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no posts today—26.12.2022
Month: December 2022
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GI Tag in the News in Joynagar Moa
Joynagar Moa, a popular Bengal sweet, has had its Geographical Indication (GI) status extended for another ten years.
Joynagar Moa
- The moa is a popped-rice ball that is held together with fresh date-palm jaggery, which is extracted from the beginning of December to the end of February.
- Its production is so closely associated with Joynagar, a settlement on the outskirts of Kolkata, that it was granted the Geographical Indication of Joynagar Moa in 2015.
How is it created?
- A moa is made from khoi (puffed rice). The best are made with khoi from the rice variety kanakchur.
- It contains cardamom and the legendary nolen gur from Bengal (a liquid jaggery made from date palms and found only in winter).
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/for-the-first-time-in-its-history-joynagar-moa-being-exported/article33625025.ece
More than 25,000 internship opportunities have been advertised under the TULIP program so far.
About
- TULIP is a portal developed collaboratively by the Ministry of HRD, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
- It contributes to reaping the benefits of India’s demographic dividend, as the country is on track to have the world’s largest working-age population in the coming years.
- It contributes to the increased marketability of Indian graduates and the development of a potential talent pool in fields such as urban planning, transportation engineering, the environment, municipal finance, and so on.
- It contributes to the government’s efforts to strengthen community partnerships and government-academia-industry-civil society ties.
Need for such a program
- India has a large number of technical graduates who need exposure to real-world project implementation and planning for professional development.
- General education may not accurately reflect the breadth of productive knowledge available in society.
- Rather than approaching education as “doing by learning,” our societies must reimagine education as “learning by doing.”
Source: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1885831
The government has decided to provide free foodgrains to all 81 crore beneficiaries covered by the National Food Security Act (NFSA) for one year after discontinuing the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY).
PMGKAY
- PMGKAY is a food security welfare scheme announced by the Government of India in March 2020, during India’s COVID-19 pandemic.
- The programme is managed by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution’s Department of Food and Public Distribution.
- Because of the scope of this welfare scheme, it is the world’s largest food security programme.
Targets
- To feed India’s poorest citizens by distributing grain through the Public Distribution System to all priority households (ration card holders and those identified by the Antyodaya Anna Yojana scheme).
- PMGKAY provides 5 kg of rice or wheat per person/month (depending on regional dietary preferences) and 1 kg of dal to each family with a ration card.
Success of the scheme
- Pandemic mitigation: When the pandemic hit India, this was the first step taken by the government.
- A diverse group of people benefited from the scheme, which fed nearly 80 million people.
- Migrant assistance: It has proven to be more of a safety net for migrant people who have lost their jobs and livelihoods.
- Food and nutrition security: This has also ensured nutrition security for migrant workers’ children.
Drawbacks of the scheme
- Corruption: The scheme has been affected by widespread corruption, leakages and failure to distribute grain to the intended recipients.
- Leakages: Only 55 crore of the 79.25 crore beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) have received their 5 kg.
- Inaccessibility: Many people were denied their fair share due to a lack of ration cards.
- Low consumption: As a result of job losses, aggregate demand fell, resulting in the lowest ever consumption expenditure by the people due to a lack of cash.
- Resale of subsidized grains: This resulted in the sale of free grains obtained in local markets for cash.
National Food Security (NFS) Act
- The National Food Security Act of 2013 aims to provide subsidized food grains to roughly two-thirds of India’s 1.2 billion people.
- It became law on September 12, 2013, retroactive to July 5, 2013.
- It converts into legal entitlements for the Government of India’s existing food security programs.
- The Midday Meal Scheme, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), and the Public Distribution System are all part of it (PDS).
- Furthermore, the NFSA 2013 recognizes maternity benefits.
- The Midday Meal Scheme and the ICDS are both universal, whereas the PDS will reach approximately two-thirds of the population (75% in rural areas and 50% in urban areas).
- Daily free cereals are available to pregnant women, lactating mothers, and certain categories of children.
Key provisions
- The NFSA gives people who live in “eligible households” the legal right to receive subsidized foodgrains.
