From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Phanigiri Buddhist artefacts
Mains level: NA
Central Idea
The Phanigiri artefacts belonging to 200 BCE-400 CE are on display at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About Phanigiri
Phanigiri, which means “hillock of snake hood,” is a small village located around 150 km from Hyderabad.
A treasure trove of ancient Buddhist art was discovered in 1942, and it re-emerged into the world’s spotlight in 2003.
Phanigiri’s Artefacts
Stupa-like architecture: The discoveries at Phanigiri, particularly the thoranas (archways), have rewritten the narrative of Buddhism in southern India.
Presence of sects: These thoranas are among the earliest found south of Sanchi and provide evidence of both Mahayana and Hinayana schools of thought coexisting in Phanigiri.
Deification of Buddha: Phanigiri reveals a crucial transition in the perception of Buddha, from a historical and spiritual figure to a deity. This transformation is etched in the artifacts discovered here.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Gold and Copper Sulfide Nanoparticles
Mains level: NA
Central Idea
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have pioneered a novel approach with the potential to detect and eradicate cancer cells, particularly those forming solid tumour masses.
Gold and Copper Sulfide Nanoparticles
Innovative Nanoparticles: IISc scientists have engineered hybrid nanoparticles that blend gold and copper sulfide, resulting in multifunctional nanoparticles with promising implications for cancer detection and treatment.
Photothermal and Oxidative Properties: These nanoparticles exhibit photothermal capabilities, where they absorb light and convert it into heat, effectively killing cancer cells. Moreover, they produce singlet oxygen atoms, which further contribute to the cells’ toxicity.
Combining Mechanisms: The nanoparticles employ both photothermal and oxidative mechanisms to target and eliminate cancer cells effectively.
Revolutionizing Cancer Diagnosis
Ultrasound Waves: Beyond cancer treatment, these hybrid nanoparticles hold potential for cancer diagnosis. Their photoacoustic property enables them to absorb light and generate ultrasound waves.
High Contrast Detection: The ultrasound waves enhance the contrast for detecting cancer cells once the nanoparticles reach them. This method offers superior image resolution compared to traditional CT and MRI scans.
Clarity and Oxygen Saturation Measurement: Scans generated through ultrasound waves boast greater clarity and the ability to measure oxygen saturation within tumors, enhancing cancer detection accuracy.
Integration with Existing Systems: The nanoparticles can be seamlessly integrated with current detection and treatment systems. For instance, endoscopes used for cancer screening can trigger nanoparticle-induced heat generation with focused light.
Overcoming Size Limitations
Size Advantages: These hybrid nanoparticles, measuring less than 8 nm, possess a critical advantage in terms of mobility within tissues and their ability to reach tumors.
Potential Safe Elimination: Due to their diminutive size, researchers anticipate that these nanoparticles can exit the human body naturally without accumulating. However, extensive safety studies are essential to confirm their suitability for internal use.
Successful Lab Testing: In laboratory settings, the researchers conducted successful tests using these nanoparticles on lung and cervical cancer cell lines, demonstrating their potential.
Clinical Development: The promising outcomes from this study propel the nanoparticles closer to clinical development.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Picoflare Jets
Mains level: Not Much
Central Idea
A recent revelation from the Solar Orbiter Aircraft, a collaborative endeavour between the European Space Agency and NASA, has illuminated the Picoflare jets erupting from the sun’s outer atmosphere.
These jets, marked by their supersonic emergence and brief durations of 20 to 100 seconds, have captured the attention of scientists and space enthusiasts alike.
What are Picoflare Jets?
Picoflare jets, observed amidst emissions from the observed coronal hole, are diminutive in scale but pack a potent punch.
Their ephemeral existence belies their significance, as scientists have calculated that they contribute a substantial portion of the solar winds’ energy.
These solar emanations earned their name, “picoflare jets,” owing to their energy levels, which hover around one-trillionth of the solar flares’ immense energy potential.
