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  • Minimum Support Prices for Agricultural Produce

    Centre announces hike in MSP

    | Agriculture | Mains Paper 3: Issues Related To Farm Subsidies & Msp

    The Central government has hiked the minimum support price (MSP) for the coming Kharif season. The decision was taken by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.

    Answer this PYQ from CSP 2018 in the comment box:

    Q.Consider the following:

    1. Areca nut
    2. Barley
    3. Coffee
    4. Finger millet
    5. Groundnut
    6. Sesamum
    7. Turmeric

    The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has announced the Minimum Support Price for which of the above?

    (a) 1, 2, 3 and 7 only

    (b) 2, 4, 5 and 6 only

    (c) 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 only

    (d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7

    What is the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system?

    • MSP is a form of market intervention by the Govt. of India to insure agricultural producers against any sharp fall in farm prices.
    • MSP is price fixed by GoI to protect the producer – farmers – against excessive fall in price during bumper production years.

    Who announces it?

    • MSP is announced at the beginning of the sowing season for certain crops on recommendations by Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices(CACP) and announced by Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by the PM of India.

    Why MSP?

    • The major objectives are to support the farmers from distress sales and to procure food grains for public distribution.
    • They are a guaranteed price for their produce from the Government.
    • In case the market price for the commodity falls below the announced MSP due to bumper production and glut in the market, government agencies purchase the entire quantity offered by the farmers at the announced MSP.

    Historical perspective

    • Till the mid-1970s, Government announced two types of administered prices:
    1. Minimum Support Prices (MSP)
    2. Procurement Prices
    • The MSPs served as the floor prices and were fixed by the Govt. in the nature of a long-term guarantee for investment decisions of producers, with the assurance that prices of their commodities would not be allowed to fall below the level fixed by the Government, even in the case of a bumper crop.
    • Procurement prices were the prices of Kharif and rabi cereals at which the grain was to be domestically procured by public agencies (like the FCI) for release through PDS.
    • It was announced soon after harvest began.
    • Normally procurement price was lower than the open market price and higher than the MSP.

    Crops Covered

    1. Government announces minimum support prices (MSPs) for 22 mandated crops and fair and remunerative price (FRP) for sugarcane.
    2. The mandated crops are 14 crops of the kharif season, 6 rabi crops and two other commercial crops.
    3. The list of crops is as follows:
    • Cereals (7) – paddy, wheat, barley, jowar, bajra, maize and ragi
    • Pulses (5) – gram, arhar/tur, moong, urad and lentil
    • Oilseeds (8) – groundnut, rapeseed/mustard, toria, soyabean, sunflower seed, sesamum, safflower seed and nigerseed
    • Raw cotton
    • Raw jute
    • Copra
    • De-husked coconut
    • Sugarcane (Fair and remunerative price)
    • Virginia flu cured (VFC) tobacco

    Exception for Sugar

    • The pricing of sugarcane is governed by the statutory provisions of the Sugarcane (Control) Order, 1966 issued under the Essential Commodities Act (ECA), 1955.
    • Prior to 2009-10 sugar season, the Central Government was fixing the Statutory Minimum Price (SMP) of sugarcane and farmers were entitled to share profits of a sugar mill on 50:50 basis.
    • As this sharing of profits remained virtually unimplemented, the Sugarcane (Control) Order, 1966 was amended in October 2009 and the concept of SMP was replaced by the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane.

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  • Blockchain Technology: Prospects and Challenges

    Legalizing Bitcoin in El Salvador and takeaways for India

    | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Money-Laundering & Its Prevention

    El Salvador, a small coastal country in Central America, on became the first in the world to make Bitcoin, a digital currency, legal.

    Lessons for India

    While there are many precedents El Salvador sets for a global debate on cryptocurrency, we explore what this means in the Indian context.

    (1) Not a precedent for monetary policy

    • The development in El Salvador changes little in terms of Indian monetary calculations around cryptocurrencies.
    • The dynamic underpinning the whole move is that El Salvador has no monetary policy of its own and hence, no local currency to protect.
    • The country was officially ‘dollarized’ in 2001 and runs on the monetary policy of the US Federal Reserve.
    • The move is in part motivated by loose and expansionary Federal Reserve policy.