- Under the Targeted Public Distribution System, rice costs Rs 3/kg, wheat costs Rs 2/kg, and coarse grain costs Rs 1/kg (TPDS).
- These are known as central issue prices (CIPs).
Source: https://kj1bcdn.b-cdn.net/media/82848/grains-8uy.jpg?format=webp&width=1280
The convening of the 17th round of India-China corps commander-level talks at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point in eastern Ladakh a week after the clash in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, is a positive development. However, it does not inspire confidence in Chinese intentions in relation to the Line of Actual Control.
Background
- Disengagement at Gogra Hot Springs in the 16th round of talks: The government announced in September that the two sides had finished disengaging at Gogra Hot Springs, as agreed in the 16th round of talks.
- Beijing appears hesitant to agree to another round of talks: Beijing appeared hesitant to agree to another round of talks, No return to the status quo: China indicates that there is nothing more to discuss about the situation in eastern Ladakh, and that there will be no return to the status quo that existed prior to its incursions in April-May 2020.
What was the outcome of the most recent round of talks, and what is the current situation?
- There has been no mutually acceptable resolution to the remaining issues: According to a joint statement, the two sides agreed to continue talking through military and diplomatic channels toward a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues as soon as possible. It is also unclear whether both parties have reached an agreement on the remaining issues.
- Apart from the fact that India now faces a different status quo and that the PLA is rapidly constructing war-like infrastructure on its side, the remaining issues for India are the presence of Chinese troops in the Depsang plains and intrusions in the Demchok area.
- Tensions appear to be manageable, but the situation is unpredictable: The sectoralization makes the tensions appear manageable, but the reality appears to be that no one can predict which part of the 3,500 km of line will suddenly flare up, as it did recently.
- The situation is critical: When Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar told Parliament that India’s deployment at the LAC is at its peak, he underscored the gravity of the situation.
- Despite advanced surveillance, there is no clarity on the Army’s readiness: Despite the advanced Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance devices reportedly installed in Tawang, it is unclear how prepared the Army was for the transgression, according to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s brief statement.
Why China has opened new front in Tawang?
- The status quo along the border is not limited to the Western Sector: given the importance of the Xinjiang-Tibet region in China’s domestic narrative, China has traditionally been active in areas close to Ladakh. With its sights set on an aging Dalai Lama and the issue of his succession, Beijing will want to focus on Tawang and the rest of Arunachal Pradesh.
- Huge investment in eastern infrastructure: For many years, China has made significant investments in eastern infrastructure. This includes improved rail, road, and air connectivity, as well as improved capacity to station and supply troops and artillery.
- The importance of the boundary issue in India-China relations: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has repeatedly stated that it is no longer possible to separate the boundary issue from the overall relationship and that peace and tranquillity along the LAC are essential for restoring relations. However, China is likely to maintain pressure on the ground along the LAC, even as they continue to suggest that the two countries look beyond their differences, similar to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s remarks during his March 2022 visit, in which he stated that the two sides needed to “inject more positive energy” into the relationship.
Way forward
- Even as it increases military readiness, Delhi should make a diplomatic push for talks.
- Whatever the facts are on the ground, and regardless of how the tensions will play out, the government would be wise to engage the Opposition parties as soon as possible.
- When confronted with border tensions, the country requires broad political consensus, and it is the government’s task and responsibility to build it.
@the end
Even as it increases military readiness, Delhi should make a diplomatic push for talks. Whatever the facts are on the ground, and regardless of how the tensions will play out, the government should engage the Opposition parties as soon as possible. When confronted with border tensions, the country requires broad political consensus.
Source: https://www.outlookindia.com/national/ladakh-stand-off-india-china-hold-17th-round-of-talks-agree-to-maintain-security-stability-in-area-news-247247
Categories
Adjournment Sine Die
Six days ahead of schedule, both houses of Parliament have adjourned sine die.
Parliamentary Session and Related Terms
- During a session, both Houses meet almost daily, barring holidays, to conduct business, whether it is to discuss public issues, frame laws, amend laws, place Standing Committee reports, or pass financial bills, among other things.
