TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
C. GS 3 Related
ECONOMY
1. The dispute on India’s debt burden
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. The blood management system needs a fresh infusion
2. Anti-microbial resistance - 55% of patients given antibiotics 
only as a preventive measure, says survey
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
SECURITY
1. Understanding the peace pact with ULFA
SOCIAL ISSUES
1. Why is upskilling necessary for rural youth?
F. Prelims Facts
1. SpaceX’s Falcon­9 to launch India’s GSAT­20; satellite to spread broadband coverage
2. Dec. manufacturing slows to 18-­month low, PMI survey shows
3. The CO2 level in a planet’s atmosphere could indicate habitability
G. Tidbits
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

Category: ECONOMY

1. The dispute on India’s debt burden

Syllabus: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.

Mains: What impact will the long-term sustainability of India’s debts have on the country’s growth?

Context: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has recently expressed concerns about the long-term sustainability of India’s debts.

Key findings:

• The IMF is concerned that India’s government debt could reach 100% of GDP by 2028 under certain circumstances. This could be due to the need for significant investment in climate change mitigation and resilience.
• The IMF suggests that India needs to find new and concessional sources of financing, as well as increase private sector investment and implement carbon pricing.
• High debt levels can hinder development by limiting access to financing, raising borrowing costs, and causing currency devaluations.
• Developing countries like India face a higher burden of debt compared to developed countries due to higher interest rates.
• Despite being the fastest-growing major economy, India’s credit rating has remained unchanged at ‘BBB-‘ since 2006, primarily attributed to weak fiscal performance and burdensome debt. 
• India’s public debt-to-GDP ratio is higher than the targets set by the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act.
• There are concerns about fiscal slippage in FY24 due to higher expenditure on subsidies and employment guarantee schemes.

Issues:

• Managing public debt effectively
• Enhancing credit ratings
• Sticking to the fiscal correction path, especially in an election year

Way Forward

The way forward for India involves a multi-faceted approach to address the challenges highlighted in the article. Here are some key considerations:

• Prudent Debt Management:
  • Implement measures for prudent debt management to ensure the long-term sustainability of India’s debts.
  • Explore concessional sources of financing and encourage private sector investment.
  • Develop and implement carbon pricing mechanisms to support climate change mitigation efforts.
• Enhancing Credit Ratings:
  • Focus on improving fiscal performance to enhance India’s credit ratings.
  • Work on reducing the debt-to-GDP ratio to align with the targets specified by the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act.
  • Strengthen economic fundamentals and address concerns raised by rating agencies regarding weak fiscal performance and low per capita income.
• Fiscal Responsibility:
  • Exercise caution in managing fiscal policies, especially during election years, to avoid fiscal slippage.
  • Prioritize efficient and targeted spending to prevent unnecessary strain on public finances.
• Transparent Reporting:
  • Maintain transparency in reporting government finances, ensuring accurate and timely disclosure of fiscal information.
  • Address any concerns or discrepancies raised by international organizations to build credibility in financial reporting.
• Diversification of Funding Sources:
  • Explore diverse funding sources beyond traditional borrowing to reduce reliance on debt.
  • Encourage investments in key sectors, fostering economic growth and reducing the need for excessive borrowing.
• Social Welfare Programs:
  • Evaluate the efficiency of social welfare programs, such as employment guarantee schemes and subsidies, to ensure they are cost-effective and contribute to sustainable development.
• Economic Reforms:
  • Continue with economic reforms that promote inclusive growth, job creation, and improved livelihoods.
  • Address structural issues that may hinder economic progress, contributing to a more favourable environment for investment.
• International Collaboration:
  • Collaborate with international organizations, such as the IMF, to explore potential solutions and best practices for managing debt and promoting economic stability.
  • Leverage global partnerships for financial assistance and expertise in addressing specific challenges.
• Climate Change Mitigation:
  • Develop comprehensive strategies for achieving climate change mitigation targets, ensuring alignment with sustainable development goals.
  • Seek international support and funding for climate-related initiatives.

By addressing these aspects, India can work towards ensuring fiscal sustainability, enhancing creditworthiness, and fostering economic resilience in the face of global challenges.

Nut Gruf: The IMF expresses concerns about India’s long-term debt sustainability and reclassifies its exchange rate regime. The challenges include managing public debt, improving credit ratings, and navigating fiscal concerns, particularly in an election year, to avoid worst-case scenarios. The article emphasizes prudent debt management, transparent reporting, and a diversified approach to funding for economic stability.

