Current affairs 4th-9th November,2019

4th November, 2019

TOPIC- Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices

1. How far do you agree with the view that government must review its open-ended grain procurement policy?

Ans:

Introduction

Recently, the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) has recommended that the government review (read scrap) its open-ended grain procurement policy. CACP, in its latest report for rabiseason, has batted for direct procurement by private players, as envisaged under the Private Procurement Stockist Scheme.

Should government review its open-ended grain procurement policy?

• There have been repercussions on both FCI as well as farming in general on account of this scheme.

• The first is that FCI has been procuring larger quantities of rice and wheat as MSP has been continuously raised by around 10% every year, making it attractive.

• This has led to surplus stocks, which are around twice as much as to be maintained, based on the buffer stock norms specified by the government.

• The second unintended consequence is that FCI becomes the biggest hoarder of foodgrains and leads to anomalies, where shortages in the commercial market lead to higher prices for millers even when production reaches peak levels as FCI is holding on to surplus stocks.

• This policy of open-ended procurement combined with higher MSPs has created more serious problems for agriculture.

• To begin with, farmers prefer to grow rice and wheat because the prices received are getting better by the day. Therefore, they are reluctant to migrate to other crops such as oilseeds and pulses, where typically the nation runs an import bill. This has skewed the cropping pattern in the country.

• Further, excessive growth of rice and wheat also tends to affect the water table level as these crops consume more water, thus affecting long-term prospects of farming.

• Also, given that these crops use more fertilizers and pesticides which enable rapid growth, the quality of the soil tends to deteriorate over time. All this means that agriculture will face problems going ahead.

Conclusion

In the light of the above-mentioned points, we certainly need to move away from open-ended grain procurement policy while retaining the ethos of not diluting the present benefits to farmers in a smarter manner. Or else the skewed farm matrix will continue to dominate our farm topography, which is not desirable.

Reference: Financial Express

Livemint

5th November, 2019

Topic- Education, Human Resources

1. The future of Indian universities (public and private) will significantly depend upon our ability to harness the possibility of individual, institutional and corporate philanthropy for the purposes of higher education. Discuss.

Ans:

Introduction

Beyond a few examples of philanthropy in higher education in India, contemporary leadership in philanthropy in higher education is limited and almost non-existent. The historical evolution of public universities in India and their exclusive dependence on the government for all financial resources have contributed to limiting the capacity of funding that could be available for public universities. Today, public universities (State universities and other higher education institutions) face serious financial challenges.

Status of corporate philanthropy towards higher education

• The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has observed that among the 5,097 companies that have filed annual reports till December 2016 (financial year 2015-16), only 3,118 companies had made some contribution towards CSR expenditure.

• During FY 2014-15, 3,139 companies had spent 74% of the prescribed CSR expenditure — most were to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.

• There has been very little strategic thinking and innovation in the CSR where corporations can play a leadership role in contributing to society.

• While there is much that deserves attention under the CSR framework for contributing to the social sector, the fact is that higher education and universities do need to receive significantly more attention.

Why do universities require funding?

• Every aspect of a university’s growth requires substantial financial resources:

• hiring of world class faculty;

• developing research centres; funding research projects;

• having rewards and incentives for faculty publications;

• building physical infrastructure, and making available scholarships for students.

What has been suggested by Narayan Murthy Committee?

• Some years ago, a report by a committee constituted by the then Planning Commission and headed by the then chief mentor of Infosys, Narayana Murthy, focussed on the role of the corporate sector in higher education.

• It acknowledged the importance of stronger private initiatives and recommended steps such as free land for 999 years (sic),

• 300% deduction in taxable income to companies for contributions towards boosting higher education and 10-year multiple entry visas for foreign research scholars.

• It also recommended a Rs. 1,000 crore scholarship fund (with tax exemption for corporate sector contributions) to promote greater accessibility of higher education to the underprivileged.

• However, these recommendations were not implemented.

What could be done?

• Every year, educationists have put forth the argument that we need to increase the budget for higher education.

• Marginal increases in budgets and creative reallocation of resources to show more spending on higher education are not going to help.

• A thorough and even a radical re-examination of budgetary resources is essential.

• The higher education sector can be truly re-energised only by a significant increase in loans, grants and philanthropy.

