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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.

    JOIN SMASH PRELIMS FOR COMPLETE PRELIMS PREPARATION
     

  • Leveraging PDS to Improve Nutrition Security

    PDS

    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.

    PDS

    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.

    agriculture

    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

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    Also read:

    Food Security and Energy Crisis In The South Asian neighbourhood

     

  • US seeks sanctions on Indian agencies over Religious Freedom Violations

    religious india

    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:
    1. Laws targeting religious conversion
    2. Interfaith relationships
    3. 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-
    1. Surveillance / Harassment / Cow Vigilantism
    2. Accusation of Sedition
    3. Demolition of Property
    4. Detention under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA)
    5. Targeted banning of NGOs ex. Missionaries of Charity under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA)
    6. 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

    innovation

    • 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

    innovation

    • 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

    golden globe

    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.

    golden globe

    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.

     

     

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  • 2nd May 2023 | Nikaalo Prelims- Mini test 25 (RBI, Inflation and Monetary Policy, Money Market and Capital Market)

    2nd May 2023 | Nikaalo Prelims- Mini test 25 (RBI, Inflation and Monetary Policy, Money Market and Capital Market)

    [WpProQuiz 1326]

    [WpProQuiz_toplist 1326]

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  • A Troubling Statistic in India’s Nutritional Landscape

    nutrition

    Central Idea

    • A troubling statistic in the fifth National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) data, conducted in 2019-21, is not well-known. Going without food for an entire day at this critical period of a child’s development raises serious concerns related to severe food insecurity.

    Statistics from the NFHS-5 data

    • Zero-food: Among mothers with a child between ages 6-23 months, 18% reported that their child did not eat any food whatsoever (“zero-food”) in the 24 hours preceding the survey. The zero-food prevalence was 30% for infants aged 6-11 months, 13% among 12-17 months old, and 8% among 18-23 months old.
    • Zero-protein: More than 80% of children in the age group of 6-23 months had not consumed any protein-rich foods for an entire day (“zero-protein”). Close to 40% of children in the age group of 6-23 months did not eat any grains (roti, rice, etc.) for an entire day.
    • Zero-milk: Six out of 10 children in the age group of 6-23 months do not consume milk or dairy of any form every day (“zero-milk”).

    The current measures for undernutrition

    • Stunting: It is a measure of chronic malnutrition, where children are too short for their age. It is determined by comparing a child’s height with the World Health Organization (WHO) child growth standards.
    • Wasting: It is a measure of acute malnutrition, where children have a low weight for their height. It is determined by comparing a child’s weight with the WHO child growth standards.
    • Underweight: It is a measure of both chronic and acute malnutrition, where children have a low weight for their age. It is determined by comparing a child’s weight with the WHO child growth standards.

    Limitations of current measures of undernutrition

    • Anthropometric measures: The assessment of the extent of nutritional deprivation among young children in India has relied on measures of anthropometric failure such as the percentage of children short for their age (stunting) or weighing less given their height (wasting), compared to a reference population. These measures are, at best, proxies suggesting plausible overall deficiencies in the child’s environment, without any guidance on the specific nature of the deficiencies. They do not provide insight into the specific food groups that are lacking in the child’s diet.
    • Multifactorial nature: Given the multifactorial nature of what causes stunting or wasting among children, it is challenging for any single ministry or department of the Government of India to take responsibility for designing, implementing and monitoring policies to reduce undernutrition among children.
    • Sensitivity: The sensitivity of the stunting prevalence to what population reference is being used makes it problematic as a policy metric for creating and evaluating the effectiveness of current programs and interventions.
    • Lack of data: The fact that we do not know what India eats highlights a core deficiency in data related to food and dietary consumption. This limits the ability to design effective policies and programs to improve nutritional security among Indians.

    Facts for prelims

    Initiative

    Description
    NFHS-5 Conducted in 2019-21, it revealed that 18% of mothers with a child between ages 6-23 months reported zero-food intake.
    Mission Poshan 2.0 A flagship programme aimed at achieving SDG 2 “zero hunger” and focuses on food-based initiatives.
    Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) Increased access to improved toilets among Indian households from 48% to 70% between 2016 and 2021.
    Zero Food Metric A food-based metric that provides a good start to monitor and assess the performance of Poshan 2.0.
    White House initiative on hunger, nutrition and health Launched by the US to end hunger by 2030.

    Calorie intake recommendations by WHO

    • According to the World Health Organisation, at six months of age, 33 per cent of the daily calorie intake is expected to come from food. This proportion increases to 61 per cent at 12 months of age.
    • The recommended calorie percentages mentioned here are the minimum amount that should come from food.
    • It is presumed that the child obtains the remaining calories through on-demand breastfeeding, meaning the child is breastfed whenever they need it throughout the day and night, and not solely when the mother is able to provide it.
    • Consequently, the percentage of food-sourced calories only increases further when a child cannot receive breast milk when needed.

