9 PM UPSC Current Affairs Articles 19th July, 2024

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Mains Oriented Articles

GS PAPER - 2

India’s strategic autonomy amid its relationship with the U.S. and Russia

Source: The post India’s strategic autonomy amid its relationship with the U.S. and Russia has been created, based on the article “India and a case for strategic autonomy” published in “The Hindu” on 18th July 2024

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper2- international relations -Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests

Context: The article discusses India’s strategic autonomy amid its relationship with the U.S. and Russia. It explains that India’s approach to foreign policy allows it to make independent decisions despite global pressures. This autonomy helps India balance its ties with both Russia and the West.

For detailed information on Recalibrating the India-US relationship read this article here

What is the Current Tension Between India and the U.S.?

  1. Recent Diplomatic Strains: The tension between India and the U.S. has escalated due to India’s neutral stance on the Ukraine conflict and its continued partnership with Russia.
  2. U.S. Concerns: The U.S. expressed displeasure when India proceeded with Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Moscow, especially right before a NATO summit.
  3. Strategic Autonomy Debate: U.S. officials, including Ambassador Eric Garcetti, criticized India’s concept of strategic autonomy, suggesting it’s ineffective during crises.
  4. Economic and Defense Ties with Russia: India’s crude oil imports from Russia surged from $2.4 billion in 2021-22 to $46.5 billion in 2023-24. Over 40% of India’s defense imports come from Russia.

How Has India Maintained Its Strategic Autonomy?

  1. Historical Roots: India’s strategic autonomy evolved from its non-alignment policy during the Cold War.
  2. Neutral Position: India maintained neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, avoiding Western pressure.
  3. Defense and Energy Ties: Despite global pressures, India imports over 40% of its defense equipment from Russia and significantly increased its oil imports from Russia.
  4. Balanced Relationships: India engages with both Russia and Western countries to protect its interests.
  5. Multilateral Approach: India supports a multilateral global order, ensuring its voice and that of the Global South are heard.

What is the Significance of India’s Relationship with Russia?

  1. Continental Asia: India collaborates with Russia for economic progress, connectivity, and security in Eurasia.
  2. Balancing China: India’s ties with Russia can act as a counterbalance to Russia’s growing relationship with China.
  3. Strategic Autonomy: Maintaining this relationship allows India to pursue its own interests without aligning strictly with any major power bloc.

For detailed information on Significance of India’s Relationship with Russia read this article here

How Does India View Its Role in a Multipolar World?

  1. Strategic Autonomy: India maintains strategic autonomy to navigate global relations based on its national interests, balancing ties with major powers like the U.S. and Russia.
  2. Global Balancing Act: India’s approach aims to maintain neutrality and cooperation with different global powers, avoiding alignment with any specific bloc.
  3. Positive-Sum Perspective: By promoting multilateral interactions, India supports a more inclusive global order, viewing international relations as opportunities for mutual benefit rather than competition.

Question for practice:

Discuss how India’s policy of strategic autonomy influences its relationships with both the United States and Russia.

The green revolution in maize

Source: This post is created based on the article Explained: The green revolution in maize, published in Indian Express on 19th July 2024.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3 – Agriculture – Crops and Cropping Pattern

News: Revolution in maize cultivation in India has dramatically increased maize production, transforming it into a crucial component of the agricultural and industrial sectors.

From 1999-2000 to 2023-24, India’s maize production tripled from 11.5 million tonnes to over 35 million tonnes, with per-hectare yields rising from 1.8 to 3.3 tonnes. This growth was achieved without the same level of public attention as wheat and rice.

What is the significance of Maize Cultivation?

Feed for Poultry and Livestock: Approximately 60% of India’s maize is used as feed for poultry and livestock. Maize, providing essential carbohydrates, forms a significant part of broiler and egg-layer feed, indirectly consumed by households through chicken, eggs, and milk.

Industrial Applications: Around 14-15% of maize is used industrially, particularly for its high starch content, which is utilized in textile, paper, pharmaceutical, food, and beverage industries.

Ethanol Production: Maize is increasingly used as a feedstock for ethanol production, particularly during the off-season for sugarcane. The development of waxy maize hybrids with high amylopectin starch content, such as IARI’s AQWH-4, has enhanced its suitability for ethanol production.

What are the developments that have happened in this field?

Waxy Maize Hybrid: IARI developed India’s first waxy maize hybrid with high amylopectin content, improving starch recovery and fermentation rates for ethanol production. This hybrid, with a potential yield of 8.8 tonnes per hectare, is poised for official release and commercial cultivation.

