some operational challenges.
Conclusion
These measures, combined with other agriculture schemes and complemented by intensive awareness campaigns, could give a much-needed boost to PM-KUSUM.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Various treaties mentioned
Mains level: Nuclear disarmament
India has underlined the need for the international community to pay closer attention to the “illicit proliferation” of networks of nuclear weapons, their delivery systems, components and relevant technologies.
Key takeaways from India’s remarks
- India’s remarks appeared to be a veiled reference to China and its “all-weather ally” Pakistan.
- China’s nuclear cooperation with Pakistan was in contravention with the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
- Several concerns have been raised over the export of nuclear materials to Islamabad by Beijing and that they are in violation of international norms and established procedures.
Do you know?
India has played a leading role in global efforts towards nuclear disarmament and was the first country to call for a ban on nuclear testing in 1954 and a non-discriminatory treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, as distinct from non-dissemination, in 1965. Its no-first-use doctrine is a worldwide appreciated strategy.
Issues in Nuclear Disarmament
- Notion of Nuclear ‘Haves’ and ‘Have-Nots’: The proponents of disarmaments are themselves nuclear armed countries thus creating a nuclear monopoly.
- Concept of Peaceful Nuclear Explosion (PNE): conducted for non-military purposes such as mining.
India’s commitment for de-nuclearization
India has always batted for a universal commitment and an agreed global and non-discriminatory multilateral framework.
- It has outlined a working paper on Nuclear Disarmament submitted to the UN General Assembly in 2006.
- India participated in the Nuclear Security Summit process and has regularly participated in the International Conferences on Nuclear Security organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
- India is also a member of the Nuclear Security Contact Group (but has signed off the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)).
- India has expressed its readiness to support the commencement of negotiations on a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT).
- India couldn’t join the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) due to several concerns raised by India.
- India has piloted an annual UNGA Resolution on “Measures to Prevent Terrorists from Acquiring Weapons of Mass Destruction” since 2002, which is adopted by consensus.
Why didn’t India join NPT?
- India is one of the only five countries that either did not sign the NPT or signed but withdrew, thus becoming part of a list that includes Pakistan, Israel, North Korea, and South Sudan.
- India always considered the NPT as discriminatory and had refused to sign it.
- India maintains that they are selectively applicable to the non-nuclear powers and legitimised the monopoly of the five nuclear weapons powers.
Way forward
- India has actively supported and contributed to the strengthening of the global nuclear security architecture.
- There is a need for the international community to pay closer attention to the illicit proliferation of networks of nuclear weapons, their delivery systems, components and relevant technologies.
- India hopes that the international community will continue to work towards realising our collective aspiration for a nuclear weapon-free world.
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Back2Basics:
Nuclear Security Contact Group
- The NSCG was established in 2016.
- The NSCG or “Contact Group” has been established with the aim of facilitating cooperation and sustaining engagement on nuclear security after the conclusion of the Nuclear Security Summit process.
- The Contact Group is tasked with:
- Convening annually on the margins of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and, as may be useful, in connection with other related meetings
- Discussing a broad range of nuclear security-related issues, including identifying emerging trends that may require more focused attention
Nuclear Suppliers Group
- NSG is a group of nuclear supplier countries that seeks to contribute to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons through the implementation of guidelines for nuclear exports and nuclear-related exports.
- The NSG was set up as a response to India’s nuclear tests conducted in 1974.
- The aim of the NSG is to ensure that nuclear trade for peaceful purposes does not contribute to the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
- CTBT was negotiated at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1996.
- The Treaty intends to ban all nuclear explosions – everywhere, by everyone.
- It was opened for signature in 1996 and since then 182 countries have signed the Treaty, most recently Ghana has ratified the treaty in 2011.
Fissile material cut-off treaty
- FMCT is a proposed international agreement that would prohibit the production of the two main components of nuclear weapons: highly-enriched uranium (HEU) and plutonium.
- Discussions on this subject have taken place at the UN Conference on Disarmament (CD), a body of 65 member nations established as the sole multilateral negotiating forum on disarmament.
