UPSC Key | Bangladesh in turmoil, alderman to MCD, Horticulture clusters more

Prerequisites:

— What is the ongoing conflict in Bangladesh?

— What is the role of Sheikh Hasina in building Bangladesh after independence?

Key takeaways: 

Cause of protest

— Less than a month ago, demonstrations began around the country demanding an end to the 30 per cent quota on government jobs for families of veterans who fought in the country’s war against Pakistan in 1971.

— The Supreme Court, then, had ruled that the veterans’ quota must be cut to 5 per cent, with 93 per cent of jobs being allocated on merit. The remaining 2 per cent will be set aside for members of ethnic minorities and transgender and disabled people, according to AP.

— Although the government accepted the SC’s decision, protesters continued to demand accountability for the violence which they blamed on the government’s use of force, AP reported.

— Since she returned to power in 2008, Hasina’s presence next door has been a friendly and assuring one for New Delhi as both countries cooperated on the issue of counter-terrorism and cracked down on anti-India terrorist outfits operating from Bangladesh soil.

— This made her an important ally in the fight against extremism — both New Delhi and Dhaka were on the same page when it came to dealing with the Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh.

For more than 16 years now, India has backed Hasina — despite being questioned for her undemocratic ways when it came to dealing with the Opposition, civil society and the media. It has also given aid and assistance for infrastructure and humanitarian needs to meet Dhaka’s requirements.

— In recent years, Hasina faced questions of rigging elections from the West — especially the US. But Delhi stood firm behind her.

— With Hasina’s departure, New Delhi fears the possibility of “anti-India elements” gaining strength, possibly re-defining Dhaka’s new power structures.

From Editorial

— Shyam Saran writes: Sheikh Hasina’s rule was tolerable as long as the Bangladesh economy, centred on export of garments, was registering sustained growth and delivering on jobs and better living standards.

— However, the pandemic in 2020 and a slowing global economy, thereafter, hit the garment industry badly. A toxic mix of economic distress and the increasingly high-handed behaviour of the government and its Awami League party members turned a student protest into a full-scale anti-government people’s movement.

— In the current evolving situation in Bangladesh, India as a vibrant multi-party democracy, should be seen as supporting the expression of popular will in a sensitive neighbouring country.

— The temptation to brand the ongoing political change as anti-India or anti-Hindu should be avoided.

— Delhi should let the current storm dissipate, be cautious and discreet in its reactions. A new dispensation in Dhaka may adopt hostile policies similar to what one witnessed when Mohamed Muizzu took over as the President of the Maldives.

The Ideas Page

— Syed Munir Khasru writes: This unexpected development serves as a stark reminder that economic progress alone cannot sustain a leader’s popularity in the face of eroding democratic values and civil liberties.

— Under her leadership, Bangladesh transformed from one of the world’s poorest nations into one of the fastest-growing economies in the region, even outpacing its larger neighbour, India.

— However, these economic gains came at a considerable cost. Parliamentary elections in 2014, 2018, and 2024 were marred by low turnout, violence, and boycotts by opposition parties. Hasina’s government increasingly relied on hard power to maintain control, creating a climate of fear and repression.

— Hasina’s response to the protests proved to be her undoing. Her decision to deploy police and paramilitary forces against the students late last month backfired, igniting widespread public anger.

— The government’s heavy-handed approach, including the imposition of a strict curfew with a “shoot-on-sight” order, only served to galvanise the movement. Hasina’s ill-advised labelling of the demonstrators as “Razakars” — a term associated with collaborators during the 1971 war — further inflamed tensions.

— The events in Bangladesh underscore the importance of balancing economic progress with democratic governance as well as transparency and accountability in the absence of which only few benefit at the expense of many.

For Your Information:

— C. Raja Mohan writes: Five broad questions stand out for Indian statecraft in a crisis that has just begun to unfold.

— First, can India stand by its friends? The Indian establishment has certainly ensured that Hasina was flown to safety before the angry protestors broke through to her residence in Dhaka.

— Second, standing by friends in thick and thin is an important part of a major power’s credibility in the region and beyond. But no nation can tie its fortunes in another to one individual or party. An immediate challenge for Delhi lies in distancing itself from Hasina and engaging her opponents.

— Third, Delhi must expect that Pakistan and China would try to exploit the current churn in Dhaka and nudge the new government away from India in the days ahead. India will need to work with its friends and partners like the US, UK and Europe…

— Fourth, painful as it might be, Delhi must stop romanticising the 1971 liberation of Bangladesh. That Bangladesh is deeply divided on interpreting its history is a reality that Delhi can’t ignore.

— Finally, Indian debates on the neighbourhood, however, tend to be self-referential. Indian foreign policy discourse must recognise that developments in the neighbourhood are not just about Indian resolve, good will or strategy. India’s neighbours have politics of their own; these can’t be determined by Delhi.

Points to Ponder: 

— What is the root cause of widespread protest in Bangladesh?

— Who are Razakars?

Post Read Question:

The protests in Shahbag Square in Dhaka in Bangladesh reveal a fundamental split in society between the nationalists and Islamic forces. What is its significance for India? (UPSC CSE 2013)

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Amidst Bangladesh’s quota reform movement, why the term ‘Razakar’ has provoked unprecedented fury

34 tigers deaths in Bandhavgarh, nine more in Shahdol: SIT flags lapses

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination:  Current events of national importance and Environment

Mains Examination: GS-III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

What’s the ongoing story- Insufficient investigation into possible poaching cases, lapses during postmortem, and medical negligence leading to deaths — these are some of the red flags raised by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) that was looking into the deaths of 43 tigers between 2021 and 2023 in Madhya Pradesh’s Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (34 deaths) and Shahdol Forest Circle (9 deaths).

Prerequisites:

— What is the protection status of the tiger?

— What is India’s tiger population? How many tiger reserves are in India?

— Read about the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

— Map work: Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve and Shahdol Forest Circle

Key takeaways: 

— According to the report, there appeared to be insufficient investigation into at least 10 cases of tiger deaths. There was a “lack of interest by higher authorities and Forest Range Officers in discharging their duties, resulting in arrests in only two out of five cases where unnatural causes of death were found/body parts were seized,” it said, while flagging a “disinterest in recovering missing body parts (10 out of 34 cases) from the tiger carcasses”.

— In many cases where tigers were found dead due to electrocution, there was an “absence of various vital evidences (sic) like mobile forensics, CDR, electric trip data in the investigation of the cases and no efforts were made to extract information on revenue and private land ownership”, the report says.

— It also said that in 17 cases, there was a tendency to portray tiger deaths as a result of infighting without detailed investigation. The SIT had been formed on the orders of the state’s Chief Wildlife Warden to look into the high number of tiger deaths in the two areas.

For Your Information:

— Project Tiger was launched by the Central government on April 1, 1973, in a bid to promote conservation of the tiger. The programme came at a time when India’s tiger population was rapidly dwindling.

— To tackle the problem of hunting and poaching of not just tigers but also other animals and birds, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi promulgated the Wildlife Protection Act in 1972. A year later, after a task force urged the government to create a chain of reserves dedicated to tiger preservation, Indira unveiled Project Tiger.

Points to Ponder: 

— What are the persisting threats facing the tiger across its habitats?

— What is the “Status of Tigers in India” report?

— What are the initiatives taken by the government for tiger conservation?

— What is the significance of ‘Project Tiger’?

( Thought Process: What is Project Tiger? In which year did it begin? Where was it launched? How successful has it been, and what have been the setbacks? )

Post Read Question:

(1). Among the following Tiger Reserves, which one has the largest area under “Critical Tiger Habitat”? (UPSC CSE 2020)

(a) Corbett

(b) Ranthambore

(c) Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam

(d) Sundarbans

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

How Project Tiger saved the big cat in India

SC rejects AAP Govt plea: L-G can nominate alderman to MCD

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.

Main Examination: GS-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

What’s the ongoing story- The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that the Delhi Lieutenant Governor has the power to nominate persons with expert knowledge to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), and is not dependent on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.

Prerequisites:

— Who are known as aldermen?

— What is the role of aldermen in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD)?

— Read the Articles 239AA, 239AB.

Key takeaways: 

— A bench of Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and Justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala, which had reserved its verdict in the matter on May 17, said in its order, “The statutory power under Section 3(3)(b)(i) to nominate persons of special knowledge was vested in the Lt Governor for the first time by the 1993 amendment to the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957 to incorporate the Constitutional changes through Articles 239AA, 239AB and introduction of Part IX-A relating to municipalities. The power to nominate is therefore not a vestige of the past or a power of the Administrator that is continued by default. It is made to incorporate change in the Constitutional structure of NCTD.”

— The judgment came on the plea of the AAP government challenging Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena’s move to nominate 10 aldermen to the MCD without the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.

— Reading out the operative part of the judgment, Justice Narasimha referred to Section 3(3)(b)(i) of the DMC Act, which provides that the Lieutenant Governor shall nominate 10 persons, who are not less than 25 years of age and who have special knowledge or experience in municipal administration, to the MCD and “the question for our consideration is whether the L-G carries the power of nomination as statutory duty attached to the office or is bound by the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers”.

For Your Information:

— Article 239AA of the Constitution of India contains special provisions for the National Capital Territory of Delhi. Crucially, it provides for the creation of the Delhi Legislative Assembly, the Council of Ministers which comprises members of this assembly, and the offices of the Chief Minister and the the Delhi L-G.

Points to Ponder: 

— What is the role of the L-G under Article 239AA?

— What are special governance provisions for Delhi?

— What are the powers and functions of the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi?

— What is the 69th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1991?

Post Read Question:

Whether the Supreme Court Judgment (July 2018) can settle the political tussle between the Lt. Governor and elected government of Delhi? Examine. (UPSC CSE 2018)

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

SC rules Delhi L-G can directly nominate Municipal Corporation ‘aldermen’: What was the case?

 

Explained

India & Hasina: a 50-year-old bond

UPSC Syllabus:

What’s the ongoing story- On Monday, Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana landed in Delhi as jubilant crowds thronged the streets of Dhaka and roamed the rooms and grounds of the Prime Minister’s residence, and the army declared it was taking charge of the country.

Prerequisites:

— What was the role of India in the Bangladesh Liberation Movement?

— Why students are protesting in Bangladesh?

Key takeaways: 

— The chequered history of Bangladeshi democracy has seen periodic interventions by the military. The army appointed Chief Justice Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem as president in November 1975, and the country was ruled by a military junta.

— In 1977, Gen Ziaur Rahman became president; he was assassinated in 1981 and his successor Abdus Sattar was removed in a coup in 1982. Army chief H M Ershad took control, but mass unrest led to his resignation in 1990.

— The civilian governments of Khaleda Zia, widow of Gen Ziaur Rahman (1991-96 and 2001-06), and Sheikh Hasina (1996-2001) followed. In between, there was an attempted coup in 1996.

— After Hasina came back to power in 2008, she made sure that the army returned to the barracks. In 2010, the Supreme Court reduced the scope for military interventions through legal loopholes, and reaffirmed the secular principles of the Bangladesh constitution.

— In 2009, the Manmohan Singh government reached out with humanitarian aid and assistance. It helped that Hasina had deep personal ties with the Gandhi family; Indira Gandhi had played a pivotal role in the liberation of Bangladesh.

— As Hasina won election after election — in 2013, 2018, and 2024 — she faced questions of legitimacy and alleged rigging, especially from the US and the West. But she could bank on India for full-fledged, no-questions-asked support.

— This support was founded on India’s experience during the BNP-Jamaat rule in 2001-06, when anti-India terror groups operated with impunity from Bangladeshi soil.

— For New Delhi, Hasina will always be the leader who helped make its eastern borders quiet and stable.

— New Delhi has its diplomatic task cut out going forward. It shunned the BNP and Jamaat for the past decade-and-half, choosing Hasina’s Awami League as its favoured party in Bangladesh. During these years, the Bangladeshi opposition viewed India as backing Hasina, and the West as being on their side.

— The challenges encountered during the earlier BNP-Jamaat years could well resurface. New Delhi cannot afford to have another front open when the LoC and the border with Pakistan is hot again, and the Indian Army is in a long standoff with the PLA in eastern Ladakh.

For Your Information:

Explained : Role of the army in Bangladesh over the decades

— In his address to the media on Monday (August 5), Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman said an interim government will be formed to run the country. He said he was “taking responsibility”, and urged the people to maintain peace and order.

— In the 1970 general elections of Pakistan (then East and West Pakistan), Mujibur Rahman’s Awami League registered an absolute majority… Despite the victory of the Awami League, Pakistan Army Chief General Yahya Khan refused to hand over power to Mujibur Rahman. This sparked unrest across East Pakistan…

— On March 7, 1971, Mujib issued a call to the people of East Pakistan to prepare themselves for an all-out struggle for Bangladesh’s independence. In response, the Pakistan Army launched its infamous Operation Searchlight — a military operation to crush the protests which led to widespread killings, illegal arrests, and a brtual campaign of rape and arson.

— Soon afterward, Bengali soldiers in East Pakistan revolted, leading to the outbreak of the Bangladesh Liberation War in which India intervened…

— Once Bangladesh attained independence, the members of Mukti Bahini became part of the Bangladesh Army.

— The discontent came to a boil on August 15, 1975, when a handful of young soldiers assassinated the Bangabandhu and his entire family except his daughters Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana at his residence in Dhaka. This paved the way for the first military coup in Bangladesh.

— On November 3, Brigadier Khaled Mosharraf, who was seen as a supporter of Mujib, led another coup, and appointed himself as the new army chief.

— And then came the third coup on November 7. This was launched by left-wing army personnel in collaboration with left-wing politicians from the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal.

— Ziaur Rahman formed the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in 1978, which won the general election of that year. But in 1981, he was himself overthrown by a mutinous army unit headed by Major General Manzur.

— On March 24, 1982, then Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Hussain Muhammad Ershad took power in a bloodless coup, suspending the constitution and imposing martial law.

— Although parliamentary democracy returned to Bangladesh in 1991, the interference by the army did not stop.

— In 2006, political turmoil erupted after the BNP-Jamaat government’s term ended.

Points to Ponder: 

— Historical background of India-Bangladesh relationship

— Areas of cooperation and conflict between India and Bangladesh

— Impact of ongoing crisis in Bangladesh on India’s internal security

Post Read Question:

Prelims

(2). With reference to river Teesta, consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2017)

1. The source of river Teesta is the same as that of Brahmaputra but it flows through Sikkim.

2. River Rangeet originates in Sikkim and it is a tributary of river Teesta.

3. River Teesta flows into the Bay of Bengal on the border of India and Bangladesh.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Mains

Analyze internal security threats and transborder crimes along Myanmar, Bangladesh and Pakistan borders including Line of Control (LoC). Also discuss the role played by various security forces in this regard. (UPSC CSE 2018)

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

As Sheikh Hasina flees, what does it mean for India? Six preliminary takeaways from Bangladesh’s crisis

Hasina exit may hurt trade, infra links between Dhaka & Delhi

UPSC Syllabus:

Mains Examination: GS-II, III: International Relations, Economy

What’s the ongoing story- The political turmoil in Bangladesh that deepened on Monday with Sheikh Hasina resigning as the country’s prime minister and flying out has raised concerns among Indian exporters, who see the ongoing political turmoil potentially leading to disruption in the flow of goods at the India-Bangladesh border and payment delays to Indian traders. There is, however, hope among traders that the situation may not take too long to normalise.

Prerequisites:

— What is the status of India-Bangladesh trade ties?

— What is a Free Trade Agreement (FTA)?

— What is the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) agreement?

— What are the major trade agreements between India and Bangladesh?

Key takeaways: 

— In trade terms, Bangladesh is India’s biggest partner in the subcontinent, and India is Bangladesh’s second biggest partner in Asia after China. Their total bilateral trade amounted to $13 billion in the financial year 2023-24, according to the Union Ministry of Commerce.

— In October 2023, India and Bangladesh began discussions on an FTA during a meeting of the Joint Working Group on Trade in Dhaka.

— A 2012 working paper published by the World Bank estimated that a full FTA for goods would increase Bangladesh’s exports to India by 182%, whereas a partial FTA could lead to a 134% increase.

— India has extended three lines of credit to Bangladesh since 2016 amounting to $8 billion for the development of road, rail, shipping and port infrastructure.

— In November 2023, two joint projects – the Akhaura-Agartala cross-border rail link and Khulna-Mongla Port rail line – were inaugurated.

— The latest Akhaura-Agartala link, which provided an alternate route from mainland India to the Northeast, was the sixth cross-border rail line between the countries.

— A disruption in Indo-Bangladesh ties could thus restrict India’s access to the Northeast, which will be connected to mainland India only through the narrow “Chicken’s Neck” — only 22 km at its narrowest — between West Bengal and Assam.

For Your Information:

— Monday’s developments in Bangladesh came at a time when the country is grappling with an economic crisis. High inflation has eroded Dhaka’s US dollar reserves, limiting the country’s ability to import critical goods such as agricultural items, iron and steel, electricity, and plastics from India.

— “Bangladesh’s exports to India are concentrated in a few categories, with textiles, garments, and made-ups making up 56 per cent of their exports. These items benefit from zero tariffs under the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) agreement, extended by India,” GTRI said.

— “While the crisis in Bangladesh poses several risks to India’s trade, proactive measures and regional cooperation can help mitigate these impacts and ensure continued economic stability and growth.

Points to Ponder: 

— What is the status of import and export items from India to Bangladesh?

— How the current political crisis in Bangladesh is going to impact the India-Bangladesh trade relationship?

— What are the areas of caution that India needs to maintain in the India-Bangladesh relationship?

Post Read Question:

Prelims

(3). Exercise SAMPRITI is a military exercise between India and which of the following nations?

(a) Bangladesh

(b) Sri Lanka

(c) Nepal

(d) Thailand

Mains

Analyze the implications of the current political crisis in Bangladesh on India’s trade. What precautionary steps need to be taken by India?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Bangladesh political crisis: Indian exporters stare at disruption in goods flow, brace for payment delays

Economy

‘Up to 85% employed youth in rural areas seek to change job’

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-II: Economy

What’s the ongoing story- Between 70-85 per cent of currently employed youth in rural areas desire to change their jobs, the ‘State of Rural Youth Employment Report 2024’ has found. The report also indicated that agriculture and self-employment, traditionally key sources of rural labour absorption, are no longer seen as aspirational career paths by many young people in rural India.

Prerequisites:

— How is unemployment defined?

— What is the status of unemployment in India?

Key takeaways: 

— The report, prepared by the Development Intelligence Unit (DUI), a joint initiative of Transform Rural India (TRI) and Sambodhi Research, and the Global Development Incubator (GDI), surveyed 5,169 ‘opportunity youth’ across 21 states.

— It defines opportunity youth as those who are either unemployed or underemployed, who collectively account for 70 per cent of all rural youth in India.

— Of those currently employed rural youth who wish to change jobs, a majority preferred running small businesses, including manufacturing, retail, and trading, or seeking salaried jobs in public and private sectors.

— Among those interested in starting businesses, 90 per cent male and 50 per cent female respondents said they needed support in accessing seed capital, while only 10 per cent said they needed a full training course.

— At the same time, over 60 per cent male and 70 per cent female respondents said they preferred to find work in or close to their villages, even when income was 20-30 per cent lower, highlighting the need to significantly ramp up employment opportunities in and around rural areas.

For Your Information:

— Policymakers should study whether well-intended welfare schemes might be deterring India’s youth from seeking employment, Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran said in his keynote address at the launch of ‘The State of Rural Youth Employment Report 2024’.

— Drawing from studies conducted in the United States and Europe, Nageswaran noted that welfare schemes may have “a certain behavioral consequence in terms of willingness to offer the supply of labour on the part of the youth”.

Points to Ponder: 

— What are the major causes of unemployment in India?

— What are the different types of unemployment?

— How is unemployment calculated in India?

— What are the recent initiatives taken by the government in the Budget 2024 to tackle unemployment?

Post Read Question:

(4). Disguised unemployment generally means (UPSC CSE 2013)

(a) large number of people remain unemployed

(b) alternative employment is not available

(c) marginal productivity of labour is zero

(d) productivity of workers is low

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

‘Should study if welfare schemes are discouraging youth from seeking jobs’: CEA

 

The Ideas Page

Partners in food security

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Economic development

Mains Examination: GS-III: Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System,  Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.

What’s the ongoing story- Ashok Gulati and Joachim von Braun write— “India is hosting the 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE) from August 2-7 in Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the chief guest and Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is the guest of honour.”

Prerequisites:

— What is Food Security?

— Read about the International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE).

— Know about climate-smart agriculture (CSA).

Key takeaways: 

— “It is interesting to note that the last time India hosted this ICAE was in Mysore in 1958, with Jawaharlal Nehru, the then prime minister of India, as the chief guest.”

— “India’s success in ushering in the green revolution and white (milk) revolution is well known. But the African continent is still struggling to overcome food shortages. Nutritional security, especially of children below the age five, still remains a challenge for India and Africa.”

— “Given that the African Union was invited to be a permanent member of G20 during India’s Presidency, it opens the gates for India and Africa to learn from global developments in food and agriculture, and also promote South-South collaboration and learning from each other to overcome their food and nutritional security challenges.”

— “In this context, ICAE has a special session where the experiences of 20 major Indian states were compared with 15 African countries from 2004-05 to 2019-20. The two regions have a lot of experiences to share. The findings of this unique study show that:

1. High debt service ratios result in lower agricultural spending relative to social protection;

2. African countries consistently underfund agriculture compared to Indian states, hampering productivity and efforts to reduce child malnutrition;

3. Enhancing public spending on agricultural R&D and extension is crucial, as both regions underinvest in these high-return areas;

4. The study suggests reforming subsidies and reallocating resources to infrastructure and R&D to boost agricultural growth and improve child nutrition outcomes.”

— “It is now all the more important to get the South-South collaboration on vibrant mode. The developed countries of G20 can help to solve the problems of food and nutritional security in the Global South by addressing climate change with support for resilience and by sharing science and innovation for food systems transformation.”

Points to Ponder: 

— What are the issues and challenges associated with food security in India?

— How extreme weather events triggered by global warming are affecting agricultural production?

— What is the difference Between Food Security and Nutritional Security.

— What are the major government initiatives for food security?

Post Read Question:

(5). Consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2018)

1. The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 replaced the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954.

2. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is under the charge of the Director General of Health Services in the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

UPSC Issue at a Glance | Food Safety : 5 Key Questions You Must Know for Prelims and Mains

 

In Parliament

Shivraj announces Rs 18,000 crore for horticulture clusters, says will talk to agri ministers

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Economic development

Mains Examination: GS-II, GS-III: Government policies and interventions, Economic Development

What’s the ongoing story- Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Monday announced `18,000 crore expenditure on setting up 100 export-oriented horticulture clusters in the next five years to boost farm income and said that he will meet all state ministers, irrespective of party, to resolve farmers’ issues as central schemes cannot be implemented without the states.

Prerequisites:

— What is horticulture?

— Read about the status of the horticulture sector in India.

— What is the Horticulture Cluster Development Programme?

Key takeaways: 

— Chouhan also said the government will soon launch an oilseeds mission with an outlay of `6,800 crore to boost domestic output and reduce imports of cooking oils.

— Speaking on the schemes that the government was working on to help farmers and make India a food basket of the world by 2047, he said that farmers will receive a digital identity — similar to Aadhaar — under the Digital Agriculture Mission. It will be linked to land records, crop details through videography, and damage assessment done through remote sensing, which will prevent any manipulation of records.

Points to Ponder: 

— What is Digital Agriculture Mission?

— What are the issues and challenges faced by the horticulture sector in India?

— What initiatives have been taken by the government with regard to the horticulture sector?

Post Read Question:

Assess the role of the National Horticulture Mission (NHM) in boosting the production, productivity and income of horticulture farms. How far has it succeeded in increasing the income of farmers? (UPSC CSE 2018)

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Next step for farmers: Fruits and vegetables can be a gamechanger

 

Govt & Politics

Wayanad landslides due to illegal mining activity, unchecked construction, says Union Minister 

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-I, III: Geography, Disaster Management

What’s the ongoing story- In his first comments after the Wayanad landslides last week, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said “illegal mining, uncontrolled construction and unregulated commercial activity” coupled with heavy rainfall led to the disaster. The landslides in the early hours of July 30 claimed over 220 lives, while an equal number are still missing.

Prerequisites:

— What is a landslide?

— What are the reasons behind landslides?

— What is an eco-sensitive area?

— Read about the western ghats.

Key takeaways: 

— Yadav said with the exception of an in-principle approval granted for a road project involving construction of a twin tunnel near Meppadi, where the disaster occurred, the Environment Ministry had not granted clearance to any project in the region in the last decade.

— Yadav said the government was in the process to finalise the draft notification on declaring ecologically sensitive areas (ESA) in Western Ghats. He said the expert committee, formed under the chairmanship of former director general of forests Sanjay Kumar, was appraising the submissions of the six Western Ghats states — Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu

For Your Information:

— The Western Ghats have been classified as an ecologically fragile region. Recent research by experts at the Indian Institute of Science divided the 1.6 lakh sq km of Western Ghats into four ecologically sensitive regions (ESR).

— Promoting sustainable land-management practices such as reforestation, controlled deforestation, and sustainable agriculture is crucial to maintaining hillside stability and reducing soil erosion, thereby mitigating the effects of heavy rains.

Points to Ponder: 

— Why is Western Ghat classified as an ecologically sensitive area?

— What is the difference between causes of landslides in the Himalayan region and Western Ghats?

— How has illegal mining presented environmental challenges?

— Highlight the significance of sustainable development practices.

Post Read Question:

(6). ‘Gadgil Committee Report’ and ‘Kasturirangan Committee Report’, sometimes seen in the news, are related to (UPSC CSE 2016)

(a) constitutional reforms

(b) Ganga Action Plan

(c) linking of rivers

(d) protection of Western Ghats

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Before the landslide

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