Collaboration with Distilleries: IARI has partnered with the Uttar Pradesh Distillers’ Association for field trials of the waxy maize hybrid, promoting its cultivation for ethanol production, which could significantly increase ethanol yields.

CIMMYT’s DH Facility: CIMMYT established a maize doubled haploid (DH) facility in Karnataka, accelerating the breeding process by producing genetically pure inbred lines. This facility has already produced over 29,000 DH lines, enhancing the efficiency of maize breeding.

Hybrid Breeding: Unlike self-pollinating crops like wheat and rice, maize’s cross-pollinating nature makes it amenable to hybrid breeding. The private sector has played a pivotal role in developing and promoting hybrid maize varieties, with over 80% of India’s maize area planted with private sector-bred hybrids.

Collaboration with CIMMYT: CIMMYT shares its improved inbred lines with both public sector institutions and private seed companies, fostering innovation and improving maize yields. Major private seed companies involved include Mahyco, Shriram Bio seed, and Advanta Seeds.

What more can be done?

Enhancing Yields and Resilience: Continued research through collaborations between public institutions and the private sector is essential. It will further enhance maize yields and resilience against climate change and pests.

Policy Support and Incentives: Government policies should support the cultivation of high-yielding and industrially significant maize varieties. It ensures that farmers benefit from improved technologies and market opportunities.

Sustainable Practices: Promoting sustainable farming practices and efficient resource use will be crucial in maintaining and enhancing maize production without compromising environmental health.

The issue of GST on disability Aids

Source: This post ‘’ is created based on the article Wheelchair Tax – GST on disability aids is unfair, published in Indian Express on 19th July 2024.

UPSC Syllabus: GS paper 2- Social Issues –

News: Goods and Services Tax (GST) was imposed on essential mobility aids for disabled individuals in India in 2017. It highlights a severe injustice.

Five percent tax is charged on prosthetic limbs, Braillers, and wheelchairs, effectively penalizing disabled individuals for their basic needs.

What are the issues with taxing the disability aids?

Article 14: The GST on disability aids is argued to be unreasonable under Article 14 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees equality before the law. While it discriminates against disabled and imposes on taxes on movement and learning of abled-bodies individuals. For example, A motorized wheelchair costing Rs 1 lakh incurs a GST of Rs 5,000. If the wheelchair lasts for 500 kilometers, the tax burden equates to Rs 10 per kilometer. This burden is unjustifiable when compared to the tax-free movement of able-bodied individuals. Blind individuals face an additional tax burden due to the GST on Braille publishers, furthering their economic and social marginalization.

Article 15: The GST on disability aids could be interpreted as violating Article 15, which prohibits discrimination on various grounds, including “place of birth.”

Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016: Section 3 of this Act specifically prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities, reinforcing the argument against the GST on mobility aids.

Indirect Discrimination: Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud’s 2021 judgment on Article 15 (Lt. Col. Nitisha) emphasized the need to recognize indirect discrimination. It is also a form of indirect indiscrimination.

Contradicts government stand: This situation contradicts the government’s stated concern for disabled individuals, whom Prime Minister Narendra Modi refers to as “divyang” (divine in Hindi).

Supreme Cout Judgement: SC has time and again struck down the laws after the test the constitutionality of a tax levied by the government. For example, in cases such as Sakal Papers (1961) case, Indian Express (1984) case, Aashirwad Films (2007).

What should be done?

Reform Tax Policies: Policymakers should ensure that tax policies do not disproportionately impact marginalized groups, including disabled persons.

Enhance Legal Protections: Strengthen legal frameworks to prevent indirect discrimination and ensure that all policies promote inclusivity and fairness.

India needs a national law to tackle superstitious practices.

Source: The post India needs a national law to tackle superstitious practices has been created, based on the article “Does India have enough laws to combat superstition?” published in “The Hindu” on 18th July 2024

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper2- Governance-mechanisms, laws, institutions and bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections

Context: The article discusses the need for a national law in India to tackle superstititious practices. It highlights debates between experts on whether existing state laws are sufficient or if a broader, national law is necessary to address the issue more effectively.

For detailed information on What are the laws against black magic and superstition in India? read this article here

What is the Need for a National Anti-Superstition Law?

