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.
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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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.
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 isBackground Radiation?
Background radiation is a measure of the level of ionizing radiation present in the environment at a particular location which is not due to deliberate introduction of radiation sources.
Background radiation originates from a variety of sources, both natural and artificial.
Nuclear Radiation and its Types
There are three main types of nuclear radiation: alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays.
1. Alpha particles are made up of two protons and two neutrons and are essentially helium nuclei. They have a positive charge and are relatively large and heavy, which means they can be stopped by a piece of paper or the outer layer of skin.
2. Beta particles are high-energy electrons that are emitted from the nucleus of an atom. They have a negative charge and are much smaller than alpha particles, which means they can penetrate through the skin and into the body.
3. Gamma rays are high-energy electromagnetic radiation, similar to X-rays. They are emitted from the nucleus of an atom and have no charge. They are extremely penetrating and can travel long distances through air and most materials, including the human body.
How is it measured?
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) specifies maximum radiation exposure levels and this has also been adopted by India’s atomic energy establishment.
Public exposure shouldn’t exceed 1 milli-Sievert every year, those who work in plants or are by virtue of their occupation shouldn’t be exposed to over 30 milli-Sievert every year.
Generally it is measured in nanogray per second. A (nGy/s) is a decimal fraction of the SI-derived unit of ionizing radiation absorbed dose rate.
Natural sources-
Cosmic radiation
Environmental radioactivity from naturally occurring radioactive materials (such as radon and radium)
Man-made sources-
Medical X-rays,
Fallout from nuclear weapons testing and nuclear accidents.
Factors affecting such radiation
Natural background radiation is all around us.
Background radiation varies from place to place and over time, depending on the amount of naturally occurring radioactive elements in soil, water and air.
Weather conditions also affect radiation levels, as snow cover may shield these elements, and radioactive particulates can wash out of the air during rain storms.
Cosmic radiation from the sun, our galaxy, and beyond is constantly around us and contributes to natural background radiation.
Altitude and latitude can also influence the level of background radiation at any one site.
How threatening is it?
All rocks and soils contain some trace amount of natural radioactivity and can sometimes be ingested or inhaled if disturbed.
Radon is a gas that can concentrate indoors and be inhaled, along with its decay products.
We can also ingest radioactivity from the food we eat and the water we drink.
A number of factors determine the annual dose you and your family receive from background radiation.
Typically, Gamma rays are a type of such radiation that can pass through matter unobstructed, and are harmless in small doses, but can be dangerous in concentrated bursts.
Findings of the BARC Study
The study found that the average natural background levels of gamma radiation in India was 94 nGy/hr (nano Gray per hour) (or roughly 0.8 millisievert/year).
The last study conducted in 1986 computed such radiation to be 89 nGy/hr.
The study found that the levels in Kollam district, Kerala were 9,562 nGy/hr, or about three times more than what was assumed.
This computes to about 70 milliGray a year, or a little more than what a worker in a nuclear plant is exposed to.
This however does not necessarily mean that those at Kollam are being exposed to dangerous levels of radiation, as past studies have not found any higher rates of cancer or mortality.
Reasons for Higher Radiation Levels in Kerala
The higher radiation levels in Kollam are attributed to monazite sands that are high in thorium, which is part of India’s long-term plan to sustainably produce nuclear fuel.
Southern India has higher levels of radiation due to the presence of granite and basaltic, volcanic rock, which contains uranium deposits.
The Union Health Ministry in India is considering the formulation of common standards for drug regulators across the country.
This is aimed at improving the drug regulation mechanism in India by ensuring consistent implementation of standards and facilitating better monitoring of drug safety.
It is probably a move likely triggered by recent deaths globally that were linked to the consumption of drugs manufactured in India.
Common Drugs Standards: Key features
Unified national portal: The portal is intended to bring together various drug regulatory functions and processes, currently managed by different government agencies, onto a single platform.
Centralized database: It will be used for information related to drugs, manufacturers, and regulatory authorities, as well as a single-window clearance system for drug approvals.
Drug safety monitoring: The portal will also include modules for monitoring drug safety and pharmacovigilance, and for facilitating online submission of applications for various regulatory processes such as drug approval, clinical trials, and licensing.
Institutions involved
The portal is being developed by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), the national regulatory body for pharmaceuticals and medical devices in India.
The CDSCO is working with other government agencies, including the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, to ensure that the portal is integrated with existing regulatory frameworks and systems.
