9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – January 21st, 2023

Mains Oriented Articles

GS PAPER - 1

Aging factory – on China’s population decline

Source– The post is based on the article “Aging factory” published in The Hindu on 21th January 2023.

Syllabus: GS1- Population and associated issues

Relevance– Issues related to population planning and control

News– The article explains declining population in China and its impact on Chinese economy

What are some facts and statistics about the declining population of China?

China’s population declined by 8,50,000 in 2022. Births in China last year dropped by more than 10% to 9.56 million.

China has been making efforts to boost birth rates that have been declining since the government introduced a harsh “one-child policy” in 1980. The belated introduction in 2016 of a “two-child policy” was not successful.

How is the declining population impacting the Chinese economy?

China’s economy is already feeling the impact of demographic change. The 16-59 working age population in 2022 was 875 million. It is a decline of around 75 million since 2010.

Wages are rising. Labour-intensive jobs are moving out, predominantly to Southeast Asia.

The above-60 population has increased. The number of elderly will peak by 2050 at 35% of the population. China’s National Working Commission on Ageing estimates spending on health care for the elderly will take up 26% of the GDP by 2050.

China is on track to follow Japan’s example of a prolonged period of a shrinking workforce with declining growth. The proportion of child and elderly populations in China as of 2020 was similar to Japan’s in 1990. Moreover, China reached this inflection point faster.

What are lessons for India?

India’s proportion of child and elderly population in 2020 was similar to China’s in 1980. It was the time when its economic boom started in China.

That was made possible only by taking advantage of demographic dividend by investing heavily in health care and education.

 

GS PAPER - 2

Appointments, Disappointments – on SC collegium

Source: The post is based on an article “Appointments, Disappointments” published in The Times of India and “SC Collegium’s move to go public on government’s objections to its nominees is welcome but selective” published in The Indian Express on 21^st January 2023.

Syllabus: GS 2 – Governance

Relevance: concerns with the appointment of judges

News: The article discusses the lacunae in the appointment of judges and measures needed to resolve it.

What are the different problems with the appointment of judges in the Courts?

Amongst other criteria, judges of the SC or HC are also appointed on the basis of region, religion, caste and gender. 

Further, it has also been seen that the chances of those people for appointment increases who have better political connections or their relatives are already judges. At times, the religion of the person is also misused for the appointment.

This concern was also highlighted in the 80th report in 1979 by the Law Commission. The report said wrong appointments of judges have affected the image of courts. They have also undermined the confidence of the people in the courts.

The report further said that a person appointed not on merit but because of favouritism or other considerations can hardly have respect for the bar and can hardly give proper judgements.

The Law Commission in its 230th Report (2009) said for the HCs that it appears that this high office is patronised.

A person, whose near relation or well-wisher is or had been a judge in the higher courts or is a senior advocate or is a political high-up, stands a better chance of elevation.

What are other concerns with the appointment of judges?

The appointment of judges is done through the Collegium system. This system is not transparent and there are hardly any reasons provided behind the selection or rejection of the names by the Collegium.

However, the Collegium of the SC has recently taken a transparent decision though providing reasons to reiterate its recommendation on the appointment of five advocates as high court judges, and has gone public for both its reiteration and the government’s objection.

What can be the source of action?

SC should not only be transparent for a few names but it must make public its recommendations and its reasoned response to government objections on all names.

It must also provide reasons for why it did not reiterate some of the names the government rejected, and why it changed its mind on some of the names that it rejected which the government sent back on for its reconsideration.

Therefore, bringing transparency in the appointment, selection, and rejection of the judges is needed for the democratic institution like the courts to work efficiently.

 

There is hardly any autonomy at the panchayat level

Source– The post is based on the article “There is hardly any autonomy at the panchayat level” published in The Hindu on 21th January 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Devolution of Powers and Finances up to Local Levels and Challenges Therein

Relevance– Issues related to implementation of 73rd and 74th amendment act

News– The article explains the issue of state government control over functioning of panchayats.

Recently, an up-sarpanch in Telangana’s committed suicide due to indebtedness. He had taken out a loan to undertake development works in the village and was unable to pay after the State government’s inordinate delay in releasing bill payments.

How State governments exercise considerable discretionary authority and influence over panchayats?

