The Ministry of Home Affairs has recommended a ban on 54 Chinese mobile applications that pose a threat to the country’s security.
Legal basis of app ban
The ban has been enforced under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
This act empowers to issue directions for blocking for public access of any information through any computer resource.
This is done in the interest of –
sovereignty and integrity of India
defense of India, security of the State
friendly relations with foreign states
public order (or)
for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognizable offense relating to above
Why MHA has put such a ban?
Most of these apps were operating as clones or shadow apps of the apps that had earlier been banned by the government.
There was stealing and secretly transmitting users’ data in an unauthorized manner to servers that have locations outside India.
These apps largely impact the psychosocial abilities of the users.
The immediate decision has been taken in a specific strategic and national security
Implications of the ban
India’s offensive: The move comes as an exercise of coercive diplomacy with China amid the heated exchange of words during the diplomatic boycott on the winter Olympics.
Hurting china’s ambitions: The ban may affect one of China’s most ambitious goals, namely to become the digital superpower of the 21st century.
Data nationalization: The ban is also based on the recognition that data streams and digital technology are a new currency of global power.
Issues with the ban
Not only China: Data privacy and data security concerns are not limited only to Chinese apps.
Harm already caused: The apps that were banned were very popular in India and the move to block them comes after these apps had already amassed hundreds of millions of users in India.
Further dependency on China: The ban on Chinese mobile apps is a relatively soft target, as India remains reliant on Chinese products in several critical and strategically sensitive sectors.
Way Forward
There is a strong case to revise the key legislations and sync them to change the digital environment.
Data privacy and security remain to be major challenges emanating from the ongoing digital revolution.
Thus, a data protection law is long overdue.
India must speed up indigenization, research, and development, and frame up a regulatory architecture to claim data sovereignty.
The National Medical Commission (NMC), the regulator for medical education and practices that replaced the Medical Council of India in 2020, has suggested to medical colleges that the traditional Hippocratic Oath should be replaced by a “Charak Shapath”.
Who was Hippocrates?
The Hippocratic Oath is attributed to Hippocrates of the island of Kos, a Greek physician of the classical period (4th-5th centuries BC, until the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC).
It broadly corresponds to the period from the death of the Buddha (486 BC) to the rise of the Mauryas (321 BC) in India.
Among the great contemporaries of Hippocrates were the Athenian philosopher Plato and his teacher Socrates, and Plato’s student and Alexander’s tutor, the polymath Aristotle.
He is regarded as the “father of modern medicine”.
What is the Hippocratic Oath?
Basically, the Hippocratic Oath is a charter of ethical principles that physicians over the ages have sworn to uphold in the practice of their profession.
The earliest available fragments of what is understood to be the original oath date back to the late 3rd century AD, and a millennium-old version is now in the library of the Holy See.
What are general outlines of a Medical Oath?
Always exercise his/her independent professional judgment and maintain the highest standards of professional conduct
Respect a competent patient’s right to accept or refuse treatment
Not allow his/her judgment to be influenced by personal profit or unfair discrimination
Be dedicated to providing competent medical service in full professional and moral independence, with compassion and respect for human dignity
Deal honestly with patients and colleagues, and report to the appropriate authorities those physicians who practice unethically or incompetently or who engage in fraud or deception
Certify only that which he/she has personally verified
Respect the local and national codes of ethics
About Charaka and Charak Samhita
The Charak Samhita is a medical pharmacopeia and collection of commentaries and discussions on medical practices that is dated to the 1st-2nd centuries AD.
Along with the compendium of Susruta (c. 4th century AD), which is about surgery, the Charak Samhita is considered the foundational text of ancient Indian medicine,.
It is an evolved system of understanding and treating disease that resembled that of Hippocrates and Galen (2nd century AD), and was in some ways ahead of the Greeks.
In theory and praxis, ayurvedic medicine today remains broadly unchanged from these ancient Indian principles.
The medical ethics of Charaka
The physician was an important and respected member of ancient Indian society, and medical practice followed rules of professional conduct and ethical principles. It goes on to say that-
You must strive with all your soul for the health of the sick.