  1. Gap in Current Legislation: Current criminal laws do not specifically target superstitious practices, causing reluctance among police to act against fraudulent godmen.
  2. Existing Acts’ Limitations: The Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, is riddled with loopholes that fail to address many superstitious practices effectively.
  3. Successful State Models: States like Maharashtra and Karnataka have specific laws that successfully address superstitious practices, indicating the effectiveness of tailored legislation.
  4. Need for Comprehensive Coverage: Due to the uneven presence of state-specific laws, many regions remain unprotected; a national law would ensure comprehensive coverage, addressing superstitious practices uniformly across all states.

What Are the Implementation Challenges?

  1. Lack of Sensitization: Law enforcement agencies are not adequately sensitized to address superstitious practices, influenced by cultural biases that hinder objective enforcement.
  2. Reluctance to File Cases: Police officers often show reluctance to file FIRs against superstitious practices, with investigations frequently compromised by political influence, leading to low conviction rates.
  3. Caste Discrimination: Superstitious practices often involve caste-based discrimination, which is not always recognized or addressed by the authorities, highlighting a gap in understanding and enforcement.

How to Balance Laws and Religious Freedom?

  1. Implement Reasonable Restrictions: Use Article 25 of the Constitution, which allows for reasonable restrictions based on public order, morality, and health, to balance laws against superstitious practices with religious freedom.
  2. Define Exploitative Practices: Clearly define what constitutes exploitative and superstitious practices, distinguishing them from legitimate religious beliefs to prevent overreach.
  3. Protect Fundamental Rights: Ensure that anti-superstition laws also protect other fundamental rights, like the right to life and against untouchability, highlighting that exploitative practices cannot be justified as religious rights.
  4. Judicial Oversight: Maintain robust judicial oversight to review cases and prevent misuse of the law against religious practices.

For detailed information on Freedom of religion and attire read this article here

What Should be Done?

  1. Enact National Legislation: Implement a national anti-superstition law modeled after Maharashtra and Karnataka to provide specific legal provisions against superstitious practices.
  2. Sensitize Law Enforcement: Conduct comprehensive training programs for police officers and first responders to address cultural biases and enhance their ability to handle superstitious practices.
  3. Promote Restorative Justice: Develop restorative measures for victims, including establishing a victim compensation fund and ensuring social security schemes for those affected by witch-hunting and other practices.
  4. Foster Scientific Temper: Encourage rational thinking and scientific temperament through education reforms and public awareness campaigns.
  5. Monitor Implementation: Regularly review and amend the law to address local concerns and improve its effectiveness, ensuring that it does not conflict with constitutional rights.

Question for practice:

Examine the reasons why existing state laws against superstitious practices in India might be insufficient and the potential benefits of a national law.

GS PAPER - 3

The analysis of FRBM Act in India

Source: This post ‘The analysis of FRBM Act in India’ is created based on the article A call for greater focus on revenue side, published in Business Standard on 19th July 2024.

UPSC Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Indian Economy – Fiscal Consolidation in India

Context: The article highlights India’s journey of Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act and the lessons that India can take from this journey.

The Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, enacted in August 2003. It aimed to bring fiscal discipline by mandating the central government to reduce the Gross Fiscal Deficit (GFD) to 3% of GDP by 2008.

This target was revised in April 2018 to focus on a debt-GDP ratio of 40%, with the GFD of 3% remaining the operational target.

How was India’s journey towards fiscal consolidation?

First Period (2003-2008):

  • Reduction in GFD: GFD reduced from 5.8% in 2002-03 to 2.6% in 2007-08.
  • Impact of Global Financial Crisis: The GFD surged to 6.6% by 2009-10 due to the global financial crisis following the collapse of Lehman Brothers.
  • Pace and Method: Fiscal consolidation was rapid, averaging 0.6% of GDP annually. This was achieved by compressing expenditure (2.1 percentage points) and augmenting revenue (1.1 percentage points). The gross tax-GDP ratio increased from 9.1% in 2003-04 to 12.1% by 2007-08.

Second Period (2010-2019):

  • Reduction in GFD: GFD was reduced to 3.4% of GDP by 2018-19.
  • Pandemic Impact: The pandemic in 2020 pushed the GFD to 9.2% of GDP in 2020-21, and the debt-GDP ratio to 61.0%, far exceeding the target.
  • Pace and Method: Fiscal consolidation slowed to an average of 0.2% of GDP annually, with expenditure compression accounting for 1.5 percentage points and revenue augmentation for 0.2 percentage points. The tax-GDP ratio remained broadly unchanged at 10.5% during this period.

