[Mission 2024] Insights SECURE SYNOPSIS: 20 January 2024

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

Answer the following questions in 150 words:

General Studies – 1

1. Conserving groundwater and ensuring its sustainable use is crucial for maintaining water security and preventing the depletion of this vital resource. Discuss.

Reference: Indian Express , Insights on India

Introduction

Today, India is the largest user of the groundwater in the world with almost 90% being used for drinking water and around 85% for irrigation. Current statistics also show that nearly 50% of urban water supply comes from groundwater. India is the largest groundwater-user globally, at an estimated 251 cubic kilometres per year, followed by China and Pakistan, according to the report. India is on the threshold of a very serious groundwater crisis, which needs mitigation both in the fields and at the policy corridors of the country.

With climate change now a reality, ecological experts should come up with multiple solutions to ensure that rainwater is effectively harvested and dependence on groundwater is reduced.

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Problems with groundwater depletion

• Lowering of the water table
• Reduction of water in streams and lakes
• Land subsidence: A lack of groundwater limits biodiversity and dangerous sinkholes result from depleted aquifers.
• Increased costs for the user
• Deterioration of water quality
• Saltwater contamination can occur.
• Crop production decrease from lack of water availability (40% of global food production relies on groundwater).
• Groundwater depletion interrupts the ‘natural’ water cycle putting disproportionately more water into the sea.
• As large aquifers are depleted, food supply and people will suffer.

Measures needed

• The government should develop policies to determine which crops should be grown in which region according to the water availability, which “has not been the focus.” For instance, Punjab has a semi-arid climate but it grows rice, which depletes groundwater and is “highly unsustainable.”
• The traditional flood irrigation in India accounts for huge water loss through evapotranspiration. Drip irrigation and sprinkler irrigation must be used for efficient utilisation of water.
• There should be restrictions to cut off the access to groundwater in areas identified as “critical” and “dark zones”, where the water table is overused or very low.
• There is a need to treat water as common resource rather than private property to prevent its overexploitation
• Problems and issues such as water logging, salinity, agricultural toxins, and industrial effluents, all need to be properly looked into.
• Government has initiated schemes like DRIP programme, more drop per crop, Krishi Sinchai Yojana to ensure economical water use practices in agriculture.
• Bottom-up approach by empowering the local community to become active participants in managing groundwater.
• Creating regulatory options at the community level such as panchayat is also one among the feasible solutions.
• Traditional methods of water conservation should be encouraged to minimize the depletion of water resources.
• Artificial recharge of tube wells, water reuse, afforestation, scientific methods of agriculture should also be done.

Conclusion

Sustainable management of groundwater in India is vital for tackling growing challenges related to water availability. The effective answer to the groundwater crisis is to integrate conservation and development activities, from water extraction to water management, at the local level; making communities aware and involving them fully is therefore critical for success.

2. In detail, explain the mechanism behind formation of fog. What are the various factors that aid the formation of smog and its impact?

Reference: Indian Express. ,  Insights on India

Introduction

Fog is a visible aerosol consisting of tiny water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air at or near the Earth’s surface. Fog can be considered a type of low-lying cloud usually resembling stratus, and is heavily influenced by nearby bodies of water, topography, and wind.  Delhi is seeing ‘radiation fog’, or localised ‘ground’ fog.

Smog is a harmful mixture of fog, dust and air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, etc. which combine with sunlight to form a dense layer of ground-level ozone. It is a specific type of air pollution. It is a combination of harmful pollutants that are introduced into the atmosphere by both natural and human induced processes.

For two consecutive mornings, dense fog has enveloped north-western India, including Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, parts of Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Rajasthan.

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mechanism behind formation of fog

• Fog forms like clouds do — when water vapour condenses.
• The presence of moisture and a fall in the temperature are key factors for the formation of fog.
• With the land surface cooling down at night, the air close to the surface also cools down.
• Since cooler air cannot hold as much moisture as warm air, the water vapour in the air condenses to form fog.
• Fog begins to form in the early hours of the morning, when the temperature is at its lowest.
• On Monday, for instance, fog in Delhi began to form around 1.30 am.
• Fog can have “high spatial variability”, and its intensity can depend on factors like humidity, wind, and temperature.
• Areas near water bodies, for instance, may see denser fog because of the higher humidity.

various factors that aid the formation of smog

• Nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides, ozone, smoke, and other particles make up this type of visual air pollution.
• Seasonal changes – As the winter months approach, airborne dust and contaminants become immobile.
• Smog develops as a result of these pollutants becoming trapped in the atmosphere by ineffective winds, which also impact weather patterns.
• Stubble burning, Coal combustion emissions, automotive emissions, industrial emissions, forest and agricultural fires, and photochemical reactions of these emissions all contribute to man-made events.
• The reaction of pollutants from automobiles, factories, and industries with sunlight and the environment cause smog.

Impact of smog

• Inhaling smog over a long span of time can inflame your breathing passage, much like cigarette smoking.
• Smog causes inflamed lungs, and inflamed lungs, in turn, secrete interleukin-6 which can cause blood clots in people, cardiac and respiratory disorders, leading to heart attacks or strokes.
• Smog can dry out the protective membranes of your nose and throat.
• It can jeopardize your body’s ability to resist infection, hence, increasing your susceptibility to illness.
• It can greatly decrease the UV radiation, leading to low production of important elements like Vitamin D.
• Plants and animal life are negatively impacted by the collection of chemicals contained in photochemical haze.

Conclusion

A coordinated effort by the Center, the National Green Tribunal, the judiciary, expert agencies, and most crucially the general public is required to develop a long-term and sustainable solution to air pollution and smog.

General Studies – 2

3. Critically examine the trends in poverty in India over the past decade and assess whether the poverty alleviation efforts have yielded dividends.

