India has been ranked at the 116th position in the latest edition of the World Bank’s annual Human Capital Index that benchmarks key components of human capital across countries.
Try this PYQ:
Q.As per UN-Habitat’s Global Report on Human Settlements 2009, which one among the following regions has shown the fastest growth rate of urbanization in the last three decades?
(a) Asia
(b) Europe
(c) Latin America and Caribbean
(d) North America
Highlights of the 2020 rankings
The 2020 Human Capital Index update includes health and education data for 174 countries — covering 98 per cent of the world’s population — up to March 2020.
It provides a pre-pandemic baseline on the health and education of children, with the biggest strides made in low-income countries.
Impact of the pandemic
The analysis shows that pre-pandemic, most countries had made steady progress in building the human capital of children, with the biggest strides made in low-income countries.
The pandemic puts at risk the decade’s progress in building human capital, including the improvements in health, survival rates, school enrollment, and reduced stunting.
The economic impact of the pandemic has been particularly deep for women and for the most disadvantaged families, leaving many vulnerable to food insecurity and poverty.
Due to the pandemic’s impact, most children — more than 1 billion — have been out of school and could lose out, on average, half a year of schooling, adjusted for learning, translating into considerable monetary losses.
Data also shows significant disruptions to essential health services for women and children, with many children missing out on crucial vaccinations.
India’s performance
India’s score increased to 0.49 from 0.44 in 2018, as per the Human Capital Index report released by the World Bank.
Last year, India had raised “serious reservations” over the Human Capital Index, wherein India was ranked 115 out of 157 countries.
This year India finds itself at 116th from among 174 countries.
Back2Basics: Human Capital Project
As part of this World Development Report (WDR), the World Bank has launched a Human Capital Project (HCP).
The HCP programme is claimed to be a program of advocacy, measurement, and analytical work to raise awareness and increase demand for interventions to build human capital.
There are three components of HCP:
a cross-country human capital measurement metric called the Human Capital Index (HCI),
a programme of measurement and research to inform policy action
a programme of support for country strategies to accelerate investment in human capital.
Human Capital Index (HCI)
The HCI has been constructed for 157 countries.
It claims to seek to measure the amount of human capital that a child born today can expect to attain by age 18.
The HCI has three components:
Survival: as measured by under-5 mortality rates
Expected years of Quality-Adjusted School: which combines information on the quantity and quality of education
Health environment: Using two proxies of (a) adult survival rates and (b) the rate of stunting for children under age 5.
HDI vs. HCI
UNDP constructs Human Development Index (HDI) for several years.
The HCI uses survival rates and stunting rate instead of life expectancy as a measure of health, and quality-adjusted learning instead of merely years of schooling as a measure of education.
HCI also excludes per capita income whereas the HDI uses it.
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has replaced the Medical Council of India (BoG-MCI), as per information released by the Health Ministry.
National Medical Commission
National Medical Commission (NMC) is an Indian regulatory body of 33 members which regulates medical education and medical professionals.
It replaced the Medical Council of India (MCI) on 25 September 2020.
The Commission grants recognition of medical qualifications, gives accreditation to medical schools, grants registration to medical practitioners, and monitors medical practice and assess the medical infrastructure in India.
The NMC will have four separate autonomous boards: under-graduate medical education, post-graduate medical education, medical assessment and rating and ethics and medical registration.
It’s legal backing
The NITI Aayog had recommended the replacement of MCI with NMC.
The decision was approved by most states and after its approval by the Prime Minister and NMC bill was passed by parliament and approved by President on 8 August 2019.
National Medical Commission ordinance was brought in to replace Medical Council of India in early 2019 through an ordinance issued in January 2019 by the President of India.
The Supreme Court had allowed the Central Government to replace the medical council and with the help of five specialized doctors monitor the medical education system in India, from July 2017.
The government dissolved the MCI in 2018 and Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 (102 of 1956) stands repealed.
The first look of India’s first RRTS train on Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor has been unveiled.
Try this PYQ:
Q.Consider the following pairs:
National Highway: Cities connected
NH 4: Chennai and Hyderabad
NH 6: Mumbai and Kolkata
NH 15: Ahmedabad and Jodhpur
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) None
About the RRTS train
The Delhi–Meerut RRTS is an 82.15 km long, under-construction, semi-high speed rail corridor connecting Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut.
