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Central Committee to find alternative for Death by Hanging
Central Idea: The government informed the Supreme Court that it is considering the formation of a committee to examine the need for a painless and more dignified alternative to death by hanging.
Background Information
- Death by hanging is a mode of execution in India.
- In March, the Supreme Court had asked the government to provide data on a more acceptable method of executing prisoners other than death by hanging.
- A petition was filed challenging the constitutionality of death by hanging as a mode of execution.
Death Sentences imposed so far
- 539 prisoners were on death row in India at the end of 2021, the highest since at least 2016.
- In 2022, trial courts imposed 165 death sentences, the highest in over two decades.
- Gujarat courts imposed 51 death sentences in 2022, the highest among all the States.
- Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand also recorded significant increases in death sentences imposed by trial courts in 2022.
- From the 67 decided cases by the High Court’s involving 101 prisoners in 2022, three prisoners had their death sentences confirmed, 48 prisoners saw their death sentences commuted to life imprisonment, 43 were acquitted of all charges and six had their cases remitted to the trial court.
- In the 11 cases decided by the Supreme Court involving 15 prisoners in 2022, 5 prisoners were acquitted of all charges; the death sentences for eight were commuted to life imprisonment; and the death penalty was confirmed for two.
Death Penalty by Hanging: Present Status
- Section 354 (5) of the Code of Criminal Procedure mandates that a person sentenced to death shall “be hanged by the neck till he is dead”.
- In India, the Air Force Act, 1950, the Army Act 1950, and the Navy Act 1957 say that execution has to be carried out either by hanging by the neck until death or by being shot to death.
- In 2018, the Centre had filed an affidavit supporting death by hanging as a mode of execution.
- The Centre had not found the method of execution “barbaric, inhuman and cruel” compared to firing squads and lethal injections.
Various initiatives to alter death by hanging
- Ensuring dignified death: The government is considering the formation of a committee to examine the need for a painless and more dignified alternative to death by hanging.
- Panel formation: The Chief Justice of India had suggested the formation of a committee with experts from national law universities, professors of law, doctors, and scientific persons.
- Humane and painless method: The court indicated that it may even direct an alternative method of executing capital punishments if it was proved that there was a more “humane” method of execution.
- Voices for psychological tests: The SC has asked for psychological evaluation of condemned prisoners by expert doctors, and access for them by mitigating investigators.
Concerns raised by Judiciary
- The Chief Justice had observed that better data was needed to relook at death by hanging.
- The court wanted to know the-
- Impact of the sentence of death by hanging
- Pain caused
- Period of actual death, and
- Availability of resources for hanging a person
Judiciary at loggerheads
- The court clarified that it was not questioning the constitutionality of the death penalty, which was well-settled in Deena versus Union of India Case judgment and the Bachan Singh case reported in 1980.
- The government argued that the mode of execution is a “matter of legislative policy” and the death penalty is awarded only in the rarest of rare cases, with only three executions between 2012 and 2015.
Debate over Death Penalty
Arguments in favor of death penalty Arguments against death penalty – Forfeiture of life: Supporters of the death penalty believe that those who commit murder, because they have taken the life of another, have forfeited their own right to life. – Eye for an eye: Reformative justice is more productive, that innocent people are often killed in the search for retribution, and that “an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. – Moral indignation of the victim: It is a just form of retribution, expressing and reinforcing the moral indignation not only of the victim’s relatives but of law-abiding citizens in general. – Deterrence is a myth: Death penalty is not a deterrent to capital crimes state that there is no evidence to support the claim that the penalty is a deterrent. – Highest form of Justice: For heinous crimes such as the Nirbhaya Gangrape Case, no other punishment could have deterred the will of the convicts. – Political tool of suppression: The authorities in some countries, for example Iran and Sudan, use the death penalty to punish political opponents. – Deterrent against crime: Capital punishment is often justified with the argument that by executing convicted murderers, we will deter would-be murderers from killing people. – Reverence for life’ principle: Death penalty is an immoral punishment since humans should not kill other humans, no matter the reasons, because killing is killing. – Proportional punishment: The guilty people deserve to be punished in proportion to the severity of their crime. – Stigma against killing: With the introduction of lethal injection as execution method, medical professionals participate in executions. Many professionals have now refused to administer such deaths. – Prevailing lawlessness: The crimes we are now witnessing cannot be addressed by simple punishments. We are seeing horrific attacks on women, young girls, minority communities and Dalits etc. – Skewed justice systems: In many cases recorded by Amnesty International, people were executed after being convicted in grossly unfair trials, on the basis of torture-tainted evidence and with inadequate legal representation. – Prevention of crime is non-existent: Despite of stringent regulations, it is certainly visible that some crimes can never be prevented in our society. – Discriminatory nature: The weight of the death penalty is disproportionally carried by those with less advantaged socio-economic backgrounds or belonging to a racial, ethnic or religious minority. Other issues with such executions
(a) Socio-Economic Factors
- The recent statistics shows that the death row prisoners in India are more from the backward classes of the society.