Reference: Live Mint

Introduction

According to World Bank, Poverty is pronounced deprivation in well-being, and comprises many dimensions. It includes low incomes and the inability to acquire the basic goods and services necessary for survival with dignity. Poverty also encompasses low levels of health and education, poor access to clean water and sanitation, inadequate physical security, lack of voice, and insufficient capacity and opportunity to better one’s life.

The Niti Aayog has published a discussion paper titled ‘Multidimensional Poverty in India since 2005-06.’ It is a technical paper that examines our poverty trend over the past two decades. It estimates that nearly 250 million people escaped multidimensional poverty in the last nine years. This estimation is done by interpolating poverty numbers for 2013-14 and 2022-23, based on data extracted from National Family Health Survey rounds 3, 4 and 5 (i.e. from 2005 till 2021).

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Achievements in poverty alleviation over the years

• Decline in Extreme Poverty: Extreme poverty in India was 3% points lower in 2019 compared with 2011,as poverty headcount rate declined from 22.5% in 2011 to 10.2% in 2019, with a comparatively sharper decline in rural areas.
  • Slight moderation in consumption inequality since 2011, but by a margin smaller than what is reported in the unreleased National Sample Survey -2017.
  • The extent of poverty reduction during 2015-2019 is estimated to be notably lower than earlier projections based on growth in private final consumption expenditure reported in national account statistics.
  • The World Bank defines “extreme poverty” as living on less than USD 1.90 per person per day.
• Rural vs Urban Poverty: Poverty reduction washigher in rural areas compared with urban Indiaas rural poverty declined from 26.3% in 2011 to 11.6% in 2019, while in urban areas the decline was from 14.2% to 6.3% in the corresponding period.
  • Rural and urban poverty dropped by 7 and 7.9% points during 2011-2019.
  • Urban poverty in India rose by 2% in 2016, coinciding with the demonetisation, and rural poverty rose by 10% in 2019.
• Small Farmers: Smallholder farmers have experienced higher income growth.Real incomes for farmers with the smallest landholdings have grown by 10% in annualized terms between the two survey rounds (2013 and 2019) compared to a 2% growth for farmers with the largest landholding.
  • The growth in incomes of smallest landholders in rural areas provides more evidence of moderation in income disparity in rural areas.
  • Smallest landholders comprise a larger share of the poor population.This income includes wages, net receipt from crop production, net receipt from farming of animal farming and net receipt from non-farm business. Income from leasing out land has been exempted.

Various poverty alleviation programs in India since Independence:

• Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP): It was introduced in 1978-79 and universalized from 2nd October, 1980, aimed at providing assistance to the rural poor in the form of subsidy and bank credit for productive employment opportunities through successive plan periods.
• Jawahar Rozgar Yojana/Jawahar Gram Samriddhi Yojana: The JRY was meant to generate meaningful employment opportunities for the unemployed and underemployed in rural areas through the creation of economic infrastructure and community and social assets.
• Rural Housing – Indira Awaas Yojana: The Indira Awaas Yojana (LAY) programme aims at providing free housing to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families in rural areas and main targets would be the households of SC/STs.
• Food for Work Programme: It aims at enhancing food security through wage employment. Food grains are supplied to states free of cost, however, the supply of food grains from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) godowns has been slow.
• National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS):This pension is given by the central government. The job of implementation of this scheme in states and union territories is given to panchayats and municipalities. The states contribution may vary depending on the state. The amount of old age pension is ₹200 per month for applicants aged 60–79. For applicants aged above 80 years, the amount has been revised to ₹500 a month according to the 2011–2012 Budget. It is a successful venture.
• Annapurna:This scheme was started by the government in 1999–2000 to provide food to senior citizens who cannot take care of themselves and are not under the National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS), and who have no one to take care of them in their village. This scheme would provide 10 kg of free food grains a month for the eligible senior citizens. They mostly target groups of ‘poorest of the poor’ and ‘indigent senior citizens’.
• Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana (SGRY):The main objective of the scheme continues to be the generation of wage employment, creation of durable economic infrastructure in rural areas and provision of food and nutrition security for the poor.
• Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) 2005:The Act provides 100 days assured employment every year to every rural household. One-third of the proposed jobs would be reserved for women.  The central government will also establish National Employment Guarantee Funds. Similarly, state governments will establish State Employment Guarantee Funds for implementation of the scheme. Under the programme, if an applicant is not provided employment within 15 days s/he will be entitled to a daily unemployment allowance.
• National Rural Livelihood Mission: Ajeevika (2011):It evolves out the need to diversify the needs of the rural poor and provide them jobs with regular income on monthly basis. Self Help groups are formed at the village level to help the needy.
• National Urban Livelihood Mission:The NULM focuses on organizing urban poor in Self Help Groups, creating opportunities for skill development leading to market-based employment and helping them to set up self-employment ventures by ensuring easy access to credit.
• Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana: It will focus on fresh entrant to the labour market, especially labour market and class X and XII dropouts.
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana:It aimed at direct benefit transfer of subsidy, pension, insurance etc. and attained the target of opening 1.5 crore bank accounts. The scheme particularly targets the unbanked poor.

