General Studies Paper-3        

Context: India’s horticulture production in 2023-24 is estimated at approximately 352.23 million tonnes, reflecting a decrease of about 32.51 lakh tonnes (0.91 per cent) compared to the final estimates of 2022-23.

Horticulture Sector in India

• Horticulture is the science and art of cultivating fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants. It encompasses a wide range of activities including plant propagation, production, management, and marketing.
• The Indian horticulture sector contributes about 33% to the agriculture Gross Value Added (GVA) making a very significant contribution to the Indian economy.
• At present, India ranks first in the production of a number of crops like Banana, Lime & Lemon, Papaya, Okra, and the second largest producer of vegetables and fruits in the world.

Challenges and Issues Faced by the Sector

• Lack of Infrastructure: Insufficient infrastructure for post-harvest handling, storage, and transportation leads to significant losses of perishable horticultural produce.
• Water Management: Horticulture is water-intensive, and water scarcity or inefficient water management practices affect crop yields and quality.
• Pest and Disease Management: Pests and diseases cause significant damage to horticultural crops, and the misuse of pesticides lead to environmental pollution and health hazards.
• Market Linkages: Limited market linkages and price fluctuations affect farmers’ income and discourage investment in horticultural production.
• Climate Change: Erratic weather patterns, including unpredictable rainfall and temperature fluctuations, pose challenges to horticultural production and require adaptation strategies.
• Quality Standards and Certification: Meeting quality standards and obtaining certification for export markets can be challenging for small-scale horticultural producers.

Key Initiatives to Overcome Challenges

• It focuses National Horticulture Mission (2005-06): It aims to promote holistic growth of the horticulture sector by enhancing production, productivity, and quality of horticulture crops. on creating infrastructure, providing technical assistance, and promoting market linkages.
• National Horticulture Board (NHB): It provides financial assistance, technical guidance, and market intelligence to horticulture growers, processors, and exporters to promote production, processing, and marketing of horticultural crops.
  • Cluster Development Program is a component of the central sector scheme of NHB that aims at leveraging the geographical specialisation of horticulture clusters and promoting integrated and market-led development of pre-production, production, post-harvest, logistics, branding, and marketing activities.
• Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) (2014): It integrates various horticulture development schemes under one umbrella to provide holistic support for the entire value chain, from pre-production to post-harvest management and marketing.
• Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY): It supports states in planning, implementing, and monitoring their horticulture development strategies by providing financial assistance for infrastructure development, capacity building, and other interventions.
• Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM): It supports the adoption of mechanisation in horticulture for activities like land preparation, planting, harvesting, and post-harvest management to improve efficiency and reduce labour dependency.

General Studies Paper -2

Context: Recent LinkedIn’s Economic Graph data show that representation of women across the workforce has declined.

Shrinking Workforce

• India’s female workforce participation rate has been steadily declining over the years.
• In 2004, the women’s employment rate peaked at 35%, but by 2022, it had fallen to around 25%.
  • It remained stable in 2023 but declined to 26.8% in 2024 (based on January data).
• The Center for Monitoring the Indian Economy (CMIE) uses a more restrictive definition of employment and found that only 10% of working-age Indian women in 2022 were either employed or actively seeking jobs.
• Currently, there are only 39 million employed women in the workforce compared to 361 million men.
• The slowdown in fresh hires of women for leadership roles contributed to the stagnation.

Senior Leadership Positions

• Progress in promoting women to senior and leadership roles has stagnated.
• The increase in women’s share in senior positions was slow: four years for each percentage point increase (2016 – 2019 and 2019 – 2022).
  • If the 2024 downturn persists, this slow-paced increase will cease.
• Recent research highlights that India has the third-lowest global representation of women managers — only 8% in management roles, 9% in business management roles, and a mere 2% in CEO positions.

Industry-Specific Insights

• Sectors with lowest female leadership representation (11% – 14%) are Oil, gas, mining; Construction; Utilities; Wholesale; Manufacturing; Transportation; and Real estate etc;
• Sectors with moderate representation (15% – 20%): Accommodation and food services, Financial services, Retail, Technology, and Media etc.
• Sectors with higher representation (22% – 30%): Administrative and support services, Healthcare and hospitals, Consumer services, Government administration, and Education (highest at 30%).