Issue of funding– Gram panchayats remain fiscally dependent on grants from the State and the Centre for everyday activities. Broadly, panchayats have three main sources of funds — their own sources of revenue, grants in aid, and discretionary or scheme-based funds.

Their own sources of revenue constitute a tiny proportion of overall panchayat funds. In Telangana, less than a quarter of a panchayat’s revenue comes from its own sources of revenue.

Further, access to discretionary grants for panchayats remains dependent on political and bureaucratic connections.

Even when higher levels of government allocate funds to local governments, sarpanchs need help in accessing them. An inordinate delay in transferring approved funds to panchayat accounts stalls local development.

There are also severe constraints on panchayats for using the funds allocated to them. State governments often impose spending limits on various expenditures through panchayat funds. In almost all States, there is a system of double authorisation for spending panchayat funds. Apart from sarpanchs, disbursal of payments requires bureaucratic concurrence.

Interference of higher authorities– State governments also bind local governments’ through the local bureaucracy. Approval for public works projects often requires technical approval from the engineering department and administrative approval from local officials of the rural development department.

Higher-level politicians and bureaucrats often intervene in selecting beneficiaries for government programmes and limiting the power of sarpanches further.

Sarpanchs need to have good relationships with politicians and local bureaucrats if they want access to discretionary resources, timely disbursement of funds.

The ability of sarpanches to exercise administrative control over local employees is also limited. In many States, the recruitment of local functionaries is conducted at the district or block level. Often the sarpanch does not even have the power to dismiss these local-level employees.

Dismissal process– Sarpanchs can be dismissed while in office. Gram Panchayat Acts in many States have empowered district-level bureaucrats, mostly district Collectors, to act against sarpanchs for official misconduct.

Across the country, there are regular instances of bureaucrats deciding to dismiss sarpanchs from office. In Telangana, more than 100 sarpanchs have been dismissed from office in recent years.

 

GS PAPER - 3

Chexit, in parts: Reshoring, friend-shoring and billions of dollars in sops

Source– The post is based on the article “Chexit, in parts: Reshoring, friend-shoring and billions of dollars in sops” published in the Business Standard on 21th January 2023.

Syllabus: GS3- Economy

Relevance– Issues related to global economy

News– The article explains the shift of numerous factories and supply-chain dependence away from China.

China is facing weakening growth, following a decade-long, progressive slowdown

What are the steps taken by East Asian countries to relocate their business away from China?

Japan is paying its firms to move their factories from China. It has also introduced a new economic security law covering 14 sectors deemed to be part of societal infrastructure.

South Korea and Taiwan have comparable programmes that target mainly China.

So, Asia’s three most industrialised countries are offering incentives to move their companies out of China and back to their home base.

What are the recent examples of companies relocating their business away from China?

Some 250 Japanese companies are reported to have left China in recent years. The trend is accelerating. It is not limited to Japanese companies.

According to one report, 135 companies moved out of China just last year and relocated plants making semiconductors, motor vehicles, appliances, and clothing. Sony has partly re-located its smartphone production to Thailand.

South Korean companies too have been not just re-shoring but “friend-shoring” as well. Samsung has opted for Vietnam. Malaysia has benefited from 32 projects relocated from China.

What is the reason behind relocating firms from China?

China’s aggressive behaviour is compelling the firms to look for alternate options. A visa ban has hit both Japan and South Korea. South Korea’s Lotte retail chain, Sweden’s Ericsson, and Australian wine-makers have been impacted by Chinese policies.

Global firms see heightened political risk. They are worried about discrimination, rising production costs, stricter environmental rules, and of course disrupted supplies.

Are global firms abandoning China as a production base or as a market?

Foreign direct investment into China actually increased in 2022. Germany’s BASF, for instance, is relocating into China.

The Financial Times report shows how interlocked the Apple production network is with the Chinese ecosystem. Countries like the US and India that have tried to restrict imports from China have only seen their China trade deficits grow.

What is the scenario of India?

India’s current policy thrust like production-linked incentives, capital subsidies is very much in line with the East Asian.

India ranked seventh on a 2021 UN list for foreign investment. But, it is not the default alternative to China for most global companies.