- The CD operates by consensus and is often stagnant, impeding progress on an FMCT.
- Those nations that joined the nuclear NPT as non-weapon states are already prohibited from producing or acquiring fissile material for weapons.
- An FMCT would provide new restrictions for the five recognized nuclear weapon states (NWS—United States, Russia, United Kingdom, France, and China), and for the four nations that are not NPT members (Israel, India, Pakistan, and North Korea).
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Minority Rights in India
Mains level: Read the attached story
The right of an institution, whether run by a majority or minority community, to get government aid is not a fundamental right. Both have to equally follow the rules and conditions of the aid, the Supreme Court held in a judgment.
What is the case about?
- The judgment came in an appeal filed by Uttar Pradesh against a decision of the Allahabad High Court to declare a provision of the Intermediate Education Act of 1921 unconstitutional.
Key takeaways from the Judgment
- The SC has clarified that if the government made a policy call to withdraw aid, an institution cannot question the decision as a “matter of right”.
- Whether it is an institution run by the majority or the minority, all conditions that have relevance to the proper utilisation of the grant-in-aid by an educational institution can be imposed.
- All that Article 30(2) states is that on the ground that an institution is under the management of a minority, whether based on religion or language.
- The grant of aid to that educational institution cannot be discriminated against, if other educational institutions are entitled to receive aid.
Basis of the Judgment
- A grant of government aid comes with accompanying conditions.
- An institution is free to choose to accept the grant with the conditions or go its own way.
- If an institution does not want to accept and comply with the conditions accompanying such aid, it is well open to it to decline the grant and move in its own way.
- On the contrary, an institution can never be allowed to say that the grant of aid should be on its own terms, the Bench observed.
Various grounds discussed
The court explained why institutions cannot view government aid as a “matter of right”.
- Government aid is a policy decision: It depends on various factors including the interests of the institution itself and the ability of the government to understand the exercise. Therefore, even in a case where a policy decision is made to withdraw the aid, an institution cannot question it as a matter of right.
- Financial constraints and deficiencies: These are the factors which are considered relevant in taking any decision qua aid, including both the decision to grant aid and the manner of disbursement of an aid.
- Not arbitrary decision: The bench said that a policy decision is presumed to be in public interest, and such a decision once made is not amenable to challenge, until and unless there is manifest or extreme arbitrariness, a Constitutional court is expected to keep its hands off.
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Back2Basics: Minority Rights in India
- Article 15: prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion race cast sex or place of birth
- Article 17: prohibits untouchability
- Article 25 provides the right to practice any religion.
- Article 26 allows religious institutions to be opened.
- Article 27 provides that no person shall be forced to pay any taxes which is not mandatory.
- Article 28 provides that there shall be no religious instruction to be followed in any particular educational institutions.
- Article 29 provides that no citizen shall be denied admission in any educational institution on grounds of religion race caste.
- Article 30 provides that minority shall not be prohibited from any educational institutions.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission
Mains level: Features of the ABDM
The PM has launched the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission to provide a digital Health ID to people which will contain their health records.
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission
- The pilot project of the National Digital Health Mission was announced by PM Modi during his Independence Day speech from the Red Fort on August 15, 2020.
- The mission will enable access and exchange of longitudinal health records of citizens with their consent.
- This will ensure ease of doing business for doctors and hospitals and healthcare service providers.
The key components of the project include
- Health ID for every citizen that will also work as their health account, to which personal health records can be linked and viewed with the help of a mobile application,
- Healthcare Professionals Registry (HPR)
- Healthcare Facilities Registries (HFR) that will act as a repository of all healthcare providers across both modern and traditional systems of medicine
What makes this special?
- The mission will create integration within the digital health ecosystem, similar to the role played by the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in revolutionising payments.
- Citizens will only be a click-away from accessing healthcare facilities.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Tropical cyclones
Mains level: Frequent cyclonic activities in India
As a very rare occasion during monsoons, Cyclone Gulab has been developed in the Bay of Bengal and later made landfall close in Andhra Pradesh.
