17-October-2024-Daily-Current-Affairs

CENTRE INCREASES MSP FOR WHEAT, FIVE OTHER RABI CROPS

TOPIC: (GS3) INDIAN ECONOMY: THE HINDU

The Indian government recently announced a significant increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for rabi crops for the 2025-26 marketing season. These decisions aim to ensure fair pricing for farmers and protect employees from inflation, especially ahead of the festive season.

MSP Increase for Rabi Crops

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved an increase in the MSP for key rabi crops for the 2025-26 season, reinforcing its commitment to agricultural welfare.
• MSP for Wheat: The MSP for wheat has been raised by ₹150 per quintal, from ₹2,275 for the 2024-25 season to ₹2,425 for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
• Other Rabi Crops: MSP has also been raised for barley, gram, lentils, rapeseed and mustard, and safflower. The increase ranges from 50% to 105% of the production cost.
• Policy Background: The increase is in line with the Union Budget 2018-19’s objective of ensuring MSP is at least 1.5 times the production cost.

Minimum Support Price (MSP)

Minimum Support Price (MSP) is a government policy that sets a minimum price for certain agricultural products to protect farmers from market fluctuations. It is an important topic for the UPSC exam.

Here are some key aspects of MSP:

Purpose:

MSP is a market intervention to protect farmers from sharp price drops, especially during bumper production years. It also helps to ensure a secure market for farmers and a guaranteed minimum return.

How it works:

The government announces MSPs at the beginning of the sowing season for certain crops. If the market price falls below the MSP, the government buys the entire quantity from the farmers at the MSP.

Calculation:

The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) calculates production costs for each crop and recommends MSPs to the government. The CACP considers factors such as cultivation costs, supply and demand, and market trends.

How is the Minimum Support Price (MSP) Calculated?

• The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) considers various factors when recommending the MSP, including the cost of cultivation, supply-demand dynamics, market price trends (domestic and international), and their potential impact on consumers and the environment.
• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) of the central government makes the final decision regarding MSP levels.

The CACP uses three types of cost measures:

• A2: This accounts for direct expenses borne by farmers, such as costs for seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, labor, etc.
• A2+FL: This adds the value of unpaid family labor to the A2 costs.
• C2: This is a more comprehensive measure that includes A2+FL along with the rental value of owned land and interest forgone on owned capital assets.

How Does MSP Benefit Farmers?

• Income Security: MSP ensures a minimum guaranteed price for crops, providing farmers with stable income and protecting them from price volatility in the market.
• Price Stability: It helps prevent large fluctuations in agricultural prices, ensuring affordability for consumers.
• Encourages Production: MSP serves as an incentive for farmers to increase crop production by ensuring fair compensation.
• Food Security: It ensures a stable supply of essential crops, reducing reliance on imports and improving domestic food security.

Issues with India’s MSP Regime

• Procurement-Centric: The current MSP system is more focused on meeting the procurement needs of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) rather than aligning with market realities. It acts more as a procurement price.
• Wheat and Rice Dominance: The emphasis on MSP for wheat and rice encourages overproduction of these crops, while other crops with higher demand and profitability are neglected.
• Limited Reach: As per the 2015 Shanta Kumar Committee report, only about 6% of farmers benefit from MSP, leaving 94% without any real advantage from the policy.

Why is There a Demand to Legalize MSP?

• Farmers Receiving Lower Prices: Many farmers often receive prices below the MSP, and without legal backing, they cannot enforce this as a right.
• Limited Government Procurement: The government’s actual procurement is limited to a fraction of the crops. For example, only one-third of wheat and rice and 10%-20% of pulses and oilseeds are purchased at MSP rates, leaving most farmers without benefits.

Challenges with Legalizing MSP

• Unsustainable in the Long Run: Legalizing MSP could discourage private traders from buying when production is high and market prices drop, making the government the primary buyer—an unsustainable approach.
• Disposal Issues: While disposing of cereals and pulses through the public distribution system is feasible, it becomes challenging for crops like niger seed or sesamum.
• Inflationary Pressures: Higher procurement under MSP could push up food grain prices, leading to inflation, which would particularly hurt lower-income groups.
• Impact on Exports: If MSP exceeds global prices, India’s agricultural exports, which form 11% of its total exports, could suffer.

