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  • Foreign Policy Watch: India-China

    India-China: Border Management Mechanism

    op-ed snap | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: India & Its Neighborhood – Relations

    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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  • Telecom and Postal Sector – Spectrum Allocation, Call Drops, Predatory Pricing, etc

    Return of the Net Neutrality debate in India

    | | Mains Paper 3: Effects Of Liberalization On The Economy, Changes In Industrial Policy and their effects on Industrial Growth

    net neutrality

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

    What is India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline (IBFP)?

    | Economics | Mains Paper 2: Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and agreements involving India

    pipeline

    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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  • Tuberculosis Elimination Strategy

    Tamil Nadu’s TN-KET initiative results in reduced TB deaths

    | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Health & Education

    tb

    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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  • Nuclear Energy

    Background Radiation high in Kerala: Study

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

    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

    radiation

    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-

    1. Cosmic radiation
    2. Environmental radioactivity from naturally occurring radioactive materials (such as radon and radium)

    Man-made sources-

    1. Medical X-rays,
    2. 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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  • Sugar Industry – FRP, SAP, Rangarajan Committee, EBP, MIEQ, etc.

    How India’s Sugar Exports to the world are surging?

    Prelims Only | Agriculture | Mains Paper 3: Indian Economy

    sugar

    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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  • Child Rights – POSCO, Child Labour Laws, NAPC, etc.

    State of Child Custody Cases abroad

    | Trivia | Mains Paper 2: Government Scheme/Policies

    child

    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-
    1. Guardians and Wards Act of 1890: It recognizes the welfare of the child as the paramount consideration in custody matters.
    2. 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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  • Modern Indian History-Events and Personalities

    The Decolonization Drive: Monuments of National Importance Reflects Bharat’s history

    op-ed snap | | Mains Paper 1: Modern Indian History

    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.

    Neglect of Monuments and Archaeological Sites in Post-Independence India

    • 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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  • Agricultural Sector and Marketing Reforms – eNAM, Model APMC Act, Eco Survey Reco, etc.

    Operation Greens Scheme: TOP Farmers Protests And A Way Ahead

    op-ed snap | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Agriculture and related issues

    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.

    What is Operation Greens scheme?

    pib] Operation Greens Scheme - Civilsdaily

    • 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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  • Hunger and Nutrition Issues – GHI, GNI, etc.

    Undernutrition: Healthy Human Capital Is The Real Wealth

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

    “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.

    Way ahead

    • 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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