Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for November 2, 2023. If you missed the November 1, 2023 UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here FRONT PAGE Poll bonds selectively anonymous, ruling party can identify donors, Opp cannot: SC Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance Main Examination: General Studies II: Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability Key Points to Ponder: • What’s the ongoing story- The Supreme Court said Wednesday that the 2018 Electoral Bonds Scheme suffers from “selective anonymity/confidentiality” leading to an “information hole” and wondered whether it leaves scope for misuse because donors, instead of investing a big sum to purchase the bond, may aggregate bonds for smaller amounts from different buyers. • What exactly the Supreme Court said about the 2018 Electoral Bonds Scheme? • What determinations need to be made about the constitutional legitimacy of the electoral bond scheme implemented by the Centre? • For Your Information-Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, presiding over a 5-judge Constitution Bench hearing petitions challenging the validity of the scheme, said, “The problem with the scheme is that it provides for selective anonymity It’s not completely anonymous. It’s not confidential qua the SBI (the bonds can be purchased only from SBI). It’s not confidential qua the law enforcement agency. So, a large donor would never take the risk of buying the electoral bonds for the purpose of tendering it to a political party.” “All that the large donor has to do is to disaggregate the donation, get people who will purchase electoral bonds with small amounts which will be then purchased by official banking channels, not through cash,” he said. • What are electoral bonds? • Why were electoral bonds introduced? • What has the court ruled previously? • What remains to be decided now? • What has the ECI’s stance been? • What has the Centre’s stance been? • Do You Know- In 2017, when the scheme was being finalised, Garg briefed then Chief Election Commissioner A K Joti and then Election Commissioners O P Rawat and Sunil Arora. In a “record note” on the meeting held on September 22, 2017, Garg said Rawat “expressed doubts that the electoral bonds can be misused by shell companies”, to which he replied that the KYC compliance would require giving the source of funds. Rawat has since then publicly called the scheme “opaque”. According to the record, CEC Joti raised three issues — (i) that the electoral bonds would not be available to individual candidates and new political parties; (ii) that there was an inconsistency between the Income Tax Act and the Representation of the People Act, with cash donations under the former law limited to Rs 2,000 while the latter allows up to Rs 20,000; and (iii) that political parties should be required to give the ECI denomination-wise details of the EBs received by them. The scheme was eventually opened to any political party registered with the ECI that had received 1% of votes in the previous election. In RTI replies provided so far, SBI has said 25 parties have opened accounts to cash EBs. Parties submit the sum of donations received from all sources, including EBs, to the ECI every year. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Can’t disclose identity of electoral bond donors to protect citizen’s right to privacy, Solicitor General tells SC 📍What are electoral bonds, how has govt defended them, what Supreme Court has to decide GST revenue surges 13% in Oct, second-highest since its rollout in 2017 Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development and Indian Polity and Governance Mains Examination: • General Studies II: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein • General Studies III: Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. Key Points to Ponder: • What’s the ongoing story- GROSS GOODS and Services Tax (GST) collections surged 13.4 per cent year-on-year in October — for sales in September — to Rs 1.72 lakh crore, the second-highest level since the July 2017 rollout of the indirect tax regime, according to data released by the Finance Ministry on Wednesday. A pickup in consumption and economic activity along with settlement of disputes by businesses following a spate of notices issued by GST authorities are likely to have contributed to the sharp rise in the GST revenue. • What do the latest Goods and Services Tax (GST) numbers reveal? • For Your Information-With the latest print, Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue collections have averaged at Rs 1.66 lakh crore per month during April-October 2023, up 11.4 per from the monthly average of Rs 1.49 lakh crore seen during April-October 2022. Overall, the total Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections stood at Rs 1,72,003 crore in October, recording the highest year-on-year growth rate in 10 months. Out of the total GST revenue in October, Central GST — the tax levied on intra-state supplies of goods and services by the Centre — was Rs 30,062 crore, State GST — the tax levied on intra-state supplies of goods and services by the states — was Rs 38,171 crore, Integrated GST (IGST) — the tax levied