Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 1

• Overtaking China – New population estimates have wider implications

GS Paper 2

• Admonishments that endanger the Constitution
• Look Who’s Feeding Pendency
• Check, do not cross – Government should work towards systemic reform; not attack the judiciary
• Check, do not cross – Government should work towards systemic reform; not attack the judiciary

GS Paper 3

• The conflict behind eco-sensitive zones
• Margin of safety

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

• ASER 2022: ASER Report flags widening learning gaps
• NHAI implementing an advanced traffic management system to reduce accidents
• Halteria – Viral nutrition: new study reveals microbes nourished by consuming viruses
• Why India needs a fresh fertilizer policy
• Spot-bellied eagle owl spotted in A.P.’s Seshachalam forest for the first time
• India’s fertility rate dips, but the decline is faster in Bangladesh, Nepal
• The Secretary, MeitY launches Technology for Air Quality Monitoring System (AI-AQMS v1.0)
• Survival of the Richest: The India story – India’s richest 1% own more than 40% of total wealth: Oxfam

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 1

Overtaking China – New population estimates have wider implications

News: The article discusses the challenges with India due to the increasing population.

What is the news?

According to the World Population Review, India’s population has become 1.417 billion.

According to China’s National Statistics Bureau, in 2022 China saw its first decline in population since the famine-hit 1960s. The population count in China is now 1.412 billion.

This means India is now the world’s largest country by population.

What are the challenges for India due to increasing population?

It is true that a higher population brings more tax to the government leading to increase in spending. However, it also has challenges associated with it.

Some of the challenges with increasing population are – a) pressure on man-made infrastructure such as apartments, b) pressure on natural resources, c) create challenges for sustainability of India’s natural habitats; e.g., Joshimath crisis.

Must Read: China, India population: Implications of slowing dragon, racing elephant

What can be the way ahead?

There is a need for India to have quality population; i.e., it needs to enhance its human resource capability by refocusing its public policy.

This would help India in reaping the benefits out of its demographic dividend and become an upper-income country.

GS Paper 2

Admonishments that endanger the Constitution

News– The article explains the basic structure and its importance for Indian constitutional structure. It also explains the recent attack of judiciary by executive

What is the basic structure?

The judgment is widely recognized as a milestone in India’s history. It held that Parliament’s power to amend the Constitution was not plenary. Any change that damages the basic structure of the constitution would be declared void.

What is the recent attack on the judiciary by the executive and why is it not healthy criticism?

Much of this criticism has been aimed at the functioning of the collegium. The Union Minister of Law and Justice, and Vice President  have repeatedly doubted the Court’s judgment in 2015, in which it struck down NJAC.

Mr. Dhankhar claimed that the striking down of the NJAC had no parallels in democratic history. In a democratic society, the basic of any basic structure is supremacy of people, sovereignty of parliament.

He said that the ultimate power is with the legislature. Legislature also decides who will be there in other institutions. All institutions must confine themselves to their domains. One must not interfere in the domain of others.

Genuine criticism of the Collegium’s functioning ought to be welcomed. But the Government confirmed in Parliament that it has no plans to implement any systemic change in the way we appoint judges.

The Government itself has done little to promote transparency in the process. Therefore, the present reproach is unprincipled. It is an attempt at subverting the judiciary’s autonomy.

Why is basic structure the foundation of the constitution and inherent part of it?

India’s Constitution comprises a set of principles that together give it an identity. The Constitution is a product of a collective vision. That vision was built on distinct but interwoven ideals.

These ideals consist of rule of law, Westminster parliamentary form of governance, separation of powers, independence of judiciary and federal structure. These cannot be amended as they would change the fundamental pillars of the constitution.

In Minerva Mills vs Union of India, SC held that Parliament too is a creature of the Constitution. Therefore, it can only have such powers that are expressly vested on it.