Category: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. The blood management system needs a fresh infusion

Syllabus: Science and Technology – developments and their applications and effects in everyday life Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and development of new technology.

Mains: India’s Health Infrastructure – Public-Private Partnership in Health Sector

Context: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted global health disparities, prompting a call for improved international health structures. The article emphasizes the significance of prioritizing access to blood and its products for building a resilient global health architecture.

Issues: 

• The World Health Organization (WHO) reports global disparities in blood collection, with certain regions, particularly in Africa and low-income countries, facing significant shortages.
• Despite progress, India still grapples with a chronic shortage of blood units, impacting crucial healthcare services and putting lives at risk.
• Inefficient blood management contributes to wastage, with millions of blood units discarded due to expiration or contamination over a three-year period.

Significance:

• Blood plays a crucial role in medical scenarios such as surgeries, emergency procedures, and treatment for conditions like cancer and thalassemia.
• Addressing blood shortages is essential for the functioning of healthcare systems and can significantly contribute to saving lives, impacting accident victims, heart surgeries, and bone marrow transplants.
• Public-private partnerships and innovative models, like the hub-and-spoke approach, can enhance blood availability and distribution, particularly in resource-constrained settings.

Way Forward:

• Establish robust public-private partnerships to introduce innovative blood collection and distribution models, addressing existing challenges.
• Implement the hub-and-spoke model to optimize blood utilization, streamline distribution, and improve accessibility, especially in geographically challenging areas.
• Dispel myths and misinformation around voluntary blood donation through targeted awareness campaigns, leveraging social media and creative tools.
• Encourage proactive industry engagement and citizen participation to strengthen the overall blood management ecosystem.

Nut Gruf: Prioritizing access to blood and its products is fundamental for building a resilient global health architecture. Addressing global disparities, implementing innovative models, dispelling myths, and fostering collaboration are crucial steps to strengthen the blood management system, ensuring its effectiveness in saving lives and supporting healthcare needs.

2. Anti-microbial resistance – 55% of patients given antibiotics only as a preventive measure, says survey

Syllabus: Science and Technology – developments and their applications and effects in everyday life Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and development of new technology.

Mains: Issues relating to the development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health

Context: A Health Ministry survey reveals that 55% of nearly 10,000 patients were given antibiotics as a preventive measure rather than for treatment, raising concerns about the growing resistance to antibiotics. The survey, conducted by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) at 20 tertiary-care institutes across 15 States and two Union Territories, took place between November 2021 and April 2022.

What is Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)?

Antimicrobials – including antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics – are medicines used to prevent and treat infectious diseases in humans, animals and plants.

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines. As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective and infections become difficult or impossible to treat, increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, disability and death.

AMR is a natural process that happens over time through genetic changes in pathogens. Its emergence and spread are accelerated by human activity, mainly the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials to treat, prevent or control infections in humans, animals and plants.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is among the top ten public health threats according to WHO. 

Learn more about Antimicrobial Resistance in the linked article. 

Issues:

• Preventive Antibiotic Use: Over half of the surveyed patients received antibiotics for prevention rather than treatment, contributing to concerns about antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
• Lack of Confirmatory Diagnosis: 94% of patients were prescribed antibiotics before a definitive medical diagnosis of the infection’s cause, leading to empirical therapy based on the doctor’s clinical experience.
• Wide Variations in Prescription Practices: The survey reveals significant variations between hospitals, with antibiotics prescribed to 37-100% of patients.
• Inappropriate Antibiotic Classes: A significant portion of antibiotic prescriptions falls under the Watch group, prone to antibiotic resistance, while only 2% are from the Reserve group, classified as a last resort.

Significance:

• Global Health Threat: The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies AMR as a major threat to public health, and excessive and inappropriate antibiotic use is a key driver of resistance.
• Limited Data on Antibiotic Prescribing: The survey highlights the challenge of limited information on how antibiotics are prescribed and used at the patient level in India.
• Concerns About Antibiotic Resistance: The high use of antibiotics from the Watch group raises concerns about the potential development of antibiotic resistance.

India’s effort:

India launched the National Programme on AMR Containment in 2013 and the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance in 2017. One of the strategic priorities has been to optimise the use of antimicrobials. To achieve this objective, the National Centre for Disease Control coordinates antibiotic surveillance through the National Antimicrobial Consumption Network (NAC-NET) comprising 35 tertiary healthcare institutions. 

