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Civilsdaily

Type: Op-ed

  • Five years since Paris Agreement, an opportunity to build back better

    This article by the Ambassador of the European Union underscores the need for implementation and action on the commitments made in the Paris Agreement to deal with climate change.

    EU’s commitment to implement Paris Agreement

    • In December 2019, the European Commission launched the European Green Deal — roadmap to achieve climate neutrality in the EU by 2050.
    •  “Next Generation EU” recovery package and our next long-term budget earmark more than half a trillion euros to address climate change.
    • Recently  EU leaders unanimously agreed on the 2030 target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% compared to 1990 levels.

    Impact on low carbon technologies

    • These actions and commitments of the EU towards Paris Agreement will further bring down the costs of low carbon technologies.
    • The cost of solar photovoltaics has already declined by 82% between 2010 and 2019.
    • Achieving the 55% target will even help us to save €100 billion in the next decade and up to €3 trillion by 2050.

    EU working with India on climate actions

    • No government can tackle climate change alone.
    •  India is a key player in this global endeavour.
    • The rapid development of solar and wind energy in India in the last few years is a good example of the action needed worldwide.
    • India has taken a number of very significant flagship initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and the Leadership Group for Industry Transition.
    • India and Team Europe are engaged to make a success of the forthcoming international gatherings: COP 26 in Glasgow on climate change and COP 15 in Kunming on biodiversity.

    Way forward

    • The international community should come forward with clear strategies for net-zero emissions and to enhance the global level of ambition for 2030.
    • Our global, regional, national, local and individual recovery plans are an opportunity to ‘build back better’.
    • We will also need to foster small individual actions to attain a big collective impact.

    Conclusion

    With climate neutrality as our goal, the world should mobilise its best scientists, business people, policymakers, academics, civil society actors and citizens to protect together something we all share beyond borders and species: our planet.

  • The new League of Nations

    Despite China’s rise, the world will remain committed to multi-polar order. The article highlights the emerging trends in the global order against the backdrop of a pandemic and explains how there could be an opportunity for India.

    Changing geopolitical landscape and choices India face

    • As the world is slowly recovering from the disruption caused by the pandemic, there are worrying intimations of other crises looming round the corner.
    • Geopolitics has been transformed and power equations are being altered.
    • There are a new set of winners and losers in the economic changes.
    • Technological advancement will magnify these changes.
    • India will need to make difficult judgements about the world that is taking shape and find its place in a more complex and shifting geopolitical landscape.
    • As the pandemic recedes, the world could draw the right lessons and proceed on a more hopeful trajectory.

    Unlearnt lessons: lack of international cooperation

    • Most challenges the world faces are global, like the pandemic.
    • However, international cooperation in either developing an effective vaccine or responding to its health impacts has been minimal.
    • The pre-existing trend towards nationalist urgings, the weakening of international institutions and multilateral processes continues.
    • Even in the distribution of vaccines, we are witnessing a cornering of supplies by a handful of rich nations.

    Need for a collaborative solution

    • Global challenges such as climate change, cybersecurity, space security, terrorism, drug trafficking, money laundering and ocean and terrestrial pollution demand collaborative, not competitive solutions.
    • The challenges require some display of statesman-like leadership to mobilise action on a global scale.
    • The nation-state will endure but its conduct will need to be tempered by a spirit of internationalism and a sense of common humanity.

    Role of China and Asia

    • The pre-pandemic shift in the centre of gravity of the global economy and political power and influence, from the trans-Atlantic to the trans-Pacific, has been reinforced under the impact of the crisis.
    • East Asian and South-East Asian countries are the first to register the green shoots of recovery.
    • China has been the first large economy to witness a significant rebound in its growth rate.
    • The regional supply chains centred on China have been reinforced rather than disrupted.
    • China will emerge in pole position in the geopolitical sweepstakes commencing in 2021.
    • The power gap with its main rival, the US, will shrink further.