- The Houses meet three times a year: during the Budget Session (February to May), the Monsoon Session (July to September), and the Winter Session (November to December).
Session termination
- During a session of Parliament, there are usually two sittings: one in the morning from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and one after lunch from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- The Parliament’s sittings in both Houses can only be ended by adjournment, adjournment sine die, prorogation, or dissolution (not applicable to Rajya Sabha).
- A session of Parliament technically refers to the time between the first sitting of a House and its prorogation or dissolution.
- A recess is a time between the prorogation of a House and its reassembly in a new session.
(1) Adjournment sine die
- Adjournment sine die refers to the termination of a Parliamentary sitting for an indefinite period of time; that is, when the House is adjourned without naming a day for reassembly, it is called adjournment sine die.
- The presiding officer of the House has the authority to adjourn the House sine die.
- The presiding officer of a House, on the other hand, has the authority to call a sitting of the House before the date or time to which it has been adjourned, or at any time after the House has been adjourned sine die.
(2) Adjournment
- An adjournment suspends work in a sitting for a set period of time, which can be hours, days, or weeks.
- The time of reassembly is specified in this case because an adjournment only ends a sitting and not a session of the House.
- The presiding officer of the House has the authority to adjourn the House.
(3) Prorogation
- Prorogation refers to the termination of a House session by an order issued by the President under Article 85(2)(a) of the Constitution.
- The prorogation ends both the sitting and session of the House and is usually done within a few days of the presiding officer adjourning the House sine die.
- The President issues a prorogation notice for the session. However, the president has the authority to prorogue the House while it is in session.
- It should be noted that all pending notices, with the exception of those for introducing bills, expire.
(4) Dissolution
When a dissolution occurs, the existing House is dissolved, and a new House is formed following the General Elections. However, only the Lok Sabha is subject to dissolution, as the Rajya Sabha, as a permanent House, is not. The Lok Sabha may be dissolved in one of two ways:
- On the expiration of its tenure: five years or the terms as extended during a national emergency.
- Order of the President: If the President is authorized by the Council of Ministers, he or she may dissolve Lok Sabha before the end of the term. The president may also dissolve the Lok Sabha if the Council of Ministers loses confidence and no party is able to form a government. If the Lok Sabha is dissolved before the end of its normal term, the dissolution is irreversible.
Impact on legislation process
- When the Lok Sabha is dissolved, all bills, motions, resolutions, notices, and petitions pending before it or its committees expire.
- Summoning is the process of summoning all members of Parliament to a meeting.
Bill lapse in Indian Parliament
Depending on the status of the pending legislation and where it originated, the Bill may lapse upon dissolution of the Assembly.
Bills originated in Lok Sabha.
- Any Bill that was introduced in the Lok Sabha but could not be passed dies.
- A Bill introduced and passed by the Lok Sabha but still pending in the Rajya Sabha expires.
Bills originated in Rajya Sabha
- The Constitution also empowers Rajya Sabha MPs to introduce Bills.
- As a result, a Bill that originated in Rajya Sabha and was passed by it but is currently pending in Lok Sabha also expires.
- A Bill introduced in the Rajya Sabha, returned to that House by the Lok Sabha with amendments, and still pending in the Rajya Sabha on the date of the Lok Sabha’s dissolution expires.
When a Bill does not lapse
- Bills that have not yet become law do not all expire at the end of the Lok Sabha’s term.
- A Bill that is pending in the Rajya Sabha but has not been passed by the Lok Sabha does not expire.
- A Bill passed by both Houses but awaiting the President’s assent does not expire.
- A Bill passed by both Houses but returned by the President of India to the Parliament for reconsideration does not expire.
- Some pending Bills, as well as all pending assurances to be examined by the Committee on Government Assurances, do not expire with the dissolution of the Lok Sabha.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/assembly-adjourned-sine/article36907065.ece
The Chief Justice of India recently expressed concern about the POCSO Act’s age of consent. The CJI asked parliament to reconsider the age under the POCSO act.
