Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Sand Battery
Mains level: Not Much
Finland has successfully installed the world’s first sand battery that can store heat from various energy sources for months.
What is the Sand Battery System?
- The battery is a massive steel silo, 7 m tall and 4 m wide with 100 tonnes of sand, and was installed in Finland’s Kankaanpaa town in June 2022.
- It is connected to the town’s centralised heating network that keeps buildings and public water systems warm.
- The storage system has three main components:
- Sand silo,
- Electrical air heater, and
- Air-to-water heat exchanger
Working principle
- For charging the sand silo, air is heated to 600°C in the electrical air heater.
- The hot air is then circulated inside the silo using a heat-exchange pipe and blowers to raise the temperature of the sand at the silo’s core to 600°C.
- When the storage enters the discharging stage, the blowers are used to pump air into the pipe inside the sand silo.
- Once the air reaches 200°C, it is transferred to the air-to-water heat exchanger, where it is used to boil water.
- It is then sent to the heating network.
Electricity Requirements and Capacity of the Battery
- The storage system requires electricity at all times to charge the battery, monitor the temperature during standby, and run the blowers when the battery is used.
- The installed battery can store 8 megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy and release heat at 0.1 MW, which is enough to provide heating and hot water for about 100 homes and a public swimming pool.
Advantages of Sand as a Heat Storage Material
- The Finnish researchers replaced water with sand in the battery system because of its advantages.
- Sand can be heated up to 600 degrees Celsius (°C), whereas water starts to boil at 100°C.
- It also has low heat conductivity, which reduces energy loss.
Importance of Heat Energy
- Heat accounts for half of the world’s energy use, followed by transport (30 per cent) and electricity (20 per cent), as per the International Energy Agency (IEA).
- Currently, 80 per cent of the world’s energy comes from dirty fossil fuels.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Generative AI
Mains level: AI, Machine Learning
Central idea: Google and Microsoft have added generative AI to their search engines and browsers, as well as to consumer products such as Gmail, Docs, Copilot 365, Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, and more.
What is Generative AI?
- Like other forms of artificial intelligence, generative AI learns how to take actions from past data.
- It creates brand new content – a text, an image, even computer code – based on that training, instead of simply categorizing or identifying data like other AI.
- The most famous generative AI application is ChatGPT, a chatbot that Microsoft-backed OpenAI released late last year.
- The AI powering it is known as a large language model because it takes in a text prompt and from that writes a human-like response.
Generative AI products offered by Google and Microsoft
- Google and Microsoft have added generative AI to their search engines and browsers, as well as to consumer products such as Gmail, Docs, Copilot 365, Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, and more.
- In Google’s Gmail and Docs, generative AI can help users write documents automatically, such as a welcome email for employees.
- Copilot 365, a feature of Microsoft 365 apps, can generate spreadsheets on command or even write an entire article on Word, depending on the topic.
- Both companies are making generative AI platforms and models a part of their cloud offerings, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud.
What are Google and Microsoft offering?
- In Google’s Gmail and Docs, generative AI will help users write documents automatically.
- For instance, an HR executive can simply ask the AI app to write a welcome email for employees, instead of typing out the document.
- Similarly, Microsoft has ‘Copilot 365’ for its Microsoft 365 apps, which includes Teams, Outlook, Word and Excel.
- Here, AI could generate a spreadsheet on command, or even write down an entire article on Word (depending on the topic).
- Copilot can also match entries on Calendar with emails, and generate quick, helpful pointers that a person should focus on in their meetings.
How can these developments impact human workforce?
- The technology is currently not very accurate and often provides incorrect responses, despite being popular.
- During the initial demonstrations of these products, Google and Microsoft were found to give inaccurate responses.
- While these products may have utility, they are not yet capable of replacing humans in the workplace.
- Humans are better suited to check information generated by AI.
Various challenges posed
- Bias: The data that is used to train generative AI systems can be biased, leading to biased outputs.
- Misinformation: Since generative AI systems learn from the internet or training data which itself may have been inaccurate, they could increase the spread of misinformation online.
- Security: Generative AI systems could be used to create deepfakes or other forms of digital manipulation that could be used to spread disinformation or commit fraud.
- Ethics: There are ethical concerns around the use of generative AI, particularly when it comes to issues like privacy, accountability, and transparency.
- Regulation: There is a need for regulatory frameworks to ensure that generative AI is used responsibly and ethically, and that it does not have any negative impacts on society.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Letter of Comfort
Mains level: NPA crisis
Central idea: The Finance Ministry has allowed central public sector firms (CPSUs) to issue letters of comfort with a condition that they should clearly state that the Government of India will not be liable for any consequences arising from such letters.
What is a Letter of Comfort?
- A letter of comfort is a support document issued to a borrower that adds some strength to the transaction when giving loans.
- Letter of comforts are usually issued by a third party or a stakeholder in the transaction.
- For instance, a holding company can give a letter of comfort on behalf of its subsidiary or a government can issue a letter of comfort for public sector enterprises.
- The letter of comfort can also be issued by banks, NBFCs and auditors.
Obligation status of LoCs
- The letter of comfort is not legally binding or an obligation by the holding company to repay the loans.
- It is just an assurance to the lender that the holding company is aware of the transaction, the policies of the subsidiary and its intentions in seeking a loan.
- This provides some comfort to the financial institution to lend money for short term or long term.
- One can say that the letter of comfort could become a moral obligation and not a legal one.
How is it different from letter of guarantee?
- A letter of comfort is different from a letter of guarantee.
- As spelled out in the name, the letter of guarantee acts as a commitment to the lender that the issuing company is taking responsibility for the repayment.
- It is also legally binding and the transaction becomes an obligation for the guarantor.
- Holding companies usually give letters of comfort when they are unable or unwilling to give letters of guarantees.
Try this MCQ-
Q. Which of the following statements is true about a Letter of Comfort?
A) It is a legally binding document that obligates the holding company to repay the loan.
B) It is issued only by banks and NBFCs.
C) It is an assurance provided by a third party to the lender that adds strength to the transaction when giving loans.
D) It is the same as a Letter of Guarantee in terms of its legal obligations.
Post your answers here.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Various vienna conventions
Mains level: Not Much
Central idea: The Indian government lodged a strong protest against the UK government and reminded obligations of the host nation under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations amid the vandalism incident that occurred at the Indian High Commission in London.
What is the Vienna Convention?
- The treaty being referred to by the MEA in this instance is the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961).
- It provides a complete framework for the establishment, maintenance and termination of diplomatic relations on a basis of consent between independent sovereign States.
FYI: Vienna Convention
Vienna, the capital city of Austria, has a long history of hosting international conventions and conferences.
