CNA 15 June 2023:- Download PDF Here
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GS 1 Related B. GS 2 Related POLITY 1. General Consent for CBI C. GS 3 Related AGRICULTURE 1. Ceiling on wheat stocks D. GS 4 Related E. Editorials POLITY 1. The Next Finance Commission will have a tough task SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 1. Male-centric medicine is affecting women’s health SOCIAL JUSTICE 1. Strengthening the ICDS Scheme F. Prelims Facts 1. Bullet Train Project G. Tidbits 1. News Consumption in India 2. Sedition Law in India H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
A. GS 1 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
B. GS 2 Related
Syllabus: Statutory, Regulatory & Quasi-Judicial Bodies
Mains: Power of States to withhold consent to the CBI and its implications on the federal character of India.
Context: Tamil Nadu withdraws general consent granted for CBI.
Key Details:
- Tamil Nadu state government has announced the withdrawal of general consent under Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act.
- This withdrawal means that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will now need to obtain prior permission from the Tamil Nadu government before conducting investigations within the state.
- Tamil Nadu joins nine other states in India that have already withdrawn general consent for the CBI, namely Mizoram, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Kerala, Jharkhand, Punjab, and Meghalaya.
- This follows the arrest of Tamil Nadu’s Electricity Minister V. Senthil Balaji by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
- Several important CBI offices, including the Joint Director and Head of Chennai Zone, the Anti Corruption Bureau, and the Special Crime Branch, are located in Chennai and Madurai in Tamil Nadu.
Read more on Consent of states for CBI Investigations.
C. GS 3 Related
Syllabus: Issues of Buffer Stocks & Food Security
Mains: Objectives and Significance of Buffer Stock in India
Context: The Union Government imposed limits on the stock of wheat.
Introduction:
- In an effort to ensure food security and prevent hoarding, the Union government has imposed restrictions on the stock of wheat that traders, retailers, and processors can hold.
- The aim is to stabilize wheat prices and maintain a steady supply of this essential commodity.
- The order stood effective with immediate effect until the end of March 2024.
- The government has also planned to sell 15 lakh tonnes of wheat from the central pool through e-auction via the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) to various buyers such as flour mills, private traders, bulk buyers, and wheat product manufacturers.
- The objective is to regulate the retail prices of wheat, and the wheat will be sold in lot sizes ranging from 10 to 100 metric tonnes.
Stock Limit:
- The permissible stock that traders/ wholesalers can hold is 3,000 metric tonnes.
- Retailers and big chain retailers can hold up to 10 metric tonnes at each of their outlets, while the latter can hold up to 3,000 metric tonnes at all their depots combined. Processors would be able to stock 75% of the annual installed capacity.
- The mentioned entities are expected to declare their stock positions and update them regularly on the Department of Food and Public Distribution’s portal.
- If the stock held by them is higher than the limit, they will have 30 days from the day of issue of notification to bring the same under the prescribed limits.
Learn more on Stock Limits on Wheat in the video below:
Concerns over wheat output:
- The recent actions are a response to concerns over decreased wheat production due to unseasonal rains, hailstorms, and high temperatures, which could lead to higher prices for the crop.
- The government aims to prevent local prices from surpassing its purchase prices and maintain an adequate supply of wheat by offloading stock and controlling prices through the Open Market Sale Scheme.
- On June 14, the retail price of wheat was ₹29/kg compared to ₹27.54/kg in 2022 while the wholesale price stood at ₹2,593.5/quintal.
- The Food Corporation of India plays a crucial role in ensuring affordable food grains for vulnerable sections through the Public Distribution System.
- The target for wheat procurement in the current Rabi Marketing Season was 341.5 lakh metric tonnes, with 261.99 lakh metric tonnes already procured as of June 12, 2023.
- However, concerns have been raised that wheat procurement may decrease by 20% from the initial estimate, as government purchases have slowed due to a spike in local prices.
- As of June, the government’s central stock of wheat amounted to 313.9 lakh metric tonnes compared to 311.42 lakh metric tonnes in 2022.
- Despite the warnings from experts about the potential effects of El Nino, the Agricultural Ministry estimates the production of wheat at a record 1,127.43 lakh metric tonnes for the agriculture year 2022-23, higher by 50.01 lakh metric tonnes than the previous year’s production.