Way Forward:

• Global Point Prevalence Surveys: Adopt global point prevalence survey methodology to understand and monitor antibiotic prescribing patterns in hospitals over time.
• National Antibiotic Consumption Network (NAC-NET): Strengthen the surveillance of antibiotic usage through the NCDC’s NAC-NET to compile data on antibiotic consumption and identify areas of concern.
• Education and Awareness: Launch targeted awareness campaigns to educate healthcare professionals and the public about appropriate antibiotic use, emphasizing the risks of resistance.
• Guidelines and Regulations: Develop and implement guidelines and regulations to ensure the judicious use of antibiotics, particularly addressing preventive prescriptions.
• Regular Monitoring and Feedback: Establish a systematic monitoring and feedback mechanism for hospitals to track and improve antibiotic prescribing practices.

Nut Gruf: The survey underscores the prevalence of preventive antibiotic use, lack of confirmatory diagnosis, and wide variations in prescription practices, contributing to concerns about antibiotic resistance. The need for global surveys strengthened by national networks, education, guidelines, and monitoring emerges as essential for addressing the critical issue of antimicrobial resistance and preserving the efficacy of antibiotics.

Category: SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Why is upskilling necessary for rural youth?

Syllabus: GS-1, Issues relating to the development and management of Social Sector/Services

Mains: Importance of upskilling rural youth

Context:​ As India undergoes rapid urbanization, a significant portion of its youth expresses a preference for staying in rural areas. Acknowledging this choice is crucial, especially in the context of the agrarian crisis and the shift of farmers to non-farming jobs. This necessitates a focus on upskilling rural youth to make them employment-ready, contributing to both local economies and the prevention of mass migration.

Main Source of Rural Income

• Farming remains the primary source of income in rural areas, but an alarming trend sees farmers leaving agriculture for non-farming jobs. The National Sample Survey Office data highlights this shift, indicating an agrarian crisis. To address this, it is essential to make agriculture an appealing vocation while creating alternative employment opportunities.

Controlling Migration

• To prevent rural youth from migrating to urban areas for employment, vocational training must be provided, instilling relevant rural skills. 
• Initiatives like the ‘Skills On Wheel’ by the Delhi government should be extended to rural areas, bringing upskilling opportunities to the doorsteps of students.

Current Vocational Education Landscape

• Existing vocational education opportunities, mainly through Industrial Training Institutes, lack placement prospects. 
• Rural education’s limited focus on skill development is evident from the LSC Voices 2023 survey, revealing low enrollment in vocational courses. Infusing rural life skills into the education system is crucial to nurturing a capable and thriving generation.

Improving Education

• Effective rural education should blend technical and life skills, enhancing accessibility through formal education. 
• Models from other developing economies, such as Mexico’s tele-schools and Bhutan’s well-being-infused curriculum, provide valuable insights. Tele-schools offer subject lessons and values, fostering higher access to value-based secondary education.
• Organizations like the NIIT Foundation and the Pratham Institute are actively working to provide upskilling opportunities in rural areas, offering courses in industry-specific skills and life skills.

E-learning for Skill Development

• Hybrid life skilling programs, delivered through e-learning platforms, can revolutionize skill acquisition in rural India. 
• Targeting fields like agricultural mechanization, pollution monitoring, nursing, and digital technologies, these programs enhance employability in both traditional and non-traditional trades, fostering a vibrant rural economy.

Significance

• Local Economic Development
  • Upskilling rural youth contributes to local economic development, providing a skilled workforce for diverse sectors, including agriculture and emerging industries.
• Preventing Mass Migration
  • By offering employment opportunities within rural areas, upskilling programs play a crucial role in preventing mass migration, and ensuring the sustainable development of rural communities.

Way forward

• Expand Vocational Training Initiatives
  • Governments and NGOs should expand vocational training initiatives, making them more accessible to rural youth. These initiatives should be tailored to address the specific needs of rural economies.
• Infuse Life Skills in Formal Education
  • Rural education systems should incorporate life skills alongside technical education, preparing youth for challenges beyond the classroom and enhancing their overall employability.

Nut Graf: Uplifting the rural youth through upskilling is not just a necessity but a strategic investment in the sustainable development of rural communities. Governments, NGOs, and educational institutions must collaborate to create robust initiatives that empower the rural youth, enabling them to contribute meaningfully to their local economies and shaping a more resilient and self-sufficient rural India.

Q1. Consider the following statement:

Q2. Recently, classical dancer and choreographer Vasanthalakshmi 
Narasimhachari was presented with?

Q3. Consider the following:

Q4. Consider the following:

Q5. With reference to 8th August 1942 in Indian history, 
which one of the following statements is correct?