đŸ’„Join UPSC 2027,2028 Mentorship (July Batch) + XFactor Notes & Microthemes PDF
Talk to Mentor

Civilsdaily

Login

GS Paper: GS3

  • Understanding the opposition of farmers to agriculture Bills

    The article analyses the issue of farmers opposition to the three agricultural bills.

    Context

    • Farmers have been protesting against the three bills related to agriculture.
    • These three Bills are-
    • 1) The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020
    • 2) The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020.
    • 3) The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

    What are the aims of the bills?

    • The Bills aim to do away with government interference in agricultural trade by creating trading areas outside the structure of Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs).
    • One of the bills aims at removing restrictions of private stockholding (under Essential Commodities Act 1955) of agricultural produce.
    • One of the bills deals with the regulation of contract farming.

    Issues with the Bills

    • The government has failed to hold any discussion with the various stakeholders including farmers and middlemen.
    • The attempt to pass the Bills without proper consultation adds to the mistrust among various stakeholders including State governments.
    • Farmer organisations see these Bills as an attempt to weaken the APMCs and eventual withdrawal of the Minimum Support Prices (MSP).
    • Farmers in Punjab and Haryana have genuine concern about the continuance of the MSP-based public procurement given the large-scale procurement operations in these States.

    Understanding the role of APMC

    • APMCs do play an important role of price discovery essential for agricultural trade and production choices.
    • The middlemen are a part of the larger ecosystem of agricultural trade, with deep links between farmers and traders.
    • The preference for corporate interests at the cost of farmers’ interests and a lack of regulation in these non-APMC mandis are cause for concern.
    • To understand the role of APMC, consider the example of Bihar.
    • After Bihar abolished APMCs in 2006, farmers in Bihar on average received lower prices compared to the MSP for most crops.
    • Despite the shortcomings and regional variations, farmers still see the APMC mandis as essential to ensuring the survival of MSP regime.

    Conclusion

    The protests by farmers are essentially a reflection of the mistrust between farmers and the stated objective of these reforms.

  • Brucellosis: A bacterial disease

    As the novel coronavirus pandemic continues, the health commission has announced this week that a leak in a biopharmaceutical company last year caused an outbreak of brucellosis disease.

    Try this PYQ:

    Q.Consider the following kinds of organisms:

    1. Bacteria
    2. Fungi
    3. Flowering plants

    Some species of which of the above kinds of organisms are employed as bio-pesticides?

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 and 3 only

    (c) 1 and 3 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

    What is Brucellosis?

    • Brucellosis is a bacterial disease that mainly infects cattle, swine, goats, sheep and dogs.
    • Humans can get infected if they come in direct contact with infected animals or by eating or drinking contaminated animal products or by inhaling airborne agents.
    • According to the WHO, most cases of the disease are caused by ingesting unpasteurized milk or cheese from infected goats or sheep.
    • Symptoms of the disease include fever, sweats, malaise, anorexia, and headache and muscle pain.
    • While some signs and symptoms can last for long periods of time, others may never go away. Human to human transmission of the virus is rare.
    • These include recurrent fevers, arthritis, swelling of the testicles and scrotum area, swelling of the heart, neurologic symptoms, chronic fatigue, depression and swelling of the liver or spleen.

  • [pib] SPICe+ Portal

    The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has notified and deployed a web-form namely ‘SPICe+’ as a part of Govt of India’s Ease of Doing Business (EODB) initiatives.

    Try this MCQ:

    Q.The SPICe+ Portal sometimes seen in news is related to which of the following Ministry?

    (a) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

    (b) Ministry of Commerce and Industry

    (c) Ministry of Corporate Affairs

    (d) Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare

    SPICe+ Portal

    • It offers 10 services by three Central Government Ministries and Departments (Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Ministry of Labour & Department of Revenue in the Ministry of Finance), one State Government (Maharashtra) and various Banks.
    • Thus it saves the procedure, time and cost for Starting a Business in India.
    • These 10 services are:-
    1. Name reservation
    2. Incorporation
    3. DIN allotment
    4. Mandatory issue of PAN
    5. Mandatory issue of TAN
    6. Mandatory issue of EPFO registration
    7. Mandatory issue of ESIC registration
    8. Mandatory issue of Profession Tax registration (Maharashtra)
    9. Mandatory Opening of Bank Account for the Company and
    10. Allotment of GSTIN (if so applied for)

  • Labour law Reforms

    This session of Lok Sabha has passed 3 Historic and path-breaking Labour Codes.