Tauktae, Amphan, Fani, Titli, Bulbul, Gaja… And now Gulab. As and when cyclones with intriguing names approach the Indian coasts, a common question comes to our minds: Who names these storms?
This time it is Pakistan, not India, who proposed this name Gulaab!
About Tropical Cyclones
- A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure centre, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rains.
- Depending on its location and strength, a tropical cyclone is referred to by different names, including hurricane, typhoon, tropical storm, cyclonic storm, tropical depression, or simply cyclone.
- A hurricane is a tropical cyclone that occurs in the Atlantic Ocean and the northeastern Pacific Ocean, and a typhoon occurs in the north-western Pacific Ocean.
- In the south Pacific or the Indian Ocean, comparable storms are referred to simply as “tropical cyclones” or “severe cyclonic storms”.
Cyclone Gulab
- Three factors —in-sync phase of Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO), warm sea surface temperatures over the Bay of Bengal, and the formation of a low-pressure system.
- The system’s intensification phases between low pressure – well-marked low pressure – depression – deep depression and to finally becoming Cyclone Gulab was rather rapid, even as the system moved closer to the south Odisha – north Andhra Pradesh coast, where it also made landfall.
What makes Gulab special?
- India has a bi-annual cyclone season that occurs between March to May and October to December. But on rare occasions, cyclones do occur in June and September months.
- Cyclones are less common during the June to September monsoon season, as there are limited or almost no favourable conditions for cyclogenesis due to strong monsoon currents.
- This is also the period when the wind shear — that is, the difference between wind speeds at lower and upper atmospheric levels — is very high.
- As a result, clouds do not grow vertically and monsoon depressions often fail to intensify into cyclones.
- So it can be stated that this year, the cyclone season commenced earlier than usual. The last time a cyclone developed in the Bay of Bengal in September was Cyclone Day in 2018.
Also read
[Burning Issue] Tropical Cyclones and India
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Crop Varieties with Special Traits
Mains level: GM Crops
In an endeavor to create mass awareness for adoption of climate resilient technologies, PM will dedicate 35 crop varieties with special traits to the Nation.
About Crop Varieties with Special Traits
- The crop varieties with special traits have been developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to address the twin challenges of climate change and malnutrition.
- Thirty-five such crop varieties with special traits like climate resilience and higher nutrient content have been developed in the year 2021.
- These special traits crop varieties also include those that address the anti-nutritional factors found in some crops that adversely affect human and animal health.
Which are these varieties?
- Drought tolerant variety of chickpea
- Wilt and sterility mosaic resistant pigeonpea
- Early maturing variety of soybean
- Disease resistant varieties of rice
- Biofortified varieties of wheat, pearl millet, maize and chickpea, quinoa, buckwheat, winged bean and faba bean
- Pusa Double Zero Mustard 33
- Canola quality hybrid RCH 1 with <2% erucic acid and <30 ppm glucosinolates and
- Soybean variety free from two anti-nutritional factors namely Kunitz trypsin inhibitor and lipoxygenase.
Try answering the PYQ:
The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee is constituted under the:
(a) Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
(b) Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999
(c) Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
(d) Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
Post your answers here.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Akash Missile
Mains level: NA
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully tested a new version of Akash Surface to Air missile Akash Prime from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Odisha.
About Akash Missile System
- Akash is a medium-range mobile surface-to-air missile (SAM) system.
- It is developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).
- It can target aircraft up to 50–80 km away, at altitudes up to 18,000 m.
- It has the capability to neutralise aerial targets like fighter jets, cruise missiles and air-to-surface missiles as well as ballistic missiles.
- It is in operational service with the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force.
Upgrade in Akash Prime
- In comparison to the existing Akash System, Akash Prime is equipped with an indigenous active Radio Frequency (RF) seeker for improved accuracy.
- Other improvements also ensure more reliable performance under low temperature environment at higher altitudes.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: MSP
Mains level: Paper 3- Doubling farmers' income
Context
The recently released data for 2018-19 Situation Assessment Survey (SAS) of agricultural households paints a bleak picture for doubling farmers’ income.