India must integrate more with East Asia by getting into regional trade arrangements, lowering its tariff walls, and improving the quality of its workforce.

 

[Yojana January 2023 Summary] India’s Wealth: Millet For Health – Explained, pointwise

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Introduction

In 2021, the Government of India had proposed at the United Nations for declaring 2023 as the International Year of Millets. India’s proposal was supported by 72 countries and United Nations General Assembly declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYM 2023) in March 2021. To take forward this declaration, the Government of India has decided to celebrate IYM 2023 by making it a peoples’ movement or ‘Jan Andolan‘ to enhance awareness regarding millets and health benefits and promoting millets as a healthy option for the food basket. Activities are also being taken up to propel demand creation of millets at both global and local levels, for better remuneration to the farmers for its production, to provide protection of sources (soil and water), and creation of direct and indirect employment.

India produces more than 170 lakh tonnes of millets per year and is the largest producer of millets in the world; accounting for 20% of global production and 80% of Asia’s production. India’s average yield of millets (1239 kg/hectare) is also higher than global-average yield of 1229 kg/hectare. Major millet crops grown in India and their percentage share of production are Pearl Millet (Bajra,61%), Sorghum (Jowar, 27%), and Finger Millet (Mandua/Ragi, 10%). The Prime Minister has also tried to promote millets through his various speeches. He has highlighted that millets have been part of India’s tradition, culture and ancient civilization, their relevance being cited in sacred texts like Vedas and Tolkappiyam.

What are Millets?

Millets, popularly called ‘Mota Anaj‘ in Hindi, are a collective group of small-seeded annual grasses that are grown as grain crops, primarily on marginal land in dry areas of temperate, sub-tropical, and tropical regions. They are one of the ancient foods dating back to the Indus Valley Civilisation, around 3000 BC. They are grown in almost 131 countries today. Currently, millets constitute the traditional food for 59 crore people across Asia and Africa.

In India, millets can be clubbed into major, minor, and pseudo categories.

Major Millets: Sorghum (Jowar), Pearl Millet (Bajra), Finger Millet (Ragi/Mandua).

Minor Millets: Foxtail Millet (Kangani/Kakun), Proso Millet (Cheena), Kodo Millet, Barnyard Millet (Sawa/Sanwa/ Jhangora), Little Millet (Kutki).

Pseudo Millets: Buck-wheat (Kuttu) and Amaranth (Chaulai).

The top five states producing Millets are Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana.

Read More: Millet Production in India – Explained, pointwise

What is the importance of Millets?

Climate-friendly Crop: Apart from health benefits, millets are: (a) Resilient to climate change as they are pest free; (b) Adapted to a wide range of temperatures and moisture regimes; (c) Demand less input of chemical fertilisers to grow; (d) Have low carbon and water footprints; (e) Require minimum rainfall for their growth, hence they can sustain in drought-prone areas. These benefits make them bio-diverse and climate-smart crops.

Viable options for Small Farmers: Due to the low investment needed for the production of millets, they prove to be a sustainable and viable income source for small and marginal farmers.

High in Nutrition and Health Benefits: (a) Storehouse of nutrition : Millet are known to be a storehouse of nutrition as they are good sources of calcium, zinc, magnesium, phosphorous, copper, vitamin, iron, folate, carbohydrates, micronutrients, antioxidants and phytochemicals with nutraceutical properties. They can help provide ; (b) Addressing Modern Lifestyle Diseases: They can help fight many modern-day, lifestyle diseases like Diabetes Mellitus & Heart Disorders, Cancer and Brain Disorders; (c) Around 70% fatalities around the world are attributable to non-communicable diseases caused due to modern lifestyles and changed consumption patterns. Health Experts say that dietary habits are causing ‘oxidative stress‘ leading to cancer and DNA damage. Millets have antioxidants which can address the ‘oxidative stress’ and help cure these lifestyle diseases; (d) Tackling Malnutrition: They are gluten-free and considered good for celiac patients (Celiac disease is an immune reaction to eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. For patients suffering from celiac disease, eating gluten triggers an immune response in small intestine. Over time, this response prevents the intestine from absorbing some nutrients (malabsorption). The intestinal damage often causes diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, bloating and anemia). The promotion of millets can be an effective strategy for tackling malnutrition in the country.