Factors Impacting Progress

• Cultural Beliefs and Gender Roles: Entrenched cultural beliefs play a significant role in perpetuating gender disparities.
  • Women are often seen as primary caregivers, and societal norms stigmatise them for working outside the home.
• National Jobs Crisis: A national jobs crisis exacerbates the gender gap.
  • Economic challenges, coupled with limited job opportunities, disproportionately affect women.
  • The lack of suitable employment options discourages women from seeking work.
• Demographic Implications: India’s fast-growing population can be an asset or a liability.
  • If women are left behind in the workforce, it becomes a demographic liability.
  • Ensuring women’s employment is crucial for sustainable growth.
• Unequal Access to Resources: Women have limited access to networks, skill development, and mentorship.
  • Organisations must create equitable pathways for women’s career advancement.
• Pay Gaps and Glass Ceilings: Unjustifiable pay gaps persist, hindering women’s economic empowerment.
  • Glass ceilings prevent women from reaching leadership positions.
• Resume Gaps and Skills Obsolescence: Many women take career breaks due to family commitments, including child care and homemaking.
  • These breaks can lead to gaps in their resumes and potential skill obsolescence.
  • Re-entering the workforce after a break can be challenging, especially when technology and industry practices evolve rapidly.
• Lack of Confidence and Stereotypes: Women often face self-doubt and lack of confidence, which can hinder their pursuit of leadership roles.
  • Stereotypes about women’s abilities and suitability for leadership positions persist, affecting their advancement.
• Bias and Discrimination: Subtle biases and discrimination exist in workplaces, impacting women’s career progression.
  • The ‘broken rung’ phenomenon refers to the difficulty women face in moving from entry-level to managerial positions.
  • Gender-based stereotypes can influence performance evaluations, promotions, and opportunities.
• Household Responsibilities: Balancing work and family responsibilities remains a significant challenge.
  • Women often shoulder a disproportionate share of household chores and caregiving, affecting their availability for work-related commitments.
• Lack of Support and Mentorship: Women benefit from mentorship and sponsorship, but they often lack access to such support.
  • Organisations need to create formal mentoring programs and provide guidance to aspiring women leaders.

Other Gaps

• Enforcement of Regulatory Measures: Strict enforcement of existing regulations is essential to drive change.
• Limited Pool of Women Candidates: The availability of qualified women for leadership roles remains a challenge.

Solutions and Policy Interventions

• Legal Compliance: Companies Act, 2013 mandates women directors on boards.
  • Data show that fines were imposed on 507 companies for non-compliance (April 2018 to December 2023), with 90% being listed companies.
• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme: It focuses on promoting girl-child education and addressing gender-based discrimination.
  • It aims to create awareness about the importance of educating girls and ensuring their well-being.
• MUDRA Loans: It provides credit specifically for women entrepreneurs. It facilitates financial support for women-led businesses and startups.
• Stand-Up India Scheme: It encourages entrepreneurship among women by providing easy access to financing. It aims to promote self-employment and business ventures led by women.
• Mahila Vikas Yojana: It caters to rural and semi-urban areas. It focuses on empowering women through skill development, livelihood opportunities, and financial inclusion
• Other interventions like encouraging shared parental leaves and flexible work arrangements; strictly enforcing regulations promoting women’s representation on company boards; and investing in skill development and mentorship programs for women are crucial for the overall development and participation of women workforce in the economy.

Conclusion and Way Forward

• India has witnessed strong women who have held leadership positions and inspired the nation.
• While progress has been made, there is still much work to be done to empower and elevate women in leadership roles. Organisations, policymakers, and society at large must collaborate to create a more inclusive and equitable environment for women to thrive.
• From freedom fighters like Maharani Lakshmi Bai to educators like Savitribai Phule and political leaders like Indira Gandhi, their contributions have left a lasting impact on society.

Efforts by policymakers and business leaders need to focus on ‘women-led development’.

