General Studies Paper-2

Context: There is a growing recognition of the crucial link between local governance, development, and gender equality.

About local self-governance

• In December 1992, Parliament passed the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments, which instituted panchayats and municipalities,
• These amendments mandated that State governments constitute panchayats (at the village, block and district levels) and municipalities (in the form of municipal corporations, municipal councils and nagar panchayats) in every region.
• They sought to institute a third-tier of governance in the federal framework through the devolution of functions, funds, and functionaries to local governments.
• The amendments to the Constitution ensured the reservation of one third of the total seats for women in all elected offices of local bodies in both the rural and urban areas.
• Emanating from the Central Act, various States Panchayati Raj Acts have made provisions for taxation and collection. 

Sources of Revenue

• Property tax, cess on land revenue, surcharge on additional stamp duty, tolls, tax on profession, advertisement, user charges for water and sanitation and lighting are the major own source of revenues(OSRs)where panchayats can earn maximum income.
• The huge potential for non-tax revenue includes fees, rent, and income from investment sales and hires charges and receipts.
• There are also innovative projects that can generate OSR.
  • This covers income from rural business hubs, innovative commercial ventures, renewable energy projects, carbon credits. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds and donations.

Importance

• It provides for efficient provision of public goods since governments with smaller jurisdictions can provide services as per the preferences of their residents.
• It promotes deeper democracy since governments that are closer to the people allow citizens to engage with public affairs more easily.
• Gram sabhas have a significant role in fostering self-sufficiency and sustainable development at the grass-roots level by leveraging local resources for revenue generation.
• They can be engaged in planning, decision-making, and implementation of revenue-generating initiatives that range from agriculture and tourism to small-scale industries.
• They have the authority to impose taxes, fees, and levies, directing the funds towards local development projects, public services, and social welfare programmes.
• Through transparent financial management and inclusive participation, gram sabhas ensure accountability and foster community trust, ultimately empowering villages to become economically independent and resilient.

Concerns and Challenges

• Despite the constitutional promise of local self-governance, local governments operate with limited autonomy and authority.
• Revenue raised by panchayats is meagre : “Panchayats earn only 1% of the revenue through taxes”, with the rest being raised as grants from the State and Centre 
  • It specifically points out that80% of the revenue is from the Centre and 15 % from the States. 
• Several impediments: Despite every enabling factor to raise revenue, panchayats confront several impediments in resource mobilisation:
  • The ‘freebie culture’ rampant in society is the cause for the antipathy in paying taxes.
  • Elected representatives feel that imposing taxes would alter their popularity adversely.
  • In several States, gram panchayats lack the authority to collect taxes, while in numerous others, intermediate and district panchayats are not delegated the responsibility of tax collection.

Suggestions and Way Ahead

• There is a need to educate elected representatives and the public on the significance of raising revenue to develop panchayats as self-governing institutions.
• Ultimately, the dependency syndrome for grants has to be minimised and in due course, panchayats will be able to survive on their own resources.
• Panchayats can only achieve such a state of affairs when there are dedicated efforts in all tiers of governance, which includes even the State and central level.
• Thus, gram sabhas need to promote entrepreneurship, and foster partnerships with external stakeholders to enhance the effectiveness of revenue generation efforts.

General Studies Paper-3

Context: Recently various South Indian States raised issues about their less than proportionate share of receipt in tax revenue when compared to their contribution towards tax collection.

About the Financial Devolution Among States

• It is a critical aspect of federalism in India involving the distribution of financial resources from the Union government to the states, enabling them to meet their expenditure requirements and provide public services.
• The process of financial devolution is guided by the Finance Commission (FC).

The Divisible Pool of Taxes:

• Article 270 of the Constitution provides for the scheme of distribution of net tax proceeds collected by the Union Government between the Centre and the States.
• These include corporation tax, personal income tax, Central GST, and the Centre’s IGST
• It does not include cess and surcharge that are levied by the Union Government.
• States are provided grants-in-aidas per the recommendation of the FC, apart from the share of taxes.