You must not betray your patients, even at the cost of your own life.
You must not get drunk, or commit evil, or have evil companions.
You must be pleasant of speech…and thoughtful, always striving to improve your knowledge.
When you go to the home of a patient you should direct your words, mind, intellect, and senses nowhere but to your patient and his treatment.
Nothing that happens in the house of the sick man must be told outside, nor must the patient’s condition be told to anyone who might do harm by that knowledge to the patient or to another.
This ethical code is universal, and remains just as relevant and applicable today.
Arguments in favour of Charaka Oath
There is no universally accepted version of the physician’s oath.
Many medical schools around the world hold a ceremony in which graduating doctors swear to a broad charter of ethics that are sometimes customised by individual institutions.
A version of the ‘physician’s code of ethics’ is commonly displayed in hospitals or clinics in most places, including India.
Issues with this oath
The opposition has criticised the proposal as an attempt to saffronise medical education.
Introducing Indian elements into Indian education is necessary, but not at the expense of universal values and standards.
Like several other sages mentioned in the literature of ancient India, the historicity of Charaka is still uncertain.
Citizens join hands to preserve the geological marvel of Erra Matti Dibbalu in Visakhapatnam.
What is Erra Matti Dibbalu?
Located between Visakhapatnam and Bheemunipatnam, the Erra Matti Dibbalu are rare red sand dunes that are a reminder of the million years of geological processes.
Its towering red sand dunes with patches of greenery is like a meandering maze.
The width of the dunes, which runs for five kilometres along the coast, varies from 200 metres to two kilometres.
It is listed among the 34 notified National Geological Heritage Monument Sites of India by the Geological Survey of India.
(Don’t they resemble to Ravines of Chambal?)
Its formation
Studies indicate that the area was tectonically active between 2.5 million years and 11,000 years ago.
The sediments are mainly derived from the Khondalite rocks from the hinterland of the Eastern Ghats.
Geologically these red sand dune sediments particularly hold significance.
They are the result of the combined effect of numerous factors including global climatic changes, sea-level variations, monsoonal variability and as a result serves as valuable paleo-environment indicators.
The Nation is remembering revolutionary freedom fighter and tribal leader Tilka Manjhi on his 272nd birth anniversary.
Tilka Manjhi (1750-1785)
He organized Adivasis into an army and led the famous Santhal Hool in 1784 against the exploitative British.
In 1770, there was a severe famine in the Santhal region and people were dying of hunger.
Tilka Manjhi looted the treasury of the East India Company and distributed it among the poor and needy.
Inspired by this noble act of Tilka, many other tribals also joined the rebellion.
With this began his Santhal Hool, the revolt of the Santhals.
He continued to attack the British and their sycophantic allies.
From 1771 to 1784, Tilka Manjhi never surrendered.
Offensive with the colonists
Tilka Majhi attacked Augustus Cleveland, an East India Company administrator and fatally wounded him.
The British surrounded the Tilapore forest from which he operated but he and his men held them at bay for several weeks.
When he was finally caught in 1784, he was tied to the tail of a horse and dragged all the way to the Collector’s residence at Bhagalpur, Bihar, India.
There, his deeply wounded body was hung from a Banyan tree.
Try this question from CSP 2018:
Q.After the Santhal uprising subsided, what was/ were the measure/measures taken by the colonial government?
The territories called ‘Santhal Paraganas’ were created.
It became illegal for a Santhal to transfer land to a non Santhal.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Are you at that stage of prelims preparation where you are devoting 50-60% of your time in solving MCQs and test series? While, some of you might be scoring above 100 marks, others might be struggling to answer questions effectively.
While answering an MCQ, are you able to atleast eliminate two options correctly, but are confused with the rest two? Are you finding it difficult to recall the required information within 1-2 minutes of reading a question? Do you think you are making mistakes while interpreting the meaning of a question? Certainly, there are keywords that change the entire meaning of the question which you need to look for.
