UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice — GS 2: Questions on Jal Jeevan Mission and India-UK Free Trade Agreement (Week 103)

QUESTION 1

The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) aims to provide Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) to every rural household in India. Despite significant progress in infrastructure, disparities in actual water usage persist. Critically examine.

QUESTION 2

The India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is projected to yield multiple economic benefits for India, including enhanced bilateral trade, integration into global supply chains, and increased foreign investments. Discuss.

General points on the structure of the answers

Introduction

— The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction.

— It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts.

Body

— It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content.

— The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points.

— Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse.

QUESTION 1: The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) aims to provide Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) to every rural household in India. Despite significant progress in infrastructure, disparities in actual water usage persist. Critically examine.

Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.

Introduction:

— Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), the central government’s flagship project, is currently suffering serious structural and functional issues. The JJM was established in 2019 with the goal of providing 100 percent functional household tap connections (FHTC) by 2024.

— According to the most recent NSSO data, the government has made great headway, with nearly 90% of rural families having access to a tap connection. The government plans to cover the remaining homes by 2028.

Body:

You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer:

— There is a significant difference in tap water access and consumption, with only 39% of rural households using taps as their major source (NSS 79th Round, 2022-23). Furthermore, how tap water is used varies greatly by region. Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, and Odisha have very low tap usage rates ranging from 6% to 30%. The disparity between tap water access and use suggests that the JJM has significant functioning issues.

— Reports reveal a reduction in financial assistance by the central government, bureaucratic irregularities at the state level, and scams in constructing JJM’s infrastructure, which has slowed down JJM’s progress. Increasing financial burdens, coupled with incomplete infrastructure and a lack of transparency in the provision of the tender, leave JJM with an uncertain future.

— Structural issues necessitate consideration from both central, state, and local governments. It is critical to understand how tap water infrastructures are maintained and managed in everyday life, as well as what factors aid in closing the gap between tap access and use.

— As a result of worldwide debates and constitutional reforms, some countries have attempted to establish a decentralised and community-driven drinking water system. However, we have yet to establish a decentralised method. Local institutions and players responsible for tap water supply have limited financial and technical autonomy. It is critical to address the social and spatial problems that these institutions encounter when placing taps, as well as whether they are technically capable of managing water quality and quantity and supplying it on time.

— There is an urgent need to strengthen grievance resolution channels and methods. Another major problem is that administrative-level data does not accurately reflect reality on the ground. The JJM display reveals that many villages and areas have 100% tap water availability. However, it used outdated census data to determine tap water access.

— The JJM also involves material considerations for water, infrastructure, and families. The concern over unpredictable climate, untimely precipitation, and surface and groundwater depletion has had an impact on water quality, quantity, and a timely and appropriate drinking water supply.

— Leakage, breakage, disruption, breakdown, and suspension are all valid concerns, alongside others. An efficient tap water supply necessitates ongoing repair and maintenance efforts.

Conclusion:

— The position of the water tank, as well as the distance between residences and the tank, are critical to receiving enough pressure. Furthermore, involving different caste groups in local-level institutions (for example, as plumbers, pump operators, and engineers) is critical for an efficient tap water supply as well as repair and maintenance operations.

— With an expanding population and insufficient secure infrastructure, rural communities are once again trapped in water source precarity, dependence, and economic hardship. The Jal Jeevan Mission’s future must include these components in order to have an efficient supply chain.

(Source: Many challenges of Jal Jeevan Mission: Decentralisation is the only way ahead)

Points to Ponder

Read more about JJM

Read about other schemes under Ministry of Jal Shakti

Related Previous Year Questions

In a crucial domain like the public healthcare system, the Indian State should play a vital role in containing the adverse impact of the marketisation of the system. Suggest measures through which the State can enhance the reach of public healthcare at the grassroots level. (2024)

‘To ensure effective implementation of policies addressing water, sanitation and hygiene needs, the identification of beneficiary segments is to be synchronized with the anticipated outcomes’. Examine the statement in the context of the WASH scheme. (2017)

QUESTION 2: The India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is projected to yield multiple economic benefits for India, including enhanced bilateral trade, integration into global supply chains, and increased foreign investments. Discuss.

Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.

Introduction:

— In a world economy plagued by trade disputes and fears about decreasing trade growth, the conclusion of India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) talks is a significant milestone.

— After 15 rounds of rigorous negotiations since January 2022, a historic free trade deal was struck in principle on May 6. However, installation will require some time.

Body:

You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer:

— The FTA appears to abolish tariffs on roughly 99 percent of Indian exports to the UK, creating considerable commercial prospects.

— The pact might also result in significant benefits in services, with the UK promising ambitious market access promises and easier transfer of Indian specialists to the UK.

— Parallel negotiations on a bilateral investment treaty (BIT) to protect investments between the two countries may be more difficult to conclude. Disagreements regarding dispute resolution processes and investor protections may impede development on the BIT.

— FTAs are well suited to India’s fast growing economy, which is rising at more than 6% per year in a global economy growing at half that rate. For Britain, signing trade agreements with the United States and India at the same time signals a re-engagement with the two largest democracies and their markets following Brexit.

— Geopolitical signalling is important in this transaction. The free trade agreement between the world’s fourth and sixth largest economies comes at a time when the Trump administration’s reciprocal tariff policies are generating economic uncertainty. This has rekindled previously dormant negotiations about concluding FTAs between like-minded countries.

— An India-EU free trade agreement, in conjunction with an India-UK free trade agreement, has the potential to alter global trade rules and even resuscitate the World Trade Organisation.

Potential economic benefits for India

— Lowering trade and regulatory barriers through the FTA will stimulate specialisation and commerce based on comparative advantage between India and the United Kingdom.

— India is a minor contributor in global supply chains, accounting for approximately 1.5 percent of goods exports in 2023. The India-UK Free Trade Agreement provides incentives for multinational corporations such as Apple to invest in export-oriented Indian manufacturing capacity, as well as the possibility of India potentially supplying the UK market.

— As tariffs are reduced under the bilateral FTA, consumers will benefit from more access to high-quality products and lower pricing.

— The FTA is a step towards India’s inclusion in the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The CPTPP, a high-standard, massive FTA that lowers trade barriers for its members but which India declined to join, accounts for a significant portion of global commerce.

Conclusion:

— The India–UK FTAs are an enabling condition for India’s growth and influence in the global economy. Countries that use FTAs as a springboard to implement broad economic reforms and address supply-side issues will reap the most geopolitical and economic benefits.

(Source: Four ways in which India gains from an FTA with the UK)

Points to Ponder

Read about India and UK trade relations

Read about FTA

Related Previous Year Questions

What are the key areas of reform if the WTO has to survive in the present context of ‘Trade War’, especially keeping in mind the interest of India? (2018)

Discuss the geopolitical and geostrategic importance of the Maldives for India with a focus on global trade and energy flows. Further, discuss how this relationship affects India’s maritime security and regional stability amidst international competition. (2024)

Previous Mains Answer Practice

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 102)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 103)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 102)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 101)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 102)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 101)

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