    (2) Coexistence with USD

    • The dollar will continue to remain the dominant currency in the country and Bitcoin would exist side by side.
    • Indeed, some analysts have pointed out how bitcoinization might change nothing on the ground if “legal tender” is to be considered by its strict legal definition.
    • However, as a result of this development, El Salvador becomes a most interesting case study of how the dollar and bitcoin would coexist side by side, and how that would play out for Bitcoin adoption.

    (3) Not merely currency but technology

    • The overall use of Bitcoin appears less motivated by its use as a currency and much more by the image and investment boost this could give the country towards innovation.
    • El Salvador believes that this move will be good for luring “technology, talent, and new ideas” into the country.
    • The move into Bitcoin ties in with larger efforts to revive a stalling economy and bring back growth into the country post-Covid.

    (4) Potential shift in remittances

    • The impact Bitcoin has on these remittance inflows would be worth monitoring for India, which is home to the largest remittance market in the world.
    • Remittances make up close to 20% of El Salvador’s GDP with flows approximating $6 billion annually.
    • Many citizens lack a bank account and digital banking has low penetration.
    • In this scenario, there are multiple intermediaries in the remittance chain who take cuts of as high as 20%.

    (5) Impact on money laundering

    • The implication of this move for money laundering is unclear at the moment.
    • Currently, El Salvador is not considered deficient under the FATF money laundering requirements.
    • However, with large scale cryptocurrency inflows and outflows, it would be expected that El Salvador would comply with the 2019 FATF guidance on Virtual Currencies.

    Conclusion

    • The overall takeaway for India from the El Salvador case is not in the monetary sense at all.
    • This is the wealth that India has in spades and has barely protected with policy.
    • While deliberations continue in India on the monetary and financial regulations around cryptocurrency.
    • It is important that attention be paid to incentives for India’s developers working on key innovations in the space.

    Back2Basics: Bitcoin

    • Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency, without a central bank or single administrator, that can be sent from user to user on the peer-to-peer bitcoin network without the need for intermediaries.
    • Transactions are verified by network nodes through cryptography and recorded in a public distributed ledger called a blockchain.
    • The cryptocurrency was invented in 2008 by an unknown person or group of people using the name Satoshi Nakamoto.
    • The currency began to use in 2009 when its implementation was released as open-source software.

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  • Electric and Hybrid Cars – FAME, National Electric Mobility Mission, etc.

    India’s ethanol roadmap: The targets and challenges

    | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways Etc.

    The government of India has advanced the target for 20 per cent ethanol blending in petrol (also called E20) to 2025 from 2030. E20 will be rolled out from April 2023.

    What is the move?

    • A government-appointed panel has recommended to the Centre to keep the price of ethanol-blended petrol lower than normal petrol in view of lower calorific value as also to incentivize people to go for the clean fuel.
    • This measure is aimed at reducing the country’s oil import bill and carbon dioxide pollution. This new initiative is also part of measures to improve energy security and self-sufficiency measures.

    Roadmap for Ethanol Blending

    • The central government has released an expert committee report on the Roadmap for Ethanol Blending in India by 2025.
    • The roadmap proposes a gradual rollout of ethanol-blended fuel to achieve E10 fuel supply by April 2022 and phased rollout of E20 from April 2023 to April 2025.
    • Currently, 8.5 per cent of ethanol is blended with petrol in India.
    • In order to introduce vehicles that are compatible the committee recommends roll out of E20 material-compliant and E10 engine-tuned vehicles from April 2023 and production of E20-tuned engine vehicles from April 2025.

    What is included in the roadmap?

    (1) Energy security

    • The Union government has emphasized that increased use of ethanol can help reduce the oil import bill.
    • India’s net import cost stands at $551 billion in 2020-21. It is estimated that the E20 program can save the country $4 billion (Rs 30,000 crore) per annum.
    • Last year, oil companies procured ethanol worth about Rs 21,000 crore.
    • Hence it is benefitting the sugarcane farmers.
    • Further, the government plans to encourage the use of water-sparing crops, such as maize, to produce ethanol, and the production of ethanol from the non-food feedstock.