Role of 15th Finance Commission

• Vertical Devolution:The FC is responsible for recommending the distribution of the net proceeds of taxes of the Union between the Union and the States, commonly referred to as vertical devolution.
• Horizontal Devolution:The FC determines the allocation between the States of the respective shares of such proceeds, known as horizontal devolution.
• Criteria For Horizontal Devolution:
• Income distance:It is the distance of a State’s income from the State with the highest per capita income.
• States with lower per capita income are given a higher share to maintain equity among States.
• Forest and Ecology:The share of dense forest of each State in the aggregate dense forest of all the States.
• Currently, 41% of taxescollected by the Union Government (as per the recommendation of 15th Finance Commission) is devolved in 14 installments among States during a fiscal year.

Challenges and Concerns

• Disproportionate Share of Receipt in Tax Revenue:Various Opposition-ruled States, especially from south India, have claimed that they have not been receiving their fair share as per the present scheme of financial devolution.
• Cess and surchargecollected by the Union government is estimated at around 23% of its gross tax receipts for 2024-25, which does not form part of the divisible pool and hence not shared with the States.
• Reduction in Financial Transfers to States:Since the start of the Fourteenth Finance Commission award period (2015-16), the Union government has been reducing financial transfers to States.
• This is particularly strange given that the Fourteenth Finance Commission recommended devolving 42% of Union tax revenues to States, which is a 10 percentage points increase over the 13th Finance Commission’s recommendation.
• State Wise Variations:The amount each State gets back for every rupee they contribute to Central taxes shows steep variation.
• It can be seen that industrially developed States received much less than a rupee for every rupee they contributed as against States like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
• The percentage share in the divisible pool of taxes has been reducing for southern States over the last six FCs.
• It is attributable to the higher weightage being given for equity (income gap) and needs (population, area and forest) than efficiency (demographic performance and tax effort).
• Increase in Union Government’s Discretionary Expenditure:The Union government not only reduced the financial transfers to States but also increased its own total revenue to increase its discretionary expenditure.
• The discretionary expenditures of the Union government are not being routed through the States’ Budgets, and, therefore, can impact different States in different ways.
• Decline in States’ Share in Gross Revenue:One of the reasons for the States’ share in gross revenue declining during this period is that the net tax revenue is arrived at after deducting the revenue collections under cess and surcharge.
• Against the Federal Spirit:The Constitutional scheme has always favoured a strong centre in legislative, administrative and financial relations.
• However, federalism is a basic feature and it is important that States don’t feel short-changed when it comes to distribution of resources.

Way Forward

• The States generate around 40% of the revenue and bear around 60% of the expenditure. It is the responsibility of all States to contribute towards the more equitable development of our country.
• However, there are three important reforms that may be considered for maintaining the balance between equity and federalism while sharing revenue:
• The divisible pool can be enlarged by including some portion of cess and surcharge in it.
• The weightage for efficiency criteria in horizontal devolutionshould be increased.
• Similar to the GST Council, a more formal arrangement for the participation of States in the constitution and the working of the FC should be considered.

General Studies Paper-2

Context: The World Health Organization (WHO) recently launched the Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH), a platform for sharing knowledge and digital products among countries.

Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH)

• The GIDH will be a WHO Managed Network(“Network of Networks”) that will promote equitable access to digital health by addressing challenges such as duplication of efforts and “products-focused” digital health transformation.
• Aim:
  • ALIGN efforts to support the Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020–2025;
  • SUPPORT quality assured technical assistance to develop and strengthen standards-based and interoperable systems aligned to global best practices, norms and standards;
  • FACILITATE the deliberate use of quality assured digital transformation tools that enable governments to manage their digital health transformation journey.
• The GIDH will focus on following four foundational pillars:

Digital health in India

• Digital health refers to the utilization of digital technologies across the healthcare ecosystem, aiming to improve accessibility, affordability, and efficiency of healthcare services for individuals and healthcare providers.

Significance

• Improved Access: Digital tools can reach remote areas, connect patients to specialists, and enable virtual consultations, expanding healthcare access.
• Enhanced Affordability:Telemedicine, electronic prescribing, and data-driven resource allocation can potentially reduce healthcare costs.
• Personalized Care: Electronic health records (EHRs) and wearable devices facilitate personalized treatment plans and preventive care.
• Empowered Patients: Digital platforms can educate patients, enhance medication adherence, and promote self-management of chronic conditions.
• Streamlined Healthcare Delivery:Digitization empowers efficient data management, administrative processes, and resource optimization within healthcare systems.

