NOVEMBER IASbaba's Monthly Magazine.compressed

8/18/2019 NOVEMBER IASbaba's Monthly Magazine.compressed

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PREFACE

With the present shift in examination pattern of UPSC Civil Services Examination, ‘General

Studies – II and General Studies III’ can safely be replaced with ‘Current Affairs’. Moreover,

following the recent trend of UPSC, almost all the questions are issue-based rather thannews-based. Therefore, the right approach to preparation is to prepare issues, rather than

just reading news.

Taking this into account, our website www.iasbaba.com will cover current affairs focusing

more on ‘issues’ on a daily basis. This will help you pick up relevant news items of the day

from various national dailies such as The Hindu, Indian Express, Business Standard, LiveMint,

Business Line and other important Online sources. Over time, some of these news items will

become important issues.

UPSC has the knack of picking such issues and asking general opinion based questions.Answering such questions will require general awareness and an overall understanding of

the issue. Therefore, we intend to create the right understanding among aspirants – ‘How to

cover these issues?

This is the Sixth edition of IASbaba’s Monthly Magazine. This edition covers all important

issues that were in news in the month of November 2015

Value add’s from IASbaba- Must Read and Connecting the dots.

‘Must Read’ section, will give you important links to be read from exam perspective. Thiswill make sure that, you don’t miss out on any important news/editorials from various

newspapers on daily basis.

Under each news article, ‘Connecting the dots’ facilitates your thinking to connect and

ponder over various aspects of an issue. Basically, it helps you in understanding an issue

from multi-dimensional view-point. You will understand its importance while giving Mains

or Interview.

We have done our Best to cover all the important issues in the 6 Editions of IASbaba’s

Monthly Magazine. All the Best, especially for those writing Mains this month

“ It's that time of year again, when your stress levels go up, your sleep levels go down, and

you are living on the edge.. But do remember that, an exam is not only a test of your

knowledge, but it is also a test of your calmness, stability and courage…”

http://www.iasbaba.com/http://www.iasbaba.com/http://www.iasbaba.com/http://www.iasbaba.com/


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INDEX

IMPORTANT ARTICLES (Pages: 5-11)

Distress Migration: Pattern in India

Pressure Group and Democracy

Date Rape Drugs

Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme

NATIONAL (Pages: 12-88)

Legal checks to political vandalism An Effective Architecture: India’s demographic dividend

An unfinished agenda of federalism

Burdens the Supreme Court must shed

The power of parity: advancing women’s equality in India

Oiling India’s reforms

How to make ‘innovative India’ a reality?

Solid Waste Management: Waste not, want not

Women’s political participation in India

Income-less Bharat: Age of Dark Development

MGNREGA : Don’t dismantle, Reform

The economics of Cow Slaughter

The Know-How’s of the Spectrum Game

RTI- Holding Power to Account

A way to judicial independence

Let’s be realistic on FDI

Rajya Sabha and Bad Monsoon memories

Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana

7th Pay Commission: Why we must not grudge them a pay hike?

The Missing Engagement and the upcoming Winter

Solar Energy: A Solar-y Alternative

How the Kashmir valley is changing?

Paramilitary forces: Deserve to Feel ‘Left Out’

City infrastructure: With a multifaceted approach we can afford the ‘Housing for

All’ dream

India’s draft road transport and safety bill

Secularism and India


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INTERNATIONAL (Pages: 89-116)

A New Indo-US partnership model

Victor’s challenge- Myanmar

Saving the WTO from risk of Irrelevance:

Terror in Paris

The end of non alignment

India- Afghanistan: Traditional friends, modern allies

Gujral doctrine replaced with so called Modi doctrine

Working together to solve global problems

India – Singapore strategic partnership

ASEAN- A new community

ECONOMICS (Pages: 117-128)

The need for unifying agricultural markets

Tax Reform-Changing Paradigms

Goods and Service Tax (GST) Logjam: GST by another name

Dealing with Failure: Bankruptcy Code

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (Pages: 129-135)

Nuclear power: Fast forwarding to thorium

Puzzling Glances over Genetically modified Crops

ENVIRONMENT (Page 136-151)

India’s climate pledge looks a tall order

Clearing the Air: An alarming rise in pollution levels

Environmental Laws (Amendment) Bill

India’s Carbon Caution in Paris

MUST READ (Page 152-182)


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IMPORTANT ARTICLES

Distress Migration: Pattern in India

It’s a regular phenomenon now that major chunk of rural population keeps on looking

towards urban areas for better life prospects. This issue is not new but has several aspects

related to it. As a socio-economic reasoning ‘distress migration’ becomes important under

paper 1 and 2.

What is distress migration?

Movement of poor people (men and women) from their original place of residence

to other cities.

Reasons may be lack of economic options, communal violence, caste discrimination,

loss of land, gender oppression, natural calamities

In cities the engage in work like waste picking, rickshaw pulling, domestic help,

construction labours, and other casual labours.

How is migration a social issue?

Generally the only working male leaves the house, leaving ailing parents and family

at home Tribal and vulnerable women when displaced are forced into commercial sex work.

Thousands of tribal girls from Jharkhand migrate to metros to work as housemaid.

They are subjected to inhuman treatment and unabated exploitation.

Pattern in India

Two types

1. Unskilled- least educated and most socially disadvantaged group

2.

Skilled - Educated, skilled with higher social standing like carpenters,plumbers, security service, etc.

52% migrants come from Chhattisgarh, 15% from Bihar, 13% from Madhya Pradesh,

8% each from West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, 4% from other states.

Measures to check this migration?

Literacy and education & s awareness of the welfare schemes

Registration of migrants with issuing of identity cards, ration cards.

Access to ICDS, PDS and public health schemes.

Interstate co-ordination committees to help map the migrants.


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Targeted approach of welfare schemes like SSA, ICDS Schemes.

MNREGA

Way ahead

States like Bihar that has perennially supplied workforce to the country is witnessing

reverse migration

Welfare schemes and increased opportunity to earn livelihood has reversed the

trend


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Pressure Group and Democracy

Pressure groups in India have been playing a significant role in promoting democracy. It has

been striving to augment the public participation in almost all aspect of governance. It aimsat establishing participatory governance. However, working of Pressure groups has some

concerns.

Role of Pressure Groups:

Due to its increasing constructive role in participatory process, pressure groups have

become integral part of any modern democratic society. It has been playing an

instrumental role in strengthening democratic nature of any country.

In any progressive modern democratic set-up, pressure groups carry out a number of

functions which are very helpful in promoting the critical components of democracy

such as awareness, rule of law, check and balance etc.

Following activities are generally played by different pressure groups in different

context. These are:

1. Representation

2. Political participation

3. Education

4. Policy formulation

5.

Policy implementation

How above role is Promoting Democracy

It can be seen from above list of functions of pressure groups that these groups play

role in almost all possible area of democracy. From policy formulation to its

implementation and critical evaluation, these groups compel government to show

sincerity in governance issues.

Pressure groups envisage to bring in one more critical issue i,e transparency into

system. It promotes transparency and thus, makes governance more accountable.

Critical Analysis

Representation: Pressure groups provide an alternative to the formal representative

process or the functional representation by providing mouthpiece for groups and

interests that are not adequately represented through the electoral process or by

political parties.

Political participation: Pressure groups can be called informal face of politics. The

insider as well as outside groups; the cause as well as interest groups seek to exert


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influence precisely by mobilizing popular support through activities such as petitions,

marches, demonstrations and other forms of political protest.

