18 Aug 2021: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

August 18th, 2021, CNA:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. Acquitted men move Delhi HC seeking ‘right to be forgotten’
C. GS 3 Related
INTERNAL SECURITY
1. ‘IS, JeM, LeT militants entered Kabul’
ECONOMY
1. Exporters to get duty relief as part of Jan. 1 RoDTEP scheme
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
SOCIETY
1. Remembering the horrors of Partition
HEALTH
1. Doctor at the door
POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. Between word and intent
ECONOMY
1. More feed, better productivity
F. Prelims Facts
1. RBI unveils financial inclusion index
2. Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary
G. Tidbits
1. ‘Scrappage norms to spur new vehicle demand by up to 30%’
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

Category: ECONOMY

1. Exporters to get duty relief as part of Jan. 1 RoDTEP scheme

Context:

  • The Centre has notified the rates and norms for the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme.

Background:

Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme:

  • The RoDTEP scheme had kicked in from January 1 2021, replacing the earlier Merchandise and Services Export Incentive Schemes (MEIS and SEIS) that were in violation of WTO norms.
  • Based on the globally accepted principle that taxes and duties should not be exported, and taxes and levies borne on the exported products should be either exempted or remitted to exporters, the RoDTEP scheme aims at the zero-rating of exports.
  • The scheme will ensure that the exporters receive refunds on the embedded taxes and duties previously non-recoverable.

For more detailed information on the RoDTEP scheme, refer to the following article:

Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) Scheme

Details:

Rates:

  • The rebates under RoDTEP range from 0.5% to 4.3% of the Free On Board value of outbound consignments.
    • While the lowest rate is offered on items like chocolates, toffees and sugar confectionery, yarns and fibres have been granted the highest rate.
  • Steel, pharma and chemicals have not been included under the scheme.

Norms:

  • To enable zero-rating of exports, all taxes, including those levied by States and even Gram Panchayats, will be refunded under the scheme.
  • The RoDTEP scheme would be valid till March 31, 2024.

Significance:

Increase competitiveness of Indian products:

  • The rebate will allow the exporters to price their products at a lower level. This will help make Indian products price competitive in the international market.

Boost to exports:

  • This would incentivize people to undertake exports of notified goods. This will not only give an impetus to India’s foreign exports and its balance of payments position but would also augur well for India’s economic growth.

Boost to specified sectors:

  • The scheme would put direct cash in the pockets of exporters and this could be used to further increase production or productivity.

Category: HEALTH

1. Doctor at the door

The article talks about doorstep healthcare delivery and how it can be instrumental in mitigating the effects of disruption caused by the pandemic.

Details:

  • Health experts, for long, have been warning of a health epidemic involving non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, etc.
  • However, the pandemic has exposed the frailties of even robust health systems as access to institution-based health care became difficult during the pandemic.
  • It also exposed the cracks in institution-based treatment which was traditionally believed to be the armour of health care.
  • The pandemic also brought to light the link between NCDs and COVID-19 outcomes.
  • It became clear that control of these health parameters was paramount and would necessitate uninterrupted access to healthcare services.

The Non-Communicable Disease Burden:

  • The burden of NCDs increased across all States from 1990 to 2016.
  • According to the “India: Health of the Nation’s States report” (2016), 55% of the total disease burden in India was caused by NCDs.
  • The disruption of access to health care during the pandemic affected the compliance to drug regimens, and led to uncontrolled disease, with implications for quality of life.

Addressing the disruptions:

  • Nations must prepare themselves to face further epidemics that might occur and cause similar disruptions in society.
  • States must introspect about how they can support their healthcare set-up in ways that would protect them from disruptions such as those posed by the pandemic.
    • For example, Tamil Nadu introduced the ‘Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam’ scheme involving a tentative budget in excess of ₹250 crore.
    • It is a community-based intervention to tackle and treat NCDs and to address the crucial issues of prevention and early detection.
    • It includes population-based screening for the 18-plus population for 10 common conditions — hypertension, diabetes, oral, cervical and breast cancers, TB, leprosy, chronic kidney disease, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, mental health.
    • It also includes the door delivery of hypertension/diabetes drugs to patients aged 45-plus and to those with restricted or poor mobility.
  • The Tamil Nadu initiative is a well-meaning scheme in trying to address the Non-Communicable Disease burden.
  • The efficacy of its chosen method of door delivery of drugs has been proven earlier with the supervised drug regimen, or DOTS therapy used in tuberculosis control.

