NOTE: Please remember that following ‘answers’ are NOT ‘model answers’. They are NOT synopsis too if we go by definition of the term. What we are providing is content that both meets demand of the question and at the same time gives you extra points in the form of background information.
Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
Reference: The Hindu
Why this question:
With the need for revival of business and economic activity after weeks of forced closure, interests of laborers and workers are being sacrificed. Several States across India are ignoring the welfare laws for workers in the name of boosting economic activity. Thus the question.
Key demand of the question:
Explain the effect of change in labor laws being made by several States in the country and their ill impact on the welfare of them, discuss the issues associated and suggest solutions.
Directive:
Elucidate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the particular context. You must be defining key terms where ever appropriate, and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Briefly narrate the issue at hand.
Body:
To start with, explain the actions taken by different states; Uttar Pradesh, last week, introduced an ordinance that has scrapped most labour laws for three years — ostensibly for creating jobs and for attracting factories exiting China following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat have quickly followed suit. Punjab has already allowed 12-hour shifts per day (72 hours per week) in factories without overtime payment to overcome worker shortage after the migrants have left in the wake of the national lockdown. Then move on to discuss the concerns associated with it in detail. Suggest what can be done to address those concerns.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Introduction:
Recently several State governments made changes in their labour laws and removed or expanded limits on working hours and changed several other provisions. This is done with the need for revival of business and economic activity after weeks of forced closure, interests of labourers and workers are being sacrificed.
Body:
Some of the changed laws:
- Uttar Pradesh introduced an ordinance that has scrapped most labour law for three years.
- This was done ostensibly for two reasons viz. creating jobs and for attracting factories exiting China.
- These laws deal with -the occupational safety, health and working conditions of workers, regulation of hours of work, wages and settlement of industrial disputes.
- They apply mostly to the economy’s organized or formal sector, that is, registered factories and companies, and large establishments in general.
- Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat have quickly followed suit.
- Punjab has already allowed 12-hour shifts per day (72 hours per week) in factories without overtime payment to overcome worker shortage after the migrants have left in the wake of the national lockdown.
Impacts of such measures:
- Scrapping labour laws to save on labour costs would reduce wages, lower earnings, particularly of low wage workers and reduce consumer demand.
- Further, it will lead to an increase of low paid work that offers no security of tenure or income stability.
- It will increase informal employment in the formal sector instead of encouraging the growth of formal work.
- Depriving workers of fundamental rights such as freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining, and a set of primary working conditions (such as adequate living wages, limits on hours of work and safe and healthy workplaces), will create a fertile ground for the exploitation of the working class.
- The rationale for scrapping labour laws to attract investment and boost manufacturing growth poses two additional questions.
- If the laws were in fact so strongly pro-worker, they would have raised wages and reduced business profitability.
- But the real wage growth (net of inflation) of directly employed workers in the factory sector has been flat (2000-01 to 2015-16) as firms have increasingly resorted to casualization and informalisation of the workforce to suppress workers’ bargaining power, evidence suggests.
- Industrial performance is not just a function of the labour laws but of the size of the market, fixed investment growth, credit availability, infrastructure, and government policies.
- There is little evidence to suggest that amendment of key labour laws by Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh in 2014 took them any closer to their goal of creating more jobs or industrial growth.
- If the laws were in fact so strongly pro-worker, they would have raised wages and reduced business profitability.
Concerns posed by the changes in laws:
- In the wake of the lockdown, India has witnessed unheard of human distress as lakhs of migrant workers continue to desperately trudge to their villages after losing their jobs, livelihoods, and toeholds in cities.
- Despite overflowing food grain stocks, governments have been miserly in providing adequate food security.
- Income support to workers to retain them in their places of work has also been lacking.
- Significantly, migrant labour will be critical to restore production once the lockdown is lifted. In fact, factories and shops are already staring at worker shortages.
- Instead of encouraging workers to stay back or return to cities by ensuring livelihood support and safety nets, State governments have sought to strip workers of their fundamental rights.
- Employers’ associations have urged the central government to do away with most labour rights to address temporary labour shortages.
Way forward:
- India’s complex web of labour laws, with around 47 central laws and 200 State laws, needs to be rationalized.
- There is need for reforms to maintain a delicate balance between the need for firms to adapt to ever-changing market conditions and workers’ employment security.
- As India battles the economic and social consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, many State governments have seized the opportunity to scrap labour laws on the pretext of encouraging employment.