Nut Graf: The Union government has imposed stock limits on wheat for the first time in 15 years to ensure food security while planning to sell a significant amount of wheat through e-auction to regulate the retail prices of wheat. Decreased wheat production raises concerns of higher prices.
D. GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
E. Editorials
1. The Next Finance Commission will have a tough task
Syllabus: Powers, Functions & Responsibilities of various constitutional bodies
Mains: Various issues associated with the distribution of tax revenue by the Finance Commission
Context: This article discusses the potential challenges that might arise in front of the next Finance Commission.
Introduction:
- The government will appoint the next Finance Commission in the coming months, tasked with determining the distribution of tax revenue between the central government and the states.
- This involves deciding the vertical share (how much goes to the states) and the horizontal sharing formula (how it is divided among the states).
- Before economic reforms, the Finance Commission’s recommendations were less significant since the Union government had alternative methods to compensate states and exercise favouritism.
- However, with the changes implemented, such as the decline in fresh public sector undertaking investments and the dissolution of the Planning Commission, the Finance Commission now plays a much more pivotal role in India’s fiscal federalism as the primary architect of the system.
Issues faced by 15th FC:
- The appointment of the previous Finance Commission sparked controversy due to its mandate to consider the 2011 population figures instead of 1971 figures when determining a State’s expenditure.
- States that had successfully controlled population growth, particularly in the southern region, opposed this change, considering it a “penalty for good performance.”
- A similar conflict arises regarding revenue deficit grants awarded by the Finance Commission to States experiencing deficits even after tax devolution.
Potential Challenges for Next Finance Commission:
- Finance Commissions have historically struggled to distinguish between a State’s deficit resulting from fiscal incapacity versus fiscal irresponsibility.
- The Union government currently allocates 41% of its tax pool to the States. However, due to the Union’s expenditure needs and borrowing constraints, there will be less room to further increase the allocation.
- Every horizontal distribution formula has faced criticism for being inefficient or unfair, or both.
- Historically, Finance Commissions have attempted to adjust the distribution formula to support deficit-ridden States without penalizing responsible ones.
- Divisions among States have deepened in recent years along political, economic, and fiscal lines.
- The fundamental nature of horizontal distribution entails wealthier States compensating poorer States. The challenge lies in ensuring that this process does not further deepen the divide.
- Various indicators suggest that southern States excel in terms of infrastructure, private investment, social development, and the rule of law, creating a growing gap between the North and the South.
- Finding a balance between richer and poorer States through horizontal distribution will be a significant challenge for the government and the Finance Commission.
Way Forward:
- The Finance Commission’s terms of reference mandate considering the expenditure needs and revenue capacity of both the Centre and the States.
- To address specific concerns, the upcoming Finance Commission should utilize this authority in two key areas.
- It should establish guidelines for the appropriate use of cesses and surcharges, as well as propose a formula to limit the amount that can be raised through them.
- A white paper released by the Tamil Nadu government highlighted that the proportion of cesses and surcharges in the Centre’s total tax revenue nearly doubled from 10.4% in 2011-12 to 20.2% in 2019-20.
- By addressing this issue, the Finance Commission can ensure that cesses and surcharges are utilized judiciously and in line with the original intent of revenue sharing between the Centre and the States.
- It would also prevent the Centre from excessively benefiting from these levies at the expense of the States, fostering a stronger sense of fiscal balance and cooperation.
- The Finance Commission should prioritize the issue of government spending on what is commonly referred to as “freebies.”
- The upcoming Finance Commission should take decisive action in the interest of long-term fiscal sustainability and establish guidelines for freebie spending.
Nut Graf: The upcoming Finance Commission will determine the distribution of tax revenue between the central government and states, facing challenges such as population figures, deficit grants, and wealth disparities. Guidelines for cesses, surcharges, and freebie spending should be established for fiscal balance and cooperation.
Category: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Male-centric medicine is affecting women’s health
Syllabus: Developments & their Applications & Effects in Everyday Life
Mains: Male-centric approach within medicine and its implications on women’s health across various domains.
Context: This article discusses the ill effects of poor research on women-centric medicine.
Introduction:
- The field of medicine has historically been developed through a male-centric lens. However, this gender bias within medicine has had adverse effects on women’s health.
- From diagnostic practices to treatment protocols, women have often faced disparities that have compromised their healthcare outcomes.