    (2) Fuel efficiency

    • There is an estimated loss of six-seven per cent fuel efficiency for four-wheelers and three-four per cent for two-wheelers when using E20, the committee report noted.
    • These vehicles are originally designed for E0 and calibrated for E10.
    • The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers informed the expert committee that with modifications in engines (hardware and tuning), the loss in efficiency due to blended fuel can be reduced.

    (3) Recalibrating engines

    • The use of E20 will require new engine specifications and changes to the fuel lines, as well as some plastic and rubber parts due to the fuel’s corrosive nature.
    • The engines, moreover, will need to be recalibrated to achieve the required power-, efficiency- and emission-level balance due to the lower energy density of the fuel.
    • This can be taken care of by producing compatible vehicles.

    (4) Vehicles rollout

    • E20 material compliant and E10 compliant vehicles may be rolled out across the country from April 2023, the committee noted.
    • These vehicles can tolerate 10 to 20 per cent of ethanol-blended petrol and also deliver optimal performance with E10 fuel.
    • Vehicles with E20-tuned engines can be rolled out all across the country from April 2025.
    • These vehicles would run on E20 only and will provide high performance.

    (5) Flex-fuel

    • A flexible-fuel vehicle (FFV) is an alternative fuel vehicle with an internal combustion engine designed to run on more than one fuel and both fuels are stored in the same common tank.
    • The Union ministry of road transport and highways issued a gazette notification March 2021 mandating stickers on vehicles mentioning their E20, E85 or E100 compatibility.
    • This will pave the way for flex fuel vehicles.

    Why such a move?

    (1) Fuel efficiency

    • Considering just the end use also indicates that CO2 emissions from blended fuel are lower than that for petrol since ethanol contains less carbon than petrol and produces less CO2.
    • The blended fuel burns more efficiently with a more homogenous mixture, which leads to a decrease in CO2 emissions compared with pure petrol.
    • The carbon dioxide released by a vehicle when ethanol is burned is offset by the carbon dioxide captured when the feedstock crops are grown to produce ethanol.
    • Comparatively, no emissions are offset when these petroleum products are burned.

    (2) Emission reduction

    • Use of ethanol-blended petrol decreases emissions such as carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), the expert committee noted.
    • Higher reductions in CO emissions were observed with E20 fuel — 50 per cent lower in two-wheelers and 30 per cent lower in four-wheelers.
    • HC emissions reduced by 20 per cent with ethanol blends compared to normal petrol.
    • Nitrous oxide emissions, however, did not show a significant trend as it depended on the vehicle / engine type and engine operating conditions.
    • The unregulated carbonyl emissions, such as acetaldehyde emission were, however, higher with E10 and E20 compared to normal petrol.
    • However, these emissions were relatively lower. Evaporative emission test results with E20 fuel were similar to E0.

    Global shreds of evidence

    • An increase in the ethanol content in fuels reduced the emissions of some regulated pollutants such as CO, HC and CO2.
    • However, no such change in emissions was observed for nitrogen oxides emissions.
    • The addition of ethanol, with a high blending octane number, however, allowed a reduction in aromatics in petrol.
    • Such blends also burn cleaner as they have higher octane levels than pure petrol but have higher evaporative emissions from fuel tanks and dispensing equipment.

    Challenges ahead

    • Petrol requires extra processing to reduce evaporative emissions before blending with ethanol.
    • It is crucial to study the emissions from flexible fuel vehicles not only for the regulated gases but also the unregulated ones.
    • But producing and burning ethanol results in CO2 emissions.
    • Hence, net CO2 emission benefit depends on how ethanol is made and whether or not indirect impacts on land use are included in the calculations.
    • In summary, as we progress towards higher blending of ethanol, careful monitoring and assessment of emissions changes will be needed to make sure that emission reduction potential can be enhanced.

    Back2Basics: EBP Programme

    • Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme was launched in January, 2003 for supply of 5% ethanol blended petrol.
    • The programme sought to promote the use of alternative and environment-friendly fuels and to reduce import dependency for energy requirements.
    • OMCs are advised to continue according to priority of ethanol from 1) sugarcane juice/sugar/sugar syrup, 2) B-heavy molasses 3) C-heavy molasses and 4) damaged food grains/other sources.
    • At present, this programme has been extended to the whole of India except UTs of Andaman Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands with effect from 01st April 2019 wherein OMCs sell petrol blended with ethanol up to 10%.

