General Studies Paper -2

Context: President Droupadi Murmu has approved the Kerala Government’s Lok Ayukta Amendment Bill 2022.

Highlights of the Bill

• The amendment sought to take away the Lok Ayukta’s powersto declare public servants ineligible to hold their positions if complaints of corruption and nepotism against them were proven.
• In the case of any unfavourable decision from the Lok Ayukta against the Chief Minister, the competent authority in the existing Act will now be the Assembly instead of the Governor.
• In the case of an MLA, the Speaker will be the competent authority.
• The competent authorities will also now have the option to accept or reject the LokAyukta recommendations.

What are Lokayukta?

• The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 came into effect in 2014.
• Lokayukta are anti-corruption ombudsman institutions in India, established in states.
• Concept:The concept of Lokayukta was inspired by the Scandinavian Countries Ombudsman system.
• Function:The Lokayukta are responsible for investigating allegations of corruption and maladministration against public servants and elected representatives.
• First Lokayukta:The establishment of Lokayukta institutions in India began with the first Lokayukta being constituted in Maharashtra in 1971. 
• Members:The Lokayukta is to be headed by a chairperson, who is or has been a Chief Justice or Judge of the High Court, and can have up to eight members, including judicial and non-judicial members.
• The Governor of the State appoints the members.
• Powers:Lokayukts have the authority to summon witnesses, examine evidence, and recommend punitive measures such as dismissal, suspension, or prosecution of guilty officials.
• However, their recommendations are usually not binding, and the final decision lies with the respective government authorities or judiciary.
• Jurisdictions:The Lokayukts typically have jurisdiction over public officials and employees within the state government and its agencies, including ministers, legislators, bureaucrats, and other elected representatives.
• Independence:To ensure impartiality and independence, Lokayukts are typically headed by retired judges or eminent persons with experience in public administration.

Challenges

• Limited Jurisdiction:The jurisdiction of Lokayuktas is often limited to certain categories of public servants or specific areas of governance, which may restrict their ability to address all forms of corruption comprehensively.
• Lack of Independence:Despite being intended as independent bodies, Lokayuktas often face political interference or pressure from the government, which can hinder their autonomy.
• Inadequate Resources: Lokayuktas often suffer from insufficient financial and human resources.
• Whistleblower Protection:Whistleblowers and complainants who report corruption may face threats, harassment, or retaliation, which discourages them from coming forward with information.
• Political Will:Ultimately, the effectiveness of Lokayuktas depends on the political will of the government to combat corruption and strengthen accountability mechanisms.

Measures Needed to Strengthen Lokayukta:

• Legislative Reforms: Enact comprehensive legislation granting Lokayuktas broader jurisdiction, including coverage of all public servants and entities receiving public funds.
• Appointment:Expedite the process of appointing Lokayuktas and ensure the selection process is transparent, merit-based, and free from political influence.
• Independence:Safeguard the independence of Lokayuktas by providing them with fixed tenures, adequate resources, and immunity from arbitrary removal or interference.
• Public Awareness:Launch awareness campaigns to educate the public about the role and functions of Lokayuktas, how to file complaints, and the importance of reporting corruption.
• Whistleblower Protection:Strengthen legal provisions for protecting whistleblowers who report corruption, including measures to ensure their confidentiality, safety, and immunity from retaliation.
• Accountability:Hold governments and public officials accountable for implementing Lokayukta recommendations and take disciplinary action against those found guilty of obstructing or undermining anti-corruption efforts.

Conclusion

• Over the years, there have been calls for strengthening Lokayukts and expanding their jurisdiction to cover more public officials and institutions.
• Some states have also introduced amendments to their Lokayukts Acts to address deficiencies and enhance accountability.
• By implementing the required measures, India can significantly enhance the effectiveness and credibility of Lokayuktas in combating corruption and promoting good governance at the state level.

General Studies Paper -3

Context: The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) announced the completion of the ‘10,000 genome’ project.

About

• The project was an attempt to create a reference database of whole-genome sequences out of India.
• The United Kingdom, China, and the United States are among the countries that have programmes to sequence at least 1,00,000 of their genomes.

What is Genome Sequencing?

• The human genome is the entire set of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)residing in the nucleus of every cell of each human body.
• It carries the complete genetic information responsible for the development and functioning of the organism.
• The DNA consists of a double-stranded molecule built up by four bases – adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G) and thymine (T). 
  • Every base on one strand pairs with a complementary base on the other strand (A with T and C with G).
• In all, the genome is made up of approximately 3.05 billion such base pairs.
• The process of deciphering the order of base pairs, to decode the genetic fingerprint of a human is called genome sequencing.

