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UPPSC Prelims 2021: STAR Strategy, sources and approach | Meet Parth sir on Habitat (link inside)
Link for UPPSC Habitat shared below.
With few months left for UPPSC Prelims it is essential to pick up the right sources and follow an effective strategy. It should be aligned with your UPSC preparation as well.
Parth sir here has explained in detail the sources you have to follow and how to approach the syllabus for UPPSC 2021 exam. He has also discussed STAR strategy. Watch the video to know more.
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24th February 2021| Daily Answer Writing Enhancement
Important Announcement: Topics to be covered on 1st March-
GS-1 Population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues.
GS-4 Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders.
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Respecting wealth creators
The article deals with the recent acknowledgement of the private sector by the Prime Minister in the development of the country.
Respecting wealth creators
- In his recent speech in Parliament, the Prime Minister openly acknowledged the contribution and role of the private sector as an important engine of growth and employment in India.
- The creation of wealth is essential for growth, employment and the reduction of poverty.
- India’s successes in many fields in the last three decades are linked to the private sector.
- The industries that have created growth, jobs, buzz and hope in the last three decades, the vast majority have been driven by private enterprise.
Steps taken to promote business
- India has been making commendable strides in the “Ease of Doing Business”.
- It is easier to start a business in India than it was a decade ago.
- We seem to have broken the shackles of a chained belief that business is bad.
- The success of the Mudra Yojana and Start-up India are living testimony to this fact.
- And that India is daring to look at sectors we were otherwise hesitant to — space, defence, aeronautics.
- Some areas need work, but a government willing to listen gives a good head start to solving those problems.
- Work on faceless tax assessment and PLI schemes are moves that have received encouraging responses far and wide.
- The India stack has revolutionised the fintech sector.
- The digital health stack will likely do the same for healthtech.
Conclusion
The recent Union budget has made clear the intent of this government to pursue economic reform and go for growth — whether it is the willingness to live with a higher fiscal deficit or to aggressively pursue divestment of public sector enterprises. Large spending on infrastructure is good news too.
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Being petroleum independent
The article discusses the steps taken by the government to improve fuel efficiency standards and the for the transition to clean sources of energy.
Reducing energy import dependence
- Speaking on the increase in petrol and diesel prices, Prime Minister emphasised the need for clean sources of energy.
- Expanding and diversifying energy supply is good, but if India is to reduce its energy import dependence, it must look towards first managing the demand for petroleum products.
- It is worthwhile to reflect on measures taken by the previous governments as well as this government in this context.
Steps taken
National Electric Mobility Mission Plan
- The UPA-2 administration formulated fuel efficiency standards for passenger vehicles that are now in effect.
- It also constituted the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP).
- While well-intended, both these actions fell short in terms of ambition.
- India’s 2022 fuel efficiency standards for passenger cars are nearly 20% less stringent than the European Union’s standards.
- The NEMMP primarily focused on hybrid electric vehicles.
- Most of the incentives under the NEMMP went towards subsidising mild hybrids instead of electric vehicles.
Multiple fuel pathways
- Recently, the government has encouraged multiple fuel pathways in the transport sector including natural gas.
- The Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME-II) scheme now focuses largely on electric vehicles.
- The government has also provided several additional fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to encourage a transition to electric vehicles.
Steps need to be taken
- There are many things that the government can and should do to
- First, the government should formulate a zero-emissions vehicle (ZEV) programme that would require vehicle manufacturers to produce a certain number of electric vehicles.
- At present, the electric mobility initiative in India is driven largely by new entrants in the two- and three-wheeler space.
- A ZEV programme would require all manufacturers to start producing electric vehicles across all market segments.
- The government should also strengthen fuel efficiency requirements for new passenger cars and commercial vehicles.
- Two-wheelers, which consume nearly two-third of the petrol used in India, are not subject to any fuel efficiency standards.
- Adopting stringent fuel efficiency standards and a ZEV programme by 2024 can result in India’s petroleum demand peaking by 2030.
- The FAME should be extended not only to all passenger cars and commercial vehicles but also to agricultural tractors.
Conclusion
As the economy recovers from the pandemic, the demand for petroleum products will rise, as will prices. But the government can save money for the consumer while enhancing long-term energy security by wielding the regulatory tools at its disposal.
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A changing fiscal framework
The article examines the changes in government’s fiscal policy stance which supports the debt-financing and apparent contradiction displayed by increased excise duty.