Solar winds, driven by strong gusts, can not only craft auroras in Polar Regions but also disrupt Earth’s magnetic field and jeopardize electronic systems on satellites and terrestrial circuits.
About Solar Orbiter Aircraft
A Stellar Journey: Launched in 2020, the Solar Orbiter Aircraft embarks on a mission to capture unprecedented images of the Sun, propelling closer than any previous spacecraft.
Instrumentation Excellence: Equipped with six remote-sensing instruments and four sets of in situ instruments, the spacecraft is primed for comprehensive solar exploration.
Mission Objectives: The Solar Orbiter Aircraft carries two primary objectives: to scrutinize the Sun’s 11-year cycle of magnetic activity ebbs and flows and to delve into the mysteries of the solar corona, the upper echelon of the Sun’s atmosphere.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Reciprocity Principle
Mains level: NA
Central Idea
Reciprocity, a fundamental principle of physics, dictates that if a signal can travel from Point A to Point B, it can also journey from Point B to Point A.
This intuitive concept holds significance in various aspects of daily life and serves as the basis for many technological breakthroughs and challenges.
Exploring Reciprocity
The Principle Defined: Reciprocity posits that a signal transmitted from a source (Point A) to a destination (Point B) can also travel in the reverse direction by merely swapping the positions of the source and destination.
Everyday Analogies: Familiar scenarios, such as shining a torchlight or observing an object under a streetlight, exemplify reciprocity in action.
Counterintuitive Instances: Some situations defy intuition, like interrogation scenes in movies where one party can see through a window while the other cannot, or observing someone walking in darkness.
Applications in Antennas and Beyond
Antennas: Reciprocity plays a pivotal role in antenna technology, enabling both the transmission and reception of signals. Engineers utilize reciprocity to assess antennas’ reception quality, simplifying testing processes for radar, sonar, seismic surveys, and MRI scanners.
Challenges in Spying: While reciprocity aids signal reception, it poses challenges in espionage, as it allows signals to be captured from an enemy base while potentially revealing one’s own location.
One-Way Traffic: To counteract reciprocity, scientists employ devices composed of components with specific properties. These devices break reciprocity, enabling signals to travel in one direction only.
Diverse Ways to Break Reciprocity
Magnet-Based Non-Reciprocity: Utilizing wave plates and Faraday rotators, this method disrupts reciprocity for electromagnetic waves.
Modulation: By continuously altering a medium’s parameters in time or space, modulation offers a means to control signal transmission.
Nonlinearity: Varying a medium’s properties based on signal strength and direction introduces nonlinearity, another avenue to break reciprocity.
Revolutionizing Technologies
Quantum Computing: Non-reciprocal devices find applications in quantum computing, where they amplify signals to detect quantum states effectively.
Miniaturization: The trend towards nanoscale and microscale devices includes non-reciprocal components, some as small as a strand of hair divided by a thousand. These miniature devices promise contributions to fields like self-driving cars, where efficient signal monitoring is essential for safety.
Prelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Effects Of Liberalization On The Economy, Changes In Industrial Policy and their effects on Industrial Growth
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Gresham's Law
Mains level: Not Much
Central Idea
The law, named after English financier Thomas Gresham, came into play most recently during the economic crisis in Sri Lanka last year.
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has fixed the exchange rate between the Sri Lankan rupee and the U.S. dollar
About Gresham’s Law
Thomas Gresham: The law is named after Thomas Gresham, an English financier who advised the English monarchy on financial matters. It extends beyond paper currencies and applies to commodity currencies and various goods.
Bad money drives out good: This maxim illustrates a phenomenon that occurs when government-fixed exchange rates diverge from market exchange rates, causing undervalued currency to be withdrawn from circulation.
Arbitrarily Fixed Prices: Gresham’s Law operates whenever governments arbitrarily set prices, causing a commodity to become undervalued compared to its market exchange rate. This undervaluation drives the commodity out of the formal market.