Open to All, Free Live Webinar by UPSC 2017 Topper & Civilsdaily mentor Megha Gupta Ma’am
In the last four months, many aspirants make notes that will help them revise the important facts of a topic right before an exam. Are you on it already? Have you taken notes on the important judgements of this year, the constituional amendments, the wildlife conventions, sancturies and the international rankings of this year? If not, how must you go about this?
When it comes to current affairs sources, online reports and standard books, it’s not only important what to read but how to read them as well. Since, there are many crash course study materials in the market, which are the reliable ones? If you haven’t yet started preparation for a subject, how should you read it’s book effectively to be able to cover the entire syllabus within a week?
If you are yet to find answers to all these questions and want to know the roadmap for the next four months of your UPSC-CSE Prelims preparation then you must register for the free live webinar by UPSC-CSE AIR 674 2017 Topper and Civilsdaily Mentor Megha Gupta Ma’am.
What will you learn in this free live UPSC Prelims Webinar by Megha Gupta Ma’am?
1. What are the changes you need to make in your prelims preparation if you are unable to score well?
2. What are the high weightage topics in CSAT which can fetch you maximum marks?
3. What are the online and offline revision materials one needs to study right now?
4. How to make notes from Prelims persepective right now?
5. What are the study technqiues you must use in the last 4 months of Prelims and what should you avoid?
6. How to complete revising a subject in one week?
7. What are the methods to recall information while reading a tricky question in the exam hall? (With live demonstration)
Webinar Details
Study hard, break your limits. Then, get used to it. That’s how you prepare for UPSC-CSE. We hope this webinar will help all 2022 aspirants implement the suggestions of Megha Gupta Ma’am.
Are you at that stage of prelims preparation where you are devoting 50-60% of your time in solving MCQs and test series? While, some of you might be scoring above 100 marks, others might be struggling to answer questions effectively.
While answering an MCQ, are you able to atleast eliminate two options correctly, but are confused with the rest two? Are you finding it difficult to recall the required information within 1-2 minutes of reading a question? Do you think you are making mistakes while interpreting the meaning of a question? Certainly, there are keywords that change the entire meaning of the question which you need to look for.
Open to All, Free Live Webinar by UPSC 2017 Topper & Civilsdaily mentor Megha Gupta Ma’am
In the last four months, many aspirants make notes that will help them revise the important facts of a topic right before an exam. Are you on it already? Have you taken notes on the important judgements of this year, the constituional amendments, the wildlife conventions, sancturies and the international rankings of this year? If not, how must you go about this?
When it comes to current affairs sources, online reports and standard books, it’s not only important what to read but how to read them as well. Since, there are many crash course study materials in the market, which are the reliable ones? If you haven’t yet started preparation for a subject, how should you read it’s book effectively to be able to cover the entire syllabus within a week?
If you are yet to find answers to all these questions and want to know the roadmap for the next four months of your UPSC-CSE Prelims preparation then you must register for the free live webinar by UPSC-CSE AIR 674 2017 Topper and Civilsdaily Mentor Megha Gupta Ma’am.
What will you learn in this free live UPSC Prelims Webinar by Megha Gupta Ma’am?
1. What are the changes you need to make in your prelims preparation if you are unable to score well?
2. What are the high weightage topics in CSAT which can fetch you maximum marks?
3. What are the online and offline revision materials one needs to study right now?
4. How to make notes from Prelims persepective right now?
5. What are the study technqiues you must use in the last 4 months of Prelims and what should you avoid?
6. How to complete revising a subject in one week?
7. What are the methods to recall information while reading a tricky question in the exam hall? (With live demonstration)
Webinar Details
Study hard, break your limits. Then, get used to it. That’s how you prepare for UPSC-CSE. We hope this webinar will help all 2022 aspirants implement the suggestions of Megha Gupta Ma’am.
GS-1 Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
GS-2 Constitution of India —historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure ; Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
GS-3 Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
GS-4 Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world.
HOW TO ATTEMPT ANSWERS IN DAILY ANSWER WRITING ENHANCEMENT(AWE)?