Increase in excise duty
- Well before India began to globalise there was a time when each Union Budget announced sales tax increases on tobacco products.
- The rise in tax was expected to be a shot in the arm for the revenue-starved government of our poor country.
- India is less poor now, having risen to the rank of an emerging market economy.
- Yet, COVID-19 has wreaked havoc.
- As opposed to a Budget estimate of 3.5% for fiscal deficit, the revised estimates show a 2.7 times larger deficit of 9.5% for FY 2020-21.
- A comparison of the government’s revised Budget estimates with the original Budget estimates reveals a fall in receipts from every source of taxation except excise.
- The revised Budget shows a rise of ₹94,000 crore on account of excise duties alone.
- Presumably, the increase comes from the much-debated excise duty increases on petroleum and diesel.
- The excise duty rise will hardly compensate for the huge falls in other tax revenues.
- The larger excise duty collection is not large enough to have significantly reduced the inflated fiscal deficit figure.
Implications of hike in excise duty
- Given the nature of the products on which the excise duty has gone up, prices of commodities will rise in general.
- With annual output shrinking by an estimated 7.7%, it is straightforward to conclude that unemployment has risen significantly.
- The accompanying price rise will be the unemployed persons’ worst nightmare.
- The result will be severe inequality.
Change in economic policy framework
- The Economic Survey 2020-21 considers Olivier Blanchard’s prescription that a fiscal deficit automatically transformed to government debt.
- Such debts along with their servicing liabilities have a tendency to magnify over the years where present borrowings keep increasing to repay past borrowings and service charges.
- This leaves little room for growth-enhancing expenditure and reduces a government’s creditworthiness in the eyes of lenders.
- Debt-financed fiscal spending could well be a driver of growth.
- It can improve the standard of living of the entire population, without necessarily removing inequality.
- A government’s fiscal expenditure, Professor Blanchard points out, has stronger multiplier effects during recessions than during booms
- The inequality, however, could well be benignant, for even though the rich will grow richer, the poor will escape out of poverty.
Condition for debt-financed fiscal spending
- Debt or the fiscal deficit constitutes the government’s spendable resources.
- What will prevent the government from sinking into a debt trap?
- Professor Blanchard shows that the debt-to-GDP ratio can be prevented from exploding if the rate of growth of GDP happens to be higher than the sovereign rate of interest.
- This is the case in developed economies.
- In such economies, debt financed government expenditure will create a positive primary surplus out of which interest payments can be made to keep the debt-GDP ratio under control.
- There will, of course, be a maximum value that this ratio can attain, a value that is higher the larger is the excess of the growth rate over the interest rate.
Contradiction in fiscal policy and fiscal regime
- According to the Economic Survey, India’s average interest rate and growth rate over the last 25 years (leaving out FY 2020-21) have been 8.8% and 12.8% respectively.
- Hence, Professor Blanchard’s condition is satisfied.
- This, of course, is not to support excise duty increases, for it goes against the very principle of the Blanchard argument.
- Therefore, there appears to be a contradiction between the government’s announced fiscal policy stance and the fiscal regime it is actually running.
Consider the question”The Economic Survey 2020-2021 calls for the debt-financed fiscal spending. Do you think that this view is suitable for India economy? What are the risks involved?”
Conclusion
The government must consider the implications of increased excise on the economy and should focus on removing the contradiction in its fiscal policy and fiscal regime.
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UPSC Mains 2020 GS Paper 3: Analysis and approach | Discuss with us! Fill Samanvaya
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Before we start the question-wise analysis, here are some of the observations with regards to UPSC 2020 Mains GS paper 3:
- Taking the comprehensive view of the paper, the questions are more tilted towards Current Affairs.
- Define potential GDP and explain its determinants. What are the factors that have been inhibiting India from realizing its potential GDP?
- How does the draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2020 differ from the existing EIA Notification, 2006?
- What are the salient features of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan launched by the Government of India for water conservation and water security?
- The static topics are also a repetition of previous years’ trends.
- What are the main constraints in the transport and marketing of agricultural produce in India?
- What do you understand by nanotechnology and how is it helping in the health sector?
- The straightforwardness of questions made the paper very general and easy to tackle.
- For effective border area management, discuss the steps required to be taken to deny local support to militants and also suggest ways to manage favorable perception among locals.
- COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented devastation worldwide. However, technological advancements are being availed readily to win over the crisis. Give an account of how technology was sought to aid the management of the pandemic.
- Very few questions require some specific knowledge but manageable.
- What are the major factors responsible for making the rice-wheat system a success? In spite of this success, how has this system become a bane in India?
- What are the determinants of left-wing extremism in the Eastern part of India? What strategy should the Government of India, civil administration, and security forces adopt to counter the threat in the affected areas?
- Weightage according to the sectors:
- Economy & Agriculture- 8
- Environment & Disaster Management- 6
- Science & Technology- 2
- Internal Security- 4
Remark:
The questions are easy to handle if the students have a thorough idea of syllabus and a hold on Current Affairs. Bringing out multi-dimensionality will fetch good marks.
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Question-wise analysis of UPSC 2020 GS Paper 3
Q1. Explain intragenerational and intergenerational issues of equity from the perspective of inclusive growth and sustainable development.
CD TEST Q.) What do you understand by fiscal deficit? Does higher fiscal deficit violate the principles of intergenerational equity in longer run ? Critically analyse.
APPROACH
- Simply start by defining Inter and Intra generational equity.
- In the body, with the help of examples link these two equities with inclusive growth and sustainable development.
- Eg: Equity in education has two dimensions. The first is fairness, which basically means making sure that personal and social circumstances – for example, gender, socio-economic status, or ethnic origin – should not be an obstacle to achieving educational potential.
- The second is inclusion, in other words ensuring a basic minimum standard of education for all – for example that everyone should be able to read, write and do simple arithmetic.
- Similarly bring up other dimensions like health, finance, environment, etc.
- Conclude either by suggesting some reforms or giving certain schemes like Jan Dhan Yojana and so on.
Q2. Define potential GDP and explain its determinants. What are the factors that have been inhibiting India from realizing its potential GDP?
CD TEST Q. Among several factors for India’s potential growth, at this moment, government expenditure is the most effective one. Do you agree? What are the impediments in increasing Government expenditure? (10 marks)
Approach
- Straight forward- define potential GDP- Potential gross domestic product (GDP) is defined in the OECD’s Economic Outlook publication as the level of output that an economy can produce at a constant inflation rate. Although an economy can temporarily produce more than its potential level of output, that comes at the cost of rising inflation.
- Its determinants- The capital stock, the potential labor force depending on demographic factors and participation rates, the non-accelerating inflation rate of unemployment, and the level of labor efficiency determine this potential output which is important to calculate the output gap.
- Give the factors inhibiting its growth with examples.
- Conclude by giving suggestions about how to overcome the challenges.
Q3. What are the main constraints in transport and marketing of agricultural produce in India?
CD TEST Q. The APMC Act has been blamed for poor price realisation by the farmers. Recently announced reforms promise to do away with such issues in the APMC Act. In light of this, examine the issues with APMC Acts and how the promised reforms are expected to resolve such issues.
Approach
- Start with some data regarding the current status of transport issues in agricultural marketing
- Give the main constraints like- perishable goods, road infrastructure, modal interconnect, mandi infrastructure, inadequate logistics connectivity, support and facilities to ensure the farmers timely delivery of their harvest into the markets; lack of services including mobile cold storage for fresh perishable produce and so on.
- Conclude by suggesting a way forward for overcoming these hurdles.
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Q4. What are the challenges and opportunities of food processing sector in the country? How can income of the farmers be substantially increased by encouraging food processing?
CD TEST Q. India is one of the biggest food producing hubs in the world but recently the food processing industry in India is not showing the desired results. Write a note on the challenges being faced by the food processing industry in India. Also suggest the measures needed to revamp the food processing sector?
Approach
- Introduce either by giving some data on food processing sectors in India or by defining the sector.
- Discuss the challenges and opportunities in two three points.
- Provide the link of improving the food processing sector and its impact on farmers income.
- You can quote Dalwai Committee and Niti Ayog recommendations also.
- Conclude by providing suggestions for furthering up the sector.
Q5. What do you understand by nanotechnology and how is it helping in health sector?
CD TEST Q. Nanotechnology is a pathbreaking technology which can create many new materials and devices with a wide range of applications, such as in nanomedicine, nanoelectronics etc. Discuss.
Q. “Nanotechnology is an area of science and technology that holds highly promising prospects for military applications, considering its wide applicability in defensive as well as offensive operations.” Examine.