    UPSC may ask the major laws subsumed under these Labour Codes.

    What are the 3 bills?

    The 3 bills which were passed are

    1. Industrial Relations Code, 2020
    2. Code on Occupational Safety, Health & Working Conditions Code, 2020 &
    3. Social Security Code, 2020

    All the labour laws (29 in number) being amalgamated into 4 labour codes are :

    Name of the Code 

    Amalgamated laws
    Wage Code

     

    		 4 laws –

    1. The Payment of Wages Act, 1936
    2. The Minimum Wages Act, 1948
    3. The Payment of Bonus Act, 1965
    4. The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976
    IR Code

     

    		 3 laws –

    1. The Trade Unions Act, 1926
    2. The Industrial Employment (Standing orders) Act, 1946
    3. The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947
    OSH Code

     

    		 13 laws –

    1. The Factories Act, 1948
    2. The Plantations Labour Act, 1951
    3. The Mines Act, 1952
    4. The Working Journalists and other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1955
    5. The Working Journalists (Fixation of Rates of Wages) Act, 1958
    6. The Motor Transport Workers Act, 1961
    7. The Beedi and Cigar Workers (Conditions of Employment) Act, 1966
    8. The Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970
    9. The Sales Promotion Employees (Conditions of Service) Act, 1976
    10. The Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979
    11. The Cine-Workers and Cinema Theatre Workers (Regulation of Employment) Act, 1981
    12. The Dock Workers (Safety, Health and Welfare) Act, 1986
    13. The Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996
    Social Security Code

     

    		 9 laws –

    1. The Employees’ Compensation Act, 1923
    2. The Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948
    3. The Employees Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952
    4. The Employment Exchanges (Compulsory Notification of Vacancies) Act, 1959
    5. The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961
    6. The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972
    7. The Cine Workers Welfare Fund Act, 1981
    8. The Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Cess Act, 1996
    9. The Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008

     

    Here are the key features of these bills:

     (A) Social Security Code, 2020

    • The facility of ESIC would now be provided in all 740 districts. At present, this facility is being given in 566 districts only.
    • EPFO’s coverage would be applicable on all establishments having 20 workers. At present, it was applicable only on establishments included in the Schedule.
    • Provision has been made to formulate various schemes for providing comprehensive social security to workers in the unorganised sector.
    • A “Social Security Fund” will be created on the financial side in order to implement these schemes.
    • Work to bring newer forms of employment created with the changing technology like “platform worker or gig worker” into the ambit of social security has been done in the Social Security Code.
    • Provision for Gratuity has been made for Fixed Term Employee and there would not be any condition for minimum service period for this.
    • With the aim of making a national database for unorganised sector workers, registration of all these workers would be done on an online portal and this registration would be done on the basis of Self Certification through a simple procedure.

     (B) Occupational Safety, Health & Working Conditions Code, 2020

    • Free health checkup once a year by the employer for workers which are more than a certain age.
    • A legal right for getting Appointment Letter given to workers for the first time.
    • Cine Workers have been designated as Audio Visual Worker so that more and more workers get covered under the OSH code. Earlier, this security was being given to artists working in films only.

    (C)  Industrial Relations Code, 2020

    Efforts made by the Government for quickly resolving disputes of the workers include:

    • Compulsory facility for Helpline for redressal of problems of migrant workers.
    • Making a national database of migrant workers.
    • Provision for the accumulation of one day leave for every 20 days worked when work has been done for 180 days instead of 240 days.
    • Equality for women in every sphere: Women have to be permitted to work in every sector at night, but it has to be ensured that provision for their security is made by the employer and consent of women is taken before they work at night.
    • In the event of the death of a worker or injury to a worker due to an accident at his workplace, atleast 50 % share of the penalty would be given. This amount would be in addition to Employees Compensation.
    • Provision of “Social Security Fund” for 40 Crore unorganized workers alongwith GIG and platform workers and will help Universal Social Security coverage
    • Occupational Safety & Health Code to also can now over cover workers from IT and Service Sector.
    • 14 days notice for Strike so that in this period amicable solution comes out.

  • On the GST issue, the Centre must lead

    The article deal with the issue of GST compensation and analyses the various estimates of revenue shortfall given by the Centre.