Black Market: In such scenarios, the only way to acquire the undervalued commodity is through the black market, as it is no longer available through official channels.
Goods Outflow: Countries can also experience the outflow of certain goods when their prices are forcibly undervalued by the government.
Application to Commodity Money
Gold and Silver Coins: Gresham’s Law is particularly evident when a government fixes the exchange rate of commodity money, like gold and silver coins, well below their market value. In response, people may hoard or melt these coins to obtain their intrinsic value, which is higher than the government-set rate.
Recent Example in Sri Lanka
Economic Crisis in Sri Lanka: Gresham’s Law was observed during the economic crisis in Sri Lanka, where the central bank fixed the exchange rate between the Sri Lankan rupee and the U.S. dollar.
Rupee Overvaluation: The government mandated that the price of the U.S. dollar should not exceed 200 Sri Lankan rupees, even though the black market rate indicated a higher value. This overvaluation of the rupee led to a decline in the supply of dollars and pushed the U.S. dollar out of the formal foreign exchange market.
Black Market Transactions: Individuals seeking U.S. dollars for foreign transactions were compelled to purchase them from the black market at rates exceeding 200 Sri Lankan rupees per dollar.
Conditions for Gresham’s Law to Apply
Government-Imposed Fixed Rates: Gresham’s Law operates when government authorities establish and enforce fixed exchange rates between currencies.
Effective Implementation: Effective enforcement of these rates by authorities is essential for the law to take effect.
Anti-thesis Concept: Thiers’ Law
“Good Money Drives Out Bad”: In the absence of government-imposed exchange rate fixes, the opposite phenomenon occurs. People tend to abandon currencies they perceive as of lower quality in favour of those they consider better, leading to the dominance of “good money.”
Thiers’ Law: This concept, known as Thiers’ Law and named after French politician Adolphe Thiers, complements Gresham’s Law.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Disaster Management
Mains level: Not Much
Central Idea
In the wake of natural disasters, states often request assistance from the central government.
Himachal Pradesh CM recently requested for a special disaster relief package and urged the designation of the calamity as a ‘national disaster.’
Natural Disaster Mitigation in States
Legal Framework: The 2005 Disaster Management Act provides the legal framework for addressing disasters, whether natural or man-made.
Defining disaster: It defines a “disaster” as an event causing substantial loss of life, human suffering, property damage, or environmental degradation beyond the community’s coping capacity.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA): The Act established the NDMA, headed by the Prime Minister, and State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) led by Chief Ministers. These bodies, along with district-level authorities, form an integrated disaster management setup in India.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF): The Act led to the creation of the NDRF, comprising several battalions or teams responsible for on-ground relief and rescue operations in various states.
Understanding the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF)
Mention in the Act: The NDRF is referenced in the 2005 Disaster Management Act and plays a crucial role in providing disaster relief.
State Disaster Relief Funds (SDRFs): States have their own SDRFs, which are the primary funds available for responding to notified disasters. The Central Government contributes 75% to SDRFs in general states and 90% in northeastern and Himalayan states.
Utilization of SDRFs: SDRFs are allocated for immediate relief efforts following notified calamities, including cyclones, droughts, earthquakes, fires, floods, tsunamis, and more.
Central Assistance: In the event of a severe calamity where state SDRF funds are insufficient, additional central assistance can be provided by the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
Who determines a Severe Calamity?
Procedure: States follow a specific procedure to classify a calamity as “severe.” This involves submitting a memorandum detailing sector-wise damage and fund requirements. An inter-ministerial central team assesses the damage on-site.
Committee Approval: Specific committees review these assessments and submit reports. A High-Level Committee must approve the immediate relief amount to be released from the NDRF.
Criteria: The classification of a calamity as “severe” considers factors such as intensity, magnitude, assistance needs, and more.
Additional Funds for Disaster Mitigation
Funds Allocation: Funds for NDRF and SDRFs, allocated for preparedness, mitigation, and reconstruction, are part of budgetary allocations.