- The death row prisoners belong to backward classes and religious minorities and the majority of convicts’ families are living in adjunct poverty.
- These people who are backward both in economic and social respects, are not in a position to here expensive lawyers and get proper representation in the Court.
(b) Delayed Execution
- The law provides for a long process before the execution of the convicts actually takes place.
- The unexplained delay in execution can be a ground for commutation of death penalty, and an inmate, his or her kin, or even a public-spirited citizen could file a writ petition seeking such commutation.
- Their trials are often cruelly forced to endure long periods of uncertainty about their fate.
Way forward: Law Commission recommendations on death penalty
The Law Commission of India in its 262nd Report (August 2015) recommended that:
- Death penalty be abolished for all crimes other than terrorism-related offences and waging war.
- Measures such as police reforms, witness protection scheme and victim compensation scheme should be taken up expeditiously by the government.
- It felt that time has come for India to move towards abolition of the death penalty. However the concern is often raised that abolition of death penalty for terrorism-related offences and waging war, will affect national security.
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How to study hard without ever burning out? Simplifying UPSC 2024 Preparation | Fill Samanvaya, a Free 1-on 1 mentorship session
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Given the fierce competition, the extensive and complicated syllabus, and the unpredictable nature of the UPSC, there is some truth to the claim that passing the UPSC exam is a much more difficult task than imagined.
On the other hand, winning this UPSC battle becomes much simpler for those who work hard in the right direction, under a strategy, followed consistently. Remember! UPSC demands absolute perfection in terms of execution.
If you are not enjoying the process of working hard for UPSC prep, it is time to evaluate your prep and simplify it.
CivilsdailyNow, Absolute perfection is impossible to achieve in a single day. And for this reason, the adage “Only practice makes a man perfect” is true. However, this statement varies for all UPSC candidates because only perfect practice makes a difference.
Mantri Maurya cleared IAS on his 4th Attempt. He was relentless about improving himself in order to serve the country he loves dearly.
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Table of Content
- What Does Hard Work Mean?
- Why do 99.99% of Aspirants fail to do so?
- How does Samanvaya Mentorship work?
- What will be Addressed in Your Free 1-on-1 Counselling Session?
- Who should fill Samanvaya?
What Does Hard Work Mean?
Given an example, taking the UPSC-CSE with 50%, 60%, 70%, or even 85% syllabus coverage will not ensure your success. If you have only finished half of the syllabus, there are many competitors who have revised 3X times. It means they have done 300% preparation for the exam.
To catch up with the competition you have to put in extra hours, extra effort, and a lot of dedication. Day in and day out, you have to cover the syllabus, make linkages, analyze and practice.
And you have to do this for a major part of a year. Consistently. Like a machine.
Why do 99.99% of Aspirants fail to do so?
In the pursuit of success in the UPSC exam, it is not hard work that is the key ingredient separating the winners from the rest, but consistent hard work in the ‘right direction’.
Therefore, it is crucial for an aspirant to adopt a work ethic that emphasizes persistence, determination, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
Despite understanding the importance of studying hard and consistently, many UPSC aspirants struggle with burnout. You might have tried to study for UPSC for 10-12 hours/per day for a week or so, only to be unable to continue the following week.
Burnout occurs when aspirants push themselves beyond their limits, leading to physical and mental exhaustion. This can result in a lack of motivation, decreased productivity, and an inability to focus on the task at hand.
The reasons for burnout can vary, including poor time management, lack of a well-structured study plan, unrealistic expectations, and inadequate self-care. To overcome burnout and achieve success in the UPSC exam, it is crucial to address these issues and find a sustainable way of maintaining consistency in your preparation.