Significance of Genome Sequencing

• Disease-based human genetics: The Indian population of 1.3 billion consists of over 4,600 population groups, and many of them are endogamous.
  • These factors have contributed to the genetic diversity of the current population. Thus, the Indian population harbors distinct variations and often many disease-causing mutations are amplified within some of these groups.
  • Therefore, findings from population-based or disease-based human genetics research from other populations of the world cannot be extrapolated to Indians.
• Evaluation of disease: Genome sequencing has been used to evaluate rare disorders, preconditions for disorders, even cancer from the viewpoint of genetics, rather than as diseases of certain organs. Nearly 10,000 diseases, including cystic fibrosis and thalassemia are known to be the result of a single gene malfunctioning.
• Treatments of diseases:Advanced analytics and AI could be applied to essential datasets created by collecting genomic profiles across the population, allowing to develop greater understanding of causative factors and potential treatments of diseases.
• Help in customizing drugs and therapies:Creating a database of Indian genomes means that researchers anywhere can learn about genetic variants that are unique to India’s population groups and use that to customize drugs and therapies.

Way Ahead

• This project allows India to draw upon its tremendous genetic diversity, given the series of large migrations historically, and thus, add greatly to the current information about the human species.
• This initiative reflects India’s progress in gene therapies and precision medicine, and its movement towards emerging next-generation medicine which yields the possibilities for greater customization, safety, and earlier detection.

General Studies Paper -3

Context: There is a media highlight that the unsold electric two/three-wheeler vehicles will not be able to claim subsidy after expiry of Faster Adoption & Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME) II.

Market Growth and Potential of Electric Vehicles in India

• India is witnessing a significant shift towards electric vehicles (EVs), driven by the government’s ambitious targets and increasing consumer awareness about the environmental benefits of EVs.
• India has set a target that by 2030, 80% of two and three-wheelers, 40% of buses, and 30 to 70% of cars in India will be electric vehicles.
• India offers the world’s largest untapped EV market, especially in the two-wheeler segment.
• It is expected to be worth around at least ₹475 billion by 2025.
• The Economic Survey of 2023predicted that India’s domestic electric vehicle market will see a 49% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) between 2022 and 2030, with 10 million annual sales by 2030.

Challenges associated with the EVs in India

• High Initial Cost:The upfront cost of EVs is a significant barrier to their adoption. Over 60% of consumers believe that an EV is beyond their budget.
• Lack of Charging Infrastructure: The lack of adequate charging infrastructure is a major hindrance to the mass adoption of EVs.
  • Compared to traditional petrol stations, charging stations are harder to find, normally limited by investment costs and difficult infrastructure development.
• Reduced Allocation:The government has ₹1,500 crore right now for disbursal from the revised estimate of nearly ₹4,807 crore allocated in FY24 for FAME schemes.
  • It has reduced the allocation by around 44% to ₹2,671 crore for FY25. Because of this cut, a slowdown is expected in the adoption of EVs in India in FY25. Last year too, the government slashed the incentive from ₹15,000 per kWh of battery to ₹10,000 per KWh from June 1, 2023.
• Battery Technology and Raw Material Availability:It is anticipated that there will be a shortage of nickel, and scaling up lithium production would be a challenge, leading to supply shortage that may cause manufacturers to use lower-quality mineral inputs, adversely affecting battery performance.
• Uneven Electricity Distribution:The issue of power shortage in India, especially in villages and smaller towns, can affect the EV switch on a large scale.
• Limited Choice and Performance of EVs: There is a lack of high performing EVs in the market, and the choices available to consumers are limited.
• Service and Repair Options:Consumers have concerns about the availability of service centres and repair options for EVs.