General Studies Paper -2

Context: According to experts, there are a few dilemmas that India faces in the neighbourhood.

India’s Neighbourhood dilemmas

• Anti-India regimes:
  • The rise of politically anti-India regimes in South Asia such as the one in the Maldives where the new government is effectively asking Indian troops stationed in the island nation to leave.
  • A Khaleda Zia-led government in Bangladesh, planning to contest elections early next year, could also turn out to be ideologically anti-India.
• Growing influence of China:
  • The second type of dilemma India faces in the neighbourhood is structural, resulting from China’s growing influence in South Asia.
  • The growing entanglement of the region’s smaller states in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and other Chinese projects.
  • China’s desire to settle border disputes with its neighbours (excluding India), as seen in the case of Bhutan, is also a strategy to win over the region.
• India’s one-track policy approach:
  • India’s policy stance, according to experts, exhibits a deep-seated status quo bias when it comes to dealing with the region’s domestic politics and the multiplicity of actors/power centres therein.
  • However, such a one-track policy generates path-dependencies often alienating other centres of power or opposition leaders.
• Asia minus Pakistan approach:
  • There has, for some time, been a strong belief in India that South Asia minus Pakistan would be amenable to Indian geopolitical reasoning.
  • It also prompted an attempt to deal proactively with South Asia without Pakistan.
  • However, in retrospect, this policy has not exactly panned out that way India imagined.
• Liability of ‘cultural’ aspect:
  • India approached the neighbourhood with the idea that India’s special relationship with the region rooted in culture, soft power, history and ethnicity would help the country deal with the neighbourhood better than those without intimate knowledge of the region, for example, China.
  • However, according to experts, India’s culture-connect with its neighbours has indeed become a liability in the conduct of foreign policy towards them.

Causes of Rise of China vis-à-vis India

• Acting as a ‘geopolitical buffer’:
  • The aggressive and astounding rise of China has come as a ‘geopolitical buffer’, for the smaller states in the region.
  • In one of the least interconnected regions in the world, with mostly underdeveloped nations, it is natural that the inhabitants of the region will tilt towards a power with the ability to cater to their material needs.
  • With India’s ability to meet those needs being limited, China is that power.
• Culturally easier:
  • India historically enjoyed unrivalled primacy in the region.
  • Today, the downside of being the resident power in South Asia — with all its attendant cultural, ethnic, refugee and other spillovers — is felt more sharply than being the primary power.
  • China, on the other hand, is the region’s non-resident power which benefits from the absence of complications — ethnic, linguistic, religious — arising out of being a resident power.
• Reaching crisis hit regions:
  • Beijing’s outreach to South Asian states when the rest of the international community is unable to reach them — as was the case with Taliban-led Afghanistan, military-ruled Myanmar and crisis-hit Sri Lanka.
  • India does too, but the overall impact of China’s outreach is far higher than that of India primarily as a function of deeper pockets.

Suggestions & way ahead

• Acknowledging changing dynamics:
  • It is time India made a mental switch and acknowledged that South Asia and its balance of power have changed fundamentally.
    • South Asia where India enjoyed primacy no longer exists.
  • India’s neighbours and periphery also includes China’s influence.
    • Such a realistic and pragmatic framing would help India deal with the reality as it is rather than working with the mental frame of Indian primacy which is long gone.
• Need of more diplomats:
  • India needs more hands for its diplomatic pursuits.
  • The glaring shortage of sufficient diplomats to implement the foreign policy of a country of 1.4 billion people will prove to be India’s single most crucial challenge going forward.
  • The more India’s role in world affairs grows, the more the shortage of personnel will be felt by us and others.
• Befriending external actors:
  • New Delhi must proactively pursue the involvement of friendly external actors in the region.
  • That is the only way to deal with the impending possibility of the region becoming Sino-centric.
  • Dealing with whoever is in power is a good policy, but engaging only those in power could be a bad policy.
• Need of flexible diplomacy:
  • Indian diplomacy must be flexible enough to engage multiple actors in each of the neighbouring countries.
  • The art of diplomacy is not about hating the anti-India elements in the neighbourhood, but, instead, lessening their anti-India attitude.