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  • Higher Education – RUSA, NIRF, HEFA, etc.

    [pib] QS World University Rankings 2022

    IOCR | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Health & Education

    The Prime Minister has congratulated IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi and  IISc Bengaluru for top-200 positions in QS World University Rankings 2022.

    QS World University Rankings

    • QS World University Rankings is an annual publication of university rankings by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).
    • It comprises the global overall and subject rankings (which name the world’s top universities for the study of 51 different subjects and five composite faculty areas).
    • It announces ranking for five independent regional tables (Asia, Latin America, Emerging Europe and Central Asia, the Arab Region, and BRICS).

    Highlights of the 2022 Report

    • IIT Bombay ranks joint-177 in the world, having fallen five places over the past year.
    • IIT Delhi has become India’s second-best university, having risen from 193 ranks in last year’s ranking to 185 in the latest ranking. It has overtaken IISc Bangalore, which ranks joint-186.
    • The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has been ranked the “world’s top research university.
    • The top three institutions globally are — Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), University of Oxford, and Stanford University ranked at number one, two, and three respectively.

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  • Water Management – Institutional Reforms, Conservation Efforts, etc.

    Places in news: Sardar Sarovar Dam

    National Parks/WSPrelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Effects Of Liberalization On The Economy, Changes In Industrial Policy and their effects on Industrial Growth

    The Sardar Sarovar Dam is providing irrigation water in summer for the first time in history.

    Sardar Sarovar Dam

    • The Sardar Sarovar Narmada Dam is a terminal dam built on the Narmada river at Kevadia in Gujarat’s Narmada district.
    • Four Indian states, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, receive water and electricity supply from the dam.
    • The foundation stone of the project was laid out by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on 5 April 1961.
    • The project took form in 1979 as part of a development scheme funded by the World Bank through their International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, to increase irrigation and produce hydroelectricity
    • Called the ‘lifeline of Gujarat’, it usually has no water for irrigation during summers.

    Answer this PYQ in the comment box:

    Q.Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched?

     

    Dam/Lake River

    (a) Govind Sagar: Satluj

    (b) Kolleru Lake: Krishna

    (c) Ukai Reservoir: Tapi

    (d) Wular Lake: Jhelum

    A successful model of river water sharing

    • River Narmada is a classic case of Integrated River Basin Planning, Development, and Management, with water storage available in all major, medium, and minor dams on the main river and its tributaries.
    • Its water is shared amongst four party states – Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra — in the ratio stipulated by the 1979 award of the Narmada Water Dispute Tribunal.

    How has it saved water for summers?

    • During the monsoon from July to October, the reservoir operation is well synchronized with the rain forecast in the catchment area.
    • The strategic operation of River Bed Power House (RPBH) ensures that minimum water flows downstream into the sea and maximum water is used during the dam overflow period, which is not calculated in the annual water share.
    • These measures help in maximizing the annual allocation of water share.
    • Similarly, in non-monsoon months, the measures for efficient use of the allocated share typically include minimizing the conventional and operational losses.
    • It includes: avoiding water wastage, restricting water-intensive perennial crops, adopting of Underground Pipelines (UGPL); proper maintenance and operation of canals on a rotational basis.

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  • Wildlife Conservation Efforts

    Dihing Patkai is Assam’s 7th National Park

    National Parks/WS | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

    The Assam government has notified Dihing Patkai as a National Park, four days after creating the 422-sq. km Raimona National Park in western Assam’s Kokrajhar district.

    Dihing Patkai NP

    • Dihing Patkai, in focus a year ago for illegal coal mining in the vicinity, encompasses the erstwhile Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary, the Jeypore Reserve Forest and the western block of the Upper Dihing Reserve Forest.
    • The 234.26-sq. km Dihing Patkai straddling eastern Assam’s Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts is a major elephant habitat and 310 species of butterflies have been recorded there.
    • The park has 47 species each of reptiles and mammals, including the tiger and clouded leopard.

