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Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.

National Logistics Policy

| Economics | Mains Paper 3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways Etc.
Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: NLP

Mains level: Read the attached story

logistics

The government will announce the National Logistics Policy (NLP) this week, aiming to bring down logistics costs and address challenges plaguing importers and exporters.

What is Logistics?

  • Logistics refers to the overall process of managing how resources are acquired, stored, and transported to their final destination.
  • It involves identifying prospective distributors and suppliers and determining their effectiveness and accessibility.

Why need a logistics policy?

logistics

  • Organizing and consolidating the sector: India’s logistics sector is largely unorganized and fragmented.
  • Reducing logistics cost: This is why the country’s logistics costs are as high as 14-15% of the GDP, against 7-8% in developed nations such as the Singapore and the US, who leverage it to boost exports. The NLP aims to bring down India’s logistics cost to 8% in the next five years.
  • Preventing waste of perishable items: As per some estimates in India, about 16% of agri-production is wasted at different stages of the supply chain.
  • Warehousing development: Moreover, due to factors such as limited capacity and availability of warehouses, the cost of transaction increases.
  • Multi-modal integration: The new policy is going about simplification, technology and will have a multimodal approach that will combine rail, water, and air — all modes of transport.

What role will technology play?

  • Advanced analytics: The NLP will aim to harness technologies such as AI and blockchain. It aims to create a data analytics centre for driving greater transparency and continuous monitoring of key logistics metrics.
  • Single window portal: Under NLP, a portal will be created, where service providers such as warehousing providers, shipping experts, transporters, customs brokers, and various governmental agencies will be unified.

Will it boost cooperation between ministries?

  • Unifying multiple departments: Currently, the logistics value chain is managed by several ministries—road transport and highways, shipping, railways, and civil aviation.
  • Single-point clearances: Agencies like the Central Drug Standard Control Organization and the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India provide clearances.
  • Nationwide integration: The NLP could enhance their integration at the central level.

What about reducing the carbon footprint?

  • Energy-efficient transportation: The draft logistics policy lays emphasis on the shift to more energy-efficient means of transportation, as well as the use of greener fuels which could reduce the supply chain’s carbon footprint.
  • Vehicular emission reduction: Moreover, the draft policy, released earlier, emphasized creating regulations for controlling vehicular noise, emissions, and wastage.
  • Green warehousing principles: The new logistics policy also aims to incorporate green principles in the functioning of warehouses which contribute to nearly 10% of the logistics costs.

Will it change India’s commodity transport?

  • Transport of crucial commodities: The proposed policy aims to focus on the transport of crucial commodities such as coal, steel, iron ore, food grains, steel, cement, fruits and vegetables.
  • Creating nationwide clusters: The current logistical network for transporting them is mainly confined to regional clusters.
  • Integrating national supply-chains: The NLP could help establish a link between the place of origin, and destination place and integrate the supply on a national level.
  • Optimum logistics identification: The draft also proposes identification of the right mode of transport for each of these commodities to minimise losses during transport.

 

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Tribes in News

Centre adds 4 new tribes to Scheduled Tribes (ST) List

Prelims Only | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Indian Constitution - historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure
Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Tribes in news

Mains level: Not Much

The Union Cabinet under the chairmanship of PM has approved the addition of four tribes to the list of Scheduled Tribes (ST), including those from Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Chhattisgarh.

Which tribes are we talking about?

  1. Hatti tribe in the Trans-Giri area of Sirmour district in Himachal Pradesh
  2. Narikoravan and Kurivikkaran hill tribes of Tamil Nadu and
  3. Binjhia tribe in Chhattisgarh, which was listed as ST in Jharkhand and Odisha but not in Chhattisgarh

Other tribes in news

  • The Cabinet also approved ‘Betta-Kuruba’ as a synonym for the Kadu Kuruba tribe In Karnataka.

Who are the Scheduled Tribes?

  • The term ‘Scheduled Tribes’ first appeared in the Constitution of India.
  • Article 366 (25) defined scheduled tribes as “such tribes or tribal communities or parts of or groups within such tribes or tribal communities as are deemed under Article 342 to be Scheduled Tribes for the purposes of this constitution”.
  • Article 342 prescribes procedure to be followed in the matter of specification of scheduled tribes.
    • Article 342(1) empowers the President of India to specify, by public notification, the tribes or tribal communities deemed to be Scheduled Tribes in each state and union territory.
  • Among the tribal groups, several have adapted to modern life but there are tribal groups who are more vulnerable.
  • The Dhebar Commission (1973) created a separate category “Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs)” which was renamed in 2006 as “Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)”.

How are STs notified?

  • The first specification of Scheduled Tribes in relation to a particular State/ Union Territory is by a notified order of the President, after consultation with the State governments concerned.
  • These orders can be modified subsequently only through an Act of Parliament.

Status of STs in India

  • The Census 2011 has revealed that there are said to be 705 ethnic groups notified as Scheduled Tribes (STs).
  • Over 10 crore Indians are notified as STs, of which 1.04 crore live in urban areas.
  • The STs constitute 8.6% of the population and 11.3% of the rural population.

What is the reason for special provisions for the Scheduled Tribes in the constitution of India? Are these provisions successful in ameliorating their conditions? (250 Words)

 

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Indian Navy Updates

[pib] Indian Navy participates in Exercise Kakadu hosted by Australia

Prelims Only | Security Issues | Mains Paper 3: Various Security Forces, Agencies & Their Mandates
Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Ex Kakadu

Mains level: NA

INS Satpura and a P8 I Maritime Patrol Aircraft of the Indian Navy reached Darwin in Australia on for participation in the multinational Exercise Kakadu – 2022, hosted by the Royal Australian Navy.

Exercise KAKADU

  • Exercise KAKADU, which started in 1993, is the premier multilateral regional maritime engagement exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and supported by the Australian Air Force.
  • The exercise is held biennially in Darwin and the Northern Australian Exercise Areas (NAXA).
  • It derives its name from Kakadu National Park, which is a protected area in the northern territory of Australia, 171 km south-east of Darwin
  • During the exercise, professional exchanges in harbour and diverse range of activities at sea, including complex surface, sub-surface and air operations would enable sharing of best practices and honing of operational skills.

India’s presence at the exercise

  • Indian Navy’s participation in KAKADU provides an excellent opportunity to engage with regional partners and undertake multinational maritime activities ranging from constabulary operations to high-end maritime warfare in a combined environment
  • It is aimed at enhancing interoperability and developing of common understanding of procedures for maritime operations gaining importance with the Indo-Pacific narrative.

Also read:

[Prelims Spotlight] Important Submarines and Naval Ships

 

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old age problems that we should address now

op-ed snap | Indian Society | Mains Paper 1: Salient features of Indian Society,Social Empowerment
Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: government schemes

Mains level: social welfare

old ageContext            

India will be facing the immediate challenge –The ageing of the population. Challenge to ensure a decent quality of life for the old age people in the near future, planning and providing for it must begin today.

Background

  • Life expectancy in India has more than doubled since Independence from around 32 years in the late 1940s to 70 years or so today, a historical achievement.
  • Over the same period, the fertility rate has crashed from about six children per woman to just two, which liberated women from the cycle of continuous child bearing and child care.

What is ageing of the population?

  • Meaning: Population ageing is a shift in the distribution of a country’s population towards older ages.
  • Reason behind it: Decline in the fertility rate and Rise In the life expectancy. An increase in longevity increases the average age of the population by increasing the numbers of surviving older people.
  • Impact of the ageing population:, labor supply shortage, change in patterns of saving and investment, deteriorate fiscal balance, lack of adequate welfare system etc.
  • Challenges they impose: Social security, elderly Healthcare, Dependence on the family etc.

What is the status in India?

  • According to the National Commission on Population, The share of the elderly (persons aged 60 years and above) close to 9% in 2011.
  • It is growing fast and may reach 18% by 2036.

old ageProblems faced by elderly

  • Depression: According to survey by Abdul Latif Jameel foundation in Tamilnadu, 30-50% of people above age of 60 has a symptoms of depression.The proportion with depression symptoms is much higher for women than men, and rises sharply with age. In most cases, depression remains undiagnosed and untreated.
  • Loneliness: Loneliness one the major factor leading to depression. A large majority of elderly persons living alone are women, mainly widows.
  • Hardship of age: Monetary assistance can certainly help to cope with many health issues.
  • Poverty and poor health: Old age pensions are vital. Cash helps to lead a dignified life.

old ageCurrent government schemes for elderly

Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Scheme – This is one of the most popular senior citizen pension schemes in India.

