02 Feb 2024: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

E. Editorials

Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. On Israel’s obligation to prevent genocide

Syllabus: GS-2, Important International Institutions, agencies and fora – their Structure, Mandate.

Mains: ICJ ruling on Israel  and its impact 

Context: Historic ICJ Ruling on Genocide Prevention in Gaza

• The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a historic ruling ordering Israel to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza.
• The ruling fell short of an immediate ceasefire but indicated a “plausible” genocidal risk to Palestinians.

Legal Basis for South Africa’s Case:

• South Africa, despite not being directly involved, invoked the Genocide Convention, ratified by both Israel and South Africa, allowing any state party to sue another in the ICJ.
• The ICJ upheld South Africa’s standing, stating all state parties share a common interest in preventing genocide.

Basis for ICJ’s Provisional Measures:

• The ICJ found a “plausible” link between South Africa’s rights (Palestinians’ protection from genocidal attacks) and the requested measures, considering statements from various international bodies.
• The Court noted genocidal rhetoric from Israeli officials, including calls for a “complete siege” and dehumanizing language.

Provisional Measures Ordered by ICJ:

• Israel was directed to prevent genocidal acts, including serious harm, civilian killings, and measures preventing births in Gaza.
• The ICJ ordered the entry of essential services and humanitarian assistance into Gaza, addressing South Africa’s claims of a blockade causing a humanitarian crisis.

UN Security Council and International Response:

• The UN Security Council is set to discuss the ICJ decision, with Algeria seeking to give it a “binding effect.”
• Western countries, including the U.S., suspended funding for UNRWA (United Nations’ refugee agency for Palestinians) over allegations of staff involvement in Hamas attacks.
• Experts suggest the U.S. vetoing an ICJ-approved decision may impact its calls for others to uphold court rulings.

Future Steps and Impact:

• Israel must submit a report on compliance with ICJ measures, and South Africa will have an opportunity to respond.
• While no ceasefire order was issued, the Court expressed concern about hostages abducted during a Hamas attack.
• The ruling prompts a reconsideration of U.S. support for Israel, challenging the Biden administration’s stance and signalling global unity against Israel’s military operations in Gaza.

Nut Graf: In a groundbreaking decision, the ICJ ordered Israel to prevent genocide in Gaza, citing “plausible” risks. While stopping short of an immediate ceasefire, the ruling has significant implications for international relations and potential shifts in support for Israel.

Category: ECONOMY

1. Ignoring an agricultural sector in distress

Syllabus: GS-3, Government Budgeting

Mains: Measures for Agriculture growth  in recent Budget 

Introduction: Budget Estimates for 2024-25: Lack of Confidence in Agricultural Revival

• The Budget for 2024-25 shows no substantive plan to reverse the decline in agricultural growth through welfare or investment measures.
• Key areas and flagship schemes in agriculture and allied sectors face spending cuts, including fertilizer subsidies, food subsidies, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, and MGNREGS allocations.
• Despite mentions of a blue revolution in the fisheries sector, budget allocations for fisheries and animal husbandry show only marginal increases, indicating a lack of real commitment to the sector’s revival.

Agricultural Incomes and Prices: A Downward Spiral

• The sectoral deflator in agriculture and allied sectors declined from 9.4 in 2013-14 to 3.7 in 2023-24, reflecting a substantial drop in agricultural prices.
• Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for major foodgrain crops only increased by about 5% between 2013-14 and 2023-24, affecting the government’s ability to control prices in the market.
• Despite a promise to double the real incomes of farmers between 2015 and 2022, real incomes from cultivation fell by about 1.4% between 2012-13 and 2018-19, attributed to stagnant or falling prices and rising input costs.

Rise in Rural Unemployment and Stagnant Wages:

• Rural unemployment increased between 2011-12 and 2018-19, particularly for rural men (from 1.7% to 5.6%) and women (from 1.7% to 3.5%).
• Despite a subsequent fall in rural unemployment rates after 2018-19, levels remained higher than in 2011-12 in 2022-23.
• Real wages in rural India, both in agriculture and non-agricultural sectors, have not risen after 2016-17 and even fell after 2020-21, exacerbated by the crowding of the agricultural labour market.

Decline in Public Investment in Agriculture:

• Public investment in agriculture, including areas like agricultural research and extension, remained stagnant or fell over the past decade.
• Capital investment in agricultural and allied sectors did not witness a significant rise, and long-term bank credit to agriculture was diverted to short-term loans for corporates and agri-business firms.

Discrepancies in Government Portrayal vs. Reality:

• The Finance Ministry’s report and Budget speech highlight increases in agricultural production but fail to acknowledge the long-term decline in growth rates.
• The fortuitous growth during the pandemic was insufficient to reverse the overall decline in agricultural growth since the early 2010s.

Nut Graf: Critically examining the recent Union Budget, the analysis reveals a lack of decisive measures to alleviate the prolonged distress in agriculture. It has been urged for imaginative policy shifts and fiscal actions for a much-needed revival.