Financing mechanism: The 15th Finance Commission introduced a new methodology for state-wise allocations, considering factors like past expenditure, risk exposure, hazard, and vulnerability.
Utilization: NDRF and SDRF funds are released in two equal instalments, typically with requirements like Utilization Certificates. However, in urgent situations, these requirements can be waived.
State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF): This fund supports activities such as forest restoration and public awareness. It received an allocation of Rs 32,030 crore from the 15th Finance Commission.
National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF): The NDMF, amounting to Rs 13,693 crore, is dedicated to national disaster mitigation efforts.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Ancient India-Europe Maritime Trade Route, Port of Muziris
Mains level: Not Much
Central Idea
The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, announced at the G20 Summit, traces its historical roots to an ancient maritime trade route connecting the Indian subcontinent and the Europe.
India- Europe: Glimpse into Historical Trade Route
Early Discoveries: The trade between Rome and India during antiquity was established by early excavations. Sir Mortimer Wheeler’s work at Arikamedu in the 1930s and 40s confirmed the existence of Indo-Roman trade in the 1st century CE.
Recent excavations: Ongoing archaeological excavations, such as those at Muziris in Kerala and Berenike in Egypt, continue to yield new evidence.
Revised Understanding: However, early interpretations often overlooked the agency of Indian merchants and ship owners in this trade. Recent discoveries have expanded and corrected our understanding of this ancient trade network.
Staggering Scale: Recent estimates, supported by the Muziris Papyrus, reveal the immense scale of the Red Sea trade. Custom taxes on goods from India, Persia, and Ethiopia possibly contributed up to one-third of the Roman exchequer’s income.
Details unveiled by Muziris Excavations
Custom Taxes: The Muziris Papyrus detailed a cargo’s value, highlighting its enormous worth, with one cargo alone being equivalent to the purchase of premium farmland in Egypt or a prestigious estate in central Italy.
Roman Revenue: The import tax collected on this cargo alone exceeded two million sesterces. Extrapolating from these figures, Indian imports into Egypt were likely worth over a billion sesterces annually, with tax authorities generating 270 million sesterces.
Comparative Significance: These revenues surpassed those of entire subject countries, emphasizing the pivotal role of this trade route in sustaining the Roman Empire’s vast conquests and legions.
Muziris Papyrus
Trade details
Peak Period: During the 1st and 2nd centuries CE, a maritime highway connected the Roman Empire and India through the Red Sea. This route witnessed hundreds of ships travelling in both directions annually.
Traded Goods: The Romans had a great demand for Indian luxuries, including perfumes, ivory, pearls, gemstones, and exotic animals like elephants and tigers. Pepper, India’s major export, was particularly sought after, finding its way into Roman cuisine.
Trade from Rome: The flow of goods from Rome to India was limited, with gold being a prominent export. Roman wine was one notable exception, appreciated by Indians.
Pre-Common Era Trade
Early Indian Diaspora: Evidence suggests the existence of an Indian diaspora in the Middle East during the time of the Indus Valley Civilization (c. 3300-1300 BCE). This early trade was coastal and involved smaller quantities of goods.
Roman Period Expansion: The trade expanded significantly during Roman times, facilitated by large cargo ships directly connecting the subcontinent and the Roman Empire. Romans played a key role in industrializing this trade.
Post-Conquest Peak: The conquest of Egypt by the Romans in the 1st and 2nd centuries CE opened up the route to India, leading to a substantial increase in trade.
Organization and Duration of Journeys
Highly Organized Trade: Contracts were established between Indian merchants in Kerala and shippers in Alexandria. Goods were transported in containers, similar to modern practices, with references to insurance.
Understanding Monsoons: Indians recognized the monsoon winds’ seasonal patterns, enabling them to navigate the route efficiently. The journey to Egypt took approximately six to eight weeks, depending on favorable wind conditions.
Extended Stays: Indian diaspora rented houses in Egyptian ports while waiting for wind patterns to shift, allowing for the integration of Indian culture into these regions.