There are several conventions that are named as “Vienna Convention”. Here is a list of some of the most well-known Vienna Conventions:
- Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961)
- Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1963)
- Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969)
- Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (1977)
- Vienna Convention on Succession of States in respect of Treaties (1978)
- Vienna Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (1987)
- Vienna Convention on the Protection of the Ozone Layer (1985)
- Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Stratospheric Ozone Layer (1985)
Note that there may be other treaties or agreements that have been signed in Vienna that may also be referred to as Vienna Conventions, but the above are some of the most commonly recognized ones. |
Obligations of a “receiving State” under the Vienna Convention
- As per the Vienna Convention, a “receiving State” refers to the host nation where a diplomatic mission is located.
- Article 22 of the Convention deals with obligations with regards to the premises of the Mission.
- Part 2 of this article states that “The receiving State is under a special duty to take all appropriate steps to protect the premises of the mission against any intrusion or damage and to prevent any disturbance of the peace of the mission or impairment of its dignity”.
Did the UK not fulfil its obligations in this instance?
- The fact that protestors were able to climb the walls of the High Commission premises indicates a breach.
- India finds the UK government’s indifference to the security of Indian diplomatic premises and personnel in the UK unacceptable.
- UK has condemned the event and promised to take the security of the Indian High Commission in London seriously.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NA
Mains level: India's export and import and the current trends
Central Idea
- The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has released the latest trade data that shows a continued contraction in India’s merchandise exports and imports in February. It indicates a slowdown in both the global and domestic economies.
Overview
- The pace of contraction has deepened, and this has resulted in a further narrowing of the country’s merchandise trade deficit.
- The disaggregated data shows that core-exports and core imports have continued to contract, and there has been a softening in imports of consumer and investment goods, pointing towards weakening domestic demand.
What the data shows?
- Deepening of Contraction: Both exports and imports have seen a deepening of the pace of contraction. Merchandise exports fell by 8.8% in February, while imports declined by 8.2% in the same month. These figures follow a decline of 6.6% and 3.6% in exports and imports respectively in January.
- Narrowing Trade Deficit: The contraction has led to a further narrowing of the trade deficit to $17.4 billion in February.
- Impact on Export Destinations: The report by Nomura reveals that the sharpest declines have been observed in India’s exports to the US, China, Japan, and the rest of Asia.
- Overall Growth: The higher export growth in the first half of the financial year has pushed overall growth for the year so far (April-February) to 7.55%.
Sectors Affected
- Exports side:
- The disaggregated data reveals that core exports, which exclude exports of oil, gold, and gems and jewellery, have continued to contract.
- 16 out of the 30 main export segments have fallen in February, including labour-intensive segments such as leather and textiles.
- Non-oil non-gems and jewellery exports are almost at the same level as last year.
- On the imports side:
- Core imports, which exclude oil, gold, and gems and jewellery, have also continued to contract.
- The data points towards a softening of imports of consumer and investment goods, indicative of weakening domestic demand.
Back to basics: Trade Deficit
- A trade deficit occurs when a country’s imports of goods and services exceed its exports.
- In other words, it is the amount by which the value of a country’s imports exceeds the value of its exports. It is often seen as an indicator of a country’s economic competitiveness and can have implications for the overall balance of payments and the strength of the domestic currency.
How Narrowing of trade deficit is beneficial?
- Narrowing of the trade deficit means that the country is importing fewer goods than it is exporting, which can improve the overall balance of payments and help to strengthen the domestic currency.
- This can also have positive effects on the economy by reducing the dependence on foreign borrowing and boosting domestic production and employment.
The outlook for exports remains subdued
- According to a report by Crisil, India’s merchandise export growth is likely to moderate to 2-4 per cent in the coming fiscal year as two of the country’s biggest destinations for exports the US and EU are expected to slow down sharply.
- As per the International Monetary Fund’s latest World Economic Outlook, the US economic growth is expected to slow down from 2 per cent in 2022 to 1.4 per cent in 2023, while the Euro region is expected to moderate from 3.5 per cent to 0.7 per cent over the same period.
Conclusion
- The trade data indicates a slowdown in the economy. Sluggish exports and tight monetary policy are expected to reduce growth further. This assessment by the World economic outlook implies that exports are unlikely to provide a fillip to growth. The overall economic momentum will be further weighed down as the full impact of the RBI’s tighter monetary policy will be felt across the country.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NA
Mains level: Primary Health care and Universal Health care
Central Idea
- The Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and its implementation in India raises the question of whether we believe in health as a basic human right, which India’s Constitution guarantees under the right to life. The UHC should encompass primary, secondary, and tertiary care for all who need it at an affordable cost without discrimination.
The Definition of Health
- The definition of health according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which includes mental and social well-being and happiness beyond physical fitness, and an absence of disease and disability.
- We cannot achieve health in its wider definition without addressing health determinants, which necessitates an intersectoral convergence beyond medical and health departments.
Difference between Primary health care (PHC) and Universal health care (UHC)
- The main difference between PHC and UHC is that PHC is a level of care within the health care system, while UHC is a broader goal of ensuring access to health care for all individuals.
- PHC is typically provided at the primary care level, while UHC includes all levels of care, from primary to secondary and tertiary care.
- PHC is focused on basic health care services and health promotion, while UHC aims to provide comprehensive health care services to all individuals.
Health for All by 2000
- The slogan Health for All by 2000 proposed by Halfdan Mahler and endorsed by the World Health Assembly in 1977. It argues that universal health care/coverage (UHC) was implied as early as 1977.
- India committed itself to the ‘Health for All’ goal by 2000 through its National Health Policy 1983.
International Conference on PHC
- The International Conference on Primary Health Care, at Alma Ata, 1978, which listed eight components of minimum care for all citizens.
- Components included: It mandated all health promotion activities and the prevention of diseases, including vaccinations and treatment of minor illnesses and accidents, to be free for all using government resources, especially for the poor.
- Components excluded: Chronic diseases, including mental illnesses, and their investigations and treatment were almost excluded from primary health care. When it came to secondary and tertiary care, it was left to the individual to seek it from a limited number of public hospitals or from the private sector by paying from their own pockets.
Concerns around The Astana Declaration
- The Astana declaration of 2018, which calls for partnership with the private sector. However the commercial private sector, which contributes to alcohol, tobacco, ultra-processed foods, and industrial and automobile pollution, is well established.
- The Astana declaration never addressed poverty, unemployment, and poor livelihood, but eulogizes quality PHC only as the cornerstone for Universal Health Coverage and ignores broader Universal Health Care.
Conclusion
- Every individual has a right to be healed and not have complications, disability, and death. That right is guaranteed only by individualism in public health, the new global approach to UHC, where nobody is left uncounted and uncared for. The Alma Ata declaration of primary health care can be left behind as a beautiful edifice of past concepts, and we should move forward with a newer concept of UHC.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NA
Mains level: India and China's Comparative Growth prospects
Central Idea
- The Chinese government’s growth target of 5% for 2023 has disappointed observers, given that it is lower than last year’s target and below the expected GDP growth for India in 2023. This is all the more surprising if one considers that India is benefiting from the positive impact of the country reopening after COVID-19 lockdowns while China should benefit from its reopening only this year.