Approach
- Straight forward question
- Define nanotechnology
- Give its applications in health sector especially the emerging diseases and the cure provided by nanotechnology
- End the answer by giving the way forward about how to utilise the sector to its full potential.
Q6. How is science interwoven deeply with our lives? What are the striking changes in agriculture triggered off by the science-based technologies?
CD TEST Q. Examine how India should use breakthroughs in biotechnology and genetic engineering for achieving the goal of low-input, high-output agriculture which is a prerequisite for doubling farmers’ income.
Approach
- Introduce the answer by providing a few examples about use of science in everyday life.
- Open ended question so the body will contain all possible dimensions in the answer.
- Then give advancement in science and its utilisation in agriculture- drone technology, happy seed drill machine, irrigation technologies etc.
- Link the environmental concern and utilisation of science in overcoming the challenges in the field of agriculture.
Q7. How does the draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2020 differ from the existing EIA Notification, 2006?
CD TEST Q. How does the draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2020 differ from the existing EIA Notification, 2006?
Approach
- Straight forward question
- Provide the major amendments made in the draft Act and how is it better or its limitations a compared to earlier version
Q8. What are the salient features of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan launched by the Government of India for water conservation and water security?
CD TEST Q. In a world driven by climate change, water, as a public resource, has become crucial. In the light of this, discuss how Jal Jeevan Mission will bring some respite in the lives of people in general and rural areas in particular.
Approach
- Give the current status of water usage and scarcity in India.
- Give the relevant salient features- which will help India in its water conservation ideas.
- Provide a way forward for the capacity utilization of the scheme.
Q9. Discuss different types of cybercrimes and measures required to be taken to fight the menace.
CD TEST Q. As “Digital India” grows, cyber security vulnerabilities will increase too. In this context, critically analyse India’s cyber security capabilities.
Approach
- Define cybercrime and its aspects
- Different types- phishing, fake news, frauds, malware attacks etc.
- Dimensions- from all stakeholders’ perspective.
- Give the measures taken by Indian Government and also some international obligations.
- Conclude by providing some mitigation measures.
Q10. For effective border area management, discuss the steps required to be taken to deny local support to militants and also suggest ways to manage favourable perception among locals.
Approach
- Start by giving a view on the situation around boundary areas in India.
- Give different steps taken by the Government in terms of providing a trust, use of technology, border area management by the forces involved, use of traditional methods adopted by locals, etc.
- Suggest ways for a comprehensive strategy to manage border area issues.
Q11. Explain the meaning of investment in an economy in terms of capital formation. Discuss the factors to be considered while designing a concession agreement between a public entity and a private entity.
Q12. Explain the rationale behind the Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Act of 2017. How has COVID-19 impacted the GST compensation fund and created new federal tensions?
CD TEST Q. What were the reasons for making provisions under GST for paying the states compensation for tax revenue shortfall? What are the implications of the provision for the Central government?
Q.) The Goods and Service Tax has been a grand bargain in cooperative federalism. But the issue of GST compensation to the States in the aftermath of lockdown threatens this achievement in federalism. In light of this, explain the issue of compensation and suggest the ways to deal with it.
Approach
- Give the current scenario of GST Act in India.
- Discuss both the sides of bringing the Act in India. Provide the Pros and Cons of it.
- Its role during the time of Pandemic and why it created tensions in the federal system.
- Conclude by providing suggestions about how to make the system more effective in future.
Q13. What are the major factors responsible for making the rice-wheat system a success? In spite of this success how has this system become bane in India?
CD TEST Q. Analyse Critically whether the existing cropping patterns in different parts of India would need any change for better agriculture performance in the future.
Approach
- You can start by giving a view on the present status of the Green Revolution in India and how it created a bias towards the Rice-Wheat system.
- Factors responsible for its success- technologies gave advantage to this like hybrid seeds, machines , irrigation etc. more price for this, MSP on these two crops etc.
- How is it a bane- irrigation infrastructure not adequate still many areas are involved in this leading to underground water exploitation, limiting crop diversification and so on.
- Conclusion should contain suggestions to overcome the above problems.
Q14. Suggest measures to improve water storage and irrigation system to make judicious use under depleting scenario.
CD TEST Q. What do you understand by micro irrigation? Discuss its importance to a country like India?
Approach
- Straight forward question
- Use of technology, drip irrigation system, water harvesting techniques, sponge cities mission etc.