What are the issues concerning the age of consent?
- Criminalization of romantic relationships: Under POCSO, the Madras, Delhi, and Meghalaya High Courts have flagged cases involving the criminalization of romantic relationships between or with adolescents.
- AK v. State Govt of NCT of Delhi: In AK v. State Govt of NCT of Delhi (order by Justice Jasmeet Singh), the Delhi High Court stated on November 12 that the purpose of POCSO was to protect children under the age of 18 from sexual exploitation, not to criminalize romantic relationships between consenting young adults.
- The government has stated that it has no plans to change the consent age.
- Blanket ban on anticipatory bail: A recent criminal law amendment in Uttar Pradesh imposed a blanket ban on granting anticipatory bail to rape suspects, further injuring the already injured.
Problems related to age of consent and POCSO Act
- Criminalization of sexual act: POCSO criminalizes both exploitative sexual practice and general sexual expression by an adolescent.
- Overlooking the voluntary sexual act: Criminal law has been used to silence or regulates a non-exploitative consensual sexual relationship between a minor girl.
- Abuse of the POCSO act: The court’s obiter that POCSO has become a tool in the hands of certain sections of society to abuse the legal process is supported by other courts as well.
- Victimization of girls: Legislators should pay attention to the cumulative victimization of the “consenting” girl.
Today’s reality of adolescent sexual life and legal mismatch
- Increased consent age: The consent age was raised from 10 to 12 to 14 to 16 to 18 years by the 2013 amendment, in order to comply with the then-newly legislated POCSO Act.
- Minor girl consent is illegal: Because the law disregards the likelihood of a minor girl engaging in sexual activity voluntarily, she is desexualized.
- Ignoring social reality: The law that criminalizes adolescent sexuality either ignores or pretends to ignore social reality.
- Sexual experience before the age of consent: According to the NFHS-5, 39% of women had their first sexual experience before the age of 18. The same survey provides additional evidence of sexual engagement among unmarried adolescent girls by reporting contraception use by 45% of unmarried girls aged 15 to 19.
Way forward
- Separate procedure for POCSO Act: When dealing with POCSO cases, it is necessary to develop a separate procedure for children.
- It is best to avoid victimization: Romantic” lovers in a mutually consenting relationship should not be victims of criminal justice system abuse.
@the end
The age of consent is a contentious issue that cannot be decided solely by judges and the judiciary. Sexual education for children and adolescents is urgently needed. We must fight the taboo against sex and engage in sex debate.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/parliament-must-examine-age-of-consent-issue-says-chief-justice-of-india/article66248216.ece
While cotton farmers in several states have demanded an increase in the crop’s minimum support price (MSP), the Centre has stated that it will monitor the cotton production scenario and make a decision accordingly.
MSP
- The MSP guarantees farmers a fixed price for their crops that is well above their production costs.
- MSP, on the other hand, has no legal backing. Unlike subsidized grains through the PDS, access to it is not a right for farmers.
- They do not have the right to demand it. It is only a government policy that influences administrative decisions.
- The Centre currently sets MSPs for 23 farm commodities based on recommendations from the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).
Fixing of MSPs
- When recommending the MSP for a commodity, the CACP took into account a number of factors, including the cost of cultivation.
- It also considers the commodity’s supply and demand situation; market price trends (domestic and global) and parity with other crops; and implications for consumers (inflation), the environment (soil and water use), and trade terms between agriculture and non-agriculture sectors.
Changes in 2018 budget
- The 2018-19 Budget stated that MSPs would be fixed at 1.5 times crop production costs as a “predetermined principle” going forward.
- Simply put, the CACP’s role was reduced to estimating production costs for a season and recommending MSPs using the 1.5-times formula.
How was this production cost arrived at?
- The CACP forecasts three types of production costs for each crop, both at the state and national levels.
- ‘A2’ covers all direct costs incurred by the farmer, both in cash and in kind, on seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, hired labor, leased-in land, fuel, irrigation, and so on.
- ‘A2+FL’ refers to A2 plus the value of unpaid family labor.