Reasons for China’s lower growth target?
- Risk of undershooting growth target again: The Chinese government does not want to run the risk of undershooting its growth target again, as it happened in 2022.
- Weak external demand and doubts about private investment: Even if consumption is recovering, external demand remains weak and it is hard to know whether private investment will indeed rise given the doubts about the role of the private sector in the Chinese economy as well as increasingly cautious sentiment being expressed by foreign investors.
- Real estate sector dragging down growth: The real estate sector is still dragging down growth.
Sustainable growth
- The Chinese government recognizes that too high a growth rate is no longer desirable, as it only aggravates financial imbalances.
- Instead, they are promoting sustainable growth, which involves a structural shift of the Chinese economy and the implementation of tighter regulatory measures to contain financial risks and achieve more social objectives, such as a green economy and food security.
Job creation and foreign investment
- China emphasises the importance of job security as an objective of sustainable growth, with a higher target for new jobs set by the Chinese government.
- China’s recent charm offensive to retain foreign direct investment in China is an important source of job creation, given the country’s concern about the job market, especially young workers.
- However, investors are looking at new pastures, with India likely to be a major beneficiary. Foreign investors are beginning to contribute more substantially to job creation in India, which could pose challenges for China as it tries to hold on to foreign direct investment within the country.
Comparison of India and China’s growth prospects
- The growth prospects of India and China, with a focus on job creation and competition for foreign direct investment.
- while India and China may not be too different in size and population, growth prospects differ substantially.
- The Chinese government’s cautious growth targets are consistent with the current challenges facing the Chinese economy, but they face more competition than before, especially from India, which has a larger market size and labor pool.
- This pattern of India’s resilient growth and China’s cautious growth targets will accelerate in the next few years, especially if the reshuffling of the value chain continues, pushed by geopolitics and high costs in China.
Conclusion
- The Chinese economy could be facing structural deceleration while India enjoys the benefits of its demographic dividend. China’s structural deceleration and tighter regulatory measures may also affect its future growth prospects. As a result, India may be better positioned for sustained growth compared to China in the coming years.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: DEPA
Mains level: Data Governance, Data Sovereignty
Central Idea
- India’s digital strategies and data governance have advanced in recent years, but there are concerns regarding inclusivity, transparency, security, and sustainability. India’s G-20 presidency presents an opportunity to showcase advancements in data infrastructures and governance, while balancing the interests of stakeholders, promoting ethical and responsible practices, and navigating the complex issues of data sovereignty.
What is Data Governance?
- Data governance refers to the overall management of the availability, usability, integrity, and security of data used in an organization.
- Data governance of a country is the policies, procedures, and practices established by the government to ensure that data is effectively managed and protected throughout its lifecycle.
- This includes defining standards for data collection, storage, usage, and sharing to ensure the accuracy, consistency, and reliability of data.
DEPA and Related Concerns
The launch of India’s Data Empowerment and Protection Architecture (DEPA), a consent management tool, has generated both excitement and concern among stakeholders.
- Potential: DEPA has the potential to improve data protection and privacy for citizens by giving them greater control over the use and sharing of their personal information. By allowing individuals to easily manage and control their data consents, DEPA could help to build trust in digital technologies and data governance.
- Concerns:
- There are risks associated with DEPA, particularly in terms of security and privacy. If the consent management tool is not properly implemented or managed, there is a risk that personal information could be misused or misappropriated.
- The implementation of DEPA may be inconsistent across different sectors and jurisdictions, which could undermine its effectiveness and create confusion among citizens.
- What needs to be done?
- In order to realise the potential benefits of DEPA and minimise the risks, it is important that the tool is implemented in a transparent, consistent, and secure manner.
- This will require close collaboration between the government, the private sector, civil society, and other stakeholders and the development of clear and effective regulations and standards.
Advancements in Other Sectors and related concerns
- Digital Payments: Significant progress in financial inclusion and promotion of digital transactions through Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and other options.
- Digital tech in Healthcare: Use of digital technologies can enhance access to health-care services and empower farmers
- Security and privacy: There are concerns that relate to security and privacy on the one hand and on infrastructure, connectivity and the availability of a skilled human workforce on the other hand.
- Data Misuse: There are also concerns around the potential misuse of data and information in these sectors. For example, in the health sector, there is a risk that sensitive medical information could be misused or exploited for commercial purposes, while in agriculture, there is a risk that market information could be manipulated for the benefit of certain actors.
- Ownership and governance of data: Another issue is that of ownership and governance of data generated and collected in health and agriculture. What are the rights of data providers? And what are the responsibilities towards them? The state has to play a key role in addressing and resolving such issues.
What is Data sovereignty?
- It is a principle that a country has the right to control the collection, storage, and use of data within its borders and citizens’ rights to informational self-determination over their data
- It is closely related to issues of privacy, security, and national sovereignty, and is increasingly important in the age of digital globalization and the proliferation of cloud computing services.
Data sharing governance and India’s opportunity
India Data Management Office (IDMO):
- India’s establishment of an IDMO is a step forward in the country’s journey towards data sharing and data governance.
- The IDMO is expected to oversee and coordinate the implementation of India’s digital strategies and data governance framework, and to ensure that these efforts are aligned with the country’s values and priorities.
- It will also work to promote the development and implementation of open-source solutions, which will help to ensure that underlying data architectures are a social public good, and to promote digital technologies to become accessible and affordable for all.
- Again, this is a great opportunity for India to develop solutions that can be adopted and adapted in other countries. Open source and open innovation models can be important alternatives to proprietary solutions that are governed by big tech companies.
Conclusion
- India’s digital strategies and data governance have made significant progress in recent years, but there are important concerns and issues to address. It is crucial to find a middle way between restrictive data sovereignty and limitless data flow, navigate complex issues of privacy, and invest in necessary infrastructure and skills to ensure responsible and accountable data governance.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NA
Mains level: India-China border issues and management
Central Idea
- India and China appear to be moving towards a new modus vivendi to maintain peace and tranquillity along their disputed 4,000 kilometre border. They are discussing measures to ease the border situation, including creating no-patrol zones along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and upgrading the border management mechanism.
Older arrangements and need for new measures
- Blockades: In 2020, the older arrangements, shaped by the agreements of 1993, 1996, 2005 and 2013, came apart in Ladakh after the Chinese massed troops in Tibet and established blockades at six points on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to prevent Indian troops from patrolling the border.