- Such a decision makes little economic sense, as it will reduce share of wages in output, thereby reducing growth in domestic demand and hurting output expansion.
- It is amoral on the part of the States to address the need of revival of economic activity by granting sweeping exemptions from legal provisions aimed at protecting labourers in factories and industries. Such ordinances or measures must be revoked.
Conclusion:
The slowdown is due to lack of demand, not of supply, as widely suggested. With massive job and income losses after the lockdown, aggregate demand has totally slumped, with practically no growth. Therefore, the way to restart the economy is to provide income support and restore jobs. This will not only address the humanitarian crisis but also help revive consumer demand by augmenting incomes.
Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
Reference: Indian Express
Why this question:
The question is amidst the issues facing the prisons and their ill-management in the country owing to the effects of COVID spread.
Key demand of the question:
One has to examine whether right to bail be made a part of an under trial’s right to life to resolve the issues that are getting aggravated due to prison crowding.
Directive:
Analyze – When asked to analyse, you have to examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them as a whole in a summary.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Briefly explain that thousands of new inmates enter prisons across India every week, apart from prison officials who come and go each day. Such entrants, together, pose the gravest risk of spreading Covid-19 to the static prison population.
Body:
To start with, quote some data such as – Indian prison inmates fall essentially in two categories – those convicted of offences and serving a sentence, and the presumptively innocent who bide their time awaiting trial. India’s largest such prison is Delhi’s infamous Tihar, which houses an astounding 17,500 such ‘under trials’. Explain in the situations like COVID why does it become important to make right to bail be made a part of an under trial’s right to life. Present arguments for and against the topic.
Conclusion:
Conclude with solutions.
Introduction:
Following infections inside Mumbai Central Jail, Maharashtra has started temporarily releasing half the prisoners in its jails. The Maharashtra government issued a circular that effectively facilitates the release of half the prisoners lodged in the state’s jails, on temporary bail and emergency parole. Until Thursday, around 7,000 of a targeted 17,000-plus prisoners had been released. States including Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi have recorded Covid-19 cases in their prisons.
Body:
Yes, right to bail for prisoners should be made a part of an under trial’s right to life:
- Bail, in law, means procurement of release from prison of a person awaiting trial or an appeal, by the deposit of security to ensure his submission at the required time to legal authority.
- Article 39-A of the Constitution directs the State to ensure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice on a basis of equal opportunity and shall, in particular, provide free legal aid by suitable legislation or schemes or in any other way, to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities.
- Right to free legal aid or free legal service is an essential fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution. It forms the basis of reasonable, fair and just liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, which says, “No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law”.
- It must be further noted that a person accused of a bailable offenses is arrested or detained without warrant he has a right to be released on bail.
- In 2017, the Law Commission of India had recommended that undertrials who have completed a third of their maximum sentence for offences attracting up to seven years of imprisonment be released on bail.
- As Justice Krishna Iyer puts it with the full authority of the Supreme Court: “Personal liberty is deprived when bail is refused, is too precious a value of our constitutional system, that the crucial power to negate it is a great trust exercisable not casually but judicially with lively concern for the cost to the individual and the community”.
- Bail is a fundamental right. Good reasons, with full explanation in writing must exist for denying bail. By following these norms, it can be said that if a person is denied the right to bail due to any reason, it is the infringement of his right to life and liberty.
- A right to bail was not inserted as a right in the constitution of India, but it is quite implicit that it has been devolved as a right under Article 21 as a component of personal liberty.
- Committees across the country can recommend release of 14 categories of prisoners, including women and those with severe illnesses.
Challenges faced by prisoners in times of pandemic:
- Overcrowding:
- Before the lockdown, the state’s jails were accommodating 50% over their capacity.
- This is much higher than the national average occupancy in central prisons, which on an average house 13 prisoners against a capacity of 10.
- The Maharashtra Prison Department’s report said the capacity in state jails is 23,547 while there were 35,239 prisoners before the lockdown. It warned against an outbreak in other prisons if they are not decongested.
- A total of 1,341 prisons were functional in India as on 30th November, 2018. The total population of prisoners in India was 4.68 lakh against total sanctioned strength of 3.83 lakh.
- Poor infrastructure:
- These cramped and crowded jails — mostly British-era central prisons in Maharashtra — are a ticking time bomb for the spread of infectious diseases.
- The barracks are very crowded, so are spaces of eating and cleaning.
- Highest number of undertrials:
- India’s under-trial population remains among the highest in the world and more than half of all undertrials were detained for less than six months in 2016.