Limited Research on Women’s Health:
- Historically, medical research predominantly focused on male subjects, leading to a lack of understanding and awareness about gender-specific health issues.
- This gender bias has resulted in limited research on conditions that predominantly or exclusively affect women, such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and gestational complications.
- Consequently, healthcare providers may struggle to diagnose these conditions accurately and develop appropriate treatment strategies, ultimately compromising women’s health outcomes.
- Diagnostic procedures, including laboratory tests and imaging techniques, have often been designed based on male physiology and may not be equally effective in diagnosing women’s conditions.
- Women have historically been underrepresented in clinical trials, further exacerbating the gender bias within medicine.
- This underrepresentation limits our understanding of how diseases and treatments specifically affect women, as well as the potential side effects and efficacy of medications.
- Consequently, women may be prescribed treatments that are less effective or have higher risks due to the lack of gender-specific data.
- Women’s reproductive health, including contraception, family planning, and menopause, has often been overshadowed by a male-centric approach.
- For instance, contraceptive methods have predominantly focused on female contraception, placing the burden of responsibility solely on women.
- Such neglect of women’s reproductive health perpetuates gender inequality in healthcare and restricts women’s agency over their own bodies.
- In India, known as the “pharmacy of the world,” the gender disparity in clinical trials has significant implications for generic drug production.
- Studies have shown that women’s responses to generic drugs differ from men’s due to underrepresentation in trials.
- Studies in the United States reveal a significant disparity in funding for research on illnesses like migraines, endometriosis, and anxiety disorders, despite their substantial impact on women’s health.
Way Forward:
- Achieving equity in healthcare requires recognizing women as a distinct category, with considerations for factors such as race, age, and socioeconomic status.
- Equal time, resources, and understanding must be dedicated to finding and providing appropriate treatment and healthcare for women’s unique health concerns.
- In India, there are notable advancements in women’s health policies, including the right to abortion. However, it should focus on policy intervention and the implementation of sex-specific research in medicine.
- India’s G-20 presidency presents a favourable opportunity to address this issue and align with the Sustainable Development Goals focused on women’s health.
Nut Graf: The field of medicine has historically neglected women’s health, leading to disparities in diagnosis, treatment, and research. The male-centric approach within medicine has undeniably affected women’s health across various domains. To achieve equity, policy interventions and sex-specific research implementation are crucial.
1. Strengthening the ICDS Scheme
Syllabus: Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections
Mains: Significance of Integrated Child Development Scheme for Women and Children.
Context: This article discusses various parameters regarding current social sector initiatives on children’s and women’s health.
Introduction:
- India faces significant public health concerns due to the widespread occurrence of stunting, wasting, and anaemia among children and women.
- To address this issue effectively, India needs to enhance its current social sector initiatives, including the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS).
- The ICDS focuses on various vulnerable groups such as children aged 0-6 years, pregnant women, and lactating mothers.
- It encompasses non-formal preschool education and aims to interrupt the cycle of malnutrition, illness, and death caused by these conditions.
What studies show:
- Extensive research has demonstrated a strong connection between early-life poverty, malnutrition, and insufficient stimulation, and the subsequent cognitive and economic challenges individuals face later in life.
- Studies conducted in developing countries have shown that interventions targeting nutrition, education, and health during early childhood can have a significant positive impact on human capital.
- A study published in World Development highlighted the favourable effects of the ICDS on cognitive achievements, particularly among economically disadvantaged girls.
- Another study revealed that children who were exposed to the ICDS in their first three years of life completed 0.1-0.3 more grades of schooling compared to those who did not have access to the program.
Reassessing our Approach:
- To strengthen the ICDS program, a vital initial step is to empower Anganwadi workers, who play a central role in the program but often face overwhelming demands.
- As key actors in the Poshan 2.0 initiative, these workers bear the responsibility of promoting child nutrition, health, and education in their communities.
- Therefore, to alleviate the workload of Anganwadi workers in India’s 13,99,661 centres, one possible solution is to add an additional worker to each centre.
- This approach offers several advantages, including improved health and educational outcomes.
- The new Anganwadi worker can focus solely on preschool and early childhood education.
- This would allow existing workers to dedicate more time to child health and nutrition. It would also enable the Anganwadi workers to expand their reach and serve a larger number of families.