- Clashes: A clash at Galwan in June 2020 led to the deaths of 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers, the first such losses on the LAC since 1975. The Sino-Indian clash, in December 2022, at Yangtse, north-east of Tawang, suggests that new measures may be needed across the LAC, and not just in Ladakh.
Attempts to Ease the Border Situation
- Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC): Important discussions that took place between Indian Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China, met in Beijing for the 26th Meeting of the Working WMCC on China-India Border Affairs, on February 22, 2023. This was the first in-person meeting of the WMCC that had held the previous 11 rounds since the 2020 events by video conference.
- Other Measures: Discussions have taken up the issue of upgrading the border management means to replace the WMCC with a mechanism that will have both military and civilian officers. The no-patrol zones could lead to a package settlement in the two remaining areas of Depsang and Charding Nala.
- Confidence-building Measures: The entire range of confidence-building measures since 1993 was premised on the belief that both sides largely accepted the lay of the LAC, though they had differences that related to some 18-20 points on it. The 1993 and 1996 agreements specifically spoke about the importance of identifying and resolving these differences.
- No-patrol zones: The no-patrol zones could be confined to the places where the two sides have overlapping claims. Chinese journalist-scholar Qian Feng suggested that the concept of the zone of actual control could replace the “line of actual control” in some areas that had no obvious geomorphological features or population.
The Idea of Shifting the Goalposts
- The idea of creating no-patrol zones is an echo of the original proposal by Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai following a similar set of circumstances experienced today.
- In October 1959, an Indian police party was ambushed at Kongka La leading to the deaths of 10 personnel and the capture of another dozen.
- Zhou proposed to Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in a letter of November 7, 1959, that both sides withdraw 20 kilometers from the so-called McMahon Line, as well as the line up to which each side exercises control in the west.
Conclusion
- Creating no-patrol zones along the LAC could be a possible solution to the border conflict, as well as upgrading the border management mechanism to include both military and civilian officers.
Mains Question
Q. Discuss the recent developments in the India-China border conflict and the measures being taken to maintain peace and tranquillity along the border
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Net Neutrality
Mains level: Net Neutrality Debate
Since November 2022, India’s Cellular Operators Association (COAI) has been requesting that platforms like YouTube and WhatsApp pay a share of revenue to offset network costs, reigniting the net neutrality debate.
What is Net Neutrality?
- Net Neutrality is the concept that all traffic on the internet should be treated equally, without discrimination or preference given to certain types of content, websites, or users.
- This means that internet service providers (ISPs) should not be allowed to block, slow down, or prioritize traffic based on the source, destination, or content of that traffic.
- Net Neutrality is considered important for ensuring a level playing field for all internet users and promoting innovation, competition, and freedom of expression online.
- It has been a subject of debate and regulatory action in many countries, including India, the United States, and the European Union.
Features of Net Neutrality
The following are some of the features of net neutrality:
- Non-discrimination: All data should be treated equally, and internet service providers (ISPs) should not discriminate or prioritize any type of content, application, service, or device based on its source, destination, or ownership.
- Transparency: ISPs should provide customers with clear and accurate information about their internet services, including their network management practices, terms of service, and fees.
- No blocking: ISPs should not block or censor lawful content, applications, services, or devices that customers want to access, use, send, receive, or offer on the internet.
- No throttling: ISPs should not intentionally slow down or degrade the quality of any lawful content, application, service, or device that customers want to access, use, send, receive, or offer on the internet.
- No paid prioritization: ISPs should not offer faster or better access to any content, application, service, or device in exchange for payment or other consideration from content providers, developers, or users.
- Competition: Net neutrality promotes competition among ISPs by preventing them from using their control over access to the internet to favor their own content, applications, services, or devices or those of their partners, affiliates, or subsidiaries over those of their competitors.
Why in news?
Ans. BIF responds to COAI’s demands
- The Broadband India Forum (BIF), which represents Internet firms such as Meta and Google, responded to the COAI’s demands by refuting them.
- The COAI’s argument that the current demand has nothing to do with Net neutrality was contested by the BIF.
- The COAI argued that Net neutrality pertains to the non-discriminatory treatment of content that has no nexus to the usage fee issue.
Arguments for and against the usage fee
- Net neutrality activists and content providers argue that imposing a usage fee, even on a limited number of large players, would be a distortion of the Internet’s architecture.
- They contend that content providers and telecom operators enjoy a symbiotic relationship without charging each other.
- On the other hand, the COAI argues that a network fee is not related to Net neutrality and suggests that the government reduce spectrum fees and support telecom companies with the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).
- Worldwide, telecom operators in the European Union are also demanding similar usage fees from content providers.
TRAI ruling and the Unified License
- In 2016, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) ruled in favour of Net neutrality, which requires that all traffic on an Internet network be treated equally.
- In 2018, the Department of Telecommunications embedded the net neutrality concept into the Unified License, which binds all telecom operators and Internet providers.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: IBFP
Mains level: India-Bangladesh Energy Ties
Prime Minister and his Bangladeshi counterpart inaugurated a 131.5-kilometre-long India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline (IBFP) from Siliguri in North Bengal to Parbatipur in Banglaesh’s Dinajpur province.
India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline (IBFP)
- IBFP is a cross-border energy pipeline that connects Siliguri in West Bengal, India to Parbatipur in Dinajpur district of Bangladesh.
- It has a capacity of transporting 1 Million Metric Ton Per Annum (MMTPA) of High-Speed Diesel (HSD) from India to Bangladesh.
- The pipeline is aimed at enhancing energy cooperation between India and Bangladesh and strengthening people-to-people linkages between the two countries.
- The construction of the pipeline was started in September 2018.
Importance of IBFPL to Bangladesh
Ans. Looming energy crisis
- Bangladesh is facing a significant energy crisis that threatens to impede its growth.
- The country has frequent power cuts, even in the capital, Dhaka, which has had a negative impact on key export industries such as the ready-made garments sector.
- To address this problem, the Indian government has initiated several projects to help Bangladesh meet its growing energy demands.
- The IBFPL is one such project that will play a vital role in addressing the country’s energy deficit.
- The pipeline will transport diesel quickly into Bangladesh, thus ending the country’s reliance on importing petroleum product in oil tankers by road and rail from India.
Other projects to meet Bangladesh’s energy demands
- Maitree project: The US $2 billion worth project is being built under a concessional financing scheme offered by India to Bangladesh. The first unit of the Maitree Super Thermal Power Production in Bangladesh’s Khulna province is already supplying 660 MW to the country’s national grid.
- Power import: Bangladesh is also awaiting power from the Adani Group’s 1600 Megawatt thermal power station at Godda in Jharkhand. Talks are currently underway to import at least 600 MW of power from this plant to meet Bangladesh’s peak summer demand.