What are major lessons learned by India in the process of fiscal consolidation?

Impact of Exogenous Shocks: Major exogenous shocks can derail fiscal consolidation efforts, highlighting the need for creating sufficient fiscal space during normal macroeconomic conditions.

Tax-GDP Ratio: Sustainable fiscal consolidation requires improving the tax-GDP ratio. There are limits to achieving fiscal consolidation through expenditure compression alone.

Rationalizing Expenditure: Wherever possible, expenditure needs to be rationalized to create fiscal space for future exogenous shocks.

Future Fiscal Path: The central government has reduced the GFD to 5.8% of GDP in 2023-24 and aims to bring it down to 5.1% in 2024-25. Despite this, the debt-GDP ratio remains elevated at 55.3% in 2023-24.

Long-term Projections: Given the current macroeconomic conditions, with a primary deficit reduction of 0.6% of GDP annually from 2025-26 to 2030, the debt-GDP ratio is projected to moderate to 54.4% by 2030.

The issue of agri tax exemption

Source: This post ‘The issue of agri tax exemption’ is created based on the article Tax reforms: India’s agricultural income exemption needs a rejig, published in Indian Express on 19th July 2024.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3 – Agriculture – Agriculture sector reforms

News: Agricultural income is currently exempt from tax, which has become a conduit for tax evasion and money laundering, especially by non-agricultural entities.

What is the rationale behind giving agriculture tax-exemption?

First, the exemption is based on the constitutional provision that only states can legislate on agricultural income.

Second, agriculture is a high-risk profession with small landholdings, making tax exemption justifiable for most farmers.

What are the issues of giving tax-exemption to agriculture?

Reports indicate that many non-agricultural entities and high-income individuals exploit this exemption. For instance, in a CAG audit of tax returns, many claims were allowed without proper verification, and substantial exemptions were given to corporate entities.

While government has not provided the easy exemptions to other sectors, even after demands by the sections, agriculture is continuously getting the exemption.

What can be done?

Long term measures: Implement a proper tax regime for agricultural income, with thresholds to protect small farmers while addressing large-scale abuses.

Just like GST reforms, cooperative federalism can play a positive role in the agri sector reforms as well.

Immediate measures:

1) Restrict agricultural income tax exemptions for companies.

2) Scrutinize high agricultural income claims (above ₹10 lakh, ₹50 lakh, and ₹1 crore) to identify high-risk cases.

3) Consider removing exemptions for agricultural income above certain thresholds (e.g., ₹50 lakh or ₹1 crore) to reduce inequity.

Recent Trends in India’s Trade

Source: The post recent trends in India’s trade has been created, based on the article “Trade tact: More support and greater certainty in trade policy can bolster exports” published in “The Hindu” on 18th July 2024

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Economy-mobilisation of resources

Context: The article discusses India’s trade figures for June. Exports increased slightly, while imports and the trade deficit also grew. It highlights concerns in the bullion market and the decline in gems and jewellery exports. The article calls for stable trade policies to support Indian exporters and boost job creation.

For detailed information on India’s New Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) read this article here

What Are the Recent Trends in India’s Trade?

  1. Increase in Exports: India’s goods exports rose for the third consecutive month in June, increasing by 2.55% to reach $35.2 billion.
  2. Growth in Imports: Imports grew by 5% to $56.2 billion, although this figure is lower than May’s peak of nearly $62 billion.
  3. Trade Deficit Dynamics: The trade deficit expanded by 9.4% compared to last June, but cooled slightly from the previous month, totaling $21 billion.
  4. Oil Trade Impact: Despite stable oil prices, petroleum exports decreased by 18.3% to $5.5 billion, indicating a drop in export volumes. Concurrently, oil imports rose by 19.6%, driven by increased domestic demand.
  5. Bullion Trade: Gold imports decreased by 38.7% in June to $3.06 billion, the lowest in the fiscal year 2024-25. In contrast, silver imports soared by 377% in June, highlighting a sharp increase.

What Should be Done?

  1. Stabilize Trade Policies: Ensure stable trade policies to support exporters, avoiding sudden changes like the recent scrapping of the interest equalisation scheme for all but smaller firms.
  2. Boost Export Sectors: Focus on boosting exports across various sectors, where at least 19 of India’s top 30 export sectors showed growth over May and June.
  3. Address Bullion Market Concerns: Investigate disruptions in the bullion market caused by concessional duty imports through GIFT City, especially related to the free trade pact with the UAE.
  4. Support Gems and Jewellery Sector: Address the continuous decline in gems and jewellery exports, which have contracted for seven successive months.