Roles of Indians in the Trade
Indian Seafaring Culture: Evidence suggests that Indian dynasties were interested in seafaring, as depicted in Ajanta paintings and early Indian coin designs featuring ships.
Indian Sailors: Graffiti left by Indian sailors, primarily Gujaratis from Barigaza (modern-day Bharuch), has been discovered in the Hoq caves on the island of Socotra, emphasizing their active participation in the trade network.
Comparing with the Silk Road
Indian Centrality: The ancient economic and cultural hub of Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and its ports played a central role in maritime East-West exchange. The concept of the “Silk Road” is relatively recent and inaccurately portrays the ancient trade routes.
Historical Invisibility: The Silk Road concept was coined in the late 19th century and did not exist in ancient or medieval times. It gained popularity in the 20th century, fostering romanticized ideas about East-West connectivity.
Recent Politicization: Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative has politicized the Silk Road, making it a central component of Chinese foreign policy.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Generative AI
Mains level: AI's potential and challenges and steps towards Responsible AI
What’s the news?
In the digital age, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a guiding light, illuminating the path to progress and offering vast untapped potential. However, the central concern revolves around maintaining control as AI’s capabilities continue to expand.
Central idea
The recent G20 Delhi Declaration and the G7’s commitment to draft an international AI code of conduct underscore the pressing need to prioritize responsible artificial intelligence (AI) practices. With over 700 policy instruments under discussion for regulating AI, there is a consensus on principles, but implementation remains a challenge.
The Beacon of AI: Progress and Potential
Progress in AI:
Investment Surge: Private investments in AI have skyrocketed, as indicated by Stanford’s Artificial Index Report of 2023. Over the past decade, investments have grown an astonishing 18-fold since 2013, underscoring the growing confidence in AI’s capabilities.
Widespread Adoption: AI’s influence is not limited to tech giants; its adoption has doubled since 2017 across industries. It’s becoming an integral part of healthcare, finance, manufacturing, transportation, and more, promising efficiency gains and innovative solutions.
Economic Potential: McKinsey’s projections hint at the staggering economic potential of AI, estimating its annual value to range from $17.1 trillion to $25.6 trillion. These figures underscore the transformative power of AI in generating economic growth and prosperity.
The Potential of AI:
Diverse Applications: AI’s potential knows no bounds. Its ability to process vast amounts of data, make predictions, and automate complex tasks opens doors to countless applications. From enhancing healthcare diagnosis to optimizing supply chains, AI is a versatile tool.
Accessible Technology: AI is becoming increasingly accessible. Open-source frameworks and cloud-based AI services enable businesses and individuals to harness its power without the need for extensive technical expertise.
Solving Complex Problems: AI holds promise in tackling some of humanity’s most pressing challenges, from climate change to healthcare disparities. Its data-driven insights and predictive capabilities can drive evidence-based decision-making in these critical areas.
AI’s Challenges
Biased Models: AI systems often exhibit bias in their decision-making processes. This bias can arise from the data used to train these systems, reflecting existing societal prejudices. Consequently, AI can perpetuate and even exacerbate existing inequalities and injustices.
Privacy Issues: AI’s data-intensive nature raises significant concerns about privacy. The collection, analysis, and utilization of vast amounts of personal data can lead to breaches of individual privacy. As AI systems become more integrated into our lives, safeguarding personal information becomes increasingly challenging.
Opaque Decision-Making: The inner workings of many AI systems are often complex and difficult to interpret. This opacity can make it challenging to understand how AI arrives at its decisions, particularly in high-stakes contexts like healthcare or finance. Lack of transparency can lead to mistrust and hinder accountability.
Impact Across Sectors: AI’s challenges are not confined to a single sector. They permeate diverse industries, including healthcare, finance, transportation, and more. The ramifications of biased AI or privacy breaches are felt across society, making these challenges highly consequential.
