Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

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• Data In The Dock – on National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG)
• A fountainhead of the people’s hopes and aspirations
• Sedition and its roots in rudeness as an offence
• US’s new visa policy: What explains the US visa ‘threat’ to Dhaka?
• Junta Connection – For Manipur, India must revisit its Myanmar policy

GS Paper 3

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

Data In The Dock – on National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG)

News: The National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) shows that 1,03,712 cases in the courts are more than 30 years old. This highlights the concerns over pendency of cases in the courts in India.

What is the situation of the pendency of cases in India?

Out of 1,03,712 cases, the two oldest civil cases are from 1952 and the oldest criminal case today is from 1958. This shows the grim situation of the legal system in India that plaintiffs/ defendants may even die awaiting justice.

Recently, the India Justice Report 2022 ranked states under four heads – police, prisons, judiciary and legal aid. Under judiciary, West Bengal ranks the worst among major states.

In 2017, the junior law minister informed Parliament the oldest civil case was in Rajasthan HC filed in 1956 and the oldest case filed in Madras HC was of 1952.

However, both the information was incorrect which also shows the need to correct data in e-court records.

The law minister further informed Parliament recently that there were no cases (civil or criminal) more than 50 years old pending before the Supreme Court. However, HCs have cases (civil plus criminal) more than 50 years old.

Therefore, it seems unlike SC, HCs and district courts haven’t focused on clearing old cases despite the 11th finance commission providing additional resources for fast-track courts meant to clear old cases.

Must Read: Pendency of Cases of Constitutional Importance – Explained

What can be the way ahead?

The funds for fast-track courts cannot alone solve the problem. There is also a need to focus on resolving the pendency of cases along with providing performance-linked resource-flow.

Further, e-courts work through a case information system (CIS). Therefore, under CIS, there is a need for a monitoring system, which should monitor the clearance of old cases by the judges.

Moreover, metrics in NJDG are based on case disposal with no special emphasis on old cases. Hence, emphasis in NJDG should be put in clearance of old cases along updating the correct data /information about the cases.

A fountainhead of the people’s hopes and aspirations

News– India is set to witness a historic moment with the inauguration of the new Parliament House on May 28. We finally have a new structure in independent India.

What is the importance of the new Parliament building?

It reflects the vision and aspirations of a country that has evolved significantly since 1947. The new building will be another extension of the existing Parliament complex to signify the spirit of change and continuity.

The old building gave direction to independent India, while the new one will witness the making of India as ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.

What are the changes made in the old building?

The main Parliament House, inaugurated in 1927, consists of the circular-shaped structure. Two more floors were added to this building in 1956 to accommodate more staff and other offices.

The need for yet more office space led to the construction of the Parliament Annexe in 1975. In 2002, the Parliament Library was added to the complex. For similar reasons, an extension of the Parliament Annexe was constructed in 2016.

What are the challenges faced due to the old building of Parliament?

Despite the new constructions in the Parliament, the need for modern facilities in the main Parliament House remained unfulfilled.

There is a shortage of space inside the Parliament House. It had to be retrofitted multiple times, which left little space for further improvements.

The inner ceilings of both the Chambers and the Central Hall were provided with safety nettings to prevent any tiles and plaster from falling down. There are multiple wirings for computers, air conditioners and security gadgets.

The Presiding Officers of the past have also emphasised the need to find a better solution. In 2012, the Speaker, Meira Kumar approved a high-powered committee to look for an alternative complex.

In 2015, the Speaker, Sumitra Mahajan, wrote to the Minister for Urban Affairs to have a new Parliament building with modern facilities.

What are major changes in the new Parliament for meeting the needs of current times?

The new building is more spacious, energy-efficient, and accessible. It has the most updated technology, which makes it well-equipped for future needs as well.

In the new building, we will be able to accommodate various languages with state-of-the-art facilities for simultaneous interpretations. There are better features for audio-visual communication as compared to the existing Parliament.

Better gadgets, access to an e-library, and important reports will be easily accessible for members from their seats. This will enhance the capacity of legislators and improve the efficiency of the Secretariats of Parliament.

The building has publicly accessible museum-grade galleries and a Constitution Hall that showcases India’s age-old history of democracy.

Adequate functional space and modern facilities for the members will contribute to reducing friction and enabling serious discussions. As this complex expands, each member will have their own dedicated space for interacting with people from their constituencies.

How does the new Parliament inspire for a better future?