Daily 4 questions from General studies 1, 2, 3, and 4 will be provided to you.
A Mentor’s Comment will be available for all answers. This can be used as a guidance tool but we encourage you to write original answers.
You can write your answer on an A4 sheet and scan/click pictures of the same.
Upload the scanned answer in the comment section of the same question.
Along with the scanned answer, please share your Razor payment ID, so that paid members are given priority.
If you upload the answer on the same day like the answer of 11th February is uploaded on 11th February then your answer will be checked within 72 hours. Also, reviews will be in the order of submission- First come first serve basis
If you are writing answers late, for example, 11th February is uploaded on 13th February , then these answers will be evaluated as per the mentor’s schedule.
We encourage you to write answers on the same day. However, if you are uploading an answer late then tag the mentor like @Staff so that the mentor is notified about your answer.
*In case your answer is not reviewed, reply to your answer saying *NOT CHECKED*.
Last week, the Punjab and Haryana High Court admitted a petition challenging the constitutionality of the Act, and stayed the implementation until it heard the case.
Laws raises constitutional questions
There are at least three important constitutional questions that arise from this Act.
[1] Violation of Article 19(1)(g)
Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution guarantees freedom to carry out any occupation, trade or business.
There may be reasonable restrictions “in the interests of the general public”, and in particular related to specifying any professional or technical qualifications, or to reserve a sector for government monopoly.
This Act, by requiring private businesses to reserve 75% of lower end jobs for locals, encroaches upon their right to carry out any occupation.
In 2005, in the P.A. Inamdar case, Supreme Court said that reservation cannot be mandated on educational institutions that do not receive financial aid from the state, as that would affect the freedom of occupation.
[2] Violation of Article 16
The provision of reservation by virtue of domicile or residence may be unconstitutional.
Article 16 of the Constitution specifically provides for equality of opportunity for all citizens in public employment.
It prohibits discrimination on several grounds including place of birth and residence.
However, it permits Parliament to make law that requires residence within a State for appointment to a public office.
This enabling provision is for public employment and not for private sector jobs.
And the law needs to be made by Parliament, and not by a State legislature.
[3] Breaching of 50% limit
In the Indra Sawhney case in 1992, the Supreme Court capped reservations in public services at 50%.
It however said that there may be extraordinary situations which may need a relaxation in this rule.
It also specified that “in doing so, extreme caution is to be exercised and a special case made out”.
That is, the onus is on the State to make a special case of exceptional circumstances, for the 50% upper limit on reservations to be relaxed.
It stated that the 50% limit is “to fulfil the objective of equality”, and that to breach the limit “is to have a society which is not founded on equality but on caste rule”.
The Haryana Act does not further “caste rule” as it is for all residents of the State irrespective of caste but it breaches the notion of equality of all citizens of India.
[4] Against the conception of India as a one nation
The Constitution conceptualises India as one nation with all citizens having equal rights to live, travel and work anywhere in the country.
These State laws go against this vision by restricting the right of out-of-State citizens to find employment in the State.
This restriction may also indirectly affect the right to reside across India as finding employment becomes difficult.
If more States follow similar policies, it would be difficult for citizens to migrate from their State to other States to find work.
[5] Economic implications
The move may potentially increase the costs for companies.
There may also be an increase in income inequality across States as citizens of poorer States with fewer job opportunities are trapped within their States.
Conclusion
The courts, while looking at the narrow questions of whether these laws violate fundamental rights, should also examine whether they breach the basic structure of the Constitution that views India as one nation which is a union of States, and not as a conglomeration of independent States.
Smash Prelims Program is back after a thumping success in Prelims 2021. Out of 25 students Santosh sir has mentored, 15 have cleared prelims this time.Our students were kind enough to take time out of their hectic Mains preparation and let us know how Santosh sir’s mentorship benefitted them in the exams. We wish them all the very best for the upcoming Mains exam from 7th January onwards!
https://youtu.be/oTRUMSOQEY4
Why Your Focus for Next 5 Months Must be About Scoring Above Cut-Off Marks in UPSC-CSE Prelims? Isn’t the last 1 Month Enough for This?