General Studies Paper -1

Context: India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) neutral conditions would emerge in June and during July – September, ENSO would transition into La Nina.

Key Points

• South peninsular and central India is expected to receive ‘above’ normal rainfall, northwest India would receive normal rainfall whereas east and northeast India is expected to receive below average rainfall during the June – September period.

About El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)

• It is a recurring climate pattern involving changes in the temperature of waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.
• In periods ranging from about three to seven years, the surface waters across a large swath of the tropical Pacific Ocean warm or cool by anywhere from 1°C to 3°C, compared to normal.
• This oscillating warming and cooling pattern, referred to as the ENSO cycle, directly affects rainfall distribution in the tropics and can have a strong influence on weather across different parts of the world.
• ENSO is one of the most important climate phenomena on Earth due to its ability to change the global atmospheric circulation, which in turn, influences temperature and precipitation across the globe.

ENSO phases  and Impacts

• El Niño: A warming of the ocean surface, or above-average sea surface temperatures (SST), in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.
  • Over Indonesia, rainfall tends to become reduced while rainfall increases over the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.
  • The low-level surface winds, which normally blow from east to west along the equator (“easterly winds”), instead weaken or, in some cases, start blowing the other direction (from west to east or “westerly winds”).
  • In general, the warmer the ocean temperature anomalies, the stronger the El Niño (and vice-versa).
• La Niña: A cooling of the ocean surface, or below-average sea surface temperatures (SST), in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.
  • Over Indonesia, rainfall tends to increase while rainfall decreases over the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.
  • The normal easterly winds along the equator become even stronger. In general, the cooler the ocean temperature anomalies, the stronger the La Niña (and vice-versa).
• Neutral: Neither El Niño or La Niña. Often tropical Pacific SSTs are generally close to average.
  • However, there are some instances when the ocean can look like it is in an El Niño or La Niña state, but the atmosphere is not playing along (or vice versa).

Repercussions for India

• The El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) has had a greater impact on northern parts of India, lesser impact on the central parts and relatively constant impact on the southern parts of the country in recent decades
• The warming phase known as the El Nino is generally known to suppress monsoon rainfall while the cooling phase known as the La Nina generally enhances monsoon rainfall.
  • Even though there are multiple other factors, like the monsoon low pressure systems and depression, which affect the monsoon rainfall, La Nina is one of the major factors.
  • In a La Nina year, one could expect above normal rainfall.

General Studies Paper -1

Context: Heavy rain caused by the cyclone Remal triggered landslides in several places in Meghalaya, Mizoram, Assam, and Nagaland.

What is Landslide?

• Landslides are a geological phenomenon that involves the sudden and rapid movement of a mass of rock, soil, or debris down a slope under the influence of gravity.
• Landslides, usually, occur in areas having characteristics like Steep terrain such as hilly or mountainous areas, Presence of joints and fissures or areas where surface runoff is directed or land is heavily saturated with water.

Landslide vulnerability in India

• According to the Geological Survey of India (GSI) about 0.42 million square km of India’s landmass, or about 13% of its area, spread over 15 states and four Union Territories, is prone to landslides.
• About 0.18 million square km, or 42% of this vulnerable area is in the Northeastern region, where the terrain is mostly hilly.
• This area is also prone to earthquakes, which too, are a major trigger for landslides.

Causes of Landslides

• Natural Causes:
  • Heavy Rainfall: Heavy rainfall is one of the most common triggers of landslides. It increases pore water pressure as well as the weight of soil by making it saturated.
  • Erosion: Clay and vegetation present within the soil or rock act as cohesive elements and help bind particles together. By removing these cohesive elements, erosion makes an area more prone to landslides.
  • Earthquakes: Intense ground shaking due to earthquakes causes instability in rocks and soils, thus triggering landslides.
  • Volcanic Eruptions: Ash and debris deposited by volcanic eruptions overload slopes while the accompanied seismic activity causes instability.
• Anthropogenic Causes
  • Deforestation: By holding soils as well as obstructing the flow of falling debris, vegetation cover plays an important role in preventing landslides in any area. Deforestation takes away this preventive cover and increases vulnerability to landslides.
  • Encroachment in Vulnerable Terrains: Of late, humans have been encroaching in landslide-prone areas such as hilly terrains. This has led to increased construction activities in these areas and increased chances of landslides.
  • Uncontrolled Excavation: Unauthorized or poorly planned excavation activities, such as mining, quarrying, etc destabilize slopes and increase the chances of landslides.
  • Climate Change: Climate change caused by various anthropogenic activities has led to abrupt alterations in precipitation patterns and increased frequency of extreme weather events.