Government Initiatives

• FAME India Scheme:It was launched with a budgetary outlay of Rs. 10,000 crore for a period of five years starting from April 1, 2019.
  • It aims to promote hybrid/electric technology in transportation to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and address issues of vehicular emissions.
• Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Schemes:The government has launched PLI schemes for Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) and Auto and Automotive Components to boost the manufacturing of EVs and their components.
  • The budgetary outlay for the ACC PLI scheme is Rs. 18,100 crores, and for the Auto and Automotive Components PLI scheme, it is Rs. 25,938 crores.
• Tax Exemptions and Subsidies:The government is offering subsidies for purchasing electric vehicles.
  • A tax exemption of Rs 1.5 lakh is also given for people buying electric cars on loan.
  • The GST for the purchase of EVs is set at just 5% with zero cess.
• Infrastructure Development:Under the FAME scheme, the government has been trying to improve the infrastructure for electric vehicle manufacturing in the country.
  • There is also a plan for 22,000 EV charging stations to be set up by Oil Marketing Companies across the country.
• Battery Swapping Policy:In the Union Budget (2022), a battery swapping policy was announced as an easier way to charge EVs.

Conclusion

• The transition to electric vehicles is a key component of India’s strategy to reduce its carbon emissions and achieve its climate goals.
• While there are challenges to overcome, the potential benefits of this transition – in terms of improved air quality, reduced dependence on fossil fuels, and opportunities for economic growth – make it a journey worth pursuing.

General Studies Paper -2

Context: As per the latest data available with the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), about one-third members of Rajya Sabha declared criminal cases against themselves.

Criminalisation of Politics in India

• It refers to the involvement of individuals with criminal charges or backgrounds in Indian politics. It means that persons with criminal backgrounds contest in the election and get selected as a member of parliament or state legislature.

Major Reasons

• Criminalization of political parties is a result of the connection between criminals and politicians and vote-bank politics.
• Lack of enforcement of laws and judgments.
• lack of ethics, and values, and loopholes in the function of the election commission.
• It is also linked to political control of state machinery and corruption.
• The political system is unwilling to change the law or the system.

Issues of Criminalization of Politics

• Question of safety & security:The main purpose of governance is to provide safety and security to citizens who elect their representatives for this role.
• But if the elected members themselves have criminal records, would they be interested in a criminal justice system that is prompt and efficient?
• Low conviction rate:As per the National Crime Records Bureau’s 2021 report, only 10,416 cases of murder were disposed of during the year with just a 42.4% conviction rate.
• The Law minister has admitted to more than 4.7 crore cases pending in various courts.
• Situation in police stations: Politicians play a very powerful role at police stations, compromising both integrity and impartiality of field staff.
• In due course, ordinary criminals graduate to be dreaded ones and form gangs extorting money, grabbing land, threatening witnesses in criminal cases, etc.

Measures to Curb Criminalisation

• TheVohra Committee set up by the Centre in 1993 sounded a note of warning saying that “some political leaders become the leaders of these groups and, over the years, get themselves elected to local bodies, state assemblies, and the national Parliament.
• Law Commission’s 179th report:It recommended an amendment to the Representation of People Act 1951, and suggested the people with criminal backgrounds should be disqualified for five years or until acquittal.
• It also recommended that the person who wants to contest the election must furnish details regarding any pending case, with the copy of the FIR/complaint, and also furnish details of all assets.

Related Supreme Court Judgement

• In 2002: Every candidate contesting election had to declare his criminal and financial records along with educational qualifications.
• In 2005: A sitting MP or MLA will be disqualified from contesting the election if convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for two years or more by a court of law.
• In 2014: The Supreme Court accepted the Law Commission recommendations and passed an order directing that trials against sitting MPs and MLAs should be concluded within a year of charges being framed and conducted on a day-to-day basis.
• As a follow-up to these directives, in 2017, the government started a scheme to establish 12 special courts for a year to fast-track the trial of criminal cases against MPs and MLAs.
• In 2021:The political parties need to upload on their websites and social media platforms the details of pending criminal cases against their candidates and the reasons for selecting them as also for not giving tickets to those without criminal antecedents.
• Recently,the Supreme Court published some necessary mandates to avert the criminalisation of politics as many lawsuits have been withdrawn against MPs and MLAs in the past.

Conclusion and Way Forward

• The criminalisation of politics in India is a grave issue that needs immediate attention. The involvement of criminals in politics not only undermines the democratic process but also hampers the development of the nation.
• There is a need to fix the role of Political Parties that should be more transparent and accountable in their candidate selection process.
• The Election Commission of India and other respective authorities need to take transparency measures about the Political Parties and their funding to the People of India so that they can make informed decisions while exercising their vote.
• It is high time that stringent measures are taken to curb this menace and restore faith in the democratic system.

General Studies Paper -2

Context: The Kerala Drug Control Department launched Operation AMRITH to prevent the overuse of antibiotics in the state.