    Context

    • The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council meeting has now been deferred to the first week of October due to sharp disagreement between the States and the Centre.

    Background of GST

    • The Centre had brought the States on board GST by promising higher revenue collection.
    • States were lured by the promise of 14% annual growth in GST revenue over the base year of 2015-16.
    • Any shortfall from this (for five years) was to be compensated by levying a cess on luxury and sin goods.

    What are the options given by the Centre

    •  The transfers due since April 2020 have been withheld.
    • In the last GST Council meeting held on August 27, the Centre gave the States two options.
    • First, they could borrow â‚č97,000 crore (the shortfall in the GST revenue compensation) from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) under a special window at a low rate of interest.
    • Second, borrow â‚č2.35-lakh crore (the total compensation shortfall) from the market with the RBI facilitating it.
    • The burden of repayment would be borne by the future collections from the compensation cess.
    • It was proposed that this cess which was to end in June 2022 could be extended to facilitate the repayment of the debt.

    Issues with the estimates

    • Given the uncertainty, how accuracy of the estimates of â‚č97,000 crore and â‚č2.35-lakh crore offered to the States is questionable.
    • When the Ministry of Finance is refusing to give a figure for growth in 2020-21, how such estimates are arrived at gains significance.

    Budgetary calculations

    • The Union Budget presented on February 1, 2020 assumed a nominal growth of 10%.
    • But optimistically, the Centre’s budgetary calculations will be off by at least 20%.
    • Revenue will fall by much more than 20%.
    •  So, income tax collection will also be short by much more than 20%.
    • The direct tax/GDP per cent may be expected to fall from 5.5% last year to less than 4% this fiscal.
    • Thus, at an optimistic guess, if the economy declines by only 10%, the total tax collection will be down by about â‚č12-lakh crore in 2020-21.

    Conclusion

    As many predictions are that the economy will be down by much more than 10% used in the calculations above, the revenue shortfall is likely to be far greater. This points to the dire position of the Centre (and the States) and the inevitability of a large borrowing programme. Only the Centre is in a position to do such massive borrowing.

    Back2Basics: Two options for the GST compensation

    • Option 1 has a special window for states, coordinated by the Finance Ministry, to borrow the projected shortfall of Rs 97,000 crore only on account of GST implementation — and not the Covid-19 pandemic.
    • This amount can be fully repaid from the compensation cess fund, without being counted as states’ debt.
    • Option 2 takes into account the impact of the pandemic, proposing states to borrow the entire Rs 2.35 lakh crore and bearing the interest burden though principal will be repaid from the cess proceeds.
    • The GST shortfall amount (Rs 97,000 crore) will not be counted as states’ debt, while the rest of the amount of Rs 1.38 lakh crore will be counted in the books of the states.

    Source:

    https://indianexpress.com/article/business/economy/gst-compensation-centre-gives-states-2-options-easier-terms-for-lower-borrowing-6575499/

  • CAROTAR 2020 Rules

    The Customs (Administration of Rules of Origin under Trade Agreements) Rules, 2020 (CAROTAR, 2020) shall come into force from September 21.

    Try this PYQ:

    Q.In the context of the affairs of which of the following is the phrase “Special Safeguard Mechanisms” mentioned in the news frequently?

    (a) United Nations Environment Programme

    (b) World Trade Organization

    (c) ASEAN- India Free Trade Agreement

    (d) G-20 Summits

    CAROTAR rules

    • Importers will have to do their due diligence to ensure that imported goods meet the prescribed ‘rules of origin’ provisions.
    • This is the essential availing concessional rate of customs duty under free trade agreements (FTAs).
    • A list of minimum information, which the importer is required to possess, has also been provided in the rules along with general guidance.
    • Also, an importer would now have to enter certain origin related information in the Bill of Entry, as available in the Certificate of Origin.

    Why need CAROTAR?

    • CAROTAR 2020 supplements the existing operational certification procedures prescribed under different trade agreements.
    • India has inked FTAs with several countries, including Japan, South Korea and ASEAN members.
    • Under such agreements, two trading partners significantly reduce or eliminate import/customs duties on the maximum number of goods traded between them.
    • The new rules will assist customs authorities in the smooth clearance of legitimate imports under FTAs.