Measures taken in India

• The Disaster Management Act, of 2005 provides a comprehensive legal and institutional framework for the management of various disasters including landslides.
• The National Landslide Risk Management Strategy (2019) covers all aspects of landslide disaster risk reduction and management, such as hazard mapping, monitoring, and early warning systems.
• The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued Guidelines on Landslide Hazard Management (2009) that outline the steps that should be taken to reduce the risk of landslides.
• The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) has been providing capacity building and other support to various national and state-level disaster management authorities.
• Early Warning system: Efforts have been made towards better prediction of weather. E.g. Ensemble Prediction System. This will help predict disasters like landslides.

Way Ahead

• Every mountainous area has a carrying capacity. However development is essential, and one cannot stop the creation of infrastructure. Hence sustainability has to be factored in, so that the load does not exceed the carrying capacity.
• The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has been working with GSI and other agencies to mitigate and manage the risks from landslides.

General Studies Paper -3

Context: After 25 years of negotiations, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Treaty, associated with the genetic resources and traditional knowledge was concluded in Geneva.

What are Genetic Resources and associated Traditional Knowledge?

• Genetic resources (GRs) are present in things like medicinal plants, agricultural crops, and animal breeds.
  • While genetic resources themselves cannot be directly protected as intellectual property, inventions developed using them can, most often through a patent.
• Associated Traditional Knowledge: Some genetic resources are also associated with traditional knowledge through their use and conservation by Indigenous Peoples as well as local communities, often over generations.
  • This knowledge is sometimes used in scientific research and, as such, may contribute to the development of a protected invention.

About the treaty

• The treaty will establish in international law a new disclosure requirement for patent applicants whose inventions are based on genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge.
• The treaty after entering into force will require contracting parties to put In place mandatory disclosure obligations for patent applicants to disclose the country of origin or source of the genetic resources when the claimed invention is based on genetic resources or associated traditional knowledge.
• This will offer added protection to Indian Genetic Resources and Traditional Knowledge, which while currently protected in India are prone to misappropriation in countries, which do not have disclosure of obligations.

Significance

• This is the first WIPO treaty to address the interface between intellectual property, genetic resources and traditional knowledge
• It is also the first WIPO treaty to include provisions specifically for indigenous peoples and local communities.

Way Ahead

• The treaty on intellectual property, genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is a “significant win” for India and the global South, comprising mainly low-income and developing countries.
• It paves the way for bridging conflicting paradigms within the Intellectual Property (IP) system.

General Studies Paper -2

Context: India is rapidly urbanizing, around 36% of India’s population is living in cities and by 2047 it will be more than 50%.

The World Bank estimates that around $840 billion is required to fund the bare minimum urban infrastructure over the next 15 years.

About

• Looking at the rapid urbanisation and to address the infrastructure need, AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) scheme was launched by the government in 2015, with its 2.0 version launched in 2021.
• The mission was drawn to cover 500 cities and towns with a population of over one lakh with notified municipalities.
• The purpose of the AMRUT mission was to:
  • Ensure that every household has access to a tap with assured supply of water and a sewerage connection;
  • Increase the value of cities by developing greenery and well-maintained open spaces such as parks and;
  • Reduce pollution by switching to public transport or constructing facilities for non-motorised transport.
  • Amrut 2.0: aimed at making cities ‘water secure’ and providing functional water tap connections to all households in all statutory towns.
  • Ambitious targets were set up such as providing 100% sewage management in 500 AMRUT cities.
• Other components of AMRUT 2.0 are:
  • Pey Jal Survekshan to ascertain equitable distribution of water, reuse of wastewater, mapping of water bodies and promote healthy competition among the cities /towns.
  • Technology Sub-Mission for water to leverage latest global technologies in the field of water.
  • Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign to spread awareness among masses about conservation of water.