Challenges

• Infrastructure Gaps: Unequal access to internet connectivity, electricity, and digital devices hinders widespread adoption.
• Data Privacy and Security:Concerns and regulations regarding patient data privacy and security require robust solutions.
• Digital Literacy:Bridging the digital divide through training and awareness programs is crucial for patient and provider involvement.
• Interoperability and Standards:Seamless integration and exchange of data across different healthcare IT systems is needed.
• Skilled Workforce:Building a workforce equipped to handle digital health technologies and data analysis is vital.

Government initiatives

• National Digital Health Mission (NDHM):Aims to create a national digital health ecosystem with unique health IDs, EHRs, and a health data exchange platform.
• Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM):Focuses on creating a digital infrastructure for ABHIM, with health registries, e-claim processing, and telemedicine.
• E Sanjeevani Telemedicine Platform:Facilitates virtual consultations between doctors and patients across the country.
• Jan Arogya Setu App and COWIN Platform: Provides access to health services, appointment booking, and COVID-19 information.
• Digital Aarogya Mitra (DAM):A community health worker program leveraging technology for data collection and community health interventions.

Way Ahead

• Digital health is a proven accelerator to advance health outcomes and achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and health-related Sustainable Development Goals. Hence, it needs to be made integral to every health policy.
• As Deputy Secretary-General of ITU said recently that nearly half the world’s population might not have access to health servicesthey need, but 90% have access to a 3G connection, showing the potential for digital health.

By scaling up existing initiatives, collaborating across stakeholders, and fostering innovation, India can leverage digital health to achieve its goal of universal healthcare and ensure better health outcomes for all.

General Studies Paper-1

Context: Recently, the Supreme Court of India said that termination of a woman’s employment due to marriage is gender discrimination, and unconstitutional.

Status of Working Women in India:

• As per the Union Budget 2022, the overall workforce participation rate in India is 20.3%, of which 18.2% is in Urban India.
  • Women’s employability stands at 51.44% for 2022, compared to 41.25% in 2021.
• Periodic Labour Force Survey Report 2022-23:It shows that the Female Labour Force Participation Rate in the country has improved significantly by 4.2% points to 37.0% in 2023, as per the ‘usual status’ concept of measuring labour force participation.
• The presence of girls/women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) is 43%, which is one of highest in the world.
  • India is presently one of the only 15 countries in the world with a woman Head of State.
• National Family Health Survey 5 (NFHS 5):It says 88.7% women participate in major household decisions today as against 84% five years ago.
• Public Sphere:In the 2019 Lok Sabha election for the first time in the country since independence, 81 women were elected as Members of Lok Sabha.
  • There are over 1.45 million or 46% women elected representatives in Panchayati Raj Institutions (against mandatory representation of 33%).

Challenges faced by the working women:

• Work-Life Balance:Indian working women often struggle to balance their professional responsibilities with their roles at home.
• Workplace Complications:Women face complications in the workplace, including discrimination, bias, and sometimes even harassment.
• Gender Bias:There is a prevalent assumption that women are only suitable for specific tasks, leading to discrimination among those who work with them.
• Pay Disparity: Despite laws declaring equality in remuneration, it is not always followed.
  • The ingrained belief that women are incapable of doing difficult work and are less effective than men impacts the payment of differential salaries and compensation for the same job.
• Security Issues:Safety and security are major concerns for working women, especially those who work at night or in remote locations.

Initiatives to tackle the issue:

• Flexible Working Hours:Organisations are increasingly offering flexible working hours to accommodate the needs of their female employees.
• Equal Women Representation:There is a growing emphasis on ensuring equal representation of women in planning and decision-making roles within organisations.
• Gender Equality Initiatives:Organisations are driving transformative change for gender equality, which includes initiatives like leadership development programs, increased female recruitments, and transparent communication.
• Support Services:Support services such as counselling sessions are being provided to help women cope with workplace challenges.
• Safety and Security Measures: Organisations are implementing proper safety and security measures to ensure a safe working environment for women.
• Effective Child Care Policies:Organisations are introducing effective child care policies to support working mothers.
• Appropriate Grievance Redressal Mechanisms:Appropriate grievance redressal mechanisms are being put in place at workplaces to address issues faced by women.