  • Designed for senior citizens above 60 years of age, the policy term of this Prime Minister Senior Citizen Scheme extends to ten years.
  • The pensioner can choose the frequency of the payment – monthly/quarterly/half- yearly/annually.
  • You can earn interest of 8% per annum over this scheme.
  • The minimum and maximum capping of pension are Rs. 3,000 per month and 10,000 per month, respectively

National Programme for the Health Care of Elderly (NPHCE)–

  • Introduced in 2010, this scheme concentrates on preventive as well as promotive, care for the maintenance of overall health.
  • This program was launched to address the health issues faced by seniors.
  • The district-level objectives include providing dedicated health facilities in district hospitals, community health centres (CHC), primary health centres (PHC), and sub-centres (SC) levels through State Health Society.
  • These facilities maybe free or highly subsidized.

Varishta Mediclaim Policy –

  • This policy aids seniors by covering the cost of medicines, blood, ambulance charges, and other diagnosis related charges.
  • Designed for senior citizens between the age of 60 and 80 years, this helps meet the health-related expenses of senior citizens.
  • Income tax benefits are allowed for payment of premium.
  • Although the policy period is for one year, you can extend the renewal up to the age of 90 years.

Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana –

  • This scheme provides physical aids and assisted-living devices to the elderly above 60 years of age that belong to the BPL (below the poverty line) category.
  • If senior citizens wish to avail this, then they must have a BPL card.
  • This is a Central Sector Scheme and is entirely funded by the Central Government.

Varishta Pension Bima Yojana –

  • This pension scheme, launched by the Ministry of Finance, is for senior citizens above 60 years.
  • The LIC of India has the authority to operate this scheme.
  • Any Medical check-ups is not necessary to avail this policy.
  • It offers assured pension with a guaranteed interest rate of 8% per annum for up to 10 years –
  • You can opt for monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, and yearly pension – depends on how you’d like to receive it.

Vayoshreshtha Samman –

This scheme focuses on those seniors who have made significant contributions in their disciplines and recognized their efforts.

It was upgraded to the National Award in 2013, and since then, awards have been granted below thirteen categories.

https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/old-age-poverty/Conclusion

  • Social security pensions, of course, are just the first step towards a dignified life for the elderly. They also need other support and facilities such as health care, disability aids and assistance with daily tasks, recreation opportunities and a good social life. They can be the active contributor to the economy having the years of experience and mentorship to the demographic dividend.

Mains Question Q.

Discuss the challenges before our elderly today? What steps have been taken by government to address these challenges?

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

Europe heading for Recession

| Economics | Mains Paper 3: Indian Economy
Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Recessions, Depression

Mains level: Not Much

The Eurozone is almost certainly entering a recession, with surveys showing a deepening cost-of-living crisis and a gloomy outlook that is keeping consumers wary of spending.

What is Recession?

  • A recession is a significant decline in economic activity that lasts for months or even years.
  • Experts declare a recession when a nation’s economy experiences negative GDP, rising levels of unemployment, falling retail sales, and contracting measures of income and manufacturing for an extended period of time.
  • Recessions are considered an unavoidable part of the business cycle—or the regular cadence of expansion and contraction that occurs in a nation’s economy.

What causes Recessions?

These phenomena are some of the main drivers of a recession:

  • A sudden economic shock: An economic shock is a surprise problem that creates serious financial damage. The coronavirus outbreak, which shut down economies worldwide, is a more recent example of a sudden economic shock.
  • Excessive debt: When individuals or businesses take on too much debt, the cost of servicing the debt can grow to the point where they can’t pay their bills. Growing debt defaults and bankruptcies then capsize the economy.
  • Asset bubbles: When investing decisions are driven by emotion, bad economic outcomes aren’t far behind. Investors can become too optimistic during a strong economy.
  • Too much inflation: Inflation is the steady, upward trend in prices over time. Inflation isn’t a bad thing per se, but excessive inflation is a dangerous phenomenon. Central banks control inflation by raising interest rates, and higher interest rates depress economic activity.
  • Too much deflation: While runaway inflation can create a recession, deflation can be even worse. Deflation is when prices decline over time, which causes wages to contract, which further depresses prices. When a deflationary feedback loop gets out of hand, people and business stop spending, which undermines the economy.
  • Technological change: New inventions increase productivity and help the economy over the long term, but there can be short-term periods of adjustment to technological breakthroughs. In the 19th century, there were waves of labour-saving technological improvements.

What’s the difference between Recession and Depression?

  • Recessions and depressions have similar causes, but the overall impact of a depression is much, much worse.
  • There are greater job losses, higher unemployment and steeper declines in GDP.
  • Most of all, a depression lasts longer—years, not months—and it takes more time for the economy to recover.
  • Economists do not have a set definition or fixed measurements to show what counts as a depression. Suffice to say, all the impacts of a depression are deeper and last longer.
  • In the past century, the US has faced just one depression: The Great Depression.

The Great Depression

  • The Great Depression started in 1929 and lasted through 1933, although the economy didn’t really recover until World War II, nearly a decade later.
  • During the Great Depression, unemployment rose to 25% and the GDP fell by 30%.
  • It was the most unprecedented economic collapse in modern US history.
  • By way of comparison, the Great Recession was the worst recession since the Great Depression.
  • During the Great Recession, unemployment peaked around 10% and the recession officially lasted from December 2007 to June 2009, about a year and a half.
  • Some economists fear that the coronavirus recession could morph into a depression, depending how long it lasts.

How long do recessions last?

  • Gulf War Recession (July 1990 to March 1991): At the start of the 1990s, the U.S. went through a short, eight-month recession, partly caused by spiking oil prices during the First Gulf War.
  • The Great Recession (2008-2009): As mentioned, the Great Recession was caused in part by a bubble in the real estate market.
  • Covid-19 Recession: The most recent recession began in February 2020 and lasted only two months, making it the shortest US recession in history.

Can we predict a recession?

Given that economic forecasting is uncertain, predicting future recessions is far from easy. However, the following warning signs can give you more time to figure out how to prepare for a recession before it happens:

  • An inverted yield curve: The yield curve is a graph that plots the market value—or the yield—of a range. When long-term yields are lower than short-term yields, it shows that investors are worried about a recession. This phenomenon is known as a yield curve inversion, and it has predicted past recessions.
  • Declines in consumer confidence: Consumer spending is the main driver of the US economy. If surveys show a sustained drop in consumer confidence, it could be a sign of impending trouble for the economy.
  • Drop in the Leading Economic Index (LEI): Published monthly by the Conference Board, the LEI strives to predict future economic trends. It looks at factors like applications for unemployment insurance, new orders for manufacturing and stock market performance.
  • Sudden stock market declines: A large, sudden decline in stock markets could be a sign of a recession coming on, since investors sell off parts and sometimes all of their holdings in anticipation of an economic slowdown.
  • Rising unemployment: It goes without saying that if people are losing their jobs, it’s a bad sign for the economy.

How does a recession affect individuals?

  • We may lose your job during a recession, as unemployment levels rise. It becomes much harder to find a job replacement since more people are out of work.
  • People who keep their jobs may see cuts to pay and benefits, and struggle to negotiate future pay raises.
  • Investments in stocks, bonds, real estate and other assets can lose money in a recession, reducing your savings and upsetting your plans for retirement.
  • Business owners make fewer sales during a recession, and may even be forced into bankruptcy.
  • With more people unable to pay their bills during a recession, lenders tighten standards for mortgages, car loans, and other types of financing.

 

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Liquor Policy of States

Alcohol Laws in India

| Economics | Mains Paper 3: Indian Economy
Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Alcohol laws

Mains level: Read the attached story

The most ambitious Delhi’s Alcohol Policy 2021-22 which brought in big discounts for consumers was scrapped on July 31 amid allegations of corruption and irregularities in the drafting and implementation of the policy.

After scrapping the new policy, the Delhi government decided to bring back the ‘old excise regime’ that was in force before.

Definitely! We shall not nit-pick the old vs. new policy. Let us generally understand how alcohol is regulated in India.

Alcohol laws of India: A backgrounder

  • The legal drinking age in India and the laws which regulate the sale and consumption of alcohol vary significantly from state to state.
  • In India, consumption of alcohol is prohibited in the states of Bihar, Gujarat, Nagaland and Mizoram.
  • There is partial ban on alcohol in some districts of Manipur.
  • All other Indian states permit alcohol consumption but fix a legal drinking age, which ranges at different ages per region.
  • In some states the legal drinking age can be different for different types of alcoholic beverage.