Background

• In 2011, the Indian government introduced the H1 rule to prohibit the over-the-counter (OTC) sales of antibiotics without a prescription, responding to the growing concern over antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
• In 2013, the rule to limit the OTC restriction was limited to second- and third-line antibiotics, allowing the sale of first-line antibiotics without a prescription.
• Step was taken to ensure that life-saving antibiotics remained accessible to the public, especially in remote areas
• Operation AMRITH enforces the original H1 rule, mandating a doctor’s prescription for acquiring any class of antibiotics.

What is Antimicrobial Resistance?

• Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.
• Nearly 700,000 people die of AMR every year. The toll can rise to as many as 10 million by 2050 and eat up 8 per cent of annual global gross domestic product (GDP).

Causes for Antimicrobial Resistance

• Overuse and Misuse of Antibiotics:The excessive and inappropriate use of antibiotics in humans and animals is a major driver of antimicrobial resistance. This includes using antibiotics without a prescription, not completing the full course of prescribed antibiotics, and using antibiotics for non-bacterial infections.
• Inadequate Dosage and Duration: When antibiotics are not taken in the correct dosage and for the recommended duration, it can lead to incomplete eradication of the targeted microorganisms, allowing the surviving bacteria to develop resistance.
• Self-Medication: Self-prescription without proper medical guidance contributes to the misuse of antibiotics.
• Antibiotics Consumption in Food-Animals:Use of antibiotics as growth promoters in food animals and poultry is a common practice and later it evolves in the food chain.
• Unavailability of laboratory facilities:Over 50-70% of doctor-prescribed antibiotics are unnecessary due to lack of accurate infection diagnosis. Limited access to affordable rapid diagnostic tests contributes to this issue.

Challenges Posed by AMR

• Antibiotic resistance is emerging as the threat to successful treatment of infectious diseases, organ transplantation, cancer chemotherapy and major surgeries.
• The issue of AMR causes out of pocket expenditure on health care, especially on medicines. The use of high order drugs or second-line expensive antibiotics pushing treatment costs high.
• Poor Sanitation:The large proportion of sewage is disposed of untreated into receiving water bodies, leading to gross contamination of rivers with antibiotic residues, antibiotic-resistant organisms.

Global Efforts against Antimicrobial Resistance 

• Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (GAP): Globally, countries committed to the framework set out in the Global Action Plan (GAP) 2015 on AMR during the 2015 World Health Assembly and committed to the development and implementation of multisectoral national action plans.
• World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW): It is a global campaign that aims to raise awareness of antimicrobial resistance worldwide.
• Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS): WHO launched it in 2015 to continue filling knowledge gaps and to inform strategies at all levels.
• GLASS has been conceived to progressively incorporate data from surveillance of AMR in humans, surveillance of the use of antimicrobial medicines, AMR in the food chain and the environment.
• Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP): A joint initiative of WHO and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), GARDP encourages research and development through public-private partnerships.
• By 2025, the partnership aims to develop and deliver five new treatments that target drug-resistant bacteria identified by WHO as posing the greatest threat.
• Country wise initiatives:A multi-sectoral $1 billion AMR Action Fundwas launched in 2020 to support the development of new antibiotics, and the U.K. is trialing a subscription-based model for paying for new antimicrobials towards ensuring their commercial viability.
• Peru’s effortson patient education to reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions.
• Australian regulatoryreforms to influence prescriber behaviour, and initiatives to increase the use of point-of-care diagnostics, such as the EU-supported VALUE-Dx programme.
• Denmark’s reformsto prevent the use of antibiotics in livestock have not only led to a significant reduction in the prevalence of resistant microbes in animals, but also improved the efficiency of farming.

Measures Taken against Antimicrobial Resistance in India 

• National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR):It has a focus on the One Health approach & was launched with the aim of involving various stakeholders ministries/departments.
• AMR Surveillance Network:Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) established the AMR surveillance and research network (AMRSN) to generate evidence and capture trends and patterns of drug resistant infections in the country.
• India’s Red Line campaign:Which demands that prescription-only antibiotics be marked with a red line, to discourage the over-the-counter sale of antibiotics– is a step forward.
• FSSAI has set certain guidelines limiting the antibiotics in food products such as fish and honey.
• National Health Policy,2017: It terms antimicrobial resistance as one of the key healthcare issues and prioritizes the development of guidelines regarding antibiotic use and checks on restricting the growth of antibiotics.
• National Antibiotic Consumption Network (NAC-NET): The network sites compile data on antibiotic consumption in their respective health facilities and send it to National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

Way Ahead

• Antimicrobial resistance is a socioeconomic problem, and combating it requires measures to improve public health infrastructure, sanitation facilities, and governance.
• While enforcing the OTC regulation is a welcome step, curbing antimicrobial resistance requires a multipronged approach, including reformations to physicians’ prescribing practices and mandating that hospitals report healthcare-associated infection rates.