- Shortage of Prison Staff
- The Prison Department has a perennial average vacancy of 30%-40%. This hinders implementation of Model Prison Manual and various jail reforms.
- Physical production of an accused for a trial in a court remains far below the aspired 100% in several States, mainly because of unavailability of sufficient police guards for escort and transportation.
- Unhygienic Food
- The preparation of food in kitchens is “primitive and arduous”. The kitchens are congested and unhygienic and the diet has remained unchanged for years now.
Way forward:
- The Supreme Court appointed Justice Amitava Roy (retd.) Committee has given recommendations to reform prisons.
- The Court appointed the Committee in 2018 to examine the various problems plaguing prisons, from overcrowding to lack of legal advice to convicts to issues of remission and parole.
- Speedy trial: Speedy trial remains one of the best ways to remedy the unwarranted phenomenon of overcrowding.
- Lawyer to prisoner ratio: There should be at least one lawyer for every 30 prisoners, which is not the case at present.
- Special courts: Special fast-track courts should be set up to deal exclusively with petty offences which have been pending for more than five years. Further, accused persons who are charged with petty offences and those granted bail, but who are unable to arrange surety should be released on a Personal Recognizance (PR) Bond.
- Unified prison management system: There should be a unified prison management system that has records of all inmates so they don’t have to run from pillar to post for copies of documents like court orders. The project has been recommended by NALSA as well. Also, this project has worked well in Delhi’s Tihar jail.
- Avoid adjournment: An adjournment should not be granted in cases where witnesses are present and the concept of plea bargaining, in which accused admits guilt for a lesser sentence, should be promoted.
- Accommodative Transition: Every new prisoner should be allowed a free phone call a day to his family members to see him through his first week in jail.
- Legal aid: Providing effective legal aid to prisoners and taking steps to provide vocational skills and education to prisoners.
- Use of ICT: Use of video-conferencing for trial.
- Alternatives: The courts may be asked to use their “discretionary powers” and award sentences like “fine and admonition” if possible instead of sending the offenders to jails.
- Post-release financial security for prisoners: Wages that are paid to prisoners who are serving sentences should be increased and should be on par with global benchmarks. So that when they come out, they have some better finances.
- Skill development of the prisoners: The major role prisons should play is of reformation and making sure that, once out, inmates are properly integrated into society. That is possible when more skill development programs are introduced in the jails to enhance their chances of earning.
Conclusion:
India is the champion of human rights causes all across the world, but the dismal condition of Indian prison reflects the paradox that exists in the Indian criminal justice system. So prison reforms need to see the light of the day, but it must be accompanied by the judicial system reforms and police reforms, as trio forms the pillars of the criminal justice system.
Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
Reference: Indian Express
Why this question:
The question is based on the article that hints on focusing upon the human capital to make the Indian economy more susceptible.
Key demand of the question:
Explain the importance of human capital and highlight how trade dependence is not the major contributor for the Indian economy but human capital is.
Directive:
Give Reasons – Weigh up to what extent something is true. Persuade the reader of your argument by citing relevant research but also remember to point out any flaws and counter- arguments as well. Conclude by stating clearly how far you are in agreement with the original proposition.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Briefly explain the importance of trade and human capital to the economy in general.
Body:
To start with, explain the fact that for India to be truly self-reliant and self-confident, public investment in education, human capability and research and development has to increase. Discuss the policy measures taken by the govt. to make Indian economy self-reliant. Highlight other aspects that are necessary for the growth of the economy.
Conclusion:
Conclude that human capability and research and development have to increase. It is not trade dependence that makes India vulnerable but the inadequacy of its human capital.
Introduction:
Human capital refers to the intangible collection of knowledge, training, skills, wisdom, and other cognitive abilities of any individual, which cumulates as a resource to the nation or organization the individuals belongs. Human capital determines the path and pace of development of an organisation or a nation. In the 21st century, India aspires to be one of the manufacturing hub of world.
Prime Minister presented a big picture vision statement on making India a more self-reliant and self-confident nation in a changing and challenging post-COVID world. For India to be truly self-reliant and self-confident, public investment in education, human capability and research and development has to increase. It is not trade dependence that makes India vulnerable but the inadequacy of its human capital.
Body:
Significance of human capital:
- Human capital is central to sustainable growth and poverty reduction.
- Development of human capital enables people to be more productive, flexible, and innovative.
- With rapid technological development, development of human capital has become prerequisite to cater to the changing needs of work.