Way Forward

• Diversify Agriculture: Focus on investments in sectors like animal husbandry, fisheries, and horticulture, which offer higher nutritional value and better income opportunities.
• Promote Private Sector Participation: The government should encourage the private sector to build efficient agricultural value chains through a cluster approach.
• Genuine MSP Intervention: MSP should be a government tool for intervention when market prices dip below a certain threshold, particularly during surplus production or market collapses due to global factors.
• Incentivize Nutritional Crops: MSP should also be used to encourage the production of nutritionally important crops such as pulses, coarse grains, and edible oils, for which India heavily relies on imports.

Multiple choice question:

1. With reference to the calculation of Minimum Support Price (MSP) in India, consider the following statements:
2. A2 includes all the direct costs incurred by the farmer, including land rentals and unpaid family labour.
3. A2+FL considers the value of unpaid family labour in addition to the direct costs of cultivation.
4. C2 includes all inputs under A2+FL along with the cost of owned land and capital assets.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2, and 3

Answer: B

Explanation:

A2 refers to the direct costs incurred by farmers, such as expenses on seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and hired labour, but it does not include land rentals and unpaid family labour. Those are considered under other categories.

A2+FL includes all the direct costs from A2 (such as seeds, fertilizers, and hired labour) and also adds the value of unpaid family labour.

C2 is the most comprehensive measure. It includes all the components of A2+FL and adds the cost of rental value of owned land and interest on owned capital assets.

INDIA’S 2024 GLOBAL HUNGER INDEX RANKING:

TOPIC: (GS3) INDIAN ECONOMY: THE HINDU

India’s position in the 2024 Global Hunger Index (GHI) has raised significant concerns about its ability to address undernourishment and food insecurity.

Despite its rapid economic growth, India struggles with severe hunger and malnutrition, indicating deeper systemic issues in the country’s healthcare and food distribution systems.

The 2024 GHI highlights the urgent need for the government to tackle food-related challenges that threaten the nation’s future prospects.

Key Findings of the 2024 Global Hunger Index

• The 2024 GHI ranked India 105th out of 127 nations, with a score of 27.3, placing it in the “serious” hunger category.
• India’s undernourished population is estimated to be around 200 million, roughly equal to the population of Brazil, and about 14% of India’s total population.
• The report highlights that India’s hunger crisis is deeply entrenched despite being one of the fastest-growing economies globally.

Factors Contributing to India’s Poor GHI Ranking

High Levels of Malnutrition

• India’s child stunting rate is at 35.5%, and the child wasting rate is at 18.7%, which are critical indicators of malnutrition and poor child health.
• Infant mortality stands at 26 per 1,000 live births, slightly better than the global average of 28, but still concerning for a developing nation.

Economic Disparity and Food Insecurity

• India’s GDP reached nearly $4 trillion in FY24, but its per capita income is only $2,485, which is less than a quarter of the global average, reflecting significant income inequality.
• The sharp rise in food inflation, doubling from 3.8% in FY22 to 7.5% in FY24, disproportionately affects lower-income groups, leading to limited access to nutritious food.

Food Production vs. Distribution

• India achieved a record food production of 332 million tonnes in 2023-24, driven mainly by rice and wheat, but the distribution of food remains problematic.
• Despite bumper crops, pulses and vegetables were affected by extreme weather conditions, exposing the country’s vulnerability to climate change.

Impact of Climate Change

• Climate change has led to unpredictable weather patterns, extreme events, and damage to crops, which in turn impact farm output and food availability.
• The government’s inability to address climate-related challenges has worsened food insecurity, especially for vulnerable populations.

Systemic Failures Highlighted in the GHI

Ineffective Healthcare and Social Safety Nets

• India’s healthcare system struggles to address malnutrition, leading to high rates of stunting and wasting among children.
• The social safety nets, such as the Public Distribution System (PDS), have been inadequate in ensuring proper food distribution to the needy.

Underutilization of Demographic Dividend

• India’s young population is considered a demographic advantage, but the high levels of malnutrition and undernourishment could prevent the country from fully utilizing this potential.
• Adequate nutrition is crucial for ensuring the physical and cognitive development of children, which directly impacts the future workforce.

Way Forward

• Strengthening Food Security: The government needs to enhance its food distribution systems to ensure that the most vulnerable populations have access to nutritious food. Expanding the scope of schemes like the National Food Security Act and improving the PDS are essential.
• Addressing Climate Change: A robust strategy to mitigate the impacts of climate change on agriculture must be implemented. This includes investing in climate-resilient crops and farming techniques.
• Healthcare Improvements: The healthcare system needs to be better equipped to tackle malnutrition and related health issues. Preventive and curative measures must be prioritized, especially for children and mothers.
• Economic Inclusivity: Tackling income inequality and inflation, especially in food prices, will help ensure that lower-income households can afford a nutritious diet.