The inauguration of a new Parliament building presents an opportunity to seriously introspect on our parliamentary conduct to make Parliament more efficient and productive.

The trend of increasing disruptions and deadlock is antithetical to the demand for politics for complex governance challenges of our time.

It would work as a lighthouse to guide us in our ambitious journey to build ‘Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat.’

Sedition and its roots in rudeness as an offence

News- On March 30, the Lahore High Court annulled the offence of ‘sedition’ in the Pakistan Penal code.

Around the same time in India, the police registered a series of complaints in Delhi and in Ahmedabad, and also arrested several people, for posting anti-government posts.

How does the logic of sedition under section 124 influence our legal apparatus?

Section 124A seeks to criminalise words that bring “into hatred or contempt, or excite disaffection” towards the government. A challenge is pending before the Supreme Court. Yet, the logic of the law of sedition still survives.

Pakistan uses the law of blasphemy. India, which is secular and does not criminalise blasphemy. But, it has punishment provisions for hurting sentiments. The state recently arrested actor Chetan Kumar for his tweet on Hindutva.

Its defining logic has already transplanted itself into several different provisions of law that criminalise speech.

How social relationships have an impact on our understanding of offensive speech?

Socially, we have always understood badtameezi(rudeness) not in terms of the contents of speech, but rather in terms of who spoke and to whom. An older person may crticise a teenager but the badtameezi occurs only when the teenager answers back.

This understanding of offensive speech applies in the same hierarchical way to all social relationships. It’s always the security guard, the domestic worker, or the street vendor who is badtameez.

Modernity and capitalism have long been imagined breaking such hierarchies. But it is not true in substance.

How is the understanding of offensive speech reflected in power relations?

The state through its officials has appropriated a top position in hierarchy of social positions. Thus, the lowest state functionary addresses the citizen in the most commanding voice, as if it was natural.

Law-and-order issues arise only when the policeman is challenged. But, it never arises in the policeman’s own arbitrary commands to the citizenry.

In present times, this relationship of power is more explicitly extended to political power. The use of law often shows these social-political relations of power. It is increasing now.

How is understanding of offensive speech reflected in the legal system?

The practice of prosecuting speech offences is influenced by an understanding that ‘offensive speech’ emanates from those who are either inferior in established social/political hierarchies.

Consequently, offences are framed mostly against those who challenge political or social power and its attendant narratives. In the event, prosecution usually follows the logic of badtameezi, or sedition. It focuses mostly on content.

India has entrenched hierarchical relations, most prominently in the form of caste. Our understanding of violence is influenced by this understanding.

Speech is made prosecutable depending on whom it targets. It points to the entangled relationship of law and society. Prosecutors attack certain speech as grave and damaging to someone’s reputation while tolerating other violent speech as innocuous.

What are some facts about the Supreme Court pronounced judgement in the Media One case?

which addresses the logic of sedition. It struck down the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s decision to not renew the broadcast licence for the channel on grounds that it was a threat to national security.

The Court said that the critical views on policies of the government cannot be termed anti-establishment. The use of such a terminology represents an expectation that the press must support the establishment.

The action of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting by denying security clearance to a media channel produces a chilling effect on freedom of speech, and on press freedom.

The restriction on the freedom of the press compels citizens to think along the same tangent. A homogenised view on issues that range from socio-economic policy to political ideologies would pose grave dangers to democracy.

The state is using national security as a tool to deny citizens remedies that are provided under the law. This is not compatible with the rule of law. National security claims cannot be made out of thin air.

US’s new visa policy: What explains the US visa ‘threat’ to Dhaka?

News: A new visa policy was announced by the US “to support Bangladesh’s goal of holding free, fair and peaceful national elections.” Under this policy, the US can impose visa restrictions on individuals and their immediate family members if they are responsible for undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh.

Note: Earlier this month, the US announced the same policy in Nigeria.

What led to the formulation of the US’s new visa policy?

This is due to a) Bangladesh Prime Minister’s authoritarian approach, b) The formulation of a draconian Digital Security Act, c) Declaring the newspaper found by the Ramon Magsaysay awardee Matiur Rahman, as anti-national, and d) the government’s crackdown on Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and former PM citing its links to Islamist parties and alleging corruption at the top.

What is the view of Bangladesh’s government and the opposition to the US’s new visa policy?

The opposition in Bangladesh said that a) The policy will play a supporting role in holding the next polls in a fair and credible manner, b) The policy will change the diplomatic ties between Bangladesh and the United States,

The government on the other hand said that the US was seeking regime change in Bangladesh and demands such visa policy should not be applied arbitrarily in a non-objective manner.