Need for Common Standards and Regulations
Huge market potential: India ranks 3rd worldwide for production by volume and 14th by value in the pharma sector.
Multiple regulators: The current system is fragmented with 38 drug regulators, each with its own database.
Multiple standards: A common set of standards and regulations accepted by both central and state authorities is being worked upon.
Easy evaluation: The move could help drug regulators across India know the credentials of all pharmaceutical companies and drugs at the click of a mouse.
Benefits offered
Once operational, the portal is expected to benefit various stakeholders in the pharmaceutical industry, including drug manufacturers, regulatory authorities, healthcare professionals, and patients.
It is expected to-
Improve the efficiency of regulatory processes
Reduce delays in drug approvals and
Enhance drug safety monitoring in India
Why such a move?
Ans. Recent Cases of Deaths Linked to Drugs Exported from India
In the past six months, there have been at least three cases of deaths reported globally that are linked to drugs exported from India.
Global Pharma Healthcare Private Limited recalled a batch of eye drops from the US market after they were contaminated with a drug-resistant bacteria linked to permanent vision loss and resulted in one death from a bloodstream infection.
An inquiry was launched against Marion Biotech after deaths of 18 children in Uzbekistan were linked to the firm’s consumption of syrup.
WHO issued a medical product alert over four cough syrups manufactured and exported by Maiden Pharma. At least 70 children died in The Gambia likely after consuming the said cough syrups.
Present Drug Regulation Mechanism in India
In India, drug regulation is overseen by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), a national regulatory body for pharmaceuticals and medical devices. The CDSCO is responsible for regulating the import, manufacture, distribution, and sale of drugs in India.
The following is an overview of the drug regulation mechanism in India:
Drug Approval Process: Before a drug can be marketed in India, it must undergo a thorough approval process by the CDSCO. This includes pre-clinical studies, clinical trials, and submission of a New Drug Application (NDA) or a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA).
Drug Pricing: The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) is responsible for regulating the prices of drugs in India. The NPPA regulates the prices of essential medicines and monitors the prices of non-essential medicines to ensure they are not unreasonably high.
Drug Safety Monitoring: The Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI) is responsible for monitoring the safety of drugs in India. The program collects and analyzes data on adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to identify potential safety concerns and take appropriate action.
Manufacturing Standards: The CDSCO ensures that drug manufacturers in India adhere to good manufacturing practices (GMP) to ensure that drugs are produced under quality standards and are safe for use.
Clinical Trials: The CDSCO regulates clinical trials in India to ensure that they are conducted ethically and with the safety of participants in mind. The CDSCO requires that clinical trials follow the guidelines of the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH).
Issues with the above system
Slow Approval Process: The drug approval process in India is often criticized for being slow and cumbersome, leading to delays in the availability of new drugs to patients.
Inadequate Drug Safety Monitoring: Despite the existence of the PvPI, there are concerns that the monitoring of drug safety is not adequate, leading to underreporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and delayed response to safety concerns.
Lack of Transparency: There have been concerns over the lack of transparency in the drug approval process, with accusations of corruption and conflicts of interest among regulatory officials and drug manufacturers.
Inconsistent Implementation of Standards: While India has established good manufacturing practices (GMP) standards for drug manufacturing, there are concerns that these standards are not consistently implemented, leading to quality issues with some drugs.
Limited Access to Affordable Drugs: While the NPPA regulates the prices of essential medicines, there are concerns that the prices of non-essential drugs are often unaffordable for the average Indian patient.
Challenges in implementation of a common standard
Healthcare being state list subject: India is a federal state and health is a state subject, which may make it difficult to implement the idea.
States hegemony: A central database will be difficult to maintain if states do not share accurate data in a timely manner.
Way forward
Streamline the Approval Process: The government should consider simplifying and expediting the drug approval process while maintaining safety standards. This could involve the use of modern technologies and innovative regulatory pathways, such as accelerated approval and conditional approval, to speed up the approval process for drugs that meet certain criteria.
Strengthen Drug Safety Monitoring: The government should allocate more resources to PvPI to enhance its capacity for monitoring drug safety. This could include increasing the number of trained personnel, improving data collection and analysis systems, and implementing a more robust system for reporting and responding to adverse drug reactions (ADRs).
Increase Transparency: The government should take steps to increase transparency in the drug approval process, such as making the regulatory framework and decision-making processes more open and accessible to the public.
Improve Implementation of Standards: The government should work with drug manufacturers to improve the implementation of good manufacturing practices (GMP) standards, through increased regulatory inspections, penalties for non-compliance, and capacity-building programs for manufacturers.