    Why should India prefer multi-polar world order

    • As the power gap between India and China is expanding, the threat from China will intensify and demand asymmetrical coping strategies.
    • Despite China emerging a relative gainer from the pandemic the trend towards multi-polarity is here to stay.
    • Neither the US nor China can singly or as a duopoly manage a much more diffused distribution of economic and military capabilities across the globe.
    • This is only possible through multilateral approaches and adherence to the principle of equitable burden-sharing.
    • But a multipolar order can only be stable and keep the peace with a consensus set of norms, managed through empowered institutions of international governance and multilateral processes.
    • India’s instinctive preference has been for a multipolar order as the best assurance of its security and as most conducive to its own social and economic development.
    • India now has the opportunity to make multipolar order as its foreign policy priority as this aligns with the interests of a large majority of middle and emerging powers.
    • This will be an important component of a strategy to meet the China challenge.

    The favourable geopolitical moment for India

    • Due to China’s aggressive posture across the board and its unilateral assertions of power, there is a significant push-back even from smaller countries, for example, in South-East Asia and Africa.
    • China’s blatant “weaponisation of economic interdependence” such as action against Australia, has made its economic partners increasingly wary.
    • In this context, India is seen as a potential and credible countervailing power to resist Chinese ambitions.
    • The world wants India to succeed because it is regarded as a benign power wedded to a rule-based order.
    • India can leverage this propitious moment to encourage a significant flow of capital, technology and knowledge to accelerate its own modernisation.

    Consider the question “Though it may sound counterintuitive, India which is dealing with pessimism about its economic prospect in the wake of the pandemic, may be located at favourable geopolitical moment” Comment.

    Conclusion

    India should seize the opportunity and make multi-polar world order a pillar of its foreign policy to counter China threat while trying to leverage the moment to attract the flow of capital, technology and knowledge to accelerate its own modernisation.

  • Spectrum auction

    The article analyses the factors influencing the outcome of the spectrum auction and suggests the measures to ensure the success and avoid the repeat of 2016 auction.

    Details of the auction

    • Based on the recommendation of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the government is planning to auction spectrum in the sub GHz bands of 700, 800, and 900 MHz along with mid-band frequencies in bands of 1800, 2100, 2300, and 2500 MHz across the 22 Licensed Service Areas (LSAs) of the country.
    • The cumulative reserve price — and hence the potential revenue accrual to the government at reserve prices — is about $50 billion.
    • The total reserve price of spectrum put on auction in 2016 was about $90 billion while the realized value was just about one-tenth of that.
    • Hence, while the 2016 auction could be considered as a failure from the auctioneer’s point of view.

    Factors determining the success of  the spectrum auction

    1) Right reserve price

    • Research on a cross-country spectrum database shows that the reserve price significantly and positively correlated to the winning bid price.
    • However, a higher reserve price also inhibits bidders from bidding for more spectrum blocks.
    • If the quantity effect is more than the price effect, then it results in reduced revenues for the government exchequer, as happened in 2016.

    2) Role of Over The Top (OTT) provider

    • Over The Top (OTT) providers who are providing substitute goods such as Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP); and capturing a greater mind share of customers while remaining relatively invisible to government regulators.
    • The rise of VoIP subscribers could have a positive effect on winning bid prices.
    • However, the erosion of the position of telcos in the overall digital value network of devices, connectivity, and apps, could result in a lower willingness to pay.

    3) Allocation of unlicensed spectrum for WiFi

    • By off-loading mobile data, Wi-Fi supplements the carrier network and reduces the demand for mobile network capacity.
    • A number of countries including the United States have unlicensed the V-band spectrum in 60 GHz — pencil beam band.
    • Referred to as “wireless fiber”, the 60 GHz spectrum provides huge capacities in a limited area.
    • Wi-Fi 6 (a.k.a. IEEE 802.11 ax) that operates in the 2.4/5 GHz unlicensed band requires additional unlicensed spectrum allocation to provide Gigabit speeds.
    • The more the unlicensed spectrum allocation, the lower will be the demand for licensed spectrum.