Every year, the competition for UPSC-CSE is increasing while vacancies are decreasing drastically. This year there are only 712 vacancies as against 2019 which had 927 vacancies. However, atleast 10 lakh students will attempt the prelims exam. This is why right now, it’s important to start having an Olympic Athlete mindset. You need to daily focus on scoring above the cut-off marks in your test series.
Civilsdaily Student and 2019 UPSC-CSE AIR 8 Topper Abhishek Saraf had practiced nearly 6000+ MCQs under us to clear prelims!
What makes prelims tough? It’s because the paper is unpredictable. If this year, science questions are a breeze then the next year you will have to answer advanced concept-based questions. Unlike Mains, Prelims has negative markings.
Toppers like Pranav Vijayvergiya (AIR 65) andSwati Sharma(AIR 17) have found Prelims to be tougher than Mains. In fact, Pranav failed to clear Prelims thrice. But, in his fourth attempt he took Civilsdaily mentorship and cleared Prelims, Mains and Interview in one shot!
Are you feeling low that you are unable to get the required cut-off marks in your test series. Worry not, for about 65% of the UPSC toppers have said that they scored below cut-off marks till December. But by June, they were able to boost their marks to get through the prelims hurdle. It’s time to be like them now.
One has to be good at elimination methods to choose the right option amongst two similar ones. Our Smash Prelims Program started as a pilot project last year with an aim to introduce step-wise improvement in our chosen 25 aspirants. Over a period of 2 months, Santhosh sir inculcated confidence in aspirants who were either newbies or gave too many attempts. This year, we achieved a remarkable 60% success ratio. Next year, we have set our eyes on 100%. Yes, we are ambitious and aspirational just like any other UPSC aspirant.
Why is Mentorship Required for UPSC-CSE Prelims in Every Step – From Test Series, to Study Materials, Classes to Doubt Resolution?
If you are appearing for UPSC-CSE 2022 exams, you might have completed your entire prelims and mains syllabus right now. So what are your main priorities right now? To succeed in UPSC-CSE Prelims 2022, you have to check all these boxes in terms of preparation—
You need clear strategy for next 150 days.
You need to revise effectively to remember whole syllabus at the eve of exam.
You need to practice lots of tests to score accurately, to understand elimination techniques and reduce exam anxiety.
You need to revise current affair of 1.5 years that you have been studying daily.
You need a mentor to fill the critical gaps that have been ignoring till now as you had no one to address them for you.
Santhosh Sir’s Weekly Zoom Session
Do you want to have a mentor who conducts and evaluates medium to advanced test series regularly? A mentor explains to you the different kinds of elimination techniques after you have taken a test series. Before attending a test do you want the mentor to discuss with you the study materials required for the test and provide the right notes with integrated current affairs? While studying a subject, you might have umpteen number of questions. Having someone who responds quickly and explains the topics in simple terms saves your time. And, after a test do you want an experienced mentor to discuss the right answers and motivate you? Do you want the mentor to provide you classes on static+dynamic prelims topics? If yes, then this is the right program for you! The registrations are open for all UPSC 2022 aspirants
Self Preparation with Mentorship: What do Civilsdaily Students think of Santosh Sir’s Mentorship for UPSC-CSE Prelims?
Santhosh Sir, Core Civilsdaily Mentor. He has attended Interview Thrice & Cleared Prelims 6/6 times with above 145 marks.
We asked Santosh sir’s students about their opinion on mentorship — if it was something that saved their time or wasted their time in studies and this is what they had to say:
Kamini: “If I can say in one word, then Santosh sir’s mentorship is unique. Before I joined his program, I used to score 90 marks in Full Length Test Series. Santhosh sir had done in depth analysis of my test papers and suggested ways to reduce the negatives. Right now I am able to score 100+ in advanced test series of not only Civilsdaily but other institutes. He is always available to clear my doubts and solve my issues on call or phone. No issue is too big enough for Santosh sir. He has always told me after you finish a test series, read the same topics again and take another test series the same day to see if your marks improve. From Santosh sir’s polity and economic survey notes, we got questions in 2021 Prelims. I always feel its better to do self studies with mentorship than join coaching institutes and get spoon fed with information.”