on all inter-state supplies of goods and services — was Rs 91,315 crore (including Rs 42,127 crore collected on import of goods) and cess was Rs 12,456 crore (including Rs 1,294 crore collected on import of goods). Revenues from domestic transactions (including import of services) were 13 per cent higher the figure from the same month last year, the Finance Ministry said in its statement. In October, the government settled Rs 42,873 crore to Central GST and Rs 36,614 crore to State GST from Integrated GST. As a result, the total revenue for the month after settlement was Rs 72,934 crore for the Centre and Rs 74,785 crore for State GST. • First of all, what is Goods and Services Tax (GST) and How does it work? • The Kelkar Task Force on the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, 2003 and the Genesis of Goods and Services Tax (GST) • Goods and Services Tax (GST) and 101st Amendment Act, 2016-Know in detail • What are the different types of Goods and Services Tax (GST)? • Know the differences between Central GST (CGST), State GST (SGST), Union territory GST (UTGST) and Integrated GST (IGST) • How would a particular transaction of goods and services be taxed simultaneously under Central GST (CGST) and State GST (SGST)? • What are the benefits of Goods and Services Tax (GST) in India? • Goods and Services Tax (GST)-Issues and Challenges • GST Council and Article 279A of the Constitution-Key Provisions • GST Council and Members-Know in detail • What is the role of GST Council? • Which taxes at the Centre and State level are being subsumed into Goods and Services Tax (GST)? • What are the major chronological events that have led to the introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST)? • How Goods and Services Tax (GST) is administered in India? • How a particular transaction of goods and services be taxed simultaneously under Central GST (CGST) and State GST (SGST)? • What is the state-wise growth in GST revenue? • What are the reasons for the surge in GST revenue? • What does the pickup suggest for government finances? • For Your Information-Central GST collections, after settlement of share from IGST, stood at Rs 4.87 lakh crore during April-October. This accounts for 60 per cent of the Budget target for CGST of Rs 8.12 lakh crore. A pickup in GST revenues would also imply a significant support for the government’s fiscal arithmetic, as it is likely to see a shortfall in the disinvestment receipts and as direct tax revenue growth remains a step behind. Experts said at the present growth rate of GST revenue, CGST collections are expected to slightly overshoot the budgetary target for FY24. “GST collections recorded a meaningful sequential uptick…benefitting from quarter end adjustments related to transactions in the previous month as well as the overall momentum in the economy. With this, the pace of YoY growth jumped to a 10-month high in October 2023, which is encouraging. At present, we project the CGST collections to mildly exceed the FY2024 BE,” Aditi Nayar, Chief Economist, Head, Research & Outreach, ICRA Ltd, said. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Why GST collections surged sharply in October GOVT & POLITICS Modi, Hasina flag off cross-border rail link virtually Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: India and its neighborhood- relations. Key Points to Ponder: • What’s the ongoing story- A decade after India and Bangladesh signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to set up the first Indo-Bangla international railway connectivity in NE India in 2013, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Premier Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday jointly inaugurated the project from New Delhi and Dhaka respectively. Both Modi and Hasina were present at the event virtually. • What is the project? • The Agartala-Akhaura project-Know the key features • Map Work- Agartala and Akhaura • Who is funding the project? • Do You Know-In the 12.24-km Agartala-Akhaura railway line, 5.46 kilometres lie on the Indian side in Tripura, and 6.78 km in the Akhaura upa-zilla in Brahmanbaria district of Bangladesh. The train will start from Agartala and move to Nischintapur, on the Indian-Bangladesh border, where the immigration checks will be held. The first station on the Bangladesh side will be Gangasagar. The trial run of a goods train was held on the route on Monday. Liafat Ali Majumder, a senior engineer of Bangladesh Railways, said the trial was successful, but passenger trains are likely to be started later based on the status of discussions between the governments of both countries. After the trial run for passenger services is completed, full-fledged train services between Agartala-Akhaura and Agartala-Chittagong (Chattogram) are expected to commence. The state has repeatedly expressed the hope that the project will eventually cover Dhaka and Kolkata. The project, which had its MoU signed in 2013, started with Rs 972.52 crore in 2016, including Rs 580 crore sanctioned for work on the Indian side and Rs 392.52 crore for the Bangladesh side. However, the budget was later revised twice due to cost escalation and other ancillary expenses. The final project cost is estimated at Rs 