- BIFPCL: The two countries set up the Bangladesh India Friendship Power Company Limited (BIFPCL), a 50:50 joint venture between India’s National Thermal Power Corporation and Bangladesh Power Development Board. Once completed, this will be Bangladesh’s largest power plant.
Why is India helping Bangladesh?
Ans. To offset Bangladesh’s dependence on China
- India’s assistance to Bangladesh in meeting its energy needs is also aimed at offsetting that country’s dependence on China.
- Chinese investments in Bangladesh’s energy sector stand at US $8.31 billion.
- Beijing has also offered to help Bangladesh transition to renewable sources.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: TB
Mains level: Elimination of TB from India
Tamil Nadu has pioneered an initiative across the State to reduce the mortality rate among people with tuberculosis named: TN-KET (Tamil Nadu Kasanoi Erappila Thittam) meaning TB death-free project.
What is TN-KET?
- TN-KET aims to reduce the mortality rate among people with tuberculosis.
- This initiative, which began in April 2022, has already achieved significant reduction in the number of early TB deaths.
Unique features
- Differentiated TB Care: This is at the heart of the initiative, which aims at assessing whether people with TB need ambulatory care or admission in a health facility to manage severe illness at the time of diagnosis.
- Radiological assessment: The guidelines require comprehensive assessment of 16 clinical, laboratory and radiological parameters.
- Triage of assessment: The preliminary assessment of patients based on just three conditions — very severe undernutrition, respiratory insufficiency, and inability to stand without support — was found to be feasible for quick identification at diagnosis.
Outcome: Significant reduction in early TB deaths
- Above features vastly cut down the delay and increasing the chances of saving lives.
- The initiative has achieved the initial target of 80% triaging of patients, 80% referral, comprehensive assessment and confirmation of severe illness, and 80% admission among confirmed.
- The State’s target is to achieve 90%-90%-90% at each district.
Key challenges
- The challenge is to increase the duration of admission, especially for people with very severe undernutrition, which comprises 50% of the admitted patients.
Tap to read more about the topic-
TB mukt India
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Background Radiation
Mains level: Not Much
Central idea: The article discusses a pan-India study conducted by scientists at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) which found that background radiation levels in parts of Kerala are nearly three times more than what’s been assumed.
What is Background Radiation?
- Background radiation is a measure of the level of ionizing radiation present in the environment at a particular location which is not due to deliberate introduction of radiation sources.
- Background radiation originates from a variety of sources, both natural and artificial.
Nuclear Radiation and its Types
There are three main types of nuclear radiation: alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays.
1. Alpha particles are made up of two protons and two neutrons and are essentially helium nuclei. They have a positive charge and are relatively large and heavy, which means they can be stopped by a piece of paper or the outer layer of skin.
2. Beta particles are high-energy electrons that are emitted from the nucleus of an atom. They have a negative charge and are much smaller than alpha particles, which means they can penetrate through the skin and into the body.
3. Gamma rays are high-energy electromagnetic radiation, similar to X-rays. They are emitted from the nucleus of an atom and have no charge. They are extremely penetrating and can travel long distances through air and most materials, including the human body. |
How is it measured?
- The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) specifies maximum radiation exposure levels and this has also been adopted by India’s atomic energy establishment.
- Public exposure shouldn’t exceed 1 milli-Sievert every year, those who work in plants or are by virtue of their occupation shouldn’t be exposed to over 30 milli-Sievert every year.
- Generally it is measured in nanogray per second. A (nGy/s) is a decimal fraction of the SI-derived unit of ionizing radiation absorbed dose rate.
Natural sources-
- Cosmic radiation
- Environmental radioactivity from naturally occurring radioactive materials (such as radon and radium)
Man-made sources-
- Medical X-rays,
- Fallout from nuclear weapons testing and nuclear accidents.
Factors affecting such radiation
- Natural background radiation is all around us.
- Background radiation varies from place to place and over time, depending on the amount of naturally occurring radioactive elements in soil, water and air.
- Weather conditions also affect radiation levels, as snow cover may shield these elements, and radioactive particulates can wash out of the air during rain storms.
- Cosmic radiation from the sun, our galaxy, and beyond is constantly around us and contributes to natural background radiation.
- Altitude and latitude can also influence the level of background radiation at any one site.
How threatening is it?
- All rocks and soils contain some trace amount of natural radioactivity and can sometimes be ingested or inhaled if disturbed.
- Radon is a gas that can concentrate indoors and be inhaled, along with its decay products.
- We can also ingest radioactivity from the food we eat and the water we drink.
- A number of factors determine the annual dose you and your family receive from background radiation.
- Typically, Gamma rays are a type of such radiation that can pass through matter unobstructed, and are harmless in small doses, but can be dangerous in concentrated bursts.
Findings of the BARC Study
- The study found that the average natural background levels of gamma radiation in India was 94 nGy/hr (nano Gray per hour) (or roughly 0.8 millisievert/year).
- The last study conducted in 1986 computed such radiation to be 89 nGy/hr.
- The study found that the levels in Kollam district, Kerala were 9,562 nGy/hr, or about three times more than what was assumed.
- This computes to about 70 milliGray a year, or a little more than what a worker in a nuclear plant is exposed to.
- This however does not necessarily mean that those at Kollam are being exposed to dangerous levels of radiation, as past studies have not found any higher rates of cancer or mortality.
Reasons for Higher Radiation Levels in Kerala
- The higher radiation levels in Kollam are attributed to monazite sands that are high in thorium, which is part of India’s long-term plan to sustainably produce nuclear fuel.
- Southern India has higher levels of radiation due to the presence of granite and basaltic, volcanic rock, which contains uranium deposits.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Sugar cultivation in India
Mains level: Not Much
Central idea: India’s success story in sugar exports
- India’s sugar exports have soared from $810.9 million in 2017-18 to $4.6 billion in 2021-22, and could cross $5.5 billion in the fiscal year ending March 31.
- The increase is significant in quantity terms too, with India’s shipments increasing from a mere 0.46 lakh tonnes in 2016-17 to 110 lakh tonnes in 2021-22.
- India has gone from being a marginal player in sugar exports five years ago to No. 2 in the world currently, behind only Brazil.
Favourite destinations
- The biggest importers of Indian raw sugar were Indonesia (16.73 lt), Bangladesh (12.10 lt), Saudi Arabia (6.83 lt), Iraq (4.78 lt) and Malaysia (4.15 lt).
- The country also exported 53.71 lt of white/ refined sugar, the leading destinations for which included Afghanistan (7.54 lt), Somalia (5.17 lt), Djibouti (4.90 lt), Sri Lanka (4.27 lt), China (2.58 lt), and Sudan (1.08 lt).
- The highest decline in exports has been registered by the European Union (which produces sugar from beet, unlike India and Brazil that only crush cane): from 39.74 lt in 2017-18 to 8.02 lt in 2021-22.
Which grades of sugar does India export?