Related Supreme Court’s Observations:

• Marriage, Employment, and Gender Discrimination:The Supreme Court has stated that rules that edge out women from employment for getting married are ‘coarse’, unconstitutional.
  • It observed that terminating employment because a woman has got married is a coarse case of gender discrimination and inequality.
  • Acceptance of such patriarchal rule undermines human dignity, right to non-discrimination and fair treatment.
• Safe Working Environment: The Supreme Court recognized that under Article 14 (2), 19 (1) (g), and 21of the Constitution, the fundamental rights also include the right to a safe working environment.
• Sexual Harassment: The Apex court commissioned the Vishaka Guidelines (1997)that defined sexual harassment and put the onus on the employers to provide a safe working environment for women.

Statutory and Legal Provisions

• The Prohibition of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013:It provides a definition of sexual harassment and mandates employers to develop a complaint mechanism.
  • It also outlines procedural requirements for employers, including the establishment of an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), conducting orientation and awareness programs, and displaying details of the penal consequences of indulging in acts of sexual harassment.
• The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961:It regulates the employment of women in certain establishments for a certain period before and after childbirth and provides for maternity and other benefits.
• The Factories Act, 1948:It mandates that any factory employing 30 or more women workers must provide creche facilities for the use of children under the age of 6 years.
  • It also stipulates that women cannot be made to lift more than the prescribed weight and cannot be made to clean or oil any moving machine.
• The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976:It provides for the payment of equal remuneration to men and women workers for the same work or work of a similar nature.
• Minimum Wages Act, 1948: It sets the minimum wages that must be paid to skilled and unskilled labourers.

Way Forward: What more to be done?

• Work from Home:A survey conducted by UNICEF’s public-private youth platform YuWaah and U-Report revealed that 55% of women prefer to work from home so they can manage household chores.
  • It suggests that flexible work arrangements could be beneficial.
• Access to Information and Opportunities:The same survey found that 52% of respondents believe that access to information and opportunities or support from families are key factors that influence young women’s decision to develop job-ready skills and join the workforce.
• Family Influence: The survey also found that 56% of respondents believed that parents/family or partners are important actors in choosing aspirations and career options.
• Education and Unemployment:A study by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Lucknow, found a rise in the unemployment rate with education levels.
  • It suggests that more job opportunities need to be created for educated women.
• Labour-Intensive Manufacturing Sector:The researchers suggested that a conscious effort to identify and promote the labour-intensive manufacturing sector will help in accomplishing inclusive growth.

General Studies Paper-3

Context: India is planning to invite private companies to invest approximately $26 billion in its nuclear energy sector.

About

• The government plans to build 11,000 megawatts(MW) of new nuclear power generation capacity by
• Under the funding plan, the private companies will make the investments in the nuclear plants, acquire land, water and undertake construction in areas outside the reactor complex of the plants.
• However, the rights to build and run the stations and their fuel management will rest with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL).
• The plan will not require any amendment to India’s Atomic Energy Act of 1962but will need a final go-ahead from the Department of Atomic Energy.
• Though, Indian law bars private companiesfrom setting up nuclear power plants but allows them to supply components, equipment and sign construction contracts for work outside of the reactors.

Benefits of Private Investment

• Achieve the energy target: The proposed funding is crucial forIndia to achieve its target of having 50% of its installed electric generation capacity sourced from non-fossil fuels by 2030, compared to the current 42%.
• Increased Efficiency: Private companies bring in more efficient management practices, technological advancements, and innovation to the sector.
• Innovation and Research: Private investment incentivizes the development of advanced reactor designs, fuel cycles, safety systems, and waste management solutions, leading to long-term sustainability and competitiveness in the sector.
• Financial Resources: Private investment provides additional financial resources for the development and expansion of nuclear infrastructure.

What is Nuclear Energy?