Remember, your mental and physical wellness is your entire life, whereas UPSC-CSE is only a step in your life. If you are not enjoying working hard for UPSC-CSE, it is time to consider how you might simplify it for yourself.
Book FREE Samanvaya 1-1 mentorship session with IAS/IPS rankers and Simplify your UPSC journey
How does Samanvaya Mentorship work? Introducing 3 layers of mentorship: Get IAS or UPSC ranker as your mentor
1. We’ll schedule your 1-1 session with an IAS mentor who will get on a detailed on-call discussion around your UPSC prep situation. Understanding your challenges, strengths, weaknesses, time availability, your learning style, etc.
Knowing yourself is very important to do a year-long exam like UPSC-CSE. Why do you want to be an IAS Officer, when you can apply for any other job? Which subjects are your strengths, and which are your weaknesses? What part of the syllabus presents an opportunity to score higher? What are the threats i.e. How is your preparation compared to other aspirants?
There are no one-size-fits-all answers to these questions. What might be your strength, would be a weakness for another. If not preparing for CSAT is your threat, then the same need not be applicable to another aspirant. UPSC-CSE appears to be a competition against others but at its core, it’s a competition with yourself. It’s pushing yourself to be better than what you used to be before. Also, these are very important questions that one needs an answer to, not once but many times during their preparation
What will be Addressed in Your Free 1-on-1 Counselling Session?
1. How you can align your UPSC-Preparation in time available to you? (Working professional/college aspirant has diff time availability than a full time aspirant and so on..)
2. Based on this, when would be the best time for you to attempt UPSC-CSE
3. Tailor made strategy, timetable and targets for you.
4. Booklist, FREE resources. What kind of Optional you must choose?
5. How to prepare for Prelims & Mains in the same day?
6. Any personal issues you are facing which you would like to share with us.
7. Giving confidence and motivation boosters.
8. Areas you should work hard and areas you can work smart
2. You are directed and given access to relevant resources and an invite-only Telegram group, where you can ask your daily doubts, discuss your test-prep questions and have real-time, live sessions on news and op-eds, and find your optional groups.
3. The third and the most personalized tier is the 1 on 1 mentor allotment who stays with you through the course of your UPSC preparation – always-on chat and on scheduled calls to help you assess, evaluate, and chart the next milestone of your IAS 2023-24 journey.
We will also connect you to a UPSC ranker or IAS, who will mentor you in this journey.
Layer 1: You will be assigned a dedicated in-house mentor who will keep track of our progress from the start till your final interview.
Layer 2: Sajal Singh sir and the team will be constantly with you through various programs like Samachar Manthan, Prelims, Essay, etc.
Layer 3: A UPSC IAS ranker (one who has cleared this exam) will be supervising your progress as your super mentor.
Super Mentors like Areeba (AIR-109), Mantri (AIR-28), Soham, and IPS Shubham will help you to make strategies as per your need and devise a timetable that suits you.
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Who should fill Samanvaya?
- Working Junta? If you are preparing for IAS 2023-24 and working simultaneously, we can help you design a timetable that fits right into your hectic schedule.
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India-China Border Tensions: An Assessment of the Current Situation and Proactive Steps for India
Central Idea
- India needs to take proactive measures to address the ongoing border crisis with China in Ladakh, rather than relying on a status quo approach. The government’s silence and euphemistic language on the issue have given the impression of incompetence and inaction, leading to concerns over India’s capability to handle the situation
Brief background on the Ladakh border issue
- The border dispute dates back to the 1950s and 60s, when China made claims to the region and occupied large parts of it.
- In 1962, the two countries fought a brief war over the issue, which ended in a Chinese victory and the establishment of a de facto border line known as the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
- Since then, the two countries have had several standoffs and skirmishes in the region, with tensions escalating in recent years. T
- he latest border standoff in Ladakh began in May 2020 and continues to remain unresolved.
The Depsang crisis of 2013
- Depsang Plains of Ladakh: The Depsang crisis of 2013 refers to a tense border standoff between India and China that took place in the Depsang Plains of Ladakh in April-May 2013.
- Chinese troops set up a camp: The crisis began when Chinese troops set up a camp in the Depsang Plains, which is located about 19 km inside what India considers to be its territory.