If those powers are unlimited, it would cease to be an authority under the Constitution. It would become supreme over it, because it would have power to alter the entire Constitution including its basic structure.

SC in the Keshvananda Bharati case gave the interpretation of the word “amendment”. The dictionary definition of “amendment” means “minor change or addition designed to improve a text”.

Look Who’s Feeding Pendency

News– The article explains the issue of judicial delays and pendency of cases in courts of India.

Over 4 crore cases are pending in the subordinate judiciary, apart from 56 lakh in HCs and about 70,000 in SC.

Government has proposed engaging lawyers as judges and bringing back retired judges as ‘ad hoc’ judges as out-of-the-box remedies to tackle this issue

What are three important factors for the huge pendency of cases and delays in the judicial system?

Adjournment– Mechanical adjournment at all tiers of the judiciary is the single biggest contributor to the pendency of cases.

Procedure for adjournment is not codified in our statute book. Adjournments are asked and given casually.

A faint attempt was made when the Civil Procedure Code was amended exactly two decades ago. It says that each adjournment decision should specify the reason for the adjournment. It should not exceed three adjournments before the verdict is pronounced. These rules are not followed in true spirit.

Admission– Admissions of new cases are also responsible for long pendency. Admission rate in SC is a healthy 11%, HCs are too permissive. HCs admit almost all cases brought before them. There are no rules for admission.

Appeal- Appeals is the third factor contributing to judicial delays. The government is the biggest culprit here. Bureaucrats opt for appeal against every single order to save their own reputation and to delay losses.

What is the way forward to resolve the issue of judicial delays?

The issues related to frequent adjournments, admissions and appeals must be addressed. Constitutional courts must first practise prudence on the three ‘A’s and then ensure it percolates down to magistrate courts.

Every adjournment should be treated as a minor judicial decision requiring a written reason. As a result, the rate of adjournments will reduce.

Judges should disallow adjournments at least in cases where either of the parties enjoys an interim order of stay or injunction or status quo.

Check, do not cross – Government should work towards systemic reform; not attack the judiciary

News: The Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju has written to the Chief Justice of India to request that the executive be given a role in the appointment process of judges, which now is being handled by a Collegium of judges.

What are some demands of the central government asked in the letter?

As per the report, the Minister wants the formation of a search-and-evaluation committee, with Government representatives. It will suggest names to the collegiums in the High Courts and the Supreme Court for appointments.

Government is also demanding for a representative of the Union government in the Supreme Court collegium, and a state government’s representative in the High Court collegiums.

Moreover, the Law Minister has repeatedly been highlighting the flaws of the collegium system.

What has been the stand of court regarding the demand of the government?

The Court has earlier said that the government at any time can come up with law which is more transparent, independent and establishes a neutral mechanism in the appointment of judges and which does not affect the independence of the judiciary.

Till a new law comes, the government has to abide by the law of the land, that is, the present system of appointments through the Collegium.

What can be the course of action?

The government has often tried to delay the appointment of judges by deliberately delaying action on recommendations; ignoring reiterated names even after multiple reconsiderations; and carrying on a campaign to delegitimise the institution.

However, this is not acceptable as each and every democratic institution has its boundary and limitation under which it functions.

Therefore, a system of checks and balances that prevents any one branch gaining the upper hand is essential for democratic functioning.

Check, do not cross – Government should work towards systemic reform; not attack the judiciary

News: Recently, Union Minister for Law and Justice has written to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) “suggesting” that a nominee of the government should be included in the collegium that makes recommendations for the appointment of judges.

The Minister also wants the formation of a search-and-evaluation committee, with Government representatives, to suggest names to the collegiums in the High Courts and the Supreme Court for appointments.

Why does the government want to change the process of appointing judges?

Ever since the formation of the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act, the government wants to be part of selecting judges. But the 2015 judgment of a Constitution Bench struck down the formation of a National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC).