Background
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi set out an ambitious target to double farmers’ incomes by 2022-23.
- The Ashok Dalwai Committee made it clear that the target of doubling farmers’ incomes was in real terms.
- Required rate: The committee clearly stated that a growth rate of 10.4 per cent per annum would be required to double farmers’ real income by 2022-23.
- The goal was to be achieved over seven years with the base year of 2015-16.
- According to an estimate of farmers’ income for 2015-16 by NABARD in 2016-17, the average monthly income of farmers for 2015-16 was Rs 8,931.
- However, unless a similar survey is conducted in 2022-23, we won’t really know what happened to the target of doubling farmers’ real income.
Determining the growth rate of farmers income
- As per Situation Assessment Survey (SAS) of agricultural households for 2018-19, an average agricultural household earned a monthly income of Rs 10,218 in 2018-19 (July-June) in nominal terms.
- We have a similar SAS for 2012-13, when the nominal income was Rs 6,426.
- In nominal terms, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) turns out to be 8 per cent between 2012-13 to 2018-19.
- Choice of deflator: If one deflates nominal incomes by using CPI-AL (consumer price index for agricultural labour), which should be the logical choice, then the CAGR turns out to be just 3 per cent.
- If one uses WPI (wholesale price index of all commodities), the CAGR in real incomes turns out to be 6.1 per cent.
- This vast difference is just due to the choice of deflator.
- However, there is another SAS that the NSO conducted for 2002-03.
- When one compares CAGR in farmers’ real income (deflated by CPI-AL) over 2002-03 to 2018-19, it turns out to be 3.4 per cent (and 5.3 per cent if deflated by WPI).
- A better method would have been to look at average annual growth rates (AAGR), if yearly data was available.
- The AAGR for agri-GDP is available and at an all-India level, between 2002-03 to 2018-19, it turns out to be 3.3 per cent.
Policy message about farmers income from SASs
- One, the share of income from rearing animals (this includes fish) has gone up dramatically from 4.3 per cent in 2002-03 to 15.7 per cent.
- Two, the share of income from the cultivation of crops has decreased from 45.8 per cent to 37.7 per cent.
- Three, the share of wages and salaries has gone up from 38.7 per cent to 40.3 per cent.
- Four, the share of income coming from non-farm business has come down from 11.2 per cent to 6.4 per cent.
Way forward
- Survey results indicates that the scope for augmenting farmers’ incomes is going to be more and from rearing animals (including fisheries).
- There is no minimum support price (MSP) for products of animal husbandry or fisheries and no procurement by the government.
- It is demand-driven, and much of its marketing takes place outside APMC mandis.
- This is the trend that will get reinforced in the years to come as incomes rise and diets diversify.
- Those who advocate raising the MSP of grains and government procurement, irrespective of increasing grain stocks to more than double the buffer stocking norms, are living in the past — and advocating a very expensive food system.
- That will fail sooner or later.
- Wisdom lies in investing more in animal husbandry (including fisheries) and fruits and vegetables, which are more nutritious.
- The best way to invest is to incentivise the private sector to build efficient value chains based on a cluster approach.
Consider the question “Why the role of MSP in increasing the farmers’ income has been repeatedly questioned? What are the alternatives to achieve the doubling of farmers’ income?”
Conclusion
Too much focus on increasing MSP to increase farmers’ income is not helping the cause. What we need is an investment in animal husbandry (including fisheries) and fruits and vegetables.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Rivers mentioned
Mains level: Floods in Bihar
Over the years, many of Bihar’s districts have been facing serious challenges with recurrent and massive flooding. It is the right time to look at some of the key aspects of India-Nepal flood management.
Simultaneous floods in Bihar and Nepal
- Some of Nepal’s biggest river systems originate in the Himalayan glaciers which then flow into India through Bihar.
- During the monsoons, these river systems flood causing many problems for Bihar.
- It is a necessity that there is process-driven coordination between the Centre and the Government of Bihar to handle the flooding in Nepal’s Terai and North Bihar (largely the Mithilanchal region).