• Nuclear energy is the energy released during nuclear reactions, either through fission (splitting of atomic nuclei) or fusion (merging of atomic nuclei).
• In nuclear fission,heavy atomic nuclei, such as those of uranium or plutonium, are split into lighter nuclei, releasing a large amount of energy.
• This process is utilized in nuclear power plants to generate electricity.

India’s Nuclear Programme

• Nuclear Energy is a non-carbon-emitting energy source that contributes less than 2% of India’s total electricity generation.
• NPCIL owns and operates India’s current fleet of nuclear power plants, with a capacity of 7,500 MW, and has committed investments for another 1,300 MW.
• India imports uranium fuel for nuclear plants from Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, France and Canada under bilateral agreements.

Advantages of Nuclear Energy

• Energy Security: Nuclear energy with its high power output can solve the energy crisis that the world is facing today. The fuel to power output ratio for nuclear energy is incredibly high. A relatively small amount of uranium can be used to fuel a 1000 Megawatts electric plant, thus providing enough electricity to power a city of about half a million people.
• Clean energy:Nuclear power plants have a low greenhouse gas footprint. The World Nuclear Association found that the average emissions for nuclear power are 29 tonnes of CO2 per gigawatt-hour (GWh) of energy produced.
  • This compares favorably with solar (85 tonnes per GWh), wind (26 tonnes per GWh) and fossil fuels like lignite (1,054 tonnes per GWh).
• Low Operating Costs: Nuclear power produces very inexpensive electricity and is cheaper than gas, coal, or any other fossil fuel plants.

Disadvantages of Nuclear Energy

• Risky source of energy:The risks of nuclear power are ultimately uncontrollable. The Chernobyl disaster of 1986 and Fukushima disaster in Japan in 2011 have already shown the dangers of nuclear power.
• Not really renewable: Uranium, the nuclear fuel that is used to produce nuclear energy, is limited and cannot be produced again and again on demand.
• Radioactive Waste Disposal:A nuclear power plant creates 20 metric tons of nuclear fuel per year, and with that comes a lot of nuclear waste. The greater part of this waste transmits radiation and high temperature, causing damage to living things in and around the plants.

General Studies Paper-3

Context: The article discusses India’s struggle with industrial growth and high unemployment. It critiques the focus on high-skill, service-based growth, arguing it increases inequality and neglects mass education, which is essential for successful industrialization and overall economic development. Why India needs deep industrialization

What are The Factors Affecting India’s Industrial Growth?

• Stagnant Manufacturing Sector: Manufacturing has consistently been below 20% in output and employment for 75 years.
• Ineffective 1991 Reforms: These reforms, aimed at labor-intensive industrialization, failed to significantly boost the manufacturing sector.
• High Unemployment: Persistent unemployment issues, including chronic disguised unemployment, reflect industrial challenges.
• Widening Trade Deficit: Driven by an increase in imported goods, indicating a lack of domestic manufacturing capacity.
• Shift to Service-Based Growth: Since the late 1980s, the focus has been on high-skill, service-driven growth, which hasn’t absorbed labor from agriculture effectively.
• Neglect of Mass Education: Emphasis on higher education at the expense of mass schooling has led to a workforce not adequately equipped for industrial jobs.
• Cultural Impact on Industrial Growth: Cultural factors, such as the undervaluing of certain vocational skills (like electrical and welding work), have hindered the development of the manufacturing sector.

Why is Deep Industrialisation Important for India?

• Broad-based Employment: Deep industrialization offers more employment opportunities, absorbing labor from sectors like agriculture, unlike the limited absorption capacity of service-driven growth.
• Economic Stability: A strong industrial base can lead to more stable economic growth and reduce dependence on imports, addressing India’s widening trade deficit.
• Skill Development: Industrial growth encourages the development of a wide range of skills, benefiting from a focus on both vocational and higher education.
• Innovation and Efficiency: Deep industrialization fosters innovation, leading to increased efficiency and competitiveness in the global market.

What are The Challenges with India’s Service-Driven Growth?