What will be the implications of the US’s new visa policy?

The US is the biggest destination for Bangladesh’s garment exports, and Bangladesh is the third-largest exporter of garments to the US after China and Vietnam. The industry is the backbone of the country’s economic growth.

A (Generalized System of Preferences) GSP-Plus status with the US and Europe for its ready-made garment exports is crucial when Bangladesh graduates out of the least developed country category in 2026. Bangladesh’s government is working hard for this tag. But the new policy might hamper its recognition.

What is the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)?

How does the US’s new visa policy impact India’s ties with Bangladesh?

Over the last few years, the US and India were seen as acting in tandem in Bangladesh, especially as their security objectives converged. But the US position on the Bangladesh elections could complicate India’s diplomacy in Bangladesh.

This is because India prefers the present government as It a) acts swiftly on security concerns of India, b) signed land transit rights to the Northeastern states, c) provides security assurances and d) signed a favourable coal power deal to an Indian company.

Junta Connection – For Manipur, India must revisit its Myanmar policy

News: The Union Minister has pitched for dialogue and promised to deal a fair hand to all stakeholders in still-tense Manipur. Last week, both the government of India and Manipur told the Supreme Court that troubles began with the crackdown on poppy cultivation in Manipur hills by illegal immigrants from Myanmar. 

What are the reasons behind the unrest in Manipur?

What will be the impact of Manipur unrest on regional security?

What is the role of Myanmar in the Manipur unrest?

Since the Myanmar coup in 2021, India has avoided any criticism of the junta’s actions. This includes airstrikes on the domestic population. This forced refugees to flood across the border into India where many share ethnic kinship ties. So, the civil war in Myanmar is having direct repercussions on India’s Northeast.

What should be done to control the Manipur crisis?

India should recalibrate ties with the junta. The junta needs India’s support against powerful insurgents like the Arakan Army and is also wary of getting trapped with China. Further, all democratic forces in Myanmar are ready to side with India, viewing China as the junta’s main sponsor.

India should use this leverage and get the junta to halt its operations in the border regions this will control the flow of refugees into India.

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Who’s afraid of Amul?

News: Tamil Nadu CM has requested Union Home and Cooperation Minister to direct Amul to cease encroaching upon the milk-shed region of the Tamil Nadu Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation (Aavin). However, his demand is unreasonable.

Why is the demand of Tamil Nadu CM unreasonable?

First, Amul and Aavin are farmer-owned and professionally-managed dairy cooperatives. Hence, it isn’t desirable for any minister or bureaucrat to intervene in the business operations of such organisations.

The urge to control and reduce cooperatives to the govt. departmental undertakings also goes against the spirit of liberalization. Ease of doing business shouldn’t be only limited to large corporations.

Second, the entry of Amul in Tamil Nadu will benefit both farmers as well as consumers. It will benefit the state’s dairy farmers by buying their milk and benefit consumers by offering choice other than Aavin.

However, the only loser might be Aavin, because it had a situation of both monopsony (single buyer) and monopoly (single seller).

Hence, the entry of Amul will force Aavin to become more efficient, pay farmers better and work towards retaining consumers.

Must Read: Amul vs Nandini threatens to limit choices for consumers

What is the way ahead?

Amul has been present in Telangana and north Karnataka for about ten years, but it hasn’t really made an impact against locally produced cooperative and private dairy brands.

Therefore, state governments should permit the entry of new brands since doing so will promote healthy market competition and will offer greater choice to consumers.

Unchecked Kashmir box

News– Recently, the meeting of third Working Group of G20 on Tourism was held in Srinagar.

What are the major developments during the event?

The outcome was significantly positive in political and strategic terms. 17 of the 20 G20 countries attended, including four of the P-5, all of Europe. indeed, the largest Muslim nation, Indonesia.

But we also should look for complexities and unfinished projects. The absence of the three important Arab nations was a significant setback. Only one of these, Saudi Arabia, is a G20 member. The other two are invitees. This needs to be noted.

Saudi Arabia and India have improved relations in the past 15 years. Oman has had the oldest friendly ties with India. Egypt was also absent. President el-Sisi was the Republic Day chief guest this year.

Pakistan made a lot of efforts. Pakistan achieved partial success. But, it served a purpose for Pakistan. It was a reminder to India. The issue is far from settled for a section of the world matters for India.