Which are those flooding rivers?
- Nepal’s three biggest river systems—Kosi, Gandaki and Karnali—originate in the high mountain glaciers, flow through the country and then enter India through the state of Bihar.
- During the monsoon season, these river systems often get flooded due to heavy rains/landslides in Nepal which create floods in India’s most flood prone state—Bihar.
Bihar’s vulnerability
- The history of floods in Bihar from 1998 to 2012 reveals how strong discharges of water due to heavy rains in the catchment areas of Nepal have created a strong pressure on the river embankments in India.
- About 76 per cent of the population living in northern Bihar live under threat of floods due to these river systems and a total of 73.06 per cent of the total geographical area of Bihar is flood affected (mostly during the monsoon).
Measures: Joint flood management program
- As part of the long-term measures to address the problem of massive and recurrent floods in Bihar, the Joint Project Office (JPO), Biratnagar, was established in Nepal in August 2004.
- It aimed to prepare a detailed project report to construct a high dam on the Nepal side (on the Kosi, Kamla and Bagmati rivers).
Flaws: Yet to get effect
- Despite the best efforts made by the Government of Bihar, the task remains unaccomplished even after 17 years.
- The Government of Bihar has raised the matter at regular intervals for this.
Who is the obstructionist? : Fault lies with Nepal
- The Central Water Commission (CWC) has convened several meetings with Nepali Authorities.
- However, what is evident is Nepal’s lack of prompt reciprocation.
- India has long-standing water sharing issues with Nepal.
What has been done so far?
- As in the figures shared by Bihar, a total of four new flood protection works in the Gandak basin area were proposed before the floods of 2020.
- There were proposed Barrage structures located in the border districts.
Nepal’s reluctance
- However, Nepal argues that many of the bund area falls into no man’s land along the open international border.
- This is notwithstanding the fact that the embankment was built by India 30 years ago and there has not been any dispute regarding its maintenance all these years.
What does this signify?
- There is a need for India-Nepal collaboration for an efficiently operated barrage.
- It is evident that Nepal’s attitude towards mutual issues (water sharing, flood control, etc.) has been short of collaboration, unlike in the past.
Way forward
- In the best spirit of friendship, Nepal and India should restart the water dialogue and come up with policies to safeguard the interests of all those who have been affected on both sides of the border.
- It is time the two friendly countries come together and assess the factors that are causing unimaginable losses through flooding every year.
- Optimisation of the infrastructure will be decisive in finding an alternative paradigm of flood management.
- By controlling the flooding and using the water resources for common developmental uses such as hydroelectricity, irrigation and waterways, India-Nepal relations can be strengthened even further.
- Moreover, it is also linked to how the Himalayan glaciers and the green cover are managed.
Conclusion
- Water resources are priceless assets.
- Water cooperation should drive the next big India-Nepal dialogue, and despite the challenges, wisdom should prevail to turn the crisis into an opportunity, for the sake of development and environmental protection.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Cartel, Cartelization
Mains level: Free market and its limitations
Last week, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has slapped a penalty on a cartel of beer companies for hiking the prices.
What is a Cartel?
- According to CCI, a “Cartel includes an association of producers, sellers, distributors, traders or service providers who, by agreement amongst themselves, limit, control or attempt to control the production, distribution, sale or price of, or, trade in goods or provision of services”.
- The International Competition Network, which is a global body dedicated to enforcing competition law, has a simpler definition.
- The three common components of a cartel are:
- an agreement
- between competitors
- to restrict competition
What is Cartelization?
- Cartelization is when enterprises collude to fix prices, indulge in bid rigging, or share customers, etc.
- But when prices are controlled by the government under a law, that is not cartelization.
- The Competition Act contains strong provisions against cartels.
- It also has the leniency provision to incentivise a party to a cartel to break away and report to the Commission, and thereby expect total or partial leniency.
- This has proved a highly effective tool against cartels worldwide.
- Cartels almost invariably involve secret conspiracies.
How do they work?