Assessment

• However, none resulted in any radical change in the ownership of assets, process of production and improvement of basic amenities to the needy.
• Scholars, while assessing these programmes, state three major areas of concern which prevent their successful implementation. Due to unequal distribution of land and other assets, the benefits from direct poverty alleviation programmes have been appropriated by the non-poor.
• Compared to the magnitude of poverty, the amount of resources allocated for these programmes is not sufficient. Moreover, these programmes depend mainly on government and bank officials for their implementation.
• Since such officials are ill motivated, inadequately trained, corruption prone and vulnerable to pressure from a variety of local elites, the resources are inefficiently used and wasted. There is also non-participation of local level institutions in programme implementation.
• Government policies have also failed to address the vast majority of vulnerable people who are living on or just above the poverty line. It also reveals that high growth alone is not sufficient to reduce poverty.
• Without the active participation of the poor, successful implementation of any programme is not possible

Measures needed

• Immediate support package will need to quickly reach both the existing and new poor.
  • While existing safety net programs can be mobilized to get cash into the pockets of some of the existing poor relatively quickly, this is not the case for the new poor.
  • In fact, the new poor are likely to look different from the existing poor, particularly in their location (mostly urban) and employment (mostly informal services, construction, and manufacturing).
  • the identification of poor and vulnerable groups is need of the hour.
  • India should consider fixing a universal basic income in the post-Covid period through a combination of cash transfers, expansion of MGNREGA, and introduction of an urban employment guarantee scheme
• Employment generation for the masses:
  • A large fiscal stimulus along with intermediate informal employment insurgency through MGNREGA and other employment generation programmes are urgent to rein the adverse impact of covid-19 on the welfare of the masses.
• Multilateral global institutions must support the developing nations:
  • Oxfam is calling on world leaders to agree on an Emergency Rescue Package of 2.5 trillion USD paid for through the immediate cancellation or postponement of 1 trillion in debt repayments, a 1 trillion increase in IMF Special Drawing Rights (international financial reserves), and an additional 500 billion in aid.
• An effective response in support of poor and vulnerable households will require significant additional fiscal resources.
  • Providing all the existing and new extreme poor with a cash transfer of $1/day (about half the value of the international extreme poverty line) for a month would amount to $20 billion —or $665 million per day over 30 days.
  • Given that impacts are likely to be felt by many non-poor households as well and that many households are likely to need support for much longer than a month, the sum needed for effective protection could be far higher.
• Decision-makers need timely and policy-relevant information on impacts and the effectiveness of policy responses.
  • This can be done using existing, publicly available data to monitor the unfolding economic and social impacts of the crisis, including prices, service delivery, and economic activity, as well as social sentiment and behaviours.
  • In addition, governments can use mobile technology to safely gather information from a representative sample of households or individuals.
  • Phone surveys can collect information on health and employment status, food security, coping strategies, access to basic services and safety nets and other outcomes closely related to the risk of falling (further) into poverty.

Conclusion and way forward

• The Global Multidimensional Poverty Index-2018released by the UN noted that 271 million people moved out of poverty between 2005-06 and 2015-16 in India. The poverty rate in the country has nearly halved, falling from 55% to 28% over the ten-year period. Still a big part of the population in India is living Below the Poverty Line.
• Rapid economic growth and the use of technology for social sector programs have helped make a significant dent in extreme poverty in the country.
• Despite rapid growth and development, an unacceptably high proportion of our population continues to suffer from severe and multidimensional deprivation. Thus, a more comprehensive and inclusive approach is required to eradicate poverty in India.

General Studies – 3

4. What is trade deficit? Examine its implications on the Indian economy and measures needed to keep deficit within acceptable limits.

Reference: Indian Express/

Introduction

A trade deficit occurs when a country’s imports exceed its exports during a given time period. It is also referred to as a negative balance of trade (BOT). A trade deficit or net amount can be calculated on different categories within an international transaction account. These include goods, services, goods and services, current account, and the sum of balances on the current and capital accounts.

Driven by a rise in global demand for engineering and electronic products, India’s goods exports in December rose 1 per cent while the trade deficit narrowed to a three-month low.

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implications on the Indian economy

• Currency Depreciation:
  • Persistent trade deficits can put pressure on the country’s currency.
  • If India consistently imports more than it exports, there will be higher demand for foreign currencies, leading to a depreciation of the Indian rupee.
  • While a weaker currency can boost exports by making them more competitive, it can also lead to higher import costs and contribute to inflation.
• Impact on Current Account Balance:
  • The trade balance is a significant component of the current account balance.
  • A sustained trade deficit contributes to a negative current account balance.
  • This means that India is borrowing or using its foreign exchange reserves to finance the gap, which may not be sustainable in the long run.
• Foreign Exchange Reserves:
  • To finance the trade deficit, India may need to dip into its foreign exchange reserves.
  • Overreliance on reserves can deplete these reserves, affecting the country’s ability to manage external shocks and meet international obligations.
• Interest Rates and Inflation:
  • A large trade deficit may lead to higher inflation if the country relies on external financing.
  • The central bank may need to increase interest rates to attract foreign capital, which can impact domestic borrowing costs and economic activity.
• Industrial and Employment Impact:
  • A trade deficit can affect domestic industries, especially those that face intense competition from cheaper imports.
  • This may lead to job losses in certain sectors.
  • On the other hand, a trade deficit might indicate consumer preferences for imported goods, benefiting certain industries.
• Dependency on External Factors:
  • A trade deficit makes a country more dependent on external factors such as global economic conditions, commodity prices, and currency exchange rates.
  • Changes in these factors can have a direct impact on the trade balance.
• Investment Flows:
  • A trade deficit may attract foreign direct investment (FDI) or foreign portfolio investment (FPI) to offset the imbalance.
  • However, reliance on foreign investment to cover the deficit makes the economy susceptible to changes in investor sentiment and global economic conditions.
• Policy Responses:
  • Persistent trade deficits may prompt policymakers to implement measures to correct the imbalance, such as trade policy adjustments, currency interventions, or structural reforms aimed at enhancing export competitiveness.