Since then, the government is frequently questioning the collegium system by highlighting some of its acknowledged flaws. Further, the government also doing  a) deliberately delaying action on recommendations; b) ignoring reiterated names even after multiple reconsiderations; and c) carrying on a campaign to delegitimise the institution.

What should be done?

The Collegium system needs reform. This can be done by infusing more transparency and independency in the process by making a fresh legislative effort to establish a neutral mechanism.

A system of checks and balances that prevents any one branch gaining the upper hand is essential for democratic functioning.

GS Paper 3

The conflict behind eco-sensitive zones

News– The article explains the concept of protected areas and ESZ. It explains the issues related to the concept of ESZ. It also tells about the reason for recent protests in Kerala due to creation of these zones.

What are protected areas?

Protected areas cover 5.26% of India’s land area as 108 national parks and 564 wildlife sanctuaries. They are notified under the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. Protected areas do away with even the activities permitted in ‘reserve forests’

The rights of forest-dependent communities are impacted. Therefore, this conservation model has come under repeated criticism from conservation scientists.

It led to the bringing of the Forest Rights Act, 2006. FRA recognizes the customary and traditional rights of forest-dwellers on forest land, including in protected areas.

How is the FRA being implemented?

FRA was an attempt to undo the historic injustice done to the forest-dwelling community of India. The MoEFCC reckoned in 2009  that it needs to hand over at least four lakh sq. km to village-level institutions. But as of June 2022, only 16% has come under the FRA.

However, this has been achieved in only a decade and a half. This is attributed to the gram sabhas which took over the power to determine rights through open democratic process from government officials.

These gram sabhas are now the statutory authorities empowered to conserve, protect and manage forests, and wildlife lying within the traditional village boundaries.

These areas under gram sabhas come under a new category of forests called ‘community forest resource’ (CFR). Gram sabhas have to integrate their CFR conservation and management plan into the working plan of the Forest Department, with the required modifications.

What are ESZs?

What are the issues with ESZ?

Significantly, parts of the ESZs in ten States fall within the Scheduled Areas notified under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution. They are mostly populated by Scheduled Tribe groups.

The Provisions of the PESA Act, 1996 apply in these areas. The PESA recognises gram sabhas competence to safeguard and preserve community resources on forest and revenue lands in Scheduled Areas.

However, the MoEFCC has shown no inclination to amend the Indian Forest Act 1927, the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 to comply with the PESA and FRA.

How exactly were the ESZs implemented?

In 2005, the National Board for Wildlife decided to delineate site-specific ESZs to regulate specific activities instead of prohibiting them. In May 2005, the MoEFCC asked the States and UTs to propose ESZs.

The MoEFCC guidelines for ESZs stated that a committee consisting of the Wildlife Warden, an ecologist, and an official from the local government will determine the extent of each ESZ. It will be based on the forest rangers’ inventory of land-use and wildlife corridors within 10 km of each protected area.

The Chief Wildlife Warden was to then list the activities that were to be prohibited, restricted and permitted.

After this process, the State government would submit this list, the geographical description of the area and the biodiversity values, the rights and entitlements of local communities, and their economic potential and implications for their livelihoods, as a proposal to the MoEFCC for notification.

Within two years of notification, the State government is required to draft a Zonal Master Plan for each ESZ in consultation with a number of departments.

State government has to set up a monitoring committee for each ESZ to monitor compliance with the various provisions of each notification. The committee is required to report the actions taken to the Chief Wildlife Warden every year.

The guidelines and the ESZ notifications disregarded many legal facts and statutory requirements. They set aside the gram sabhas in Scheduled Area and CFR forests and the Panchayati-raj institutions. It follows a ‘one size fits all’ approach.

What has led to the protests?

In June, 2022, the Supreme Court gave further directions on ESZs. Court said that the MoEFCC guidelines are also to be implemented in the area proposed in the draft notification awaiting finalisation and within a 10-km radius of yet-to-be-proposed protected areas.