Need for the Scheme

• It is estimated that about 2,00,000 people die every year due to inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene.
• In 2016, the disease burden due to unsafe water and sanitation per person was 40 times higher in India than in China.
• The 150 reservoirs monitored by the central government, which supplies water for drinking and irrigation, and are the country’s key source of hydro-electricity, were filled to just 40% of its capacity a few weeks ago.
  • Around 21 major cities are going to run out of ground water.
• In a NITI Aayog report it was stated that 40% of India’s population will have no access to drinking water by 2030.
  • Nearly 31% of urban Indian households do not have piped water; 67.3% are not connected to a piped sewerage discharge system; and average water supply per person in urban India is 69.25 litres/day, whereas the required amount is 135 litres.

Challenges

• Narrow Approach: The basic fundamental of the scheme was erroneously constructed. Instead of a holistic approach, it took on a project-oriented attitude.
• Furthermore, AMRUT was made for cities with no participation from the cities. It was quite mechanical in design, with hardly any organic participation of the elected city governments, and driven by mostly private interests.
• Delays in Implementation: Like many government schemes, AMRUT projects often face delays in implementation due to bureaucratic hurdles, land acquisition issues, and other administrative challenges.
• Maintenance and Sustainability: While AMRUT focuses on building new infrastructure, ensuring its long-term maintenance and sustainability is equally important.
  • Without proper maintenance, the infrastructure deteriorates over time, undermining the benefits of the scheme.
• Inclusivity: There is a need to ensure that the benefits of AMRUT reach all sections of society, including marginalized communities and informal settlements.
  • Inclusive planning and implementation strategies are essential to address the needs of all urban residents.
• Environmental Impact: The rapid urbanization and infrastructure development under AMRUT may have adverse environmental consequences if not implemented sustainably.
  • Measures should be taken to minimize environmental degradation and promote eco-friendly practices.

Way Ahead

• The scheme needs nature-based solutions and a comprehensive methodology with a people centric approach and empowering local bodies.
• By addressing these challenges effectively, AMRUT can play a crucial role in improving the quality of life in urban areas across India.

General Studies Paper -1

Context: Recent devastating fires in Delhi and Rajkot have brought to light the critical lack of fire safety measures in Indian cities.

About

• Despite established fire preparedness disciplines worldwide and repeated fire outbreaks over the past three decades, public spaces, housing, hospitals, and commercial buildings in India remain vulnerable.
• In 2022, over 7,500 fire accidents resulted in the deaths of 7,435 people in India, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
• Maharashtra and Gujarat, two of the most urbanized states, account for approximately 30% of fire-related deaths in the country.
• Past incidents like the Uphaar Cinema fire (1997), AMRI hospital fire (2011), Kamala Mills inferno (2017), and various hospital fires during the COVID-19 pandemic reveal a persistent neglect of safety standards

Challenges in Preventing Fire Accidents in India

• Non-compliance with Safety Regulations: Many establishments, like the Rajkot gaming centre, operate without necessary fire safety clearances and flout basic safety norms.
• Weak Municipal Oversight: Municipal bodies responsible for fire safety inspections are often understaffed and lack resources, leading to infrequent and ineffective checks.
• Neglect of Existing Guidelines: Detailed guidelines in the National Building Code and state-specific fire safety rules are often ignored, resulting in hazardous conditions.
  • National Building Code of India, 2016, it includes provisions for ‘Fire and Life Safety’ audits, these are only recommendatory, not mandatory.
• Inadequate Firefighting Infrastructure: A study indicates urban India has less than 40% of the required fire stations, and the existing infrastructure needs modernization.