It’s also an instrument in the hands of China to triangulate India through Pakistan. It was also a reminder that India should not declare victory too soon.

What are the developments after constitutional changes in J&K on August 5, 2019?

Much has been achieved on the ground, especially in the Valley, from law and order to infrastructure building. The most politically, strategically and internationally significant of these is the continued Union Territory status.

Four years after the shift, the “state” continues to be ruled directly by the Centre and the political process would still be held in abeyance.

India has not held fresh elections after constitutional changes. If this doesn’t happen in the near future, it is a letdown. A letdown not just for the people of Kashmir but the larger Indian cause as well.

Why are conducting elections in J & K important?

In late 1980s, separatist insurgency actively backed by Pakistan began. By 1991, when P V Narasimha Rao took charge and began cleaning up the mess.

Pakistan had been able to fully internationalise the issue. Pakistan’s campaign was three-pronged: Violation of human rights, the state being under military occupation, and denial of democracy and the right to self-determination.

Rao countered it with greater confidence and moral strength. As per him, there was no justification for any plebiscite when the Kashmiris were voting in increasing numbers to elect their own governments.

His greater confidence came from the fact that India had begun holding fair elections in Kashmir unlike the fixed ones in the past.

Rao also countered pressures on human rights by setting up the National Human Rights Commission and lifting the ban on foreign journalists visiting the state.

What should be the best course of action for India on J&K?

Today, India is much stronger than under Rao. First it is the economic power. Geo-strategic changes, the rise of China, a warring Russia, and the Indian embrace of the US have all placed India in the sweetest spot in history yet.

This is the time and opportunity to push the planned and promised moves. Not when this cycle might turn. In global affairs, the balance of power, alliances, all shift constantly.

India has worked hard at earning this sweet spot. None of the world powers and significant nations is raising any questions about the changes to Kashmir’s constitutional status. But it is risky and unnecessary to get complacent.

The idea that Jammu & Kashmir can be governed from New Delhi for eternity is tempting. The five countries who abstained reminded us that they still see Kashmir as a “dispute”.

Even the US passes resolutions asserting that all of Arunachal Pradesh is part of India, rejecting Chinese claims. But it is silent in Ladakh.

The next step for India should be, to restore statehood to Jammu & Kashmir and allow the resumption of robust political activity.

India as ‘developed country’ by 2047: Attainable goal, or chimera?

News– The Narendra Modi government has set before the country the goal of attaining “developed country” status by 2047.

What are prospects for India to achieve the status of developed country by 2047?

Various development indicators exist. These are income level, health and education standards, quality of life, availability of work, levels of poverty and inequality, technological attainments.

India is well short of the required levels on such indicators. So the goal set for the next quarter-century is ambitious.

The per capita income of the country should grow more than five-fold in 24 years. It calls for annual growth of 7%. Indeed, very few countries have sustained such rapid growth for a long stretch. On a realistic assessment, India will not be “high-income” in 2047.

Getting to the “very high” human development category could be easier. The pace at which the country has improved its score on the human development index over the last quarter-century is impressive.

Sustaining that rate should help India improve its index score from the current 0.633 to the “very high” category threshold of 0.800 by 2047.

Another indicator is the share of hi-tech items in a country’s exports of manufactured goods. India has a 10% share, about the same level as Brazil and Russia. The global average is 20% and China’s figure is 30%.

In terms of research output, India’s total has been growing rapidly. It now ranks fourth in quantity. But it is only ninth in terms of the number of citations of such research.

China’s citation level is five times higher. Much efforts are needed to achieve the level of developed-country average on such indicators.

For tracking poverty numbers in an aspirational India, the “extreme poverty” benchmark of $2.15 per day was applied when India was a low-income country. It is not appropriate for the lower-middle income country that India has become.

The benchmark for such countries is $3.65 per head per day. By that measure, hundreds of millions are poor today. The benchmark for upper-middle income countries, when India gets there, would be even higher, at $6.85 per day.

Would it be a unique thing if India achieves the status of developed country by 2047?

India would be far from unique if it did achieve “developed country” status by 2047. More than 80 countries are already classified by the World Bank as being high-income, whereas India is still lower-middle income.

More than 65 countries are ranked by the UN Development Programme as having attained “very high” levels of human development. India is still in the “medium” category.

The country also remains some distance away from eliminating multidimensional poverty. If it got there in 2047, India would be very much a late-comer.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Darjeeling to join the list of most polluted cities of West Bengal, reveals study

Source: The post is based on the article “Darjeeling to join the list of most polluted cities of West Bengal, reveals study” published in The Hindu on 27th May 2023

What is the News?