- With rapid globalization and industrialization, markets demand workforce with higher levels of human capital, especially advanced cognitive and socio-behavioural skills.
Reasons for low Human Capital Development in India:
- Health:
- Healthcare provisions in India is grossly inadequate and access to healthcare is highly inequitable. Lack of efficient public healthcare and burden of out of pocket health expenditures reduces people’s capacity or disables them from investing in the human capital of their children.
- ineffective functioning (corruption and leakages) of the public distribution system (PDS), growing economic inequalities and lack of nutritional awareness pose challenges in combating malnutrition
- Education:
- Basic literacy (the ability to read and write) in the overall population has progressed modestly. However, there is persistent gender differentials, and major differentials by caste and religion.
- The state of functional literacy and professional skills is poor. Indian graduates have low employability and does not meet changing economic structure or support global competitiveness.
- Rising Inequality:
- In India, a large portion of the population is below the poverty line, therefore, they do not have easy access to primary health and education.
- There is growing inequality across social groups and income groups which translates itself into poor socio-economic mobility.
- Lack of socioeconomic mobility hinders human capital development and traps a large section of population to be in the vicious circle of poverty.
- Lack of Skilling:
- According to the National Sample Survey, out of the 470 million people of working age in India, only 10% receive any kind of training or access to skilled employment opportunities.
- There’s a huge mismatch between demand and supply when it comes to skilled workforce and employment opportunities, which could place a strain on the economy in the long run
- Inadequate use of knowledge bases from technology developments:
- There is a disconnect between India’s rate of technological growth and ability to distribute the gains from it by adequately focusing on skilling and health.
- The use of technical advancements has been concentrated in few sectors and benefits accrued by a few elitist sections of the society.
Way forward:
- To engineer an inclusive and sustainable growth for India, the social infrastructure like education, health and social protection are being given utmost priority by the Government.
- The Government has been enhancing the expenditure on human capital along with adopting measures to improve the efficiency of expenditure by a convergence of schemes.
- Several labour reform measures including legislative ones are being implemented for the creation of employment opportunities and for providing sustainable livelihoods for the population who are largely engaged in the informal economy.
- Bridging the gender gaps in education, skill development, employment, earnings and reducing social inequalities prevalent in the society have been the underlying goals of the development strategy to enhance human capabilities.
- In essence, developing and empowering human capital to be able to shift to the new technology world seamlessly, should be the top priority of governments.
- Integration of higher education with skills and vocational education. Attracting the most credible talent to the teaching profession. Building global recognition to the education system.
- Streamlining regulation to attract credible private sector entities to education are some structural changes which are needed for transforming education.
- Access to high speed internet, multidisciplinary learning, design thinking, data science and information filtration capabilities are typical for making a future ready workforce.
Conclusion:
As the future grows more uncertain, the only way forward is to strengthen the core of the country and predictably India’s core opportunity is its human capital. For a country like India, with a one-time huge opportunity of demographic dividend, its high time to focus on human capital. Unless, we give adequate stress to education, health and skills – we will lose this golden opportunity. As of now, our rank in various indices – human capital and human resource – is not encouraging. Both government and private entities should give better focus on the same.
Topic: Food processing and related industries in India- scope’ and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
4. Examine the Potential and challenges of Pink Revolution in India.(250 words)
Reference: The Hindu
Why this question:
The question is based on the static theme of “Food processing and related industries in India” and its significance.
Key demand of the question:
The question is straightforward and aims to examine the potential and challenges of Pink revolution.
Directive:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must look into the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Define what you understand by Pink revolution.
Body:
Pink Revolution is a term used to denote the technological revolutions in the meat and poultry processing sector. Meat and poultry processing sector in the country has great potentials for growth. The present meat consumption per capita of around 6 grams per day will improve to 50 grams a day in the next decade or so. When such phenomenal increase in meat consumption occurs, the sector will witness a tremendous growth. Despite India’s large livestock Population, India accounts only around 2 percent of global market. Challenges include creating standard policies for meat production and export, standardizing the quality and safety aspects of meat and poultry, and creating infrastructure facilities for modern slaughter houses, meat testing facilities and cold storages for the growth of the meat and poultry processing sector.
Conclusion:
Conclude with solutions.
Introduction:
Pink revolution refers to the modernization or technological revolutions of the meat and poultry processing sector in India. India has already seen the ‘green’ and ‘white’ revolutions in its food industry – related to agriculture and milk respectively, now thrust is upon meat and poultry sector. India being a country of huge cattle and poultry population, has high potential for growth if this sector is modernized.