Sweetie Raj: “I am a banking professional, living with a joint family. Attending coaching classes is out of question because I won’t have time to read the books myself. Santosh sir helps me self-study by providing me mentorship daily. I study daily from 9PM to 3AM. Santosh sir has been available for 1 hour strategy calls even during this time. No other teacher would have wanted me to succeed as much as he wants me to. I can understand concepts by myself and don’t need help in that. I want someone who pushes me to complete the target modules, checks if I did my mains answer writing for the day and analyses the previous year question papers with me. Because of Santosh sir, I understood that its just not enough reading one book but at the same time I dont have to waste time reading many books. He tells me the topic-wise sources to refer. Also he has designed a study plan for me that I can follow every week. Once, I told Santhosh sir I was missing test series discussion classes as it was conducted at 7PM. Immediately, he provided me recorded videos and kept the session at 8.30PM.”
Specific Features of Smash Prelims 2022 by Santosh Sir
Sincere aspirants who are scoring in the range of 80-90 marks must not attend last minute crash courses right now. They should instead focus on self revision, test series practice and guided mentorship to qualify for UPSC Prelims 2022. Here are the features of Prelims Focused Program by Civilsdaily —
Pillar-1
PRELIMS TESTS:
40 Full Length Tests(12 Basic + 6 Advanced + 10 CA tests + 8 Full tests + 4 CSAT).
In addition to this, in the month of January, we will have 60 sectional tests for practice. This will have 50 questions each. Hence, totally 100 Test Papers (40 FLTs + 60 Sectional Test Papers)
CHECK OUT THE TEST SERIES PROGRAM ON FEBRUARY 15TH & REGISTER ASAP.
VALUE ADDITIONS NOTES AND CLASSES BY VETERAN CIVILSDAILY MENTORS like SUDHANSHU SIR, SAJAL SIR & SUKANYA MA’AM
Polity: Sudhanshu sirwill conduct two sessions covering all the Polity Fundamentals, a session analyzing past year papers, another session on important current affairs related to polity this year and will discuss your test solutions.
History: Santosh Gupta sir will conduct a session on Sectoral Developments in Modern History, a session analyzing past year papers, and test discussion.
Economy: Sajal sir will conduct sessions on economic survey, trend analysis, discussion of most important economic current affairs, past year paper analysis, and economy final test discussion.
Geography: Santosh sir will conduct sessions on the most difficult aspects like Geography Mapping, Economic Geography, and Indian Agriculture.
Environment:Sukanya Ma’amwill cover sessions on Environment innovatively. Key concepts like vegetation and biome, Indian wildlife, conventions and protocols, national parks and sanctuaries, agriculture and sustainable development, and environment current affairs will be covered.
Science & Technology: This year’s prelims paper questioned on the basic concepts of science. Keeping this in mind, Santosh Gupta sir will conduct 2 sessions on One basic concept and current affairs of science and technology.
2. Civilsdaily Current Affairs Magazines for 1 year
3. Civilsdaily compilations of Yojna, Kurukshetra, PRS and RS TV.
4. Civilsdaily Budget And Economic Survey Summary.
5. Handouts on key subject-wise static topics to remember the terms and definitions for Prelims 2022.
Pillar-3
Santosh Gupta sir’s mentorship program
1. Introductory mentor call to every aspirant immediately upon commencement of program.
2. Weekly zoom strategy session by Santosh sir for doubt clearance and continuous improvement.
3. 1-1 mentor calls after 3-4 tests by mentor. After every test series, zoom sessions will be conducted by Birendra sir with all members of the batch for test discussion.