A recent study by scientists has revealed that Darjeeling may be on the way to becoming one of the most polluted cities of West Bengal.

About the study

The present study throws light on one of the geographically, climatically, and ecologically important high­ altitude Himalayan stations in India. It focuses on high-altitude tourist stations because in these areas people have been contributing as well as experiencing huge pollution loads but remained out of sight of the policy makers.

The research, spanning from 2009 to 2021, focused on characterising PM10 levels (very small pollutant particles found in dust and smoke).

What are the key findings of the study on High­ altitude tourist stations?

High­ altitude tourist stations such as Darjeeling in the eastern Himalayas would soon become a non-­attainment city.

The six cities in West Bengal that are considered non-­attainment cities and did not meet the national ambient air quality standards were Asansol, Durgapur, Kolkata, Howrah, Haldia, and Barrackpore.

Findings related to Darjeeling: For almost two seasons Darjeeling’s PM10 concentrations exceeded 70 micrograms per cubic metre of air, surpassing the Indian standard of 60 micrograms per cubic metre.

The reasons for pollution include a) dust transport from the Indo-Gangetic plain, b) coal combustion from eateries, domestic use, and c) the Toy Train, as well as d) other secondary sources.

About Darjeeling

It is a town located in West Bengal, in the Himalayan foothills. It is considered as the queen of hills and a popular tourist destination. It was once a summer resort for the British Raj elites.

It remains the endpoint of the narrow-gauge Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, or “Toy Train,” completed in 1881. It’s famed for the distinctive black tea grown on plantations it its surrounding slopes. Mt. Kanchenjunga one of the world’s highest peaks is located in its backdrop.

European Union official seeks to allay India’s concerns on ‘carbon tax’

Source: The post is based on the article “European Union official seeks to allay India’s concerns on ‘carbon tax’” published in The Hindu on 27th May 2023

What is the News?

European Union’s chief climate negotiator has recently said that Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is not intended to be “protectionist” and only meant to avoid the problem of ‘carbon leakage. He also wants to alleviate India’s concerns with CBAM.

What is Carbon leakage?

‘Carbon leakage,’ refers to cheaper, more carbon-intensive goods making their way into the EU at the expense of domestically manufactured products that have been manufactured using costlier, renewable energy. To counter such practice, the EU has brought into force the CBAM.

What is Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)?

What are India’s concerns with CBAM?

What are India’s options against the CBAM?

Only six religion options make it to next Census form

Source: The post is based on the article “Only six religion options make it to next Census form” published in The Hindu on 27th May 2023

What is the News?

Union Home Minister has recently released a report titled, “The Treatise on Indian Censuses Since 1981.” The report mentioned some changes introduced in the next census.

About Census 2021

Census 2021 was to be conducted in two phases but has been postponed indefinitely, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 31 questions for the first phase — Houselisting and Housing Schedule — were notified on January 2020. As many as 28 questions have been finalised for the second phase but are yet to be notified.

As many as 28 questions have been finalised for the second phase — the Population Enumeration — but are yet to be notified.

The final set of questions for both phases was asked during a pre­test exercise in 2019 in 76 districts in 36 States and Union Territories, covering a population of more than 26 lakh.

What are the key changes introduced in the next census?

Digital census: The next Census is also set to be the first digital Census. The respondents will have the option to fill in the questionnaire from the comfort of their own homes.

Prepared a code directory: For the first time, a code directory has been prepared for the use of enumerators during the second phase of Census 2021. This contains possible responses and their matching codes for questions involving descriptive and non­-numeric entries. For instance, It has codes in respect of Relationship to Head, Mother Tongue and Other Languages Known, Occupation, Nature of Industry, Trade or Service, Birth Place/Place of last residence and Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) etc.

Other key changes: The next census will, a) Record details on whether a person who lives in a rented house owns a house somewhere else or does not own any residential property, b) Ask question about the availability of drinking water, it explains that “near the premises” means “within 100 metres in urban areas” and “within 500 metres in rural areas”, c) Involve risk to data bias and errors because of diverse judgement of enumerators and the persons codifying the response as well and d) Records only count Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Sikh and Jain as options. For other religions, respondents can write the name but no separate code will be provided.

Note: Nature-worshipping Adivasis in Jharkhand, Chattisgarh and Odisha have been demanding to include their Sarna faith as a separate religion. Similarly, Karnataka’s Lingayats have been making a similar demand.