1255.10 crore, with Rs 862.58 crore allocated for works on the Indian side alone. The entire project cost is being funded by India. The Ministry for Development of North East Region (DoNER) funded the work on the Indian side, and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) funded the expense for the Bangladesh side as ‘Aid to Bangladesh’. The Indian Railway Construction International Limited (IRCON), a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Indian Railways, did the work on the Indian side, and Texmaco, a private Indian firm, implemented the work on the Bangladesh side. Land of 86.85 acres was acquired for the project on the Indian side and handed over to IRCON. • Why is the project important to Tripura? • What other trains run between India and Bangladesh? • For Your Information-For land-locked Tripura, any connectivity project is of great practical significance. Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, who participated in the inaugural event virtually from Agartala, said the project was crucial for connectivity in the NE region and would make Tripura the gateway for tourism. “This day will go down in golden letters in the history of Indo-Bangla relationship. Tripura is going to be the gateway for tourism and transport between India and Bangladesh. Due to the Agartala-Akhaura railway project, the distance between Agartala and Kolkata will be effectively reduced from 1600 km to 500 km,” he said. However, connectivity with Bangladesh also holds emotional significance. Tripura shares an 856-km international border with Bangladesh, the second highest after West Bengal. The North Eastern state is surrounded by the country on all three sides except Assam on the fourth. During the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war and the creation of Bangladesh, Tripura, a state which then had only 14 lakh people, sheltered nearly 15 lakh East Pakistani refugees. It ran at least 8 major muktijoddha (liberation warrior) training camps. With the new connectivity project, people on both sides can now hope for closer and smoother ties. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍In Tripura-Bangladesh railway link, new opportunities and old connect THE EDITORIAL PAGE A TAX TREATY PROBLEM Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development Main Examination: General Studies II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s Interest Key Points to Ponder: • What’s the ongoing story-Suranjali Tandon Writes: As economic realities change, negotiated relations among countries must also adapt. There is a need for periodic review of tax treaties, especially with respect to their economic benefits. • What is tax treaty? • For Your Information-According to Investopedia, a tax treaty is a bilateral (two-party) agreement made by two countries to resolve issues involving double taxation of passive and active income of each of their respective citizens. Income tax treaties generally determine the amount of tax that a country can apply to a taxpayer's income, capital, estate, or wealth. An income tax treaty is also called a Double Tax Agreement (DTA). When an individual or business invests in a foreign country, the issue of which country should tax the investor’s earnings may arise. Both countries–the source country and the residence country–may enter into a tax treaty to agree on which country should tax the investment income to prevent the same income from getting taxed twice. The source country is the country that hosts the inward investment. The source country is also sometimes referred to as the capital-importing country. The residence country is the investor's country of residence. The residence country is also sometimes referred to as the capital-exporting country. To avoid double taxation, tax treaties may follow one of two models: The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Model and the United Nations (UN) Model Convention • What Is a Tax Treaty Between Countries? • How does Tax Treaty Work? • What is meant by double tax agreements? • “Tax treaties are not set in stone. The changing contours of legislation and economic circumstances can present interpretive challenges, as observed recently by the Supreme Court”-What have you understood? • What Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)? • What is the purpose of Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)? • Is India a member of Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)? • Do You Know-In the 2021 Concentrix case, the Delhi High Court ruled that the beneficial terms of the treaty could be extended without notification. Proceeding on this basis, though knowing well the possibility of a further appeal before the apex court, taxpayers sought a certificate for low tax deduction at source. Taxpayers did not find it useful to seek clarity through an advance ruling. Perhaps this was due to the costs and time involved and the absence of an independent judicial member in the new Board of Advance Ruling. In February 2022, the Central Board of Direct Taxation (CBDT) issued a circular clarifying its position, yet a favourable ruling by the Court would still be available to the taxpayer. Thus, multiple disputes ensued on the matter. • What