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Q15. COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented devastation worldwide. However, technological advancements are being availed readily to win over the crisis. Give an account of how technology was sought to aid management of the pandemic.
Approach
- Introduce by giving the scenario of covid pandemic.
- Technological advancement- for testing like RT PCR, Antigen test kits, PPEs, use of simulations to detect the mutations and easier development of vaccines, testing variants of medicines already available etc.
Q16. Describe the benefits of deriving electric energy from sunlight in contrast to the conventional energy generation. What are the initiatives offered by our Government for this purpose?
CD TEST Q. What are the advantages of Lithium ion batteries that makes it most suitable for e-vehicles and other devices? Examine India’s technological and manufacturing capabilities in this crucial product.
Approach
- Start by giving a general perspective on the usage of Renewable energy in India.
- Give the benefits of Solar Energy over Conventional Thermal Energy- less polluting, long lasting supply, easier availability, better outreach etc.
- Give Government initiatives like- ISA, Solar Energy Mega parks, KUSUM scheme, Net Metering etc.
- Conclude giving suggestions of improving the renewable energy sector more.
Q17. What are the key features of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) initiated by the Government of India?
CD TEST Q. Discuss key features of the National clean air program? Will it be able to solve the problem of air pollution in India.Critically examine?
Approach
- Direct question
- Give the introduction about the pollution problems at present.
- Describe the key features of the NCAP.
- Conclude by giving way forward for proper implementation of the plan and some innovative methods.
Q18. Discuss the recent measures initiated in disaster management by the Government of India departing from the earlier reactive approach.
CD TEST Q. The National Disaster Management Plan is devoid of many important elements that make a good and robust action plan. It may fulfill the formal requirement of law of having a plan but it may not be effective in achieving its grandiose vision of building resilience. Discuss.
Approach
- Introduce by discussing the ongoing pandemic.
- Discuss about the changes done- like PM CARES Fund, changes in Epidemic acts, lockdown etc.
- Conclusion- measures to bring about more mitigation related efforts and visionary approach.
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Q19. What are the determinants of left-wing extremism in Eastern part of India? What strategy should the Government of India, civil administration and security forces adopt to counter the threat in the affected areas?
CD TEST Q. The Government of India has adopted an integrated and holistic approach to deal with the Left Wing Extremist (LWE) insurgency. In this context, discuss the challenges while dealing with this internal security in India. Critically analyse the steps are taken by India to curb this menace.
Approach
- Introduction: define some context of LWE in India.
- Give the determinants of such activities happening in different states.
- Strategy from different authorities- Developmental plans, educational opportunities, awareness, rehabilitation policies etc.
- Way forward and suggestions for further improvements.
Q20. Analyse internal security threats and transborder crimes along Myanmar, Bangladesh and Pakistan borders including Line of Control (LoC). Also discuss the role played by various security forces in this regard.
CD TEST Q. Cross-Border movement of insurgents is only one of the several security challenges facing the policing of the border in North-East India. Examine the various challenges currently emanating across the India-Bangladesh border. Also, discuss the steps to counter the challenges.
Approach
- Define the term internal security threats or add some current affairs-related news.
- Discuss various threats emerging on border fronts- illegal immigration, smuggling, ceasefire violations, terrorist attacks, organized crimes, ethnic conflicts, etc.
- Discuss the strategies adopted by India in this respect.
- The role played by border forces, paramilitary forces, etc to curb such crimes.
- Way forward and innovative suggestions for border management.
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- Taking the comprehensive view of the paper, the questions are more tilted towards Current Affairs.
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Pakistan- Sri Lanka Relations
Pakistani PM is in Colombo on a two-day visit for ways and means to enhance trade and connectivity with Sri Lanka.
What is the news?
- Pakistan PM’s visit has attracted a fair amount of controversy because of a cancelled invitation to address the Sri Lankan parliament.
- India too granted permission for using its airspace for the Pakistani PM’s aircraft.
Try this question:
Q.The triangulation in the ties between Sri Lanka, China and Pakistan is an emerging threat in the Indian Ocean Region. Discuss.
Sri Lanka- Pakistan Relations
- For Colombo, the visit holds much value. It comes at a fraught time for the government on the international stage.
- Imminently, it is bracing to be hauled over the coals at the UN Human Rights Commission for withdrawing from resolution 30/1 of September 2015, under which it committed to carrying out war crime investigations.