It is one of the three rapid-rail corridors planned under Phase-I of Regional Rapid Transport System (RRTS) project of National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC).
With a maximum speed of 160 km/h (99.42 mph), the distance between Delhi and Meerut will be covered in around 62 min (1.03 h).
With radiating stainless steel outer body, these aerodynamic RRTS trains will be lightweight and fully air-conditioned.
Each car will have six automatic plug-in type wide doors, three on each side for ease of access and exit.
The 4th edition of India – Japan Maritime bilateral exercise JIMEX will be held in the North Arabian Sea from 26 to 28 September 2020.
JIMEX 20
It is conducted biennially between the Indian Navy and Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF)
This series of exercises was commenced in January 2012 with a special focus on maritime security cooperation.
The last edition of JIMEX was conducted in October 2018 off Visakhapatnam, India.
JIMEX 20 will showcase a high degree of inter-operability and joint operational skills through the conduct of a multitude of advanced exercises, across the spectrum of maritime operations.
Multi-faceted tactical exercises involving weapon firings cross deck helicopter operations and complex surface, anti-submarine and air warfare drills will consolidate coordination developed by the two navies.
JIMEX 20 will further enhance the cooperation and mutual confidence between the two navies and fortify the long-standing bond of friendship between the two countries.
The government of Bangladesh is financing a film on the life of revolutionary freedom fighter Pritilata Waddedar.
Try this PYQ:
Q.The Ghadr (Ghadar) was a –
(a) Revolutionary association of Indians with headquarters at San Francisco.
(b) Nationalist organization operating from Singapore
(c) Militant organization with headquarters at Berlin
(d) Communist movement for Pritilata Waddedar
Pritilata Waddedar (1911-1932)
She was a Bengali revolutionary nationalist from the Indian subcontinent who was influential in the Indian independence movement.
After completing her education in Chittagong and Dhaka, she attended Bethune College in Kolkata.
She graduated in philosophy with distinction and became a school teacher.
Pritilata joined a revolutionary group headed by Surya Sen. She is known for leading fifteen revolutionaries in the 1932 armed attack on the Pahartali European Club, during which one person was killed and eleven injured.
The revolutionaries torched the club and were later caught by the British police. To avoid arrest, Pritilata consumed cyanide and died.
Farmers in Punjab and Haryana have been protesting against 3 ordinances promulgated by the Centre back in June this year. After the Monsoon Session of Parliament began this week, the government has introduced three Bills to replace these ordinances.
What are these ordinances?
The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020;
The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020; and
The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 (It is the Bill replacing the third that has been passed in Lok Sabha)
Let us study their key features:
(1) The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020
Trade of farmers’ produce: The Ordinance allows intra-state and inter-state trade of farmers’ produce outside: (i) the physical premises of market yards run by market committees formed under the state APMC Acts and (ii) other markets notified under the state APMC Acts. Such trade can be conducted in an ‘outside trade area’, i.e., any place of production, collection, and aggregation of farmers’ produce including (i) farm gates, (ii) factory premises, (iii) warehouses, (iv) silos, and (v) cold storages.
Electronic trading: The Ordinance permits the electronic trading of scheduled farmers’ produce (agricultural produce regulated under any state APMC Act) in the specified trade area. The following entities may establish and operate such platforms: (i) companies, partnership firms, or registered societies, having permanent account number under the Income Tax Act, 1961 or any other document notified by the central government, and (ii) a farmer producer organisation or agricultural cooperative society.
Market fee abolished: The Ordinance prohibits state governments from levying any market fee, cess or levy on farmers, traders, and electronic trading platforms for the trade of farmers’ produce conducted in an ‘outside trade area’.
(2) The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020
Farming agreement: The Ordinance provides for a farming agreement between a farmer and a buyer prior to the production or rearing of any farm produce. The minimum period of an agreement will be one crop season, or one production cycle of livestock. The maximum period is five years, unless the production cycle is more than five years.
Pricing of farming produce: The price of farming produce should be mentioned in the agreement. For prices subjected to variation, a guaranteed price for the produce and a clear reference for any additional amount above the guaranteed price must be specified in the agreement. Further, the process of price determination must be mentioned in the agreement.