- Raw sugar is what mills produce after the first crystallization of juice obtained from crushing of cane.
- This sugar is rough and brownish in color, with an ICUMSA value of 600-1,200 or higher.
- ICUMSA is a measure of the purity of sugar based on color.
- This raw sugar is processed in refineries for removal of impurities and de-colorization.
- The end product is refined white cane sugar having a standard ICUMSA value of 45.
- Till 2017-18, India mainly shipped plantation white sugar with 100-150 ICUMSA value, also known as low-quality whites or LQW in international markets.
Reasons behind India’s surge in sugar exports
- Indian raw sugar is free of dextran, unlike Brazilian raws.
- Indian mills can supply raws with a very high polarization of 98.5-99.5%, which is higher than the polarization of raws from Brazil, Thailand, and Australia.
- Indian raws today fetch a 4% premium over the global benchmark (New York No. 11 futures contract) price, while LQW sells at a $40/tonne discount to the world price (London No. 5 futures) for 45 ICUMSA whites.
- Indonesia agreed to tweak its norms in December 2019 to enable imports from India, which further boosted India’s efforts to push exports of raws.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NA
Mains level: Child custody issues
Central idea:
- Activists are calling on the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to take a stronger interest in child custody cases in Western countries.
- The call comes as the movie Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway, which focuses on the diplomatic row between India and Norway in 2011.
- The movie sheds light on cases where parents lose custody of their children over cultural differences in their upbringing.
Child Custody norms in India
- India’s child custody laws are governed by-
- Guardians and Wards Act of 1890: It recognizes the welfare of the child as the paramount consideration in custody matters.
- Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act of 1956: It deals with the custody and guardianship of Hindu children.
- Indian law generally gives custody of children to the mother in case of young children, but the father can also seek custody.
- In recent years, there have been calls to reform the law to provide more equal rights to fathers in custody battles.
|
The story beyond: Bhattacharya Case
- The movie depicts real life story of a Bengali couple who had moved to Norway in 2007.
- Their child reportedly developed ‘autism-like’ symptoms in his early years and was placed in a family kindergarten.
- The family was reportedly under watch for months by the child welfare service and in May 2011, the authorities took away the couple’s children under the pretext of bad parenting.
- Finally the Norwegian authorities took the child away to their shelter home for almost 14 months.
What accounts to ‘bad’ parenting in Norway?
- Hand feeding: Norwegian authorities raised objection to the family hand-feeding the baby and equated it to force-feeding.
- Child sleeping with parents: They also had problems with children sleeping on the same bed as their parents- something that is very common in Indian households.
- Ban on physical discipline: Charges against the parents also included a slap by the parents – just once. Even mild physical discipline, such as a slap, is considered illegal in Norway.
- Lack of recreation: Authorities accused the couple that the children did not have enough room to play. They were also accused of providing “unsuitable” clothes and toys to their children.
About Norway’s Child Welfare Services
- The Child Welfare Services in Norway is commonly known as Barnevernet and is responsible for child protection in the country.
- The organization is very strict about child protection and applies strict regulations for all citizens living in the country, regardless of their cultural background.
- The primary responsibility of the Child Welfare Services is to implement measures for children and their families in situations where there are special needs in relation to the home environment.
- Assistance is provided through counseling, advisory services, and aid measures, including external support contacts, relief measures in the home, and access to daycare.
The Bhattacharya Case and Diplomatic Row
The case of the Bhattacharya couple, whose children were taken away by Barnevernet, caused a diplomatic row between Norway and India. The Bhattacharya had appealed to the foreign ministry to intervene in the case where the Child Welfare Services had taken their children away from them.
- Bias against non-citizens: The couple was accused of mistreating their children, but some claimed that the decision was biased against non-Norwegian citizens.
- State kidnapping of children: Human rights activists in India, called the incident “state kidnapping”.
- Labelling parents for being of unsound mind: In almost every case, they claim that one of the parents has a mental problem just to make their case stronger.
How did Norway response?
- After a diplomatic row between the two countries, the Norwegian authorities decided to award the custody of the children to their father’s brother, enabling him to bring them back to India.
Way forward
- The case highlights the need for transparent and unbiased decision-making processes in child welfare services, especially in cases involving non-native citizens.
- While child protection is of utmost importance, the authorities must ensure that their actions are fair, just, and not biased against any particular group or culture.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Monuments of National Importance
Mains level: Monuments of National Importance, Shedding the colonial legacy, Promoting India's rich heritage rationally
Central Idea
- The decolonization drive started by the present government in India to change the British mindset of those responsible for writing history books, which led to the neglect of important monuments and archaeological sites. The Economic Advisory Council’s report on Monuments of National Importance, which he sees as a significant step in the right direction for the preservation and designation of monuments that reflect Bharat’s history. There are some anomalies in the list of monuments of national importance and suggests changes in the way India looks at the preservation of monuments.
What are the recommendations given by the report?
- Rationalise and evolve criteria for India’s list of monuments: The report underlined the urgent need to rationalise India’s list of monuments of national importance and recommended that the ASI should evolve substantive criteria and a detailed procedure for declaring monuments to be of national importance.
- Book of detailed information: ASI should publish a book of notifications with detailed information about each MNI’s provenance, hand over protection and upkeep of monuments of local importance to respective states and denotify to the extent possible, all standalone antiquities like cannons and statues.
- Funds: Allocation of funds for the preservation of MNI should be increased and ASI should retain the proceeds generated from revenue streams like tickets, events, fees and other sources.
- Inadequate efforts: After India’s independence, little effort was made to correct the British mindset of those responsible for writing history books, which resulted in the neglect of monuments and archaeological sites.
- British view of India: History books continued to teach the history of India’s defeats and its enemies’ victories, which perpetuated the British view of India.
The Decolonization Drive under the present Government
- National Heroes: The present government led by PM Modi started the decolonisation drive to bring out the sagas of King Suheldev, Rani Durgavati, and Lachit Barphukan, among others.
- For example: The government highlighted the story of the founder-king of Delhi, Anangpal Tomar, and declared the neglected Anang Tal as a monument of national importance.
- Names, sites, insignia of national importance: The government also held national and international events at the Sindhu-Saraswati site of Dholavira and unveiled a new Shivaji-era inspired naval insignia.
Significance of this Report
- The Economic Advisory Council’s report on Monuments of National Importance is a significant step in the right direction.
- The report will bring a whiff of fresh thinking in the direction of preserving and designating monuments that reflect Bharat’s history.
- All the recommendations made by the report can be implemented without amending the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act and need only executive orders.
Anomalies in the List of Monuments of National Importance
- There are some anomalies in the list of monuments of national importance.
- There is not a single monument connected with the struggles of Dalits and B R Ambedkar’s life that has been declared a national monument.