Regulation

  • Alcohol is a subject in the State List under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India.
  • Therefore, the laws governing alcohol vary from state to state.
  • Liquor in India is generally sold at liquor stores, restaurants, hotels, bars, pubs, clubs and discos but not online.
  • Some states, like Kerala and Tamil Nadu, prohibit private parties from owning liquor stores making the state government the sole retailer of alcohol in those states.
  • In some states, liquor may be sold at groceries, departmental stores, banquet halls and/or farm houses.
  • Some tourist areas have special laws allowing the sale of alcohol on beaches and houseboats.

Drunk driving law

  • The blood alcohol content (BAC) legal limit is 0.03% or 0.03 mg alcohol in 100 ml blood.
  • On 1 March 2012, the Union Cabinet approved proposed changes to the Motor Vehicle Act.
  • Higher penalties were introduced, including fines from ₹2,000 to ₹10,000 and imprisonment from 6 months to 4 years.
  • Different penalties are assessed depending on the blood alcohol content at the time of the offence.

Dry days

  • Dry days are specific days when the sale of alcohol is not permitted.
  • Most of the Indian states observe these days on major national festivals/occasions such as Republic Day (26 January), Independence Day (15 August) and Gandhi Jayanti (2 October).
  • Dry days are also observed during elections in India.

Taxation on Alcohol

  • Most states levy either Value added Tax (VAT) or Excise duty or both.
  • Excise duty is a tax levied to discourage the consumption of a product.
  • It is calculated on a per-unit basis. Meaning, if you buy 1 litre of liquor, you pay a fixed excise duty of Rs 15.
  • Value-added Tax is charged in the proportion of the product. If a bottle costs Rs 100, and the state levies 10 percent VAT, the price rises to Rs 110.

Tax rates in States

  • The 29 states/UTs in India approach liquor taxation differently.
  • For instance, Gujarat has banned its citizens from consuming liquor since 1961.
  • But outsiders with special licenses can still buy.
  • Puducherry, on the other hand, earns most of its revenue from alcohol trading.
  • Bihar has prohibited alcohol consumption entirely, meaning the state’s revenue from liquor consumption is nil.
  • Its neighbour, Uttar Pradesh, earns the most excise duty on liquor.
  • The state does not levy VAT but a special duty on liquor, collecting funds for particular purposes.

Do you know?

Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu consume as much as 45 percent of the liquor sold in the country.

Nationally, Maharashtra charges the highest rate but draws only a portion of its revenue from its sales.

Why alcohol isn’t banned everywhere?

  • Taxes from alcohol sales roughly form a quarter of state revenues.
  • If this stream suddenly stops, states have to compulsorily cut some important spending.
  • Also, moderate alcohol consumption may provide some health benefits.

 

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Solar Energy – JNNSM, Solar Cities, Solar Pumps, etc.

What it will take to fulfill India’s Solar Power Dream?

Prelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways Etc.
Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Solar energy targets of India

Mains level: Read the attached story

From less than 10 MW in 2010, India has added significant PV capacity over the past decade, achieving over 50 GW by 2022.

Solar energy in India

  • Solar photovoltaics (PV) has driven India’s push towards the adoption of cleaner energy generation technologies.
  • India is targeting about 500 GW by 2030, of renewable energy deployment, out of which ~280 GW is expected from solar PV.
  • This necessitates the deployment of nearly 30 GW of solar capacity every year until 2030.

Key components

  • A typical solar PV value chain consists of first fabricating polysilicon ingots which need to be transformed into thin Silicon wafers that are needed to manufacture the PV mini-modules.
  • The mini-modules are then assembled into market-ready and field-deployable modules.

Various challenges

There are challenges that need to be overcome for the sustainability of the PV economy.

(1) PV Modules

  • Indian solar deployment or installation companies depend heavily on imports.
  • It currently imports 100% of silicon wafers and around 80% of cells even at the current deployment levels.
  • India currently does not have enough module and cell manufacturing capacity.
  • India’s current solar module manufacturing capacity is limited to ~15 GW per year.
  • The demand-supply gap widens as we move up the value chain — for example, India only produces ~3.5 GW of cells currently.
  • India has no manufacturing capacity for solar wafers and polysilicon ingots.

(2) Field deployment

  • Also, out of the 15 GW of module manufacturing capacity, only 3-4 GW of modules are technologically competitive and worthy of deployment in grid-based projects.
  • India remains dependent on the import of solar modules for field deployment.

(3) Size and technology

  • Most of the Indian industry is currently tuned to handling M2 wafer size, which is roughly 156 x 156 mm2, while the global industry is already moving towards M10 and M12 sizes, which are 182 x 182 mm2 and 210 x 210 mm2 respectively.
  • The bigger size has an advantage in terms of silicon cost per wafer, as this effectively means lower loss of silicon during ingot to wafer processing.
  • In terms of cell technology, most of the manufacturing still uses Al-BSF technology, which can typically give efficiencies of ~18-19% at the cell level and ~16-17% at the module level.
  • By contrast, cell manufacturing worldwide has moved to PERC (22-23%), HJT(~24%), TOPCON (23-24%) and other newer technologies, yielding module efficiency of >21%.

(4) Land issue

  • Producing more solar power for the same module size means more solar power from the same land area.
  • Land, the most expensive part of solar projects, is scarce in India — and Indian industry has no choice but to move towards newer and superior technologies as part of expansion plans.

(5) Raw materials supply

  • There is a huge gap on the raw material supply chain side as well.
  • Silicon wafer, the most expensive raw material, is not manufactured in India.
  • India will have to work on technology tie-ups to make the right grade of silicon for solar cell manufacturing — and since >90% of the world’s solar wafer manufacturing currently happens in China.
  • It is not clear how and where India will get the technology.
  • Other key raw materials such as metallic pastes of silver and aluminium to form the electrical contacts too, are almost 100% imported.
  • Thus, India is more of an assembly hub than a manufacturing

(6) Lack of investment

  • India has hardly invested in this sector which can help the industry to try and test the technologies in a cost-effective manner.

Current govt policy

  • The government has identified this gap, and is rolling out various policy initiatives to push and motivate the industry to work towards self-reliance in solar manufacturing, both for cells and modules.
  • Key initiatives include:
  1. 40% duty on the import of modules and
  2. 25% duty on the import of cells, and
  3. Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme to support manufacturing capex
  4. Compulsion to procure modules only from an approved list of manufacturers (ALMM) for projects that are connected to state/ central government grids
  5. Only India-based manufacturers have been approved

Way forward

  • India’s path to become a manufacturing hub for the same requires more than just putting some tax barriers and commercial incentives in the form of PLI schemes, etc.
  • It will warrant strong industry-academia collaboration in an innovative manner to start developing home-grown technologies which could, in the short-term.
  • It needs to work with the industry to provide them with trained human resource, process learnings, root-cause analysis through right testing and, in the long term, develop India’s own technologies.
  • High-end technology development requires substantial investment in several clusters which operate in industry-like working and management conditions, appropriate emoluments, and clear deliverables.

 

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Oil and Gas Sector – HELP, Open Acreage Policy, etc.

What is a Windfall Tax?

| Economics | Mains Paper 3: Indian Economy
Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Windfall taxes

Mains level: Read the attached story

windfall

Finance Minister has defended the windfall tax imposed by the Centre on domestic crude oil producers, saying that it was not an ad hoc move but was done after full consultation with the industry.

What is a Windfall Tax?

  • Windfall taxes are designed to tax the profits a company derives from an external, sometimes unprecedented event — for instance, the energy price-rise as a result of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
  • These are profits that cannot be attributed to something the firm actively did, like an investment strategy or an expansion of business.
  • The US Congressional Research Service (CRS) defines a windfall as an “unearned, unanticipated gain in income through no additional effort or expense”.
  • One area where such taxes have routinely been discussed is oil markets, where price fluctuation leads to volatile or erratic profits for the industry.

When did India introduce this?

  • In July this year, India announced a windfall tax on domestic crude oil producers who it believed were reaping the benefits of the high oil prices.
  • It also imposed an additional excise levy on diesel, petrol and air turbine fuel (ATF) exports.
  • Also, India’s case was different from other countries, as it was still importing discounted Russian oil.

How is it levied?

  • Governments typically levy this as a one-off tax retrospectively over and above the normal rates of tax.
  • The Central government has introduced a windfall profit tax of ₹23,250 per tonne on domestic crude oil production, which was subsequently revised fortnightly four times so far.
  • The latest revision was on August 31, when it was hiked to ₹13,300 per tonne from ₹13,000.

Why govt. introduced windfall tax?

  • There have been varying rationales for governments worldwide to introduce windfall taxes like:
  1. Redistribution of unexpected gains when high prices benefit producers at the expense of consumers,
  2. Funding social welfare schemes, and
  3. Supplementary revenue stream for the government

Why are countries levying windfall taxes now?