Dispute Settlement: A farming agreement must provide for a conciliation Board as well as a conciliation process for settlement of disputes. If the dispute remains unresolved by the Board after thirty days, parties may approach the Sub-divisional Magistrate for resolution. Parties will have a right to appeal to an Appellate Authority (presided by collector or additional collector) against decisions of the Magistrate. Both the Magistrate and Appellate Authority will be required to dispose of a dispute within thirty days from the receipt of application. They may impose certain penalties on the party contravening the agreement.
(3) The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020
Regulation of food items: The Essential Commodities Act, 1955 empowers the central government to designate certain commodities (such as food items, fertilizers, and petroleum products) as essential commodities. The Ordinance provides that the central government may regulate the supply of certain food items including cereals, pulses, potatoes, onions, edible oilseeds, and oils, only under extraordinary circumstances. These include (i) war, (ii) famine, (iii) extraordinary price rise and (iv) natural calamity of grave nature.
Stock limit: The Ordinance requires that the imposition of any stock limit on agricultural produce must be based on price rise. A stock limit may be imposed only if there is: (i) a 100% increase in the retail price of horticultural produce; and (ii) a 50% increase in the retail price of non-perishable agricultural food items.
A Backgrounder: Long awaited APMC reforms
Agricultural markets in India are mainly regulated by state Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) laws. APMCs were set up with the objective of ensuring fair trade between buyers and sellers for effective price discovery of farmers’ produce.
APMCs can:
regulate the trade of farmers’ produce by providing licenses to buyers, commission agents, and private markets,
levy market fees or any other charges on such trade, and
provide necessary infrastructure within their markets to facilitate the trade
Issues with the APMCs
The Standing Committee on Agriculture (2018-19) identified some issues includes: (i) most APMCs have a limited number of traders operating, which leads to cartelization and reduces competition, and (ii) undue deductions in the form of commission charges and market fees.
Traders, commission agents, and other functionaries organise themselves into associations, which do not allow easy entry of new persons into market yards, stifling competition.
The Acts are highly restrictive in promotion of multiple channels of marketing (such as more buyers, private markets, direct sale to businesses and retail consumers, and online transactions) and competition in the system.
During 2017-18, the central government released the model APMC and contract farming Acts to allow restriction-free trade of farmers’ produce, promote competition through multiple marketing channels, and promote farming under pre-agreed contracts.
Why were the ordinances promulgated?
The Ordinances collectively seek to-
facilitate barrier-free trade of farmers’ produce outside the markets notified under the various state APMC laws
define a framework for contract farming and
impose stock limits on agricultural produce only if there is a sharp increase in retail prices
The three Ordinances together aim to increase opportunities for farmers to enter long term sale contracts, increase the availability of buyers, and permits buyers to purchase farm produce in bulk.
Causes of nationwide dissent
(1) No consultation with stakeholders
The attempt to pass the Bills without proper consultation adds to the mistrust among various stakeholders including State governments.
The ruling government could have waited for the Parliament session, held discussions with all political parties before arriving at a decision.
Farmer organisations see these Bills as an attempt to weaken the APMCs and eventual withdrawal of the Minimum Support Prices (MSP).
(2) Issue over trade and MSP guarantee
While farmers are protesting against all three ordinances, their objections are mostly against the provisions of the first.
Their concerns are mainly about sections relating to “trade area”, “trader”, “dispute resolution” and “market fee” in the first ordinance.
In effect, existing mandis established under APMC Acts have been excluded from the definition of trade area under the new legislation.
According to the ordinance, any trader with a PAN card can buy the farmers’ produce in the trade area.
In the present mandi system, arhatiyas (commission agents) have to get a licence to trade in a mandi.
Critics view the dismantling of the monopoly of the APMCs as a sign of ending the assured procurement of food grains at minimum support prices (MSP). To the Centre’s ‘one nation, one market’ call, critics have sought ‘one nation, one MSP’.
(3) Legacy concerns
The Bills gives no assurance to the poor, small and marginal farmers of India (constituting over 85 per cent of India’s farmers) of protection of their interests, their livelihoods, and their future.
Critics argue that such legislation will let the farmers falling into the clutches of the monopolistic big corporates.
Lofty recommendations have been made several times in the past, including by the Swaminathan Committee, which suggested the removal of the mandi tax, creation of a single market and facilitating contract farming
However, no efforts have taken place for implementing these basic reforms over the years.
(4) Fear of food insecurity
Punjab CM, on the easing of regulation of food items, said, it would lead to exporters, processors and traders hoarding farm produce during the harvest season, when prices are generally lower, and releasing it later when prices increase.