Conclusion:

Ultimately, the success of a well-conceived programme lies in the proper implementation of each of its components. The Tamil Nadu model, if it is able to maintain the continuum of care in the most trying of circumstances, could inspire other States to follow suit.
Category: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Between word and intent

In the light of the comments made by the Chief Justice of India on legislative debates, the article talks about the importance of clarity in law-making.

Context:

Recently, the CJI highlighted the “sorry state of affairs” of lawmaking and parliamentary debate in India.

Read more on this topic covered in Aug 16th, 2021 CNA.

Issue:

  • Concerns over the absence of adequate debate or discussion in Parliament is quite widespread.
  • Concerned citizens and sections of the Opposition have expressed their discontent over the hurriedness with which laws are passed in the Parliament.
  • Crucial pieces of legislation are passed without sufficient debate, with concerns of the members not being adequately addressed.
  • Presiding officers have deplored over the low productivity in the Parliament due to time lost amidst chaotic protests.
  • Furthermore, the Government representatives themselves are worried that their legislative agenda is not being carried out in time.

CJI’s Comments:

  • The CJI added a new dimension to this sense of discontent by pointing out the absence of any help from parliamentary debates when the courts are faced with ambiguities or lacunae in laws.
  • He stressed that in the absence of quality debate in the parliament, courts are unable to understand the intent and object of the new laws.

Category: ECONOMY

1. More feed, better productivity

The article talks about the Sub-Mission on Fodder and Feed.

Challenges:

  • A major problem faced by Indian farmers is the lack of affordable good quality feed and fodder for livestock.
  • A study by the Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute has observed that for every 100 kg of feed required, India is short of 23.4 kg of dry fodder, 11.24 kg of green fodder, and 28.9 kg of concentrate feed.
  • This is one of the chief reasons why Indian livestock’s milk productivity is 20%-60% lower than the global average.
  • When the input costs are considered, it is found that feed constitutes 60%-70% of milk production costs.

Sub-Mission on Fodder and Feed:

  • Sub-Mission on Fodder and Feed Development is a sub-mission under the National Livestock Mission.
  • National Livestock Mission is a centrally-sponsored scheme that started operating in 2014.
  • The mission ensures quantitative and qualitative improvement in livestock production systems, especially in Sheep, Goat, Pig, Poultry, Feed and Fodder sectors.

Read more on National Livestock Mission – An Overview of Mission Objectives

Revised scheme:

  • When the National Livestock Mission was launched in 2014, it focused on supporting farmers in producing fodder from non-forest wasteland/grassland, and cultivation of coarse grains.
    • This model could not sustain fodder availability due to a lack of backward and forward linkages in the value chain.
  • Therefore, the Mission has been revised to make the programme focus primarily on assistance towards seed production and the development of feed and fodder entrepreneurs.
    • It now provides for 50% direct capital subsidy to the beneficiaries under the feed and fodder entrepreneurship programme and 100% subsidy on fodder seed production to identified beneficiaries.
  • The Sub-Mission on Fodder and Feed intends to create a network of entrepreneurs in the hub and spoke model.
    • It aims to connect entrepreneurs who will make silage (the hub) and sell them directly to the farmers (the spoke).
    • It is premised on the idea that the funding of the hub will lead to the development of the spoke.
  • The large-scale production of silage will bring down the input cost for farmers since silage is much cheaper than concentrate feed.
  • Studies have indicated that by growing fodder crops one can earn ₹1.60 by investing ₹1 as compared to ₹1.20 in the case of common cereals like wheat and rice.
  • Private entrepreneurs, self-help groups, farmer producer organisations, dairy cooperative societies, and Section 8 companies (NGOs) can avail themselves of the benefits under this scheme.
  • The scheme will provide 50% capital subsidy up to ₹50 lakh towards project cost to the beneficiary for infrastructure development and for procuring machinery for value addition in feed such as hay/silage/total mixed ration.
  • The scheme can be used for covering the cost of infrastructure/machinery such as bailing units, harvester, chaff cutter, sheds, etc.

Significance of Sub-Mission on Fodder and Feed:

Increasing productivity, reducing costs:

  • Livestock is the major source of cash income for about 13 crore marginal farmers and is insurance in the event of crop failure.
  • About 200 million Indians are involved in dairy and livestock farming.
  • The lack of good quality feed and fodder impacts the productivity levels of cattle.
  • The Sub-Mission on Fodder and Feed recently announced by the Indian government is important from the perspective of poverty alleviation.
  • The revised scheme has been designed with the objectives of increasing productivity, reducing input costs, and doing away with middlemen (who usually take a huge cut).