  • Prices of oil, gas, and coal have seen sharp increases since last year and in the first two quarters of the current year, although they have reduced recently.
  • Pandemic recovery and supply issues resulting from the Russia-Ukraine conflict shored up energy demands, which in turn have driven up global prices.
  • The rising prices meant huge and record profits for energy companies while resulting in hefty gas and electricity bills for households in major and smaller economies.
  • Since the gains stemmed partly from external change, multiple analysts have called them windfall profits.

Issues with imposing such taxes

  • Companies are confident in investing in a sector if there is certainty and stability in a tax regime.
  • Since windfall taxes are imposed retrospectively and are often influenced by unexpected events, they can brew uncertainty in the market about future taxes.
  • IMF says that taxes in response to price surges may suffer from design problems—given their expedient and political nature.
  • It added that introducing a temporary windfall profit tax reduces future investment because prospective investors will internalise the likelihood of potential taxes when making investment decisions.
  • There is another argument about what exactly constitutes true windfall profits; how can it be determined and what level of profit is normal or excessive.
  • Another issue is who should be taxed — only the big companies responsible for the bulk of high-priced sales or smaller companies as well— raising the question of whether producers with revenues or profits below a certain threshold should be exempt.

 

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Health Sector – UHC, National Health Policy, Family Planning, Health Insurance, etc.

Fighting anaemia

op-ed snap | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Health & Education
Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: iron fortification

Mains level: women health

anaemiaContext

  • The recent National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) data shows anaemia rates increased from 53 per cent to 57 per cent in women and 58 per cent to 67 per cent in children in 2019-21.

Definition of anaemia

  • The WHO defines anaemia as a condition where the number of red blood cells or the haemoglobin concentration within them is lower than normal. This compromises immunity and impedes cognitive development.

Why anaemia is a concern?

  • Adverse effects of anaemia affect all age groups lower physical and cognitive growth and alertness among children and adolescents, and lesser capacity to learn and play, directly impacting their future potential as productive citizens.
  • Anaemia among adolescent girls (59.1 per cent) advances to maternal anaemiaand is a major cause of maternal and infant mortality and general morbidity and ill health in a community.

What causes anaemia?

  • Imbalanced diet: Cereal-centric diets, with relatively less consumption of iron-rich food groups like meat, fish, eggs, and dark green leafy vegetables (DGLF), can be associated with higher levels of anaemia.
  • Underlying factors: High levels of anaemia are also often associated with underlying factors like poor water quality and sanitation conditions that can adversely impact iron absorption in the body.
  • Iron deficiency is major cause: A diet that does not contain enough iron, folic acid, or vitamin B12 is a common cause of anaemia.
  • Some other conditions: That may lead to anaemia include pregnancy, heavy periods, blood disorders or cancer, inherited disorders, and infectious diseases.

anaemiaWhy is anaemia so high in the country?

  • Low vitamin intake: Iron-deficiency and vitamin B12-deficiency anaemia are the two common types of anaemia in India.
  • High population and nutrition deprivation: Among women, iron deficiency prevalence is higher than men due to menstrual iron losses and the high iron demands of a growing foetus during pregnancies.
  • Overemphasis on cereals: Lack of millets in the diet due to overdependence on rice and wheat, insufficient consumption of green and leafy vegetables could be the reasons behind the high prevalence of anaemia in India.

What is Iron fortification?

  • Iron fortification of food is a methodology utilized worldwide to address iron deficiency. Iron fortification programs usually involve mandatory, centralized mass fortification of staple foods, such as wheat flour.

https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/mandatory-rice-fortification-policy-should-be-re-examined/Why need iron fortification?

  • Iron deficiency anaemia is due to insufficient iron.
  • Without enough iron, the body can’t produce enough of a substance in red blood cells that enables them to carry oxygen (haemoglobin).
  • Severe anaemia during pregnancy increases risk of premature birth, having a low birth weight baby and postpartum depression. Some studies also show an increased risk of infant death immediately before or after birth.

anaemiaSuccess story / value addition

  • Nepal’s success story to improve maternal anaemia by national action plan .

Anaemia Mukt Bharat

  • The scheme aims to reduce the prevalence of anaemia in India.
  • It provides bi weekly iron Folic acid supplementation to all under five children through Asha workers.
  • Also, it provides biannual Deworming for children and adolescents. The scheme also establishes institutional mechanisms for advanced research in anaemia.
  • It also focuses on non-nutritional causes of anaemia.

We need to focus on the following interventions

  • Prophylactic Iron and Folic Acid supplementation.
  • Intensified year-round Behaviour Change Communication Campaign (Solid Body, Smart Mind).
  • Appropriate infant and young child feeding practices.
  • Increase in intake of iron-rich food through diet diversity/quantity/frequency and/or fortified foods with focus on harnessing locally available resources.
  • Testing and treatment of anaemia, using digital methods and point of care treatment, with special focus on pregnant women and school-going adolescents
  • Mandatory provision of Iron and Folic Acid fortified foods in government-funded public health programmes

Way forward

  • India’s nutrition programmes must undergo a periodic review.
  • The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), which is perceived as the guardian of the nation’s nutritional well-being must reassess itself and address critical intervention gaps, both conceptually and programmatically, and produce rapid outcomes.
  • The nutritional deficit which ought to be considered an indicator of great concern is generally ignored by policymakers and experts. Unless this is addressed, rapid improvement in nutritional indicators cannot happen.

Conclusion

  • When a person is anaemic, the capacity of his blood cells to carry oxygen decreases. This reduces the productivity of the person which in turn affects the economy of the country. Therefore, it is highly important to cover Anaemia under National Health Mission.

Mains question

Q. “Every second adolescent girl has anaemia. Every second woman of reproductive age is anaemic”. In this context do you think Women’s empowerment will not have any meaning without tackling anaemia? Discuss.

 

 

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Intellectual Property Rights in India

Patents in India

op-ed snap | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Intellectual Property Rights
Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: KAPILA scheme

Mains level: IPR regime

patent systemContext

  • Increasing the efficiency of processing patent applications and wider academia-industry collaboration are crucial steps for patent system.

What is patent system?

  • A patent system is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the legal right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention for a limited period of time in exchange for publishing an enabling disclosure of the invention.

Why are patents important?

  • A patent is important because it can help safeguard our invention. It can protect any product, design or process that meets certain specifications according to its originality, practicality, suitability, and utility. In most cases, a patent can protect an invention for up to 20 years.

patent systemHow to get patent?

  • To get a patent, technical information about the invention must be disclosed to the public in a patent application.
  • The patent owner may give permission to, or license, other parties to use the invention on mutually agreed terms.
  • The owner may also sell the right to the invention to someone else, who will then become the new owner of the patent.
  • Once a patent expires, the protection ends, and an invention enters the public domain; that is, anyone can commercially exploit the invention without infringing the patent.

Terms of Patent

  • Patents may be granted for inventions in any field of technology, from an everyday kitchen utensil to a nanotechnology chip.
  • An invention can be a product – such as a chemical compound, or a process, for example – or a process for producing a specific chemical compound.
  • Patent protection is granted for a limited period, generally 20 years from the filing date of the application.
  • Patents are territorial rights. In general, the exclusive rights are only applicable in the country or region in which a patent has been filed and granted, in accordance with the law of that country or region.

patent systemHow patents can support inventors and improve lives

  • Recognize and reward: Patents recognize and reward inventors for their commercially-successful inventions. As such they serve as an incentive for inventors to invent. With a patent, an inventor or small business knows there is a good chance that they will get a return on the time, effort and money they invested in developing a technology. In sum, it means they can earn a living from their work.
  • Economic opportunity: When a new technology comes onto the market, society as a whole stands to benefit – both directly, because it may enable us to do something that was previously not possible, and indirectly in terms of the economic opportunities (business development and employment) that can flow from it.
  • Research and development (R&D): The revenues generated from commercially successful patent-protected technologies make it possible to finance further technological research and development (R&D), thereby improving the chances of even better technology becoming available in the future.
  • Opportunities for business growth: A patent effectively turns an inventor’s know-how into a commercially tradeable asset, opening up opportunities for business growth and job creation through licensing and joint ventures, for example.
  • Commercialization of a technology: Holding a patent also makes a small business more attractive to investors who play a key role in enabling the commercialization of a technology.
  • Spark new ideas: The technical information and business intelligence generated by the patenting process can spark new ideas and promote new inventions from which we can all benefit and which may, in turn, qualify for patent protection.
  • No freebies: A patent can help stop unscrupulous third parties from free riding on the efforts of the inventor.

What is KAPILA Initiative?