- According to ICN, four categories of conduct are commonly identified across jurisdictions (countries). These are:
- price-fixing
- output restrictions
- market allocation and
- bid-rigging
- In sum, participants in hard-core cartels agree to insulate themselves from the rigours of a competitive marketplace, substituting cooperation for competition.
How do cartels hurt?
- While it may be difficult to accurately quantify the ill-effects of cartels, they not only directly hurt the consumers but also, indirectly, undermine overall economic efficiency and innovations.
- A successful cartel raises the price above the competitive level and reduces output.
- Consumers choose either not to pay the higher price for some or all of the cartelised product that they desire, thus forgoing the product, or they pay the cartel price and thereby unknowingly transfer wealth to the cartel operators.
In other words, by artificially holding back the supply or raising prices in a coordinated manner, companies either force some consumers out of the market by making the commodity (say, beer) more scarce or by earning profits that free competition would not have allowed.
Are there provisions in the Competition Act against monopolistic prices?
- There are provisions in the Competition Act against abuse of dominance.
- One of the abuses is when a dominant enterprise “directly or indirectly imposes unfair or discriminatory prices” in purchase or sale of goods or services.
- Thus, excessive pricing by a dominant enterprise could, in certain conditions, be regarded as an abuse and, therefore, subject to investigation by the Competition Commission if it were fully functional.
- However, it should be understood that where pricing is a result of normal supply and demand, the Competition Commission may have no role.
How might cartels be worse than monopolies?
- It is generally well understood that monopolies are bad for both individual consumer interest as well as the society at large.
- That’s because a monopolist completely dominates the concerned market and, more often than not, abuses this dominance either in the form of charging higher than warranted prices or by providing lower than the warranted quality of the good or service in question.
How to stop the spread of cartelisation?
- Cartels are not easy to detect and identify.
- As such, experts often suggest providing a strong deterrence to those cartels that are found guilty of being one.
- Typically this takes the form of a monetary penalty that exceeds the gains amassed by the cartel.
- However, it must also be pointed out that it is not always easy to ascertain the exact gains from cartelisation.
- In fact, the threat of stringent penalties can be used in conjunction with providing leniency — as was done in the beer case.
Try this PYQ:
One of the implications of equality in society is the absence of:
(a) Privileges
(b) Restraints
(c) Competition
(d) Ideology
Post your answers here.
Back2Basics: Competition Commission of India (CCI)
- The CCI is the chief national competition regulator in India.
- It is a statutory body within the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
- It is responsible for enforcing The Competition Act, 2002 in order to promote competition and prevent activities that have an appreciable adverse effect on competition in India.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: National Mission on Cultural Mapping
Mains level: Read the attached story
Having made little progress since its launch in 2017, the National Mission on Cultural Mapping has now been handed over to the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA).
About the National Mission on Cultural Mapping
- The NMCM is a mission mode project of the Ministry of Culture. It was incepted in 2015.
- It is aimed to address the necessity of preserving the threads of rich Indian Art and Cultural Heritage, convert vast and widespread cultural canvas of India into an objective Cultural Mapping while creating a strong “Cultural Vibrancy” throughout the nation.
- It will identify, collect and record cultural assets and resources. It correlates this to planning and strategizing.
- A portal and a database listing organisations, spaces, facilities, festivals and events will be created.
- This database can be used to preserve culture and provide or ameliorate livelihoods.
Objectives of the Mission
Under this Mission, at broad-level, there are three important objectives as follows:
- National Cultural Awareness Abhiyan: Hamari Sanskriti Hamari Pahchan Abhiyan (Our Culture Our Identity)
- Nationwide Artist Talent Hunt/Scouting Programme: Sanskritik Pratibha Khoj Abhiyan
- National Cultural Workplace: Centralised Transactional Web Portal with database and demography of cultural assets and resources including all art forms and artists.
Significance of the mission
- Revival and safeguarding of oral traditions
- Fostering Cultural Awareness
- Cultural Preservation
- Sustainable Employment to creative industries
- Optimal Resource Allocation and Utilization:
- Creation of objective Database for inclusive growth of cultural heritage
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