- Strategically important area: The area is strategically important as it overlooks the strategically important Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie (DSDBO) road that India had built to improve its connectivity to the border areas.
- Negotiations and agreement over the withdrawal: The situation was resolved after three weeks of negotiations, with the Chinese agreeing to withdraw their troops in exchange for a pledge from India to scale down its military presence in the area.
- The crisis led to other standoffs: The crisis highlighted the long-standing boundary dispute between India and China, which has led to several other standoffs and skirmishes over the years.
What is the current situation?
- The current situation at the Ladakh border is that some areas have witnessed disengagement, while two areas, Depsang and Demchok, remain unresolved. Indian soldiers are not allowed to touch 26 of the 65 patrolling points in Ladakh.
- Diplomatic meetings and talks between corps commanders have not elicited any progress since September last year. Regular meetings between Indian and Chinese Ministers, Foreign and Defence, have not yielded results either.
- India needs to find a way to transfer the pressure back to China, as Beijing has never compromised unless it has been forced into an uncomfortable spot.
Facts for prelims
States
Border with China Important Passes
Jammu and Kashmir 1597 km Khardung La Pass, Chang La Pass, Marsimik La Pass, Saser La Pass Arunachal Pradesh 1126 km Bum La Pass, Kibithu Pass, Tawang Uttarakhand 345 km Mana Pass, Lipulekh Pass, Niti Pass Sikkim 220 km Nathu La Pass, Jelep La Pass Himachal Pradesh 200 km Shipki La Pass, Kaurik Pass Way ahead: Steps to transfer the pressure back to China
- Bold use of imagination: The political leadership needs to use its imagination boldly to find a way to impose its will upon China.
- Be proactive: India needs to be proactive in dealing with China, as Beijing has never compromised unless it has been forced into an uncomfortable spot.
- Tactful action on LAC: Tactical actions on the LAC need to be daring, and the military needs to be used as an instrument to pursue policy ends and try to impose its will upon the adversary.
- Increase strategic thought: Strategic thought in Delhi needs to be bold and innovative to find a way to wrest the initiative from China.
- Avoid fear of military escalation: India’s fear of military escalation is holding back progress in the Ladakh border issue, and the government needs to overcome this fear to take proactive steps.
- Utilize diplomatic channels: India should leverage diplomatic channels and international forums to put pressure on China to resolve the border issue.
- Strengthen domestic capabilities: India should focus on building domestic capabilities, including military and economic, to match up to China’s strengths and position itself better in negotiations.
Conclusion
- India needs to take proactive measures to address the ongoing border crisis with China in Ladakh. A status quo approach can no longer be the answer, and India will have to wrest the initiative from China. Failure to do so would be a national failure for India, and the government must show boldness and imagination to resolve the crisis.
Mains Question
Q. India is going through the tough phase over the issues of border with China. In this backdrop discuss what proactive measures that India needs to take considering the current developments situation of the border conflicts?
Also read:
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3rd May 23 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions
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Nikaalo Prelims Spotlight || External Sectors, Schemes- Socio economic Development, Poverty and Planning
Dear Aspirants,
This Spotlight is a part of our Mission Nikaalo Prelims-2023.
You can check the broad timetable of Nikaalo Prelims here
Session Details
YouTube LIVE with Parth sir – 1 PM – Prelims Spotlight Session
Evening 04 PM – Daily Mini Tests
Telegram LIVE with Sukanya ma’am – 06 PM – Current Affairs Session
Join our Official telegram channel for Study material and Daily Sessions Here
3rd May 2023
External Sectors of India
All economic activities of an economy which take place in foreign currency fall in the external sector such as balanced of payment, export, import, foreign investment, external debt, current account, capital account, exchange rates etc.
FOREX RESERVES
Foreign exchange reserves are assets denominated in a foreign currency that are held on reserve by a central bank. These may include foreign currencies, bonds, treasury bills and other government securities.
Forex Reserves Consist of:
• Bank deposits
• Gold
• Special drawing rights (SDRS)
• Reserve tranche position (RTP)
• Foreign currency assets (FCA)
• Government securities
SDR
• SDR is an international reserve asset, created by the IMF in 1969.
• Value of the SDR is based on a basket of five currencies- Dollar, Euro, Renminbi, Yen, and Pound Sterling.