The Menace of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)
Towering Danger: AGI is portrayed as a looming threat. This refers to the potential development of highly advanced AI systems with human-like general intelligence capable of performing tasks across various domains.
Rogue AI Systems: Concerns revolve around AGI systems going rogue. These systems, if not controlled, could act independently and unpredictably, causing harm or acting against human interests.
Hijacked by Malicious Actors: There’s a risk of malicious actors gaining control over AGI systems. This could enable them to use AGI for harmful purposes, such as cyberattacks, misinformation campaigns, or physical harm.
Autonomous Evolution: AGI’s alarming aspect is its potential for self-improvement and adaptation without human oversight. This unchecked evolution could lead to unforeseen consequences and risks.
Real Possibility: These dangers associated with AGI are not hypothetical but represent a real and immediate concern. As AI research advances and AGI development progresses, the risks of uncontrolled AGI become more tangible.
Pivotal Global Interventions
EU AI Act: In 2023, the European Union (EU) took a significant step by introducing the draft EU AI Act. This legislative initiative aims to provide a framework for regulating AI within the EU. It sets out guidelines and requirements for AI systems, focusing on ensuring safety, fairness, and accountability in AI development and deployment.
US Voluntary Safeguards Framework: The United States launched a voluntary safeguards framework in collaboration with seven leading AI firms. This initiative is designed to encourage responsible AI practices within the private sector. It involves AI companies voluntarily committing to specific guidelines and principles aimed at preventing harm and promoting ethical AI development.
Key Steps Toward Responsible AI
Establishing Worldwide Consensus: It is imperative to foster international consensus regarding AI’s risks. Even a single vulnerability could enable malicious actors to exploit AI systems. An international commission dedicated to identifying AI-related risks should be established.
Defining Standards for Public AI Services: Conceptualizing standards for public AI services is critical. Standards enhance safety, quality, efficiency, and interoperability across regions. These socio-technical standards should describe ideals and the technical mechanisms to achieve them, adapting as AI evolves.
State Participation in AI Development: Currently dominated by a few companies, AI’s design, development, and deployment should involve substantial state participation. Innovative public-private partnership models and regulatory sandbox zones can balance competitive advantages with equitable solutions to societal challenges.
Conclusion
AI’s journey is marked by immense potential and formidable challenges. To navigate this era successfully, we must exercise creativity, humility, and responsibility. While AI’s potential is undeniable, its future must be guided by caution, foresight, and, above all, control to ensure that it remains a force for good in our rapidly evolving world.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Simultaneous elections
Mains level: One nation one election analysis, impact on the federal structure
What’s the news?
The next Lok Sabha election is scheduled to be held before June 16, 2024. Should the concept of simultaneous elections be realized and implemented, it would necessitate the shortening of the terms of legislative assemblies across many states. This alignment could potentially require term extensions or curtailments in 2029.
Central idea
The recent move by the Union government to establish a committee to explore the feasibility of conducting simultaneous elections to various tiers of governance in India has sparked a significant debate. While the idea of simultaneous elections promises cost savings, it also raises crucial questions about its impact on the federal structure of Indian democracy and the unique roles of different governance tiers.
The Specificity of Governance Tiers
India’s governance structure involves multiple tiers, each with distinct roles and responsibilities.
Representatives in Indian Governance Tiers:
Lok Sabha Representatives: 543
Assembly Legislators: Over 4,100
Urban Local Ward Representatives: 89,194
Elected Panchayat Representatives: Nearly 31.89 lakh (across village panchayats, panchayat unions, and district panchayats)
The cost-saving argument for simultaneous elections
Cost Parity: The 2018 Law Commission report claims that the expenses for Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in any state are approximately equal, forming the basis for the cost-saving argument.
Reduced Duplication: Simultaneous elections aim to reduce duplication of administrative efforts, such as voter registration, setting up polling booths, and deploying security personnel, which can lead to cost savings by optimizing resource utilization.
Efficient Resource Allocation: Holding elections together allows for more efficient allocation of resources like electoral staff, transportation, and security, as they can be shared across different levels of elections.