Conclusion

India’s ranking in the 2024 Global Hunger Index is a reminder of the pressing issues of hunger, malnutrition, and food insecurity. Despite economic growth, the country faces systemic challenges that affect its ability to provide adequate nutrition to its population. A focused and multi-pronged approach involving food security, healthcare, economic reform, and climate resilience is essential to address these issues and improve India’s GHI ranking in the future.

Multiple choice question:

1. Which of the following organizations releases the Global Hunger Index (GHI)?
   1. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
   2. World Food Programme (WFP)
   3. International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
   4. Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe

Answer: D

CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT HARSHER ON POORER FARMERS IN INDIA: FAO REPORT

TOPIC: (GS3) ENVIRONMENT: THE HINDU

A recent report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) titled “The Unjust Climate. Measuring the impacts of climate change on rural poor, women, and youth” highlights how climate change disproportionately affects poor households, particularly in rural India. It emphasizes the economic losses and vulnerability of these communities and suggests various policy measures to reduce these impacts.

Key Findings of the FAO Report:

Economic Losses Due to Climate Stress:

• Poor households globally lose 5% of their total income due to heat stress and 4.4% from floods, which is higher than the losses faced by wealthier households.
• In India, rural poor populations are highly vulnerable to climate change, experiencing reduced incomes when exposed to climate stressors like heatwaves, droughts, and floods.

On-Farm and Off-Farm Employment Affected:

• During climate stress events such as droughts, rural poor households tend to dedicate more time and resources to agricultural production to compensate for loss of off-farm employment opportunities.
• This results in reduced total income compared to households unaffected by significant climate stress.

Structural Inequality:

• The report points out that the heightened vulnerability of poor households to climate stress is rooted in structural inequalities. These inequalities limit their ability to cope with adverse conditions and recover from economic losses.

Policy Recommendations:

Expanding Social Security Nets:

• The report suggests expanding social protection programs to protect vulnerable households from climate impacts.
• Anticipatory social protection can be scaled up in anticipation of extreme weather events, providing effective livelihood support to limit the reliance on adverse coping strategies.

Enhancing Off-Farm Employment Opportunities:

• Increasing workforce diversification and improving access to off-farm employment are critical to reducing the vulnerability of rural poor households.
• The report calls for addressing gender-specific barriers that prevent women and youth from accessing non-farm jobs.

India’s Response to Climate Change:

National Initiatives:

• India has launched several initiatives to combat climate change in agriculture, such as the National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA), which addresses climate impacts on all crops.
• The government has also implemented contingency plans for agriculture in every district to deal with extreme weather events.

Social Safety Nets:

• India was one of the first countries to introduce an employment guarantee scheme through programs like MGNREGA, providing a safety net to rural populations affected by climate stress.

Conclusion:

The FAO report underscores the need for urgent and inclusive policy action to address the unequal impacts of climate change on the rural poor in India. Expanding social protection, improving employment diversification, and addressing gender barriers are crucial for building resilience among vulnerable communities.

Multiple choice question:

1. Which of the following statements regarding the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is/are correct?

1. FAO is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.
2. The headquarters of FAO is located in New York, United States.
3. FAO releases the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report annually.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. 1 only
2. 1 and 3 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1, 2, and 3

Answer: B

Explanation:

FAO is a specialized agency of the UN focused on defeating hunger and improving food security.

The headquarters of FAO is in Rome, Italy, not New York.

FAO releases the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report annually.

REIMAGINING ACCESS TO JUSTICE

TOPIC: (GS2) POLITY: THE HINDU

The concept of Third-Party Litigation Funding (TPLF) has emerged as a significant innovation in India’s legal system. It aims to address a critical question: Who bears the cost of justice?

TPLF offers a way for financially weaker individuals to pursue justice, making legal battles more accessible by allowing external funders to bear the litigation expenses in exchange for a share of the potential winnings. This system is gaining momentum and has the potential to bring fairness to many who have been previously excluded from seeking legal recourse due to high costs.

What is Third-Party Litigation Funding (TPLF)?

• TPLF is a practice where an external party finances a lawsuit in exchange for a percentage of the monetary outcome if the case is successful.
• It helps individuals or groups who cannot afford the legal costs, enabling them to pursue justice against more powerful opponents, such as corporations or government entities.
• This system is particularly beneficial in cases where legal expenses are too high, or the opposing party has significant resources.