• It is neither a currency nor a claim on the IMF. Rather, it is a potential claim on the freely usable currencies of IMF members.
EXCHANGE RATE
Exchange rate is Price at which one currency is converted into or exchanged for another currency.
Various Exchange rates mechanism:
FIXED EXCHANGE RATE
FLOATING EXCHANGE RATE
MANAGED FLOATING RATE
Complete intervention of Authority (government or central bank) in determination of the currency exchange rate.
Market forces(demand and supply) determine the value of currency
No role of authority
Exchange rate is largely determined by market forces.
In crisis, central banks may intervene to stabilize the exchange rate
NEER vs REER
Nominal Effective Exchange Rate (NEER)
Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER)
Weighted average of bilateral nominal exchange rates of the home currency in terms of foreign currencies
Weighted average of nominal exchange rates, adjusted for inflation.
It is the exchange rate of one currency against a basket of currencies, weighted according to trade with each country (not adjusted for inflation).
Is calculated on the basis of NEER.
Captures inflation differentials between country and its major trading partners and reflects the degree of external competitiveness
CURRENCY CONVERTIBILITY
Currency convertibility is the ease with which the currency of a country can be freely converted into any other foreign currency or gold at market determined exchange rate.
Partial Convertibility:
• Portion allowed by the government which can be converted into foreign currency with least restrictions.
• Union Budget for 1992-93, introduced it on current account under Liberalized Exchange Rate Management System (LERMS)
• Also known as Dual exchange system.
• Presently partial convertibility still operational on capital account.
Full Convertibility:
• Freedom to convert domestic currency into any foreign currency and vice versa without any regulatory intervention.
• Dual exchange rate system got automatically abolished and LERMS was now based upon the open market exchange.
• In 1994, the Government of India declared full convertibility of Rupee on Current account.
Tarapore Committee I (1997) and II (2006):
• Constituted by the RBI for suggesting a roadmap on full convertibility of Rupee on Capital Account.
Advantages of capital account convertibility:
- Availability of large funds
- Reduction in cost of capital.
- Greater financial competitiveness.
- Increase in FII/FPI flow.
BALANCE OF PAYMENT
A systematic record of all economic transactions between the residents of one country with the residents of the other country in a financial year.
It consists of balance of trade, balance of current account and capital account.
Balance of trade: Difference between the monetary value of a nation’s exports and imports over a certain time period.
Balance of payments divides transactions in two accounts:
Current account
Capital account
Current Account
Invisible
Visible
Goods(+)
Services [+)
Income
1. Dividend
2. Interest
3. Profit
Transfer [+]
1. Gift
2. Donation
3. Remittance
Capital account [+]
Investment [+]
1.Sovereign 2.Commercial
NRI account [+]
1. Gift
2.Donation 3.Remittance
Loan (+)
1 FDI 2. FII/FPI
CURRENT ACCOUNT
CAPITAL ACCOUNT
Meaning
• Records imports and exports of visible and invisibles
• Short term implication transactions
• Covers only earnings and spending.
• Excludes any borrowings and lending.
• Shows capital expenditure and income for country
• Long term implication transactions
• Only includes borrowings and lending by a country
Components
• Visible trade(Export and Import of goods-Merchandise transactions )
• Invisible trade(Export and Import of services)
• Unilateral transactions
• Direct Investment (FDI)
• Portfolio Investment (FPI)
• Loans / External commercial borrowing (ECB)
• Non-resident’s investment in Bank, Insurance, Pension schemes.
• RBI’s foreign exchange reserve
Deficit (CAD)
• If the value of the goods and services imported exceeds the value of those exported.
• Current Account deficit = Trade gap(export – import) + Net current transfers (foreign aid) + Net factor income (Interest, Dividend)
• When more money is flowing out of a country to acquire assets and rights abroad
Surplus
• If the value of the goods and services exported exceeds the value of those imported.
• Money is flowing into the country, but these inflows reflect changes in the ownership of national assets by way of sale or borrowing.
Convertibility
• Current account convertibility relates to the removal of restrictions on payments relating to the international exchange of goals, services and factor incomes.
• Capital account convertibility refers to a liberalization of a country’s capital transactions such as loans and investment.
Current status
• Allowed Full convertibility
• Only Partial convertibility
EXTERNAL DEBT
Part of a country s debt which has been borrowed from foreign creditors which includes private commercial banks, international financial institutions such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), and sovereign governments.