    4) Clarity on the availability of spectrum for auction

    • While there is an indication by the government that the spectrum for the 5G auction, namely 3.4-3.6 GHz, will be held in late 2021, the amount of spectrum that will be made available is not clear.
    • There is still uncertainty about the release of 26 GHz by the Department of Space for mobile services.
    • With this limited visibility, the bidders will be in a quandary whether to acquire the spectrum now or wait for subsequent auctions.
    • Further, some part of the current spectrum holding of all the operators is coming up for renewal in mid-2021, and hence there is additional pressure on them to retain them in the forthcoming auction.

    Steps need to be taken

    • A re-visit of reserve prices and lower it further, especially that of 700 MHz which is the “golden band” for covering the hinterlands of the country.
    • Releasing more unlicensed spectrum in 2.4/5/60 GHz for proliferating Wi-Fi as a suitable complement to [the] carrier network.
    • This will also augment the deployments of the Public Wi-Fi project which the cabinet approved recently.
    • Provide visibility of future auctions, especially the quantum of the spectrum that can be put on the block in 3.3/3.6/26/28 GHz.
    • The government should release guidelines on how OTT platforms will be regulated and what will be regulated so that the telcos and OTTs can join hands to provide superior services for the benefit of the consumers.

    Conclusion

    The government should follow the steps mentioned here to make the auction of the spectrum a success.

  • Establishing trust between government and citizens

    The article highlights the important role played by the intermediaries in connecting the citizens with the government.

    Addressing the connect between government and citizens

    • By exploring how digitally excluded communities engage with governance we understand that humans are significant in brokering trust between governments and citizens.
    • This is true even for the ‘Digital India’.
    • However, only a few States have built a cadre of individuals for last mile governance.
    • Andhra Pradesh, for instance, rolled out a ward secretariat programme with over 16,000 ward secretaries and volunteers for delivering government services at citizens’ doorstep.

    Understanding the role played by intermediaries

    • Intermediaries help citizens overcome barriers to awareness of availability of digital services and rights from the state and ability.
    •  Intermediaries support individuals by placing complaints, directing them to the right authorities, and following up.
    • Intermediaries are crucial offline architectures that enable the state to do its work better.
    • Community-based organisations and NGOs see their work as allied to their core work.

    Way forward

    • Various types and forms of intermediation emerge based on regional, social, cultural and economic contexts.
    • Equally, it is essential to pay attention to the varying incentives of intermediaries and not romanticise the benefits.
    • We need to see intermediaries as crucial to the realisation of governance outcomes.
    • India has formalised intermediation in traditional markets such as mutual funds from which we can learn.
    • In these areas, formal governance mechanisms, structured capacity building, widespread awareness campaigns, and process re-engineering enabled growth and usage.
    • At a broader level, increasing digitisation of governance across domains including healthcare, financial inclusion, justice and social services should be considered.

    Conclusion

    By acknowledging the role of intermediaries and supporting them, we will be able to support the process of responsible, responsive and data-driven governance across domains.

  • Dominance of Private healthcare in India & Related issues

    • Lack of resources such as 1:1,700, doctor: citizen ratio, well below the minimum ratio of 1:1,000 stipulated by WHO.

    • Rural areas and smaller towns of India are the worst sufferers, where even basic health services remain inaccessible, many cases were reported where ward boys and alone found running the primary healthcare center.

    • Inadequate government spending on healthcare and lack of access to health insurance to a large section of society.

    • The quality of public health services in India continues to remain below expectations which hamper the economic growth of the country.

    • Government’s inability to build sufficient capacity and infrastructure, difficulty in reaching out to poor and vulnerable groups.

    • An undersized skilled workforce and the absence of upgraded technology is a major challenge in the health sector.

  • Custodial torture in India

    Installation of cameras would help in curbing the custodial torture to some extent but ending the menace requires comprehensive reforms.