Why is TPLF Needed in India?

• High Litigation Costs: Many individuals, particularly those from low-income backgrounds, cannot afford the high costs of litigation in India, limiting access to justice.
• Pendency of Cases: India’s judiciary has over 40 million pending cases, with more than 80,000 in the Supreme Court alone. TPLF could help reduce this backlog by enabling more people to pursue timely legal action.
• Financial Inequality: The high cost of litigation creates an unequal playing field where financially strong parties often win, not because they have a stronger case, but because they can afford prolonged legal battles.
• Access to Justice: TPLF provides an opportunity for underprivileged individuals and groups to seek justice, particularly in cases against powerful entities like corporations, industrial giants, or the government.

The Legal Framework for TPLF in India

• In a landmark judgment, Bar Council of India v. A.K. Balaji, the Supreme Court cautiously approved TPLF, provided that lawyers were not the ones funding the cases.
• Historically, the 1876 Privy Council case Ram Coomar v. Chunder Canto Mookerjee had ruled that the English law on champerty (which prohibits third-party funding) does not apply to India.
• Some states, such as Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Gujarat, have made amendments to their civil procedure codes to recognize third-party litigation financing, but there is no national regulatory framework yet.

Benefits of TPLF

• Equalizing Power in Legal Battles: TPLF enables financially weaker parties to challenge well-funded opponents, levelling the playing field in the courtroom.
• Encouraging Public Interest Litigations (PIL): TPLF could promote more Public Interest Litigations (PILs) by enabling NGOs and other groups to take on large corporations or government entities without fear of financial ruin.
• Support for Specialized Cases: In areas such as intellectual property rights (IPR) or medical malpractice, where expert witnesses and complex legal processes are involved, TPLF can make a significant difference.
• Social Justice and Accountability: TPLF can empower consumer groups, workers, and marginalized communities to seek redressal in cases of environmental damage, labor exploitation, and corporate malpractices.

Challenges with TPLF

• Cherry-Picking Profitable Cases: Funders might focus on cases with higher financial returns, neglecting socially significant cases that may not be as profitable.
• Control Over Litigation: There is a concern about how much control funders should have over the legal strategies in the cases they finance. This raises questions about ethical boundaries and fairness.
• Lack of Comprehensive Regulation: India lacks a national regulatory framework for TPLF, raising concerns about the financial stability of funders, transparency in agreements, and the protection of clients’ rights.
• Profit Capping and Ethics: There needs to be a limit on how much funders can profit from a case. Without proper regulation, funders might exploit plaintiffs or manipulate outcomes for personal gain.

The Need for Regulation

• Licensing of Funders: Funders should be licensed as financial service providers to ensure that they meet specific ethical and financial standards.
• Monitoring and Oversight: A dedicated body should be established to regulate funders and oversee TPLF practices, ensuring transparency and fairness.
• Capital Adequacy: Like Hong Kong’s Code of Practice for Third-Party Funding in Arbitration, India should consider mandating disclosure of funding details and ensuring funders have adequate financial backing.
• Court Involvement: Courts should play a role in overseeing TPLF arrangements to ensure that the funder’s involvement does not compromise the integrity of the legal process.

Way Forward

• National Regulatory Framework: India needs a comprehensive framework to regulate TPLF, ensuring that funders are financially sound and ethically responsible.
• Transparency in Funding Agreements: There should be clear guidelines for transparency in TPLF agreements, protecting the plaintiff’s decision-making rights and ensuring fair terms.
• Encouraging Public Interest Cases: TPLF should be structured to support socially relevant cases, ensuring that funders do not only focus on financially profitable cases.
• Balancing Access and Integrity: A well-regulated TPLF system can help balance financial innovation with the fundamental right to access justice. It can create a more inclusive legal system while ensuring judicial integrity.

Conclusion

Third-Party Litigation Funding (TPLF) presents an opportunity to make India’s legal system more accessible, particularly for marginalized communities and individuals facing financial constraints. However, for TPLF to be effective and ethical, India needs to develop a strong regulatory framework that addresses the concerns of fairness, transparency, and control. With proper regulation, TPLF could play a significant role in enhancing access to justice in India, helping turn the constitutional promise of “justice for all” into a reality.

DIPHTHERIA

TOPIC: (GS3) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOFY: THE HINDU

Diphtheria is a serious and contagious bacterial infection affecting the nose and throat, caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae.