Streamlined Campaigns: Political parties and candidates can potentially save on campaign costs when elections are synchronized, as they need to conduct campaigns once for multiple levels of government rather than separately.
Economies of Scale: The argument posits that simultaneous elections could leverage economies of scale, leading to cost savings across various aspects of the electoral process.
Implications for Federalism
Subsuming Governance Tiers: Simultaneous elections could lead to various governance tiers’ issues being bundled into a single electoral mandate. This might require voters to prioritize a wide range of concerns within a single election, potentially blurring the roles and responsibilities of each governance tier.
Federalism Undermined: Such subsumption has the potential to undermine the principles of federalism in India, which involve a clear division of powers between central and state governments, each addressing specific issues.
Distinct Roles of Tiers: Federalism recognizes that local issues are best addressed locally, while national issues are the central government’s domain. Simultaneous elections may blur these distinctions, forcing voters to prioritize certain issues due to the single-mandate nature of the elections.
Local Autonomy: Local self-governance through municipalities and panchayats could face challenges as simultaneous elections combine local and national issues. This may dilute the focus on local governance.
Unique Needs Ignored: India’s governance structure is designed to address the unique needs of citizens at different levels. For instance, local concerns like garbage management are meant to be handled locally. Simultaneous elections might not allow voters to adequately prioritize such local concerns.
Way forward
In-Depth Federalism Assessment: Prioritize a comprehensive assessment of the federal aspects of Indian democracy before proceeding with simultaneous elections. This assessment should analyze the potential impact on federalism, the distinct roles of governance tiers, and the preservation of local autonomy.
Transparent Public Discourse: Encourage transparent public discourse and awareness campaigns to ensure that citizens are well-informed about the implications of simultaneous elections. Engage with citizens, experts, and political parties to gather diverse perspectives and concerns.
Consultation with State Governments: Conduct extensive consultations with state governments and political parties to understand how simultaneous elections may affect state autonomy and governance. Address the concerns and feedback of state-level stakeholders.
Pilot Projects: Consider implementing simultaneous elections on a trial basis in select regions or states to assess the practical challenges and benefits. Pilot projects can provide valuable insights into the feasibility and impact of such a significant electoral reform.
Legal and Constitutional Framework: Develop a robust legal and constitutional framework that explicitly accommodates the principles of federalism and the unique roles of different governance tiers. Ensure that the framework safeguards the autonomy of local bodies and addresses the specific needs of each governance level.
Conclusion
While the idea of simultaneous elections in India offers the promise of cost savings, it should be approached with careful consideration of its impact on federalism and the specificity of governance tiers. The committee, led by former President Ramnath Kovind, must conduct a thorough analysis of these federal aspects to ensure that the essence of Indian democracy, with its multifaceted governance structure, is preserved and enhanced.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NA
Mains level: Food-price inflation in India, food security, impacts and solutions
What’s the news?
India, touted as the world’s fastest-growing large economy, is grappling with a formidable challenge: soaring food-price inflation.
Central Idea
The rise in the price of food first accelerated sharply in 2019 and has climbed in most years thereafter. In July this year, annual inflation exceeded 11%, the highest in a decade. An implication of continuing high food-price inflation is that a section of the population could face hardship in consuming food of adequate nutritional value.
The grim reality
The FAO’s State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report reveals a staggering figure: an estimated 74% of India’s population cannot afford a healthy diet as of 2021, encompassing roughly one billion individuals.
Given a population of 1,400 million, this makes for approximately one billion Indians.
Factors contributing to the failure to control food-price inflation in India
Supply-side Challenges: Weather disruptions, infrastructure gaps, and supply chain inefficiencies hinder food production and distribution.
Rising Input Costs: Increased expenses for fertilizers, pesticides, and labor raise production costs, leading to higher food prices.
Government Policies: Distortionary policies like minimum support prices (MSPs) and export restrictions affect market dynamics and prices.