Fire Safety Standards in India

• Fire safety standards in India are governed by the National Building Code (NBC) 2016, which provides comprehensive guidelines for fire prevention, protection, and life safety in buildings.
• Part 4 of the NBC details fire and life safety requirements, including building materials, fire exits, firefighting equipment, and alarm systems.
• Each state has its own Fire Services Act, which outlines the powers and responsibilities of fire services and enforces fire safety regulations.
• The BIS sets standards for fire safety equipment like extinguishers, hoses, and alarms.
• Director-General of Civil Defense, Home Guards, & Fire Services under the Ministry of Home Affairs oversees fire management.
• National Fire Service College, Nagpur provides training and education for fire service personnel.

Steps Taken For Fire Safety

• Scheme for Expansion and Modernization of Fire Services in the States: Launched by the Centre in 2023, this scheme aims to strengthen fire services in states until 2025-26 by providing financial assistance for upgrading equipment, training personnel, and establishing new fire stations.
• Model Bill to Provide for the Maintenance of Fire and Emergency Service for the State: This model bill, circulated by the Centre, aims to facilitate the establishment and maintenance of efficient fire and emergency services at the state level.
• National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) guidelines: The NDMA has released guidelines covering scaling, types of equipment, and training for fire services across the country.
• Fire Safety Audits: Mandating fire safety audits in all buildings over 15 meters tall every two years by an independent entity.

Way Ahead

• Strict Enforcement of Regulations: Authorities must rigorously enforce fire safety regulations and penalize violators.
• Investing in Infrastructure: A 2018 FICCI-Pinkerton study revealed that urban India has less than 40% of the required fire stations. The 15th Finance Commission highlighted the need for modernizing firefighting infrastructure.
• Strengthening Municipal Capacity: Municipal bodies need increased resources and training to conduct regular and thorough fire safety inspections.
• Policy Implementation and Monitoring: Ensure strict adherence to the National Building Code and state-specific fire safety regulations.
  • Regular audits of compliance, particularly in vulnerable facilities like hospitals.
• Accountability and Legal Reforms: Hold violators accountable through stringent penalties and legal action.
  • Fast-track the implementation of recommendations from past disaster investigations.
• Prioritizing Healthcare Facilities: Special attention must be given to fire safety in healthcare facilities, considering the presence of flammable materials and vulnerable patients.

General Studies Paper -3

Context: New Space India Limited (NSIL), invited applications from private firms for “end-to-end” manufacturing of Launch Vehicle Mark-III or LVM3, the rocket that was used in the Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3 lunar missions.

About space sector

• The Indian Space Sector was valued at $9.6 Bn in 2020, contributing 2%-3% of the global space economy.
• The size of the sector is expected to reach $13 Bn by 2025, and by 2030 India further aims to capture a larger share of close to 10% of the global economy.

Private Sector’s Participation

• India’s space sector has entered a new era of growth and innovation with the government’s decision to open up the sector to private enterprises.
  • This strategic move is aimed at boosting the development of the segment and increasing India’s share in the global space economy.
• The Department of Space (DOS) desires to encourage the participation of private companies in space activities.
• ISRO’s role has shifted from being the sole operator to becoming a facilitator for private sector growth.
  • The organisation is now focused on supporting private enterprises through technology transfer, sharing expertise, and providing access to infrastructure.
• The successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the moon’s south pole has acted as a catalyst, encouraging private sector investment in space.

Benefits

• Innovation and Competition: With private companies like Skyroot Aerospace making headlines for their achievements, the sector is poised for a surge in innovation and healthy competition1.
• Global Collaboration: The influx of FDI not only brings in capital but also fosters international collaborations, enhancing India’s global standing in space technology1.
• National Development: A strong space sector contributes to national development by improving connectivity, especially in remote areas, and aiding in disaster management and climate monitoring.
• Cost competitive: Promoting the private sector will enable the Indian space program to remain cost competitive within the global space market, and thus create several jobs in the space and other related sectors

Challenges

• Regulatory hurdles,
• Technology transfer complexities, and
• The need for a skilled workforce are some of the issues.