- Some monuments, like Tota-Maina ki Qabar and Dadi Poti ka Gumbad, have no history, and nobody knows whether they should be declared as Monuments of National Importance.
- Therefore, all agencies working on monuments be unshackled from the British slave mindset and given into the hands of those who know their subject.
Conclusion
- There is hope that the Bibek Debroy-Sanjeev Sanyal report will bring a whiff of fresh thinking in the direction of preserving and designating monuments that reflect Bharat’s history. There is the need for an Archaeological Foundation to preserve the civilizational and revolutionary monuments of India.
Mains Question
Q. Discuss the recommendations given by the Economic Advisory Council’s report on Monuments of National Importance and its significance in preserving and designating monuments that reflect Bharat’s history.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Operation Greens Scheme
Mains level: Operation Greens Scheme; TOP farmers concerns and solution
Central Idea
- The Operation Greens scheme aimed to develop a value chain for reducing extreme price fluctuations in the three basic vegetables (tomatoes, onions, and potatoes), enhance farmers’ realizations, and improve their share of the consumer rupee. However, the scheme has not been successful in achieving its goals, as seen by the recent protests against low prices by onion and potato farmers.
![pib] Operation Greens Scheme - Civilsdaily](https://d18x2uyjeekruj.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Operation_green-3.png)
- The Operation Greens scheme is a government initiative launched in the 2018-19 Union budget by the present government.
- It aims to develop a value chain for reducing extreme price fluctuations in the three basic vegetables, including tomatoes, onions, and potatoes (TOP).
- The scheme was later expanded to 22 perishable crops in the 2021-22 budget.
- The government hopes that by developing a sustainable value chain for these perishable commodities, farmers will benefit from better price realization, while consumers will have access to quality products at reasonable prices.
Aim & Objectives:
- To enhance value realization of TOP farmers; reduction in post-harvest losses; price stabilization for producer and consumers and increase in food processing capacities and value addition.
- Price stabilisation for producers and consumers by proper production planning in the TOP clusters and introduction of dual-use varieties.
- Reducing post-harvest losses by creation of farm gate infrastructure, development of suitable agro-logistics, creation of appropriate storage capacity linking consumption centres.
- Increasing food processing capacities and value addition in the TOP value chain with firm linkages with production clusters.
- Setting up a market intelligence network to collect and collate real-time data on demand and supply and price of TOP crops.
Components:
- Short-term intervention by way of providing transportation and storage subsidy @ 50% and
- long-term intervention through value addition projects in identified production clusters with Grant-in-aid @ 35% to 70% of the eligible project cost subject to a maximum of Rs. 50 crore per project
Limited Success of Operation Greens Scheme
- Retail tomato prices: Tomato prices in wholesale markets have dropped significantly, but retail prices have not reduced much, indicating limited success.
- Low Onion price: Onion and potato farmers are protesting against low prices, highlighting the scheme’s lack of effectiveness.
- For instance: There are protests by Maharashtra’s onion growers against low prices, including relay hunger fasts, stoppage of auctions at major mandis, and a 200-km march to Mumbai. Similarly, potato farmers in Uttar Pradesh have demanded that the government procure their tuber at Rs 10 per kg, as against the ruling Rs 6-6.5/kg market price at Agra.
Reasons behind its limited success
- Problem Not with Lack of Storage or Processing Capacity: UP alone has an abundance of cold stores with ample capacity to store perishable goods like potatoes. Maharashtra’s growers have built enough kandha chawls to store onions for 4-6 months. Despite the creation of storage capacity, price volatility persists in milk and cane payment arrears to farmers.
- Price Volatility: The prices of TOP crops have been volatile, which has adversely affected both farmers and consumers. The prices of these commodities tend to fluctuate sharply due to seasonality, weather conditions, and other factors, resulting in uncertainty and instability in the market.
- Implementation Issues: The scheme’s implementation has been marred by delays, bureaucratic hurdles, and lack of coordination among various stakeholders, which has resulted in low participation and limited success.
- Lack of Market Linkages: Another reason for limited success is the lack of market linkages between producers and consumers. The farmers are unable to access markets directly, which leads to dependence on intermediaries who manipulate prices, resulting in price volatility.
Need for Price or Income Assurance for Farmers
- Investment: Investment in farm-gate, agri-logistics, and storage-cum-processing infrastructure needs to be encouraged.
- Assurance: Price or income assurance for farmers is necessary, especially for horticulture, dairy, and poultry producers who do not enjoy minimum support price benefits.
- Diversification: The future for Indian agriculture lies in crop diversification, which will spur greater consumption of foods incorporating proteins (pulses, milk, eggs, and meat) and micro-nutrients (fruits and vegetables), instead of only calories and carbohydrates.
- Deficiency price payments: The deficiency price payments or per-hectare direct income transfers could be the way forward.
Conclusion
- It is evident that the limited success of the Operation Greens scheme underscores the urgent need for a more comprehensive approach to address the challenges faced by TOP farmers. A more holistic approach is required that prioritizes farmer empowerment, investment in infrastructure, and promotion of crop diversification. By adopting such an approach, the government can not only mitigate the impact of price volatility on farmers but also achieve its broader goal of building a sustainable and resilient agricultural sector that benefits both producers and consumers alike.
Mains Question
Q. What is Operation Greens scheme? Analyse its limited success in achieving its objectives and Suggest measures to improve the scheme’s effectiveness.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Stunting, wasting, Human capital Index
Mains level: Undernutrition a significant challenge
“Healthy women and children are pillars of a flourishing society”
Central Idea
- Undernutrition is a serious public health issue leading to adverse health consequences and affecting the economy, especially in India. Early stimulation and nutrition interventions in infants and young children lead to improved outcomes in adult life. India ranks poorly on the Human Capital Index and has high levels of stunting, anaemia, and malnutrition. Evidence suggests investing in maternal and early-life nutrition leads to high returns on investment.
Undernutrition leads to adverse health consequences and affects the economy
- Child deaths: Undernutrition leads to 3.1 million child deaths annually, which accounts for 45 percent of all child deaths.
- High levels of stunting In India: India has unacceptably high levels of stunting (35.5 percent), despite marginal improvement over the years.
- Stunting affects per capita income: Two-thirds of India’s current workforce is stunted, which has enormous economic costs in terms of a decrease in per capita income. The average reduction in per capita income for developing countries is at 7 percent, with a high of 13 percent for India due to the high rates of stunting.
- Wasting in India: The economic losses incurred by India due to wasting are estimated at more than US $48 billion in terms of lifetime lost productivity.
- Anaemia: Another compounding factor is anaemia among young women, at 57 percent, which has lasting effects on their future pregnancies and childbirth. The situation further worsens when infants are fed inadequate diets, and there is inadequate sanitation and hygiene.