• Limited Employment Absorption: Service-driven growth since the late 1980s couldn’t adequately absorb labor exiting agriculture, unlike manufacturing.
• Requirement for High Skills: The service sector demands a highly skilled workforce, which India struggles to supply due to educational inequalities.
• Increased Inequality: Service sector growth leads to higher inequality. The Gini index for regular wages in services is 44, compared to 35 in manufacturing.
• Neglect of Mass Education: A focus on higher education over mass schooling contributed to a workforce ill-equipped for service sector jobs.
• Elite Dominance: Higher education institutions fostered elites who advanced in the IT sector but contributed to stagnation in broader industrial areas.
• Limited Rural Entrepreneurship: Compared to countries like China, India’s poor human capital endowment in rural areas hampers entrepreneurship, crucial for service sector growth.

 What Should be Done?

• Diversify Industrial Strategy: Instead of solely focusing on high-skill, service-driven growth, India should diversify its industrial strategy to include and boost manufacturing.
• Address Educational Inequality: Tackling the disparity in education quality between rural and urban areas, and among different social classes, is vital to creating a more equitable and capable workforce.
• Support Rural Entrepreneurship: Encouraging entrepreneurship in rural areas can help absorb labor from agriculture and contribute to more balanced economic growth.
• Cultural Shift in Work Value: Cultivating a culture that respects and values all forms of work, including manual and vocational labor, is essential for comprehensive industrial development.

General Studies Paper-2

Context: The article discusses how India is redefining its relationship with Western countries. India is not against the West, but has a distinct, non-Western identity. The US supports this approach, indicating strong India-US relations. India’s domestic politics are shifting away from anti-Western sentiments.

What is India’s new approach to international relations?

• Non-Western Identity:India, led by External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, is positioning itself as non-Western, not anti-Western. This contrasts with other BRICS nations like Russia and China, which often appear more opposed to Western perspectives.
• Flexible Alliances:India advocates for flexible international relationships, avoiding alignment against the West despite being a part of BRICS.
• Stronger Ties with the West:India is strengthening its relationships with Western nations, particularly the US. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recognizes and supports this growing bond.

What is the US’s perspective on India’s position?

• Support for Flexibility:The US, through Secretary of State Antony Blinken, endorses India’s flexible approach to international relations, valuing diverse collaborations over rigid blocs.
• Recognition of Strong Bilateral Ties:US acknowledges the strength of the US-India relationship, stating it is the strongest it has ever been, despite India’s leading role in BRICS.
• No Conflict with BRICS Membership: The US does not see India’s membership in BRICS as a hindrance to their bilateral relationship.
• Encouragement for Variable Geometry:US emphasizes the importance of “variable geometry” in current global contexts, supporting India’s stance of maintaining multiple partnerships.

How is India’s domestic politics influencing its foreign policy?

• Shift in Political Perspective: The present government in India has transcended the traditional anti-Western paradigm. This marks a significant shift from previous governments’ approach.
• Strategic Engagement with the US:The present government ‘s administration is actively engaging with the United States, building a strategic partnership that is described as deeper and broader than ever before.
• Decline of Traditional Resistance:With the weakening of the Congress party and the decline of the left in India, resistance to engaging with Western countries, particularly the US and Europe, has diminished.
• Balancing Domestic Sentiments: The government’s characterization of India as “non-West” but not “anti-West” aligns with the rising conservative nationalist sentiments. This stance facilitates India’s foreign policy in balancing domestic and international interests.
• Expanding Foreign Policy Horizons: This approach allows the government to maintain support from various domestic political factions while expanding India’s foreign policy horizons, especially in its relations with Western nations.

General Studies Paper-3

Context: The article discusses the growing opportunities in the horticultural sector, especially F&V sector in India. It also highlights the steps that should be taken to improve it.

What are the growing opportunities in the horticultural sector, especially F&V?

1. Scope of Agri Exports: There is a huge opportunity in horticultural exports.
2. Changes in Dietary Habits: The focus of the Indian diet is shifting from mere calorie security to a nutrition-secure mindset, leading to an increase in per capita consumption of F&V.
3. Technological Advancements: Digital and technology advancements and increased focus on bio-based and sustainable solutions can solve the challenges of horticulture value chains.
4. Higher Incomes: Horticulture farming promises higher incomes and offers a steady income stream throughout the year, unlike traditional subsistence farming.
5. Agri-Inputs Sector: Increase in horticulture production will also unlock immense potential for the agri-inputs sector that comprises seeds, agrochemicals, and fertilisers.