Measures needed to tackle trade deficit

• Export Promotion: Implement policies to boost exports, such as incentives, subsidies, and trade facilitation.
• Import Substitution: Encourage domestic production to replace imports, fostering self-sufficiency.
• Currency Management: Monitor and manage the exchange rate to enhance export competitiveness.
• Trade Agreements: Pursue strategic trade agreements to open new markets and reduce trade barriers.
• Infrastructure Development: Invest in infrastructure to reduce logistics costs and improve supply chain efficiency.
• Research and Development: Promote innovation to create high-value exports and enhance competitiveness.
• Fiscal and Monetary Policies: Implement balanced fiscal and monetary measures to maintain economic stability.
• Skill Development: Enhance workforce skills to support high-tech industries and improve productivity.
• Regulatory Reforms: Streamline regulations to facilitate business growth and attract foreign investment.
• Diversification: Encourage diversification of export products and markets to reduce dependency on specific sectors or regions.

Conclusion

A small trade deficit is necessary for the development of the country as it increases demand, consumption and in turn, causes economic growth. However, an unchecked trade deficit can lead to overdependence of the economy on imports, and any small disturbances in the geopolitical scenario and supply chain will create a ripple effect and causes widespread inflation which is unsustainable.

5. The long-term sustainability of ecosystems is threatened when invasive species alter fundamental ecological processes and lead to the degradation of natural habitats. Analyse.

Reference: Down to Earth  , Insights on India

Introduction

Invasive alien species are plants, animals, pathogens and other organisms that are non-native to an ecosystem, and which may cause economic or environmental harm or adversely affect human health. In particular, they impact adversely upon biodiversity, including decline or elimination of native species – through competition, predation, or transmission of pathogens – and the disruption of local ecosystems and ecosystem functions. Examples: Needle Bush, Goat weed, Prickly Poppy, Black Mimosa.

Since the 17th century, invasive alien species have contributed to nearly 40% of all animal extinctions for which the cause is known (CBD, 2006). Invasive south red-eared slider turtle poses threat to Indian biodiversity. This turtle is very small and easy to maintain and these features made them popular pets.

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Threats posed by Invasive alien species:

Threats to Environment:

Biodiversity is essential for the functioning of the ecosystems that provide vital resources such as food, water, fuel, building material and traditional medicines for millions of people. Invasive species alter and degrade the environment, and have a negative effect on both native species and the people who live and work there. The impacts of invasive species include:

• Reduced biodiversity
• Decreased availability and quality of key natural resources
• Water shortages
• Increased frequency of wildfires and flooding
• Pollution caused by overuse of chemicals to control infestations

Threats to native species:

• India is endowed with 2,319 species of finfish.
• Studies from several parts of the country show that the diversity of freshwater fish is depleting at an alarming pace due to the invasion of commercially important and ornamental exotic fish species
• Many native species, especially Indian major carps in various riverine systems, have been affected because of the invasion of exotic fish species such as Nile tilapia, African catfish, Thai pangus and common carp.
• Apart from commercially important exotic species, ornamental fishes such as guppy, piranha, suckermouth, blue perch, goldfish and platy have been recorded in rivers, lakes, traditional village ponds and other inland freshwater bodies. These also accelerate the extinction of natural varieties from local water bodies.
• The exotic ornamental Amazon sailfin catfish poses a serious threat to the native fish species of Vandiyur Lake, Madurai.
• The biomass of the Amazon sailfin catfish is statistically significant compared to the indigenous varieties. This clearly shows the negative impact of this exotic aquarium fish on inland aquaculture in terms of diminished production/catch of edible fish.
• Thus more than 15 exotic ornamental species have successfully established a reproductive population in our freshwater bodies and still don’t know the magnitude of the impact of this species on the native diversity of fish.

Economic threats:

Agriculture, forestry and fishing are of huge importance to the economies of developing countries. Invasive species affect the productivity of these systems, and limit the ability of producers to access export markets. This hinders sustainable economic growth and development. The impacts of invasive species include:

• Value and quality of land degraded
• Lower crop productivity
• High cost of controlling pests, weeds and diseases
• Routes to domestic and global markets blocked
• Livestock forced into marginal, sub-optimal grazing lands

Social threats:

Invasive species are a major threat to the livelihoods of the people who live in the areas they colonize. Through disrupting ecosystems, invasive plants, insects and diseases impair many of the things humans need to sustain a good quality of life – including food and shelter, health, security and social interaction. The impacts of invasive species include:

• Livelihood options narrowed
• Food security decreased
• Recreational and social opportunities limited
• Risks to human and animal health
• Increased social challenges

Way forward

• The most cost-effective measure to address the impacts from IAS is to prevent their introduction.
• This can be achieved by establishing effective and well-resourced biosecurity measures to manage priority pathways of introduction, supported by early warning systems and rapid eradication capacity.
• Control, containment and – where feasible – eradication, also need to be undertaken to mitigate the impacts from established IAS, including those whose impacts are likely to increase due to climate change.
• It is essential that a cross-sectoral approach is taken in IAS prevention and management measures. This needs to include the environment, human health, agriculture, fisheries, customs and transport government departments, along with key private sector bodies and civil society.
• Governments, donors and agencies that fund and implement projects, including projects supporting the SDGs, must ensure that current and potential impacts of IAS are understood so that relevant prevention and management measures can be incorporated into projects.

Conclusion

Ecosystems need to be prioritized according to their vulnerability to climate change and IAS, making it possible to establish measures that will prevent IAS introduction. This should include establishing effective biosecurity measures to manage priority pathways of introduction, supported by early warning and rapid eradication to tackle alien species before they become invasive.

Answer the following questions in 250 words(15 marks each):

General Studies – 1

6. Social inequality and economic inequality are often interconnected, and when economic disparities are added to existing social inequalities, the overall impact can exacerbate the challenges faced by marginalized groups. Analyse.

Reference: Indian Express.

Introduction

There are different kinds of inequalities in India that are multidimensional and intersectional in nature. Economic growth in India has been associated with unequal outcomes that have created divides between regions, sectors and people. The west and south of the country have surged ahead, while the east and north have lagged behind, widening the gap between richer and poorer states.