    What is the need for Poshan 2.0?

    • Achieving SDG 2: Poshan 2.0 is a flagship program that aims to achieve SDG 2, which aims to end hunger and ensure year-round access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food by 2030.
    • Targeting maternal and child nutrition: Poshan 2.0 focuses on food-based initiatives, including its flagship supplementary nutrition program service as mandated by the 2013 National Food Security Act, to target maternal and child nutrition.
    • Developing food-based metrics: To effectively monitor and assess the performance of Poshan 2.0, there is an immediate need to develop appropriate food-based metrics to measure the extent of food insecurity among Indian households.
    • Improving nutritional security: The goal of Poshan 2.0 is to ensure affordable access to sufficient quantity and quality of nutritionally diverse food, with a special and immediate focus on India’s youngest children to improve nutritional security among Indians.
    • Establishing routine dietary and nutritional assessments: A national effort to establish routine dietary and nutritional assessments for the entire population is the need of the hour to measure the availability, accessibility, and affordability of nutritious food, especially for disadvantaged and vulnerable populations such as young children, and constitute the foundation for any evidence-based policy to end hunger and improve nutritional security among Indians.

    Way ahead

    • Elevating food intake among young children to be of primary importance, as opposed to being referred to as “complementary” in policies and guidelines related to maternal, infant and young child nutrition.
    • Extending the 24-hour recall questions on consumption of various food items to the population of children under five years to better understand food security for all populations in India.
    • Developing appropriate food-based metrics to effectively monitor and assess the performance of Mission Poshan 2.0.
    • Establishing routine dietary and nutritional assessments for the entire population to measure the availability, accessibility and affordability of nutritious food, especially for disadvantaged and vulnerable populations such as young children.
    • Consider a strategic initiative led by the Prime Minister’s Office aimed at eliminating food insecurity in India and ensuring affordable access to sufficient quantity and quality of nutritionally diverse food, with a special and immediate focus on India’s youngest children.

    Conclusion

    • Given the urgency of the situation and the critical need for prompt action to address the issue of hunger and malnutrition among Indians, it is recommended that India takes inspiration from the United States. Recently, the US launched a high-level initiative aimed at ending hunger by 2030, which could offer valuable insights and guidance to India’s efforts in this direction.

    Mains Question

    Q. Statistic in the fifth National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) data on hunger and malnutrition is troubling. In this backdrop discuss the need for Poshan 2.0 for India.

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    Also Read:

    A reality check on Nutrition programs

     

  • Ukraine War Impact on Global Politics and India’s Diplomatic Agenda

    Ukraine

    Central Idea

    • The war in Ukraine has had a ripple effect on global political and financial systems, leading to shortages of essential commodities and rising prices. The conflict is rooted in Putin’s revanchist claims that Ukraine is an inalienable part of Russia’s history, culture, and spiritual space. On the other hand, Putin accuses the US and Europe of violating their assurance to Gorbachev that NATO would not advance eastward. The crisis poses a dilemma for India, which must balance its partnerships with Russia and China in the BRICS and SCO formats while maintaining strategic autonomy.

    Two Essential Facets of the Conflict?

    • Putin’s Assertion of Russia’s Dominance: Vladimir Putin argues that Ukraine is not a sovereign nation and that it is an inalienable part of Russia’s history, culture, and spiritual space. He makes revanchist claims to camouflage Russia’s quest for dominance. Such claims are echoed in China’s Nine-dash line in the South China Sea, its occupation of India’s Aksai Chin, and blatant claims on Arunachal Pradesh.
    • Alleged Violation of NATO’s Assurance: Putin accuses the US and Europe of bad faith, citing the assurance given to a worried Gorbachev that NATO would advance not an inch eastward. This solemn undertaking was allegedly violated when NATO enlisted 10 former Warsaw Pact members in the next decade. With Finland as the latest entrant, NATO is now 31-strong, and Russia feels truly cornered.