  • Full form: KAPILA is an acronym for Kalam Program for IP (Intellectual Property) Literacy and Awareness.
  • Guidelines for patent Filing: Under this campaign, students pursuing education in higher educational institutions will get information about the correct system of the application process for patenting their invention and they will be aware of their rights.
  • Encouragement to students: The program will facilitate the colleges and institutions to encourage more and more students to file patents.

Thing to remember

Remember one thing, ‘KAPILA’ Program is related to IP awareness. It sounds much like an animal husbandry related initiative.

Way ahead

  • As the patent system is a critical aspect of the national innovation ecosystem, investing in the patent ecosystem will help in strengthening the innovation capability of India.
  • The right interventions should be made for the promotion of the quality of patent applications and collaboration between academia and industry.

Mains question

Q. A patent can help stop unscrupulous third parties from free riding on the efforts of the inventor. Discuss this statement in context of protection of innovative ecosystem in India.

 

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Modern Indian History-Events and Personalities

Who was Arattupuzha Velayudha Panicker?

Prelims Only | | Mains Paper 1: Modern Indian History
Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Arattupuzha Velayudha Panicker

Mains level: NA

Arattupuzha

A recently-released Malayalam film Pathonpatham Noottandu (‘Nineteenth Century’) is based on the life of Arattupuzha Velayudha Panicker, a social reformer from the Ezhava community in Kerala who lived in the 19th century.

Who was Arattupuzha Velayudha Panicker?

  • Born into a well-off family of merchants in Kerala’s Alappuzha district, Panicker was one of the most influential figures in the reformation movement in the state.
  • He challenged the domination of upper castes or ‘Savarnas’ and brought about changes in the lives of both men and women.
  • The social reform movement in Kerala in the 19th century led to the large-scale subversion of the existing caste hierarchy and social order in the state.
  • Panicker was murdered by a group of upper-caste men in 1874 at the age of 49. This makes him the ‘first martyr’ of the Kerala renaissance.

What was Panicker’s role in initiating social reforms?

  • Panicker is credited with building two temples dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, in which members of all castes and religions were allowed entry.
  • One was built in his own village Arattupuzha in 1852, and one in Thanneermukkom in 1854, another village in the Alappuzha district.
  • Some of his most significant contributions were in protesting for the rights of women belonging to Kerala’s backward communities.
  • In 1858, he led the Achippudava Samaram strike at Kayamkulam in Alappuzha.
  • This strike aimed to earn women belonging to oppressed groups the right to wear a lower garment that extended beyond the knees.
  • In 1859, this was extended into the Ethappu Samaram, the struggle for the right to wear an upper body cloth by women belonging to backward castes.
  • In 1860, he led the Mukkuthi Samaram at Pandalam in the Pathanamthitta district, for the rights of lower-caste women to wear ‘mukkuthi’ or nose-ring, and other gold ornaments.
  • These struggles played an important role in challenging the social order and in raising the dignity of women belonging to the lower strata of society in public life.

Other work

  • Apart from issues related to women, Panicker also led the first-ever strike by agricultural labourers in Kerala, the Karshaka Thozhilali Samaram, which was successful.
  • He also established the first Kathakali Yogam for the Ezhava community in 1861, which led to a Kathakali performance by Ezhavas and other backward communities, another first for them.

Try this PYQ:

Q. The Shri Narayan Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) Movement(1902-03) was related to which of the following community?

a) Mopilla Community

b) South Indian Tea Planters

c) Ezhava Community in Kerala

d) North Eastern Tea Planters

 

Post your answers here.

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Pharma Sector – Drug Pricing, NPPA, FDC, Generics, etc.

What is National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM)?

Prelims Only | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Health & Education
Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Essential Medicines

Mains level: Not Much

The latest National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) released September 13, 2022 by the Union health ministry added 34 new medicines and dropped 26 old ones from the previous list.

What is NLEM?

  • As per the World Health Organisation (WHO), Essential Medicines are those that satisfy the priority health care needs of the population.
  • Ministry of Health and Family Welfare hence prepared and released the first National List of Essential Medicines of India in 1996 consisting of 279 medicines.
  • The list is made with consideration to disease prevalence, efficacy, safety and comparative cost-effectiveness of the medicines.
  • Such medicines are intended to be available in adequate amounts, in appropriate dosage forms and strengths with assured quality.
  • They should be available in such a way that an individual or community can afford.

NLEM in India

  • Drugs listed under NLEM — also known as scheduled drugs — will be cheaper because the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) caps medicine prices and changes only based on wholesale price index-based inflation.
  • The list includes anti-infectives medicines to treat diabetes such as insulin — HIV, tuberculosis, cancer, contraceptives, hormonal medicines and anaesthetics.
  • They account for 17-18 per cent of the estimated Rs 1.6-trillion domestic pharmaceutical market.
  • Companies selling non-scheduled drugs can hike prices by up to 10 per cent every year.
  • Typically, once NLEM is released, the department of pharmaceuticals under the ministry of chemicals and fertilisers adds them in the Drug Price Control Order, after which NPPA fixes the price.

Significance of EML

  • Drawing an essential medicines list (EML) is expected to result in better quality of medical care, better management of medicines and cost-effective use of health care resources.
  • This is especially important for a resource limited country like India.
  • The list of essential medicines is intended to have a positive impact on the availability and rational use of medicines.

Also read

What is the NPPA’s role in fixing drug prices?

 

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Goods and Services Tax (GST)

GST Council

| Economics | Mains Paper 3: Indian Economy
Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: GST Council

Mains level: Not Much

The Union Finance Minister has heaped praises on Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council.

Why in news?

  • FM was reacting to a case made by Fifteenth Finance Commission chief N.K. Singh to set up a Fiscal Council with the Centre and States.
  • This is another such recommended body to act as a bridge between the GST Council and the Finance Commission.

What is the GST Council?

  • The GST regime came into force after the 101st Constitutional Amendment was passed by both Houses of Parliament in 2016.
  • The GST Council – a joint forum of the Centre and the states — was set up by the President as per Article 279A (1) of the amended Constitution.
  • The members of the Council include the Union Finance Minister (chairperson), the Union Minister of State (Finance) from the Centre.
  • Each state can nominate a minister in-charge of finance or taxation or any other minister as a member.

Why was the Council set up?

  • The Council, according to Article 279, is meant to “make recommendations to the Union and the states on important issues related to GST, like the goods and services that may be subjected or exempted from GST, model GST Laws”.
  • It also decides on various rate slabs of GST.
  • For instance, an interim report by a panel of ministers has suggested imposing 28 per cent GST on casinos, online gaming and horse racing.
  • A decision on this will be taken at the Council meeting.

Recent reforms

  • The ongoing meeting is the first since a decision of the Supreme Court in May this year, which stated recommendations of the GST Council are not binding.
  • The court said Article 246A of the Constitution gives both Parliament and state legislatures “simultaneous” power to legislate on GST .
  • Recommendations of the Council are the product of a collaborative dialogue involving the Union and States.
  • This was hailed by some states, such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu, who believe states can be more flexible in accepting the recommendations as suited to them.

 

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Fertilizer Sector reforms – NBS, bio-fertilizers, Neem coating, etc.

Scientists remain sceptical about how Liquid Nano Urea benefits crops

Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields
Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Liquid Nano Urea (LNU)

Mains level: Not Much

Liquid Nano Urea, a fertilizer patented and sold by the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Ltd. (IFFCO), has been approved by the government for commercial use because of its potential to substantially reduce the import bill, but several experts have questioned the science underlying its efficacy.

What is Liquid Nano Urea (LNU)?

  • Urea is chemical nitrogen fertiliser, white in colour, which artificially provides nitrogen, a major nutrient required by plants.
  • LNU is essentially urea in the form of a nanoparticle.
  • It is sprayed directly on the leaves and gets absorbed by the plant.
  • Fertilisers in nano form provide a targeted supply of nutrients to crops, as they are absorbed by the stomata, pores found on the epidermis of leaves.
  • According to IFFCO, liquid nano urea contains 4 per cent total nitrogen (w/v) evenly dispersed in water.
  • The size of a nano nitrogen particle varies from 20-50 nm. (A nanometre is equal to a billionth of a metre.)

Using LNU

  • The liquid nano urea produced by IFFCO Limited comes in a half-litre bottle priced at Rs 240, and carries no burden of subsidy currently.
  • By contrast, a farmer pays around Rs 300 for a 50-kg bag of heavily subsidised urea.
  • According to IFFCO, a bottle of the nano urea can effectively replace at least one bag of urea.

How efficient is LNU?

  • While conventional urea has an efficiency of about 25 per cent, the efficiency of liquid nano urea can be as high as 85-90 per cent.
  • Conventional urea fails to have the desired impact on crops as it is often applied incorrectly, and the nitrogen in it is vaporized or lost as a gas.
  • A lot of nitrogen is also washed away during irrigation.
  • Liquid nano urea has a shelf life of a year, and farmers need not be worried about “caking” when it comes in contact with moisture.