Question for practice:

Discuss the recent trends in India’s trade and provide suggestions to increase exports.

Challenges with Current Tree Planting Efforts

Source: The post challenges with current tree planting efforts has been created, based on the article “The issue with tree planting schemes” published in “The Hindu” on 18th July 2024

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3-environment-conservation

Context: The article discusses the problems with tree planting programs, highlighting that while they are popular for tackling climate issues, they often lack proper community involvement and long-term care. It also notes India’s challenges and efforts in forest restoration and meeting international climate commitments.

For detailed information on UN World Restoration Flagships read this article here

What is the Initiative Taken for the Ecosystem Restoration?

  1. Decade of Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030): The UN aims to restore 350 million hectares of degraded land to enhance ecosystem services and sequester 13-26 gigatons of greenhouse gases.
  2. Van Mahotsava in India: Launched in 1950 by K.M. Munshi, this annual tree-planting festival occurs in the first week of July, promoting forest growth and engaging public participation.
  3. Global Tree Planting Initiatives:
  4. The “One Trillion Trees Initiative” by the World Economic Forum aims to massively increase global tree cover.
  5. The “Great Green Wall” of China, aimed at reducing desertification.
  6. Pakistan’s “10 Billion Tree Tsunami”, a large-scale national reforestation initiative.
  7. The “Bonn Challenge”, which has a target of restoring 150 million hectares by 2020 and 350 million hectares by 2030.

What Are the Challenges with Current Tree Planting Efforts?

  1. Limited Community Participation: Many tree planting initiatives, like glamorous drives and campaigns, suffer from inadequate involvement of local communities, which is crucial for the long-term success of these projects.
  2. Inadequate Post-Planting Care: There is a lack of ongoing maintenance and monitoring of tree growth, which is vital for the survival and ecological integration of newly planted trees.
  3. Promotion of Monoculture: Some initiatives focus on planting single species of trees, which can be less effective for biodiversity and carbon sequestration compared to diverse plantings.
  4. Ecological Neglect: Research by Joseph Veldman and colleagues found that planting trees in inappropriate locations, such as grasslands and animal habitats, can damage existing ecosystems and increase wildfire risks.
  5. Misclassification of Lands: William Bond and his team criticized the practice of labeling grasslands as deforested or degraded, which can lead to misguided restoration efforts that overlook the ecological value of these areas.
  6. Increased Wildfire Risk: Introducing trees into grassland areas can increase the likelihood and intensity of wildfires, posing greater ecological risks.

What Are India’s Specific Challenges and Achievements?

  1. India’s Challenges:
  2. Nearly 10 million hectares of India’s forests are affected by encroachment.
  3. Approximately 275 million people rely on forests for their basic needs and livelihood.
  4. Since independence, about 5.7 million hectares of forest land have been repurposed for non-forestry uses.
  5. India faces the daunting task of restoring 26 million hectares of degraded forests by 2030.
  6. India’s Achievements:
  7. India is recognized as the only G20 country to meet its commitments under the Paris Agreement.
  8. The country has created an additional carbon sink capable of absorbing 1.97 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent.
  9. These statements were confirmed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey in recent official addresses.

What Should be Done?

  1. Adequate finances, community participation, and technical considerations are crucial.
  2. Public awareness and incentivized community participation can help create resilient forests.

Question for practice:

Examine the challenges and achievements of India’s tree planting and forest restoration efforts.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Foreigners Tribunals (FTs)

Source- This post on the Foreigners Tribunals (FTs) has been created based on the article “How do Assam’s Foreigners Tribunals function?” published on “The Hindu” on 18 July 2024.

Why in the news?

Recently, the Assam government instructed the Border wing of the State’s police not to forward cases of non-Muslims who entered India illegally before 2014 to the Foreigners Tribunals.

This aligns with the Citizenship (Amendment) Act of 2019, which allows non-Muslims including Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Parsis, Jains, and Buddhists fleeing persecution in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan to apply for citizenship.

About Foreigners Tribunals (FTs)

1. Foreigners Tribunals (FTs) are quasi-judicial bodies established under the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order of 1964, which is based on the Foreigners’ Act of 1946.

2. Their primary purpose is to determine whether a person suspected of being a foreigner is an Indian citizen.

3. These tribunals are unique to Assam, as other states handle cases of alleged illegal immigrants under the Foreigners’ Act without the use of FTs.