    Impact of the war in Ukraine on global political and financial systems

    • Shortages of Essential Commodities: Ukraine is a key contributor of grain, edible oil, and fertilizers to the world’s supply chains, and Russia is a major exporter of natural gas and crude oil. The war has disrupted the production and transportation of these commodities, leading to shortages and rising prices.
    • Falling Stock Markets: The war in Ukraine has caused a decline in global stock markets as investors become increasingly nervous about the economic impact of the conflict.
    • Public Discontent and Political Upheaval: The shortages of essential commodities and rising prices have led to public discontent and even political upheaval in some countries. For example, in India, rising fuel prices have led to widespread protests and political unrest.
    • Realignment of Global Alliances: The war in Ukraine has led to a realignment of global alliances as countries seek alternate sources of food, energy, commodities, and arms. This has resulted in a polarisation of the global community and realignments in diplomatic relations.
    • Economic Sanctions: The international community has imposed economic sanctions on Russia in response to its actions in Ukraine, which have had a significant impact on the Russian economy.
    • Threat of Nuclear War: The conflict in Ukraine has raised concerns about the possibility of a nuclear war, particularly given Putin’s reckless nuclear sabre-rattling.

    What is the Dilemma for India?

    • India’s Engagement with Russia and China: India is engaged with Russia and China in various multilateral forums, including the BRICS format and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). At the same time, India is partnering with the US in the Quad and Malabar groupings. The conflict in Ukraine has created a complex situation for India as it seeks to maintain strategic autonomy while engaging with multiple partners.
    • Security Environment: India’s security environment is of paramount concern, given the recent Poonch ambush and persistent cross-border terrorism by the Pakistan army-ISI combine. In addition, there is stonewalling of Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh’s demarche about the violation of existing agreements by his Chinese counterpart, Li Shangfu.
    • Lack of Defense Technology: India is a nuclear-weapon state and space power with the world’s fourth-largest military. However, the lackadaisical performance of its military-industrial complex has rendered it abjectly import-dependent for weaponry. India seeks to promote its atmanirbharta (self-reliance) policy, but technology has long gestation periods, and India needs to acquire defense technology from its partners.

    How Quad and Malabar Groupings can help India? 

    • Convergence of strategic interests: The Quad and Malabar groupings represent a convergence of strategic interests between India and the US, which can help India strengthen its security and diplomatic ties with the US, Japan, and Australia.
    • Military-diplomatic purpose: These forums serve a useful military-diplomatic purpose, allowing India to deepen its military cooperation with the US and other Quad members, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.
    • Power-balancing: India needs to accord priority to power-balancing on its diplomatic agenda, and the Quad and Malabar Groupings can play a significant role in this regard. India can leverage these groupings to balance China’s growing influence in the region.
    • Technology acquisition: India is abjectly import-dependent for weaponry and needs to acquire advanced technologies to address its security concerns. The Quad and Malabar Groupings can help India access advanced military technologies from the US, Japan, and Australia, which can enhance India’s defense capabilities.

    Facts for prelims

    Initiative Objective Countries Involved Key Features
    Quad Strengthen security and promote economic growth in the Indo-Pacific region India, United States, Japan, Australia Regular high-level meetings, joint military exercises, cooperation on maritime security, infrastructure development, and technology transfer
    AUKUS Strengthen security in the Indo-Pacific region through advanced military technology sharing and cooperation United States, United Kingdom, Australia Joint development and sharing of advanced military technologies, including nuclear-powered submarines, and joint military exercises
    iCET Promote cooperation on critical and emerging technologies between India and the United States India, United States Cooperation on cutting-edge technologies such as AI, quantum computing, and 5G, with a focus on sharing knowledge, expertise, and best practices

     New US initiatives

    • AUKUS: AUKUS is a trilateral security pact between the US, the UK, and Australia, aimed at enhancing security cooperation and sharing advanced military technologies. While the focus of the pact is primarily on Australia, it can indirectly benefit India by strengthening the US security architecture in the Indo-Pacific region and deterring China’s aggressive behavior. The pact can also lead to the development of new technologies, such as advanced unmanned underwater vehicles, which can enhance India’s maritime security.
    • Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET): The iCET is aimed at boosting cooperation between India and the US in the field of critical and emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and biotechnology. This initiative can help India access cutting-edge technologies and knowledge, which can enhance India’s technological capabilities and address its security concerns.

    Way ahead: Self-reliance in defence production and reduce dependence

    • Invest in R&D: India should invest heavily in research and development (R&D) to develop cutting-edge military technologies indigenously. This can help reduce India’s dependence on imports and enhance its military capabilities.
    • Promote Public-Private Partnership (PPP): India can promote PPPs to encourage private sector participation in defence production. This can help bring in much-needed investment, innovation, and expertise into the defence sector, thereby enhancing India’s defence capabilities.
    • Facilitate Technology Transfer: India can facilitate technology transfer from foreign defence manufacturers to domestic firms to enhance their technological capabilities. This can help Indian companies acquire critical technologies and expertise, which can be leveraged to develop advanced military systems indigenously.
    • Focus on Export: India should focus on promoting defence exports to enhance its defence manufacturing base and generate much-needed revenue. This can help reduce the cost of domestic production and make Indian defence products globally competitive.