Types of external debts:
Short term debt: Maturity period 1 year or less
Long term debt: Maturity period more than 1 year
Sovereign debt : Bonds issued by the national government in any foreign currency to generate funds to meet its financial expenses.
Schemes- Socio economic Development, Poverty and Planning
Refer to the schemes compilation.
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Leveraging PDS to Improve Nutrition Security
Central Idea
- The Department of Food and Public Distribution (DoF&PD), in particular the Food Corporation of India (FCI), must have heaved a sigh of relief that the procurement of wheat so far has crossed 20 million tonnes (MT), a notch higher than last year. Three states Punjab, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh have contributed more than 98 per cent to the central pool.
Wheat production estimates
- The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (MoA&FW) had earlier estimated the wheat production for this year to be 112 MT. However, the impact of unseasonal rains on wheat production has made the revised estimate uncertain.
- Punjab: Punjab, one of the largest contributors to wheat procurement, is also in the process of estimating losses due to rough weather just before the harvest time. Despite the unseasonal rains, interactions with Punjab Agriculture University (PAU), market functionaries and farmers suggest that the production of wheat this year is higher than last year.
- Uttar Pradesh: Uttar Pradesh produces almost double the amount of wheat (about 35 MT) than Punjab (about 18 MT). UP is estimated to procure 3.5 MT of wheat, but so far it has procured a meagre 0.12 MT. Unless it brings a surprise in May and June, the overall wheat procurement may stop well short of even 30 MT.
Facts for prelims
The benefits of Mulching of paddy straw - Increases organic carbon in the soil: Mulching of paddy straw increases the organic carbon content of the soil. It helps in retaining moisture in the soil and improves soil health.
- Helps in reducing weed growth: Mulching acts as a magic as it helps in reducing the weed growth, conserves soil moisture, and provides essential nutrients to the soil.
- Increases crop productivity: It helps in improving the fertility of the soil and in turn increases the productivity of the crops.
- Reduces soil erosion: Mulching of paddy straw protects the soil from wind and water erosion.
- Decreases the use of fertilizers: It helps in reducing the use of fertilizers as the organic matter from the mulch provides essential nutrients to the soil.
- Promotes sustainable agriculture: Mulching promotes sustainable agriculture practices as it is an eco-friendly and cost-effective way of managing agricultural waste.
Challenges for providing nutritious food through PDS
- Infrastructure and supply chain: There is a lack of proper infrastructure and supply chain to transport and store nutritious food items such as millets, pulses, and oilseeds. This leads to spoilage, wastage, and ultimately affects the quality of food provided through PDS.
- Cost: Providing nutritious food items through PDS may increase the cost of the program, which can be a challenge for the government to sustain in the long run.
- Awareness and demand: There is a lack of awareness among the general public about the benefits of nutritious food items and the need to include them in their diet. Also, there may not be enough demand for these items, leading to poor offtake and wastage.
- Operational challenges: There are several operational challenges such as sourcing, storage, and distribution of nutritious food items, which need to be addressed for an effective PDS program.
- Political interference: There may be political interference in the selection of food items to be included in PDS, leading to a focus on populist measures rather than on nutritious food items. This can undermine the effectiveness of the program.
Nutrition security through PDS and a help to climate resilient agriculture
- Introducing more nutritious food: The introduction of more nutritious food, such as millets, pulses, and oilseeds, in PDS can help achieve the twin objectives of nutrition and climate resilience.
- Encouraging climate-resilient food: Encouraging the production of climate-resilient food crops like millets, pulses, oilseeds, etc., can help create a steady flow of nutritious food.
- Upgrading fair price shops to Nutritious Food Hubs: At least 10% of fair price shops can be upgraded and declared as Nutritious Food Hubs (NFHs). These NFHs can have fortified, including bio-fortified, rice and wheat, millets, pulses, oilseeds (especially soyabean products with 40% protein), fortified milk and edible oils, eggs, etc.
- Electronic vouchers for targeted beneficiaries: Consumers of PDS list may be given electronic vouchers (like an e-food coupon in a food court) that can be charged by the government three or four times a year.
- Government assistance for upgrading NFHs: The NFHs can be upgraded with government assistance, creating demand for more diversified and nutritious food from the masses.
