The Rajasthan Minimum Guaranteed Income Bill 2023

Syllabus: Mechanisms, Laws, Institutions and Bodies constituted for the Protection and Betterment of these Vulnerable Sections

In News

The Rajasthan government has recently introduced the Rajasthan Minimum Guaranteed Income Bill in 2023.

In order to provide individuals or households with a minimal additional guaranteed income in the form of a guaranteed wage/pension, the bill would establish entitlement-based social security.

Salient provisions

• Minimum guaranteed income
  • The state has implemented a minimum guaranteed income system, assuring every adult citizen a minimum income for 125 days annually. 
  • This will be facilitated through two distinct schemes: the flagship Indira Gandhi Shahri Rozgar Guarantee Yojana for urban areas and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) for rural areas.
• To ensure the right to employment, minimum wages must be paid on a weekly basis or, at most, within a fortnight.
  • The Program Officers, namely the BDO in rural areas and the Executive Officer of the local body in urban areas, will be responsible for ensuring that job sites are located within a 5 Km radius of the job card registration location. 
  • In the event that the program officer fails to offer work within 15 days of receiving an application, the applicant is entitled to an unemployment allowance.
• Additionally, eligible categories such as the aged, disabled, widows, and single women will receive a guaranteed social security pension of Rs 1,000, with an annual increase of 15%.

Importance of the Bill:

• The Bill introduces several groundbreaking measures in the country. One notable aspect is its provision to legally guarantee minimum employment and pensions, setting it apart from conventional cash transfer schemes.
• Moreover, the Bill is a part of a comprehensive set of initiatives and policies implemented by the Rajasthan government to address inflation concerns, especially with an upcoming election later this year.

Challenges in Implementation:

• The successful implementation of the Bill faces certain challenges, including the accurate identification of eligible beneficiaries while minimizing both inclusion and exclusion errors.
• Additionally, the financial burden of the Bill is a concern, as the government estimates an annual additional expenditure of Rs 2,500 crore, which may escalate over time.

Conclusion:

As Mahatma Gandhi once said, the true measure of a society lies in how it cares for its most vulnerable members. It is, therefore, a moral obligation for every government to ensure the well-being of the disadvantaged and vulnerable population.

From Great Powers to Asia – India is raising its diplomatic game

Syllabus: International Relations

In News

The Indian Prime Minister’s choice to include Cairo (Egypt) in his itinerary while returning from Washington and Abu Dhabi (UAE) on his journey back to India after visiting Paris indicates India’s intention to enhance its involvement in Africa, Asia, and the interconnected waters of the Indo-Pacific region.

Other similar engagements: India’s External Affairs Minister is currently engaging (in Jakarta and Bangkok) with –

• The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN),
• The ASEAN “plus one” meeting,
• The East Asia Summit (EAS),
• The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF),
• The Forum for Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC), and
• The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).

Engagements with India’s Neighbourhood: A Paradigm Shift in Indian Diplomacy

• In recent times, India’s diplomatic engagements have taken a significant departure from the traditional approach that was followed since its independence. 
• Notably, the focus has been on India’s neighbourhood, which has been prominently emphasized.
  • For instance, a declaration on the Indo-Pacific Roadmap for extensive cooperation was issued by the Indian Prime Minister and the French President, encompassing countries in Africa, the Indian Ocean Region, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. 
• Additionally, a joint statement by the Indian Prime Minister and the US President highlighted strategic collaboration in the Indo-Pacific through the Quad.
  • Moreover, to enhance cooperation, India has actively participated in various regional institutions like the Indian Ocean Rim Association, the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, the Indian Ocean Commission, the Djibouti Code of Conduct, and ASEAN-led institutions.

Why are these engagements not business as usual in Indian diplomacy?

• These engagements mark a departure from India’s traditional diplomatic practices. Historically, India had treated its relations with its Asian neighbourhood as separate from its interactions with major global powers. 
• The underlying principle was to keep the major powers out of the region, aiming to create an “area of peace” in Asia. 
• However, this approach proved difficult to sustain, as India lacked the capability to prevent major powers from entering the region and also faced challenges with its Asian neighbours forming alliances with external powers. 
• Membership in the non-aligned movement (NAM) was based on the criterion that NAM members should avoid deep military-strategic cooperation with major powers.

Implications of these policies

Such policies violated the essence of international politics, as it became evident that sovereign nations prioritize their survival by utilizing all available resources, irrespective of ideology. Moreover, India’s focus on excluding major powers neglected the fact that most threats to sovereignty stem from problems with neighbouring countries.

When did things start changing?

The shift in India’s diplomatic approach started after the Cold War, when the country faced new economic compulsions that led to liberalization of its economy. Consequently, India began to prioritize trade, investment, and connectivity in its relations with Asian neighbours that had long been neglected. This also resulted in India breaking away from the rule of maintaining political distance from major powers.