What Mohenjodaro’s Dancing Girl figurine tells us about the prehistoric civilisation

Source: The post is based on the article “What Mohenjodaro’s Dancing Girl figurine tells us about the prehistoric civilisation” published in the Indian Express on 27th May 2023

What is the News?

Recently, the Prime Minister inaugurated International Museum Expo. The Mascot of the International Museum Expo is a contemporized version of the Mohenjodaro’s Dancing Girl made of wood in the Chennapatnam art style.

Note: The Mohenjodaro’s dancing girl is just 10.5 cm in height, is dark and completely in nude with the exception of multiple bangles and a necklace. 

About the discovery of Mohenjodaro’s Dancing Girl

The Indus Civilisation (3300-1300 BC with its mature stage dated to 2600-1900 BC), is also known as the Harappa-Mohenjodaro Civilisation. After the initial recognition as an ancient civilisation, a series of excavations were conducted in the two major sites – Harappa and Mohenjodaro.

The Dancing Girl was discovered in one such excavation in Mohenjodaro in 1926, by British archaeologist Ernest McKay.

Even though Mohenjodaro and Harappa became part of Pakistani territory after the Partition, the Dancing Girl remained in India as part of an agreement. Today, the bronze figurine is at the National Museum of India.

What does the finding of Mohenjodaro’s dancing girl signify?

The very existence of a figurine such as the Dancing Girl, indicates the presence of high art in Harappan society. The degree of its sophistication indicates a society’s advancement.

The bronze statuette shows the degree of sophistication of Harappan artistry and metallurgy. The Dancing Girl is evidence of the civilisation’s knowledge of metal blending and lost-wax casting – a complicated process by which a duplicate sculpture is cast from an original sculpture to create highly detailed metallic artefacts.

The Dancing Girl by all appearances is not an object built for some utilitarian purpose – artists took great time to create an artefact of purely symbolic, aesthetic value.

How historians described Mohenjodaro’s Dancing Girl?

Various historians described the dancing girl such as a) An air of lively pertness, quite unlike anything in the work of other ancient civilisations, b) A young girl, her hand on her hip in a half-impudent posture, and legs slightly forward as she beats time to the music with her legs and feet.

EU audit finds ‘many weaknesses’ in Indian organic products certification

Source: The post is based on the article “EU audit finds ‘many weaknesses’ in Indian organic products certification” published in The Hindu Business line on 24th May 2023

What is the News?

A European Union (EU) audit has found “many weaknesses” in the certification of Indian organic products exported to the EU.

What are the findings of the EU audit on Indian organic products’ certification?

Farmers know little about organic farming: The audit team found “severe infringements” against the National Programme on Organic Production (NPOP). Farmers who are part of organic producer groups (PGs) know nothing about organic farming,

Note: The EU audit was carried out on the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), which is the coordinator in implementing the National Programme on Organic Production (NPOP).

Application of chemical fertilizers: In many cases, farmers did not even know about their PGs or their internal control system (ICS). They applied unauthorised substances and/or chemical fertilizers.

High degree of non-compliance: The recent unannounced controls by APEDA and the audit team’s own findings show a high degree of non-compliance with the NPOP at producer groups and also witnessed the poor quality of inspections.

Uncertified mandatory: The audit team found that the mandators were not necessarily certified as per the category for which they were supposed to bring their expertise (inspection/training). This could impede the effectiveness of the internal controls.

The report concluded that the production rules of the NPOP are recognised as equivalent by the European Commission. But it is not permanently and effectively applied like it is in the EU.

About Indian organic products’ certification

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) (under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare) regulates the manufacture, distribution, sale or import of Organic products through the Food Safety and Standards (Organic Foods) Regulations, 2017 (under FSSA 2006).

Various certifications of organic products’ certification:

Participatory Guarantee System (PGS): It is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. The PGS ensures that organic product production adheres to quality standards.

Under this, the certification is carried out by local groups consisting of producers and consumers and is based on trust. This involves a documented logo or statement as proof of certification.

National Programme on Organic Production (NPOP): It is implemented by APEDA, under the Ministry of Commerce & Industries. It involves accreditation of Certification Bodies and sets standards for organic production. Its Standards have been recognized by the EU, Switzerland, and the US.

Other Programs for Organic Production: a) National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture: It promotes sustainable agriculture, including organic production, b) Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojna (PKVY): The promotes organic farming, c) Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region (MOVCD-NER): It supports the development of organic value chains in the North East region of India.