- To make matters worse, the Islamic world is appalled by Sri Lanka’s tight rules for the cremation and not burials of Muslims who have died of COVID-19.
- The rule created a storm in Sri Lanka, with community leaders convinced that this is nothing but an extension of the state’s persecution of Muslims.
Why Pakistan?
(1) Trade ties
- Pakistan is Sri Lanka’s second-largest trading partner in South Asia after India.
- Sri Lanka and Pakistan have a free trade agreement dating back to 2005.
- Pakistan’s top exports to Sri Lanka are textiles and cement.
- Sri Lanka’s top exports to Pakistan are tea, rubber and readymade garments.
(2) Cultural ties
- In addition to trade cooperation, Pakistan invokes cricket and Buddhism, topics that most Sri Lankans share a deep connection with.
- Over the last decade, Pakistan has also been projecting its ancient Buddhist sites to promote cultural ties with Sri Lanka.
(3) Defence ties
Defence ties are a strong pillar of Sri Lanka- Pakistan bilateral relationship.
- During the 1971 war, Pakistan Air Force jets refuelled in Sri Lanka.
- India pulled back the peacekeeping forces in 1990, it provided no active defence support to the Sri Lankan military.
- Sri Lanka turned to Pakistan for arms, ammunition as well as training for its fighter pilots.
- Gotabaya, who was defence secretary at the time, visited Pakistan in 2008 to make a request for emergency assistance with military supplies.
- Earlier this month, Sri Lanka participated in Pakistan’s multi-nation naval exercise Aman.
India’s observations and concerns
- As Sri Lanka’s closest neighbour with strong, all-encompassing ties, even if these are sometimes problematic, India has not perceived Pakistan as a serious rival in Sri Lanka so far.
- Sporadically, the Indian security establishment has voiced concerns about Pakistan’s role in the radicalization of people, especially in Eastern Sri Lanka.
- Funds have poured in for new mosques from some West Asian countries, and the effect that this could have in India.
Emerging threats from the ‘Triad’
- There is now a new wariness about triangulation in the ties between Sri Lanka, China and Pakistan in defence co-operation, though it has not been publicly expressed.
- In 2016, India put pressure on Sri Lanka to drop a plan to buy the Chinese JF-17 Thunder aircraft made in Pakistan and co-produced by the Chinese Chengdu Aircraft Corporation.
- The most recent threat was from excluding India from the Colombo Terminal Project.
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NITI Aayog’s Draft National Policy on Migrant Workers
Spurred by the exodus of 10 million migrants from big cities during the Covid-19 lockdown, the NITI Aayog has prepared a draft national migrant labour policy.
Highlights of the Policy
- The draft describes two approaches to policy design:
- To focus on cash transfers, special quotas, and reservations
- To enhance the agency and capability of the community and thereby remove aspects that come in the way of an individual’s own natural ability to thrive
A rights-based approach
- The policy rejects a handout approach, opting instead for a rights-based framework.
- It seeks to remove restrictions on the true agency and potential of the migrant workers.
- The goal a/c to the document should not be to provide temporary or permanent economic or social aids”, which is “a rather limited approach”.
- Migration, the draft says, should be acknowledged as an integral part of the development and government policies should not hinder but…seek to facilitate internal migration.
Issues with existing law
- The 2017 report argued that specific protection legislation for migrant workers was unnecessary.
- Migrant workers aren’t yet integrated with all workers as part of an overarching framework that covers regular and contractual work.
- The report discussed the limitations of The Inter-State Migrant Workers Act, 1979, which was designed to protect labourers from exploitation by contractors by safeguarding their right to non-discriminatory wages.
- It mentions that the Ministry of Labour and Employment should amend the 1979 Act for “effective utilization to protect migrants”.
Restructuring the institutions
The NITI draft lays down institutional mechanisms to coordinate between Ministries, states, and local departments to implement programmes for migrants.
- Nodal agency: It identifies the Ministry of Labour and Employment as the nodal Ministry for implementation of policies, and asks it to create a special unit to help to converge the activities of other Ministries.
- Resources centre: This unit would manage migration resource centres in high migration zones, a national labour Helpline, links of worker households to government schemes, and inter-state migration management bodies.
- Migration corridors: On the inter-state migration management bodies, it says that labour departments of source and destination states along major migration corridors, should work together through the migrant worker cells.