Body:
Current scenario:
- According to the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), India’s buffalo meat exports have fallen 9% in 2018-19 from a year ago to the lowest level in six years.
- The present meat consumption per capita of around 6 grams per day will improve to 50 grams a day in the next decade or so. When such phenomenal increase in meat consumption occurs, the sector will witness a tremendous growth.
- Despite India’s large livestock population, India accounts only around 2 percent of global market.
- China had stopped buying Indian meat on fear of the foot and mouth disease a few years ago.
- Exporters said the devaluation of currencies of Brazil and Argentina had also made Indian supplies less competitive.
- China was a bulk consumer a few years ago and there was a safety net for the industry in terms of consistent volume of trade.
Potential of pink revolution:
- India is having a good potential for meat production because of large livestock population.
- About 20.5 million people depend upon livestock for their livelihood.
- Livestock contributed 16% to the income of small farm households as against an average of 14% for all rural households.
- Livestock provides livelihood to two-third of rural community.
- It also provides employment to about 8.8 % of the population in India. India has vast livestock resources.
- Livestock sector contributes 4.11% GDP and 25.6% of total Agriculture GDP.
- Meat exported from India is risk-free, lean, nutritious and competitively priced meat.
- It has resulted in consistent, high compound growth rate in the export volumes.
- The importers of Indian meat are Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
- Uttar Pradesh state has emerged as the major exporter of buffalo meat followed by Punjab and Maharashtra.
- The value addition to slaughterhouse by products generate additional income as well as the costs of disposing of by products can be minimized.
- There is huge potential in this sector for economic development of country through increasing exports so the policy makers should adopt critical measures at every stage to encourage and support this vital segment of the Indian agriculture.
Challenges of Pink revolution:
- Livestock sector did not receive the policy and financial attention it deserved. The sector received only about 12% of the total public expenditure on agriculture and allied sectors, which is disproportionately lesser than its contribution to agricultural GDP.
- The sector has been neglected by the financial institutions.
- The share of livestock in the total agricultural credit has hardly ever exceeded 4% in the total (short-term, medium-term and long-term). The institutional mechanisms to protect animals against risk are not strong enough.
- Insurance:
- Currently, only 6% of the animal heads (excluding poultry) are provided insurance cover. Livestock extension has remained grossly neglected in the past.
- Only about 5% of the farm households in India access information on livestock technology. These indicate an apathetic outreach of the financial and information delivery systems.
- Lack of access to markets may act as a disincentive to farmers to adopt improved technologies and quality inputs.
- Productivity:
- Improving productivity of farm animals is one of the major challenges. The average annual milk yield of Indian cattle is 1172 kg which is only about 50% of the global average.
- Diseases:
- The Frequent outbreaks of diseases like Food and Mouth Diseases, Black Quarter infection, Influenza etc. continue to affect Livestock health and lower the productivity.
- Environment:
- India’s huge population of ruminants contributes to greenhouse gases emission adding to global warming. Reducing greenhouse gases through mitigation and adaptation strategies will be a major challenge.
- Crossbreeding of indigenous species with exotic stocks to enhance genetic potential of different species has been successful only to a limited extent.
- Limited Artificial Insemination services owing to a deficiency in quality germplasm, infrastructure and technical manpower coupled with poor conception rate following artificial insemination have been the major impediments.
- Livestock derives a major part of their energy requirement from agricultural by-products and residues. Hardly 5% of the cropped area is utilized to grow fodder. India is deficit in dry fodder by 11%, green fodder by 35% and concentrates feed by 28%. The common grazing lands too have been deteriorating quantitatively and qualitatively.
- Except for poultry products and to some extent for milk, markets for livestock and livestock products are underdeveloped, irregular, uncertain and lack transparency. Further, these are often dominated by informal market intermediaries who exploit the producers.
- Likewise, slaughtering facilities are too inadequate. About half of the total meat production comes from un-registered, make-shift slaughterhouses. Marketing and transaction costs of livestock products are high taking 15-20% of the sale price.
Measures needed to propel the pink revolution in India:
- A national breeding policy is needed to upgrade the best performing indigenous breeds.
- Measures should be taken to increase the meat production efficiency of different species of animals using the improved management practices.
- Adoption of improved shelter management practices can reduce the environmental stress.
- New breeds should be developed for meat production with higher feed conversion efficiency, faster growth and disease resistant.