The Court also allowed States to increase or decrease the minimum width of ESZs. It vested the powers to ensure compliance with the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and the Home Secretary of the State.

The PCCF was to make a list of all structures within the ESZs and report it to the Supreme Court within three months. The Court also ordered that no new permanent structure could come up for any purpose within an ESZ.

This effectively meant that all the activities can continue only if the PCCF grants permission. The Court’s directions have put the lives of many people in the hands of the PCCF. Its  authority now extends beyond the forest to revenue lands falling within an ESZ.

The new structures that are banned could include electric poles, buildings, walls, roads and bridges. Millions of forest-dwellers living on forest land and on the fringes of forests are the most affected.

Margin of safety

News– The article explains the recently released consultation paper “Blocking of Funds for Trading in Secondary Market” for public comment by SEBI

It seeks to extend the application supported by the blocked amount (ASBA) system to the secondary market.

What is ASBA In the Primary market?

When an investor applies for shares in an IPO, a security is placed on the requisite funds. It remains in the investor’s bank account and generates interest. If the allotment occurs, the funds are transferred. If it doesn’t occur, the money goes to investor

What is the reason behind this move of SEBI?

The objective is to eliminate the need to transfer funds in advance to a broker. Therefore, it reduces chances of misuse or losses caused by broker defaults.

In the secondary market, investors have to submit collateral or transfer funds in advance to the broker before executing a trade. This results in brokerages holding substantial sums. This practice also places the investor’s funds at risk in case the broker defaults.

What method has been suggested by SEBI for creating ASBA mechanism for the secondary market?

The regulator believes that it can use the new multiple debits facility for the Unified Payments Interface  to create a new ASBA mechanism.

This will allow investors to block funds in their bank account for trading in the secondary market, instead of transferring upfront to the broker. When the trade occurs, the funds would be transferred directly to the clearing corporation.

Brokerage and securities transaction tax may be deducted by the clearing corporation and passed on to brokers, or paid directly by investors to them.

What are the main concerns related to this new proposal?

There is a need to ensure a level playing field. Brokerages that are subsidiaries of banks can offer 3-in-1 accounts. The brokerage can access the funds and demat account when the need arises.

Standalone brokerages currently compete by charging lower fees, offering more advisory support and more flexible margins. The ASBA for the secondary market may be in favour of bank-backed brokerages.

The technicalities are much more complex for secondary market trades. An IPO is a static process. There is only one security involved and only one agency handling allotment. Reconciling IPO accounts is not difficult.

Secondary-market operations involve far more stakeholders and far more instruments, including equities, derivatives, and forex and commodity futures. Each has different prices and different margins.

A trade may be placed simultaneously on both exchanges.There are massive volumes of such highly dynamic trades. The secondary ASBA mechanism would have to be well designed and stress-tested to prevent slowdowns, and glitches in practice.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

ASER 2022: ASER Report flags widening learning gaps

Source: The post is based on the article “ASER Report flags widening learning gaps” published in The Hindu on 19th January 2023.

What is the News?

Annual Status of Education Report(ASER) 2022 has been released by Pratham, a non-governmental organization.

What is the ASER?

ASER is a household survey conducted across 616 rural districts covering 6.9 lakh children in the three-to-16 age group to record their schooling status and assess their basic reading and arithmetic skills. 

The report is being brought out after four years and records the impact of school closures in 2020 and 2021 as well as the return to school of children in 2022. 

What are the key findings of ASER 2022?

Increase in school enrollment: Despite the prolonged closure of schools, the overall enrollment in schools across the country has increased at all levels, with 98.4% in the age group of 6-14 years currently enrolled in schools. The figure stood at 97.2% in 2018.

Girl’s enrollment increased: The proportion of girls not enrolled in schools has also reduced across age groups. For girls aged 11-14, this share dropped from 4.1% in 2018 to 2% in 2022.