Significance of LNU

  • This patented product is expected to not only substitute imported urea, but to also produce better results in farms.
  • Apart from reducing the country’s subsidy bill, it is aimed at reducing the unbalanced and indiscriminate use of conventional urea.
  • It will help increase crop productivity, and reduce soil, water, and air pollution.

Why in news now?

  • Plants need nitrogen to make protein and they source almost all of it from soil bacteria which live in a plant’s roots and have the ability to break down atmospheric nitrogen, or that from chemicals such as urea into a form usable by plants.
  • Chemically packaged urea is 46% nitrogen, which means a 45-kg sack contains about 20 kg of nitrogen.
  • Contrastingly, nano urea sold in 500-ml bottles has only 4% nitrogen (or around 20 g).
  • How this can compensate for the kilograms of nitrogen normally required puzzles scientists.

 

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LGBT Rights – Transgender Bill, Sec. 377, etc.

LGBTQ leap forward for positive future growth of human rights

op-ed snap | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Governance, Transparency & Accountability, Citizens Charters,Health & Education
Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: various judgments

Mains level: human rights

LGBTQContext

  • Four years after landmark LGBTQ verdict: The march to full citizenship.

Why in news?

  • On September 6, 2018, exactly four years ago, in Navtej Singh Johar and Ors v Union of India, a five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court, in a beautifully elaborate decision, liberated LGBTQI Indians from the darkness of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

What is LGBTQ?

  • LGBTQ is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity.

What is Section 377 of the IPC?

  • It reads – Unnatural offences: Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
  • The terms “carnal intercourse” and “against the order of nature” are not defined precisely anywhere in the code.

LGBTQRole played by the judiciary hitherto

  • The Delhi High Court’s verdict in Naz Foundation vs Government of NCT of Delhi (2009) was a landmark in the law of sexuality and equality jurisprudence in India.
  • The court held that Section 377 offended the guarantee of equality enshrined in Article 14 of the Constitution, because it creates an unreasonable classification and targets homosexuals as a class.
  • In a retrograde step, the Supreme Court, in Suresh Kumar Koushal vs Naz Foundation (2013), reinstated Section 377 to the IPC.
  • However, the Supreme Court in Navtej Singh Johar & Ors. vs Union of India (2018) declared that the application of Section 377 IPC to consensual homosexual behaviour was “unconstitutional”.
  • This Supreme Court judgment has been a great victory to the Indian individual in his quest for identity and dignity.
  • It also underscored the doctrine of progressive realisation of rights.

LGBTQWhat’s next?

  • Overarching legislation is needed to guarantee equality to all persons on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, sex, caste, religion, age, disability, marital status, pregnancy, nationality, and other grounds.
  • The law should impose obligations of equality and non-discrimination on all persons, public and private, and in the areas of education, employment, healthcare, land and housing and access to public places.
  • It should provide for civil remedies to stop discriminatory behaviour, costs and damages, and positive action to make reparations.
  • We need an equality law to define what equality would encompass.
  • Supreme Court comes held in its privacy judgment in K.S. Puttuswamy v. Union of India (2017) that equality and liberty cannot be separated, and equality encompasses the inclusion of dignity and basic freedoms.

Way forward

  • Schools and colleges must effect changes in curricula for a better understanding of the community.
  • People of a different sexual orientation or gender identity often narrate harrowing tales of bullying, discrimination, stigma and ostracization.
  • Gender-neutral restrooms should be compulsory in educational institutes and other places.
  • Parents too need to be sensitised, because the first point of misunderstanding and abuse often begins at home, with teenagers being forced to opt for “conversion” therapies.

Conclusion

  • Justice Chandrachud, speaking on the fourth anniversary of Johar and the journey ahead, while quoting the Beatles classic “All you need is love”, notes that “simply love is not enough”. Rights are necessary. Which will enhance dignity of the community.

Mains question

Q. “Silent segregation” on the grounds of gender, sexual orientation preferences are followed in several houses. Elucidate in context of LGBTQ issues. What Legal remedies are needed for its victims?

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Health Sector – UHC, National Health Policy, Family Planning, Health Insurance, etc.

Public health should be led by doctor alone

op-ed snap | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Health & Education
Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: NA

Mains level: Health care sector reforms

public healthContext

  • Doctor shortages are creating hurdles in health emergency response

What is the crux of the article in simple words?

  • Medical qualification and expertise is necessary to deliver quality health services by medical professionals unlike by general health care workers who lack competency.

What is public health?

  • Public health has been defined as “the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals”.

Why there is need of qualification?

  • Lack of training: Health workers have no training in public health; they are grassroots-level service providers. Asking them to be part of public health cadre trivialises the profession of public health.
  • Separate profession: It is important to understand that public health is a separate profession with a specific set of competencies.

public healthWhat are 4 pillars of public health?

  • Academics: Academics refers to a good understanding of evidence generation and synthesis by having a good grounding in epidemiology and biostatistics. These competencies are also critical for monitoring and evaluating programmes, conducting surveillance, and interpreting data and routine reporting.
  • Activism: Public health is inherently linked to ‘social change’ and an element of activism is core to public health. Public health requires social mobilisation at the grassroots level by understanding community needs, community organisation, etc. This requires grounding in social and behavioural sciences.
  • Administration: Administration refers to administering health systems at different levels from a primary health centre to the district, State, and national level. This includes implementing and managing health programmes, addressing human resource issues, supply and logistical issues, etc. It includes microplanning of programme delivery, team building, leadership as well as financial management to some extent.
  • Advocacy: In public health, there is little that one can do at an individual level; there must be communication with key stakeholders to change the status quo at different levels of government. This requires clear enunciation of the need, analysis of alternative set of actions and the cost of implementation or non-implementation. Good communication and negotiation skills are critical to perform this function. The related subjects are health policy, health economics, health advocacy and global health.

public healthWhat are the hurdles in absorbing others as public health professionals?

  • Lack of skill: Many doctors and other health professionals work at the grassroots level and develop a good sense of public health due to their inclination. But they do not become public health professionals as they may not have the necessary skills. Nevertheless, they are valuable.
  • Lack of critical expertise: Clinicians with training in epidemiology and biostatistics would not qualify to be public health professionals as they lack not only other essential and critical expertise but also an appropriate perspective.
  • Compromise on quality:

Current challenges faced by public healthcare in India

  • Deficiency: The doctor-patient ratio of 1:1655 in India as against WHO norm of 1:1000 clearly shows the deficit of MBBS. While the government is working towards a solution and targeting to reach the required ratio, there is a need to relook at the overall medical education.
  • Post pandemic scenario: The lag in formal medical education has come up evidently post-pandemic when the nation saw the medical fraternity struggling to fill the doctor deficit.
  • Limited government seats: The number of seats available for medical education in India is far less than the number of aspirants who leave school with the dream of becoming doctors.
  • Lack of skills: Though the institutes are managing to hire professors and lecturers, there is a lack of technical skills. Finding faculties in clinical and non-clinical disciplines is difficult and there are very few faculty development programs for upskilling the existing lot.
  • Lack of infrastructure: The gap in digital learning infrastructure is currently the biggest challenge the sector is facing. There is an urgent need to adopt technology and have resources available to facilitate e-learning.
  • Lack of research and innovation: The medical research and innovation needs an added push as there haven’t been many ground-breaking research here. The education system needs to focus more on increasing the quality of research. Additionally since industry academia partnership is not available, hence innovation also takes a back-seat.

Conclusion

  • By establishing new medical colleges, the government can increase student intake as well as enhance equitable access to public health as separate profession. This will attract the best and the brightest people into this discipline, which is very important for the nation’s health. This is one lesson that we should learn from the pandemic.

Mains question

Q. What do you understand by public health? Do you think it is a separate profession requiring a specific set of competencies? Examine.

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Minority Issues – SC, ST, Dalits, OBC, Reservations, etc.

Gyanvapi -Kashi Vishwanath Temple Complex Dispute

| Indian Society | Mains Paper 1: Communalism, Secularism, Regionalism
Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: NA

Mains level: Religious places issues in India

gyanvapi

The Varanasi District and Sessions Court has rejected the plea of the organization which manages the Gyanvapi mosque complex, challenging the maintainability of the civil suits filed by some women seeking the right to worship Goddesses on the outer wall of the complex.