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Social inequality and economic inequality are inextricably interlinked

• Power Dynamics: Economic inequality often translates into unequal distribution of power.
• Access to Resources: Limited economic resources hinder access to education, healthcare, and opportunities, perpetuating social disparity.
• Generational Impact: Economic advantages or disadvantages tend to pass through generations, widening social gaps.
• Discrimination: Marginalized groups face economic discrimination, reinforcing social hierarchies.
• Policy Influence: Wealthy individuals may influence policies, exacerbating economic inequality and perpetuating social divisions.
• Social Mobility: Economic disparities limit social mobility, cementing societal stratification.
• Education Divide: Unequal access to quality education reinforces both economic and social disparities.
• Healthcare Disparities: Economic gaps contribute to unequal healthcare access, impacting social well-being.
• Community Infrastructure: Economic inequality reflects in disparities in community infrastructure, affecting social cohesion.
• Cyclical Relationship: Social and economic inequalities create a cyclical relationship, reinforcing each other in a self-perpetuating cycle.

Reasons for rising socio-economic inequalities 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 expendituresreduces 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 thepopulation 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 developmentand 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 
  • 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 gainsfrom 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.
• Jobless growth:
  • India’s high growth rate phase (2004-05 to 2010-11) has created significantly fewer jobs as compared to previous decades of economic growth.
  • Around 47 % of India’s population is still dependent on agriculturewhich is notorious for underemployment and disguised unemployment.
  • Majority of the workforce is employed by the unorganized sectorwhere workers are underpaid and lack any kind of social security.
• Falling female labour force participation:
  • According to data from International Labour Organization and World Bank, India’s female labour force participation rates have fallen from 8 % in 1990 to 27 % in 2013.
  • Socio-cultural factors and rising family incomes have been identified as the main reasons for this decline.
  • Another appalling concern is that a significant proportion of qualified women drop out of the workforce for reasons ranging from no suitable jobs in the locality—particularly in rural areas—to family responsibilities and marriage.

Impact of rising socio-economic inequalities on Indian society

• Education Divide: Widening economic gaps lead to unequal access to quality education, perpetuating social stratification.
• Caste Discrimination: Social inequality, deeply rooted in the caste system, intersects with economic disparities, reinforcing historic discrimination.
• Healthcare Disparities: Economic inequality results in uneven healthcare access, impacting the overall health of society.
• Political Marginalization: Social and economic disparities contribute to political marginalization of certain groups, hindering inclusive governance.
• Urban-Rural Divide: Economic inequality manifests in urban-rural disparities, exacerbating social divisions between urban and rural communities.
• Gender Inequity: Both social and economic realms intersect in perpetuating gender disparities, limiting opportunities for women.
• Job Market Challenges: Economic gaps create hurdles in the job market, widening social gaps and hindering social mobility.
• Community Well-being: Social and economic inequalities affect community well-being, hindering overall societal progress.
• Resource Allocation: Unequal economic distribution impacts social resource allocation, deepening societal imbalances.
• Strained Social Fabric: The dual impact of social and economic inequality strains the social fabric, posing challenges to India’s inclusive development.

Measures needed

• 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 gaps in the expenditure on social infrastructure like health and education should be closed by strengthening the delivery mechanisms of the government initiatives. Protecting and investing in people’s health, education, and skilling is vital for reducing income inequality, and sustained inclusive economic growth.
• India needs to increase its spending on health and education. As recommended by the National Health Policy 2017 and the NEP 2020, India needs to increase its spending on health and education to at least 2.5 % in 6 % of GDP respectively from its current levels. Enhancing policies to maintain and even increase health and longevity will therefore be necessary.
• The current situation calls for more and better schools, especially in rural areas. It also calls for better transportation links between rural areas and regional urban hubs.
• India has to invest more in human capital formation at all levels, from primary education to higher education, cutting-edge research and development as well as on vocational training to increase the skill sets of its growing working-age population.
• The flagship schemes such as Skill India, Make in India, and Digital India have to be implemented to achieve convergence between skill training and employment generation.
• 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.
• Improved infrastructure, skill development, access to easy finance, reducing barriers to entrepreneurship and forums for mentorship of emerging entrepreneurs in partnership with corporates are some of measures.
• Decentralized models of development: Social policies for each state must be differentiated to accommodate different rates of population growth. The populations in south and west India are growing at a much slower pace than in the central and eastern states.

Conclusion

As we celebrate the past 75 years, flying the national flag in every home, let us also think about our people for whom little has changed in their lives, with a resolve to ensure that poverty and illiteracy do not exist 25 years from now when we celebrate the first centenary of our independence from colonial rule.

General Studies – 2

7. India and Bangladesh have made strides in enhancing their overall relationship, yet certain challenges persist. Ongoing efforts in diplomatic dialogues and negotiations will likely play a crucial role in addressing these issues and fostering further cooperation between the two countries. Examine.

Reference: The Hindu

Introduction

On 16 December 1971, Pakistani forces surrendered to Indian forces and Bangladesh was liberated. This week, Indian and Bangladeshi diplomats have jointly celebrated the 50th anniversary, and Indian leaders have praised Bangladesh’s development record.

India and Bangladesh share bonds of history, language, culture, and multitude of other commonalities. The excellent bilateral ties reflect an all-encompassing partnership based on sovereignty, equality, trust, and understanding that goes far beyond a strategic partnership.

Bangladesh held its national elections on January 7, 2024 amidst violence and protests as the polls became embroiled in controversy.