- Labour officers from source states can be deputed to destinations – e.g., Bihar’s experiment to have a joint labour commissioner at Bihar Bhavan in New Delhi.
- Role for Panchayats: Alongside the long-term goal, policies should promote the role of panchayats to aid migrant workers and integrate urban and rural policies to improve the conditions of migration.
- Migration management: Panchayats should maintain a database of migrant workers, issue identity cards and passbooks, and provide “migration management and governance” through training, placement, and social-security benefit assurance, the draft says.
Ways to stem migration
- Even as it underlines the key role of migration in development, the draft recommends steps to stem migration.
- The draft asks source states to raise minimum wages to bring a major shift in the local livelihood of tribal that may result in stemming migration to some extent.
- The absence of community building organisations (CBO) and administrative staff in the source states have hindered access to development programmes, pushing tribals towards migration, the draft says.
- The “long term plan” for CBOs and panchayats should be to “alleviate distress migration policy initiatives” by aiming “for a more pro-poor development strategy in the sending areas.
The importance of data
- The draft calls for a central database to help employers “fill the gap between demand and supply” and ensures “maximum benefit of social welfare schemes”.
- It asks the Ministries and the Census office to be consistent with the definitions of migrants and subpopulations, capture seasonal and circular migrants, and incorporate migrant-specific variables in existing surveys.
- Both documents see limited merit in Census data that comes only once a decade.
- It asked the National Sample Survey Office to include questions related to migration in the periodic labour force survey and to carry out a separate survey on migration.
Preventing exploitation
- The policy draft describes a lack of administrative capacity to handle issues of exploitation.
- State labour departments have little engagement with migration issues, and are in “halting human trafficking mode”, the draft says.
- The local administration, given the usual constraints of manpower, is not in a position to monitor.
- This has become the breeding ground for middlemen to thrive on the situation and entrap migrants which leads to potential exploitation and trafficking.
Specific recommendations
- The draft asks the various ministries to use Tribal Affairs migration data to help create migration resource centres in high migration zones.
- It asks the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to focus on skill-building at these centres.
- The Ministry of Education should take measures under the Right to Education Act to mainstream migrant children’s education, to map migrant children, and to provide local-language teachers in migrant destinations.
- The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs should address issues of night shelters, short-stay homes, and seasonal accommodation for migrants in cities.
- The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and Ministry of Labour should set up grievance handling cells and fast track legal responses for trafficking, minimum wage violations, and workplace abuses etc.
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Pagri Sambhaal Movement of 1907
As a part of the ongoing farmers’ protest, groups across the country have celebrated February 23 as ‘Pagri Sambhal Diwas’.
Try this PYQ:
Q.What was the immediate cause for the launch of the Swadeshi movement?
(a) The partition of Bengal done by Lord Curzon.
(b) A sentence of 18 months rigorous imprisonment imposed on Lokmanya Tilak.
(c) The arrest and deportation of Lala Lajpat Rai and Ajit Singh; and passing of the Punjab Colonization Bill.
(d) Death sentence pronounced on the Chapekar brothers.
Pagri Sambhaal Movement
- Pagrhi Sambhaal Jatta was a successful farm agitation that forced the British government to repeal three laws related to agriculture back in 1907.
- Bhagat Singh’s uncle Ajit Singh was the force behind this agitation, and he wanted to channel people’s anger over the farm laws to topple the colonial government.
What were the ‘three laws’?
- The three farm-related acts at the centre of the storm in 1907 were the Punjab Land Alienation Act 1900, the Punjab Land Colonization Act 1906 and the Doab Bari Act.
- These acts would reduce farmers from owners to contractors of land, and gave the British government the right to take back the allotted land if the farmer even touched a tree in his field without permission.
- Amid resentment against the laws, Bhagat Singh’s father Kishan Singh and uncle Ajit Singh, with their revolutionary friend Ghasita Ram, formed the Bharat Mata Society.
- It worked to mobilise this unrest into a revolt against the British government.
Repeal of the laws
- Ajit Singh persuaded Congress leader Lala Lajpat Rai to come on the stage during a rally in Lyallpur on March 3, 1907, to protest against the laws.
- On sensing the popular resentment, the British made a minor amendment to the laws.
- The agitation couldn’t remain non-violent. Ajit Singh was booked for sedition after his speech at a public meeting in Rawalpindi on April 21, 1921.
- Violence erupted soon afterwards and the British government repealed the three controversial laws in May 1907.