4. Support from mentors on the Habitat Group.
5. Frequent sessions with toppers for support and guidance. will have these special features for aspirants.
6. Mentor will guide on the FCE Approach i.e the Factual and Conceptual Methods of Elimination.
7. Mentor call as per request and mandatory check up call by mentor once a month.
Toppers’ Speak: How Civilsdaily Mentorship Helped Me Clear UPSC?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSwO38weHAA
About Santosh Gupta Sir
Santosh sir has scored above 140 twice in UPSC prelims and 120 plus in all 6 attempts. He has written all 6 mains and has appeared for Interviews 3 times. He has qualified UPSC EPFO and BPSC 56-59th also. As the Prelims coordinator at Civilsdaily, he has helped 15 out of 25 students clear the prelims examination this year.
In the backdrop of the 2070 carbon neutrality target set by India at the CoP26 in Glasgow, the Union Budget for 2022-23 has listed “climate action” and “energy transition” as one of the four priorities for the Amrit Kaal.
Climate related announcement in Budget 2022-23
An additional allocation of Rs 19,500 crore for solar PV modules has been made.
The finance minister also talked of co-firing of 5-7 per cent of biomass pellets in thermal power plants, “sovereign green bonds” and a “battery-swapping policy”.
These are positive steps towards making the energy and transport sectors less polluting.
How agriculture impact environement
Agriculture contributes 73 per cent of the country’s methane emissions.
Third largest emitter: India has kept away from the recent EU-US pledge to slash methane emissions by 30 per cent by 2030, despite the country being the world’s third largest emitter of methane.
As per the national GHG inventory, the agriculture sector emits 408 MMT of carbon-dioxide equivalent and rice cultivation is the third highest source (17.5 per cent) of GHG emissions in Indian agriculture after enteric fermentation (54.6 per cent) and fertiliser use (19 per cent).
Paddy fields are anthropogenic sources of atmospheric nitrous oxide and methane, which have been reckoned as 273 and 80-83 times more powerful than carbon dioxide in driving temperature increase in 20 years’ (Sixth Assessment Report IPCC 2021).
Moreover, paddy fields require about 4,000 cubic metres of water per tonne of rice for irrigation.
There is scientific evidence that intermittent flooding reduces water and methane emissions but increases nitrous oxide emissions.
Thus, lowering of methane emissions through controlled irrigation does not necessarily mean net low emissions.
Role of subsidies and procurement policies: The environmental damage caused by agriculture is largely a result of the various kinds of subsidies — on urea, canal irrigation and power for irrigation — as well as the minimum support prices (MSP) and procurement policies concentrated on a few states and largely on two crops, rice, and wheat.
Excess rice and wheat stock
As of January 1, the stocks of wheat and rice in the country’s central pool were four times higher than the buffer stocking requirement.
Rice stocks with the Food Corporation of India (FCI) are seven times the buffer norms for rice.
The financial value of these excessive grain stocks is Rs 2.14 lakh crore, of which Rs 1.66 lakh crore is because of excess rice stocks — as per the economic cost of rice and wheat given by the FCI.
All this does not just reflect inefficient use of scarce capital, the amount of greenhouse gases (GHG) embedded in these stocks is also large.
Way forward
Carbon tax: According to the IMF, the world needs a carbon tax of $ 75 per tonne by 2030 to reduce emissions to a level consistent with a 2 degree Celsius warming target.
India does not have an explicit carbon-price yet, but many countries have begun to implement carbon pricing.
Revisiting policies: The Economic Survey 2021-22 points out that the country is over-exploiting its ground water resource (see map), particularly in the northwest and some parts of south India.
This calls for revisiting policies to subsidise power and fertilisers, MSP and procurement and reorient them towards minimising GHG emissions.
Farmer groups and the private sector can be mobilised to develop carbon markets in agriculture, both at the national and international levels, which can reward farmers in cash for switching from carbon-intensive crops to lower GHG emissions.
Consider the question “Elaborate on the impact of agriculture on the environment. Suggest the changes needed in Indian agriculture policies to reduce the impact.”
Conclusion
Such a move towards “net-zero” agriculture will give India a “climate smart” agriculture in Amrit Kaal. And, if we can protect productivity levels with a low-carbon footprint, it will help India to access global markets too.