    Installation of CCTV cameras to curb custodial torture

    • The Supreme Court recently mandated that CCTV cameras be installed in police stations and offices of other investigative agencies.
    • However, previous decisions with similar recommendations have been poorly implemented.
    • The present decision shows a marked difference from the earlier ones in its approach.
    • It shows more care by listing out areas of police stations where cameras must be installed to ensure that there are no blind spots.
    • It asks for oversight committees to be set up to monitor the functioning of the cameras.
    • It also specifies that the cameras must be equipped with night vision and be able to record audio and visual footage.
    • The recordings will have to be preserved for at least 12 months.

    Issues with installing CCTV cameras

    • Alteration of a video to conceal an object, an event, or change the meaning conveyed by the video is a well-documented reality in the United States.
    • Indian courts have also expressed their apprehension of police tampering with CCTV footage.
    • The judgment does not assuage these concerns.
    •  Cameras in police stations will not foreclose the possibility of torture in other locations.
    • Multiple works on torture in India suggest that torture is often not inflicted in police stations, but in isolated areas or police vehicles.
    • Victims are illegally detained and tortured in undisclosed locations before officially arrested and brought to the police station.

    Challenges in fixing criminal responsibility

    • Since torture is not recognized as an offense per se under Indian law, the judgment refers to the use of force resulting in “serious injuries and/or custodial deaths” unwittingly creates a high threshold for what amounts to torture.
    • It fails to acknowledge the existence of forms of physical and psychological torture that leave behind no marks on the body.
    • Requiring prior sanction from the government operates as the foremost hurdle in initiating criminal complaints.
    • The absence of statutory guidelines mandating independent investigation results in police officers from the same police station investigating the crime and suppressing evidence.
    • Between 2005-2018, with respect to 1,200 deaths in police custody, 593 cases were registered, 186 police personnel were charge-sheeted, and only seven were convicted (National Crime Records Bureau).
    •  Evidentiary concerns frequently arise since often the only witnesses are the victims themselves.
    • The Supreme Court (1995) has noted that police officials remain silent to protect their colleagues as they are “bound by brotherhood” and held that courts should not insist on direct or ocular evidence in these cases.
    • This position is rarely applied and many cases result in acquittal for want of evidence.

    Conclusion

    Monitoring the police through CCTVs is an important step towards combating torture but its effectiveness is contingent on broader reforms. The Supreme Court needs to ensure a robust implementation of its order and simultaneously plug the gaps so that incidents of torture are curtailed.

  • Laying the foundation for faster growth

    To ease the damage inflicted by the pandemic on the economy, India needs to act on multiple fronts. The article suggests the trajectory India should follow to compensate for the economic loss due to pandemic.

    Economy picking up

    • As the restrictions were slowly withdrawn, the economy has also started picking up.
    • There are many indicators such as collection of Goods and Services Tax (GST), the improved output of coal, steel, and cement, and positive growth in manufacturing in October 2020 which point to better performance of the private sector.
    • In Q1, the economy declined by 23.9%; it declined by 7.5% in Q2, when the relaxations were eased.
    • Reductions in the first half of GDP in 2020-21 as compared to the first half of 2019-20 is 7.66% of the 2019-20 GDP.
    • If the Indian economy at least maintains the second half GDP in 2020-21 at the level of the previous year, the full-year contraction can be limited to about 7.7%.

    Steps need to be taken

    • If the Indian economy grows at 8% in 2021-22 will we be compensating for the decline in 2020-21.
    • Thus, it is imperative that the Indian economy grows at a minimum of 8% in 2021-22.
    • This should be possible if by that time restrictions imposed because of COVID-19 are withdrawn and the nation goes back to a normal state.
    • Some sectors can act as lead sectors or engines of growth with increased government capital expenditures in them.
    • The private sector seems to be revising its future prospects.
    • Many new issues in the capital market have met with good response.
    • The attitude to trade must also change.
    • Closing borders may appear to be a good short-term policy to promote growth.
    • A strong surge in our exports will greatly facilitate growth, i.e. 2021-22.
    • However, much of Indian’s growth must rest on domestic factors.
    • Growth must not only be consumption-driven but also investment-driven.
    • It is the investment-driven growth in a developing economy that can sustain growth over a long period.