- Capping the procurement of rice: The procurement of rice would have to be capped, starting with districts where the water table has been depleting alarmingly.
- For example, Sangrur in Punjab has witnessed a fall of groundwater level by more than 25 meters during 2000-2019. Farmers of such districts could be incentivized to grow millets, pulses, oilseeds, etc., that are climate smart, use much less water and fertilizers, thus saving power and fertilizer subsidies.
- Giving a special package for carbon credits: The Centre and the states need to join hands to give a special package for carbon credits for growing such crops. Farmers can be rewarded about Rs 10,000/acre (to be shared equally by the Centre and the state), as these crops would save that much fertilizer subsidy of the Centre and power subsidy of the state.
Conclusion
- The Department of Food and Public Distribution’s Chintan Shivir on leveraging PDS to offer more nutritious food is a great vision, but there are several operational challenges to provide a steady flow of these foods. Upgrading at least 10% of the fair price shops as Nutritious Food Hubs could create a demand for more diversified and nutritious food from the masses. However, capping the procurement of rice and incentivizing farmers to grow millets, pulses, and oilseeds that are climate-smart and use less water and fertilizers is necessary.
Mains Question
Q. How PDS can be leveraged to provided nutritious food and also help make Indian agriculture more climate resilient? Discuss along with the challenges
Also read:
Food Security and Energy Crisis In The South Asian neighbourhood
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US seeks sanctions on Indian agencies over Religious Freedom Violations
The Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has urged to impose targeted sanctions on Indian government agencies and officials responsible for “severe violations” of religious freedom by freezing their assets.
What is USCIRF Report?
- The USCIRF report assesses the status of religious freedom around the world.
- It provides a comprehensive analysis of the state of religious freedom in countries across the globe, highlighting issues of concern and making recommendations for action by the US government.
- The report is an important tool for raising awareness of violations of religious freedom and advocating for greater protection of this fundamental human right.
Allegations against India
(1) Policies
- It is alleged that the Indian government at the national, state, and local levels promoted and enforced religiously discriminatory policies, including:
- Laws targeting religious conversion
- Interfaith relationships
- Ban over wearing of hijabs and cow slaughter
- This has negatively impact Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Dalits, and Adivasis.
(2) Laws of Suppression
- The report also alleges that the national government continued to suppress critical voices, particularly of religious minorities and those advocating on their behalf through-
- Surveillance / Harassment / Cow Vigilantism
- Accusation of Sedition
- Demolition of Property
- Detention under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA)
- Targeted banning of NGOs ex. Missionaries of Charity under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA)
- Constitution
India’s response
- India has slammed USCIRF for “misrepresenting” facts and described it as an “organisation of particular concern”.
- The Indian government rejected the biased and inaccurate comments.
- Foundation of Indian and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) slammed USCIRF for its biased report and failure to acknowledge the cultural and economic significance of cows to Indians.
Why such reports often falsely target India?
- Lack of objectivity: There have been instances in the past where these reports have been criticized for being one-sided and lacking objectivity.
- US lobby against everyone: It is important to note that reports like USCIRF’s are based on the organization’s own assessments.
- Inherent bias against India: Such allegations are prevalent ever since India attained its Freedom.
- Self-proclaimed father of democracy: US has infamous for selectively promoting democracy and human rights, and for supporting authoritarian regimes that align with its strategic interests.
- Anti-regime: Such reports often overlook the efforts made by the present regime in India towards promoting religious tolerance and communal harmony.
Way forward
- Urgent action: India needs to take prompt and necessary steps to address religious freedom issues and take everyone’s faith in the government and democratic process.
- Nuanced understanding: International organizations and foreign governments must make a conscious effort to understand the complexities of India’s social, political, and economic landscape before making any recommendations or issuing reports.
- Avoid sweeping generalizations: It is important to avoid sweeping generalizations and presenting a one-sided view of the situation, which can be detrimental to India’s reputation and lead to misunderstandings.
- Self-reflection by the US: The US must address its own issues related to religious freedom and human rights violations, and not just sermon other countries.
Conclusion
- India’s historical diversity and pluralism: India has a long history of diversity, pluralism, and peaceful coexistence among different communities.
- Constitutional guarantees: The Constitution guarantees fundamental rights to all citizens, regardless of their religion, caste, or creed.