• It spreads primarily through respiratory droplets, making it highly transmissible.
• The infection can cause significant complications if not treated promptly.

Transmission:

• Person-to-person spread: Through coughing or sneezing, which releases infected droplets into the air.
• Skin contact: Touching infected open sores or ulcers can also transmit the bacteria, though severe skin infections are rare.

Symptoms:

• The infection begins with a sore throat, fever, and swollen neck glands.
• A hallmark of diphtheria is the development of a thick, grey coating in the nose, tonsils, and throat, making breathing and swallowing difficult.
• If untreated, the bacteria produce toxins that can damage the heart, kidneys, and nervous system.

Treatment:

• Immediate treatment involves neutralizing the toxin using Diphtheria Antitoxin (DAT).
• Antibiotics are given to stop bacterial growth and prevent further transmission.
• Supportive care is crucial to manage complications like airway obstruction and heart inflammation (myocarditis).

Prevention:

• Vaccination is the most effective method of preventing diphtheria, and it is critical in outbreak control efforts, like those being carried out in Deeg district, Rajasthan.

OSSIFICATION TEST

TOPIC: (GS3) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOFY: TIMES OF INDIA

An ossification test is a medical procedure used to determine a person’s age by analyzing their bones through x-rays.

How It Works:

• X-rays are taken of specific bones like the clavicle, pelvis, and sternum to observe bone growth and development.
• The fusion of certain bones at different stages of life helps indicate age because bones harden (ossify) as a person grows.

Key Bones Analyzed:

• Clavicle (collarbone): Connects the shoulder blade to the sternum and gradually fuses as a person matures.
• Sternum (breastbone) and pelvis: Also undergo significant changes during growth.

Importance of Timing: Bones like the clavicle show specific fusion at certain ages, making them reliable markers for age estimation, especially during adolescence.

Applications:

• Forensic Science: Used to determine the age of individuals in legal cases, especially when age is disputed.
• Medical Use: Helps assess skeletal maturity in children with growth disorders.

Limitations: While useful, the ossification test can be imprecise since factors like nutrition and genetics can affect bone development.

ROOPKUND LAKE

TOPIC: (GS1) GEOGRAPHY: DOWN TO EARTH

Roopkund Lake, also known as the “Lake of Skeletons,” is a mysterious glacial lake located in Uttarakhand, India. It sits at an altitude of 16,500 feet, at the base of Mount Trishul in the Garhwal Himalayas.

Geography:

• The lake is small, only around 130 feet wide, and is frozen for most of the year.
• Surrounded by snow-capped peaks and lush green meadows, it is a scenic yet remote location.

The Mystery of Skeletons:

• Roopkund is famous for the human skeletons found near and in the lake. These skeletons become visible when the ice melts.
• Dating back to the 9th century AD, the remains have sparked numerous theories about their origins.
• A 2019 scientific study suggested that these individuals were genetically diverse and died over a span of 1,000 years, challenging the belief that they all died in a single catastrophic event.

Impact of Climate Change:

• Due to climate change, Roopkund Lake is shrinking annually as the glaciers that feed it are receding.
• This environmental shift is affecting the local ecosystem and altering the lake’s iconic frozen appearance.

Roopkund’s blend of mystery and geographical beauty makes it an important yet vulnerable site, now increasingly threatened by climate change.

HIBAKUSHA: SURVIVORS OF THE 1945 ATOMIC BOMBINGS

TOPIC: (GS2) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: THE HINDU

Hibakusha is a Japanese term used for survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.

The Atomic Bombings:

• On August 6, 1945, the United States dropped the Little Boy atomic bomb on Hiroshima.
• Three days later, on August 9, the Fat Man bomb was dropped on Nagasaki.
• By the end of 1945, over 200,000 people died due to these attacks, but many survived, suffering from severe injuries.

Double Survivors (Niju Hibakusha):

• There are more than 160 people known as Niju Hibakusha who survived both the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings.

Current Status:

• As of today, 1,06,825 hibakusha are still alive, with an average age of 85.6 years (as per Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare).

Government Support: Hibakusha receive medical allowances and support from the Japanese government to help with health issues resulting from the bombings.

Challenges:

• Despite this, hibakusha and their descendants face discrimination in Japan, with a widespread belief that they may carry hereditary radiation-related conditions.

Recognition: Nihon Hidankyo, the organization supporting hibakusha, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2024 for its efforts.