About Gyanvapi Mosque

  • The Gyanvapi Mosque was built in 1669 during the reign of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, who ordered the demolition of the existing Vishweshwar temple at the site, and its replacement by a mosque.
  • The plinth of the temple was left untouched, and served as the courtyard of the mosque.
  • One of the walls too was spared, and it became the qibla wall, the most important wall in a mosque that faces Mecca.
  • Material from the destroyed temple was used to build the mosque, evidence of which can be seen today.
  • The name of the mosque is said to have derived from an adjoining well, the Gyanvapi, or Well of Knowledge.
  • An old sculpture of the Nandi bull inside the compound of the present Kashi Vishwanath Temple faces the wall of the mosque instead of the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.
  • It is believed that Nandi is in fact, facing the sanctum sanctorum of the original Vishweshwar temple.

The temple to Lord Shiva

  • For more than 100 years after the mosque was built, there was no temple at the site.
  • The present Kashi Vishwanath Temple was built in the 18th century by Rani Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore, immediately to the south of the mosque.
  • Over the decades it emerged as one of the most prominent and revered centres of the Hindu religion.
  • Many Hindus have long believed that the original deity of the erstwhile Vishweshwar temple was hidden by the priests inside the Gyanvapi well during Aurangzeb’s raid.
  • This has fired the desire to conduct puja and rituals at the sacred place where the mosque now stands.

Longstanding claims

  • From time to time, petitioners have laid claim to the mosque, saying it remains the original sacred place of Hindu worship.
  • The Ayodhya movement also aimed to “liberate” the Kashi-Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi mosque site and the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura as well.

What laws restrict such acts?

  • The Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 — which mandates that the nature of all places of worship, except the one in Ayodhya that was then under litigation, shall be maintained as it was on August 15, 1947.
  • It maintains that no encroachment of any such place prior to the date can be challenged in courts — applies to the disputed complex in Varanasi.

What was the case before the Court?

  • The temple worshipers side had argued that the mosque was built on the site of an older temple, while the another side pleaded that the mosque was built on Wakf premises.
  • The plea also said that The Places of Worship Act of 1991 barred the changing of the character of the mosque.
  • The case was initially heard by the Civil Judge (Senior Division), Varanasi, but it was transferred by the Supreme Court to the District Judge on grounds of the “complexity of the issues involved in the civil suit”.
  • The Supreme Court said it would wait for the district court’s decision on the mosque committee’s application before intervening in the matter.

Issue in Limelight

  • In April 2021, Fast Track Court Civil Judge ordered the Archaeological Survey of India to get a comprehensive archaeological physical survey” done of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi Mosque complex.
  • It was tasked to find out as to whether the religious structure standing at present at the disputed site is a superimposition, alteration or addition or there is a structural overlapping of any kind, with or over, any religious structure.
  • The mosque is not an ASI-protected site, and the ASI has no role in its maintenance or upkeep.

What are the people seeking now?

  • Worshippers find the cut-off date of August 15, 1947, is “arbitrary, irrational and retrospective” and prohibits Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs from approaching courts to “reclaim” their places of worship.
  • Such places, they argue, were “invaded” and “encroached” upon by “fundamentalist barbaric invaders”.
  • Certain groups have opposed the law even when it was introduced, arguing that the Centre has no power to legislate on “pilgrimages” or “burial grounds” which are under the state list.

 

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Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.

GPS-based toll system to replace FASTag

Prelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways Etc.
Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: FASTags, GPS

Mains level: Read the attached story

The government plans to start a GPS-based toll system in place of FASTag to ensure seamless payment and vehicle movement on national highways.

Why in news?

  • The move would end the role of toll plazas across the country.

How will a GPS-based tolling system work?

  • Vehicles will be fitted with an electronic device that can track their movement.
  • Highways will be geo-fenced, creating virtual boundaries. The system will use GPS or radio frequency identification technologies.
  • The software will recognize when a mobile device enters or leaves a particular area, and toll will be charged based on the distance travelled at the highway’s exit point.
  • As the system is based on sensors, there will be no need to stop at toll plazas.
  • Vehicles and users must be registered with the GPS toll system, linked to bank accounts that will be used to transfer toll payments.

What are FASTags?

  • FASTags are stickers that are affixed to the windscreen of vehicles and use Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to enable digital, contactless payment of tolls without having to stop at toll gates.
  • RFID uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects.
  • The tags are linked to bank accounts and other payment methods.
  • As a car crosses a toll plaza, the amount is automatically deducted, and a notification is sent to the registered mobile phone number.

Issues with FASTags

  • Since the card is affixed to the windscreen, it can be easily misplaced, damaged or stolen.
  • The existing FASTag system, though faster than cash payments, still requires vehicles to stop at toll booths to enable reading of tags.
  • Also, the vehicle must wait till the gate is opened.
  • It has been observed that sometimes the toll fee is deducted twice from user account. Mostly, this happens due to a technical glitch.
  • Some card readers take longer time to read and register. Hence the purpose of saving time is itself defied.
  • Still, the wait time at toll booths is much more than the 30 seconds that was promised earlier.
  • Also, it has not helped reduce the number of toll booths.

Hence the benefits of using FASTag far outweigh the challenges.

Is FASTags a total failure?

  • Usage has increased since FASTag was made mandatory in 2021 after its launch in 2015.
  • Penetration has grown from nearly 16% in FY18 to 96.3% in FY22.
  • Total toll collection in FY18 was ₹21,948 crore, including ₹3,532 crore collected through FASTags.
  • In FY22, toll collection through FASTags increased sharply to ₹33,274 crore out of total toll collection of ₹34,535 crore.

How will GPS benefit highway users?

  • GPS tolling uses satellite-based navigation and requires no halting.
  • Also, vehicles can be charged only for their actual travel on a highway stretch.
  • Currently, toll is paid at toll booths which is fixed between two points of tolling and a user does not get any concession even if he/she exits before completing the full run between two toll plazas.
  • The new system should reduce the toll amount charged for travel on highways.

What is the progress so far on GPS tolling?

  • The Union road ministry has amended the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, allowing for the collection of toll based on distance travelled on national highways.
  • This will facilitate the introduction of GPS tolling.
  • First trials may be done on the under-construction Mumbai-Delhi expressway which will be geo-fenced.
  • Also the cost of GPS devices needs to be considered at very beginning.

Way forward

  • The system needs a proper legislative framework, and a full launch is still years away. The government intends to introduce it in phases.
  • The road ministry is expected to amend the Motor Vehicles Act and create rules to facilitate GPS tolling as well as to penalize offenders.
  • Moreover, GPS will come with its own set of complications on calculating differential tolls.
  • Regulations and framework for these need to be developed first.

 

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Uniform Civil Code: Triple Talaq debate, Polygamy issue, etc.

Uniform Civil Code

| Polity | Mains Paper 1: Communalism, Secularism, Regionalism
Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: UCC

Mains level: Need for UCC

uniform civil code

The expert committee formed by the Uttarakhand government to examine ways for the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) has launched a website, seeking public opinion on the plan.

What is a Uniform Civil Code?

  • A Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is one that would provide for one personal civil law for the entire country.
  • This would be applicable to all religious communities in their personal matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption etc.

Basis for Uniform Civil Code

  • Article 44, one of the Directive Principles of the Constitution lays down that the state shall endeavour to secure a UCC for the citizens throughout the territory of India.
  • These, as defined in Article 37, are not justiciable (not enforceable by any court) but the principles laid down therein are fundamental in governance.

Personal Laws And Uniform Civil Code: Timeline

# British period
During the British Raj, Personal laws were first framed mainly for Hindu and Muslims citizens.

# Start of 20th Century
In the beginning of the twentieth century, the demand for a uniform civil code was first put forward by the women activists. The objective behind this demand was the women’s rights, equality and secularism.

# 1940 – The Idea of Uniform Civil Code is born
The idea of Uniform Civil Code was tabled by the National Planning Commission (NPC) appointed by the Congress. There was a subcommittee who was to examine women’s status and recommends reforms of personal law for gender equality.

# 1947 – Question of UCC as a Fundamental Right
UCC was sought to be enshrined in the Constitution of India as a fundamental right by Minoo Masani, Hansa Mehta, Amrit Kaur and Dr. B.R Ambedkar.

# 1948 – Constitution Assembly debated UCC
Article 44 of the Indian Constitution i.e. Directive Principles of State Policy sets implementation of uniform civil laws which is the duty of the state under Part IV.

# 1950 – Reformist Bill passed
Reformist bills were passed which gave the Hindu women the right to divorce and inherit property. Bigamy and child marriages are outlawed. Such reforms were resisted by Dr. Rajendra Prasad.

# 1951 – Dr. Ambedkar Resigns
Dr. Ambedkar resigned from the cabinet in 1951 when his draft of the Hindu Code Bill was stalled by the Parliament.