    The important role of monetary policy

    • The stance of monetary policy in 2020-21 has been extremely accommodating.
    • Three major elements in the policy are:
    • 1) A reduction in interest rate.
    • 2) Providing liquidity through various measures.
    • 3) Regulatory changes such as moratorium.
    • There has been a substantial injection of liquidity into the system.
    • With a large injection of liquidity, one should expect inflation to remain high.
    • In the final analysis, inflation is determined by the overall liquidity or money supply in the system in conjunction with the availability of goods and services.
    • While there may be sufficient justification for an accommodative monetary policy in a difficult year such as 2020, there will be a need to exercise more caution as we move into the next year.

    Role of government expenditure

    • Government expenditures play a key role in a situation such as the one we are facing.
    • The stimulus policies involving higher government expenditures were expected to arrest the contractionary momentum.
    • The government expenditures should be speeded up from now on so that the contraction in the current fiscal year as a whole can be reduced.
    • In 2021-22, government revenues should pick up with the rise in GDP.
    • The process of bringing down the fiscal deficit must also start.
    • What is required is a sharp increase in government capital expenditures which can act as a stimulus for growth.
    • A detailed investment plan of the government and public sector enterprises must be drawn up and presented as part of the coming Budget.

    Increasing investment

    • Over the past decade, the investment rate has been falling.
    • In 2018-19, the rate fell to 32.2% of GDP from 38.9% in 2011-12.
    • Some of the recent measures including corporate tax rate changes may help in augmenting investment.
    • A strong effort must be made to improve the investment climate. The National Infrastructure Pipeline is a good initiative.
    • But the government must come forward to invest more on its own.

    Reforms with consensus

    • Reforms are important in the context of rapid development.
    • However, timing, sequencing, and consensus-building are equally important while introducing them.
    • Labor reforms, for example, are best introduced when the economy is on the upswing.

    Consider the question ” Growth must not only be consumption-driven but also investment-driven. It is the latter which in a developing economy can sustain growth over a long period. In light of this, suggest the policy imperatives that India should follow to make good of the decline in 2020-202.”

    Conclusion

    To achieve the level of $5 trillion, we need to grow continuously at 9% for six years from now. That is the challenge before the economy. Jobs and employment will come from growth. They are not independent of growth. For that policymakers should eschew other considerations and focus only on growth.

  • Friend and neighbour: India-Bangladesh relations

    India must strengthen ties with Bangladesh and appreciate Sheikh Hasina’s challenges

    Virtual summit between India and Bangladesh

    • The virtual summit was conducted recently between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina.
    • There was a discussion on issues ranging from the violent border incidents to the COVID-19 fight, demonstrates their desire to reboot India-Bangladesh ties that have faced challenges in recent months.
    • PM Modi called Bangladesh a “major pillar” in India’s neighbourhood first policy, while Ms. Hasina invited him to visit Bangladesh in March for the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of its independence.
    • It is a key opportunity for India, which had played a major role in Bangladesh’s liberation in 1971, to revive the relations and address the issues adversely affecting the partnership.

    Importance of India-Bangladesh relationship

    • Bangladesh and India are at a historic juncture of diplomacy embedded in a rich matrix of history, religion, culture, language and kinship.

    (1) ‘Blue Economy’ programme’ –

    • Both countries are looking at strengthening economic cooperation through joint investments and cooperation under the ‘Blue Economy’ programme.
    • The programme entails synergized efforts of littoral states in the exploration of hydrocarbons, marine resources, deep-sea fishing, preservation of marine ecology and disaster management.
    • The industry in India needs to look for opportunities for collaboration in defence, such as in military hardware, space technology, technical assistance, exchange of experience, and development of sea infrastructure.