- Health management practices should be followed for prevention of diseases and economic loss to the farmers.
- Regular prophetic health measures should be carried out against infectious diseases.
- Regular screening of animals should be carried out against disease such as tuberculosis, brucellosis, salmonellosis etc.
- The livestock market yard should have basic facilities for feeding, watering and holding animals for days.
- By vertical integration with meat processing industries the middle men can be eliminated, which will ultimately increase the profit of farmers.
- There is need for modernizing the quality control laboratories of the State Government, apart from need for strict laboratory inspection of meat and meat products, training programs for meat workers regarding hygiene and sanitation need to be organized regularly.
- Modernization of abattoirs, setting up of rural abattoirs and registration of all slaughter houses in cities/towns are essential for quality meat production.
- The setting up of large commercial meat farms have been recommended to address the traceability issues necessary for stringent quality standards of CODEX.
Way forward:
In a report titled the ‘Indian Meat Industry Perspective’, the FAO outlined four steps that should be taken if India’s food industry is to successfully go pink. These recommended steps were: setting up state of the art meat processing plants; developing technologies to raise male buffalo calves for meat production; increasing the number of farmers rearing buffalo under contractual farming; and establishing disease-free zones for rearing animals.
Conclusion:
Being a secular country the focus should be more on professional aspect of market rather than religious aspect. India needs legislations and willingness to make India fair play ground not only for domestic entrepreneurs but also for global players in meat and poultry business.
Topic: Food processing and related industries in India- scope’ and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
5. Discuss the Scope and Significance of Food Processing Industries in India. (250 words)
Why this question:
The question is straightforward from the static portions of GS paper III.
Key demand of the question:
Explain the Scope and Significance of Food Processing Industries in India.
Directive:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
The food processing industry in India is increasingly seen as a potential source for driving the rural economy as it brings about synergy between the consumer, industry and the farmer.
Body:
To start with, explain the importance of food processing industry. Food processing activity is still at a nascent stage in India with low penetration. List down the importance of food processing industry – Holds the potential of reducing enormous wastage of agricultural produce in the absence of processing technologies and cold chain facility, is labour-intensive industry, lead to increase in farm income etc. Discuss the conditions favorable for food processing. Highlight the importance of it.
Conclusion:
Conclude with significance of it to Indian economy.
Introduction:
Food processing generally includes the basic preparation of foods, the alteration of a food product (usually raw) into another form (as in making preserves from fruit), and preservation and packaging techniques. Food processing typically takes harvested crops or animal products and uses these to produce long shelf-life food products.
It includes the process of value addition to produce products through methods such as preservation, addition of food additives, drying etc. with a view to preserve food substances in an effective manner, enhance their shelf life and quality.
Body
Scope of FPI in India:
- India is the world’s second largest producer of fruits & vegetables after China but hardly 2% of the produce is processed.
- India is among the top 5 countries in the production of coffee, tobacco, spices, seeds etc. With such a huge raw material base, we can easily become the leading supplier of food items in the world.
- In spite of a large production base, the level of processing is low (less than 10%). Approximately 2% of fruits and vegetables, 8% marine, 35% milk, 6% poultry are processed. Lack of adequate processable varieties continues to pose a significant challenge to this sector.
- Economic Survey 2020: During the last 6 years ending 2017-18, Food Processing Industries sector has been growing at an average annual growth rate of around 5.06 per cent.
- Employment: According to the Annual Survey of Industries for 2016-17, the total number of persons engaged in registered food processing sector was 54 lakhs. (whereas unregistered FPOs supports 51.11 lakh workers)
- Farmer Beneficiaries: The SAMPADA scheme is estimated to benefit about 37 lakh farmers and generate about 5.6 lakh direct/ indirect employment (ES 2020 data).
- Curbing Distress Migration: Provides employment in rural areas, hence reduces migration from rural to urban. Resolves issues of urbanization.
Government Initiatives to boost the FPI:
- The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) is implementing PMKSY (Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana). The objective of PMKSY is to supplement agriculture, modernize processing and decrease agri-waste.
- Mega Food Parks.
- Integrated Cold Chain, Value Addition and Preservation Infrastructure.
- Creation/Expansion of Food Processing/Preservation Capacities.
- Infrastructure for Agro Processing Clusters.
- Scheme for Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages.
- Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy: FDI up to 100%, under the automatic route is allowed in food processing industries.