Availability of green fodder:

  • A major challenge in the feed sector emanates from the fact that good quality green fodder is only available for about three months during the year.
  • The ideal solution to deal with the scarcity is to ferment green fodder and convert it into silage.
  • Hence, under the fodder entrepreneurship programme, farmers will receive subsidies and incentives to create a consistent supply chain of feed throughout the year.
  • The idea is that farmers should be able to grow the green fodder between two crop seasons and entrepreneurs can then convert it into silage and sell it at nearby markets at one-tenth of the price of concentrate/dry feed ensuring affordable quality fodder to dairy farmers.

The scheme seeks to enhance livestock productivity as well as farmers’ income.

F. Prelims Facts

1. RBI unveils financial inclusion index

Context:

  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recently announced the formation of a composite Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index).

Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index):

  • The composite Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index) would help capture the extent of financial inclusion across the country.
  • The FI-Index has been conceptualised as a comprehensive index incorporating details of banking, investments, insurance, postal as well as pension sectors in consultation with the Government and respective sectoral regulators.
  • The FI-Index will be published annually in July every year.
  • The index captures information on various aspects of financial inclusion in a single value ranging between 0 and 100, where 0 represents complete financial exclusion and 100 indicates full financial inclusion.
  • The FI-Index comprises three broad parameters viz., Access (35%), Usage (45%), and Quality (20%). The Index is responsive to ease of access, availability and usage of services, and quality of services, comprising, in all, 97 indicators.
    • A unique feature of the Index is the Quality parameter which captures the quality aspect of financial inclusion as reflected by financial literacy, consumer protection, and inequalities and deficiencies in services.
  • The FI-Index has been constructed without any ‘base year’ and as such it reflects cumulative efforts of all stakeholders over the years towards financial inclusion.
  • The annual FI-Index for the period ending March 2021 is 53.9 as against 43.4 for the period ending March 2017.

2. Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary

  • Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is located on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra in Morigaon district in Assam, India. It is primarily a grassland and wetland habitat.
  • Pobitora is mainly famous for its great Indian One-horned rhinoceros. Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary holds one of the largest Indian rhinoceros populations in Assam.
  • Besides rhinoceros, the other animals are leopard, wild boar, Barking deer, wild buffalo, etc. Assam’s Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is also home to more than 2000 migratory birds and various reptiles. It is also an Important Bird Area.

G. Tidbits

1. ‘Scrappage norms to spur new vehicle demand by up to 30%’

Benefits of vehicle scrappage policy:

  • Union Road Transport and Highways Minister has argued that the newly unveiled automobile scrappage policy will help boost new vehicle demand in the country by about 25-30%, leading to additional GST revenues of about Rs. 40,000 crore for the Centre and States.
  • The policy would help India become the top-most auto manufacturing hub in the next 5 years. This will provide an impetus to employment generation in the Indian economy.
  • Also, the more fuel-efficient new vehicles will not only help reduce emissions but will also help reduce India’s dependency on fuel imports and cut down import costs.
  • The policy will also help set in motion a circular economy with subsequent economic and social benefits.

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Which of the given statements with respect to Financial Inclusion (FI) Index is/are 
correct?
  1. It is an index launched by RBI incorporating the details of banking, investments, insurance, postal and the pension sector.
  2. It comprises three broad parameters – Access, Usage and Quality with the highest weightage to Access.
  3. The base year for FI-Index would be FY 2020-21.

Options:

  1. 1 and 3 only
  2. 2 and 3 only
  3. 1 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation:

Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index):

  • The Reserve Bank of India’s composite Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index) would help capture the extent of financial inclusion across the country.
  • The FI-Index has been conceptualised as a comprehensive index incorporating details of banking, investments, insurance, postal as well as pension sectors in consultation with the Government and respective sectoral regulators.
  • The FI-Index will be published annually in July every year.
  • The index captures information on various aspects of financial inclusion in a single value ranging between 0 and 100, where 0 represents complete financial exclusion and 100 indicates full financial inclusion.
  • The FI-Index comprises of three broad parameters viz., Access (35%), Usage (45%), and Quality (20%). The Index is responsive to ease of access, availability and usage of services, and quality of services, comprising, in all, 97 indicators.
  • A unique feature of the Index is the Quality parameter which captures the quality aspect of financial inclusion as reflected by financial literacy, consumer protection, and inequalities and deficiencies in services.
  • The FI-Index has been constructed without any ‘base year’ and as such it reflects cumulative efforts of all stakeholders over the years towards financial inclusion.
Q2. Which of the given statements with respect to the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is/are 
correct?
  1. It is a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Science and Technology.
  2. It has the dual objective of Entrepreneurship promotion and Innovation promotion.
  3. ARISE-ANIC was launched under the mission to promote a creative, innovative mindset in schools by setting up dedicated innovation workspaces.