- On top of A2+FL, ‘C2’ is a more comprehensive cost that includes rentals and interest foregone on owned land and fixed capital assets.
How much produce can the government obtain at MSP?
- The MSP value of the total production of the 23 crops worked out to around Rs 10.78 lakh crore in 2019-20.
- However, not all of this produce is sold. Farmers keep a portion of it for personal consumption, seed for the following season’s sowing, and animal feed.
- The marketed surplus ratio for various crops is estimated to vary depending on the crop.
- It ranges from less than 50% for ragi, 65-70% for bajra (pearl millet) and jawar (sorghum), to 75% for wheat, 80% for paddy, 85% for sugarcane, 90% for most pulses, and 95% or higher for cotton, soybean, and other crops.
- Using a 75% average, the total would be slightly more than Rs 8 lakh crore.
- This is the MSP value of production, which is the marketable surplus that farmers sell.
Nature of MSP
- There is currently no statutory backing for these prices, nor any law mandating their enforcement.
Farmers demand legalization
- Legal entitlement: There is a push to make MSP based on a C2+50% formula a legal entitlement for all agricultural products.
- Some argue that private traders should bear the majority of the cost, pointing out that both middlemen and corporate behemoths buy commodities at low prices from farmers.
- Mandatory purchase at MSP: A farm union affiliated with the left has proposed a law that simply states that no one, neither the government nor private players, will be allowed to buy at a rate lower than MSP.
- Other unions have stated that if private buyers do not purchase their crops, the government must be prepared to buy out the entire surplus at MSP rates.
- C2 Expansion: Farm unions are demanding that C2 include capital assets as well as rentals and interest foregone on owned land, as recommended by the National Commission for Farmers.
Government’s stance
- The Prime Minister has announced the formation of a committee to make MSP more transparent and to change crop patterns, which are frequently determined by MSP and procurement.
- The panel will include representatives from farm groups, state and federal governments, agricultural scientists, and economists.
Sowing season
- Cotton sowing season varies greatly from tract to tract but is generally early (April-May) in northern India.
- Sowing is delayed as it moves south (monsoon based in the southern zone).
Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/topic/cotton-msp/news
Many dignitaries have signed an open letter published by the Outer Space Institute (OSI) urging national and multilateral efforts to limit uncontrolled re-entry of satellites back to Earth.
Open Space Institute (OSI)
- OSI is a conservation organisation dedicated to preserving scenic, natural, and historic landscapes for public enjoyment, conserving habitats while preserving community character, and assisting in environmental protection.
- It achieves its objectives through policy initiatives and grassroots activism.
Stages of a rocket launch
- Rockets have several stages.
- The rocket sheds a stage after it has increased the rocket’s altitude and velocity by a certain amount.
- Some rockets burn up all of their larger stages before reaching their final orbit; a smaller engine then propels the payload to its final orbit.
- Others carry the payload into orbit, then begin their descent with a deorbit manoeuvre.
- Rocket stages fall back down in both cases, either controlled or uncontrolled.
Uncontrolled re-entry
- It is the phenomenon of unguided rocket parts falling back to earth after their missions are completed.
- The rocket stage falls in an uncontrolled re-entry.
- Its descent path is determined by its shape, angle of descent, air currents, and other factors.
- As it falls, it will also disintegrate.
Number of satellites in space
- In 1957, the Soviet Union launched the first artificial satellite.
- Today, there are over 6,000 satellites in orbit, the majority of which are in low-Earth (100-2,000 km) and geostationary (35,786 km) orbits and were launched in over 5,000 launches.
- With the introduction of reusable rocket stages, the number of rocket launches has increased dramatically.
Why is this hazardous?
- The potential radius of impact on the ground increases as the smaller pieces fan out.
- Some pieces completely burn, while others do not.
- However, due to the speed at which they travel, debris can be lethal.
- If re-entering stages still contain fuel, another risk is chemical contamination in the atmosphere and on the ground.
Uncontrolled re-entry damage control mechanism
- There is no international binding agreement to ensure rocket stages always perform controlled re-entries, nor is there one on the technologies to do so.