- In addition, the government shall invest in training programs due to significant variations in ICDS implementation and the level of skills among Anganwadi workers.
- Furthermore, infrastructural improvements are crucial for Anganwadi centres in India. Many centres lack functional sanitation facilities, potable water, and proper buildings.
Read more on Poshan Abhiyaan.
Nut Graf: India faces a significant public health challenge with high rates of stunting, wasting, and anaemia. Strengthening initiatives like ICDS and empowering Anganwadi workers can improve outcomes through enhanced education, nutrition, and health interventions. However, addressing the workload, investing in training, and improving infrastructure are also crucial for success.
F. Prelims Facts
Syllabus: GS03-Economy-Infrastructure
Prelims: National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited; Shinkansen Technology
Context: Second bridge in the bullet train project completed.
Key Details:
- Recently, the second bridge in the bullet train project was completed spanning the Purna River in Gujarat.
- The construction of a 360-metre-long bridge posed significant challenges for the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Ltd. (NHSRCL), the implementing agency for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project.
- Out of the 24 river bridges planned for the high-speed rail corridor, 20 are being built in Gujarat and four in Maharashtra.
- The foundation work for the bridge presented difficulties due to rising water levels in the river, which increased by approximately five to six metres every fortnight during high tides.
- NHSRCL officials monitored the tides from the Arabian Sea throughout the construction process.
- The first river bridge, constructed between Vapi and Bilimora stations in Gujarat, was completed in January 2023.
- Additionally, work is ongoing for the construction of the longest bridge in Gujarat, a 1.2-km bridge on the Narmada Bharuch.
- NHSRCL officials expect the bullet train to be operational by 2026, with progress being made on the foundation, pier, and other infrastructure works across various rivers in Gujarat, such as the Sabarmati, Mahi, Narmada, and Tapi.
Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train:
- The Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed corridor will have a high-speed train, with financial assistance from the Japanese Government.
- The Shinkansen high-speed technology will be used in this train. “National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited”, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) has been formed for the implementation of this project.
Read more on Bullet Train Project.
Shinkansen Technology:
- Shinkansen means “new trunk lines” in literal terms, which refers to the high-speed rail network in Japan. The train attains a high speed without having to compromise on comfort and safety, through the use of this technology.
- Unlike conventional rail lines, Shinkansen routes are strictly off-limits to any other kind of traffic. This network makes use of viaducts and tunnels to go through the obstacles, rather than going around them, thereby saving time spent on covering the distance.
- Due to the lighter vehicles used, the chances of damage to the tracks are minimal. These trains offer fast acceleration & deceleration and are electric multiple units.
G. Tidbits
- The consumption and sharing of news in India witnessed a decline compared to 2022, as per the Reuters Institute Digital News Report, 2023.
- Online news access experienced a significant decrease of 12 percentage points, while television as a news source also saw a decline of 10 percentage points.
- India’s overall trust in news decreased by 3 percentage points (38%) compared to the previous year, ranking 24th out of 46 countries surveyed.
- YouTube emerged as the preferred social media platform for news, with 56% of respondents accessing news through it, followed by WhatsApp (47%) and Facebook (39%).
Image Source: The Hindu
Worrying trends:
- Globally, video-based content on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube gained importance for news consumption, while Facebook’s influence declined.
- TikTok showed significant growth, with 44% of the 18-24 age group using it, and 20% of them using it for news, particularly in parts of Asia, Latin America, and Africa.
- Users of TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat paid more attention to celebrities and social media influencers for news topics, rather than journalists and media companies.
- This differed from traditional social networks like Facebook and Twitter, where news organisations still garnered the most attention.
- The proportion of users accessing news through websites or apps decreased from 32% in 2018 to 22% in 2023, while reliance on social media for news increased from 23% to 30%.
- The report noted that news podcasting continued to resonate with educated and younger audiences, although it remained a minority activity overall.
- News avoidance, partly due to mental health reasons, was prevalent in many countries, with approximately half of news avoiders attempting to avoid all news periodically, and 32% tending to avoid “difficult topics.”
- The High Court of Karnataka has quashed the sedition case booked against a school for staging a play by schoolchildren on the theme of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in 2020.