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Indo-Bangla relations

• Liberation war: Bangladeshis aregrateful for Indian support and sacrifices in 1971.
• Cultural ties: Triveni of events of epochal significance — the goldenjubilee of the Liberation War of Bangladesh, the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the 50th anniversary of our diplomatic ties. India and Bangladesh are celebrating it jointly.
• Development partner: Bangladesh is the biggest development partner of India today. India has extended 3 Lines of Credits (LOC) to Bangladesh in the last 8 yearsamounting to US$ 8 billion for development of infrastructure in various sectors including roads, railways, shipping and ports.
• Amicable relations:The year 2020, despite onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, witnessed intense high level engagements at political and official levels beginning with the exchange of New Year greetings between Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on 01 January 2020.
• Connectivity: Both the governments are undertaking various measures to restore the pre-1965 rail links and other connectivity linksthat existed between India and Bangladesh.
  • The two Prime Ministers jointly inaugurated the newly restored railway link between Chilahati (Bangladesh) and Haldibari (India)on 17 December 2020.
  • To enhance people to people contacts, the frequency of twopassenger trains, i.e., Maitree Express and Bandhan Express was increased from 4 days a week to 5 days a week and from one day a week to two days a week respectively from February 2020.
• Trade: Bangladesh is India’s biggest trade partner in South Asia and India is the second biggest trade partner of Bangladesh.
  • Bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh has grown steadily over the last decade and the exports of Bangladesh have tripled over the last decade to cross $1 bn in 2018-19.

Significance of relations today

• Security of North East: A friendly Bangladesh can ensure that its soil is not used for anti-India activities.Bangladesh’s action resulted in the arrest of many top leaders of the NE insurgent groups like United Liberation Front of Assam & National Democratic Front of Bodoland.
• Connectivity of North East: The north eastern states are land-locked & have shorter route to sea through Bangladesh.Transit agreement with Bangladesh will spur socio-economic development and integration of North-East India.
• Bridge to Southeast Asia: Bangladesh is a natural pillar ofAct East policy. It can act as a ‘bridge’ to economic and political linkages with South East Asia and beyond. Bangladesh is important component of BIMSTEC and BBIN initiatives.
• Strengthening South Asia as a regional power: Bangladesh is important for strengthening of SAARC, for promoting cooperation among its member nations to economic growth and securing strategic interests.
• Securing sea lines of communication: Bangladesh is strategically placed nearby important sea lanes. It can play significant role in containing piracy in the Indian Ocean.
• Fighting terrorism and deradicalization: Stable, open and tolerant Bangladesh helps India in stopping extremists from flourishing there and also in cooperation in deradicalization efforts, sharing intelligence, and other counter-terrorism efforts.
• Balancing China: A neutral Bangladesh would ensure containment of an assertive China in this region, and help in countering it’s string of pearls policy.

Challenges in bilateral relations

• River disputes:India shares 54 trans-boundary rivers with Bangladesh. Some of the major disputes include: Teesta River water sharing issue, Tipaimukh Hydro-Electric Power Project on the Barak River, Ganga river dispute etc.
• Illegal immigrants: The National Register of Citizens (NRC) has left out 1.9 million Assamese from the list with a group labelled as“illegal immigrants from Bangladesh” living in Assam post-1971.
  • Bangladesh remains firm in its stance that no migrants travelled to Assam illegally during the 1971 war of independence and that the controversial NRC risks hurting relations.
• Border Management: The Indo-Bangladesh border is of porous nature which provides pathway for smuggling, trafficking in arms, drugs and people and cattle.
• Delay in project execution: As of 2017, India had extended three lines of credit worth approximately $7.4 billion.However, less than 10% of the cumulative commitments have been disbursed so far.
• China factor: China sees Bangladesh as strategic focal point to make inroads into South Asia as an alternative to India.
• Increasing radicalisation: Presence of groups like Harkat-alJihad-al-Islami (HUJI), Jamaat-e-Islami, and HUJI-B fuel Anti-India sentiments in Bangladesh. Their propaganda could spill across border.

Conclusion

Deepening relationship with Bangladesh has become a necessity in the face of shifting geo-economics. Bangladesh, with its growing economic success, and with its 8 percent growth rate provides a vital partnership in the region. There is scope for India-Bangladesh ties to move to the next level, based on cooperation, coordination and consolidation as Prime Minister has termed the present period of relationship between the two countries as ‘Sonali Adhyay’.

8. Bridging the economic disparities between developed and developing countries to foster more inclusive and sustainable global trade is a major issue that World Trade Organization (WTO) must address.

Reference: Indian Express

Introduction

World Trade Organization (WTO) is a member-driven, consensus-based intergovernmental organisation that regulates and facilitates international trade between nations. It officially began operations on January 1, 1995, in accordance with the 1994 Marrakesh Agreement.

World Trade Organization (WTO) as an organization was expected to play larger role for improved living standards, employment generation, trade expansion with increasing share for developing countries and overall sustainable development. Trade liberalization was seen as means for achieving the above-mentioned objectives.

Trade ministers of the World Trade Organization (WTO) countries will meet for their 13th ministerial conference (MC13) in Abu Dhabi next month at a time when the multilateral trading system is losing an existential battle.

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India and WTO: A chequered relationship

• Stalled Doha Development Round negotiations: They focused on reducing important trade barriers in sectors, such as agriculture, industrial goods and services.
  • However, after a decade of talks, it still remains to be concluded.
• Growing protectionism: Over the past two years, governments have introduced trade restrictions covering a substantial amount of international trade — affecting $747 billion in global imports in the past year alone.
  • WTO has been less affective in addressing them, including US China trade war.
• New emerging issues: Groups of members are also working towards new rules on a range of issues — electronic commerce, investment facilitation, domestic regulation in services — that aim to make trade more efficient and predictable in cutting-edge sectors of the economy.
  • However, the rising differences among developed and developing countries is delaying any early settlement.
  • India has made it clear that no discussion can go on without settling the question of Peace clause and Doha rounds.
• Side stepping WTO: Since the launch of the Doha Round, countries have turned to free trade agreements (FTAs) in order to gain significant trade access in new markets and to explore new trade-related issues that are currently not addressed within the WTO.
  • As more FTAs have been concluded, the central role of the WTO in liberalizing trade has been called into question.
• Limited success in major issues: WTO has played a very limited role in helping address other global issues related to trade, such as food security, climate change and global trade imbalances.