General Studies Paper -2

Context: NITI Aayog has claimed that India’s poverty level has fallen to just five percent, citing the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2022-23.

Findings of HCES 2022-23

• The urban-rural consumption divide has narrowed to71% in 2022-23 from a peak of 91% in 2004-05, so inequality is declining.
• Rural households spending on food has dropped below 50%of their total expenditure for the first time ever.
• There is a sharp rise in urban and rural consumption by over 5 timesfrom 2011-12 levels in current prices, hence India’s growth is not restricted to a few, but is very broad-based.
• As per the Niti Aayog’s multi-dimensional poverty index 2023,11% of the population was below the poverty line, based on which it has argued that 25 crore people have escaped poverty.

Changes in Spending Pattern

• There is lower spending on pulses and cereals — dropped below 5% of per capita consumer expenditure — and higher expenditures on conveyances, consumer durables, and consumer services.
  • It indicates that people are earning more and need to spend a lesser share of their income on food.
• Within food, the consumption of beverages, processed food, milk, and fruits is going up, an indication of more diverse and balanced food consumption.

Government Steps for Poverty Elevation 

• Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS): It provides at least one hundred days of unskilled manual work in a financial year to every household in rural areas as per demand resulting in creation of productive assets of prescribed quality and durability.
• National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013:It gives legal entitlement to 67% of the population (75% in rural areas and 50% in urban areas) to receive highly subsidized foodgrains.
• Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) (2016): This initiative was introduced to provide LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) connections to women belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families.
• Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM):  It aims to reduce poverty by enabling the poor household to access gainful self-employment and skilled wage employment opportunities resulting in sustainable and diversified livelihood options for the poor.
• Ayushman Bharat scheme:It offers health insurance coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year to shield beneficiaries from the financial burden of expensive medical treatments, thereby preventing them from falling deeper into poverty due to healthcare costs.

Way Ahead

• Employment Generation:Creating more employment opportunities, especially in sectors that absorb large numbers of low-skilled and semi-skilled workers, can significantly reduce poverty.
• Skill Development:Investing in education and skill development programs like vocational training, apprenticeship programs etc. to enhance the employability of the workforce is necessary.
• Women’s Empowerment: Providing women with access to education, healthcare, financial services, and opportunities for employment can improve household income, enhance family well-being, and contribute to overall economic growth.

General Studies Paper -2

Context: Recently, the Union Government has agreed to examine whether the provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution can be implemented in Ladakh’s context

The Sixth Schedule

• It comes under Article 244that provides for the formation of Autonomous Administrative Divisions — Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) — that have some legislative, judicial, and administrative autonomy within a state.
• It applies to the Northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram (three Councils each), and Tripura(one Council).

Significances of the Sixth Schedule in Indian Constitution

• Autonomy to Tribal Populations:It protects the autonomy of tribal populations through the creation of autonomous development councils.
  • These councils can frame laws on land, public health, and agriculture.
• Administration of Tribal Areas:It provides for the administration of tribal areas in the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.
  • As of now, ten autonomous councils exist in these states.
• Protection of Tribal Rights:It is intended to protect tribal populations from exploitation and preserve their unique cultural and social practices.
  • It ensures that tribal communities have a say in their governance and development.
• Safeguarding Resources:The autonomous councils under the Sixth Schedule have the power to regulate the issuance of licences for mining, control money lending to tribes, and regulate business and commerce in the areas.

Other Recommendations

• National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST): In September 2019, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes recommended the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule.
  • The Commission took note of the fact that the newly created Union Territory of Ladakh is predominantly a tribal region in the country.
• Report highlights of the Parliamentary Standing Committee: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs recently tabled a report in the Rajya Sabha.
  • The report stated that, according to the 2011 Census, the tribal population in the Union Territory of Ladakh is 2,18,355, that is 79.61% of the total population of 2,74,289.
  • Special Status:The committee recommended that special status may be granted to the Union Territory of Ladakh considering the developmental requirements of the tribal population.