Ineffectiveness of Macroeconomic Policy: Traditional macroeconomic policies, which have been relied upon to control inflation, have proven ineffective in addressing food-price inflation.
Failure of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI): The RBI, responsible for monetary policy in India, has consistently failed to control inflation, with rates exceeding the target for four years.
Inadequacy of Inflation Targeting: The RBI’s approach of “inflation targeting,” involving output contraction during inflation spikes, is considered misleading and unsuitable for managing food inflation driven by supply-side issues.
Limitation of Central Banks: Central banks, including the RBI, are perceived as incapable of effectively addressing the problem of food-price inflation, particularly within a reasonable time frame.
A study report: Trend in the price of food in Mumbai over 2018–2023
Rising Food Prices: The primary factor behind food price inflation is the significant increase in the cost of food items. Specifically, the cost of preparing a traditional thaali meal at home in Mumbai has risen by 65% from 2018 to 2023.
Wage Growth Lag: Although there has been wage growth for both manual and salaried workers, with manual workers’ wages increasing by 38% and salaried workers’ wages increasing by 28% during the same period, these wage increases have not kept pace with the rapid rise in food prices.
Purchasing Power Erosion: The households in Mumbai have experienced a substantial reduction in purchasing power. As food prices have risen considerably, households are forced to allocate a larger portion of their income to food expenses, which leaves less for other essential needs and discretionary spending.
Nutritional Consequences: Food price inflation has led to adverse nutritional consequences, particularly an increase in the prevalence of anemia, especially among adult women in Mumbai. This rise in anemia cases is primarily attributed to nutrient deficiencies caused by reduced access to nutritious food due to escalating prices.
Validity of the FAO’s Estimate: The FAO’s estimates that over half of India’s population may struggle to afford a healthy diet. Even in the event of a potential 100% overestimation by the FAO, it would still leave a staggering 500 million people in this category, surpassing the populations of most countries globally except China.
The significance of the Green Revolution
Food Self-Sufficiency:
At the time of the Green Revolution, India was grappling with severe food shortages due to consecutive droughts.
The government’s supply-side response, which included providing farmers with high-yielding seeds, affordable credit, and guaranteed prices through procurement, was highly successful.
Within a few years, India achieved self-sufficiency in food production and was no longer dependent on food imports.
Economic and geopolitical significance:
While some mistakes were made during the Green Revolution, such as the excessive use of chemical fertilizers and a focus on cereals over pulses, the program’s success had significant economic and geopolitical implications.
It allowed India to assert self-reliance in a polarized Cold War era, a vital geopolitical consideration.
Poverty Alleviation: The Green Revolution played a pivotal role in reducing poverty in India by increasing agricultural productivity and farm incomes. The increased food production also benefited the poor, as it made food more accessible and affordable.
Lessons for the Future: While acknowledging past mistakes, the article suggests that the Green Revolution’s lessons can be applied to address the current challenges of food price inflation. Specifically, the focus should be on correcting past errors and launching a second agricultural revolution to lower the cost of food production while ensuring sustainability.
Proposed initiatives to combat food price inflation and ensure access to nutritious food for all
Increase Public Investment in Irrigation: Address inefficiencies in public expenditure on irrigation to expand irrigated land.
Facilitate Land Leasing: Lift restrictions on land leasing to encourage productivity-enhancing capital investments.
Revitalize Agricultural Research: Reinvigorate India’s network of agricultural research institutes to harness innovation.
Reinstate Extension Services: Restore and strengthen agricultural extension services to disseminate best practices.
Focus on Protein Production: Develop a program to substantially increase protein production to address India’s protein deficiency.
Conclusion
Taming India’s food-price inflation crisis demands immediate and concerted efforts. Our past achievements, such as the Green Revolution, serve as a testament to our capabilities when we address food security head-on. Let us seize this moment to launch a second agricultural revolution, ensuring that every Indian has access to affordable, nutritious food and once again reducing poverty and malnutrition on a massive scale.