Way forward

• A vibrant WTO cannot accommodate conflicting economic models of market versus state. All WTO members will have to accept the operative assumption of a rules-based order steered by a market economy, the private sector, and competition.
• Launch negotiations to address the intertwined issues of agricultural subsidies and market access, while recognising that food security concerns will not disappear.
• A credible trading system requires a dispute settlement system that is accepted by all.
• Launch serious negotiations to restore the balance, and we must do so in an open-ended plurilateral manner that cannot be blocked by those who do not want to move ahead.
• GATT/WTO rules in a number of areas are outdated. New rules are required to keep pace with changes in the market and technology. Rules and disciplines on topics ranging from trade-distorting industrial subsidies to digital trade require updates.

Conclusion

The World Trade Organization remains an indispensable organisation but it requires urgent modernisation. Members have to face the reality that the organisation requires non-cosmetic, serious root-and-branch reform for a WTO adapted to 21st century economic and political realities.

Value addition

Organizational Structure of WTO

• Ministerial Conference – It Includes all members, meets once in 2 year and the 11th Ministerial Conference was held in Argentina)
• General Council – It acts a Dispute Settlement Body and Trade Policy Review Body.

General Studies – 3

9. The gene-editing technology has opened up a vast window of opportunities in the recent years. Explain briefly what gene editing technology is with its potential applications in various fields.

Reference: Live Mint

Introduction

Gene Editing is a type of genetic engineering in which DNA is inserted, deleted, modified or replaced in the genome of a living organism. Unlike early genetic engineering techniques that randomly insert genetic material into a host genome, genome editing targets the insertions to site specific locations.

CRISPRs (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) are sections of DNA, while CAS-9 (CRISPR-associated protein 9) is an enzyme. Often described as “a pair of molecular scissors,” CRISPR is widely considered the most precise, most cost-effective and quickest way to edit genes.

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Applications

• Most uses of genome editing have been in scientific research – for example to investigate models of human disease.
• Genome editing has the potential to alter any DNA sequence, whether in a bacterium, plant, animal or human being.
• It is a powerful tool that can reshape the way society deals many issues of healthcare, food scarcity and the environment.
• Crops and livestock (e.g. increasing yield, introducing resistance to disease and pests, tolerance of different environmental conditions).
• Industrial biotechnology (e.g. developing ‘third generation’ biofuels and producing chemicals, materials and pharmaceuticals).
• Biomedicine (e.g. pharmaceutical development, xenotransplantation, gene and cell-based therapies, control of insect-borne diseases).
• Reproduction (e.g. preventing the inheritance of a disease trait).
• Engineering mosquitoes to control malaria and dengue.
• It can help fight against blood-related disorders such as haemophilia, sickle cell anaemia, and BetaThalassemia.
• All such applications together can drive India’s economic growth over the next decade to new heights.

Pros:

• Most uses of genome editing have been in scientific research –for example to investigate models of human disease.
• Genome editing has the potential to alter any DNA sequence, whether in a bacterium, plant, animal or human being.
• It is a powerful tool that can reshape the way society deals many issues of healthcare, food scarcity and the environment.
• Crops and livestock (e.g. increasing yield, introducing resistance to disease and pests, tolerance of different environmental conditions).
• Industrial biotechnology (e.g. developing ‘third generation’ biofuels and producing chemicals, materials and pharmaceuticals).
• Biomedicine (e.g. pharmaceutical development, xenotransplantation, gene and cell-based therapies, control of insect-borne diseases).
• Reproduction (e.g. preventing the inheritance of a disease trait).
• Engineering mosquitoes to control malaria and dengue.
• It can help fight against blood-related disorders such as haemophilia, sickle cell anaemia, and Beta-Thalassemia.
• All such applications together can drive India’s economic growth over the next decade to new heights.

Cons:

• Study by Stanford University, U.S., found that the CRISPR-Cas9 system introduces unexpected off-target (outside of the intended editing sites) effects in mice. The fear that the CRISPR system is being prematurely rushed for clinical use lingers. Three recent reports have exacerbated this fear even further.
• Studies highlighted that CRISPR-Cas9-edited cells might trigger cancer.
• P53 protein:
  • CRISPR-Cas9 system induced activation of a protein called P53. This P53 protein acts like a gatekeeper or guardian in the cells to keep them healthy and prevents them (the cells) from turning cancerous. In many cancers, cells lose their ability to repair deleterious genetic changes due to an impaired P53 function.
  • In cells where editing is adequate, the cell’s P53 protein may be dysfunctional. Therefore, a functional pP53 protein is good for the cells to be healthy but makes the Cas9-mediated editing process less effective.
• The impending danger of mosaicism, in which some cells inherit the target mutation, while others don’t.
• Scientists are far from understanding how exactly individual genes influence phenotypes, or the visible traits of people.
• Every gene likely influences multiple traits, depending on the environment it interacts This makes it hard to predict the ultimate outcome of an embryo-editing exercise without decades of follow-up.
• Every gene influences trade-offs, which scientists barely understand today. Example: while protecting against HIV, a deactivated CCR5 gene can also make people more susceptible to West-Nile Fever.
• Editing human embryos to repair disease-causing genes is far more controversial.
• Issue of Designer babies: The eyes of the mother, the hair of the father, the complexion from the maternal side and a cute little dimple from the paternal is what makes the kid loved by one and all. Designing the babies to look like celebrities might get the kids to thank you later in life but might loosen the bond that is supposed to be the significant part of the relationship.
• There are prospects of irreversible harms to the health of future children and generations, to concerns about opening the door to new forms of social inequality, discrimination, and conflict.
• Such living experiments are done in secret, outside of any formal institution, and apparently without any independent scrutiny or review by the scientific fraternity.
• Bioethicists fear abuse of gene editing, not just by misguided governments hoping to create a ‘superior’ race.