Conclusion

• The Sixth Schedule is a crucial constitutional provision that recognizes the unique cultural, social, and economic needs of tribal populations and provides a framework for self-governance.
  • It holds significant importance as it provides for the administration of tribal areas, thereby protecting the autonomy of tribal populations.
  • It protects tribal populations, allowing for the creation of autonomous development councils which can frame laws on land, public health, agriculture.
• The demand for inclusion in the Sixth Schedule reflects the aspirations of the people of Ladakh for greater autonomy and preservation of their unique cultural identity.
• The government’s response to these demands will have significant implications for the future of Ladakh and its

General Studies Paper-3

Context: Recently, ISRO informed that the Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA) payload onboard the Aditya-L1 has been operational and performing nominally.

About the Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya-L1 (PAPA)

• It is one of seven scientific payloadsaboard the 1,480-kg Aditya-L1 (India’s first mission to study the Sun), the solar probe of the ISRO which was inserted into a halo orbit at L1 in early January 2024.
• It is developed by the Space Physics Laboratory (SPL)at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC).
• It is designed to understand and gain deeper insights into the phenomenon of the ‘solar winds’(outward expansion of plasma or a collection of charged particles) from the sun’s corona and their composition.
  • Solar winds pose a threat to communications networks.
• It is an energy and mass analyzer designed for in-situ measurements of solar wind electrons and ions in the low energy range.
• The preliminary analysis shows that PAPA science data are of very good quality and the results match similar observations made by other instruments which are being operated at or around Lagrangian point L-1 by other space agencies.

Key Features of PAPA

• PAPA contains two sensors that are equipped to measure the direction of arrival of solar wind particles:
  • The Solar Wind Electron Energy Probe (SWEEP): It measures the solar wind electron flux.
  • The Solar Wind Ion Composition AnalyseR (SWICAR):It measures ion flux and composition as a function of direction and energy.

Role in the Aditya-L1 Mission

• The Aditya-L1 mission was launched aboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C57 mission on September 2, 2023.
• As Aditya traversed the 1.5 million km distance to L1, the PAPA payload was switched on for the first time on November 8.
• The high voltage (HV) commissioning of the payload and science data observations were started on December 11.

Conclusion

• PAPA payload onboard the Aditya-L1 Mission remains healthy and the scientific data sent by it are of very good quality.
• The successful operation of PAPA is a testament to the capabilities of ISRO and its contribution to our understanding of the solar wind.

General Studies Paper-3

Context: Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has created a dedicated organic promotion division for the promotion of organic exports.

Organic Farming in India

• India occupies fifth place globally with a total area of 2.66 million hectares in organic farming.
• Madhya Pradesh has the largest area under organic certification followed by Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Karnataka.
• Sikkim is India’s first fully organic state, with implementing organic practices on around 75,000 hectares of agricultural land.
• In 2022-23, India produced around 2.9 million metric tonnes of certified organic products like oil seeds, cereals and millets, cotton, pulses among others.
• The exports of India’s organic products stood at $708 million in 2022-23 and considering the global market size of around $138 billion, there is a tremendous scope to increase the organic exports in the near future.

Advantages of Organic Farming

• Healthier Food Products: Organic farming avoids the use of synthetic fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides etc. This results in food products that are free from harmful chemical residues with higher levels of essential nutrients.
• Enhanced Soil Health: Organic farming methods focus on building and maintaining soil health by increasing organic matter content, microbial activity, and nutrient cycling.
• Economic Opportunities: Organic farming provides economic benefits to farmers through premium prices for organic products, access to niche markets, and reduced input costs over the long term.
• Climate Change Mitigation: Organic farming practices such as composting and organic soil management contribute to carbon sequestration in the soil, helping to mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Biodiversity Conservation: Organic farming practices support biodiversity by creating habitats for beneficial insects, birds, and other wildlife.

Challenges in Organic Farming

• Yield Limitations: Organic farming typically yields lower outputs compared to conventional farming methods, at least in the short term.
• Weed Control: Weed management is a significant challenge in organic farming, as synthetic herbicides cannot be used. Organic farmers rely on methods such as manual weeding, mulching, and cover cropping, which is labor-intensive and time-consuming.
• Access to Organic Inputs: Organic farmers face difficulties in accessing certified organic seeds, fertilizers, and other inputs, especially in remote or underdeveloped regions.
• Certification and Compliance: Obtaining organic certification requires adherence to strict standards and regulations, which is complex and costly for farmers, especially smallholders.