# 1985 – Shah Bano Case
In this case, a divorced Muslim woman was brought within the ambit of Section 125 of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 by the Supreme Court in which it was declared by the Apex court that she was entitled for maintenance even after the completion ofiddatperiod.

# 1995- Sarla Mudgal v. Union of India
In this case, Justice Kuldip Singh reiterated the need for the Parliament to frame a Uniform Civil Code, which would help the cause of national integration by removing contradictions based on ideologies. Therefore, the responsibility entrusted on the State under Article 44 of the Constitution whereby a Uniform Civil Code must be secured has been urged by the Supreme Court repeatedly as a matter of urgency.

# 2000 – Supreme Court advocates UCC
The case of Lily Thomas v. Union of India (2000),where the Supreme Court said it could not direct the centre to introduce a UCC.

# 2015 – The Debate lives through
The apex court refused to direct the government to take a decision on having a UCC.

# 2016 – Triple Talaq Debate
When PM asked the Law Commission to examine the issue.

# 2017 – Ruling of the Triple Talaq case
Triple Talaq (Talaq -e- biddat) was declared unconstitutional on August 22, 2017.

UCC vs. Right to Freedom of Religion

  1. Article 25 lays down an individual’s fundamental right to religion
  2. Article 26(b) upholds the right of each religious denomination or any section thereof to “manage its own affairs in matters of religion”
  3. Article 29 defines the right to conserve distinctive culture

Reasonable restrictions on the Freedom of Religion

  • An individual’s freedom of religion under Article 25 is subject to “public order, health, morality” and other provisions relating to FRs, but a group’s freedom under Article 26 has not been subjected to other FRs.
  • In the Constituent Assembly, there was division on the issue of putting UCC in the fundamental rights chapter. The matter was settled by a vote.
  • By a 5:4 majority, the fundamental rights sub-committee headed by Sardar Patel held that the provision was outside the scope of FRs and therefore the UCC was made less important.

Minority Opinion in the Constituent Assembly

  • Some members sought to immunize Muslim Personal Law from state regulation.
  • Mohammed Ismail, who thrice tried unsuccessfully to get Muslim Personal Law exempted from Article 44, said a secular state should not interfere with the personal law of people.
  • B Pocker Saheb said he had received representations against a common civil code from various organisations, including Hindu organisations.
  • Hussain Imam questioned whether there could ever be uniformity of personal laws in a diverse country like India.
  • B R Ambedkar said “no government can use its provisions in a way that would force the Muslims to revolt”.
  • Alladi Krishnaswami, who was in favour of a UCC, conceded that it would be unwise to enact UCC ignoring strong opposition from any community.
  • Gender justice was never discussed in these debates.

Enacting and Enforcing UCC

  • Fundamental rights are enforceable in a court of law.
  • While Article 44 uses the words “state shall endeavour”, other Articles in the ‘Directive Principles’ chapter use words such as “in particular strive”; “shall in particular direct its policy”; “shall be obligation of the state” etc.
  • Article 43 mentions “state shall endeavour by suitable legislation” while the phrase “by suitable legislation” is absent in Article 44.
  • All this implies that the duty of the state is greater in other directive principles than in Article 44.

What are more important — fundamental rights or directive principles?

  • There is no doubt that fundamental rights are more important.
  • The Supreme Court held in Minerva Mills (1980): Indian Constitution is founded on the bed-rock of the balance between Parts III (Fundamental Rights) and IV (Directive Principles).
  • To give absolute primacy to one over the other is to disturb the harmony of the Constitution.
  • Article 31C inserted by the 42nd Amendment in 1976, however, lays down that if a law is made to implement any directive principle, it cannot be challenged on the ground of being violative of the FRs under Articles 14 and 19.

What about Personal Laws?

  • Citizens belonging to different religions and denominations follow different property and matrimonial laws which are an affront to the nation’s unity.
  • If the framers of the Constitution had intended to have a UCC, they would have given exclusive jurisdiction to Parliament in respect of personal laws, by including this subject in the Union List.
  • “Personal Laws” are mentioned in the Concurrent List.

Various customary laws

  • All Hindus of the country are not governed by one law, nor are all Muslims or all Christians.
  • Muslims of Kashmir were governed by a customary law, which in many ways was at variance with Muslim Personal Law in the rest of the country and was, in fact, closer to Hindu law.
  • Even on the registration of marriage among Muslims, laws differ from place to place.
  • In the Northeast, there are more than 200 tribes with their own varied customary laws.
  • The Constitution itself protects local customs in Nagaland. Similar protections are enjoyed by Meghalaya and Mizoram.
  • Even reformed Hindu law, in spite of codification, protects customary practices.

 Why need UCC?

  • UCC would provide equal status to all citizens
  • It would promote gender parity in Indian society.
  • UCC would accommodate the aspirations of the young population who imbibe liberal ideology.
  • Its implementation would thus support the national integration.

Hurdles to UCC implementation

  • There are practical difficulties due to religious and cultural diversity in India.
  • The UCC is often perceived by minorities as an encroachment of religious freedom.
  • It is often regarded as interference of the state in personal matters of the minorities.
  • Experts often argue that the time is not ripe for Indian society to embrace such UCC.

These questions need to be addressed which are being completely ignored in the present din around UCC.

  1. Firstly, how can uniformity in personal laws are brought without disturbing the distinct essence of each and every component of the society.
  2. Secondly, what makes us believe that practices of one community are backward and unjust?
  3. Thirdly, has other uniformities been able to eradicate inequalities that diminish the status of our society as a whole?

Way forward

  • It should be the duty of the religious intelligentia to educate the community about its rights and obligations based on modern liberal interpretations.
  • A good environment for the UCC must be prepared by the government by explaining the contents and significance of Article 44 taking all into confidence.
  • Social reforms are not overnight but gradual phenomena. They are often vulnerable to media evils such as fake news and disinformation.
  • Social harmony and the cultural fabric of our nation must be the priority.

 

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

IIP gives us true health of our economy

op-ed snap | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Effects Of Liberalization On The Economy, Changes In Industrial Policy and their effects on Industrial Growth
Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: particulars of IIP

Mains level: economic indicator

IIPContext

  • India’s statistics ministry generates only one high-frequency gauge of economic activity. And that lone barometer, the index of industrial production (IIP), is completely broken.

What is IIP?

  • The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is an index that indicates the performance of various industrial sectors of the Indian economy. It is a composite indicator of the general level of industrial activity in the economy.

IIPHow is IIP calculated?

  • IIP is calculated as the weighted average of production relatives of all the industrial activities. In the mathematical calculation Laspeyre’s fixed base formula is used.

What are the Core Industries in India?

  • The main or the key industries constitute the core sectors of an economy.
  • In India, there are eight sectors that are considered the core sectors.
  • They are electricity, steel, refinery products, crude oil, coal, cement, natural gas and fertilizers.

Which has highest weightage in IIP?

  • The eight core sector industries in decreasing order of their weightage: Refinery Products> Electricity> Steel> Coal> Crude Oil> Natural Gas> Cement> Fertilizers.

IIPWhy is IIP important?

  • IIP is the only measure on the physical volume of production. It is used by government agencies including the Ministry of Finance, the Reserve Bank of India, etc. for policy-making purposes. IIP remains extremely relevant for the calculation of the quarterly and advance GDP estimates.

Who releases IIP data?

How useful are monthly IIP figures to draw a conclusion about India’s growth?

  • IIP figures are monthly data and as such it keeps going up and down.
  • In fact, the release calls them “quick estimates” because they tend to get revised after a month or two.

IIP Index Components

  • Mining, manufacturing, and electricity are the three broad sectors in which IIP constituents fall.
  • The relative weights of these three sectors are 77.6% (manufacturing), 14.4% (mining) and 8% (electricity).
  • Electricity, crude oil, coal, cement, steel, refinery products, natural gas, and fertilizers are the eight core industries that comprise about 40 per cent of the weight of items included in the IIP.

Basket of products

  • Primary Goods (consisting of mining, electricity, fuels and fertilisers)
  • Capital Goods (e.g. machinery items)
  • Intermediate Goods (e.g. yarns, chemicals, semi-finished steel items, etc)
  • Infrastructure Goods (e.g. paints, cement, cables, bricks and tiles, rail materials, etc)
  • Consumer Durables (e.g. garments, telephones, passenger vehicles, etc)
  • Consumer Non-durables (e.g. food items, medicines, toiletries, etc)

IIP base year change

  • The base year was changed to 2011-12 from 2004-05 in the year 2017.

Way ahead

  • IIP remains extremely relevant for the calculation of the quarterly and advance GDP (Gross Domestic Product) estimates.

Mains question

Q. What do you understand by IIP? How it helps us to understand economic health?

 

 

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