    Answer this PYQ in the comment box:

    Q.Which one of the following National Parks has a climate that varies from tropical to subtropical, temperate and arctic?

    (a) Khangchendzonga National Park

    (b) Nandadevi National Park

    (c) Neora Valley National Park

    (d) Namdapha National Park

    NPs in Assam

    • Assam now has the third most National Parks after the 12 in Madhya Pradesh and nine in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
    • The five older National Parks in the State are Kaziranga, Manas, Nameri, Orang and Dibru-Saikhowa.
    • Kaziranga and Manas are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
    • They are also tiger reserves along with Nameri and Orang.

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  • A clean, green future for Indian cities

    | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Government Scheme/Policies

    This year, the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration is being launched, building towards the goals of this decade. In light of this, the article highlights the mitigating potentials of various missions undertaken by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

    A networked approach to achieving the SDG

    • The delicate balance between sustainable development and environmental protection is one of the core targets of the UN 2030 agenda for sustainable development.
    • A networked approach to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals has been included in India’s policy and political discourse.
    • The motto of the 2030 agenda — “Leave no one behind” — very much embodies the essence of Gandhiji’s philosophy of sarvodaya through antyodaya.
    •  This guiding principle has long been a part of the execution of the national programmes and missions of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).

    Achieving SDGs through flagship missions of MoHUA

    • In 2014 the Swachhata movement was launched.
    • It was, in effect, the harbinger of a total transformation of our urban landscape.
    • In June 2015, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs launched flagship mission — Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and the Smart Cities Mission.
    • The SDGs are reflected in the core objectives of these missions.
    • They have achieved their set targets while ensuring that sustainable development is a non-negotiable part of them.

    Ensuring sustainable development

    1) Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban)

    • It focuses on achieving an open-defecation-free India, building solid waste management capacity and bringing about behavioural change.
    • Cooperative and competitive federalism have become the driving force behind this citizen-led jan andolan.
    • It is estimated that the various initiatives under SBM-U can mitigate 17.42 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2022.

    2) Smart Cities Mission

    • The Smart Cities Mission is aiding technological advancements of our cities to improve governance, sustainability and disaster risk resilience.
    • Smart solutions are being implemented to improve energy efficiency and non-motorised transport capacity in urban centres.
    • The Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework has been adopted which aims to help cities adapt, collaborate and exchange best practices to achieve international standards for green, sustainable and resilient urban habitats.

    3) AMRUT

    • Under AMRUT, water supply and management, energy efficiency and increased green spaces have been part of the goal in 500 target cities.
    • As of today, 1,831 parks over 3,700 acres have been developed, 85 lakh street lights have been replaced, resulting in energy saving of 185.33 crore units (kWh), and 106 water bodies have been rejuvenated.
    • The mission is likely to result in the mitigation of 48.52 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent of GHG emissions by 2022.

    4) Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban)

    • With 1.12 crore houses sanctioned, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) has focused on new construction technologies that are innovative, environmentally friendly and disaster-resilien.
    • The Prime Minister launched six Light House Projects on January 1, 2021.
    • These are already under construction.
    • Additionally, about 43.3 lakh houses are being constructed where fly ash bricks/blocks and concrete blocks are being used.
    • Overall, the mission has the potential to mitigate around 12 million tonnes CO2 equivalent of GHG emissions by 2022.

    5) Metro rail

    • An energy-efficient mass rapid transit system, is operational in 18 cities with over 720 km of line constructed.
    • Another 1,055 km of new lines is under construction in 27 cities.
    • This network is expected to mitigate around 21.58 million tonnes of CO2 eq GHG from 2015-2022.
    • Cumulatively, the national missions under the MoHUA are projected to mitigate GHG emissions equivalent to more than 93 million tonnes of CO2 by 2022.

    Conclusion

    A progressive track of urban development while keeping sustainability, disaster risk resilience and community building at its core has been the guiding principle of the government. It will help us preserve our environment, restore ecosystems and mitigate the risks posed by climate change in the coming decade.

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  • Freedom of Speech – Defamation, Sedition, etc.