Such forms of political participation have been particularly attractive to young

people.

Education: Many pressure groups devote significant resources to carrying outresearch, maintaining websites, commenting on government policy and using high-

profile academics, scientists and even celebrities to get their views across, with an

emphasis to cultivate expert authority.

Policy formulation: Though the pressure groups themselves are not policy-makers,

yet this does not prevent many of them from participating in the policy-making

process. Many pressure groups are vital source of information and advice to the

governments and therefore are regularly consulted in the process of policy

formulation. The questions have always been raised on influence of policy groups in

policy formation. For example, many a times, only a small body of insider groups are

involved in the policy formulation. Similarly, many argue that the pressure groups

should not influence the policy process because they are not elected and so not

accountable to the public.


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Date Rape Drugs

Rising case of sexual violence against women have surfaced the issue of using sedatives to

control them while assaulting them. In this backdrop, Delhi session court gave someinstructions and sensitized the public regarding the misuse of these drugs.

Date Rape Drug

These drugs are used to facilitate rape which have sedative, hypnotic, dissociative, and/or

amnesiac effects, and can be added to a food or drink without the victim's knowledge.

The three most commonly used drugs

Rohypnol comes as a pill that dissolves in liquids. Some contain a dye that turns clear

liquids bright blue and dark drinks cloudy. But this change may be hard to see in a

dark drink, like cola or dark beer, or in a dark room. Also, pills with no dye are still

available.

Ketamine comes as a liquid and white powder and Pethidine and codeine-based

cough syrups are also used.

Issues involved and way ahead

India has emerged as one of the main sources of drugs sold through illegal Internet

pharmacies, where orders placed abroad are dispatched to buyers using courier and

postal services.

These drugs often have no colour, smell, or taste, so you can't tell if you are being

drugged. The drugs make you weak and confused — or even pass out — so that you

are unable to refuse sex or defend yourself.

If you are drugged, you might not remember what happened while the drug was

present in your body. Date rape drugs are used on both females and males.

The court has observed that recently there has been an increase in number of cases

where women have been surreptitiously administered drugs and sexually exploited

thereafter.

Law enforcement agencies are seeing a pattern of women being surreptitiously

drugged for the purpose of rape, particularly through use of odorless, tasteless

incapacitating drugs that produce anterograde amnesia.

A large number of drugs were freely available in the markets which are used to assist

in execution of drug facilitated sexual assault.


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Free availability and sale of these drugs was a matter of national concern because of

its connection with women’s safety.

It is a known fact that detection of these drugs is a difficult issue and unless a victim

seeks medical care within 72 hours of the assault, it is less likely that the tests would

successfully detect the presence of these drugs, since most of them becomemetabolized and eliminated from the body, resulting into a negative report.

When a case of sexual assault after being drugged is reported the laboratories would need

to conduct not just a broad drug screening but also specific drug screening (knowing the

drug's effects and which drug to test for) which unfortunately is not being done.

There is an urgent requirement of sensitizing the investigating officers and the

prosecutors on date-rape drugs. There is also no awareness/sensitization of hospital

staff to make the testing of the date-rape drugs a compulsory part while collecting

exhibits.

For prosecutors there is a difficulty in proving the intent or lack of consent where the

rape or assault happened without witnesses (particularly in a private home) and

where both parties were consuming drugs or alcohol since neither was able to legally

give consent.

Independent proof of forced consumption of drugs or forced sexual activity is

seldom available. It is thus equally necessary for those dealing with the issues on the

judicial side to be informed, updated and sensitized with the issues involved.

In this backdrop Delhi Commission for Women has drafted some guidelines and

circulated it to Mahila panchayat’s and crisis intervention centers to aware the mass.

Also, a new pocket-sized device that can test your drink for common date rape drugs

in a jiffy has been developed. The gadget, called pd.id, or the "personal drink ID", can

be dipped into your drink, and it will scan for colour, conductivity and temperature.


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Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC)

ITEC finished its 50 years last year. With the call for South-South cooperation growing in an

increasingly multi-polar world, the issue is important for this year.

Background of ITEC

For a newly-independent nation, India, there was a strong conviction that some of

the economic and other conditionality that came with the aid received were simply

not applicable to the prevailing socioeconomic conditions.

At the same time, the assistance received in capacity building was invaluable and

had a tremendous impact on India’s development.

This was the inspiration for the ITEC - the idea genuinely was to share the lessons in

development that we were imbibing. Driven by this belief, at various platforms and

in debates involving the South-South Cooperation (such as UNCTAD, Economic

Cooperation among Developing Countries (ECDC), and the Technical Cooperation

among Developing Countries (TCDC) etc.), India played a key role.

Moreover, with the NAM movement there was a growing solidarity between newly

independent nations to establish a” New International Economic Order”. Hence ITEC.

Evaluation of ITEC

Under ITEC and its system schemes like SCAAP, more than 160 countries are invitedto share India’s developmental experience acquired over six decades of her

existence as a free nation.

The utility and relevance of ITEC programme has been reflected in the increasing

number of participants. In 2013-14, over 10000 scholarship slots were offered under

the ITEC/SCAAP programme.

There are 47 trainings institutions in India which run more than 280 training courses

in diverse subjects ranging from IT, public administration to election management,

SME, entrepreneurship, rural development, parliamentary affairs.

Up from only Rs. 22 lakhs in 1964, the present allocation is Rs. 200 crores last year

for (ITEC, SCAAP and Colombo Plan).


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NATIONAL

TOPIC: General Studies 2 :

Indian Constitution – Fundamental Rights

Parliament and State Legislatures - structure, functioning, conduct of business,

powers & privileges and issues arising out of these; Governance Issues

Legal checks to political vandalism

The increasing intolerance of

dissenting views in today’s India is an

extremely worrying trend for most

Indians.

It is the political parties and theirassociates, who are mainly responsible

for the intolerant activities.

But what is perplexing is that these

organisations can commit criminal acts

in furtherance of their extremist ideologies and yet not face any repercussions.

Important to note :

Some such intolerant acts (like the Babri Masjid demolition) may be too big to be

dealt with by regular courts of law.

But most other criminal acts perpetrated for political goals can be dealt with

within the existing system.

The recent instances of ink-throwing by the Shiv Sena in Mumbai and the Ram Sena

in Kashmir are perfect examples.

While the acts themselves may not be serious criminal offences, their effect on the

political environment is proportionately higher.

Laws that are currently in place to deter such acts:

1. The Representation of People Act, 1951:

The act governs political parties in India.

However, despite containing a list of barred activities, the Election Commission can

only censure individual party members.

The Act does not provide for the punishment of political parties for any criminal

activities their members commit.


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The Supreme Court has held that in the absence of such a provision, the EC cannot

even de-register parties as it would amount to a quasi-judicial action being

committed without a fair trial, a basic requirement of natural justice.

2. Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967:

It has been used to ban associations like the Communist Party of India (Maoist) for

engaging in “unlawful activity” and “terrorism”.

However, these terms can legally be applied to only a few criminal activities. For

example, the definition of “unlawful activity” only covers activities questioning and

prejudicing the sovereignty and integrity of the Indian state.

Moreover, the decision to ban an association is the prerogative of the Central

government and not the judiciary. Ruling parties would obviously make no efforts to censure themselves and any action

against opposing parties would inevitably lead to a media furore that would probably

culminate in a logjam in Parliament.

3. Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC) :

It empowers State governments, via a magistrate, to issue an order “in urgent cases

of nuisance or apprehended danger”. Governments generally use it to prevent acts or prohibit organisations if they feel it

is in the public interest to do so.

In a recent use of Section 144, the Goa government banned the Sri Ram Sena from

enforcing its policy of moral policing in the State.

However, Section 144 has also failed to prove a sufficient deterrent to parties

because the response is determined by the discretion of politicians and is not

automatic as with most crimes.

Constitutional rights violated due to such intolerant acts :

The following are the constitutional rights available for a person in support of difference of

opinion

1. Article 19(1)(a) - Freedom of speech and expression.

2. Article 25 - Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation

of religion.

However the above fundamental rights are not absolute, the constitution places some

restriction on the above fundamental rights.


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Way Forward :

It is high time that other organisations like political parties are also made liable for

actions committed through their agents.

Given their importance in democratic republics, it is not absurd to formulate a

separate body of jurisprudence regarding their regulation.

The Constitution disqualifies party members whose voting behaviour is contrary to

party instructions (10th schedule).

If there is a constitutional assumption that party members must follow the party

line inside Parliament, it is not unreasonable to extend this assumption outside of

Parliament.

It becomes entirely absurd not to do so when the criminal actions have received

official approval.

Connecting the dots:

In the wake of growing intolerance towards difference of opinion in India, critically

examine the various constitutional safeguards provided for such individuals with

difference of opinion.

Critically examine the various statutory provisions that deal with intolerant political

acts in India.

Explain the following terms :

Saffronisation.

Sanskritization.

Socialisation.

Westernisation.

Modernisation

TOPIC: General Studies 2

Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector or Servicesrelating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

An Effective Architecture: India’s demographic dividend

With the opening up of the economy and a long drawn silence lurking behind the

insufficient opportunities, evolution of a ‘skills’ culture has activated the ‘red’ signal

for the policy-makers to develop a transformational landscape, in the ever-changing

scenario of the country’s progress story.

While the mismatch in terms of quantity, quality and qualification; have causedwidespread disappointment, the constant rising influence of globalization, is


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propelling India to shed its grievous circumstances by changing the mind-set of the

policymakers.

Major challenges faced:

Increasing capacity and capability of the existing system to ensure equitable

access for all

Maintaining quality and relevance

Creating effective convergence between school education and the government’s

skill development efforts

Creating institutional mechanism for research development quality assurance,

examinations and certification, affiliations and accreditation

Mobilizing adequate investment for financing skill development

Modern Approach

The ‘assembly-line model’ days are over and the traditional lackadaisical efforts

should pave way for an ever-changing corresponding numbers, figures and training

programs-not staying limited to past estimations.

Inclusion of training programs of one’s choice in the educational curriculum, from

the very beginning, will be helpful in creating a vocational environment and not just


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a requirement to be fulfilled. Specialization courses can also be developed for them

who want to pursue it further.

Flexibility should be at the core of the design of these programs-dependent upon the

mind-set and experiences of the learners and not the trainers or policymakers.

Deconstruct

It is necessary to develop proper skill training mechanisms in a different manner per

sector as the skill set required in the field of agriculture would be different than what is

required in the software industry and in a manufacturing unit.

With the recent boom in technology and the process of outsourcing, the ‘factory

landscape’ seems to have been globalised and been presented with a whole range of

optional networks and capabilities to be established and worked upon

Quest for Learning

As a human being, completely packaged with emotions, feelings and aspirations from

his/her employers, steps into the workplace, the employer should also enter with a

range of carefully placed objectives, tailor made incentives and by making available a

range of diverse offerings; from motivation to innovative solutions to base their

relationship upon.

Human development and their happiness thus, works wonders in enhancing the

capabilities of the machinery as well as the overall performance of the company andtherefore workers benefits and satisfaction should be given due importance in charting

out the success story of the company.

This will impart an element of ‘sustainable competitive advantage’ to “Make in India”,

bringing in an era of employed human beings than mere low-cost labour

Co-evolution:

Skill development, enterprise formation and job creation must co-evolve as ‘Team India’ to

take on the blows of the winds of change facilitated by the undercurrents of technology andinnovation.

IASbaba’s Views:

Policymakers need to identify the particular details and not the massive needs as these

solutions can work well subject to its embedment with the already established

infrastructure, capacity and institutions.


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New mechanisms based on a sense of innovation and entrepreneurship can be worked

upon and can be applied in the field of ‘delivery’ of these social innovations to the

concerned population.

The institutional framework should thereby harness and deliver the promises of a

market-driven approach with a learner at the fulcrum of ‘growth and willingness’.

Connecting the Dots:

Many skills are culturally and historically associated with a specific gender. Do you

agree? What are the steps that have been taken by India to shed this notion?

State the parameters which have been witnessed via the sharp rise in learners at the

graduation and post-graduation level?

What are the differences in the challenges faced by the rural and urban unskilledforces in terms of availability, accessibility, adaptability and acceptability?


Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges

pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local

levels and challenges therein.

An unfinished agenda of federalism

Promoting both cooperative and competitive federalism has been an overarching

theme of the present government.

Political analyst K.C. Wheare, in his book Federal Government, defines

“federalism” as “the method of dividing powers so that the general and regional

governments are each within a sphere coordinate and independent”.

This implies a system of governance in which sovereignty is constitutionally divided

between a central governing authority and sub-national political entities.

Is India a federal country?

Article 1 of the Constitution states, “India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States”.

While the Constitution doesn’t mention the term “federal”, it does provide for a

governance structure primarily federal in nature.

It provides for separate governments at the Union and in the states.

Further, it specifies and demarcates the powers, functions and jurisdictions of thetwo governments.


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Last, it details the legislative, administrative and financial relations between the

Union and the states.

Schedule 7 and a unitary tilt to federalism in India:

The distribution of legislative powers has been broken down clearly into three lists:

the Union List, the State List and the Concurrent List.

The Union List, comprising the “vital interests of the State”, is the longe st, with 100

items. It includes defence, arms and ammunition, foreign affairs, foreign trade,

atomic energy, treaties, war and peace, currency, and the Constitution.

The State List (61 items) comprises, among others, public order, police, trade and

commerce within the state, agriculture, land revenue and various taxes.

The Concurrent List (52 items) includes preventive detention, contracts, economic

and social planning, social security, education, labour welfare and electricity.

On the Union List, Parliament has exclusive powers to legislate. While the state has

exclusive powers to legislate on the State List, in certain situations, Parliament can also do

so.

As regards the Concurrent List, the issue is more complex. In case of a conflict between a

state and a Central legislation, the parliamentary legislation shall prevail (Supreme Court,

2005).

This, coupled with the fact that residuary powers of legislation are vested in the Union,

gives a “unitary” tilt to federalism in India.

Question on structure of Indian federalism:

A disconcerting trend has been observed since 1950. While the Union and Concurrent Lists

have expanded, the State List seems to have shrunk.

Typically, two opposite forces seem to operate: One, cooperative federalism; and two,

competitive federalism.

Cooperative federalism implies the Centre and states share a horizontal

relationship, where they “cooperate” in the larger public interest.

It’s visualised as an important tool to enable states’ participation in the formulation

and implementation of national policies.