    Its significance

    • The ASEAN FTA allows imports of most items at nil or concessional basic customs duty from the 10-nation bloc.
    • Major imports to India come from five ASEAN countries — Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam.
    • The benefit of concessional customs duty rate applies only if an ASEAN member country is the country of origin of goods.
    • This means that goods originating from China and routed through these countries will not be eligible for customs duty concessions under the ASEAN FTA.

  • [pib] “Blue Flag” Certification

    The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has announced the first time eight beaches of India are recommended for the coveted International eco-label, the Blue flag certification.

    Try this PYQ:

    Q. At one of the places in India, if you stand on the seashore and watch the sea, you will find that the seawater recedes from the shoreline a few kilometers and comes back to the shore, twice a day, and you can actually walk on the seafloor when the water recedes. This unique phenomenon is seen at:

    (a) Bhavnagar

    (b) Bheemunipatnam

    (c) Chandipur

    (d) Nagapattinam

    Which are the eight beaches?

    The eight beaches are Shivrajpur in Gujarat, Ghoghla in Daman & Diu, Kasargod and Padubidri beach in Karnataka, Kappad in Kerala, Rushikonda in Andhra Pradesh, Golden beach of Odisha and Radhanagar beach in Andaman and Nicobar.

    About Blue Flag Certification

    • This Certification is accorded by an international agency “Foundation for Environment Education, Denmark” based on 33 stringent criteria in four major heads i.e.
    1. Environmental Education and Information,
    2. Bathing Water Quality,
    3. Environment Management and Conservation and
    4. Safety and Services on the beaches.
    • It started in France in 1985 and has been implemented in Europe since 1987, and in areas outside Europe since 2001 when South Africa joined.
    • Japan and South Korea are the only countries in South and southeastern Asia to have Blue Flag beaches.
    • Spain tops the list with 566 such beaches; Greece and France follow with 515 and 395, respectively.

  • Social media and dilemmas associated with it

    Internet has transformed our life like no other technologies. However, it has created several problems as well. The article analyses such issues.

    Examining the role of social media

    • The first reason for the examination of role is the impending US presidential election.
    • Ghosts of Cambridge Analytica, are returning to haunt us again.
    • The second reason is the COVID pandemic.
    • Social media has emerged as a force for good, with effective communication and lockdown entertainment, but also for evil, being used effectively by anti-vaxxers and the #Unmask movement to proselytize their dangerous agenda.

    Understanding the problems associated with social media

    • The big problem with social networks is their business model.
    • The internet was created as a distributed set of computers communicating with one another, and sharing the load of managing the network.
    • This was Web 1.0, and it worked very well. But it had one big problem—there was no way to make money off it.
    •  The internet got monetized, Web 2.0 was born.
    • Come 2020, search and social media advertising has crossed $200 billion, rocketing past print at $65 billion, and TV at $180 billion.
    • This business model has led to a “winner-takes-all” industry structure, creating natural monopolies and centralizing the once-decentralized internet.
    • The emergence of Web 3.0, a revolution that promises to return the internet to users.

    Way forward

    • One principle of the new model is to allow users explicit control of their data, an initiative aided by Europe-like data protection regulation.
    • Another is to grant creators of content—artists, musicians, photographers, —a portion of revenues, instead of platforms taking it all (or most).
    • The technologies that Web 3.0 leverages are newer ones, like blockchains, which are inherently decentralized.
    • They have technology protection against the accumulation of power and data in the hands of a few.
    • Digital currencies enabled by these technologies offer a business model of users paying for services and content with micro-transactions, as an alternative to advertiser-pays.

    Conclusion

    The path to success for these new kinds of democratic networks will be arduous. But a revolution has begun, and it is our revulsion of current models that could relieve us of our social dilemmas.

  • India must reject the inequitable climate proposal

    The article takes stock of India’s climate action and the issue of phasing out the use of coal.

    Context

    • The UN Secretary-General called on India to give up coal immediately and reduce emissions by 45% by 2030.

    State of India’s climate action

    • India’s renewable energy programme is ambitious and its energy efficiency programme is delivering, especially in the domestic consumption sector.
    • India is one of the few countries with at least 2° Celsius warming compliant climate action.
    • India is also among one of smaller list of countries on track to fulfilling their Paris Agreement commitments.
    • India’s annual emissions, at 0.5 tonnes per capita, are well below the global average of 1.3 tonnes.
    • In terms of cumulative emissions, India’s contribution by 2017 was only 4% for a population of 1.3 billion.