The debate about gene editing has been going on for a long time now. Gene editing should be encouraged to enhance the advancements in field of science and improve the standard of living of people E.g.: CRISPR technology is targeting to treat the rare disease caused by mutation of one gene. At the same time a common guidelines need to be developed by international community’s which set the guidelines of what risks are acceptable and what are not.

Way Forward:

• India’s current regulatory architecture for approving novel treatments is ambiguous and assigns overlapping functions to different governmental bodies. This framework needs to be restructured to optimize trial approval time while addressing safety requirements.
• A two-step model wherein the government works with industry and research groups to accelerate clinical research is recommended. This model consists of a national apex committee working in collaboration with existing institutional ethics committees and independent accreditation agencies.
• It is envisaged that, India will emerge as a significant contributor to the world bioinformatics market and position itself as a global hub for bioinformatics.
• Indian bioinformatics sector has numerous strengths and competitive advantages to make bioinformatics sector a sunrise industry of India.
• With the improvements in the IPR regime, increasing support from the government and continuing efforts of the private sector companies, it is very much likely that India could repeat its IT success story in bioinformatics too.
• Much research on animal models and isolated human cells should be conducted before any full-scale routine application in humans.

10. Climate-resilient systems incorporate adaptive strategies to cope with the changing climate. This includes the use of climate-smart agricultural practices that are responsive to variations in temperature, precipitation, and extreme weather events. Discuss.

Reference: The Hindu

Introduction

FAO defines Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) as “agriculture that sustainably increases productivity, enhances resilience (adaptation), reduces/removes GHGs (mitigation) where possible, and enhances achievement of national food security and development goals”

Developing an investment forum in the agriculture sector is the key agenda of the two-day conclave on Advancing Climate Resilient Agri-food Systems in India which is jointly organised by the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog), Ministry of Agriculture, and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).

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Need for Climate-Smart agriculture in India

• India’s agricultural ecosystem is distinguished by high monsoon dependence and with 85% small and marginal landholdings, it is highly sensitive to weather abnormalities.
• There has been less than normal rainfall during the last four years, with 2014 and 2015 declared as drought years.
• There are also reports of an escalation in heat waves, which in turn affecting crops, aquatic systems and livestock.
• The Economic Survey 2017-18 has estimated farm income losses between 15% and 18% on average, which could rise to 20%-25% for unirrigated areas without any policy interventions.
• These projections underline the need for strategic change in dealing with climate change in agriculture.
• There will be an increased risk of pests and diseases due to change in the pattern of host and pathogen interaction. For every two-degree rise in temperature, the agriculture GDP of India will reduce by five percent.
• The recent locust attack is also attributed to climate change, which can have highly disastrous effect on food security.
• Poor agricultural performance can lead to inflation, farmer distress and unrest, and larger political and social disaffection, all of which can hold back the economy. It will force farmers to either adapt to challenges of climate change or face the risk of getting poorer.

Climate Smart Agriculture: Solving food security and climate change problems

• Increased productivity: Produce more food to improve food and nutrition security and boost the incomes of 75 percent of the world’s poor who live in rural areas and mainly rely on agriculture for their livelihoods.
• Enhanced resilience: Reduce vulnerability to drought, pests, disease, and other shocks; and improve capacity to adapt and grow in the face of longer-term stresses like shortened seasons and erratic weather patterns.
• Reduced emissions: Pursue lower emissions for each calorie or kilo of food produced, avoid deforestation from agriculture and identify ways to suck carbon out of the atmosphere.
• The climate-smart agriculture approach seeks to reduce trade-offs to make crop and livestock systems, forestry, and fisheries and aquaculture more productive and more sustainable.
• Climate-smart agriculture explicitly looks for where there are synergies and trade-offs among food security, adaptation and mitigation. Climate smart agriculture works through several dimensions to reorient agricultural development and management to take climate change into account.
• Management of farms, crops, livestock, aquaculture and capture fisheries to balance near-term food security and livelihoods needs with priorities for adaptation and mitigation.
• Ecosystem and landscape management to conserve ecosystem services that are important for food security, agricultural development, adaptation and mitigation.

Way forward and Conclusion

• Farmers, especially smallholder farmers, need handholding during their scaling up to adopt CSA.
• Mobile telecommunication systems are increasingly cost-effective and an efficient way of delivering weather-based agro-advisories to farmers at a large scale (Kisan app).
  Radio (especially community radio), television, newspapers, folk media, and village level public address systems will also need to be used to bridge this “communication divide.”
• Weather-based agro-advisories must be locale-specific, crop-and farmer-specific; need to also recommend soil, water, and biodiversity conservation practices. Integrating this with Soil Health Card scheme will be a good step forward.
• Build adaptive capacities to climate variability and strengthen the sustainability of farming systems.
• On-site training and awareness campaigns, technology demonstrations, farmer-specialist interactions, and engagement with local governance bodies.
• Soil health and need-based irrigation management need to be addressed adequately.
• Closer collaboration between public, civil society, and private technology and financial service providers so that farmers get access to accurate information, and affordable technologies.

Conclusion

Overall, climate-smart agriculture is a crucial approach for ensuring the sustainability and resilience of agricultural systems in the face of climate change, while also contributing to broader environmental and socio-economic goals.

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