is the most Favoured nation (MFN) principle? • What are the benefits of Most Favoured nation (MFN)? • What is preferential treatment in Free Trade Agreement? • “While a most favoured nation (MFN) provision is meant to safeguard against preferential treatment of some countries, the invocation of such benefit without notification undermines the legislative process”-Comment • For Your Information-The Most Favoured nation (MFN) concept requires countries that are part of the World Trade Organisation to accord the most favourable tariff and regulatory treatment given to the products or services of any one member at the time of import or export of “like products” to all other members. This is a bedrock principle of the WTO and would also be a factor for New Delhi as it negotiates multiple negotiations at the same time. Others are well within their rights to seek a concession extended by a WTO signatory to another member nation/ bloc. • Know about other types of trade agreements like Bilateral investment treaty (BIT), Preferential Trade Area, Single market, Customs Union etc. • What is definition of Tax Treaty Between Countries given by WTO? Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) 📍What Is a Tax Treaty Between Countries & How Does It Work? THE WORLD China begins nationwide population survey amid first drop in six decades Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: • General Studies II: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. • General Studies II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests Key Points to Ponder: • What’s the ongoing story- China will begin polling 1.4 million people on Wednesday in a survey on population changes, as authorities struggle to incentivise people to have more children amid a declining birth rate and the first population drop in more than six decades. The poll, which was announced on Oct. 10 in an unexpected move, will focus on urban and rural areas throughout the country. The survey will be based on a sample of 500,000 households and last for around two weeks until Nov. 15, China's National Bureau of Statistics said. • China will begin polling 1.4 million people-Why? • China's population developmental change-Discuss • “The country reported a drop of roughly 850,000 people for a population of 1.41175 billion in 2022, marking the first decline since 1961, the last year of China's Great Famine”-Chart out the causes and reasons for such massive decline • China’s shrinking population and India’s surging population-Compare • Do You Know-China’s population, according to its National Bureau of Statistics, fell to 1,411.8 million in 2022, from 1,412.6 million in the previous year. An absolute decline in population is a landmark event, for a country that is soon set to be surpassed — if it has not already — by India as home to the most number of people. India has not conducted an official headcount Census after 2011. But going by the United Nations projections, its population stood at 1,417.2 million in 2022 (more than China’s) and is expected to reach 1,428.6 million in 2023. • “The potential implications, especially economic, of China’s shrinking population and India’s surging ahead, are huge”-Analyse • A country’s population increases with what? • Why China faces a crisis when it comes to population? • What you know about “One-Child Policy”? • For Your Information- A country’s population increases with reduction in mortality or relative number of deaths. The population growth slows — and may even go into reverse, like it has now for China — with declining fertility rates. Mortality falls with increased education levels, public health and vaccination programmes, access to food and medical care, and provision of safe drinking water and sanitation facilities. The crude death rate (CDR) — the number of persons dying per year per 1,000 population — was 23.2 for China and 22.2 for India in 1950. It fell to single digits for China first in 1974 (to 9.5) and for India in 1994 (9.8), and further to 7.3-7.4 for both in 2020. Another mortality indicator is life expectancy at birth. Between 1950 and 2020, it went up from 43.7 to 78.1 years for China and from 41.7 to 70.1 years for India. The total fertility rate (TFR) — the number of babies an average woman bears over her lifetime — was as high as 5.8 for China and 5.7 for India in 1950. The TFR has fallen sharply for India in the past three decades. Between 1992-93 and 2019-21, it came down from 3.4 to 2; the fall was especially significant in the rural areas. A TFR of 2.1 is considered as “replacement-level fertility”. Simply understood, a woman having two children replaces herself and her partner with two new lives. Since all infants may not survive, the replacement TFR is taken at slightly above two. China’s TFR, according to its 2020 Census, was 1.3 births per woman — marginally up from the 1.2 in the 2010 and 2000 censuses, but way below the replacement rate of 2.1. China officially ended its one-child policy, introduced in 1980, from 2016. But that’s unlikely to stem the decline in the country’s population, which the UN has projected at 1,312.6 billion in 2050, a near 100 million drop from the 2021 peak. The real crisis for China, however, is the decline in its population that is of prime working age. If there is a large population that’s able to work and earn, not only will there be relatively fewer people to support — those too old or too young — but also greater tax revenues and savings potential from the generation of incomes. As these are directed to finance investments, a virtuous cycle of growth is unleashed — as indeed it happened in China. But that cycle has started to reverse, and the share of China’s working-age population is projected to fall below 50% by 2045. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍China’s population drops for first time in 60 years: How this happened, road ahead Biggest China Antarctic fleet sails to build research station Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests. Key Points to Ponder: • What’s the ongoing story-Two Chinese icebreaker research vessels and a cargo ship set sail on Wednesday for the Antarctic with more than 460 personnel on board to help complete construction of China's fifth station on the world's southernmost continent. China's biggest flotilla of research vessels deployed to the Antarctic will focus on building the station on the rocky, windswept Inexpressible Island near the Ross Sea, a deep Southern Ocean bay named after a 19th century British explorer. • Map Work- Antarctic and Ross Sea • Why is called Antarctic? • What is the difference between Antarctic and Antarctica? • China’s biggest flotilla of research vessels deployed to the Antarctic will focus on what? • China’s largest flotilla of research vessels-What you know so far? • Do You Know-China’s biggest flotilla of research vessels deployed to the Antarctic will focus on building the station on the rocky, windswept Inexpressible Island near the Ross Sea, a deep Southern Ocean bay named after a 19th century British explorer. From 1985 to 2014, China constructed four research stations in the Antarctic. According to a U.S.-based think tank, the fifth might be completed by next year. According to a report released this year by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the facility is anticipated to include an observatory with a satellite ground station and should help China “fill in a major gap” in its ability to access the continent. According to the statement, the station is also in a good location to gather telemetry data on rockets launched from Australia’s new Arnhem Space Centre as well as signals intelligence over Australia and New Zealand. • How many research stations are on Antarctica? • Which research station is in Antarctica by India? • What is Antarctic Treaty? • What does the Antarctic Treaty do? • Member countries of Antarctic Treaty-Know them and mark them on map • What are the Key provisions of the Antarctic treaty? • The Arctic And The Antarctic-Compare • The Antarctic Treaty System and Arctic Council-Compare and Contrast Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍China to flesh out its Antarctic ambitions at treaty meeting EXPLAINED India’s own CAR-T cell therapy Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. Key Points to Ponder: • What’s the ongoing story- The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) this month granted market authorisation for NexCAR19, India’s first indigenously-developed CAR-T cell therapy, to ImmunoACT, a company incubated by IIT Bombay. This paves the way for the commercial launch of this therapy in India, where it is expected to be available to cancer patients at a tenth of the cost abroad. • What is CAR-T cell therapy, and how do CAR-T cells find and destroy cancer cells? • Do You Know-CAR-T is a revolutionary therapy that modifies immune cells, specifically T-cells, by turning them into potent cancer fighters known as CAR-T cells. T-cells are special cells (white blood cells that find and fight illness and infection) whose primary function is cytotoxic, meaning it can kill other cells. In CAR-T therapy, we genetically modify them into cancer-fighting cells. These supercharged cells are then put back into the body, and they go after cancer cells — especially in blood cancers like leukaemia and lymphomas. NexCar19 is a type of CAR-T and gene therapy developed indigenously in India by ImmunoACT, which is a company incubated at IIT Bombay. Our therapy is designed to target cancer cells that carry the CD19 protein. This protein acts like a flag on cancer cells, which allows CAR-T cells to recognise and attach themselves to the cancer cells and start the process of elimination. Even some developed nations don’t have their own CAR-T therapies; they import them from the United States or Europe. India is now one of the first developing countries to have its indigenous CAR-T and gene therapy platform. The therapy is for people with B-cell lymphomas who didn’t respond to standard treatments like chemotherapy, leading to relapse or recurrence of the cancer. The patient’s journey starts with a doctor’s prescription at the clinic, followed by donation of blood by the patient at a transfusion centre. The blood goes to the lab, where the T-cells are genetically modified. In a week to 10 days, these cells return to the clinic for patient reinfusion. Essentially, patients only need to give a blood sample at their clinic, and come back in 7-10 days for reinfusion. • How effective and different is this from other cancer treatments like, say, chemotherapy? • Is NexCAR19 a type of CAR-T therapy? • Who can get the NexCAR19 therapy? • B-cell leukaemia is most common among children. Are they eligible for the therapy too? • Is India’s indigenous CAR-T cell therapy any more or less effective than CAR-T cell therapies abroad? • When will this therapy be available to patients in India? Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍The next big advance in cancer treatment could be a vaccine ECONOMY Manufacturing activity hits 8-month low Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development-Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc. Mains Examination: General Studies III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment. Key Points to Ponder: • What’s the ongoing story- India’s manufacturing activity slipped to 55.5 in October as compared to 57.5 in September. The seasonally adjusted S&P Global India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) signalled an improvement in the health of the sector for the twenty-eighth month in a row. The latest reading was above its long-run average of 53.9, but slipped from 57.5 in September to signal the slowest rate of expansion since February. “There were substantial, albeit slower, increases in total new orders, production, exports, buying levels and stocks of purchases. Hiring activity faded and business confidence slipped to a five-month low. Meanwhile, cost pressures intensified, while output price inflation receded,” S&P Global said. • What is the manufacturing PMI in India 2023? • What does PMI mean in manufacturing? • Who releases PMI manufacturing index? • What is the methodology for calculating PMI? • What are the reasons for low in manufacturing PMI? • Why Purchasing Managers Index is important? • How the Purchasing Managers Index affects economic decisions Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Manufacturing PMI hits 31-month high in May, riding demand surge In FSSAI index, nearly all major states slip on food safety compared to 2019 Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development Mains Examination: General Studies II: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies. Key Points to Ponder: • What’s the ongoing story- Four years after the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) published a state-wise index to spur food safety improvement, 19 out of 20 large states — including Maharashtra, Bihar, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh — recorded a drop in their 2023 scores from 2019. • Food Safety and Standards Authority of India-Know in detail • What is the function of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)? • Is Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) a regulatory authority? • What is Food Safety as per FSSAI? • What is State Food Safety Index (SFSI)? • Which are these food safety parameters? • Do You Know-Developed by the FSSAI, the index aims to measure the performance of states and Union Territories on selected “parameters” of food safety. According to the FSSAI, the index is aimed at encouraging states and UTs to “improve their performance and work towards establishing a proper food safety ecosystem in their jurisdiction…” The SFSI is released annually for a financial year. After adjusting for a new parameter included in the 2023 index, 15 out of 20 states recorded lower 2023 scores compared to 2019. The steepest fall in scores over five years was seen in Maharashtra, which scored 45 out of 100 in 2023 compared to 74 out of 100 in 2019, followed by Bihar, which scored 20.5 in 2023 compared to 46 in 2019, and Gujarat, which scored 48.5 in 2023 compared to 73 in 2019. Ensuring food safety is the task of each state’s apex food safety authority. Since 2019, FSSAI has released the State Food Safety Index (SFSI) each year on June 7 on the occasion of World Food Safety Day. Over five years, the worst drop has been recorded in the ‘Food Testing Infrastructure’ parameter, where the average score for all large states dropped to 7 points out of 17 in 2023 from 13 points out of 20 in 2019. States including Maharashtra, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh all recorded lower scores for this parameter. Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand, meanwhile, recorded lower scores for the ‘Compliance’ parameter. In 2020, the average of total scores given to all large states improved marginally to 56 points out of 100 from 52 points in 2019, when the index was first published. In 2021 and 2022, however, the average score dropped to 51 points for both years. The steepest fall was observed in the 2023 index when the average score dropped to 40 points. • How is the states and UTs assessed? • How have the states and UTs performed this year? Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Food safety index: how it is worked out, how the states have performed For any queries and feedback, contact priya.shukla@indianexpress.com The Indian Express UPSC Hub is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest Updates. Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week.