    Protecting human rights in digital era

    op-ed snap | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Governance, Transparency & Accountability, Citizens Charters

    The article highlights the issues mentioned in the UNHRC report on disinformation and freedom of expression.

    UNHRC Report: Upholding human rights helps dealing with falsehood

    • The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Special Rapporteur  submitted her report on “Disinformation and Freedom of Opinion and Expression” recently.
    • The UNHRC report specifically speaks of information disorder that arises from disinformation.
    • Impact of disinformation: Such information disorder leads to politically polarisation, hinders people from meaningfully exercising their human rights, and destroys their trust in governments and institutions.
    • Human rights provide a powerful and appropriate framework to challenge falsehoods and present alternative viewpoints.
    • Upholding human rights is useful in dealing with falsehood in two ways:
    • 1) Freedom of opinion and expression enables governance and development.
    • 2) Civil society, journalists and others are able to challenge falsehoods and present alternative viewpoints.
    • So, the report says that human rights friendly governance is both possible and doable; it is also desirable, as it protects political power against itself.

    Review of the business model needed

    • The report asserts that reactive content moderation efforts” are unlikely to make any worthwhile difference in the absence of a serious review of the business model that underpins much of the drivers of disinformation and misinformation.
    • Problems of inconsistent application of companies’ terms of service, inadequate redress mechanisms and a lack of transparency and access to data re-emerge constantly.
    • Aalthough the platforms are global businesses, they do not appear to apply their policies consistently across all geographical areas or to uphold human rights in all jurisdictions to the same extent.

    Need for legislative clarity on twin concept of misinformation and disinformation

    • The report highlights the lack of legislative and judicial clarity on the twin concepts of “disinformation” and “misinformation”.
    • It emphasises that the intention to harm is decisive to the disinformation.
    • “Disinformation” is false information disseminated intentionally to cause serious social harm.
    • In contrast, misinformation consists in the dissemination of false information unknowingly.
    • Nor are these terms to be used interchangeably.
    • Acknowledging the fact that “extremist or terrorist groups” frequently engage in the dissemination as part of their propaganda to radicalise and recruit members, the report disfavours any state response that adds to human rights concerns.

    Other factors contributing to growth of disinformation

    • The growth of disinformation in recent times cannot be attributed solely to technology or malicious actors, according to the report.
    • Other factors such as digital transformation and competition from online platforms, state pressure, the absence of robust public information regimes, and digital and media literacy among the general public also matter.
    • Moreover, disinformation enhance the frustrations and grievances such as economic deprivation, market failures, political disenfranchisement, and social inequalities.
    • Disinformation is thus not the “cause but the consequence of societal crises and the breakdown of public trust in institutions”.
    • Strategies to address disinformation will succeed only when these underlying factors are tackled.

    Issue of use of disinformation by states

    • A 2020 Oxford study of “Industrialised Disinformation” mentions that as many as “81 governments” use “social media to spread computational propaganda and disinformation about politics”.
    • Some authoritarian countries like Russia, China and Iran capitalised on coronavirus disinformation to amplify anti-democratic narratives.
    • Online disinformation also results in offline practices of violent social excursion on actually existing individuals and communities such as ethnic, gender, migrant, sexual minorities.

    Consider the question “Reactive content moderation efforts are simply inadequate without a serious review of the business model that underpins much of the drivers of disinformation and misinformation on the social media platforms.” Critically examine.”

    Conclusion

    Will future itineraries of human rights in the digital era repeat past mistakes? The report offers grist to the mill for profound thought and conscientious action.

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  • Zoonotic Diseases: Medical Sciences Involved & Preventive Measures

    Bring genomic sequencing into the pandemic fight

    op-ed snap | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields

    The article highlights the importance of genomic sequencing in dealing effectively with the pandemic and suggest the scaling up of genomic sequencing.

    Why genomic sequencing is important

    • An effective COVID-19 pandemic response requires, inter alia, keeping track of emerging variants and then conducting further studies about their transmissibility, immune escape and potential to cause severe disease.
    • The success of the United States and the United Kingdom in containing the virus also goes to scaled-up genomic sequencing, tracking the emerging variants and using that evidence for timely actions.
    • The data from genomic sequencing has both policy and operational implications.
    • Our scientific knowledge and understanding about emerging strains is going to be the key to deploy public health interventions (vaccines included) to fight the pandemic.
    • The emerging variants — with early evidence of higher transmissibility, immune escape and breakthrough infections — demand continuous re-thinking and re-strategising of the pandemic response by every country.