Organic Certifications Systems in India

• National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP): It is under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for development of the export market.
• It is a third party certification programme where the production and handling of activities at all stages such as production, processing, trading and export requirements for organic products is covered.
• Participatory Guarantee System (PGS-India): In the operation stakeholders (including farmers/ producers) are involved in decision making and essential decisions about the operation of the PGS-India certification itself by assessing, inspecting and verifying the production practices of each other and collectively declaring produce as organic.
• It is under the Ministry of Agriculture and farmers Welfare for meeting the demand of the domestic market.
• Food Safety Regulation has made it mandatory for organic products to be certified under NPOP or PGS for being sold in the domestic market under the Jaivik Bharat logo.

Government Schemes for Organic Farming

• Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY): The schemes stress on end-to-end support to farmers engaged in organic farming i.e. from production to processing, certification and marketing and post-harvest management.

Training and Capacity Building are integral parts of the scheme.

• Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER): The scheme is being implemented exclusively in the NE States to support farmers engaged in organic farming.

Way Ahead

• The shift in global consumption patterns towards healthier, safer, sustainable and nutritious food has propelled organic products into the limelight.
• The surge in demand presents a golden opportunity for India, to meet the growing global demand for organic products and to tap into the global organic food market.

General Studies Paper-3

Context: Recently, it is proposed to change  the pattern of economic growth in India .

About Economic Growth

• Economic growth refers to an increase in the size of a country’s economy over a period of time. The size of an economy is typically measured by the total production of goods and services in the economy, which is called gross domestic product (GDP)
  • GDP is the total monetary or market value of all the finished goods and services produced within a country’s borders in a specific time period.
• The term economic growth is defined as the process whereby the country’s real national and per capita income increases over a long period of time.

Current Scenario

• GDP growth has become the dominant measure of the health of all economies.
• The dominant paradigm is, first, increase the size of the pie before its redistribution.
• It has replaced “socialist” models which were concerned with conditions at the bottom.
• All Indian governments, since the liberalisation of the economy in 1991, have focused on GDP. 
• As per the First Advance Estimates of National Income of FY 2023-24, India’s Real GDP is projected to grow at 7.3 per cent.
  • This was stated in the Macro-Economic Framework Statement 2024-25.
• As per the IMF, India is likely to become the third-largest economy in 2027 in USD at market exchange rate.
  • It also estimates that India’s contribution to global growth will rise by 200 basis points in 5 years.

Challenges and Concerns

• GDP is not a measure of the overall standard of living or well-being of a country.
• It does not capture things that may be deemed important to general well-being.
  • For example, increased output may come at the cost of environmental damage or other external costs such as noise.
  • Or it might involve the reduction of leisure time or the depletion of nonrenewable natural resources.
  • The quality of life may also depend on the distribution of GDP among the residents of a country, not just the overall level.
• India is becoming one of the most unequal countries in the world with this flawed model of economic progress.
• They need decent jobs, which the Indian economy has not provided despite impressive growth of GDP.

Fossil Fuels and the Modern Economy

• Fossil fuels are an integral part of the global economy, with significant economic importance.
• Fossil fuels(including coal, oil, and natural gas)in the modern economy are used in the production and the distribution of four foundational materials for modern civilization: steel, concrete, plastics, and food.
• Fossil fuels are key to industrialization and rising prosperity, but their impact on health and the climate are concerning .

Suggestions and Way Forward

• India must address the global climate crisis while growing its own economy to catch-up with developed countries.
• India must find a new paradigm of progress, for itself and for the world, for more inclusive and environmentally sustainable growth.
• India’s policymakers must free themselves from western-dominated theories of economics.
• Rural Bharat can be a university for the world, producing innovations in institutions and policies for inclusive and sustainable growth.
  • Systems science reveals that local systems solutions, cooperatively developed by communities in their own villages and towns, are the way to solve global systemic problems of climate change and inequitable economic growth.
• There is a need to focus more on Economic development which generally refers to the sustained, concerted endeavor of policymakers and community to promote the standard of living and economic condition in a country.
  • Economic development refers to the total quality of life of the population.
    • It includes the standard of its education, medical care, the diet, etc.
    • The greater a country’s economic development, the better the living standard of people is