• Banks and financial institutions have been rather timid and even indifferent towards funding in higher education.

• Therefore, there is an urgent need for policy intervention, where universities and related funding should be designated a priority sector.

• It should be seen as being more important than infrastructure development.

Conclusion

The Institute of Eminence (IOE) policy by the government did create hopes and expectations for establishing world class universities in India. Unfortunately, the policy, procedure and the process of selecting IOEs has been marred by a lack of transparency, vision and imagination in institution building. Therefore, there is an urgent need in Indian universities to reflect upon the crisis of leadership and the inability to seek reforms relating to institution building. In this, leadership in philanthropy is central to enabling an institutional vision that will help build the future of higher education in India.

TOPIC- Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes

2. Give a critical analysis of the government’s flagship national agriculture insurance scheme, the Pradhan Mantri Fasal BimaYojana (PMFBY).

Ans:

Introduction

Across the world, agriculture insurance is recognised as an important part of the safety net for farmers to deal with the impacts of extreme and unseasonal weather due to climate change. A highly subsidised PradhanMantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) was launched in 2016 to provide insurance to farmers from all risks. PMFBY was more farmer-friendly provisions than its predecessors. However, notwithstanding its ambition and intent, the scheme since its operation has been scrutinised more for its misses than its hits.

Positives of the scheme

• Coverage of agricultural insurance has significantly increased.

• The sum insured is now closer to the cost of production than before. This means in case of losses, farmers should theoretically get significantly higher compensation than before.

Negatives of the scheme

• Gaps in assessment of crop loss: The sample size in each village was not large enough to capture the scale and diversity of crop losses. In many cases, district or block level agricultural department officials do not conduct such sampling on ground and complete the formalities only on paper.

• Inadequate and delayed claim payment: Insurance companies, in many cases, did not investigate losses due to a localised calamity and, therefore, did not pay claims.

• High actuarial premium rates: Insurance companies charged high actuarial premium rates

• Coverage only for loanee farmers: PMFBY remains a scheme for loanee farmers – farmers who take loans from banks are mandatorily required to take insurance.

• Poor capacity to deliver: There has been no concerted effort by the state government and insurance companies to build awareness of farmers on PMFBY. Insurance companies have failed to set-up infrastructure for proper implementation of PMFBY. There is still no direct linkage between insurance companies and farmers. Insured farmers receive no insurance policy document or receipt.

Way forward

• Faster and appropriate claim settlement: Timely estimate of loss assessment is the biggest challenge before the PMFBY.

• Crop Loss Assessment- Robust assessment of crop loss should be done through capacity building of state governments, involvement of PRIs and farmers in loss assessment, auditing and multi-level checking to ensure credibility of data and testing incorporating technology such as remote sensing, drones and online transmission of data.

• Coverage of tenant and sharecropper farmers should increase.

• All important crops should be covered under crop insurance. Diversification of crops and mixed farming should be promoted.

• Damage caused by wild animals, fire, cold waves and frost to crops should also be considered at the individual level. Damage caused by unforeseen weather events like hailstorms should also be included in the category of post-harvest losses.

• Farmers must be informed before deducting crop insurance premium. They must be given a proper insurance policy document, with all relevant details.

• Panchayati Raj Institutions and farmers need to be involved at different stages of implementation.

• The insurance unit (IU) must be reduced over a period of time. In any case, it should not be more than village level. If the IU cannot be at the individual level and is kept at village panchayat level, premium should also be collected at the village panchayat level.

• Incentivise groups of small farmers or women farmers and promote group insurance.

• Sum insured should not be less than scale of finance and/or cost of production.

• PMFBY timelines from insurance coverage to claim payment should be strictly adhered to.

• All PMFBY related data related to farmers must be available in the public domain and shared openly with farmers.

• The clause addressing prevented sowing and post-harvest losses must be implemented appropriately by issuing state notifications prior to sowing.

• Robust scheme monitoring and grievance redressal mechanism should be in place.

Conclusion

If such a comprehensive social protection scheme is implemented, there would be opportunities for further rationalisation of subsidies.

6th November, 2019

TOPIC- Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health

1. India’s abortion law must be amended to lift the barriers that it poses to women and girls seeking legal abortions. Discuss.