- Media as a strong pillar: The country has a vibrant democracy and a free and independent media that regularly scrutinizes the government and its policies. This eliminates the scope for anyone’s oppression.
- Nation-building: All communities have contributed significantly to the country’s cultural and social fabric. Success of India is often unwelcomed by the US. People should not fall prey to foreign propaganda.
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National Manufacturing Innovation Survey (NMIS), 2021-22
Central Idea: The Department of Science and Technology under the Ministry of Science & Technology has released the National Manufacturing Innovation Survey (NMIS) 2021-22.
About National Manufacturing Innovation Survey
Details Undertaken by DST and United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) History First National Innovation Survey in 2011 Focus Manufacturing competitiveness Purpose Innovation performance of Indian manufacturing firms Insights Enabling activities and identifying barriers to innovation Processes Examines innovation processes, outcomes, and barriers faced by firms State/Sector Evaluates performance of states and sectors in producing new products, services, and business processes Key manufacturing sectors 5 sectors: textiles; food & beverage; automotive; pharma; ICT. Components of the survey
(1) Firm-level survey
- It captured data related to types of innovations and innovative measures taken by firms.
- Includes: the process of innovation, access to finance, resources, and information for innovation, besides also recording the factors impacting the innovation activities in a firm.
- One in four firms have successfully implemented an innovation in the observation period.
- Over 80% of these firms benefitted significantly in expanding markets and production and reducing costs.
(2) Sectorial System of Innovation survey
- It mapped the manufacturing innovation system and its role in achieving innovations in firms.
- It measures the interactions between stakeholders of the innovation ecosystem, barriers to innovation, and the convergence or divergence of policy instruments in select 5 key manufacturing sectors important to the Indian economy.
Key highlights
- Karnataka is the most “innovative” State, followed by Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu (DNH&DD), Telangana, and Tamil Nadu.
- Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu had the highest share of innovative firms at 46.18% ,39.10% and 31.90%, respectively.
- Odisha, Bihar, and Jharkhand reported the lowest share of such firms at 12.78%, 13.47% and 13.71%, respectively.
- Nearly three-fourths of the 8,000-odd firms surveyed, most of them micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME), neither made any innovative product nor process innovation.
- However, nearly 80% of the firms that did report significant gains such as expanding markets and reducing production costs.
Barriers identified
- The most frequent “barriers to innovation” were the lack of internal funds, high innovation costs, and lack of financing from external sources.
- Gujarat and DNH&DD reported the highest frequencies of barriers to innovation, despite being among India’s most industrialised States.
Significance of the survey
- It will help in the Make-in-India programme, specifically the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes.
- It will help to boost manufacturing in a variety of sectors, including electronics, pharmaceuticals, and automobiles.
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Golden Globe Race: Voyage of mad men
Central Idea
- Abhilash Tomy, a former Commander in the Indian Navy, has achieved the remarkable feat of completing a solo circumnavigation worldwide by finishing second at the Golden Globe Race (GGR), 2022.
- He achieved this record under even more challenging circumstances than his previous record-breaking feat of going worldwide on a sailboat solo and unassisted back in 2013.
What is Golden Globe Race?
- The Golden Globe Race is a non-stop, solo, unassisted yacht race around the world which was held for the first time in 1968-69.
- The race requires contestants to use boats designed to prescribed premodern specifications and rely entirely on sextants and paper charts.
- Satellite phones are available for extremely restricted use, and the use of modern navigational gear is not allowed.
- The sailing would be along a stipulated route, rounding the three great capes (Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, Cape Leeuwin in Western Australia, and Cape Horn in Chile).
His return to GGR
- After several injuries, in 2021, Tomy began to look for sponsors and boats to participate in GGR-2022.
- He announced his participation in the race on the Bayanat in March 2022, sponsored by a UAE-based company in the field of geospatial artificial intelligence.
- However, just three weeks before the race, the boat collided with a ship and required massive repairs.
Significance of his achievement
- Only three of the 11 contestants of GGR-2022 lasted the course of the race, with Kirsten Neuschafer becoming the first woman to win a solo around-the-world yacht race.
- Tomy’s boat was the most ‘repaired’ boat in the race and it was all carried out by the sailor fighting unimaginable sea conditions and lack of sleep.
- In the end, Tomy became the first Asian to complete the 30,000-mile GGR by finishing second after Neuschafer.
