UPSC Key | India-UAE, GST Council, Natural Farming and more

What’s the ongoing story- India and the United Arab Emirates on Monday signed four pacts to expand energy cooperation as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with the visiting Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Prerequisites:

— Evolution of the India-UAE relationship

— What is the status of the India-UAE relationship?

Key takeaways: 

— An agreement for long-term LNG supply between Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Indian Oil Corporation Ltd and another between ADNOC and India Strategic Petroleum Reserve Ltd (ISPRL) are among the four pacts.

— Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) also inked an MoU for operation and maintenance of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

— The fourth pact is a production concession agreement for Abu Dhabi Onshore Block 1 between Urja Bharat and ADNOC. A separate pact was inked between the Gujarat government and Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company PJSC on setting up food parks in India.

— The Crown Prince will visit Mumbai Tuesday and participate in an India-UAE Business Forum. A soft launch on the commencement of work on the India-UAE virtual trade corridor and MAITRI interface to facilitate VTC will also take place in Mumbai on Tuesday.

For Your Information:

— West Asia has been a region of prime focus since Modi came to power in 2014. Over the past decade, there has been an unprecedented boost in political and economic engagement with the region, and the traditional buyer-seller relationship, primarily focused on energy imports, has been transformed into a strong strategic engagement.

— While the first term could be termed as a period of “reaching out”, Modi’s second term was about converting these efforts into concrete relationships. The foundation was laid with Modi’s visit to the UAE in August 2015, the first by an Indian PM in three decades. Over the next nine years, India-West Asia ties have flourished.

— Strategic partnership agreements were signed with the UAE in 2015, Saudi Arabia in 2019, and Egypt in 2023. These were in addition to the strategic partnership agreement signed with Oman in 2008. Modi’s visit to Bahrain in 2019, (the first by an Indian PM) and the Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tarik’s visit to India in December 2023 after decades, signalled a growing strategic convergence.

Points to Ponder: 

— What is the significance of West Asia for India?

— What is India’s foreign policy towards West Asia?

— India’s relationship with other West Asian nations

Post Read Question:

(1) Which one of the following countries of South-West Asia does not open out to the Mediterranean Sea? (UPSC CSE 2015)

(a) Syria

(b) Jordan

(c) Lebanon

(d) Israel

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Conflicts in West Asia: Israel-Iran war of abrasion

For the new government, the diplomatic task in West Asia

Front

GST Council ‘aligned’ on the need to cut insurance premiums, specific proposal referred to GoM

UPSC Syllabus:

Mains Examination: GS-II: Polity, Constitution

What’s the ongoing story-  The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council in its 54th meeting held Monday broadly converged on the need to reduce the tax rate for health and life insurance premiums from 18 per cent but the specific proposal has now been referred to the Group of Ministers (GoM) for further discussion, sources said.

Prerequisites:

— What is the GST Council?

— What is the Group of Ministers (GoM)?

Key takeaways: 

— The existing GoM on rate rationalisation along with some more states will discuss the issue of health and life insurance premiums in detail, the source added.

— The GST Council meeting, chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, is still ongoing.

— In August, the reconstituted GoM on rate rationalisation under the GST regime had met for the first time and broadly agreed to not make any changes with the existing slabs in the indirect tax regime.

— In 2023-24, the Centre and states had collected Rs 8,262.94 crore through GST on health insurance premiums, while Rs 1,484.36 crore was collected on account of GST on health reinsurance premiums.

— Opposition leaders including Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee have demanded withdrawal of GST on life and health insurance premiums.

For Your Information:

— The GST regime came into force after the Constitutional (122nd Amendment) Bill was passed by both Houses of Parliament in 2016. More than 15 Indian states then ratified it in their state Assemblies, after which then-President Pranab Mukherjee gave his assent.

— It came into effect in 2017 and was billed as an attempt to simplify the existing tax structure in India, where both the Centre and states levied multiple taxes, and to make it uniform.

— According to Article 279, the GST council is meant to “make recommendations to the Union and the states on important issues related to GST, like the goods and services that may be subjected or exempted from GST, model GST Laws”. It also decides on various rate slabs of GST, whether they need to be modified for certain product categories, and so on.

Points to Ponder: 

— What are the constitutional provisions related to the GST council?

— What are the roles and responsibilities of the Group of Ministers (GoM)?

— How does the GST Council promote cooperative federalism?

Post Read Question:

Prelims

(2) The Goods and Services Tax Council shall consist of the following:

1. Prime Minister

2. Union Finance Minister

3. Minister nominated by each State Government

4. Chairman of RBI

5. Leader of Opposition in the House of the People.

6. Minister in charge of Finance or Taxation

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6

(b) 2, 3, 5 and 6 only

(c) 2, 3 and 6 only

(d) 1, 3 and 6 only

Mains

Explain the rationale behind the Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Act of 2017. How has COVID-19 impacted the GST compensation fund and created new federal tensions? (UPSC CSE 2020)

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Explained: What is the GST Council, and what does it do?

Finance Ministry rejects Agri move for higher incentives to push natural farming

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Economy

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

What’s the ongoing story- The Finannce Ministry has shot down a proposal from the Agriculture Ministry to provide a one-time incentive of Rs 20,000 per hectare to farmers who adopt natural farming, saying it was much higher than what was earlier approved, The Indian Express has learnt.

Prerequisites:

— What is natural farming?

— What is the significance of natural farming?

— What is the role of the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC)?

— What is the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF)

Key takeaways: 

— The Agriculture Ministry under Shivraj Singh Chouhan had circulated a Cabinet note in July last week seeking the Finance Ministry’s approval for the incentives to be provided to farmers under the proposed National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF). However, the Finance Ministry informed the Agriculture Ministry a week later that the proposed rates of incentives were “considerably higher” than the rates approved by the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC).

— The EFC had approved an incentive of Rs 15,000 per hectare to be provided through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to farmers who adopt natural farming, it is learnt. This was approved in the financial year 2022-23…

— The Agriculture Ministry began deliberating on hiking the proposed incentives… Conveying its views to the Agriculture Ministry, the Finance Ministry said it has “no objection” to the proposal subject but “increase in norms beyond the norms apprised by the EFC is not supported”.

— Under the NMNF, the Centre aims to bring about 7.5 lakh hectare of land under natural farming, offering incentives to farmers who adopt it.

— Natural farming also figured in the Independence Day speech of Prime Minister Narendra Modi this year.

— The proposed NMNF is an improvement on the Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhti (BPKP).

— The Centre also promoted natural farming in a 5-km belt along the Ganga River under the Namami Gange scheme. Besides, several states have also taken initiatives at their level to promote natural farming.

— According to sources, about 22 lakh hectare area has been brought under natural farming till date and 34 lakh farmers are engaged in practicing natural farming.

For Your Information:

— The Agriculture Ministry defines natural farming as a “chemical-free” farming system that uses only inputs produced using livestock and plant resources. This is the reason the ministry wants to implement it first across districts having high fertilizer consumption.

— The Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) programme and Dr. Rattan Lal, a renowned soil scientist of Indian origin won the esteemed Gulbenkian Prize.

— APCNF, implemented by Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RySS), is recognized as the world’s largest agroecology programme, benefiting over a million smallholder farmers across 5,00,000 hectares in Andhra Pradesh.

— “The APCNF programme empowers small farmers by enabling them to switch to natural farming methods. It has immense benefits to both farmers and the soil they rely on.”

(Thought Process: Use these kinds of examples (APCNF) in your answer writing to get an edge.)

Points to Ponder: 

— Learn about Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhti (BPKP) a component of the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojna (PKVY)

— What are the budget proposals for the promotion of natural farming?

— What are the challenges of natural farming?

Post Read Question:

Discuss the importance of natural farming. Give suggestions to scale up chemical-free farming.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Andhra’s natural farming programme, Indian-origin soil scientist win esteemed Gulbenkian Prize

The Editorial Page

The audacity of a mission

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-II: Government policies and interventions

What’s the ongoing story- Parameswaran Iyer writes: The recent release of the scientific report in the Nature journal on the Swachh Bharat Mission’s (SBM) impact on the reduction in infant and child mortality broadly coincides with the 10-year anniversary of the programme.

Prerequisites:

— What is the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM)?

— What are the various components of SBM?

— What is the open defecation-free (ODF) status?

Key takeaways: 

— Announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day speech to the nation from the Red Fort on August 15, 2014, it was formally launched on October 2 of the same year.

— Focused on the massive challenge of eliminating open defecation in the country by October 2, 2019 (the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi), the SBM sought to change the behaviour of about 550 million Indians from their traditional habit of defecating in the open to using the over 100 million household toilets constructed for them by the government.

— While the success of the programme had many positive spinoffs, including providing dignity and security to women and girls, the Nature report validates its significant health impact, asserting that the provision of toilets under the Mission saved the lives of 60,000–70,000 infants and children under the age of five on an annual basis.

— A study conducted by UNICEF estimated that achievement of ODF status in a village resulted in each of its households saving approximately Rs 50,000 annually on account of avoided medical fees, time savings, etc.

— The four key lessons of the SBM which were enshrined in the Delhi Declaration of the conference became known as the four Ps. These four Ps — political leadership, public financing, partnerships and people’s participation — are now globally recognised as vital for the success of most large, transformational developmental programmes.

— The national basic service initiatives which improved the quality of life and ease of living of ordinary Indians include Ujjwala (cooking gas cylinders), Jan Dhan (bank accounts), the Awas Yojana, the Ayushman Bharat medical insurance scheme and, of course, the Jal Jeevan Mission, which has made tremendous progress in providing har ghar jal to a targeted 180 million households.

For Your Information:

— Establishing an inverse relation between access to toilets and infant mortality, the study stated that even districts with 30 per cent toilet coverage had managed to reduce the infant mortality rate by a substantial number. In absolute numbers, it amounted to averting 60,000-70,000 deaths annually across the country.

— In 2012, the infant deaths reported was 40 per 1,000 live births per district which fell to about 33 in 2016 and further dropped below 30 by 2019. Likewise, the deaths of children under the age of five in 2012 was about 44 per 1,000 live births per district. It dropped to below 40 in 2014, 35 in 2016 and in 2019, it was below 30.

Points to Ponder: 

— Highlight the significance of the Ujjwala (cooking gas cylinders), Jan Dhan (bank accounts), the Awas Yojana, and the Ayushman Bharat medical insurance scheme.

— What are the challenges of SBM?

— What is the relationship between eliminating open defecation and improvement in health?

Post Read Question:

Prelims

(3) As per the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 in India, which one of the following statements is correct? (UPSC CSE 2019)

(a) Waste generator has to segregate waste into five categories.

(b) The Rules are applicable to notified urban local bodies, notified towns and all industrial townships only

(c) The Rules provide for exact and elaborate criteria for the identification of sites for landfills and waste processing facilities.

(d) It is mandatory on the part of the waste generator that the waste generated in one district cannot be moved to another district.

Mains

How could social influence and persuasion contribute to the success of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan? (UPSC CSE 2016)

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Swachh Bharat Mission averted 60,000-70,000 infant deaths annually: Study

Economy

Govt dissolves Standing Committee on Statistics

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Polity and Constitution

Mains 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- A committee formed to oversee all statistical surveys by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has been dissolved by the government amid apparent concerns raised by some members over the delay in conducting the census.

Prerequisites:

— What are the various Parliamentary Committees?

— What is the purpose of the Parliamentary Committees?

Key takeaways: 

— A letter by the Ministry to the panel members stated that the work done by the committee is similar to the work done by the recently formed Steering Committee for National Sample Surveys and thus, the committee was being dissolved.

—  India’s last census was conducted in 2011 and it has already overshot the stipulated timeline for the next round due in 2021.

— On July 13, 2023, the government had constituted a 14-member Standing Committee on Statistics (SCoS), after renaming and expanding the scope of coverage of the Standing Committee on Economic Statistics (SCES) formed in December 2019.

— The SCoS was set up “to review the extant framework and to address the issues raised from time to time on the subject/ results/ methodology, etc. related to all surveys as brought before the SCoS by MoSPI; to advise on survey methodology including sampling frame, sampling design, survey instruments, etc. and to finalise tabulation plan of surveys; finalisation of survey results”.

For Your Information:

— Sachin Chaturvedi writes: “First, we should recognise that there is a problem in the statistical system that needs to be fixed. Defending the statistical system is no solution at all. The National Statistical Office (NSO) has been collecting data primarily through administrative and sample surveys, both of which have their own strengths and challenges.”

— “The data collection from administrative sources is economical and less time-consuming, but has several challenges in terms of representativeness.”

—”Second, the national statistical system needs to expand and diversify its resource base of data — it should include new and emerging sources like Big Data leverage processing through machine learning and artificial intelligence.”

— “Third, the strength of the national system is integrally dependent on the strength of the state statistical systems. In this direction, the Dholakia Committee Report 2020 on sub-national accounts is crucial — it could pave the way for state governments in pursuing and adopting a bottom-up approach, thereby strengthening the data collection capacities of the state governments.”

Points to Ponder: 

— What are the major issues related to India’s statistical system?

— What are the reasons for the delay in census data?

— What is the significance of robust statistics data for the policymakers?

Post Read Question:

(4) In India, which one of the following compiles information on industrial disputes, closures, retrenchments and lay-offs in factories employing workers ? (UPSC CSE 2015)

(a) Central Statistics Office

(b) Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade

(c) Labour Bureau

(d) National Technical Manpower Information System

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Amid debate on India’s statistical system, national data beyond surveys

Explained 

Sakthan Thampuran and his importance to Thrissur

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: History

Mains Examination: GS-I: History and culture

What’s the ongoing story- Minister of State for Tourism and Thrissur MP Suresh Gopi on Saturday (September 7) pledged to replace a statue of Sakthan Thampuran that was knocked over by a state transport bus in June with a new bronze statue if the Kerala government did not do so within 14 days.

Prerequisites:

— Who was Sakthan Thampuran?

— Read about the Chera Empire and Cochin kingdom.

— What is Thrissur Pooram?

Key takeaways: 

— Raja Rama Varma Kunjipillai or Rama Varma IX, better known today as Sakthan Thampuran, ruled over the Cochin kingdom from 1790 to 1805. He was born in 1751 to Ambika Thampuran and Chendose Aniyan Namboodiri of the Cochin royal family, but was raised by an aunt who called him Sakthan, meaning ‘powerful’. The word thampuran is believed to be an appropriation of the Sanskrit samrat, meaning emperor.

— The Cochin kingdom, which was part of the Late Chera Empire, covered the regions between Ponnani in Malappuram and Thottappally in Alappuzha in today’s Kerala.

— Sakthan Thampuran became heir apparent in 1769 as an 18-year-old. He advised his king to maintain friendly relations with both the Dutch and the English, who were vying for a larger share of trade in the region.

— Sakthan is said to have orchestrated Mysore’s attempt to invade the Travancore kingdom, which had established relations with the English East India Company. This would result in the Powney treaty which freed the Cochin kingdom from its allegiance to Mysore, and helped formalise its relations with the British.

— Sakthan Thampuran transferred the seat of the Cochin kingdom from Thrippunithura to modern-day Thrissur. The Thekkinkadu Maidanam and the surrounding Swaraj Round became the basis for the city’s elaborate road system and infrastructure.

— Sakthan Thampuran started the Thrissur Pooram in 1797 as an alternative to the Arattupuzha Pooram, then the largest temple festival in the state. The Thrissur Pooram was conceived as an opportunity for the major temples in Thrissur to come to pay their respects to Lord Shiva, the presiding deity at the Vadakkumnathan Temple.

For Your Information:

— Sakthan Thampuran put an end to the institution of the Yogiatirippads — the erstwhile spiritual heads of the Vadakkumnathan and Perumanam temples, who had conspired against the previous Cochin king in his wars against the Calicut Zamorin — and entrusted temple management to the government.

Points to Ponder: 

— What was the cause of the Mysorean invasion of Travancore in 1789?

— What was the Powney treaty?

— What administrative reforms were introduced by Sakthan Thampuran and how they impacted the Cochin Kingdom?

— What were Sakthan Thampuran’s cultural and religious contributions?

Post Read Question:

(5) Consider the following statements with regard to the Sakthan Thampuran:

1. He put an end to the institution of the Yogiatirippads.

2. He advised his king to maintain friendly relations with both the Dutch and the English.

3. He started the Thrissur Pooram in 1797 as an alternative to the Arattupuzha Pooram

How many of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) One only

(b) Two Only

(c) All three

(d) None of the above

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Thrissur Pooram: Understanding Kerala’s largest temple festival

Vaccines for mpox

UPSC Syllabus:

Mains Examination: GS-II, III: Government policies and interventions, Science and Technology

What’s the ongoing story- The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) — epicentre of the mpox outbreak that has become virulent and spread to other countries — has received its first donation of mpox vaccines.

Prerequisites:

— What is Mpox?

— How is Mpox transmitted?

— What is the history of Mpox outbreaks?

— Organisations to look for: World Health Organisation, UNICEF, Gavi.

Key takeaways: 

— Since January 1, 2022, mpox cases have been reported from 121 countries, including 20 WHO member-states across Africa…On Monday, India confirmed its first mpox case, which was a travel-related infection.

— Despite the surge in the number of cases, vaccines have been in short supply in Africa. Apart from DRC, the only other African country to have any mpox vaccine is Nigeria. That is one of the main reasons why mpox spread rapidly, prompting the WHO to declare the infection a global health emergency last month.

— Mpox, which was first reported in humans in 1970, has come under the spotlight largely due to the spread of its new clade Ib variant. Organisms belonging to a clade share common ancestors. When it comes to mpox, there are two different clades: clade I and clade II; the former is the deadlier of the two.

— Clade Ib seems to be transmitting more rapidly between people than previous variants, including through sexual activity. Clade Ia mostly comes from animals, according to a report in the journal Nature. The new variant is also affecting more women and children in the impacted African countries.

— Three mpox vaccines are available currently. All are weakened versions of vaccinia, a live virus that also served as the basis for the smallpox vaccine.

— Gavi and UNICEF cannot buy vaccines unless the WHO issues an Emergency Use Listing to products or gives them full approval, according to a report in the journal Science. To get these, companies have to submit efficacy and safety data about their products.

— Getting a vaccine is recommended for a high-risk population, especially during an outbreak. The vaccine can also be administered after a person has been in contact with someone who has mpox. In these cases, the vaccine should be given less than four days after contact with an infected person. The vaccine can be administered for up to 14 days if the person has not developed symptoms.

For Your Information:

— Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is a self-limiting viral infection caused by mpox virus (MPXV). The most common symptoms of mpox include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes, along with pox-like rashes that last for two to three weeks.

— Virologist Dr Gagandeep Kang told The Indian Express, “Both smallpox and mpox belong to the same family of viruses. Mpox is less severe and has lower case fatality rates but is spreading fast because it has animal reservoirs, which smallpox did not have.”

Points to Ponder: 

— What are the different virus clades of Mpox and how do they differ in impact?

— How is Mpox different from COVID-19?

— What does the WHO’s declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) mean?

— What are the criteria for declaring PHEIC?

Post Read Question:

(6) With reference to the Mpox, consider the following statements:

1. It was first discovered in humans in Nigeria.

2. It is not transmitted from animals to humans.

3. The vaccines developed for smallpox are up to 80% effective against mpox.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)  1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 only

(d) 3 only

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

UPSC Issue at a Glance | Mpox outbreak and Public Health Emergency: 5 Key Questions You Must Know for Prelims and Mains

Why apex court intervened in Himachal Pradesh HC Collegium’s decision

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Polity

Mains Examination: GS-II: Polity

What’s the ongoing story- The Supreme Court has directed the Himachal Pradesh High Court collegium to consider again the names of two judicial officers it had first recommended for elevation to the Bench 21 months ago.

Prerequisites:

— Read about the structure of the Indian Judiciary.

— What are the functions and powers of the Supreme Court?

— What is the collegium system?

Key takeaways: 

— The top court has in the past placed strict limits on when it can review decisions at HCs relating to the appointments of judges, or direct them to reconsider. On Friday, a Bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and P K Mishra decided that the current case fell within the scope of review.

— The collegium system of appointment (and transfer) of judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts was laid down by a nine-judge Bench of the Supreme Court in Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association vs Union of India (1993), commonly known as the Second Judges Case.

— The ruling made the recommendations of the SC collegium binding on the Centre, and gave the power to appoint and transfer judges of the higher judiciary to the judiciary. Under the collegium system, judges choose judges — and while the government can delay their appointments, it cannot reject the collegium’s choice.

— In 1998, in response to a series of questions from then President K R Narayanan, the SC clarified how the collegium system would function. (Third Judges Case)

— The court said that collegiums for HC appointments would include the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and the two seniormost judges of the Supreme Court. This collegium would be required to consult the “Chief Justice and senior judges” of the HC concerned, the “seniormost” SC judge from that HC, as well as any SC judges who were “knowledgeable” about that HC.

— The court also spelled out the limited grounds on which a recommendation could be challenged. First, if there was lack of “effective consultation” with any of these individuals or institutions. Second, if the candidate in question was not “eligible” to be a judge — these qualifications are laid down in Articles 217 (High Court) and 124 (Supreme Court) of the Constitution.

— In December 2022, the then HC collegium comprising the then Chief Justice and then two seniormost judges recommended district judges Chirag Bhanu Singh and Arvind Malhotra for elevation to the HC. On January 4, 2024, the SC collegium sent the recommendation back to the HC Chief Justice for “reconsideration”

— However, on April 23, the High Court collegium recommended two other judicial officers for elevation to the HC, prompting Singh and Malhotra to approach the SC. They argued that the HC collegium had ignored their seniority.

— The SC had in both the Second and Third Judges cases highlighted the importance of considering seniority among judges while making recommendations for appointments.

For Your Information:

— Following the opinion given by the SC in the Third Judges Case, the central government and the SC entered into a Memorandum of Procedure (MOP) in 1998, which detailed the process, from the beginning, for the appointment of HC judges.

— As a part of this process, the Chief Justice of the HC must consult two other seniormost judges at the HC — together forming the High Court collegium — and send their recommendations, with reasons, to the Chief Minister, the Governor, and the CJI.

— The Governor, based on the advice of the Chief Minister, will send the proposal to the Minister of Law and Justice at the Centre, who will conduct a background check and send the entire material to the CJI, who will consider it with the rest of the SC collegium.

Points to Ponder: 

— What are the pros and cons of the Collegium System?

— What reforms are required in the Collegium System to ensure transparency and accountability in the appointment of judges?

Post Read Question:

Critically examine the Supreme Court’s judgement on ‘National Judicial Appointments Commission Act, 2014’ with reference to appointment of judges of higher judiciary in India. (UPSC CSE 2017)

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

What is the Supreme Court Collegium, how does it work?

The Ideas Page

A win-win for academia, industry

UPSC Syllabus:

Mains Examination: GS-II: Government policies and interventions

What’s the ongoing story- Ajai Chowdhry writes: On July 23, 2024, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s announcement of operationalising the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), a move that was five years in the making since its first mention, was a pivotal moment for India’s research ecosystem.

Prerequisites:

— What is the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)?

— What is the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020?

Key takeaways: 

— Established under the ANRF Act, 2023, the foundation aims to fund, coordinate, and promote research across India’s universities and colleges, which have long suffered from a lack of infrastructure, particularly in state-run institutions.

— This initiative is a crucial step in pushing India towards becoming a knowledge-driven society, following the model of research powerhouses like the US, Germany, South Korea, and Israel.

— One of the primary goals of ANRF is to address the infrastructure gap in state and central universities, where 95 per cent of students are enrolled but research capabilities are often non-existent. The foundation aims to facilitate timely disbursal of funds, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and foster industry-academia collaboration.

— With a total budget of Rs 50,000 crore over five years, the government’s contribution is Rs 14,000 crore, while the rest must be raised from non-governmental sources like industry and philanthropists. This approach mirrors the successful model in the US, where much of R&D funding comes from the private sector.

— The decision to bring ANRF into action aligns well with the goals outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasised the need to make India a knowledge-based economy. Given that India has over 4.3 crore students spread across 1,168 universities and 45,473 colleges, it is essential to bridge the gap between teaching and research.

— Centrally funded institutions like IITs and IIMs, though prestigious, enroll less than 1 per cent of the total student population. ANRF seeks to address this “missing middle” by supporting state universities and other underfunded institutions, thereby democratising access to quality research infrastructure.

— Coordination is another crucial challenge that ANRF aims to tackle. Currently, several ministries, including defence, agriculture, and health run separate R&D programmes, often leading to duplication and inefficiency. ANRF will serve as a coordinating body, ensuring that resources are used efficiently and R&D efforts across sectors are aligned. This streamlined approach is expected to make India’s R&D landscape more cohesive and impactful.

— Industry participation ensures that research aligns with market needs, while philanthropists can drive research in social or public good areas. By involving industry, India can address current R&D funding challenges, such as general financial rules (GFR) and cum

ANRF’s focus on supporting lower Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) is also vital.

— The government’s recent announcement of a Rs 1 lakh-crore corpus for higher TRL research in Focused Research Organisations (FROs) and deep-tech startups complements ANRF’s efforts. Together, these two initiatives aim to cover the entire spectrum of research from basic to industry-driven development, creating a comprehensive R&D ecosystem.

— With the right execution, ANRF has the potential to position India as a knowledge-driven economy, paving the way for sustainable and inclusive development.

For Your Information:

— India currently spends a low proportion of its GDP – 0.7 per cent – on research and development. The gross expenditure on R&D declined from 0.84 per cent in 2008 to about 0.69 per cent in 2018, the last year for which confirmed figures are available.

— In comparison, the US spent 2.83 per cent, China spent 2.14 per cent, and Israel spent 4.9 per cent of its GDP on research and development.

Points to Ponder: 

— What is the significance of ANRF?

— What are the shortcomings of public investment in R&D in India?

— What are the challenges of research infrastructure in India?

Post Read Question:

(7) Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding National Innovation Foundation-India (NIF)? (UPSC CSE 2015)

1. NIF is an autonomous body of the Department of Science and Technology under the Central Government.

2. NIF is an initiative to strengthen the highly advanced scientific research in India’s premier scientific institutions in collaboration with highly advanced foreign scientific institutions.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Mains

What are the major reasons for inadequacies in R&D in India? Critically analyse the formation of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation in this regard.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

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After Singapore, US ties with India to boost semiconductor sector	Less than a fortnight before Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to travel to the US, Washington on Monday announced a “new partnership” with India to explore semiconductor supply chain opportunities, which will include a “comprehensive assessment” of India’s existing semiconductor ecosystem, regulatory framework, workforce and infrastructure needs. Developing story…

 

PRELIMS ANSWER KEY

1. (b)   2. (c)  3. (c)  4. (c)  5. (c)  6. (d)  7. (a)

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