What steps should be taken to improve horticultural production in India?

The issues of higher productivity, better price realization, and the affordability and accessibility of agri-inputs are crucial. This can be achieved by:

1. Focusing on value-added, export-led businesses.
2. Integrated value-chain approach from sourcing to processing.
3. Supply of key agri-inputs to the farmer can help improve yield.
4. Innovation in Seeds: Agronomic and genetic seed innovations, including high-quality hybrids, can enhance shelf life and improve access to quality F&V produce. High quality seeds can help extend the geographical footprint for cultivation.
5. 0 Hectare Model of Integrated Farming: This cluster-based, whole-farm approach includes multiple interventions such as solar-powered farming equipment, water conservation practices, diversified cropping integrated with livestock, vermicompost, etc., soil health replenishment with natural bio-based agri-inputs, village cluster creation for produce aggregation and exports.

It holds the potential to address the challenges of droughts and erratic weather patterns.

6. Specific Approaches for Diverse Agro-Climatic Zones: A tailored approach to F&V agri-inputs is needed for India’s diverse agro-climatic zones.
7. Multi-stakeholder Partnerships: Partnerships among farmers, government, customers, industry, and academia/research need to be strengthened to achieve demand-backed production, high productivity, robust credit and risk management, and market linkages.

General Studies Paper-3

Context: Three major events drew attention to the expanding Indian diplomatic footprint. 

Major Events: Indian Diplomatic Footprint

The annual Raisina Dialogue: It was hosted by the Observer Research Foundation and the Ministry of External Affairs

• It brings together ministers, officials, scholars, and policy researchers from across the world to promote an India-centred global agenda.
• It has become a “must-go” event for the global strategic community interested in India.

Milan Exercise: The biennial Multilateral Naval Exercise (Milan) in the Bay of Bengal attracts naval leaders from far and wide for professional exchanges on maritime issues.

• The Milan exercise is part of a much older naval diplomacy.
• Navies have always been flexible instruments for sovereigns in power projection and diplomacy.
• The annual Malabar exercises with the US and the multilateral Milan exercises were among the first initiatives of the Indian Navy in the early 1990s.
• Today, they together showcase India’s new strategic salience in the Indo-Pacific.

Gathering of top intelligence officials: “Intelligence diplomacy” is about sharing information with allied governments and their security agencies.

• The US, for example, has a tight circle of intelligence gathering and sharing with its Anglo-Saxon allies — Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
• Similar to the “Five Eyes” arrangement are intelligence-sharing networks among the NATO allies and the EU partners.
• For India, the emerging “intelligence diplomacy” could be as consequential as the “discourse diplomacy” of the Raisina Dialogue and the “naval diplomacy” of the Milan exercises.

Importance and Need

• As the volume of international engagements dramatically expanded in the 21st century, there has been a rapid growth in the size of the global communities interested in international commercial, political, technological and military affairs.
• This has translated into a proliferation of think tanks and media outlets discussing foreign and security outlets.
• The deepening military crises worldwide, the new stresses on the global economic order and the return of great power rivalry have created new risks to global peace and prosperity.
• They have raised the value of the forums that facilitate valuable exchange of notes among national security professionals.
• The intelligence agencies are an essential part of the national security establishment along with the diplomatic community and the armed forces.
  • As the first line of defence against internal and external threats, intelligence has been a critical part of statecraft since ancient times.
  • The role of intelligence in national security has grown significantly in recent years thanks to the rise of international terrorism, the growth of cross-border criminal networks, renewed economic competition, the increasing need to protect intellectual property, the return of great power rivalry, and the impact of new technologies that are reshaping the domestic and global dynamics of an interconnected international society.

Conclusion and Way Forward

• The regular exchanges between the Indian agencies and their counterparts from like-minded countries on the margins of the Raisina Dialogue underline Delhi’s shift from the isolationism of the later Cold War decades to building productive intelligence partnerships today.
• India’s intelligence diplomacy aligns with India’s current strategy of building regional and global coalitions.
• It is also an important part of modernising India’s spying agencies — the Intelligence Bureau and its many offspring — which date back to the late 19th century.

General Studies Paper-3

Context: Recently, the Wildlife officials of Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh informed about the birth of seven cheetah cubs.

About Cheetah (Acinonyx Jubatus):

• It is the fastest terrestrial animal on earth, and native to Africa and central Iran.
• The Gestation Period:93 days;
• Cub Mortality:Higher in Protected Areas (like National Parks and Wildlife Reserves); It  can be as high as 90%;
• Average Life Span (in the wild):10 – 12 years.
• Adult male about 8 years (Adult mortality is one of the most significant limiting factors for the growth and survival of the wild cheetah population).

Cheetah in India (Asiatic):

• 1st plan to reintroduce the cheetah:First solid steps were taken in the 1970s, during negotiations with Iran.
• Iran’s cheetahs were Asiatic, like India’s extinct animals.
• The plan was to exchange Asiatic lions for Asiatic cheetahs.
• In 2009:Another attempt to source Iranian Cheetahs in India was made without success.
• Iran did not permit cloning of its Cheetahs.
• In 2020:South African experts visited four potential sites: Kuno-Palpur, Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary and Madhav National Park.
• In 2022:The Government of India has decided to reintroduce cheetahs, under the ‘Action Plan for Introduction of Cheetah in India’.
• It aims to bring back the cheetah.
• As part of the project, 50 cheetahs will be introduced in various National Parks over five years, and it is being done under Project Cheetah, the world’s first inter-continental large wild carnivore translocation project.
• It aims to re-establish the functional role of the cheetah in representative ecosystems within its historical range.

Role Played by Cheetah

• Ecological:Cheetahs fulfil a unique ecological role within the carnivore hierarchy and their restoration is expected to enhance ecosystem health in India.
• It helps restore India’s open forests and grassland ecosystems, which have been suffering.
• Conservation: The Cheetah can benefit India’s broader conservation goalsby improving general protection and ecotourism in areas that have been previously neglected.
• Resources invested in these highly exploited and neglected systems ensure better management and restore their ecosystem services for the country.
• A Flagship Species: The cheetah serves as a flagship to save its prey-base and other endangered species of the grassland and semi-arid ecosystems.
• India is home to the world’s largest free-roaming populationsof livestock.

Threats to Cheetah:

• Coexistence with Tigers and Leopards:Threats like conflict with leopards, poaching and deaths caused while capturing cheetahs to retrieve them from outside park boundaries loom over the reintroduced species in the new habitat.
• More aggressive predators such as tigers and leopards will compete with the cheetahs.
• They may be driven to the outskirts of the park, where they could come into conflict with humans.
• Anthropogenic Threats:These include snaring for bush meat and retaliatory killings due to livestock depredation.
• Captive Breeding:There is a concern among experts that weak genetics accumulated may persist among the captive cheetahs and eventually weaken the gene pool, resulting in animals that need constant human intervention for survival.
• Cheetahs are known for open forests and grassland ecosystems.
• Locational Challenges of Kuno-Palpur National Park:
• The protected area of Kuno-Palpur National Park is largely dry, deciduous forest. 
• The African cheetahswho are more used to the savannahs of that continent adapt well to Kuno.
• There is a hypothesis that via the wound the African cheetah may have been exposed to parasites that Indian big-cats are usually resistant too.
• Specific Prey Base:
• Indian cheetahs were largely dependent on blackbucks and chinkaras, sometimes on chital and rarely on nilgai.
• Few of these species are believed to have disappeared from Kuno.

Government’s Efforts:

• Increasing Prey Base:To increase prey base inside the 500-hectare enclosure, the Kuno National Park has brought in 238 chitals or spotted deer (Axis axis) from Pench and Narsinghgarh Wildlife Sanctuaries of the state and are planning to bring in around 300 more deer.
• Gradual Co-existence:Over time, says the action plan by the Centre, cheetah and leopard populations will be able to coexist.
• Tracking:The initial batch of cheetahs and their potential offspring will be radio-collared and tracked for at least 10 years.