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Competitive federalism can refer to the relationship between the Central and

state governments (vertical) or between state governments (horizontal).

This idea gained significance in India post the 1990s economic reforms.

In a free-market economy, the endowments of states, available resource base and

their comparative advantages all foster a spirit of competition. States need to compete among themselves and also with the Centre for benefits.

Increasing globalisation, however, made the already existing inequalities and

imbalances between states starker.

This gave rise to concerns about states’ freedom to formulate their own growth

policies.

Government efforts to promote co operative federalism:

1. The acceptance of the 14th Finance Commission’s recommendations, apart from

significantly enhanced devolution, enables states to design and implement

programmes better suited to their needs.

2. More importantly, the disbandment of the Planning Commission (PC) and its

replacement by the NITI Aayog is specifically designed to promote cooperative

federalism. NITI Aayog will concentrate on the broader policy framework instead of

micro resource-allocated functions.

More ways to promote cooperative federalism:

1. Reactivation of the Centre-State Council. Under Article 263, this council is expected

to inquire and advise on disputes, discuss subjects common to all states and make

recommendations for better policy coordination.

2. While competition between states, reflected in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing

Business index, has generated interest, this must be a continuing exercise. But states

not doing well on the index complain of infirmities of process and procedure. These

need to be made more acceptable and transparent.

3.

On issues like international treaties, WTO obligations, or the environment, how isthe interest of affected states to be protected? An institutional mechanism must be

evolved where important decisions are appropriately discussed with states. As India

becomes globally more interdependent, these potential contentious issues must be

resolved.

Way Forward:

Cooperative and competitive federalism may be two sides of the same coin.

Their complementarity is contingent on many affirmative steps.


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A considerable progress has been achieved by the present government in this

regard, however much needs to be done.


Critically examine the importance of complementarity between cooperative and

competitive federalism in India, to promote economic growth and development.

Critically evaluate the various constitutional and statutory mechanisms to promote

cooperative federalism in India.

Competitive federalism is the panacea for growth and development of the country.

Critically examine.


Structure, organization and functioning of the Judiciary and issues

Burdens the Supreme Court must shed

The underlined theory of India’s Supreme Court being the most powerful court in the

present democratic world is placed at the right height with execution of powers to

the extent that, a Constitutional Amendment, if certified to trouble the basic

structure of the Constitution is placed, can be easily dissolved by the Court.

The inter-relationship that the legal sphere of the country shares with that of

economic reforms or say, normal functioning and mechanisms at various level of

administration, cannot be ignored and thus, have had profound implications on the

judicial system.

Overarching way paved by trivial cases

Civil disputes involving land, revenue, disciplinary proceedings against employees,

interpretation of wills and other mundane subjects, which should have ended incourts below, have paved way and found out a way to keep re-appearing,

overburdening the already burdened judiciary.

The lower levels of courts need to be efficient to unburden the courts in the higher

level of the hierarchy and therefore, not only merely setting up of these nyayalayas

but systematic infrastructure and trained personnel (judges) are the need of the

hour.

Key bottlenecks that cause delays in civil and criminal proceedings

Service of process; Adjournments;


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Interlocutory Orders;

Appearance of witnesses and accused

Article 136:

This provision allows the losing party to approach the Supreme Court even

without the mandatory certificate from the court that delivered the

judgement leading to economic as well as time wastages unless it’s a

complete travesty of justice

Thus, many archaic laws should be done away with and appreciation or re-

appreciation of evidence must come to a halt at some stage of the judicial

proceedings and cannot percolate to the constitutional court

Database for Accountability: There exists no database collecting statistics that are

related to the pending cases and Judicial Statistics Bill, 2004, proposed legislations

aimed at creating authorities at the national and state level to collect, in a scientific

manner, statistics from each and every courtroom regarding the following:

Hours taken by the Court to hear the dispute,

Time between the filing of the case and hearing by the court,

Adjournments granted,

Time taken for delivery of judgment after it has been reserved, etc.

Passage of the bill could’ve contributed to the much needed efficiency and

disposal of cases in a speedy manner.

Judicial Infrastructure

Lack of legal knowledge creates a void in the dissemination of justice making

it a ‘crafted commodity’. Proper probation period and All India JudicialServices can be initiated to fill this gap.

Increasing levels of corruption is demeaning the seat of justice due to lack of

transparency and appointment of the judges post retirement. An appropriate

Judicial Accountability and Judicial Appointments Bill would thus, go a long

way in maintaining checks and balances

Innovation and Adaptation is expected out of the litigation process

transforming the role of the judge from merely deciding the case, to playing

an active part in the manner of its resolution.


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IASbaba’s Views (Key Reforms/Suggestions):

Creation of Additional Judicial Manpower Planning Authority to clear backlogs and

initiate swift disposal of new cases, eliminate delays and reduce cost.

Target for the disposal level at the national level should be raised from 60% of the

total case-load (at present) to 95% of the total case-load in five years

Ensuring that not more than 5% of the cases pending before them should be more

than 5 years old (5x5 rule) within the next three years

Principles and procedures need to be adapted and calibrated to suit the ground

realities of the Indian scenario.

The growing gap between the rate of disposal and the rate of institution of

proceedings should be taken into account while implementing effective strategies

for proper case management.

Timetables should be worked out and ICT should be employed effectively to monitorthe progress

Coordination with law-enforcement and other governmental authorities needs to be

stepped up to avoid delays and unnecessary executive battles


‘The efficient judicial enforcement of contractual obligations as well as property

rights is a pre-condition for generating confidence among domestic as well as foreign

entrepreneurs and investors’. Critically analyse. Can alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods be a ray of hope in the judicial

maze that the Judiciary finds itself in? Discuss.

Briefly explain the following w.r.t. the Indian scenario: “The justice that we are trying

to secure should be “just and ready” as opposed to “rough and ready”.


Role of women and women’s organization – women empowerment

THE POWER OF PARITY: ADVANCING WOMEN’S EQUALITY IN INDIA

Gender inequality is a pressing issue which has time and again pulled up its socks to give out

a signal of readiness to walk out of the maze of constant ramifications that it holds, to be

witnessed-- but unfortunately has always been silenced; pointing towards unwillingness of

the society to embrace it.


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Observations by MCKINSEY

The world can add $12 trillion to GDP in 2025, doubling the contribution of women to global

growth in business-as-usual scenario in the coming decade. India could boost its GDP by

$0.7 trillion in 2025 or 16 percent of the business-as-usual level (largest relative boost). This

translates into 1.4 percent per year of incremental GDP growth for India.

Where gender parity is set at 1.00, India’s GPS is just 0.48, lower than warranted by its stage

of economic development

India Female Empowerment Index or Femdex —

Wide variation in gender equality among India’s states

Highest Femdex: Mizoram

Lowest Femdex: Bihar

Areas in need of Concerted Actions:

1. Closing gender gaps in secondary and tertiary education in India’s large states;

2. Lowering barriers to job creation;

3. Expanding skills training for women in key sectors;

4. Expanding the reach of financial and digital services to enable women

entrepreneurs;

5.