Governments steps

• In February, 2024, Centre amended its FDI policy, allowing up to 74% FDI for satellite manufacturing and operation, up to 49% FDI for launch vehicles, spaceports and associated systems and 100% FDI to manufacture components and systems/sub-systems for satellites, ground and user segments.
  • Beyond the above-mentioned limits investment is allowed in these segments via the government route.
• The investment in Indian Space Start-Ups has increased to $ 124.7 Million in 2023.
• In 2020, the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) was established to promote, authorise and supervise various space activities of non-governmental entities (NGEs).
  • IN-SPACe has been instrumental in facilitating the entry of private players into the space sector.
• In February 2021, Centre issued guidelines for private companies to acquire all geospatial data and maps from government agencies without licences, and permission or clearances for collection, use and dissemination, except certain categories.
• The Centre unveiled the National Geospatial Policy on December 28, 2022, laying down a framework for the development of a geospatial ecosystem, allowing democratisation of data and a strengthened integrated interface for all digital data that have location.
• The Indian Space Policy 2023: The Union Cabinet’s approval of the Indian Space Policy 2023 outlines the roles and responsibilities of key organisations like the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), and private sector entities, providing clarity and direction for future endeavours.

Conclusion

• The privatisation of the Indian space sector is a bold step towards harnessing the potential of private enterprises.
• There is a need to promote private sector activity in all high technology areas including space, to fully unlock the potential of India’s youth and entrepreneurs
• Therefore, it is necessary to enable private entities within the Indian space sector to establish themselves as independent players capable of end to-end space activities.
• With the government’s supportive policies and ISRO’s collaborative approach, India is poised to make significant strides in the global space industry.
• Addressing the existing issues will be crucial for sustaining the momentum and ensuring the long-term success of India’s privatised space sector.

General Studies Paper-3

Context: India has recorded a trade deficit, the difference between imports and exports, with nine of its top 10 trading partners, including China, Russia, Singapore, and Korea, in 2023-24

Key Highlights

• The data showed that the deficit with China, Russia, Korea, and Hong Kong increased in the last fiscal compared to 2022-23, while the trade gap with the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Indonesia, and Iraq narrowed.
• China has emerged as India’s largest trading partner with $118.4 billion of two-way commerce in 2023-24, edging past the U.S.
• India’s total trade deficit in the last fiscal narrowed to $238.3 billion as against $264.9 billion in the previous fiscal.

What is the trade deficit ?

• A trade deficit occurs when a country imports more than it exports. In other words, when a country buys more than it sells, it has a trade deficit.

Causes

• There are multiple factors that can be responsible.
• One of them is some goods not being produced domestically.
• In that case, they have to be imported.
• This leads to an imbalance in their trade.
• A weak currency can also be a cause as it makes trade expensive.

Impacts

• A bilateral trade deficit with a country isn’t a major issue unless it makes us overly reliant on that country’s critical supplies.
  • However, a rising overall trade deficit is harmful to the economy.
• A rising trade deficit, even from importing raw materials and intermediates, can cause the country’s currency to depreciate because more foreign currency is needed for imports.
  • This depreciation makes imports more expensive, worsening the deficit
• More imports than exports, according to economists, impact the jobs market and lead to an increase in unemployment
• To cover the growing deficit, the country might need to borrow more from foreign lenders, increasing external debt and this can deplete foreign exchange reserves and signal economic instability to investors, leading to reduced foreign investment.

Steps of India for reducing trade deficit

• Government has taken several steps to reduce import reliance so as to curb the trade deficit.
  • These include creating/enhancing of domestic capacity,
    • Incentivizing domestic manufacturing through Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes,
    • Phased manufacturing plans,
    • Timely use of trade remedy options,
    • Adoption of mandatory technical standards,
    • Enforcement of FTA Rules of Origin (roo) and
    • Development of import monitoring system
• Government launched the Foreign Trade Policy 2023 which aims at process re-engineering and automation to facilitate ease of doing business for exporters

Suggestions

• A deficit is not always bad, if a country is importing raw materials or intermediary products to boost manufacturing and exports.
• However, it puts pressure on the domestic currency.
• Cutting the trade deficit requires boosting exports, reducing unnecessary imports, developing domestic industries, and managing currency and debt levels effectively.