    Conclusion

    • India needs to navigate the conflict in Ukraine deftly to maintain its strategic autonomy while balancing its partnerships with Russia and China. India must prioritize power-balancing and technology acquisition on its diplomatic agenda and focus on building self-reliance in defense production.

    Mains Question

    Q. The war in Ukraine has had a ripple effect on global political and financial systems. In this backdrop highlight the dilemma for India and discuss how Quad and Malabar Groupings along with US initiatives help India on Defence and strategic issues ?

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    Also Read:

    India’s role in Russia-Ukraine war

  • Constitutional Punctuality: Need of The Hour

    constitutional

    Central Idea

    • The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly recently passed a resolution that urges a time frame for Governors to act on Bills passed by the State Legislature. The resolution was passed because the Governor of Tamil Nadu, R.N. Ravi, had withheld assent to as many as 13 Bills passed by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. This highlights the need for a time-bound constitutional delivery mechanism for Governors, Speakers of Assemblies, and the President of India, emphasizing the importance of time-bound governance.

    What the resolution is all about?

    • The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly passed a resolution urging the Union Government and President to advise the Governor to decide on the bills passed by the State Legislatures within a reasonable time period.
    • The resolution, proposed by the Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin, argued that it was important to protect the sovereignty of the Legislatures and, ultimately, safeguard parliamentary democracy.
    • The resolution seeks to provide a time frame for Governors to act on Bills passed by the State Legislature and ensure that they do not sit over Bills indefinitely. The resolution also encourages other Opposition-ruled states to pass similar resolutions in their Assemblies.

    What is mean by Constitutional Punctuality?

    • Timely discharge of duties in accordance with the constitutional provisions: Constitutional punctuality refers to the timely discharge of duties and responsibilities by various constitutional high offices in accordance with the provisions of the Indian Constitution. It involves adhering to a strict time frame to avoid unnecessary delays and ensure the smooth functioning of the constitutional scheme.
    • Growing concerns over misuse of discretionary powers: This concept has gained importance in recent times due to the growing concern over the misuse of discretionary powers by constitutional authorities such as governors, which can lead to a delay in the enactment of important legislation and undermine the principles of parliamentary democracy.

    Need for Constitutional punctuality in terms of Governors role

    • Upholding the sovereignty of legislatures: When the Governor of a state withholds assent to bills passed by the state legislature indefinitely, it undermines the sovereignty of the legislatures. It is essential to provide a time frame for the Governor to act on bills to safeguard the democratic principles enshrined in the Constitution.
    • Ensuring timely delivery of justice: The Constitution of India guarantees the right to speedy justice to all citizens. The delay in the Governor’s assent to bills passed by the legislature leads to a delay in the implementation of new laws, which could impact the timely delivery of justice.
    • Preventing misuse of power: Governors hold a significant position of power, and the discretion they exercise in giving assent to bills should not be misused. The absence of a time frame for them to act on bills provides them with an opportunity to misuse their powers, which could harm the interests of the people.
    • Advancing the constitutional scheme: Providing a time-bound constitutional delivery mechanism advances the constitutional scheme. It ensures the smooth functioning of the democratic process and upholds the principles of accountability and transparency.
    • Building public trust: When constitutional high offices, including that of the Governor, President, and Speakers of Assemblies, discharge their duties in a time-bound manner, it builds public trust in the democratic institutions of the country. It ensures that people’s will, as expressed through their elected representatives, is implemented without undue delay.

    Facts for prelims

    Ambit of judicial review on matters of delays by constitutional authorities

    • In India, matters involving delays in exercising powers by constitutional authorities have been brought under the ambit of judicial review by the courts.
    • In the case of Keisham Meghachandra Singh vs The Hon’ble Speaker Manipur (2020), the Supreme Court issued a writ of mandamus to the Speaker of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly to decide on disqualification petitions within four weeks.

    Time bound governance

    • The concept of time-bound governance has been successfully implemented in other countries, such as the United Kingdom and the United States, where there are strict timelines for the assent or veto of bills by the respective authorities.
    • In the US, if the President does not sign or veto a bill within 10 days, it automatically becomes an Act.
    • In the UK, there has been no royal veto since 1708.

     Conclusion

    • The resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly is a step in the right direction towards a time-bound constitutional delivery mechanism. Constitutional high offices, including Governors, Speakers of Assemblies, and the President of India, must evolve strict time frames and avoid unnecessary delays. Such an approach would advance the constitutional scheme and safeguard

    Mains Question

    Q. What do you understand by mean constitutional punctuality? Discuss the need of constitutional punctuality specifically in terms of Governors role in the state?

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    Also Read:

    Governor’s Constitutional Limits: A Resolution to President

     

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