- At the Kalaburagi bench of the high court, Justice Hemant Chandangoudar granted the petitions challenging the proceedings and dismissed the prosecution against four members of the school management.
- The four individuals were charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including insult, promoting enmity, sedition, and causing disharmony between religious groups.
- The sedition case was filed against the institution after school children staged a satirical play criticising the Union government’s CAA and NRC.
- Local police also faced criticism for repeatedly questioning the school children, including a nine-year-old, regarding the case.
- After an investigation, the Karnataka child rights commission reprimanded the district police for multiple violations, including breaches of the Juvenile Justice Act.
Read more on Sedition Law in India.
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. Which of the following statements is/are correct? (Level-Easy)
- Fly ash and plastic waste have already been in use in India for the construction of national highways.
- The use of such material helps reduce the cost of the construction of roads.
Options:
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
- The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has used fly ash — the fine residue of coal combustion in thermal power plants for the construction of highways and flyover embankments. The 135-km long, six-lane Eastern Peripheral Expressway used 1.2 crore cubic meters of fly ash in its construction.
- NHAI has been encouraging the innovative use of new materials and is focused on reducing the carbon footprint, enhancing durability and making construction more economical.
Q2. How many of the following pairs of cyclone/hurricane/typhoon and the water body where it originated are correctly matched? (Level-Difficult)
- Fani: Bay of Bengal
- Vayu: Arabian Sea
- Harvey: Atlantic Ocean
- Phailin: Arabian Sea
Options:
- Only 1 pair
- Only 2 pairs
- Only 3 pairs
- All 4 pairs
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
- Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm Phailin was the most intense tropical cyclone to make landfall in India since the 1999 Odisha cyclone until Cyclone Amphan hit West Bengal in May 2020.
- It made landfall in the Bay of Bengal Coast, Odisha.
Read more on Cyclones.
Q3. The “Migration and Development Brief” is released by which of these agencies? (Level-Medium)
- World Bank
- United Nations Development Program
- International Labour Organisation
- Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation: The Migration and Development Brief is published by the World Bank.
Q4. How many of the following statements is/are true? (Level-Medium)
- An economy is said to enter a recession if the GDP contracts for a year or more.
- Depression in an economy is when the economy experiences a quarter of a negative growth rate.
- All 20 Eurozone countries have entered a recession recently.
Options:
- Only 1 statement
- Only 2 statements
- Only 3 statements
- None
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation:
- Statement 03 is correct, As per the data from EU’s statistical agency, Eurostat, the eurozone has entered a technical recession, with a contraction of 0.1 percent for two consecutive quarters. The eurozone consists of 20 countries that use the euro as their currency.
- Statement 01 is incorrect, When the economy faces a downfall for two consecutive quarters and this results in the decreased GDP of the country, it is said to be in a state of recession.
- Statement 02 is incorrect, A depression is a severe and prolonged downturn in economic activity. A depression may be defined as an extreme recession that lasts three or more years or which leads to a decline in real gross domestic product (GDP) of at least 10% in a given year.
Q5. Consider the following statements: (Level-Medium) [PYQ-CSE-2015]
- The President of India can summon a session of the Parliament at such a place as he/she thinks it.
- The Constitution of India provides for three sessions of the Parliament in a year, but it is not mandatory to conduct all three sessions.
- There is no minimum number of days that the Parliament is required to meet in a year.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 2 and 3 only
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
- Statement 01 is correct, Under Article 85 of the Indian Constitution, the President shall from time to time summon each House of Parliament to meet at such time and place as he thinks fit, but six months shall not intervene between its last sitting in one session and the date appointed for its first sitting in the next session.
- Statement 02 is incorrect, India does not have a fixed parliamentary calendar. By convention (i.e. not provided by the Constitution), Parliament meets for three sessions in a year.
- Statement 03 is correct, The Constitution does not specify when or for how many days Parliament should meet. Article 85 only requires that there should not be a gap of more than six months between two sessions of Parliament.
Read more on Sessions of the Indian Parliament.
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
- Discuss the challenges in front of the next Finance Commission of India. (250 words, 15 marks) [GS-2; Polity & Governance]
- “The way to strengthen the child nutrition regime in India is to empower the Anganwadi Workers.” Discuss. (150 words, 10 marks) [GS-2; Health]
Read the previous CNA here.
CNA 15 June 2023:- Download PDF Here
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