Stepping up gender diversity policies and practices in private-sector organisations;6. Further strengthening legal provisions for women and the enforcement of laws;

7. Improving infrastructure and services to address the high burden of routine

domestic work, childcare and elder care;

8. Reshaping deep-rooted attitudes about the role of women in work and in society.

If taken care of the above mentioned points:

$2.9 trillion of additional annual GDP in 2025 could be added in India by fully bridgingthe gender gap in the workplace (60% higher than business-as-usual GDP in 2025)

$0.7 trillion could be added in 2025 by matching the best-in-region country in progress

toward gender parity in work, an increase of 16% compared with business-as-usual GDP

in 2025

India can bring 68 million more women into the workforce by 2025 (70% from the top 9

states)


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Well-formulated Steps—Need of the hour

Women’s empowerment and equal participation in social, political as well as in the

economic sphere is important at all levels of Indian society. But merely addressing the

challenges shouldn’t be the goal—exploring the emerging opportunities should be the focal

point of the present day political workers and policy formulators.

Paid vs Unpaid: Need to be Gender-Responsive

Substitute non-market work with market-base work (lead to increase in GDP- will

provide value to market-based production)

More equitable sharing of unpaid work among men and women

Productivity-enhancing measures for unpaid work (greater financial independence

for women, and intergenerational benefits)

Gender equality in Work:

Labour-force participation rate,

Professional and technical jobs,

Perceived wage gap for similar work,

Leadership positions and

Unpaid care work

Essential services and enablers of economic opportunity:

Unmet need for family

Planning,

Maternal mortality rate,

Gap in education level,

Financial inclusion, and

Digital inclusion

Legal protection and political voice

Presence of legal protections for women Representation of women in parliamentary and ministerial positions (Reservation

Bill)

Physical security and autonomy

Sex ratio at birth,

Child marriage

Violence against women


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IASbaba’s Views:

Progress on all aspects of gender equality in India is not only critical to its economic

growth but to achieving the world’s aim of advancing gender equality and the

Sustainable Development Goals and thus, underlying social attitudes about the role

of women are, arguably, some of the biggest barriers India’s women face, which

needs to be shed urgently.

Women’s economic empowerment is about increasing the ability of women to bring

about change that drives valuable outcomes as result of their increased economic

capabilities and agency by influencing the processes of each sphere enabling

determination of growth and development. Therefore, empowering women

economically and making them centralto solutions is not only a moral imperative but

makes good economic sense.

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates: If female farmers had the sameaccess to productive resources as male farmers, they could increase yields on their

farms by 20 to 30%, raising total agricultural output in developing countries by 2.5 to

4 percent, thereby contributing to both food security and economic growth

(Please take it as a yardstick for further development of points under the various points

and sub-points)


‘India’s position on gender equality is somewhat lower than its stage of economicdevelopment would warrant’. Do you agree? Substantiate

‘Gender equality in society with gender equality in work’—Is latter possible without

the former? Discuss.

TOPIC:

General Studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in

various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. General Studies 3: Infrastructure: Energy

Oiling India’s reforms

Oil prices, measured using the Brent Oil benchmark, have fallen more than 50% since

striking $115 per barrel in June 2014.

Latest prices are hovering just under $50 a barrel, having hit a low of about $43 per

barrel in late August.

Few predicted such a sharp fall in oil and fewer still suggested that it could remain so

for 17 months.


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Tentative reasons for decrease in crude oil prices :

1. Significant increase in supply of shale gas from USA with demand more or less

remaining the same.2. OPEC’s decision not to change

output irrespective of the

demand in the market, due to

internal policies of OPEC

countries.

3. Chinas soft economy with

reduced demand for oil due to

slow economic growth.

4.

US attempt to squeeze Russia

out of its influence in European

continent especially among eastern European countries.

What are the implications on other countries?

Due to reduces prices, Oil producers are significantly affected—Saudi Arabia may

have to debt finance its budgetary burden for the first time in its modern history

Russia’s ability to finance conflicts in Ukraine, Crimea and elsewhere may well beimpacted, as its economy to an extent depends on export of natural gas.

Brazil’s woes are getting a whole lot more complicated and Venezuela’s economic

disaster may be entering its terminal stage.

Impact on India:

India imports 80% of its crude and is the unequivocal beneficiary of lower oil prices: it

impacts India’s current account and budget deficits directly and positively.

The reduced prices will not only lower the import bill but also help save foreign

exchange. As per rough estimates, a $10 fall in crude could reduce the current

account deficit by approximately 0.5% of GDP and the fiscal deficit by around 0.1%

of GDP.

Inflation levels may come down, this would allow RBI to cut rates and this again

promotes investment, further employment generation and GDP growth.

The sectors that will have a positive impact due to falling oil prices directly as well as

indirectly will be a) automobiles, (b) plastic industries including pipes, (c) chemicals

and resins selectively, (d) paints, (e) footwear manufacturers etc.


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What should India do now?

India can use the present situation to reduce its dependence on import and further become

energy secure by

1.

Accelerate strategic oil reserve:

India has had plans to build and implement strategic petroleum reserves (SPR) in

the rock caverns of Visakhapatnam, Mangaluru and Pudur.

While the financing for SPR must come from the budget, the stored oil can be part

of “international reserves” on the Reserve Bank of India’s balance sheet.

In recent weeks, China has been stockpiling crude at a furious pace and is nearly

half way through building 500 million barrels in storage, which is equivalent to 90

days’ oil demand.

India’s ambition is to hold nine days of demand (36 million barrels) and the

implementation has only just begun with the completion of the Visakhapatnam

facility.

SPRs are no panacea, but have both a strong strategic and insurance rationale.

2. Accelerate Euro VI standard for vehicles:

The current plan is to require auto manufactures to implement the Euro VI

standard by 2020.

Even though it is not trivial to accelerate engine design and development, revised

standards must push auto manufacturers to do so.

India must become more effective at managing its oil demand if it is to reduce its

external oil dependence.

3. Make bolder budget choices:

Even though fertilizer prices have remained flat for some time, they have fallen

over 50% from a 2011 peak.

In the context of an oil price “tax cut”, the fertilizer subsidy should be phased out.

Present Finance minister, has already begun a subtle shift from spending to

investment in infrastructure.

Carefully chosen infrastructure projects in roads, ports, electricity transmission and

agricultural markets have the potential to catalyse the economy.

Long-term social infrastructure projects in public health and education should be

prioritized over unproductive government wages.


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An imperative is to streamline government functions and close unviable

government companies.

Way Forward:

India from a long time has suffered from rising oil prices, now the time is ripe for

India to en cash on it and start moving towards self reliance and development.


Critically examine the reasons for decreasing global crude oil prices.

Examine the impact of decreasing crude oil prices on countries with special focus on

its impact on India.

TOPIC:

General Studies 2 : Government policies and interventions for development in various

sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation

General Studies 3 : Indigenization of technology and developing new technology

How to make ‘innovative India’ a reality?

Without a doubt, innovation is a means of creating sustainable and cost effective

solutions for inclusive growth in developing economies.

With the availability of financial capital, technological prowess, and entrepreneurial

talent, the public and private sectors are increasingly coming together to generate

innovative and effective solutions to address India’s development challenges.

Global innovation index and India’s performance:

The Global Innovation Index (GII) is an annual publication which features, among others, a

composite indicator that ranks countries/economies in terms of their enabling

environment to innovation and their innovation outputs.

What does GII measure:

GII measure country’s performance in and promotion of

1. Institutions,

2. Human capital and research,

3.

Infrastructure,

4. Market sophistication,


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5. Business sophistication,

6. Knowledge and technology outputs, and

7. Creative outputs.

India has dropped to 81st position, a slip of five places from last year, in the Global

Innovation Index (GII) survey of 2015, well behind middle-income countries such as Brazil,

China and South Africa.