Phytochemicals present in Millets. Source: Yojana January 2023

Economic and Food Security: Under India’s National Food Security Mission the area and production of millets have increased. Over the years, the production of millets has increased from 14.52 million tonnes (2015-16) to 17.96 million tones in 2020- 21 (Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare). Its exports are increasing exponentially as the demand for millets is increasing at a fast rate With the growing demand for millets, it is creating more business opportunities for all stakeholders.

Millet as a part of the Food basket

The Government of India has initiated the revival of millets in the past few years and declared 2018 as the ‘National Year of Millets’ to raise awareness about its health benefits and boost millet production. They are labelled as ‘Nutri-cereals’ due to their high nutrition quotient. Millets have been included under POSHAN Abhiyan in 2018.

The Government has also launched Mission POSHAN 2.0 in 2021 to tackle malnutrition and leverage traditional knowledge systems and popularise the incorporation of millets in local recipes in order to enhance the quality of supplementary nutrition.

Under the POSHAN Abhiyan every year, September is celebrated as Rashtriya Poshan Maah or National Nutrition Month across the country. The Ministry of Women and Child Development has encouraged all States and the UTs to incorporate millets in the recipes to enhance the nutritional quality of the meal provided under the Supplementary Nutrition programme of Anganwadi centres. Millets are being mandatorily supplied at least once a week.

Balanced diets based on locally available low-cost nutritious foods and benefits of consuming millets are being shared with mothers’ groups through the Anganwadis. Millets are being incorporated in supplementary nutrition in several States and Union Territories such Odisha, Telangana, etc.

Initiatives towards making IYM 2023 a success

The Government has embarked on a nationwide Jan Andolan to enhance awareness and highlight the nutritional benefits of millets, positioning it as a modern-day healthy food that is easy to cook and quick to prepare.

Various creative campaigns on several forums such as radio, print, social media, offline events, and activities are being taken up to break the stigma of millet being the ‘food of the poor’ showcasing it as a superfood, combating misinformation, reviving lost recipes, thus making it as an essential part of the mainstream food basket.

Millets have been showcased in various reputed events like India International Trade Fair, Dubai Expo and Surajkund Mela etc.

Over 500 startups are working in millet value chain while the Indian Institute on Millet Research has incubated 250 startups under RKVY-RAFTAAR. More than INR 6.2 crores has been disbursed to over 66 startups while about 25 startups have been approved for further funding.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is actively spreading awareness of the health benefits of the miracle crop by celebrating ‘Recipe Ravivar‘ every Sunday on social media platforms where each month is dedicated to a specific variety of millets.

Seven Sutras

The Government of India has launched a set of seven sutras in the run-up to IYM 2023 and has allocated different government departments for the same. The seven sutras outline areas in: (a) The enhancement of production/productivity; (b) Nutrition and health benefits; (c) Value addition; (d) Processing, and recipes development; (e) Entrepreneurship/startup/collective development; (f) Awareness creation-branding, labelling and promotion, international outreach; (g) Policy interventions for mainstreaming.

Of the seven sutras, nutrition and health benefits will focus on: (a) Generating awareness regarding health and nutrition benefits by developing mass campaigns such as Eat Right Campaigns; (b) Enhancing steps to avail technology support for Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR), SAUs and others like Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), AYUSH, Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR), Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) and International Crops Research Institute for Semi-arid Tropics (ICRISAT) to research and collate evidence; (c) Promoting bio-fortification of millets; (d) Giving more focus on the digital publication of papers on millets; (e) Encouraging commissioning of studies by National/International reputed organisations, spreading awareness among mothers through Anganwadis.

The Government also plans to establish Centres of Excellence on millets across the length and breadth of the country and link industries with these centres.

Conclusion

Due to various activities and efforts of different Departments and Ministries of Government of India and the States and UTs, momentum has kickstarted for popularising millets and turning it into a revolutionary movement. In line with Prime Minister’s vision for a healthier India, at a time when the country is entering ‘Azadi ka Amrit Kaal‘, there is a strong focus on Jan Bhagidari or people’s movement to bring the spotlight on this superfood and for bringing this ancient food to the centerstage.

Source: Yojana January 2023

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