- Agri Export Zones: To give thrust to export of agro products, new concept of Agri Export Zones was brought in 2001. APEDA has been nominated as the Nodal Agency to coordinate the efforts
- cluster approach of identifying the potential products;
- the geographical region in which these products are grown;
- Adopting an end-to-end approach of integrating the entire process right from the stage of production till it reaches the market (farm to market).
Significance of the food processing industries:
The Food Processing Industry (FPI) is of enormous significance as it provides vital linkages and synergies that it promotes between the two pillars of the economy, i.e. agriculture and industry.
- Employment Opportunities: Food processing industries can absorb a major share of workers from the agriculture sector, who face disguised unemployment. It can lead to better productivity and GDP growth.
- Prevents Wastage: Nearly one-third of the food that is produced each year goes uneaten, costing the global economy over $940 billion as per report by World Resources Institute (WRI)
- India is biggest producer of numerous fruits and vegetable. Most of these are perishable and have very low shelf life. This is the major reason for high percentage of wastage. Their shelf life can be increased through food processing.
- Value Addition: Products such as tomato sauce, roasted nuts, de-hydrated fruits are in high demand.
- Reduce malnutrition: Processed foods when fortified with vitamins and minerals can reduce the nutritional gap in the population.
- Boosts Trade and Earns Foreign exchange: It is an important source of foreign exchange. For e.g. Indian Basmati rice is in great demand in Middle Eastern countries.
- Make in India: Food processing is one of the six superstar sectors under the GoI’s, Make in India initiative and has the potential to transform India as a leading food processing destination of the World.
- Curbing Food Inflation: Processing increases the shelf life of the food thus keeping supplies in tune with the demand thereby controlling food-inflation.
- For e.g. Frozen peas/ corn are available throughout the year.
- Similarly, canned onions under Operation Greens can achieve price stability.
- Doubling of farmers’ income: With contract farming, farmers can get better technological inputs from industries as well. There is income security and proportionate value for produce. They are also protected against price shocks.
- Crop-diversification: Food processing will require different types of inputs thus creating an incentive for the farmer to grow and diversify crops.
Impediments faced by FPI:
Conclusion
Food processing has a promising future, provided adequate government support is there. Food is the biggest expense for an urban Indian household. About 35 % of the total consumption expenditure of households is generally spent on food. As mentioned, food processing has numerous advantages which are specific to Indian context. It has the capacity to lift millions out of undernutrition. Government has its work cut out to develop industry in a way which takes care of small scale industry along with attracting big ticket domestic and foreign investments.
Topic: Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
Reference: Ethics by Lexicon Publications
Why this question:
The question is based on the theme of “attitude” and its importance in public administration.
Key demand of the question:
Explain what you understand by the two – bureaucratic attitude and the democratic Attitude exhibited by public servants towards their work and list down their merits and demerits.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Briefly explain the importance of attitude in general.
Body:
To start with, explain that Bureaucratic attitudes reflect hierarchical discipline, implicit obedience to orders, top down instructions, and rule bound approaches. On the other hand Democratic attitude rests on participatory, humanistic and flexible approaches and on bottom-up decision-making. List down the merits of each and demerits associated.
Conclusion:
Conclude with importance of the two in public administration.
Introduction:
Bureaucratic Attitude refers to the attitude of public servants to strictly and rigidly follow decision-making process according to the laid down rules and guidelines is the bureaucratic attitude. Some basic attributes of this attitude involve objectivity, neutrality, secrecy, elite approach.
Democratic attitude on the other hand refers to the attitude of public servants to encourage participation of people in decision-making process and delegate authority to other members of the team It involves values like compassion, transparency, accountability, tolerance, responsiveness.
Body:
Merits of bureaucratic attitude are:
- Strict compliance of standard operating procedure.
- Since consultation with public is not needed, so decision can be taken quickly.
Demerits of bureaucratic attitude are
- Red-tapism, as there is no urgency in achieving targets.
- They are opposed to changes in the system, leading to stagnation.
- It is rigid; hence public service delivery may not be effective.
- Apathy towards common people.
Merits of democratic attitude are:
- It ensures participation of people in governance and freedom of opinion.
- There is a fair distribution of power and authority is kept under check.
- It improves effectiveness of public service delivery, as it is according to the ‘felt needs’ of the people.
- It allows flexibility in programme designing and implementation.
Demerits of democratic attitude are
- Since it involves wider consultation, so it may be time consuming.
- It becomes difficult to arrive at wide consensus on certain issues
- It slows down decision-making process.