Ensure Access to Safe and Affordable Drugs: The government should explore ways to make non-essential drugs more affordable to the average Indian patient, such as by negotiating better prices with drug manufacturers or promoting generic drug usage through public awareness campaigns.
Conclusion
Overall, the development of a unified national portal for drug regulatory functions is a significant step towards modernizing the drug regulation mechanism in India and bringing it in line with international standards.
It is expected to facilitate the growth of the Indian pharmaceutical industry and contribute to the overall health and well-being of the Indian population.
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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Activists are calling on the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to take a stronger interest in child custody cases in Western countries.
The call comes as the movie Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway, which focuses on the diplomatic row between India and Norway in 2011.
The movie sheds light on cases where parents lose custody of their children over cultural differences in their upbringing.
Child Custody norms in India
India’s child custody laws are governed by-
Guardians and Wards Act of 1890: It recognizes the welfare of the child as the paramount consideration in custody matters.
Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act of 1956: It deals with the custody and guardianship of Hindu children.
Indian law generally gives custody of children to the mother in case of young children, but the father can also seek custody.
In recent years, there have been calls to reform the law to provide more equal rights to fathers in custody battles.
The story beyond: Bhattacharya Case
The movie depicts real life story of a Bengali couple who had moved to Norway in 2007.
Their child reportedly developed ‘autism-like’ symptoms in his early years and was placed in a family kindergarten.
The family was reportedly under watch for months by the child welfare service and in May 2011, the authorities took away the couple’s children under the pretext of bad parenting.
Finally the Norwegian authorities took the child away to their shelter home for almost 14 months.
What accounts to ‘bad’ parenting in Norway?
Hand feeding: Norwegian authorities raised objection to the family hand-feeding the baby and equated it to force-feeding.
Child sleeping with parents: They also had problems with children sleeping on the same bed as their parents- something that is very common in Indian households.
Ban on physical discipline: Charges against the parents also included a slap by the parents – just once. Even mild physical discipline, such as a slap, is considered illegal in Norway.
Lack of recreation: Authorities accused the couple that the children did not have enough room to play. They were also accused of providing “unsuitable” clothes and toys to their children.
About Norway’s Child Welfare Services
The Child Welfare Services in Norway is commonly known as Barnevernet and is responsible for child protection in the country.
The organization is very strict about child protection and applies strict regulations for all citizens living in the country, regardless of their cultural background.
The primary responsibility of the Child Welfare Services is to implement measures for children and their families in situations where there are special needs in relation to the home environment.
Assistance is provided through counseling, advisory services, and aid measures, including external support contacts, relief measures in the home, and access to daycare.
The Bhattacharya Case and Diplomatic Row
The case of the Bhattacharya couple, whose children were taken away by Barnevernet, caused a diplomatic row between Norway and India. The Bhattacharya had appealed to the foreign ministry to intervene in the case where the Child Welfare Services had taken their children away from them.
Bias against non-citizens: The couple was accused of mistreating their children, but some claimed that the decision was biased against non-Norwegian citizens.
State kidnapping of children: Human rights activists in India, called the incident “state kidnapping”.
Labelling parents for being of unsound mind: In almost every case, they claim that one of the parents has a mental problem just to make their case stronger.
How did Norway response?
After a diplomatic row between the two countries, the Norwegian authorities decided to award the custody of the children to their father’s brother, enabling him to bring them back to India.
Way forward
The case highlights the need for transparent and unbiased decision-making processes in child welfare services, especially in cases involving non-native citizens.
While child protection is of utmost importance, the authorities must ensure that their actions are fair, just, and not biased against any particular group or culture.
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The decolonization drive started by the present government in India to change the British mindset of those responsible for writing history books, which led to the neglect of important monuments and archaeological sites. The Economic Advisory Council’s report on Monuments of National Importance, which he sees as a significant step in the right direction for the preservation and designation of monuments that reflect Bharat’s history. There are some anomalies in the list of monuments of national importance and suggests changes in the way India looks at the preservation of monuments.
What are the recommendations given by the report?
Rationalise and evolve criteria for India’s list of monuments: The report underlined the urgent need to rationalise India’s list of monuments of national importance and recommended that the ASI should evolve substantive criteria and a detailed procedure for declaring monuments to be of national importance.
Book of detailed information: ASI should publish a book of notifications with detailed information about each MNI’s provenance, hand over protection and upkeep of monuments of local importance to respective states and denotify to the extent possible, all standalone antiquities like cannons and statues.
Funds: Allocation of funds for the preservation of MNI should be increased and ASI should retain the proceeds generated from revenue streams like tickets, events, fees and other sources.
Inadequate efforts: After India’s independence, little effort was made to correct the British mindset of those responsible for writing history books, which resulted in the neglect of monuments and archaeological sites.
British view of India: History books continued to teach the history of India’s defeats and its enemies’ victories, which perpetuated the British view of India.
The Decolonization Drive under the present Government
National Heroes: The present government led by PM Modi started the decolonisation drive to bring out the sagas of King Suheldev, Rani Durgavati, and Lachit Barphukan, among others.
For example: The government highlighted the story of the founder-king of Delhi, Anangpal Tomar, and declared the neglected Anang Tal as a monument of national importance.
Names, sites, insignia of national importance: The government also held national and international events at the Sindhu-Saraswati site of Dholavira and unveiled a new Shivaji-era inspired naval insignia.
Significance of this Report
The Economic Advisory Council’s report on Monuments of National Importance is a significant step in the right direction.
The report will bring a whiff of fresh thinking in the direction of preserving and designating monuments that reflect Bharat’s history.
All the recommendations made by the report can be implemented without amending the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act and need only executive orders.
Anomalies in the List of Monuments of National Importance
There are some anomalies in the list of monuments of national importance.
There is not a single monument connected with the struggles of Dalits and B R Ambedkar’s life that has been declared a national monument.
Some monuments, like Tota-Maina ki Qabar and Dadi Poti ka Gumbad, have no history, and nobody knows whether they should be declared as Monuments of National Importance.
Therefore, all agencies working on monuments be unshackled from the British slave mindset and given into the hands of those who know their subject.
Conclusion
There is hope that the Bibek Debroy-Sanjeev Sanyal report will bring a whiff of fresh thinking in the direction of preserving and designating monuments that reflect Bharat’s history. There is the need for an Archaeological Foundation to preserve the civilizational and revolutionary monuments of India.
Mains Question
Q. Discuss the recommendations given by the Economic Advisory Council’s report on Monuments of National Importance and its significance in preserving and designating monuments that reflect Bharat’s history.
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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.
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.
Two of West Asia’s major powers that have been at odds with each other for decades, Saudi Arabia and Iran, agreed to restore diplomatic relations last week in an agreement brokered by China. It is a major breakthrough if viewed from the angle of implications the agreement could have on the region and global geopolitics.
In this context, this edition of the burning issue will elaborate on this agreement and its implications.
A Timeline of the Saudi-Iran relationship
Pre-1979 Phase: Saudi Arabia and Iran compete for regional dominance.
Iranian Revolution (1979) brings down the monarchy and turns Iran into a Shia theocratic republic.
1980-1988: Iran-Iraq war sees Saudi Arabia support Iraq.
1990-1991: Saudi Arabia supports Iraq against Iran in the Gulf War.
1996: Iranian-backed Hezbollah bombs Saudi military housing complex in Khobar, killing 19 US soldiers.
2011-2015: Saudi Arabia and Iran support opposing sides in the Syrian civil war.
2015: Saudi Arabia launches military intervention in Yemen against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.
January 2016: Saudi Arabia executes prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, leading to protests in Iran and the burning of the Saudi embassy in Tehran. Saudi and several Arab allies cut diplomatic ties with Iran.
2019: Saudi oil facilities are attacked, leading to increased tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
2021: Both begin direct talks, brokered by China.
March 2023: Both nations announce an agreement to restore diplomatic ties, brokered by China.
Reasons for hostile relations
Religious contradictions: Historically, the rivalry between the two countries dates back to the seventh century when the Prophet Muhammad died without a clear successor, leading to a dispute over the leadership of the Muslim community. This dispute ultimately resulted in the split between Sunni Islam (which dominates in Saudi Arabia) and Shia Islam (which dominates in Iran).
Geopolitical tensions: The two countries are located in a strategically important region, with both seeking to exert influence and maintain dominance in the Middle East. Iran’s Islamic revolution in 1979 posed a challenge to Saudi Arabia’s status as the leading Islamic power in the region, and the two countries have been competing for regional influence ever since.
Sectarian tensions: Saudi Arabia and Iran have long had competing visions for the role of Islam in society. Saudi Arabia promotes a strict interpretation of Sunni Islam known as Wahhabism, while Iran supports Shia Islam and the principle of the “Guardianship of the Jurist,” which asserts that a senior Shia cleric should have political power and authority over all Muslims.
Ties with west: The two countries have fundamentally different views on a range of issues, including democracy, human rights, and regional security. Saudi Arabia is a conservative monarchy with close ties to the United States, while Iran is an Islamic republic that has been at odds with the West since the 1979 revolution.
What are the terms of the agreement?
The details of the agreement are yet to be unveiled but prima facie it seems to be a quid pro quo.
Iran has reportedly agreed to prevent further attacks against Saudi Arabia from Houthi-controlled parts of Yemen
On the other hand, Saudi Arabia has agreed to rein in Iran International, a Farsi news channel critical of the Iranian regime.
Foreign Ministers of both countries will meet soon to thrash out the terms of the reconciliation before reopening embassies in each other’s capitals in two months.
Why did Saudi Arabia reach out to Iran, defying its ally the US?
Internal Security: When Saudi oil facilities were attacked in 2019, the US looked away, prompting the Saudis to look for alternative solutions to the Iran problem, such as reaching out to the Iranians.
Differences over Palestine: The US was trying to broker a normalization agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel to bring the two pillars of its West Asia policy together against Iran.
US negligence of West Asia: The US deprioritized West Asia due to bigger foreign policy challenges, such as the Russian war in Ukraine and China’s rise in the Indo-Pacific.
Obsolesce of ties with the US: Relations between Saudi Arabia and the US have been rocky in recent years, as the US is not as dependent on Gulf Arabs as it used to be during the Cold War.
Shared opinions over Israel: Saudi Arabia has been hesitant to reconcile with Israel, and its relations with the US have been rocky in recent years.
What led Iran to accept the deal?
Isolation and Domestic pressure: Tehran is aware that getting relief from Western sanctions is not a near-term possibility. Despite the crackdown, protests in Iran refuse to die down.
Crumbling economy: Iran’s economy is deteriorating and its currency, the rial, is struggling. A deal with Saudi Arabia, under China’s mediation, could open economic lifelines for Iran
China factor: Iran wanted Chinese investments and support for the rial. China allowed Iran to withdraw parts of the $20 billion funds frozen with Chinese banks due to US sanctions.
Fouling American efforts: Iran knows that such a deal could complicate American efforts to rally Arab countries and Israel against it. A reconciliation with Saudi is beneficial for Iran, at least in a tactical sense.
Why is China brokering the deal?
Securing its oil supplies: China has an interest in promoting stability in the Middle East region, which is a major source of oil and natural gas for China.
Side-lining the US: By brokering a deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran, China can position itself as a mediator and gain goodwill from both sides.
Create an alternative axis: China has longstanding relationships with both countries. US since Trump’s departure is distancing itself from the US, whereas China is also getting closer to Russia amid the war.
Image building as a leader: While the US is busy rallying the Western world to arm Ukraine to push back Russia and weaken Moscow through sanctions, China is quietly brokering peace in the Global South.
Growing role in the Middle East: China could step in and help the two parties reach an agreement because its dramatic economic rise has given it a growing role in the Middle East.
Narrow approach of the US for the region: The United States, by contrast to china, has “special relationships” with some countries in the Middle East and no relationship at all with others, most notably Iran. The result is that client states such as Egypt, Israel, or Saudi Arabia take U.S. support for granted and treat its concerns with ill-disguised contempt
“That’s how a great power maximizes its leverage: You make it clear that you’re willing to work with others if they are willing to work with you, and your ties with others remind them that you have other options, too”
Key implications for the US
Welcomed the move: The public narrative is that the peace deal would help stabilize the region and benefit the global energy market.
It is a wake-up call: for the Biden administration and the rest of the United States’ foreign-policy establishment because it exposes the self-imposed handicaps that have long crippled U.S. Middle East policy.
China as a force of peace: It also highlights how China is attempting to present itself as a force for peace in the world, a mantle that the United States has largely abandoned in recent years.
Hegemony decline in the region: The US would not like to lose its influence in West Asia even when it is deprioritizing the region.
Saudi may drift away: the US sees an ally (Saudi Arabia) drifting further away, a rival it wanted to contain (Iran) making new friends, and China spreading and deepening its influence in a region the US has dominated historically.
Iran Sanctions going loose: The Iran nuclear deal is practically dead and the US wants Saudi Arabia to normalize ties with Israel and put up a joint front against Iran.
The US should change its policytowards the region: The obvious lesson for the Biden administration is to devote more attention to defusing tensions, preventing wars, and ending conflicts, instead of defining foreign-policy success by how many wars it wins, how many terrorists it kills etc. If the United States allows China to establish a reputation for being a reliable peacemaker, as a great power that is willing to live and let live in its relations with others, convincing others to line up with the US will become increasingly difficult.
Possible Outcomes of the deal
Dispute resolution without the US: Besides bolstering China’s diplomatic credentials and possibly lowering the temperature between two well-armed rivals, the agreement gives all three nations involved the chance to show that one can resolve issues without US engagement, something China and Saudi Arabia have been keen to demonstrate.
For Iran — still under punishing sanctions for its nuclear program and facing criticism for its crackdown on protesters — the agreement will help it repair ties with more Arab nations. Economically it could benefit both Iran and Saudi Arabia by luring more Chinese investment. And the deal could even help foster peace in Yemen, riven by a civil conflict that has been seen as a proxy war between Tehran and Riyadh.
For Saudi Arabia: Yet the agreement also sets up an interesting balancing act for Crown Prince Mohammed, who has helped turn his economy more toward Asia while chaffing at US criticism of his nation’s human rights record. But Saudi Arabia still relies on US firepower for its military, a reality unlikely to change anytime soon. And the deal risks a fragile working relationship the Saudis — tacitly backed by Washington — have built with Israel, which still considers Iran enemy No. 1.
For Yemen: The deal renewing diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran had barely been signed on March 10 in Beijing when all eyes turned to Yemen, where the two rival powers have been in indirect confrontation since 2015. The surprise agreement between the two Middle Eastern powers may have its most concrete impact in Yemen, which has been ravaged by a war between its government, supported by a Saudi-led military coalition, and Houthi rebels supported by Iran.
Implications for India
Beijing’s strategic footprint will grow in the Indian Ocean: The China-backed Saudi Arabia-Iran detente and its expanding strategic levers in Islamic World with ports in Iran, Oman, UAE, Pakistan and Sri Lanka is designed to choke India in its own Indian Ocean backyard with New Delhi facing a possible action from Beijing over its close relations with its QUAD partners, two of which are in the AUKUS alliance, on its northern land frontiers.
Iran further moving away from India: There is little doubt that while India has been successful in expanding its relations with all key actors in West Asia, it has ended up with diminished relations with Iran. It is not in its interest to see China entrench itself in a country that is strategically important, quite apart from being one with which we enjoy long-standing civilizational affinities
Security of energy: Since Iran and Saudi Arabia produce the majority of the world’s oil, a conflict between them could push up oil prices, which would have a significant impact on India’s energy security. The steady supply of oil to India and the stabilization of global oil prices could both result from normalizing relations between these two nations.
Trade: India has significant trading relationships with Saudi Arabia and Iran. India could benefit from new trade and investment opportunities if their relations were normalized.
Stability in the region: The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is one of India’s most important economic and strategic interests in the Middle East.
Stability in India’s extensive neighbourhood: which includes Iran. For India, any instability in the region could have far-reaching effects. Iran’s ties to Saudi Arabia could help stabilize the region and lessen the likelihood of terrorism and conflict. India contributes significantly to the maintenance of regional peace and stability by maintaining cordial relations with Saudi Arabia and Iran.
What inferences can be drawn from all these?
Strategic realignments in West Asia: It can be inferred that West Asia is currently undergoing significant strategic realignments, with the UAE normalizing relations with Israel and other Arab countries deepening their partnerships.
Shifted US focus on Ukraine and Indo-Pacific: The US, which traditionally held significant power in the region, has deprioritized West Asia due to bigger foreign policy challenges such as Russia’s war in Ukraine and China’s rise in the Indo-Pacific.
China occupying power vacuum: This de-prioritization has created a power vacuum that has allowed Iran to rise as a challenge, prompting the US to try to bring Israel and the Arab world together against Iran.
When the elephants fight, the grass suffers:” In the decades to come, many states will prefer to rally behind whichever major power seems more likely to promote peace, stability, and order. By the same logic, they will tend to distance themselves from whichever major powers they believe are disturbing the peace.
Conclusion
Reduced tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran is a positive development that reduces the risk of a serious clash in a strategic region.
This new détente is to be welcomed, therefore, even if Beijing gets some of the credit. The proper U.S. response is not to bemoan the outcome; it is to show that it can do as much or more to create a more peaceful world.
However, India must be ready to deal with Beijing translating economic might into diplomatic wins.
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