This could undermine food security since the States would have no information about the availability of stocks within the State.
(5) Constitutional issues raised
Since agriculture and markets are State subjects – entry 14 and 28 respectively in List II – the ordinances are being seen as a direct encroachment upon the functions of the States and against the spirit of cooperative federalism enshrined in the Constitution.
The Centre, however, argued that trade and commerce in food items is part of the concurrent list, thus giving it constitutional propriety.
The bills invite valid opposition: one, infraction of the states’ right to decide on intra-state commerce in agriculture, and two, officer-led dispute settlement outside the ambit of judicial review.
What are the promising features of these bills?
The new legislations would create an ecosystem where farmers and traders would enjoy the freedom of choice in the sale and purchase of agri-produce.
It would also promote barrier-free interstate or intrastate trade and commerce outside the physical premises of markets notified under the state agricultural produce marketing legislations.
The bills would also open up more choices for farmers, reduce marketing costs and help them in getting better prices.
At the same time, it would also help farmers of regions with surplus produce to get better prices and consumers of regions with shortages, lower prices.
The bill has also proposed an Electronic Trading Transaction Platform to ensure seamless electronic trade and the farmers will not be charged any cess or levy for sale of their products under this Act.
Interestingly, the bill aims for ‘One India, One Agriculture Market’ and also creates additional trading opportunities outside the APMC market yards to help farmers get remunerative prices due to the additional competition.
The new laws are not shutting down APMC mandis, nor are they implying that MSPs will not be functional.
This would supplement the existing Minimum Support Price (MSP) procurement system, which also provides a stable income to farmers.
Still, why are the farmers fuming?
There has been bipartisan consensus over the last two decades or so—both the UPA and the NDA governments have tried and failed to convince state governments to reform APMC Acts, notwithstanding periodic manifesto promises and model APMC Acts.
They failed with all approaches, trying to link financial support to agriculture based on reforms. The present crisis created the perfect window to usher in these transformative reforms.
People on both sides of the divide are saturated with such reformative measures and have arrived at the commonsensical benefits that would be ushered in as well as the risks.
What lies ahead
Accelerating research and academic excellence can bring in the ‘best in class’ technologies and can multiply farmers’ incomes.
As far as the commission agents are concerned, the governments should work on a clear roadmap to modernize them by facilitating them in providing value-added services. They could be leveraged to set-up grading and sorting, warehousing, cold chains and food processing infrastructure. This way, it is a win-win-win for the state government, farmers and the commission agents.
Soil health improvement and water conservation measures should be the top priority for the governments to enhance farm productivity.
Similarly, by diversifying into high-value crops such as vegetables and fruit, India could become the food- processing hub for the world. Farmers have to be made part of the entrepreneurial ecosystem (FaME—Farmers as Micro-Entrepreneurs).
Conclusion
A lot of the success of these bills depends on trust and consensus. In the end, what will determine the results of this latest set of reforms will be their implementation.
There is genuine uncertainty over what private procurement will mean. Will it mean greater corporate power over farmers, possibly unhealthy monopolies or duopolies? Will they be harder to negotiate with than a state monopoly?
Leveraging the reforms and moving forward rather is the most feasible solution than to protest amid the pandemic.
What farmers need and are asking for is legally guaranteed remunerative prices. If the Bills are perceived of good intent, then the government should not shy away from a proper parliamentary scrutiny of all its details.
Political parties that are opposing these Bills should coordinate better keeping farmers’ interests in the forefront, and not their party politics.
The article analyses the results of complete abolition of APMC in Bihar in the context of current protest against the agri bills.
Context
Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 has been a source of anger among farmers.
By allowing unregulated trading areas beyond APMC mandis, the law seeks to remove intermediaries from agricultural trade and raise price realization for farmers.
Excessive politicization of APMCs
APMC’s excessive politicization has resulted in cartelization and price-fixing.
For this reason, there have been several attempts at reforming their functioning.
Easier licensing norms, the removal of entry and exit barriers and computerization and transparency have been introduced in most APMC markets.
However, the Bihar government decided to abolish the APMC system altogether in 2006.
Analysing the impact of abolition of APMC in Bihar
It was hoped that abolition would ensure better prices for farmers of the state and attract large sums of private investment.
Before their abolition, Bihar had 95 market yards, of which 54 had infrastructure such as covered yards, godowns and administrative buildings, weighbridges, and processing as well as grading units.