    (2) India’s Act East Policy –

    • Connectivity offers a game-changing opportunity for India and Bangladesh. This is pivotal to India’s connectivity with its north-eastern region and with countries of ASEAN.
    • This is particularly important in the context of both the Make in India initiative as well as India’s Act East Policy.
    • The two countries also see themselves converging around a lot of commonalities, not just as neighbours battling the scourge of terrorism, but as leading economic partners.
    • In terms of diplomacy in the South Asian region, both countries have had identical views.
    • From how organizations such as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) should be going forward in promoting cooperation among its member nations to economic growth.

    Challenges in India-Bangladesh relations

    (1) Violent border incidents –

    • Despite the friendship remaining solid, the border has been sensitive.
    • At least 25 Bangladeshis were killed in the first six months of this year along the border by Indian forces, according to a rights watchdog.

    (2) Sharing of River Waters –

    • The Teesta water dispute between West Bengal and Bangladesh remains unresolved.

    (3) The Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the proposed National Register of Citizens, which Ms Hasina called “unnecessary”, have created a negative impression about India.

    (4) China’s economic footprint is growing –

    • China is making deep inroads into Bangladesh by ramping up infrastructure investments and expanding economic cooperation.
    • Bangladesh is overwhelmingly dependent on China for military hardware.
    • Since 2010, India approved three Lines of Credit to Bangladesh of $7.362 billion to finance development projects. But, just $442 million have been disbursed until December 2018.

    Way Forward

    • It is imperative for India to bolster ties with this all-weather friend, and there may not be a better time to do so than when Bangladesh is to celebrate the golden jubilee of its independence.
    • India should support Bangladesh’s fight against radical elements. India should also not allow the ideological inclinations of the ruling party to spoil the historic relationship between the two countries.
    • New Delhi should take a broader view of the changing scenario and growing competition in South Asia, and reach out to Dhaka with an open mind.
    • There is much room for course correction in Delhi and to shift the focus from legacy issues to future possibilities.

    Practice Question: Discuss the importance of India-Bangladesh relations and various challenges affecting the relations between the two countries. How they can be addressed?

  • Government must promote crop diversification by setting MSP for other crops as well

    Farmers’ genuine concerns must be addressed as soon as possible so that they can continue producing food and fibre needed for the ever-increasing population.

    Green revolution and farmer’s contribution to the food sufficiency in India

    • In the early 1960s, near-famine conditions prevailed in India and some 10 million tonnes of wheat had to be imported from the US under the PL480 programme. The country’s situation was like“ship-to-mouth” existence.
    • High-yielding dwarf wheat varieties brought from Mexico were provided to Indian agricultural institutes.
    • The consequent miraculous gains in wheat yield and production ushered in the “Green Revolution.”
    • The Green Revolution occurred due to a confluence of favourable government policies, efforts of agricultural scientists and the adoption of new wheat varieties/selections by farmers.
    • Also, the contributions of farmers of Punjab (Haryana included) was also very important and they became the backbone of the revolution.
    • By 1974, the industrious farmers of the “food-bowl” states of Punjab, Haryana, and western UP had brought about self-sufficiency in foodgrain production, ridding the country of the “begging bowl”.

    Practice Question: What are the concerns of the farmers after new agriculture reforms and how they can be addressed?

    Farmer’s concerns

    • Consultation with farmers is important before drafting policies –
    • There will be resistance no matter which organization enact the policies/rules without taking the affected people on board. A proactive approach is always better than a reactive one.
    • From the farmers’ standpoint, the ordinances were unfairly promulgated in June 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown, without consulting them.
    • Loss of Income in the lockdown – Farmers could not sell their vegetables and fruits because of the lockdown causing the loss of income and then the imposition of the new laws aggravated them.
    • Uncertainty in the minds of farmers about the continuation of MSP –
    • Farmers have been selling food grains (mainly wheat and rice) at Minimum Support Price (MSP) since the mid-1960s.
    • This has helped to create a central pool of food grains and the Public Distribution System to help poor people.
    • But MSP has not been guaranteed in the newly enacted farm laws, which is the major bone of contention.
    • The APMCs are under threat from the new farm laws as MSP and APMC go hand-in-hand.