Investing in the well-being of women and children is an effective strategy
- Investing in early childhood: Evidence suggests that every additional dollar invested in quality early childhood programs yields a return of between US$6 and US$17.
- Better income in future: Early stimulation in infants is known to increase their future earnings by 25 percent. Stunting in childhood leads to impaired brain development, lower cognitive skills and education, leading to lower incomes in the future.
- For instance: According to estimates, children who are stunted earn 20 percent less as adults than children who are not stunted.
Increased investment in human capital brings economic growth
- Human capital is the real wealth: The human capital is the wealth of nations and is dependent on the health, nutrition, skills, and knowledge of people.
- Effective strategy: Evidence suggests investing in the well-being of women and children as an effective strategy for improved outcomes for children.
- India’s ranking in Human capital Index: India ranks 116 out of 174 countries as per the Human Capital Index, with a score of 0.49 that indicates a child born in India will be 49 percent productive if provided with complete education and good health.
- Education: Education to children plays a pivotal role in amassing human capital, improving productivity, and economic development. It has been advocated to target the 1000 days’ period from conception to two years of age for improving birth and nutrition outcomes.
Coupling nutrition-specific interventions with nutrition-sensitive programs
- Nutrition-sensitive interventions: Nutrition-sensitive interventions like water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) focus on the underlying determinants as poor sanitation can lead to stunting.
- Integrated water and sanitation improvement program: Evidence suggests both short term and long-term reductions in diarrhoea episodes (3-50 percent) through an integrated water and sanitation improvement program in rural India. WASH can bring significant gains in tackling childhood undernutrition and are important determinants of stunting.
- Nutrition of pregnant women and young children: Studies suggest long term benefits on adult human capital and health by improving the nutrition of pregnant women and young children.
- For instance: The first 1000 days of life is the time for rapid growth and development, and lack of good nutrition can lead to lifelong adverse consequences. This period is a critical window of opportunity as stunting sets in during this period and aggravates by the age of two years.
Disparities in Undernutrition Prevalence
- Data (NFHS 5) reveals that India has more stunted children in rural areas as compared to urban areas, possibly due to socio-economic variance.
- Stunting prevalence varies depending on mother’s education and household income,
- There is wide variation among regions, with high rates of stunting in states of Meghalaya (46.5 percent) and Bihar (42.9 percent) while states like Sikkim and Puducherry have lowest at 22.3 percent and 20 percent respectively.
- Notable inter-state and inter-district variation in terms of stunting prevalence.
- Investing in healthcare facilities is crucial for enhancing productivity, economic growth, and security in India.
- Addressing undernutrition is necessary for producing and maintaining a healthy, highly skilled workforce in India.
- Cost-effective investments in child health, nutrition, and education are necessary for improving public health and achieving economic growth in India.
Conclusion
- Healthy human capital is the true wealth of any nation. In India, undernutrition is a significant public health concern that not only affects the well-being of women and children but also has adverse economic implications. Therefore, addressing undernutrition is critical for creating a healthy, skilled workforce, ensuring economic growth and security in India.
Mains Question
Q. What is India’s ranking on the Human Capital Index, and how does investing in the well-being of women and children contribute to economic growth?
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: ICC
Mains level: Ukrainian War
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for war crimes for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights.
Charges against Putin
- The ICC issued the warrants because it believes that Putin bear individual criminal responsibility for the war crime of –
- Unlawful deportation of population and
- Unlawful transfer of population from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation
The ICC and its Background
- The ICC is a standing body created two decades ago to investigate war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity under a 1998 treaty known as the Rome Statute.
- The court is based in The Hague, a Dutch city that has long been a center for international law and justice.
- Many democracies joined the ICC, including close American allies such as Britain.
- However, the United States has kept its distance due to fears that the court may one day seek to prosecute American officials.
- Russia is also not a member.
Implications of the Warrants
- Human rights groups hailed the warrant as an important step toward ending impunity for Russian war crimes in Ukraine.
- The likelihood of a trial while Putin remains in power appears slim since the court cannot try defendants in absentia, and Russia has said it will not surrender its own officials.
- Putin’s isolation in the West deepens, and his movements overseas could be limited.
- If he travels to a state that is a party to the ICC, that country must arrest him according to its obligations under international law.
Possibility of Putin Facing Trial
- The ICC has no power to arrest sitting heads of state or bring them to trial, and instead must rely on other leaders and governments to act as its sheriffs around the world.
- A suspect who manages to evade capture may never have a hearing to confirm the charges.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: PM MITRA
Mains level: Not Much
The Centre has selected seven states in India to set up new textile parks under the PM MITRA (Mega Investment Textiles Parks) Scheme.
What is PM MITRA Scheme?
- The scheme was announced in October 2021, and the parks will be established by 2026-27.
- MITRA aims to enable the textile industry to become globally competitive, attract large investments, and boost employment generation and exports.
- It will create world-class infrastructure with plug and play facilities to enable create global champions in exports.
- It will be launched in addition to the Production Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI).
- It will give our domestic manufacturers a level-playing field in the international textiles market & pave the way for India to become a global champion of textiles exports across all segments”.
Its implementation
- An special purpose vehicle (SPV) owned by Centre and State Government will be set up for each park, which will oversee the implementation of the project.
- The Ministry of Textiles will provide financial support in the form of Development Capital Support up to ₹500 crore per park to the Park SPV.
- A Competitive Incentive Support (CIS) up to ₹300 crore per park to the units in PM MITRA Park shall also be provided to incentivize speedy implementation.
- Convergence with other Government of India schemes shall also be facilitated in order to ensure additional incentives to the Master Developer and investor units.
Envisaged Benefits
- The parks will boost the textiles sector in line with 5F (Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign) vision.
- The Centre envisages an investment of nearly ₹70,000 crore into these parks, with employment generation for about 20 lakh people.
- The parks will function as centres of opportunity to create an integrated textiles value chain, right from spinning, weaving, processing, dyeing and printing to garment manufacturing, all at a single location.
Need for such scheme
- Textile industry is critical to India’s economy, employing 4.5 crore people and contributing 7% of GDP. Despite its potential, the industry is facing challenges that need to be addressed.
- The unorganized textile industry in the country increased wastage and logistical costs, impacting the competitiveness of the country’s textile sector.
Challenges Faced by India’s Textile Industry
- High input costs due to high taxes and tariffs, inadequate infrastructure, and a lack of skilled labor.
- Competition from cheaper imports (ex. from Bangladesh) and a growing informal sector.
- Environmental concerns related to the industry’s high water usage, pollution, and hazardous waste disposal.
- The pandemic further disrupted supply chains and led to reduced demand.
Conclusion
- PM MITRA Parks represent a unique model where the Centre and State Governments will work together to increase investment, promote innovation, create job opportunities and ultimately make India a global hub for textile manufacturing and exports.
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