What led to recent changes in Indian diplomacy?

Recent changes in Indian diplomacy have been driven by the deterioration in India-China relations. In response, India embraced the Indo-Pacific framework and the Quad, initiated by Japan and supported by the US in East Asia. Furthermore, India has forged strategic partnerships with Western powers such as Israel, UAE, and the US, which has increased in significance compared to its engagements with Russia and China.

Conclusion

As a consequence of these evolving diplomatic strategies, India now takes an integrated view of its interests and seeks to pursue them through new and cross-cutting forums, like the Quad and ASEAN, which are viewed as complementary to each other. As India emerges as a major economic entity with substantial geopolitical influence, its ability to shape the interaction between its extended neighbourhood and the world is rapidly growing. This marks a critical transformation in India’s approach to international relations and reflects the country’s readiness to adapt to changing geopolitical dynamics.

Mains Question

How will I2U2 (India, Israel, UAE and USA) grouping transform India’s Position in global politics? (UPSC 2022)

A Roadmap to eliminate poverty in India

Syllabus: Issues relating to Poverty and Hunger/ Growth and development

In News

In 2022-23, India’s present per capita income stands at $2,379. The ambitious aim is to increase this figure nearly sixfold over the next 25 years, ultimately resulting in an elevated standard of living and the eradication of poverty. Realizing this vision requires a thorough comprehension of the challenges ahead and the implementation of appropriate actions.

Current achievements of India in poverty reduction

• Over the period from 2005/2006 to 2019/2021, a significant progress was observed in poverty reduction, with 415 million individuals lifted out of poverty globally (from 645 million to 230 million), as measured by the Global MPI.
• Specifically, India experienced a noteworthy improvement in its poverty situation, with the number of multidimensionally poor declining from 24.85% in 2015-16 to 14.96% in 2019-2021, based on the National MPI.

Challenges Ahead for Economic Development and Poverty Reduction:

On the Global Front:

• Ukraine-Russia Conflict: The ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia has severely impacted the overall global climate for peace, which is vital for sustainable economic growth.
• Supply Disruptions of Critical Imports: The disruption of critical imports, such as oil, poses a significant setback not only for developing countries but also for developed nations, affecting their economic development.
• Changing Attitudes Towards Global Trade: Some rich countries, which previously advocated for free trade models for developing nations, have now imposed restrictions on imports, creating challenges for countries like India that are striving to compete in the global market.

At the Domestic Level:

• Indian Economic Status: While India has developed a reasonably strong and diversified economy in the past 75 years and ranks as the 5th largest economy globally, it still faces the challenge of low per capita income, ranking 149th out of 194 countries.
• Export-Led Growth Strategy: India needs to reconsider its heavy reliance on an export-led growth strategy, especially in the context of a changing global trade situation, as other countries that pursued this path have encountered varying degrees of success.
• Adoption of New Technologies: India’s ability to adopt and integrate new technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), will significantly impact its industrial structure and employment landscape. While AI can enhance productivity and output, it may not necessarily translate into increased job opportunities.
• Environmental Considerations: Efforts to reduce pollution can have an impact on overall output, and this must be considered in the pursuit of high annual growth rates like 8%.
• Provision for Basic Income: In an uncertain world, providing basic income becomes increasingly urgent. However, determining the appropriate level and coverage of such income support requires careful consideration.

Actions Required to Overcome Challenges:

• Multi-dimensional Strategy: India should focus on developing agriculture, related activities, manufacturing, and exports while preserving its achievements in the services sector.
• Raising Per Capita Income: A goal of increasing per capita income by six times, from $2,379 in 2022-23 over the next 25 years, should be pursued.
• Reorienting the Educational System: To prepare the workforce for the future, India must restructure its educational system to equip students with the necessary skills to succeed in an evolving economy.
• Identifying Labour-Intensive Economic Activities: Emphasizing labour-intensive economic activities can help in creating more job opportunities and reducing unemployment.
• Implementing Basic Income: To ensure the effective implementation of a basic income system, beneficiaries must be identified based on specific normative considerations.

Potential Implications of These Actions:

By adopting the above actions, India can achieve a higher standard of living for its people, reduce inequality, and ultimately eliminate poverty.

Conclusion:

Despite the challenges, India can still achieve a sustained growth rate of 6 to 7% and improve job prospects with the right growth strategy and an enabling investment climate. Strategic planning and effective implementation of policies will be crucial in overcoming the obstacles and achieving long-term economic development and poverty reduction.

Checking indiscriminate use of groundwater for irrigation

Syllabus: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation

In News

There is a need to urgently address the pressure on groundwater resources, starting with irrigation water use.