- The 1972 Liability Convention requires countries to pay for damages rather than prevent them.
- Wing-like attachments, de-orbiting brakes, extra fuel on the re-entering body, and design changes that reduce debris formation are among the technologies used.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/explained-the-uncontrolled-re-entries-of-satellites/article66292610.ece
In the midst of calls to cut trade ties with China over border violations, a former NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman has stated that doing so would imply sacrificing India’s potential economic growth.
News
- Panagariya stated that both countries are capable of engaging in trade sanctions.
- The ability of a $17 trillion economy (China) to harm a $3 trillion economy (India) is far greater than the opposite.
Why?
- Between April and October of this fiscal year, India and China’s trade deficit, or the difference between imports and exports, reached $51.5 billion.
- The deficit in 2021-22 increased to $73.31 billion, up from $44.03 billion in 2020-21.
The Hindi-Chini buy buy
- China supplies one-third of India’s machinery and nearly two-fifths of its organic chemicals.
- Other items where China accounts for more than 25% of Indian imports are automotive parts and fertilizers.
- Several of these products are used in the production of finished goods by Indian manufacturers, effectively integrating China into India’s manufacturing supply chain.
- For example, China supplies nearly 90% of certain mobile phone parts to India.
India’s export to China
- China is an important partner for India even as an export market.
- China is India’s third-largest export destination.
- At the same time, according to the Federation of Indian Export Organizations, India accounts for slightly more than 2% of total Chinese exports (FIEO).
Should we worry about this?
- Trade deficits/surpluses are merely accounting exercises, and having a trade deficit against a country has no effect on the domestic economy.
- In this context, India’s trade deficit with China should not be considered in isolation.
- For example, pharmaceuticals that India exports to the rest of the world require ingredients imported from China.
- Chinese imports of Indian seafood are one area that has recently seen strong growth and has room to expand in the future.
So, a trade deficit is beneficial?
- Certainly not. The persistence of trade deficits across all countries raises two major concerns.
- Foreign exchange reserves are available to “buy” imports.
- Inadequate domestic capacity to produce efficiently.
Can we ban trade with China?
Ans. Certainly NOT!
- It will disproportionately affect the Indian poor, who are more price sensitive. For example, if Chinese TVs were replaced by either more expensive Indian TVs or less efficient ones, wealthy Indians may opt for the more expensive option.
- It will penalise Indian manufacturers and exporters: Several Indian businesses import intermediate goods and raw materials, which are then used to produce final goods for both the domestic Indian market and the global market (as Indian exports).
- The pharmaceutical industry may be the hardest hit: For example, China accounted for roughly 68 percent of the nearly $3.6 billion in ingredients imported by Indian drugmakers to manufacture several essential medicines.
- The ban will have little impact on China: According to United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) data for 2018, China accounts for 15.3% of India’s imports and 5.1% of India’s exports.
- Chinese money invests in Indian unicorns: In recent years, India and China have become more integrated. Chinese capital, for example, has infiltrated India’s technology sector, with companies such as Alibaba and Tencent strategically investing billions of dollars in Indian startups such as Zomato, Paytm, Big Basket, and Ola.
- India’s policy credibility will suffer: It has also been suggested that India should breach existing contracts with China. This could harm India’s efforts to attract foreign investment.
China our Frenemy
- The first thing to realize is that turning a border dispute into a trade war is unlikely to solve the problem.
- Worse, given India’s and China’s respective positions in global trade and relative to each other, this trade war will harm India far more than China.
- Again, these measures will come at the worst possible time, as the Indian economy is already at its weakest point in history, facing a sharp GDP contraction.
Way ahead
- Panagariya proposed expanding trade with other trading partners more quickly rather than cutting it with Beijing with a blunt instrument like trade sanctions.
- We should seize India’s excellent growth prospects for the next decade and focus on expanding the economy as quickly as possible.
- When we become the third largest economy, our sanctions threats will have more credibility.
Source: https://www.business-standard.com/article/finance/niti-aayog-s-panagariya-cautions-against-cutting-trade-ties-with-china-122122200271_1.html