Conclusion:
While Bureaucracy is found to be the most productive form of government, it should be noted that democracy functions in a fairer way than the other. But democracy suffers from lack of expertise and people with little to no qualifications are elected to be the leaders, framing policies and schemes that are of no real interest to them. What they do is usually for appeasing a group of people to be used later as vote banks. Bureaucracy functions in the exactly opposite way. People are required to prove their expertise in order to continue holding their position.
It has also been seen that democracy rarely faced revolution. It is usually in bureaucratic attitude that people are agitated with being left out of the procedures of making laws and implementing them. In democracy people know one thing for sure – good or bad, the resultant is only a consequence of their own action they took when they elected a particular party to power.
Topic: Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.
Reference: Ethics by Lexicon Publications
Why this question:
The question is based on the concept of virtues of trustworthiness and fortitude and their relevance in public service.
Key demand of the question:
Explain in what way the virtues of trustworthiness and fortitude get manifested in public service.
Directive:
Deliberate – Weigh up to what extent something is true. Persuade the reader of your argument by citing relevant research but also remember to point out any flaws and counter- arguments as well. Conclude by stating clearly how far you agree with the original proposition.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Define the virtues of trust and fortitude first. Just complying with law means playing by the rule book and working mechanically showing no human sympathies or concerns.
Body:
To start with, one can give examples. Explain that trustworthiness is to win confidence of your subordinate/colleague/friend while fetching some purpose. Fortitude is ability to guide or tell your subordinate/colleague/friend the right path in spite of the fact that this will hurt them mentally and emotionally. But both qualities are sin quo non for public service. Highlight their significance in public services.
Conclusion:
Conclude with importance.
Introduction:
Trustworthiness can be defined simply as the value of being true to one’s commitments to others and carrying forward on the said promises. Fortitude refers to the strength of mind that gives one the capacity to endure adversity with courage. Trustworthiness and fortitude are considered to be as the two robust pillars of functioning while holding any office, and they become extremely important when an individual is working as a public servant.
Body:
Trustworthiness:
It means gaining trust of your superiors, subordinates colleagues and everyone else by honesty in your conduct and by being fair and objective. The virtue of “trustworthiness” gets manifested in the public service in form of “team work”, cooperation between all levels of administration and finally with the citizens as the final recipient of the public services.
For instance, a fund for rehabilitation of neglected old-aged people is setup. In such a situation, if a person of dubious character is put in charge of that fund, then it may cause great tragedy for the concerned people, furthering their pain. Here a trustworthy person is needed to be made in charge of it.
Fortitude:
It is a display of courage in a difficult situation. Any individual engaged in public service will face multiple challenges in the fulfilment of their goals. A person with fortitude will not give up easily, and despite disappointing results or setbacks, will continually fight to improve the system. adversities could be in form of “dilemmas”, “conflicts of interests”, “sound decision making”, “to face fake cases against an honest officer”, “time management”, “striking a balance between personal and professional life”, “to fight corruption”
E.g.: A situation where a disaster like an earthquake has taken place requires immense fortitude. This attitude ensures peace and attracts positivity. It leads to courageous people coming out to face the truth.
Importance of trustworthiness and fortitude in public services:
- The effectiveness of the Government requires trust and confidence from its citizens. The Citizens as the beneficiaries of the Public service always expects impartial, Honest, transparent service delivery from its officials.
- The public institutions and its official influences the publics’ trust and confidence to improve the trustworthiness.
- If the virtue of trustworthiness is lost by proliferation of corrupt practices among officials, the public service agencies will lose the trustworthiness it had.
- The public services will always have challenges in many aspects and dimensions. From political interferences to illegal elements of society will intrude in the work of the Public service agency and public servant.
- The public servant derives authority from constitution and law should always have the courage to keep it constant.
- A person with fortitude will not give up easily, and despite disappointing results or setbacks, will continually fight to improve the system.
- To uphold the right of minorities and weaker sections of the society, importance of fortitude increases. Ex-Local dominant population exploiting tribals in area
- Development of an area directly depends on how its public servants are providing service. Ex-Corruption free public distribution system in the area.
- An honest servant also inspires many in the region & helps in growth of human resources. Ex-Motivating youth of region by campaigns, interaction b/w people from different region.
Conclusion:
Trustworthiness and fortitude among other virtues must be imbibed by every public servant to enhance the “quality” of public services. They uphold the ‘character’ of the public servants and will help in bringing out the true reason of the public services.