Drop in Learning levels: Between 2014 and 2018, learning levels in terms of foundational skills in reading and arithmetic had been rising gradually. For example, the proportion of Class 3 students who could read a Class 2 textbook had gone up from 23.6% in 2014 to 27.2% in 2018, while those who could do at least subtraction rose from 25.3% to 28.2%.

– However, in 2022, the basic reading ability of children in Class 3 dipped by 6.8% points from 2018 and the proportion of children in Class 3 who could do at least subtraction fell to 25.9% in 2022.

– Clearly, the pandemic has resulted in a learning loss. However, the loss is much greater in reading as compared to arithmetic.

Increase in children availing private tuitions: A small, steady increase in the proportion of children availing private tuitions. Between 2018 and 2022, this proportion increased further – from 26.4% to 30.5%.

Enrollment in government schools: The percentage of children aged 11 to 14 who are enrolled in government schools has risen from 65% in 2018 to 71.7% in 2022.

– This phenomenon can be attributed to several factors, including job losses and the closure of budget private schools in rural areas during the pandemic.

NHAI implementing an advanced traffic management system to reduce accidents

Source: The post is based on the article “NHAI implementing an advanced traffic management system to reduce accidents” published in Livemint on 19th January 2023.

What is the News?

National Highways Authority of India(NHAI) is implementing the Advanced Traffic Management System(ATMS) on national highways and expressways for managing incidents of road crashes and enforcement of speed limits and other regulations on highways. 

What is an Advanced Traffic Management System(ATMS)?

ATMS involves a set of intelligently integrated roadside equipment that are connected to ensure a safe and secure journey, including smooth traffic movement and timely reaction to untoward incidents.

The ATMS has already been implemented for around 3,000 km of National Highways.

How will ATMS work?

The ATMS will be linked to the vehicle database of the transport department(RTOs). It will identify those vehicles, which do not have valid papers. The data will be shared with local traffic police for issuing challans.

All this will be made possible by capturing the number plate of a vehicle. This will tell ATMS about the insurance of the vehicle, its age, pollution certificate and CNG kit testing certificate since the system will be linked to the RTO database.

Moreover, ATMS will not only be capable of capturing a photo of the number plate of the vehicle but will also alert the authorities if travellers are not wearing seat belts.

What are the other steps taken by NHAI to improve safety on highways?

NHAI is looking at leveraging GIS technology for analyzing drone videos and Network Survey Vehicle data for identifying safety issues on highways.

NHAI is imparting mandatory 15 days of Road Safety Audit Training to its engineers. The completion of training has been made a key criterion for the promotion of engineers to the post of Manager and Deputy General Manager.

Halteria – Viral nutrition: new study reveals microbes nourished by consuming viruses

Source: The post is based on the article “Viral nutrition: new study reveals microbes nourished by consuming viruses” published in The Hindu on 19th January 2023.

Halteria – Viral nutrition: new study reveals microbes nourished by consuming viruseshers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have reported that a particular genus of plankton, namely Halteria, can consume viruses as well as survive on a virus-only diet.

What are Planktons?

Plankton are microscopic organisms that can only move with a current. They don’t have any facilities to actively propel themselves. 

A type of plankton — the phytoplankton — is found nearer the surface of many water bodies. It is an autotroph, which means it can make its own food by consuming carbon dioxide among other compounds through photosynthesis. 

When phytoplankton dies, they drift around where they are, becoming part of a coastal nutrient cycle, or they drift down towards the seafloor, where they decompose. Their constituents then become available for microbes or are sequestered into the seafloor.

So, phytoplankton brings carbon and other nutrients from the atmosphere and sea surface down to the seafloor and help replenish the food chain (and also ‘trap’ carbon into their own bodies and as sediments). 

They are joined by bacteria that make their own food by oxidizing sulphur, iron or hydrogen in a process called chemosynthesis.

What are Halteria?