The ranking dropped in human capital and research, market sophistication, business

sophistication and creative outputs. However, the survey adds that India has made

significant progress in institutions, knowledge and technology outputs. The space

programme, Mangalayaan, is a shining example of this.

What has the government done to promote innovation?

1. President of India declared decade 2010-20 has the “decade of innovation”. The

main aim of this declaration is to develop an innovation eco-system in the country to

stimulate innovations and to produce solutions for the societal needs in terms of

healthcare, energy, urban infrastructure, water and transportation.

2. Science technology and innovation(STI) policy 2013 :

Key elements of STI policy are:

Promoting the spread of scientific temper among all sections of society.

Establishing world class infrastructure for R&D for gaining global leadership in

some select frontiers of science.

Positioning India among top 5 global scientific powers by 2020.

Seeding S&T based high risk innovation systems.

3.

NITI ayog initiatives :

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM): AIM will be an Innovation Promotion

Platform involving academics, entrepreneurs, and researchers drawing upon

national and international experiences to foster a culture of innovation, R&D

in India. The platform will also promote a network of world-class innovation

hubs and grand challenges for India.

Self Employment & Talent Utilization (SETU): SETU will be a Techno-

Financial, Incubation and Facilitation Programme to support all aspects of


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start-up businesses, and other self-employment activities, particularly in

technology-driven areas.

What else needs to be done?

The three key things that are going to help us adopt, implement and boost a culture of

innovation are the right platform, public-private partnership, and building a skilled talent

pool by promoting STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) education.

The right platform :

While government initiatives are a welcome development, however the growth

journey requires an increased level of public-private partnership, with a greaterfocus on inclusive innovation.

The private sector will have to invest significantly in R&D.

This will help develop a mind-set of value growth.

Such a mind-set promotes experimental thinking and is oriented to solving customer

problems in new ways.

Corporates should thus partner with research and educational institutions and

create commercialisation paths for deserving projects.

Young innovators should be encouraged to go on exchange programmes and get

internships or grants to help fuel research.

STEM is the root:

The bright spot is that India has one of the world’s largest educational systems with

1.4 million schools, 35,000 colleges and 600 universities.

However, there is a need to foster a culture of experimentation by updating the

curriculum, revamping the examination system from a test of memory to a test of

analytical skills, and improving the quality of teaching. The private sector must step up its involvement in furthering STEM proficiency.

India invests just 0.88 per cent of GDP in science research compared with 7-8 per

cent for the US and 3-4 per cent for South Korea. Of that, nearly a quarter is spent

on basic research that has little to do with innovation or economic growth.

The linkages between universities and businesses need to play an important role in

innovation dynamics.


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Research-linked scholarships, paid for by both the government and the private sector, are

crucial.

Policymakers must realise that possession of significant human resources in science and

technology is both a national economic priority and a technological necessity.

Way Forward:

Even though India is ranked low in the GII, the good news is that it has a growing

startup ecosystem; besides, the GII’s analysis paints a bright picture for India in the

areas where it has made improvements.

However, with robust policy intervention, the right infrastructure, an attitudinal

change towards risk-taking (accepting failures as part of the process), and ease of

doing business, India will be able to make innovation a part of its cultural DNA.


Critically examine the provisions of Science Technology and Innovation policy 2013.

Critically analyse the measures taken by the government to promote an ecosystem

of innovation in India.

Innovation is a means of creating sustainable and cost effective solutions for

inclusive growth in developing economies. Critically examine the relevance of abovestatement wrt Indian context.

TOPIC:

General Studies 1: Urbanization, their problems and their remedies.

General Studies 2: Governance Issues

General Studies 3: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation

Solid Waste Management: Waste not, want not

Solid waste management today forms a basic public service which every citizen must

have access to, for health as well as to ensure a good quality of living. ‘Smart Cities’

as a concept can become a reality only when the generation, prevention,

characterization, monitoring, treatment, handling refuse and residual disposition of

solid wastes be handled- in a smart manner.


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Inadequate discharges of untreated domestic/municipal wastewater and wastages

have resulted in contamination of 75% of all surface water across India. The problem

ranges from untreated sewage to growing quantities of chemical waste that inhabits

increasingly in our cities.

Study by NIUA (2015) reports that urban areas in India generate more than 100,000

MT of waste every day and an analysis of waste disposal by FICCI (2009) had shown

that 14 out of 22 cities sent more than 75% of their waste to dumpsites, indicating a

lack of adequate treatment and disposal facilities.

Waste Management refers to:

Recognizing the issues and policy defects

Solution centric approach- Approaches & Technologies (ICT + Incineration)

Issues with regard to Waste management:

Absence of segregation of waste at source


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Lack of technical expertise and appropriate institutional arrangements

Lack of Capital & Resources

Continuous upgradation of technology and services

Improper collection, inadequate segregation, transportation, treatment and disposal

systems Not-in-my-backyard (NIMBY) Syndrome

Concept of Recycle & Reuse needs to be established

Case Study- Kerala shows the way

Every year comes with a new leap in the quantum of waste being generated which hampers

our capacity, which is not in any way at a high level. Kerala, with its high population density,

high rates of literacy and growing environmental awareness, has made a turn-a-round in

making this process both affordable and sustainable.

Focussed on alternative models of waste management:

I. Household: Segregate waste (Dry-Wet) Importance of Segregation at source

II. Segregation at Source:

Helps the working of Waste-to-Energy Plant

Reduces the cost required to attain the stringent standards for pollution control

III. Waste: A hidden resource- Recycle & Reuse

Waste into Wealth

Issues:

Lack of Research & Innovation in everyday basic yet important Sciences

Political Participation to ensure the needs of the poor to be met

Way Ahead:

Encourage Research and Development

Employ skills of Recycling and Reusing- Generation of ‘safe’ livelihood opportunities

Incentives to informal Recycling Industry for better optimization of the inherent

strengths

A proper market for the recycled products

ICT Innovation

Installation of tracking devices at different sanitation points Participation & discussion on sanitation-related issues


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Training for segregation and basic household Recycling & Reusing

Availability of Data-

Involvement of local people- Participation + Awareness

Development of thematic digital maps – Updates on data

Cutting down on the ‘Human Element’ & Focus on ‘Automated Systems’ Monitoring/Evaluation of Performance + Real time monitoring of Vehicle

productivity

Grievances Redressal Mechanism

IASbaba’s Views:

A long term solution in the form of Automated Waste Collection System (ACS) can be

put to use (a sustainable mechanism) as it has the ability to replace conventional

methods like door-to-door and community-bin-collections via a chute system from high-

rise building wherein the waste can be sucked through pipes; minimizing human

intervention and associated risks.

Another waste stream increasing in India is that of E-waste (growth rate of 10% per

annum) and is rising exponentially every year. Its unregulated accumulation can

endanger human health and therefore, necessary training needs to be provided to the

officials to understand the importance of capacity building and put in place better

monitoring and compliance practices.

More substantive problems are the attitudinal and behavioural approach of the citizens.

Vigorous awareness campaigns, greater fiscal decentralization to local bodies,

maintenance of reliable data and encouragement to research can add impetus to the

‘smart’ movement.


1. A new stream of ‘construction and demolition’ waste has come into the limelight.

What are the actions needed at national level to minimise waste generation from

this stream?