4. Structure and Operation

i) Each FT is headed by a member who is typically a judge, advocate, or civil servant with judicial experience.

ii) According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, there were 300 FTs in Assam as of 2021. However, the State’s Home and Political Department reports that only 100 of these tribunals are currently functioning.

5. Functioning of an FT

i) An FT operates with powers similar to a civil court in certain matters, such as summoning individuals, examining them under oath, and requiring the production of documents.

ii) Upon receiving a reference from the concerned authority, an FT must serve a notice to the person suspected of being a foreigner within 10 days.

iii) The individual then has 10 days to respond to the notice and another 10 days to provide evidence supporting their case.

iv) The tribunal is required to resolve the case within 60 days of the reference. If the individual fails to prove their citizenship, the FT can order their detention in a transit camp for eventual deportation.

UPSC Syllabus: Polity and nation

National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID)

Source- This post on the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) has been created based on the article “National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID)” published on “Mint” on 19 July 2024.

Why in the news?

The government wants to increase the capital base of the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development, or NaBFID, to 1 trillion through support from banks.

About National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID)

Aspects Description
About 1. It was set up in 2021 under the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development Act, 2021.
2. It is a development Finance Institution in India which focuses on long-term infrastructure financing.
3.It is regulated and supervised by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as an All-India Financial Institution (AIFI).
Objective Its capital base should be increased to 1 trillion INR with support from banks.
Purpose To provide specialized financing for infrastructure development in India.
Goals 1) Addressing gaps in long-term non-recourse finance for infrastructure.
2) Strengthening the development of bonds and derivatives markets in India.
3) Boosting the country’s economy sustainably.

About Development Finance Institutions (DFIs):

1. It is an organization owned by the government or public institutions to fund infrastructure and large-scale projects.

2. They step in where it is often unviable for large banks to lend due to project scale and long-term nature.

3. Types of Funds Provided: They provide medium-Term funds including financing for 1-5 years and Long-Term funds including financing for more than 5 years.

UPSC Syllabus: Indian Economy

Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)

Source- This post on the Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has been created based on the article “Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurates Asia’s first health research related “Pre-clinical Network facility” under Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)” published on “PIB” on 19 July 2024.

Why in the news?

Recently, the Union Minister for the Ministry of Science & Technology inaugurated Asia’s first health research “Pre-clinical Network Facility” under the Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) in Faridabad.

About Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI):

1. About: CEPI was launched in 2017.  It is a partnership between public, private, philanthropic, and civil organizations.

2. Founders: Governments of Norway and India, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome Trust and World Economic Forum.

3. Mission: To accelerate the development of vaccines and other biological countermeasures against epidemic and pandemic threats, making them accessible to everyone in need.

4. Achievements:

i) Supported the development of over 50 vaccine candidates or platform technologies.

ii) Targets known high-risk pathogens and potential future threats (Disease X).

iii) Key initiative:  The ‘100 Days Mission’ aims to reduce the time to develop safe, effective, and globally accessible vaccines to just 100 days.

About India and CEPI

i) The Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India supports the Ind-CEPI Mission.

2. Ind-CEPI Mission focuses on rapid vaccine development for epidemic preparedness. It is managed through a dedicated Program Management Unit (PMU) at Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC).

UPSC Syllabus: Governance

Role of Finance Commission

Source– This post on the Role of Finance Commission has been created based on the article “What is the role of the Finance Commission?”  published in “The Hindu” on 18 July 2024.

Why in the news?

The 16th Finance Commission, led by former Niti Aayog Vice-Chairman Arvind Panagariya, has started seeking public suggestions on its mandate.

About Finance Commission

1. The Finance Commission is a constitutional body established under Article 280 of the Indian Constitution to recommend the distribution of tax revenues collected by the Central government among the Centre and various States in India.

2. Its primary role is to ensure a fair allocation of financial resources, balancing the fiscal needs of both the Centre and the States.

Role of the Finance Commission

1. Distribution of Tax Revenues: The Finance Commission advises on the division of net proceeds of taxes between the Centre and the States (vertical devolution) and among the States (horizontal devolution). It aims to ensure that States have adequate funds to fulfill their responsibilities.

2. Principles Governing Grants-in-Aid: The Commission suggests principles that should govern the grants-in-aid of the revenues of the States out of the Consolidated Fund of India. These grants are provided to help States manage fiscal deficits and undertake specific development projects.

3. