UPSC Key | PM E-DRIVE Scheme, Conflict of interest, Pink bollworm and more

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Front Page 

NGT judge hears case with son as amicus, advocate flags conflict of interest

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-II, GS-IV: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies and Ethics.

What’s the ongoing story- A plea before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) by an advocate has raised questions of propriety and potential conflict of interest against Justice Sudhir Agarwal, one of the tribunal’s six judicial members.

Prerequisites:

— Read about the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

— What is a conflict of interest?

— What is the role of an amicus curiae in legal proceedings?

Key takeaways: 

— In his plea admitted on May 22, advocate Gaurav Bansal alleged that Justice Agarwal had heard a case in which his son, Gaurav Agarwal, was appointed as an amicus by the Tribunal. 

— The case in question, Nitin Dhiman vs State of Punjab, relates to water pollution in Ludhiana. Another bench of the tribunal, comprising Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and Dr Ahmad, appointed advocate Gaurav Agarwal as amicus in this Ludhiana pollution case on April 20, 2023.

— The bench of Justice Tyagi and Ahmad said that given the “serious nature and magnitude of the environmental questions” involved in the (Ludhiana) case, Gaurav Agarwal was appointed as amicus to help the Tribunal in “just and fair adjudication.”

— In his plea, Bansal questioned advocate Gaurav Agarwal’s competence to be appointed as amicus and stated that there was no “reasonable nexus” between his appointment as amicus and “his experience and eminence in the field of Environment.” The plea added, “It is also important to mention here that even the Orders by virtue of which Mr Gaurav Agarwal has been appointed as an Amicus, has said nothing about his knowledge in the field of environment”.

— Asked about his son’s appointment as amicus and Bansal’s plea, Justice Agarwal told The Indian Express that the instances cited in the plea did not amount to conflict of interest and there was no bar on children of judges practising in the same courts. He said that the Tribunal appoints amicus on a daily basis and that there is no favouritism involved.

For Your Information:

— Conflict of Interest means “any interest which could significantly prejudice an individual’s objectivity in the decision-making process, thereby creating an unfair competitive advantage for the individual or the organisation he/she represents”.

Points to Ponder: 

— What constitutes a conflict of interest in the judiciary? 

— Why is addressing potential conflicts of interest important for maintaining judicial integrity?

 — What are the legal or ethical guidelines governing judges’ conduct in India when a potential conflict of interest arises in a case?

— What are the different mechanisms for addressing conflicts of interest?

Post Read Question:

Mains

Conflict of interest in the public sector arises when 

(a) official duties, 

(b) public interest, and 

(c) personal interest 

are taking priority one above the other. How can this conflict in administration be resolved? Describe with an example. (UPSC CSE 2017)

 

Express Network

Centre raises import duty on edible oils

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-II, GS-III: Government policies and interventions,  Effects of liberalisation on the economy,  food security, Agriculture.

What’s the ongoing story- Days after allowing soybean procurement at Minimum Support Price (MSP), the Centre has increased import duties on edible oils. The Ministry of Finance issued a notification to this effect Friday.

Prerequisites:

— What is the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and how is it decided?

— Who recommends MSP and who takes the final call?

— What is import duty?

Key takeaways: 

— In a statement, Union Minister of Agriculture Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the Government had decided to “increase import duty on edible oils from 0% to 20%”. Upon adding other components, the total effective duty will be 27.5%, Chouhan said.

— The decision comes at a time when prices of soybean, the leading source of edible oils, are reported below the MSP. The other two are sunflower and palm oil. Last week, the government allowed procurement of soybeans at MSP in four states — Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana. Maharashtra, the country’s second-largest producer of soybeans, is set for polls later this year.

For Your Information:

— During each cropping season, the government announces minimum support prices for 23 crops. Simply put, the MSP for a crop is the price at which the government is supposed to procure/buy that crop from farmers if the market price falls below it.

— As such, MSPs provide a floor for market prices, and ensure that farmers receive a certain “minimum” remuneration so that their costs of cultivation (and some profit) can be recovered.

— The MSPs serve one more policy purpose. Using them, the government incentivises the production of certain crops, thus ensuring that India does not run out of staple food grains.

— Crops covered by MSPs include:

* 7 types of cereals (paddy, wheat, maize, bajra, jowar, ragi and barley),
* 5 types of pulses (chana, arhar/tur, urad, moong and masur),
* 7 oilseeds (rapeseed-mustard, groundnut, soyabean, sunflower, sesamum, safflower, nigerseed),
* 4 commercial crops (cotton, sugarcane, copra, raw jute)

Points to Ponder: 

— How does import duty affect India’s trade relations with other countries?

— How does the increase in import duty on edible oils impact domestic oil producers?

— What is the role of edible oil in India’s agricultural economy? 

Post Read Question:

(1) Consider the following crops:

1. Paddy

2. Wheat

3. Coffee

4. Raw Jute

5. Sunflower

How many of the above crops have the Minimum Support Price (MSP)?

(a) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

(b) 1, 2, 3 and 5 only

(c) 1, 2 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 4 and 5 only

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

UPSC Essentials: One word a day — Minimum Support Price (MSP)

Pink bollworm attack: Haryana cotton farmers opt for paddy

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Environment and Economic Development 

Mains Examination: GS-III: Indian economy, agriculture and environment 

What’s the ongoing story- In Sirsa, Fatehabad and Hisar, the three major northeast Haryana cotton-growing districts, an environmental crisis is unfolding. Haryana has seen an overall fall in acreage under cotton cultivation to 4.76 lakh hectares (lh) this kharif season from 6.65 lh in 2023. This has been accompanied by an increase in the area under rice from 15.20 lh to an all-time-high of 16.44 lh in the state.

Prerequisites:

— What is Pink Bollworm (PBW) Infestation?

— Read about the Bt cotton?

— Read about the climatic conditions required for the production of cotton and paddy. 

Key takeaways: 

— The reduction in the cotton area — also reported in neighbouring Rajasthan (from 7.91 lh to 5.13 lh) and Punjab (2.14 lh to 1 lh) — has been attributed mainly to PBW infestation. Its larvae burrow into the bolls (developing fruits) of cotton plants. The resultant damage affects both the weight and quality of the harvested bolls, containing the lint fibre and seeds. 

— The pest’s infestation, reported on a significant scale since 2021, has not been the only factor. In May-June this year, at the time of sowing, the price of kapas (raw unginned cotton) averaged Rs 6,700-6,800 per quintal in Haryana mandis. This was against the average Rs 11,100-11,200 per quintal two years ago.

— The spread of pink bollworm: The pink bollworm first appeared in north India during the 2017-18 season in a few districts in Haryana and Punjab, primarily cultivating Bt cotton, and spread to Rajasthan by 2021. 

— PBW primarily spreads through the air. Residue of infected crops, often left by farmers on the field to be used as fuel, can also harbour PBW larvae which can then infect future crops. Infected cotton seeds are another reason behind the pest’s spread.

For Your Information:

— Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is the most important commercial crop known as the “King of natural fibre” and is also known as “White Gold” around the world.

— India is the only country that grows all four cultivated cotton species as well as their intra- and inter-specific hybrids.

Points to Ponder: 

— What is the reason behind the increase in the Pink Bollworm (PBW) infestation?

— What is the impact of Pink Bollworm (PBW) infestation on crop yield and economy?

— What steps have the government and farmers taken to combat the pink bollworm infestation?

Post Read Question:

(2) The pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) is a monophagous pest that feeds mainly on which crop?

(a) Mustard

(b) Paddy

(c) Wheat

(d) Cotton

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Scourge of the pink bollworm, and why cotton farmers struggle to deal with it

Why India’s falling cotton production is a worry

 

Opinion 

1931 caste census: From British to Mandal link

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution and  Rights Issues, etc.

Mains Examination: GS-II: Constitution and Polity; Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes.

What’s the ongoing story- Anjishnu Das writes— “The nearly century-old exercise to last count castes in a Census in India gives a good idea of the challenges the enumerators can face in any fresh effort, plus the complexities of the exercise.”

Prerequisites:

— What is the caste census?

— Know the history of the census in India.

— Has a caste census ever been conducted?

— What are the constitutional provisions for the protection of SC and ST?

Key takeaways: 

— “The 1931 Census that counted castes was conducted by the colonial British government, and was the first such exercise after the 1901 Census. The caste section put the numbers of Other Backward Classes (OBC) at 52% of the total 271 million population. This figure became the basis of the Mandal Commission’s recommendation in 1980 to grant 27% reservations to OBCs in education and government jobs, which was implemented only in 1990.”

— “J H Hutton, the Census Commissioner at the time, countered those who argued against adding caste to the Census exercise saying that “the mere act of labelling persons belonging to a caste tends to perpetuate the system”. Hutton’s logic was that “it is impossible to get rid of any institution by ignoring its existence like the proverbial ostrich”.

— “But Hutton and his team ran into a series of problems while enumerating caste. Hutton enumerated some of them – from “a wave of non-cooperation, and the (salt) march of Mr Gandhi and his contrabandistas” to the Congress observing a ‘Census Boycott Sunday’, to numerous local-level movements that hampered efforts.”

— “Besides, over the course of previous Census exercises, the methodology on caste had undergone several changes. For instance, in 1881, only groups with more than a lakh population were counted. In 1901, Census Commissioner H H Risley decided to use the “varna hierarchy” system, sparking numerous movements by caste groups who viewed the Census as a vehicle to move up the social order.”

— “Hutton was openly critical of using the varna hierarchy in the Census…So, in 1931, occupation rather than varna was used to classify castes. But this model had its own pitfalls. For one, it was unable to reconcile the variations in an occupational group’s social standing across regions – for instance, Hutton noted that “cultivation in northern India is a most respectable occupation, whereas in certain parts of southern India it is largely associated with the ‘exterior’ castes’”.

— “While Hutton’s use of the occupational model addressed the question of defining caste, the  still was unable to fully account for the fluidity of caste identity and the variations in the names of groups across regions, says Ayan Guha, a research fellow at the University of Sussex who has written on the history of caste.”

— “The first problem was to define caste. You have to agree on the traits that make certain groups a caste and certain groups not a caste… The second problem was that caste has a lot of fluidity… The third problem was the standardisation of names – same castes with different names in different regions,” Guha says.”

— “Guha adds that Hutton had also flagged the problem of the dynamic nature of identity claims with groups changing caste identities from census to census…Guha also points out “there was no uniform approach towards classification criteria for ordering of caste groups”.

— “Guha says that if a caste census is to be conducted today, it is likely to run into the same issues as the 1931 Census. In particular, the fluidity of caste identity – from one group seeking to be identified as a tribe, like the Meiteis in Manipur, to some groups fusing over time, like herder communities coming together as Yadavs, to the fission of some castes – will likely pose a challenge.”

For Your Information:

— Every Census in independent India from 1951 to 2011 has published data on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, but not on other castes. Before that, every Census until 1931 had data on caste. However, in 1941, caste-based data was collected but not published.

Points to Ponder: 

— What is the significance of the caste census?

— What are the advantages and disadvantages of the caste census?

— What are the challenges associated with caste census?

Post Read Question:

(3) Which of the following articles of the Constitution of India provides for promotion of educational and economic interests of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections?

(a) Article 45

(b) Article 47

(c) Article 48

(d) Article 46

Mains

What are the two major legal initiatives by the State since Independence addressing discrimination against Scheduled Tribes (STs). (UPSC CSE 2017)

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Ten half-truths of caste census

 

Economy

GST evasion doubles in FY24; Mumbai tops detection list

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Economic Development

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

What’s the ongoing story- Tax evasion of Rs 2.01 lakh crore was detected in the financial year 2023-24, nearly double from Rs 1.01 lakh crore detection in the previous financial year under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime, data released by the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) on Saturday showed. 

Prerequisites:

— What is the Goods and Services Tax (GST)?

— What is tax evasion?

— What are the constitutional provisions related to the GST?

Key takeaways: 

— The report by the investigative arm of GST showed that among services, real money online gaming; and banking, financial and insurance sectors were the most evasion prone sectors. Among goods, iron, copper, scrap & alloys, and pan masala, tobacco, cigarette and bidi were registered as the sectors most prone to GST evasion in FY24.

—  Mumbai topped among zones with the highest amount of GST detection of Rs 70,985 crore, followed by Delhi (Rs 18,313 crore), Pune (Rs 17,328 crore), Gurugram (Rs 15,502 crore) and Hyderabad (Rs 11,081 crore), as per the latest annual report of the DGGI.

— On-payment of tax including clandestine supply, undervaluation etc., comprised 46 per cent of the total GST evasion cases in FY24, followed by availment of fake input tax credit (20 per cent) and wrong availment /non-reversal of ITC/blocked credit (19 per cent).

— Sector-wise breakup for 2023-24 showed that real money online gaming sector recorded highest GST evasion of Rs 81,875 crore in 78 cases, followed by banking, financial and insurance (BFSI) sector with Rs 18,961 crore evasion in 171 cases. Works contract services had 343 cases involving Rs 2,846 crore of evasion, whole pharmaceutical had 22 evasion cases with GST evasion of Rs 40 crore.

For Your Information:

— GST is essentially a consumption tax and is levied at the final consumption point. The principle used in GST taxation is Destination Principle. It is levied on the value addition and provides set offs. As a result, it avoids the cascading effect or tax on tax which increases the tax burden on the end consumer. 

— It is collected on goods and services at each point of sale in the supply line. The GST that a merchant pays to procure goods or services can be set off later against the tax applicable on supply of goods and services.

Points to Ponder: 

— What are the advantages and disadvantages of GST?

— What measures have been taken to curb GST evasion?

— How does GST evasion impact the economy of India?

Post Read Question:

Prelims 

(4) Which of the following statements is not correct about GST Council?

(a) The Union Finance Minister is the chairperson of the council.

(b) The recommendations of the GST Council are binding.

(c) It is a joint forum of the Centre and the states which the President set up as per Article 279A (1) of the amended Constitution of India.

(d) Each state can nominate a minister in charge of finance or taxation or any other minister as a member.

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:

What is Goods and Services Tax (GST)?

PM E-DRIVE: Exclusion of electric cars from the scheme could dent sales further

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-II, GS-III: Government policies and interventions; Science & TechnologyMobilization of Resources; Economy, E

What’s the ongoing story- Under the Centre’s new PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) Scheme, entailing an outlay of Rs 10,900 crore over two years, fiscal incentives have been extended to electric two- and three-wheelers, buses, trucks, and even ambulances. However, unlike its predecessor, the FAME-2 scheme, the latest subsidy makes a significant omission–electric cars.

Prerequisites:

— What is the PM E-DRIVE Scheme?

— Read about the FAME-2 scheme. 

— Know about the Electronic Mobility Promotion Scheme. 

— What is the new electric vehicle policy?

Key takeaways: 

— While electric cars were also left out of the stopgap Electronic Mobility Promotion Scheme (EMPS), introduced in April and set to expire by the end of this month, the industry had hoped the final scheme would include some benefits for four-wheelers. The chorus for subsidies grew louder especially after a marked decline in sales following the conclusion of the FAME-2 programme.

— With their exclusion now confirmed, the government’s stance is clear–lower GST for electric cars, schemes for localisation of components and batteries, and additional funds for charging stations to address range anxiety are deemed sufficient steps on its part.

— Approved by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday, the PM E-DRIVE scheme aims to support approximately 25 lakh electric two-wheelers, 3 lakh electric three-wheelers, and 14,000 electric buses through demand incentives. 

— Automakers will be able to claim reimbursements from the government on the sale of eligible electric vehicles. Like its predecessor FAME-2, PM E-DRIVE will be administered by the Ministry of Heavy Industries.

— However, unlike FAME-2, which supported 55,000 electric passenger cars, including strong hybrids, PM E-DRIVE maintains a conspicuous silence on electric cars. There is one exception–the proposal to install 22,100 fast chargers for electric four-wheelers, a subtle recognition of the lingering concerns around range anxiety.

— The exclusion of electric cars from the new scheme comes after the Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said that the EV sector no longer requires subsidies at an industry event earlier this week. He cited declining lithium-ion battery costs and the growing benefit of economies of scale, predicting that within two years, the cost of petrol and diesel vehicles would be on par with EVs.

For Your Information:

— The government said that the primary objective of the PM E-DRIVE scheme is to expedite the adoption of EVs by providing upfront incentives for their purchase, as well as by facilitating the establishment of essential charging infrastructure for EVs.

— The  PM E-DRIVE scheme aligns with the government’s broader push for e-mobility to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dependency on fuel imports. It is set to play a crucial role in reaching the ambitious target of 30 per cent electric vehicle penetration by 2030.

Points to Ponder: 

— How will the exclusion of electric cars from the PM E-Drive scheme affect the promotion of green mobility in India? 

— What are the challenges and issues associated with electric vehicles?

— What steps has the government taken to expedite the transition to electric vehicles? 

Post Read Question:

(5) With reference to the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE), consider the following statements:

1. The scheme offers subsidies/demand incentives for adopting electric vehicles.

2. The scheme will replace Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles in India Phase II.

3. Heavy vehicles and e-trucks are not covered under this scheme.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

EV push: Cabinet approves Rs 10,900 crore for new scheme

The World 

Iran launches second satellite into orbit this year, says govt 

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests.

What’s the ongoing story- Iran on Saturday launched a research satellite into orbit with a rocket built by the Revolutionary Guards, state media reported.

Prerequisites:

— Read about the Chamran-1 satellite.

— What are Intercontinental ballistic missiles?

— Map work: Iran and the surrounding countries.

Key takeaways: 

— The launch comes as the United States and European countries accuse Iran of transferring ballistic missiles to Russia that would be likely used in its war with Ukraine within weeks. Iran has denied this.

— The Chamran-1 satellite, which was launched into space by the Qaem-100 satellite carrier, was put into a 550-kilometre (340-mile) orbit and its first signals had been received, the media said, adding that the solid fuel carrier was designed and built by the Aerospace Force of the Revolutionary Guards.

— The primary mission of the satellite, which weighs 60 kg (132 pounds), “is to test hardware and software systems for demonstrating orbital manoeuvring technology in height and phase,” according to state media.

— In January, Iranian media reported that the Sorayya satellite had been launched into a 750 km orbit, the highest by the country so far.

— The U.S. military alleges the long-range ballistic technology used to put satellites into orbit could also allow Tehran to launch long-range weapons, possibly including nuclear warheads.

For Your Information:

— The launch is also significant as it is the first under Iran’s new reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian, following the death of his predecessor Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash earlier this year. The future direction of Iran’s space program under Pezeshkian remains uncertain, as he has yet to publicly articulate his stance on these initiatives.

— The launch has intensified concerns among Western nations, particularly the United States, which views Iran’s space program as a potential cover for developing intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capabilities. 

— Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) are a type of ballistic missile with a range greater than 5,500 kilometers and are primarily designed to deliver nuclear warheads. They can carry conventional, chemical, and biological weapons, although the latter types have rarely been deployed on ICBMs.

— The United States, Russia, China, France, India, the United Kingdom, Israel, and North Korea are known to possess operational ICBMs, with Pakistan being the only nuclear-armed state that does not have them.

Points to Ponder: 

— What are the issues associated with Iran’s space program?

— What is the significance of Iran for India?

— What are the areas of cooperation between India and Iran?

— What is India’s Middle East policy?

Post Read Question:

(6) Which among the following countries have Intercontinental ballistic missiles?

1. Russia

2. France

3. China

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Iran launches Chamran-1 satellite amid Western concerns over missile tech

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