2. Short Note-

‘ICT Innovation for Waste Management’ Incinerator Technology for Waste Management


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Role of women and women’s organization; Social empowerment.

Women’s political participation in India

The election of four female presidents in Latin America in recent years has drawn

attention to women’s political participation and their access to political decision-

making.

Despite these encouraging results, statistics reveal that the Asian region is still far

from achieving gender equality in politics.

Although women are increasingly involved in politics, they still have limited access to

leadership positions in political party contexts.

The term 'political participation' has a very wide meaning. It is not only related to 'Right to

Vote', but simultaneously relates to participation in: decision making process, political

activism, political consciousness, etc.

Women turnout during India's 2014 parliamentary general elections was 65.63%, compared

to 67.09% turnout for men. India ranks 20th from the bottom in terms of representation of

women in Parliament.

Women in Indian parliament and other elected bodies:

Women’s representation in elected bodies, Lok Sabha and state legislative

assemblies is a source of huge disappointment.

As we can observe, women occupy just 66 seats in the 543 member Lok Sabha,

which is a mere 12%.

The scenario for women Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) across all state

assemblies in India is even worse, with the national average being a pitiable 9%.

The best among them, Bihar, Rajasthan and Haryana have 14% representation while

the worst states are Pondicherry and Nagaland, which have no women MLAs at all.

India’s position in the world:

The global average for women in parliaments stood at 22.4%.

While Europe surpasses the global average at 25.2%, Sub-saharan Africa has an

average representation of 22.6%, Asia at 19% and the Arab states at 18%.

The Nordic countries alone have 41.5% average of women MPs. 42 countries in the world have 30% or more women MPs in their Parliament.


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India is ranked 103 among 141 countries wrt political participation of women being a

mere 12%.

India and Gender Inequality Index:

The Gender Inequality Index (GII) is an index for measurement of gender disparity;

this index is a composite measure which captures the loss of achievement within a

country due to gender inequality.

It uses three dimensions to do so: reproductive health, empowerment, and labour

market participation.

India is ranked 132 among 148 countries indicating poor performance wrt promotion of

gender equality.

Challenges to women participation:

The level and forms of women's participation in politics is largely shaped by cultural and

societal barriers in the form of violence, discrimination and illiteracy.

1. Sexual violence:

In the larger society, violence and the threat of violence affects many women's ability

to participate actively in many forms of social and political relationship, to speak inpublic, to be recognized as dignified beings whose worth is equal to that of others.

Self-confidence is likely to increase participation among Indian women, specifically in

running for election.

2. Discrimination:

Although the Constitution of India removed gender inequalities among caste and

gender, discrimination continues to be a widespread barrier to women's political

participation.

A 2012 study of 3,000 Indian women found the barriers in participation, specifically in

running for political office, in the form of illiteracy, work burdens within the

household, and discriminatory attitudes towards women as leaders.

Discriminatory attitudes manifest in the limitations presented to Indian women

including low access to information and resources.

3. Illiteracy:

India has one of the largest illiterate populations.

In January 2014, the United Nations reported 287 million adults in India are illiterate.


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Literacy among Indian women is 53.7%, which is much lower than literacy among men

reported at 75.3%.

Illiteracy limits the ability of women to understand the political system and issues.

Why not gender based political parties?

If we can have caste- or religion-based parties, why not have the most obvious one, a

gender-based one?

Uses of having gender based political parties:

1. It will end male oppression because, if legislatures are roughly half women, a

completely new approach to legislation will evolve quite quickly.

2. It will take care of a lot of choice problems at the time of elections if votes are not

dispersed by fake options like caste, class, religion etc. For one thing, tactical votingwill diminish considerably.

3. Even if it reflects the demographic composition of a constituency which typically

tends to favour males, the chances of cross voting will be in favour of women,

because so few of them are likely to be goondas.

4. It not only politically empowers women but also socially and economically.


Critically examine the need for increasing women’s participation in politics in India.

If we can have caste- or religion-based parties, why not have the most obvious one, a

gender-based one? Critically examine the above statement in the wake of increasing

demand for political participation of women in India.

TOPIC:

General Studies 3: Indian Economy and issues relating to growth, development

and employment.

Issues related to Agriculture- Transport and marketing of agricultural produce and

issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers; Issues related to

direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public

Distribution System

Income-less Bharat: Age of Dark Development

In India, agricultural risks are exacerbated by a variety of factors, ranging from

weather variability, frequent natural disasters, uncertainties in yields and prices,

weak rural infrastructure, imperfect markets and inadequate and sub-optimal


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financial services. These factors not only endanger the livelihoods and incomes of

small farmers but also undermine the viability of the agriculture sector and its

potential to become a part of the solution to

the problem of the endemic poverty of Indian

farmers. Agriculture engages almost half of India’s

workforce and, supports around 60 % of its

population. 2015 hasn’t been a great year

based on the agriculture-front with the rain

deficit at (-14%), made worse with frequent

droughts and lowered level of water stored.

Thus, policymakers need to interrogate into the

policies that are hampering the transition from

a poverty-struck farm sector to an affluent class

of food providers that can chart the

development path of the country.

Policy Tools

Agricultural Credit: India has a dense network of rural financial institutions and Government

with the objective of providing adequate credit to the agriculture sector framed rules

stipulating that some percentage of each bank’s net credit should be given to the agriculture

sector. But

Difficult credit procedures,

Illiteracy of the farmer and

Ignorance on the part of bank personnel makes it a tough task.

Therefore, procedures should be simplified and proper facilitation of funds should be

provided for mitigating their losses in a bad agricultural year.

Input subsidies: Important subsidies for inputs to the agriculture sector are with respect to

fertilizers; power; irrigation; credit; and agricultural price guarantees.

Capping input subsidies and a phased programme of progressive withdrawal of them

Strengthening rural infrastructure, research and extension;

Well-defined and effective measures to improve efficiency + lug leakages in input

supplies

Crop Insurance: Area yield –based crop insurance and Weather-based crop insurance can go

a long way in securing risk-free steps to be taken by the farmer. But the success depends

upon:


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1. The product design;

2. Steps taken to minimize the base risk;

3. Adoption of reliable and sustainable pricing mechanisms

4. Resolving issues of product servicing and timely pay-out

Some major constraints include:

A sparse network of weather stations and the lack of high quality weather data for

locations smaller than the district level;

High premium rates for farmers;

Limited scope of weather insurance compared to the ‘all risk’ nature of ‘area yield’

insurance, etc.

Renewed efforts by government in terms of designing appropriate mechanisms and

providing financial support for agricultural insurance are the need of the hour. Livestockinsurance is an important source of rural livelihoods in India and can be encouraged as an

additional source of income for the farmers.

Direct Income Support: While minimum support prices (MSPs), announced by various State

governments, have traditionally been the instrument used to fight declining prices; they

have scarcely been effective at the farm level.

In the current globalised market with widely varying market prices, the scheme is unable to

protect farmers against price fluctuations. Therefore, ‘Direct Income Support’ mechanism

can prove to be a major game changer and will inject a fresh lease of life among the Indian

farmers.

Potential to reverse the city bound distressed migration

Insulate the farmers from the vagaries of the market demand

Location specific support: Depending upon the geographic area and factors such as

the land size, soil quality, water availability

Farm Income Insurance Scheme (FIIS):Aims to ensure guaranteed income by insuring the

difference between the farmer’s predicted income and the actual income and any decrease

in the predicted income due to yield fluctuations or market fluctuations is insured under the

scheme.

Reliable yield and Price Data

Considering yield losses only from natural perilsFarmers are incentivised to produce

more + Inefficiency in farming is not rewarded

Usage of satellite-based yield monitoring systems,

Integration of agricultural markets in India,


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Leveraging mobile phone penetration levels and ICT Ensure the availability of real

time data

Streamlining initiatives:

Assessing soil health through soil health cards,

Rationalising fertilizer and water usage by insuring only the efficient cost ofproduction

Encouraging usage of the available agriculture markets

Increased engagement with formal markets to take advantage of insurance in

case of income decline

IASbaba’s Views:

The income guarantee must

Reflect “inter-sectoral parity”

A commission for determining Farmer’s Income can be set up to involve the farmers

themselves in coming up with a proper formula guaranteeing minimum livelihood

income for farmers

Consists of impetus to

ecologically sustainable farming systems,

community control over agricultural resources and

ensuring non-toxic, nutritious and adequate food for all

There should take place a reduction in the number of people dependent uponagriculture, and improvement in the productivity of agriculture through technology and

partnerships is a must. Rural education, provision of jobs to rural youths with other

sectors and expanding per capita farm holdings is a positive way ahead.

A major limitation has been the supply-driven nature of the government interventions,

which has overlooked the need for building a commensurate social and economic

infrastructure so that the target beneficiaries are equipped to take advantage of these

interventions. Greater representation of relevant stakeholders in the design,

implementation and evaluation of these measures can ensure the more effective

inclusion of farmers’ demands and a higher level of responsiveness, in turn.


Analyse the scope of Micro-Insurance in Agro-India

Weather Based Crop Insurance: Panacea or Providence?

Examine the various components of Agricultural Price Risk Management


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Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and

issues arising out of their design and implementation

Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs,

various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other

stakeholders.

Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States

and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies

constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.

MGNREGA : Don’t dismantle, Reform

What is the issue –MGNREGA is an Indian labour law and social security measure that aimsto guarantee the 'right to work'. It aims to ensure livelihood security in rural areas by

providing at least 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every household

whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.

However since its inception it’s goaded by controversies to the extent that there are

rumours about retinkering the act so as to make it more effective transparent and more

accountable.

So let’s have a brief look at features of the act

Overview

According to the Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007 –12), the number of Indians living on

less than $1 a day, called Below Poverty Line (BPL), was 300 million that barely

declined over the last three decades ranging from 1973 to 2004, although their

proportion in the total population decreased from 36 per cent (1993 –94) to 28

percent (2004 –05), and the rural working class dependent on agriculture was

unemployed for nearly 3 months per year. The plan targeted poverty through

MGNREGA which promised employment as an entitlement.

Financial allocations for the NREGA increased steadily between 2006-2010 when it

touched nearly Rs. 40,000 crores. Since then, however, allocation for NREGA has

stagnated just below Rs. 40,000 crores. In 2014-15, allocations were cut dramatically

to less than Rs. 30,000 crores.

Recently NDA government announced to increase the number of working days from 100 to

150 days in rainfall deficit areas


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Constitutional provisions:

The Act aims to follow the Directive Principles of State Policy enunciated in Part IV of

the Constitution.

The law by providing a 'right to work' is consistent with Article 41 that directs the

State to secure to all citizens the right to work

In accordance with the Article 21 of the Constitution of India that guarantees the

right to life with dignity to every citizen of India, this act imparts dignity to the rural

people through an assurance of livelihood security.

The Fundamental Right enshrined in Article 16 of the Constitution of India

guarantees equality of opportunity in matters of public employment and prevents

the State from discriminating against anyone in matters of employment on the

grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, descent, place of birth, place of residence

or any of them NREGA also follows Article 46 that requires the State to promote the interests of and

work for the economic uplift of the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes and

protect them from discrimination and exploitation.

Article 40 mandates the State to organise village panchayats and endow them with

such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as units

of self-government.[Conferring the primary responsibility of implementation on

Gram Panchayats, the Act adheres to this constitutional principle

With the passage of 73rd Amendment to the Constitution of India that granted a

constitutional status to the Panchayats is further reinforced by the Mahatma GandhiNREGA that endowed these rural self-government institutions with authority to

implement the law.

The assessment of the law is done by various methods like social audit, and mgnrega

sameeksha done in collaboration with various IIT,IIM,and UNDP

So lets see few criticisms :

In 2014 a new amendment was proposed to restrict the employment act in only

tribal and backward areas and also to change the labour:material ratio from 60:40 to

51:49.

However both proposals came in for sharp criticism. A number of economists with

diverse views opposed the idea of restricting or "focussing" implementation in a few

districts or blocks

Later it was clarified that there will be no change in the law

Corruption has also been one of the issue


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Even though MGNREGA is shrouded with various controversies and complex issues, in

recent years, more empirical studies have emerged to provide a solid foundation from

which to address a number of questions.

So lets have a look and analyse case by case about the impacts through various experts

and scholars

One, how well does the self-targeting mechanism work

The MGNREGA is a self-targeting programme that assumes that only those who can’t

find better-paying, less-strenuous work will participate in the hard manual labour

offered under the act

A recently published report ,based on the India Human Development Survey (IHDS)

of over 28,000 households before and after the implementation of the MGNREGA,

shows that the programme is moderately effective in this Thirty per cent of poor and 21 per cent of non-poor households participate; and 30

per cent of illiterate households versus 13 per cent of households with college

graduates participate.

However, it also offers work to a variety of middle-income rural households when

there is no work during off seasons

Since programmes solely directed at the poor rarely enjoy wide political support, this

broad participation may be one reason for its popularity.

Two, does it really reduce poverty?

The IHDS shows that among the 24.4 per cent of MGNREGA-participating

households, the median number of days worked is 40 and the median annual income

from the MGNREGA is Rs 4,030, forming about 8.6 per cent of total household

income

Even though its small ,But in the absence of NREGA estimates based on a variety of

assumptions suggest that the poverty ratio would be at least 25 per cent higher

among participants

Three, Does it distort labour markets?

This is the biggest complaint of all. However data show that agricultural labour

wages have risen faster than other wages, but it is not clear that this increase can be

totally attributed to the MGNREGA

Although 24.4 per cent of IHDS households participate in the MGNREGA, most

households have more than one worker, so only 12 per cent of the men and 9 per

cent of the women in the IHDS sample participated in the programme, Whileindividuals often worked 30-34 days, at the population level, this comes to less than


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four days of MGNREGA work per person; about 2.5 per cent of total workdays for

men and 5 per cent for women. Thus, the MGNREGA forms a very small part of rural

labour.

It is only the Medium to larger farmers who own less than 10 per cent of cultivators

— are affected by increases in agricultural wages. However the recent MGNREGA emphasis towards improving agricultural

infrastructure and irrigation should compensate for this hardship.

Four, Why are 70 per cent of the poor not participating in the MGNREGA?

The effect of the programme on poverty reduction has been limited by the fact that

only 30 per cent of poor households participate.

In the IHDS sample, more than 60 per cent of interested households complained of

not having sufficient work due to poor implementation

This phenomenon, known as work rationing, varie

NOVEMBER IASbaba's Monthly Magazine.compressed

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Transcript of NOVEMBER IASbaba's Monthly Magazine.compressed