Options:

  1. 2 only
  2. 1 and 3 only
  3. 2 and 3 only
  4. None of the above
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: a

Explanation:

  • Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is a flagship initiative of the NITI Aayog.
  • Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) envisions the creation and promotion of a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across the length and breadth of our country. AIM’s objective is to develop new programmes and policies for fostering innovation in different sectors of the economy, provide platforms and collaboration opportunities for different stakeholders, and create an umbrella structure to oversee the innovation & entrepreneurship ecosystem of the country.
  • The Aatmanirbhar Bharat ARISE-ANIC program is a national initiative to promote research & innovation and increase the competitiveness of Indian startups and MSMEs.
  • Atal Tinkering Labs aim to promote a creative, innovative mindset in schools. These ATLs are dedicated innovation workspaces of 1200-1500 square feet where do-it-yourself (DIY) kits on latest technologies like 3D Printers, Robotics, Internet of Things (IoT), Miniaturized electronics are installed using a grant of Rs 20 Lakhs from the government so that students from Grade VI to Grade XII can tinker with these technologies and learn to create innovative solutions using these technologies. This will enable create a problem solving, innovative mindset within millions of students across the country.
Q3. Shishu, Kishore, Tarun - 3 categories of intervention are linked with which of the 
following government schemes/programs? 
  1. Mission Indradhanush
  2. PM Janani Suraksha yojana
  3. Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana
  4. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation:

  • Under the aegis of Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency Ltd. (MUDRA) has created products/schemes. The interventions have been named ‘Shishu’, ‘Kishore’ and ‘Tarun’ to signify the stage of growth/development and funding needs of the beneficiary micro unit/entrepreneur and also provide a reference point for the next phase of graduation/growth to look forward to:
    • Shishu: covering loans up to  50,000/-
    • Kishor: covering loans above  50,000/- and up to 5 lakh
    • Tarun: covering loans above  5 lakh and up to 10 lakh
Q4. Which of the given statements best describes the Indian Army’s ‘Operation Sadbhavana’?
  1. Humanitarian assistance that supplied relief packages to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
  2. Civilian outreach program in Jammu and Kashmir aimed at winning the hearts and minds of residents of the two Union Territories.
  3. Civic action programs for people in the North Eastern states of India for developing harmonious feelings and positive attitude towards the army.
  4. Evacuation operation launched to bring back diplomats and security personnel stranded in the Indian Embassy in Kabul in the wake of intense fighting between Afghan forces and the Taliban militants.
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation:

  • Operation Sadbhavana (Goodwill) is a unique initiative undertaken by the Indian Army in Jammu & Kashmir to address the aspirations of people affected by terrorism.
  • The focus of Operation Sadbhavana is to improve the overall core social indices of Education, Women & Youth Empowerment, and Healthcare with simultaneous thrust on capacity building through the implementation of community/infrastructure development projects.

Context:

  • The Army will sponsor 110 students from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh to its residential public schools and higher education institutions across the country from the current academic year as part of Operation Sadbhavana (operation goodwill), which aims to win the hearts and minds of residents of the Union Territories.
Q5. With reference to the cultural history of India, which one of the following is the correct
 description of the term ‘paramitas’? [UPSC 2020]
  1. The earliest Dharmashastra texts written in aphoristic (sutra) style.
  2. Philosophical schools that did not accept the authority of Vedas.
  3. Perfections whose attainment led to the Bodhisattva path
  4. Powerful merchant guilds of early medieval South India.
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation:

  • Paramitas is a Buddhist term often translated as “perfection”. It is described in Buddhist commentaries as noble character qualities generally associated with enlightened beings or the attainment of the Bodhisattva path.

I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

  1. Remembrances of mass killings and collective violence can play an important part in societies seeking forgiveness for the crimes they committed against humanity and resolving that they will never let those terrible events happen again. Comment. (15 marks, 250 words) [GS-1, Society]
  2. It is vital that important pieces of legislation are scrutinized by standing committees, which will have the advantage not only of eliciting replies from the executive but also inputs from the wider civil society, before the statute is framed. Justify. (15 marks, 250 words) [GS-2, Polity]

Read the previous CNA here.

August 18th, 2021, CNA:- Download PDF Here

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