Ans:

Introduction

Abortion has been legal in India under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act since 1971, when it was hailed as one of the more progressive laws in the world. According to the Act, abortion can be provided at the discretion of a medical provider under certain conditions. When the Act was introduced, policymakers had two goals — to control the population resulting from unintended pregnancies (which even today are to the tune of 48 per cent) and to reduce the increasing maternal mortality and morbidity due to illegal, unsafe abortions. Today we can agree that though the Act was liberal for its time, it has limitations that pose barriers to women and girls seeking legal abortions.

What is the law as of now?

The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act of 1971 permits abortions after consultation with one doctor up to 12 weeks. Between 12 to 20 weeks, medical opinion of two doctors is required. Further, only a registered allopathic physician in a registered facility is authorised to conduct the procedure. Beyond the 20 weeks ceiling, exceptions are legally permissible only if continuation of pregnancy poses a threat to the mother’s life.

Issues with the law

• The 46-year-old law has been under fire from doctors and lawyers for failing to move ahead with the times. There are several issues.

• The gestational age limit of 20 weeks on abortions is today understood as arbitrary and grossly outdated by gynaecologists and obstetricians across the board.

• Rare foetal abnormalities can be detected via ultrasound only around this period and the mother is usually past the 20-week milestone by the time these can be confirmed.

• When it comes to foetal abnormalities and pregnancies resulting from rape, this limit is proving to be a hurdle for both the woman and the provider. Women seeking an abortion after the legal gestation limit (a phenomenon that is fairly common due to later detection of abnormalities in the foetus or shame and stigma associated with rape), often have no option but to appeal to the courts and run from pillar to post for permission to terminate the pregnancy.

• Further, the Act does not recognise a woman’s choice in asking for an abortion, as legally she remains at the disposal of a physician’s judgment even in the early stages of pregnancy.

Way forward

• In 2014, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare recognised these barriers and proposed certain amendments to the Act. Consequently, the MTP (Amendment) Bill, 2014, was submitted, proposing changes key amongst which were increasing the gestation limit from 20 to 24 weeks for rape survivors and other vulnerable women and removing the gestation limit in case of foetal abnormalities.

• MTP Act Amendment bill, 2014 alos proposed authorizing AYUSH doctors, trained nurses and auxiliary nurse-midwives (ANMs) – after mandatory training — for performing non-surgical abortions via pills.

Conclusion

Many women, when denied legal abortions, turn to unqualified providers or adopt unsafe methods of termination. Estimates based on the Sample Registration System (SRS) 2001-03, indicate that unsafe abortions account for 8 per cent of maternal deaths in India. Adopting and implementing the amendments will take us a few steps closer towards ensuring that all girls and women have access to safe abortion services.

TOPIC- Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health

Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life

2. Despite the dramatic progress in the last two decades, infant mortality remains one of the biggest health challenges faced by the world today. In this context analyse what role can gut microbes play in boosting overall health of infants.

Ans:

Introduction

An inseparable part of the human body, the complement of microorganisms living within our intestine, called the intestinal microbiome, plays a critical role in directing healthy growth and development, and preventing vulnerability to childhood illness. Research links the microbiome with better cognitive scores in one-year-old infants, and has identified brain and behavioural characteristics clustered by gut microbiota profile, in middle-aged adults.

Role that gut microbes can play in boosting overall health

• Human gut microbiome impacts human brain-health in numerous ways, such as stimulation of the innate immune system and the production of hormones and neurotransmitters that are identical to those produced by humans.

• In this way it stimulates different neurons of the enteric nervous system, thus impacting architecture of sleep, reaction to stress as well as memory, mood, and cognition.

• To build physical health, the gut microbiome allows appropriate nutrient absorption and defends the body from invading organisms.

• It directly impacts the body’s immunity and metabolism and determines our response to external medication and vaccines.

• The greatest load and diversity of microbial cells is believed to be within the gastrointestinal tract and any disruption in the balance of these microbes is also associated with a number of adult diseases such as diabetes, obesity, inflammatory illnesses such as arthritis, autoimmune conditions, and even psychological and neurological ailments.

Conclusion

Despite the dramatic progress in the last two decades, infant mortality remains one of the biggest health challenges faced by the world today. Focus on the microbiome and gut are now at the cutting edge of scientific research on infant health and malnutrition. It is heartening to note that there is emerging evidence that the microbiome dramatically affects nutritional status and this approach has the potential to overturn traditional approaches. Promoting the development of healthy gut bacteria through appropriate nutritional interventions could go a long way in boosting overall health.