    How West is performing?

    • While talking about their phasing out of coal, the global North has obscured the reality of its continued dependence on oil and natural gas, both equally fossil fuels, with no timeline for their phaseout.
    • While it is amply clear that their commitments into the future set the world on a path for almost 3°C warming, they have diverted attention by fuzzy talk of “carbon neutrality” by 2050.
    • Environmentalists in developed countries, unable to summon up the domestic political support have turned to pressure the developing countries.
    • All of these are accompanied by increasing appeals to multilateral or First World financial and development institutions to force this agenda on to developing countries.

    Implications of ending coal investment for India

    •  Currently, roughly 2 GW of coal-based generation is being decommissioned per year.
    •  But meeting the 2030 electricity consumption target of 1,580 to 1,660 units per person per year, will require anywhere between 650 GW to 750 GW of renewable energy.
    • Unlike the developed nations, India cannot substitute coal substantially by oil and gas and despite some wind potential, a huge part of this growth needs to come from solar.
    • However, renewables at best can meet residential consumption and some part of the demand from the service sector.
    • Currently, manufacturing growth powered by fossil fuel-based energy is itself a necessity.

    Conclusion

    India must unanimously reject the UN Secretary General’s call and reiterate its long-standing commitment to an equitable response to the challenge of global warming.

  • Explained: Solar Cycle 25

    NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has announced the commencement of solar cycle 25.

    Try this PYQ:

    Q. Which one of the following reflects back more sunlight as compared to the other three?

    (a) Sand desert

    (b) Paddy cropland

    (c) Land covered with fresh snow

    (d) Prairie land

    What is the Solar Cycle?

    • Like seasons on Earth, the Sun follows a cycle of 11 years, during which solar activities fluctuate between solar minima and maxima.
    • Depending on the number of sunspots detected on the Sun, scientists term it is as solar maxima (highest number of sunspots) or solar minima (lowest number of sunspots).
    • Sunspots are small and dark, yet cooler areas formed on the solar surface, where there are strong magnetic forces.
    • They start appearing at Sun’s higher latitudes and later shift towards the equator as a cycle progresses.
    • In short, when the Sun is active, there are more sunspots in comparison to fewer sunspots during the lesser active phase.
    • Maxima or minima is not a specific time in the 11-year cycle but is a period that can last for a few years.

    How are solar cycles determined?

    • One of the important elements researchers look out for on the Sun’s surface is the number of sunspots.
    • A new cycle commences when the Sun has reached its lowest possible minima phase.
    • Every time the cycle changes, the Sun’s magnetic poles reverse.

    Monitoring solar cycles

    • Since the Sun is a highly variable star, data of sunspot formation and its progress need close monitoring.
    • Data of six to eight months are required to confirm whether the star has undergone a minima phase.
    • Traditionally, telescopes were used to record sunspots and recorded data since 1755 is available.
    • With the advance in technology in recent decades, satellites are also used to make real-time sunspot observations.
    • On this basis, scientists announced the completion of solar cycle 24, which lasted between December 2008 and December 2019.
    • With the Sun’s activities having reached its lowest minima between the two cycles, the new solar cycle 25 has now commenced.

    How has the transition between solar cycles 24 and 25 been?

    • The Sun’s activities were notably lesser during 2019 and early 2020. There were no sunspots for 281 days in 2019 and 181 days in 2020.
    • Since December 2019, the solar activities have slowly picked up, corroborating the beginning of the news cycle.
    • The panel termed solar cycle 25 to be a weak one, with the intensity similar to that of Solar cycle 24.

    What solar activities affect us on Earth?

    • Solar activities include solar flares, solar energetic particles, high-speed solar wind and Coronal Mass Ejections (CME).
    • These influence the space weather which originates from the Sun.
    • Solar storms or flares can typically affect space-dependent operations like GPS, radio and satellite communications, besides hampering flight operations, power grids and space exploration programmes.
    • CMEs pose danger to space weather. Ejections travelling at a speed of 500km/second are common during solar peaks and create disturbances in Earth’s magnetosphere, the protective shield surrounding the planet.
    • At the time of spacewalks, astronauts face a great health risk posed by exposure to solar radiation outside Earth’s protective atmosphere.