Halteria plankton are ciliates, meaning they have hair-like structures called cilia on their surface. Sometimes they can beat some of these cilia to jump short distances, but not often as it requires too much energy.

Halteria plankton are found in large numbers in freshwater bodies. They are heterotrophs meaning they can’t produce their own food. Instead, they are well-known bacterivores — they consume bacteria to power themselves.

What did the researchers find about Halteria?

Halteria ciliates are virovores which means they are able to survive on a virus-only diet. These single-celled creatures are the first known to thrive when viruses alone are on the menu.

Why India needs a fresh fertilizer policy

Source: The post is based on the article “Why India needs a fresh fertilizer policy” published in Livemint on 19th January 2023.

What is the News?

Niti Aayog has set up a task force to examine the production and promotion of bio-fertilizer and organic fertilizers.

What are the steps taken by the government to improve the availability of fertilizers?

Some of the steps undertaken by the government to improve the availability of fertilizers include 1) Assessment of state-wise requirements every month, 2) 100% neem coating of urea which increases nutrient efficiency; monitoring of crop yield and soil health and 3) online monitoring of the movement of fertilizers through the integrated Fertilizer Monitoring System. 

The gap between demand and production was met through timely imports.

What is the impact of the current fertilizer policy?

Heavy subsidies have prompted many farmers to use chemical fertilizers like urea, which leads to higher productivity, but affects soil fertility in the long run. 

As per the UN report, excessive and inefficient use of fertilizers leads to nutrient losses to the environment and could also result in drinking water contamination and impact human lives as a result of unsafe storage practices. 

Also, with the subsidy being released directly to companies, technology-inefficient companies are being protected. 

What has been the trend in government expenditure on fertilizers?

The Ukraine war spiked the government’s spending on food, fertilizer and fuel subsidies by nearly 70%. 

For 2023-24, the fertilizer ministry might seek budgetary support of ₹2.5 trillion subsidy – outgo for FY23 has already crossed ₹2 trillion.

What steps has the Centre taken in 2022 for fertilizers?

The Department of Fertilizers has disbursed subsidies for urea and nutrient-based subsidy and implemented direct benefit transfer. 

It also implemented the ‘One Nation One Fertilizers’ scheme which aims to ensure timely supply of fertilizers.This eliminates the dilemma of choosing from the many brands available by introducing a single brand. 

The existing village, block/sub district/taluk and district-level fertilizer retail outlets are being converted into model fertilizer retail outlets.

What will the new policy on fertilizers seek to address?

The new policy could propose lower duty on imported phosphoric acid to raise the competitiveness of local fertilizer manufacturers and an incentive for promoting organic fertilizers.

Spot-bellied eagle owl spotted in A.P.’s Seshachalam forest for the first time

Source: The post is based on the article “Spot-bellied eagle owl spotted in A.P.’s Seshachalam forest for the first time” published in The Hindu on 19th January 2023.

What is the News?

A wildlife team has stumbled upon a Spot-bellied Eagle Owl (Bubo Nipalensis) for the first time in the Seshachalam forest and for the third time in Andhra Pradesh.

What is a Spot-bellied Eagle Owl?

The Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl also known as the forest eagle-owl is a large bird of prey with a formidable appearance. 

IUCN Status: Least Concern

Geographical distribution: It is a forest-inhabiting species found across the Indian Subcontinent.

Characteristics: The bird is found on large trees in thick forests. It feeds on small rodents and lizards.

Significance: The bird makes a strange scream similar to humans and it is hence called the ‘ghost of the forest’ in India and ‘devil bird’ in Sri Lanka.

India’s fertility rate dips, but the decline is faster in Bangladesh, Nepal

Source: The post is based on the article “India’s fertility rate dips, but the decline is faster in Bangladesh, Nepal” published in Business Standard on 19th January 2023.

What is the News?

India’s fertility rate has declined to below the replacement rate. But Nepal’s and Bangladesh’s fertility rates declined faster between 1990 and 2020.