Concerns:

• India ranks as the world’s largest consumer of groundwater, surpassing the combined usage of the two largest economies, the United States and China. 
• The escalating demands from domestic, industrial, and agricultural sectors are exerting immense pressure on groundwater resources.
• As a result, India is now perilously close to being classified as a water-scarce nation, with each person receiving 1,486 cubic meters (1 cubic meter = 1,000 liters) of freshwater annually. 
• A country is officially deemed water-scarce when the per capita availability falls below 1,000 cubic meters per year. 
• Climate change further exacerbates the situation, potentially leading to severe implications such as threats to food security, heightened conflicts, and mass migration if not addressed promptly.

The Interplay between Groundwater Stress and Agriculture:

• More than 60% of irrigation requirements in India are currently met by groundwater. The increasing reliance on tubewells, especially in the northwestern plains since the 1980s, accounts for approximately 77% of the total increase in irrigation. 
• This shift has led to the introduction of new water-intensive crops in previously non-traditional areas, such as paddy in Punjab, where the area under rice cultivation has surged from 47% to 80% of the total cropped area between the 1970s and 2019, as well as in Haryana. 
• Moreover, this expansion has led to greater cropping intensity, with cultivation extending into the mostly arid winter and summer seasons.

Implications of Changing Crop Patterns:

The rapid depletion of groundwater, coupled with the deterioration of soil and human health, has created a crisis. Additionally, the focus on particular crops like paddy in Punjab has come at the expense of other crops like oilseeds, pulses, maize, and cotton, leading to reduced crop diversity.

Drivers Behind this Trend:

Water and electricity policies, particularly subsidies, have been significant drivers of the increased cultivation of rice in India.

The Way Ahead:

To address the pressing water scarcity and agricultural challenges, several measures can be pursued:

• Rainwater Harvesting: India receives a substantial amount of freshwater through precipitation, approximately 4,000 billion cubic meters (BCM) annually, but currently, only 1,123 BCM is being utilized. Encouraging the storage and utilization of rainwater can contribute significantly to water conservation.
• Efficient Management of Surface Water: In regions where surface irrigation is available, better management of surface water resources can help optimize water usage.
• Rational Energy and Water Pricing: Implementing effective policies that link energy and water pricing can encourage farmers to diversify their cropping patterns and discourage excessive groundwater extraction. However, there is a concern that farmers might shift to alternative energy sources, such as solar pumping, reducing the desired impact.
• Additionally, the current non-volumetric irrigation water pricing in India, which largely applies to canal-sourced systems based on the area and type of crops grown, might need revision.
• Encouraging Surplus Solar Energy Sales: Encouraging farmers to sell surplus solar energy by offering an increased tariff can promote renewable energy adoption and contribute to sustainable practices.
• Implementing Water Meters: Introducing water meters for irrigation water pricing would allow for the accurate assessment of water usage, leading to more efficient water conservation practices.
• By adopting a multi-faceted approach that combines rainwater harvesting, improved surface water management, and thoughtful policies on energy and water pricing, India can work towards safeguarding its groundwater resources and ensuring a sustainable agricultural future.

Tankai method

• The Ministry of Culture and the Indian Navy signed an MoU to revive the ancient stitched shipbuilding method, the Tankai method.
• Tankai Method:
  • Ancient shipbuilding technique involving stitching wooden planks together instead of using nails.
  • Offers flexibility and durability to ships, reducing vulnerability to damage from shoals and sandbars.
  • Preserving this 2000-year-old technique is the main objective.
• Significance:
  • Vital for preserving India’s maritime heritage and cultural history.
  • Aims to promote cultural memories and strengthen ties with Indian Ocean littoral countries.
• Usage:
  • Can be showcased in essays or discussions on Indian Arts and Culture to highlight traditional shipbuilders’ exceptional craftsmanship in India.

Zombie Fires

In News

As global temperatures continue to rise, a concerning phenomenon known as “zombie fires” is becoming more prevalent.

What are Zombie Fires? 

Zombie fires are a type of underground wildfire that remains smoldering beneath the surface, burning slowly and emitting substantial amounts of smoke. What sets them apart is their ability to persist through the winter months, only to reemerge during the subsequent spring. Detecting and extinguishing these fires is exceptionally challenging, presenting a formidable task for firefighting efforts.

Reason for it:

These fires tend to occur in carbon-rich peatlands, and their impact on the environment is significant. Not only do they contribute to climate change, but they also worsen air pollution. As the Arctic experiences warmer conditions, its forests and tundra become increasingly vulnerable to wildfires. Additionally, changes in atmospheric circulation, such as a rise in lightning strikes, further contribute to the outbreak of these fires in the region. This combination of factors makes it crucial to address the issue of zombie fires to mitigate their adverse effects on the Arctic ecosystem and beyond.

The rising occurrence of zombie fires highlights the pressing necessity to confront climate change and its consequences on wildfire vulnerabilities.

Related Term:

Zombie ice, also referred to as “polar ice zombie,” is a concept used to describe Arctic or Antarctic ice that seems to melt and vanish during the warmer months, only to reappear and freeze again as the colder months set in. Unfortunately, this ice is no longer being replenished by parent glaciers, leading to concerning implications for polar regions.

Sovereign Green Bonds

In News

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has taken a significant step by allowing pension funds to invest in sovereign green bonds, which are anticipated to be issued by the government in the latter half of the current financial year.

What are Sovereign Green Bonds?

• Sovereign Green Bonds are government-issued bonds specifically utilized to finance projects that yield positive environmental impacts and contribute to sustainability objectives. 
• These bonds were introduced as part of the Union Budget for the fiscal year 2022-23, with the framework for SGrBs being issued by the Ministry of Finance in 2022. A key advantage for investors in these bonds is that they are not exposed to project-related risks.
• In the previous year, the government successfully raised Rs 16,000 crore through the issuance of Sovereign Green Bonds, directing the funds towards projects focused on reducing carbon emissions. Currently, the National Pension System comprises ten pension fund managers, and the recent move aims to promote investments in environmentally friendly initiatives.

About PFRDA:

As for the PFRDA, it is a statutory organization established in 2003 with its headquarters located in New Delhi. It operates under the Ministry of Finance’s jurisdiction and serves as the regulatory body overseeing and managing pensions in India.

Advance Authorisation Scheme

In News

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has introduced the Advance Authorisation Scheme as part of the Foreign Trade Policy. This scheme permits the duty-free import of inputs that are intended for use in export production. The eligibility of these inputs is determined by Sector-specific Norms Committees, which assess them based on input-output norms.

• To simplify and expedite the process of norms fixation, the DGFT has established a user-friendly and easily searchable database containing Ad-hoc Norms fixed in previous years. Exporters can now utilize these pre-established norms without the need for a review by the Norms Committee, as per the guidelines outlined in the Foreign Trade Policy of 2023.
• By implementing this trade facilitation measure, the advance authorisation and norms fixation process have become more streamlined. This leads to quicker turnaround times for exporters, enhances the ease of doing business, and reduces the compliance burden.

The key features of the Advance Authorization Scheme include:

Duty-free import of inputs physically incorporated into the export product.

Permitted inclusion of packaging material, fuel, oil, and catalyst used in the production of the export product.

DGFT offers a sector-wise list of Standard Input-Output Norms (SION) from which exporters can choose while applying for the scheme.

The validity period of the Advance Authorization is 12 months from the date of its issuance.

Airbus C-295aircraft

In News

Airbus and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) have joined forces to establish an aircraft manufacturing facility in Vadodara, Gujarat. 

The collaboration aims to execute a ₹22,000-crore deal with the Indian Air Force for the procurement of 56 C-295MW transport aircraft. 

• These new aircraft will replace the existing Avro planes. Out of the total order, 16 C-295MW aircraft will be manufactured in Spain, while the remaining 40 will be produced in India through a joint effort by Airbus and Tata.
• This groundbreaking initiative marks the first time a private sector company will be engaged in the complete manufacturing of an aircraft within India.

About the C-295:

The C-295 is a state-of-the-art transport aircraft with a remarkable capacity of 9 tonnes, capable of carrying up to 71 troops or 50 paratroopers. It boasts a flight endurance of up to 11 hours, allowing for versatile operations in all weather conditions.

The C-295 will be a significant upgrade, replacing the aging Avro-748 planes currently in service with the Indian Air Force. These British-origin twin-engine turboprops have a freight capacity of 6 tonnes.

Sweden

In News

• Protesters in Baghdad, Iraq, stormed the Swedish Embassy due to an expected Koran-burning event in Stockholm, Sweden.
• Sweden’s laws safeguard the right to hold public demonstrations, and blasphemy laws were discarded in the 1970s.
• Turkey has withdrawn its objection to Sweden becoming a part of NATO.
• Sweden is a Scandinavian country known for its numerous coastal islands, inland lakes, expansive boreal forests, and glaciated mountains.
• It shares borders with Norway to the west and north, Finland to the east, and is connected to Denmark via a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund.

East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project

In News

• The East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project links the Tilenga and Kingfisher oilfields in western Uganda to the port of Tanga in eastern Tanzania.
• Concerns have been raised regarding the project’s potential impact on ecosystems and contribution to the global climate crisis.
• The pipeline’s construction is expected to disrupt sensitive ecosystems, including Uganda’s Murchison Falls National Park and the Murchison Falls-Albert Delta Ramsar site.

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