7th November, 2019

TOPIC- Geography

1. Do you agree with the view that India should have two time-zones?

Ans:

Introduction

OVER THE years, various citizens and political leaders have debated whether India should have two separate time zones. The demand is based on the huge difference in daylight times between the country’s longitudinal extremes, and the costs associated with following the same time zone. Those arguing against the idea, on the other hand, cite impracticability — particularly the risk of railway accidents, given the need to reset times at every crossing from one time zone into another.

Arguments in favour for India to have two time-zones

• In the Northeast, the sun rises as early as four in the morning and in winter it sets by four in the evening. By the time government offices or educational institutions open, many daylight hours are already lost. In winter this problem gets even more accentuated and the ecological costs are a disaster with much more electricity having to be consumed.

• Scientists claim that advancing IST by half an hour would result in saving 2.7 billion units of electricity every year.

• If socioeconomic development is indeed one of the formulae to combat insurgency, it might be worthwhile to consider the disastrous impact that IST has on productivity and efficiency in the region.

Arguments against

• The two time zone will affect the airline,rail services in whole country.

• Difficulty in dealing with governance.

• Separate time zone will create the tendency of separate mind set.

• The biological clock of other people working in NE region will be affected.

Way forward

• Committee set up by department of science and technology in 2002 has suggested of shifting the timing of offices and schools according to the need by local administration.

• Challenges and benefits can be studied by analysing the time zone of various countries example- USA,Russia etc.

Conclusion

The demand for separate time zone has always been since independence. Thus decision can be made by taking the views of all the stake holders into accounts and assessing the challenges and benefits at the same time.

Reference: Indian Express

TOPIC- Environmental pollution

2. The problem of garbage management in Delhi has reached alarming proportions. Suggest some measures to deal with this issue of solid waste management in Delhi and some other Indian cities that are grappling with the problem.

Ans:

Introduction

The problem of garbage management in Delhi has reached alarming proportions. The city ran out of dump sites way back in 2008. Since then, all five municipal corporations of Delhi have been dumping wastes illegally in already-filled landfill sites at Bhalswa, Ghazipur and Okhla. The environment, including the groundwater, in and around these landfill sites is highly polluted with toxins, causing innumerable suffering in the surrounding areas.

Measures to deal with this issue of solid waste management

• The expert committee setup by the Delhi High Court had submitted a detailed action plan in August 2017. Based on the recommendations, the committee also prepared the draft by-laws on solid waste management.

• The by-laws have noteworthy provisions. They mandate that waste be segregated at source into three streams—biodegradable (wet waste), non-biodegradable (dry waste) and domestic hazardous waste. These streams of waste have to be stored in separate colour-coded bins—green, blue and black, for wet, dry and domestic hazardous waste, respectively. Municipal corporations have to ensure collection and transportation of segregated solid waste. They have to publicise the time slots for waste collection for each area.

• To avoid the mixing of segregated waste, all secondary storage points (dhalaos) have been mandated to have colour-coded containers to store wet, dry and domestic hazardous waste. Municipal corporations have to convert the existing dhalaos into recycling centres for further segregation of dry waste. Further, under the by-laws, they have to set-up a deposit centre for each ward to collect domestic hazardous waste.

• To minimise transportation cost and avoid landfills, the by-laws mandate decentralised processing mechanisms such as biomethanation and composting in the colonies themselves. For waste-to-energy plants that incinerate directly, absolute segregation has been made mandatory. To fund the waste management infrastructure, corporations have been asked to fix and regularly collect a user fee. To ensure compliance with the by-laws, provision has been made for imposing a penalty for non-segregation, open burning and dumping of solid waste in vacant plots.

Conclusion

If the by-laws are implemented in letter and spirit, Delhi will be able to solve its garbage problem in a few years. This will require massive social movement. Inculcating the habit of segregating waste requires time, continuous campaigning, prodding and penalties. But once this is achieved, waste management is a profitable venture for the city and its citizens.

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Current affairs 4th-9th November,2019

Daily Current Affairs Quiz (09-11-2019)

RAJYA SABHA TV /ALL INDIA RADIO (7th November 2019)

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