What is the Replacement level of fertility?

Replacement level is the level of fertility at which a population replaces itself exactly from one generation to the next. 

The United Nations(UN’s) prescribed fertility rate is 2.1 births per woman.

China’s population declined: China’s National Statistics Bureau showed that the country’s population shrank to 1.41 billion in 2022. 

India’s population: If data from World Population Prospects is to be believed, then India with a population of 1.412 billion in 2022, would be the most populous country in the world.

A significant reason for this is India’s higher fertility rates or the number of children born per woman.

India’s Fertility rate data: India’s fertility rate has halved between 1990 and 2020. It has declined to 2 — a level much below the UN’s prescribed fertility rate (of 2.1 births per woman).

A rural-urban comparison shows that even though fertility rates in rural areas declined much faster between 2005-06 and 2019-21, the rural fertility rate at 2.14 was much higher than the urban rate of 1.63.

The Secretary, MeitY launches Technology for Air Quality Monitoring System (AI-AQMS v1.0)

Source: The post is based on the article “The Secretary, MeitY launches Technology for Air Quality Monitoring System (AI-AQMS v1.0)” published in PIB on 18th January 2023.

What is the News?

The Union Ministry for Electronics and Information Technology(MeitY) has launched Technology for Air Quality Monitoring System(AI-AQMS v1.0).

What is the Air Quality Monitoring System(AI-AQMS v1.0)?

Developed by: Centre for Development of Advanced Computing(C-DAC), Kolkata in collaboration with TeXMIN, ISM, Dhanbad.

Purpose: It is an outdoor air quality monitoring station to monitor environmental pollutants which includes parameters like PM 1.0, PM 2.5, PM 10.0, SO2, NO2, CO, O2, ambient temperature, relative humidity etc.

Funded under: National programme on Electronics and ICT applications in Agriculture and Environment (AgriEnIcs).

What is AgriEnIcs: National Programme on Electronics and ICT Applications in Agriculture and Environment?

It is a national-level programme initiated to reform the agriculture and environment sectors with the interventions of IoT, ICT, machine learning and robotics technology.

Survival of the Richest: The India story – India’s richest 1% own more than 40% of total wealth: Oxfam

Source: The post is based on the article “India’s richest 1% own more than 40% of total wealth: Oxfam” published in The Hindu on 18th January 2023.

What is the News?

Oxfam has released a report  titled “Survival of the Richest: The India story”.

What are the key findings of the Survival of the Richest: The India story?

Wealth Inequality: The richest 1% in India now own more than 40% of the country’s total wealth, while the bottom half of the population together share just 3% of the wealth.

– The combined wealth of India’s 100 richest has touched USD 660 billion (Rs 54.12 lakh crore) — an amount that could fund the entire Union Budget for more than 18 months.

Gender and social inequality: Female workers earned only 63 paise for every 1 rupee earned by male workers.

– The situation is even worse for Scheduled Castes and rural workers, as they earned 55% and half of what the advantaged social groups earned respectively, between 2018 and 2019.

GST: Approximately 64% of the total Rs 14.83 lakh crore in Goods and Services Tax (GST) came from the bottom 50% of the population in 2021-22, with only 3% of GST coming from the top 10%.

What are the suggestions given by the report to combat inequality?

Implement inheritance, property and land taxes, as well as net wealth taxes, in order to reduce inequality and generate revenue for social programs.

– For instance, taxing India’s ten-richest at 5% can fetch entire money to bring children back to school or if India’s billionaires are taxed once at 2% on their entire wealth, it would support the requirement of Rs 40,423 crore for the nutrition of malnourished in the country for the next three years. 

Enhance the budgetary allocation of the health sector to 2.5% of GDP by 2025, as envisaged in the National Health Policy.

Enhance the budgetary allocation for education to the global benchmark of 6% of GDP.

Impose a windfall tax on food companies that are making large profits as inflation has surged.