With no revenue to maintain it, that infrastructure is now in a dilapidated condition.
A study by the National Council for Applied Economic Research reported increased volatility in grain prices after 2006.
Most of the farmers surveyed reported high storage costs at private warehouses.
Farmers this year in Bihar received lower price for maize compared to the farmers in states with APMC.
Lessons from Bihar
The Bihar experiment has important lessons for future marketing reforms in agriculture.
The benefits of these reforms will only accrue to farmers if they are accompanied by private investment in creating the physical infrastructure and institutional mechanisms needed to allow for greater participation of farmers.
The record of states on attracting private investment isn’t much better.
Conclusion
By only attempting to shift trade away from APMC to non-APMC areas, without a regulatory framework, the new law is unlikely to ensure better price realization for farmers.
The article discusses the issue of dealing with China in the aftermath of clashes on the border.
Understanding the importance of Tibet
Tibet is the roof of the world, with vast mineral and natural resources.
The mighty rivers that emanate from its expansive glaciers — such as the Brahmaputra, the Yangtse, the Yellow river, the Mekong, the Salween and the Indus — together with thousands of their tributaries have nurtured civilisations in peripheral countries for centuries.
The Kailash Mansarovar is centered in this region.
In an act of naked aggression, China occupied Tibet in 1959.
A buffer was eliminated, and the de facto boundary of China became contiguous to that of India.
That boundary was deliberately left undemarcated to enable further expansion.
Understanding China’s stand
China has land borders with 14 neighbours covering an estimated 22,100 kilometres.
Post-independence, and as its economic status increased, so did its military muscle.
China embarked on claims based on perceived imbalances of treaties forced on countries when they were weak.
Some of these have since been resolved after bloody clashes such as with Russia and Vietnam, while others have been resolved using a combination of lucrative offers.
Russia accepted half of China’s claim, Kazakhstan was given lucrative economic deals, Kyrgyzstan retained 70% of the land, ceding just 30%, and so on.
Way forward
The road ahead will have to be evolved and based on a study of the manner in which China has negotiated its boundary disputes with 12 of its neighbours.
Under the prevailing circumstances, it has become imperative to form a group of experts.
This group will plan and prepare, short-, medium- and long-term goals to achieve them within a suggested time frame.
Conclusion
Let us play down the rhetoric and adopt a pragmatic approach. It can no longer be a part-time issue to be addressed only when a crisis occurs. The crisis is upon us now.
The article explains the importance of focusing on the green supply chain for ensuring sustainability along with the progress of the organisations.
Sustainability as an essential issue
The U.N’s. Millennium Development Goals and the World Bank Group’s global practices have recognised sustainability as an essential issue of global importance.
Economic, social and other forms of sustainability have evolved over the years, but it is environmental sustainability that has gained significant popularity.
Economy and sustainability
Some firms have positioned environmental practices at the forefront due to legislation, and industry and government commitments.
Several firms have prioritised environmental practices due to compelling regulatory norms, and a potential to manage costs, risks and optimise eco-friendly practices.
However, organisations in the manufacturing sector focus on waste reduction and energy efficiency improvements excessively and fail to see the big picture of environmentalism.
Adopting green supply chains for long-lasting benefits
Only through organisational learning can people be urged to work towards long-lasting benefits.
In this context, green supply chain practices are useful.
These include green procurement, green manufacturing, green distribution, and reverse logistics.
With practices starting from acquisition of eco-friendly raw material to disposal/ reuse/ recycle of used products, employees, suppliers, distributors, retailers and customers will be able to integrate environmental concerns in the daily operations of a firm.
Thus, green supply chain practices enable organisational learning in environmental sustainability.
Research shows that the positive impacts of environmentalism can only be felt in the long term when they get embedded into organisational learning systems through green supply chain practices.
The resultant learning system smoothens the knowledge flow in the organisation.
Focusing on linkages
Linkages between green supply chain practices, corporate environmental performance, corporate economic performance is necessary for an organisation’s progress and environmental protection.
When the different players of a manufacturing supply chain realise the inherent benefits associated with organisational learning dimensions, their drive towards environmentalism increases.
Conclusion
Policymakers should support this thinking by not merely imposing environmental practices as regulatory norms but by emphasising on the creation of green supply chain-based learning systems in manufacturing.
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