    Insufficient genomic sequencing in India

    • Though the procedural steps such as setting up the Indian SARS-CoV2 Genomic Consortia, or INSACOG have been taken, the sequencing has remained at a very low level of a few thousand cases only.
    • The challenge of insufficient genomic sequencing is further compounded by slow pace of data sharing.

    Steps need to be taken

    • 1) Scale-up genomic sequencing: India needs to scale up genomic sequencing, across all States.
    •  More genomic sequencing is needed from large urban agglomerations.
    • A national-level analysis of collated genomic sequencing data should be done on a regular basis and findings shared publicly.
    • 2) Research on vaccine effectiveness: The Indian government needs to invest and support more scientific and operational research on vaccine effectiveness.
    • Rethink vaccine policy: There are early indications of immune escape and reduced vaccine effectiveness against the Delta variant (especially after one-shot).
    • These are the questions that experts need to deliberate and come up with the answers.

    Consider the question “What is genomic sequencing and how it could help in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic? Suggest the steps India need to take to use genomic sequencing in curbing the pandemic.”

    Conclusion

    As India prepares for the third wave, increasing genomic sequencing and use of scientific evidence for decision making are not a choice but an absolute essential.

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  • Economic Indicators and Various Reports On It- GDP, FD, EODB, WIR etc

    Consumer Confidence Survey (CCS) by the RBI

    | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Indian Economy

    The highlights of the Consumer Confidence Survey (CCS) were recently released by the RBI pointing to some all-time lows.

    Consumer Confidence Survey (CCS)

    • The RBI conducts this survey every couple of months by asking households in 13 major cities — such as Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Guwahati, Patna, Thiruvananthapuram — about their current perceptions and future expectations on a variety of economic variables.
    • These variables include the general economic situation, employment scenario, overall price situation, own income and spending levels.
    • Based on these specific responses, the RBI constructs two indices: the Current Situation Index (CSI) and the Future Expectations Index (FEI).
    • The main variables of the survey are- Economic situation, Employment, Price Level, Income and Spending.
    • The CSI maps how people view their current situation (on income, employment etc.) vis a vis a year ago. The FEI maps how people expect the situation to be (on the same variables) a year from now.
    • By looking at the two variables as well as their past performance, one can learn a lot about how Indians have seen themselves fairing over the years.

    Why does it matter?

    • The CCS is a survey that indicates how optimistic or pessimistic consumers are regarding their expected financial situation.
    • If the consumers are optimistic, spending will be more, whereas if they are not so confident, then their poor consumption pattern may lead to recession.

    What was the main finding?

    • As Chart 1 shows, the CSI has fallen to an all-time low of 48.5 in May.
    • An index value of 100 is crucial here, as it distinguishes between positive and negative sentiment.
    • At 48.5, the current consumer sentiment is more than 50 points adrift from being neutral — the farthest it has ever been. It is important to note that even a year ago, the CSI had hit an all-time low.
    • The FEI moved to the pessimistic territory for the second time since the onset of the pandemic.

    What are the factors responsible for pulling down the CSI and FEI respectively?

    • The RBI states that CSI is being pulled down because of falling consumer sentiments on the “general economic situation” and “employment” scenario.
    • So, on the “general economic situation”, RBI finds that there has been a largely secular decline in both current consumer sentiment and future expectations since PM Modi’s re-election in 2019.
    • What is equally worse is that more people expect the employment situation to worsen a year from now — that is why the one year ahead expectation line is below the zero marks.

    Big takeaways

    • These data layout the tricky challenge facing the Indian economy.
    • If the government’s strategy for fast economic growth — expecting the private sector to lead India out of this trough by investing in new capacities — is to succeed, then consumer spending (especially on non-essentials) has to go up sharply.
    • But for that to happen, household incomes have to go up; and for that to happen, the employment prospects have to brighten; and for that to happen, again, companies have to invest in new capacities.

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