    New Middleman –

    • The central government has indicated that the new farm laws are meant to eliminate the “middlemen”.
    • But the farmers feel that a new class of middlemen, that is, lawyers belonging to big companies would emerge.
    • Thus, small farmers would be at a distinct disadvantage — more than 80 per cent of farmers own less than five acres of land.

    Contract farming –

    • According to the central government, the new laws will ensure contract farming.
    • The farmers fear that big companies might usurp their land and might not pay them an agreed price on the pretext of “poor quality” of produce.
    • They feel that big companies might become monopolies, and exploit both farmers and consumers. Farmers fear being made into labourers.

    Way forward

    MSP is a must –

    • A clause should be added in the law to the effect that no matter who buys the produce (government or a private entity), the farmer must be given an MSP.
    • The National Farmers’ Commission’s recommendation of providing an MSP of 50 per cent over and above a farmer’s input expenses must be implemented.
    • APMCs should be continued – The fees that “Mandi Boards” collect (for example the Rural Development Fund) have helped build link roads. No private organization will do this.
    • MSP should be determined on the basis of grain quality.

    Crop diversification is needed –

    • The government must promote crop diversification by purchasing crops produced other than wheat and rice at MSP. This could help conserve the dwindling supply of underground water.
    • To encourage farmers to grow high-value crops, such as vegetables and fruits, the government should set up the adequate cold-chain infrastructure.
    • The farmers’ staying power must be improved so that they don’t have to sell all of their produce immediately after the harvest.
    • India has produced a number of World Food Laureates, including M S Swaminathan, Gurdev S Khush, Surinder K Vasal, and Rattan Lal. Such intellectuals should be in the “Agricultural Think Tank.”

  • West Bengal IPS Controversy

    Police personnel should not be made instruments of a political battle

    Tug of war between political parties in West Bengal

    • The appointment of three IPS officers of the West Bengal cadre to various posts by the Union Home Ministry on Thursday has escalated the confrontation between the State and the Centre.
    • Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has termed the deputation order despite the State’s objection “a colourable exercise of power and blatant misuse of emergency provision of IPS Cadre Rule 1954”.
    • The constant hostility between the State and Central governments is now taking a turn for the worse ahead of the 2021 Assembly election.
    • The tug of war began after a convoy of BJP President J.P. Nadda came under stone pelting in the State on December 10. The BJP apparently holds the IPS officers accountable for the incident.
    • After an initial move to recall these officials was resisted by the State, the Centre has invoked Section 6(1) of the Indian Police Service (Cadre) Rules, which says that “in case of any disagreement, the matter shall be decided by the Central Government….”

    Administrative instruments Vs. Political battles

    • The CM’s style of managing the police force has gained attention for the wrong reasons in the past.
    • Senior officials are seen as allied with the ruling govt and the oppositions determined drive to capture power in the State is multi-pronged.
    • The Supreme Court restrained West Bengal from taking any “coercive action” against several opposition leaders in criminal cases registered against them by the State Police.
    • The opposition continues to knock on the doors of the Court and the Election Commission of India to bring pressure on the State government.
    • By enforcing its writ on IPS officers, the Centre is sending a signal to all officers that their conduct will now be under scrutiny.

    Never-ending issues between the state and the centre

    • The central schemes, Ayushman Bharat and PM Kisan Samman Nidhi are also a bone of contention.
    • The Bengal government has refused to implement them, demanding that the funds be routed through the State.
    • The CM has also complained of insufficient central assistance to manage the COVID-19 pandemic and cyclone Amphan.
    • The Centre’s earlier demand that the Chief Secretary and DGP attend a meeting in New Delhi on the State’s law-and-order situation increased tensions.
    • The partisan use of the personnel and instruments of the state by parties in power as is happening in this tussle is a disturbing signal for democracy and federalism.

    Practice Question: The partisan use of the personnel and instruments of the state by parties in power is a disturbing signal for democracy and federalism. Elaborate.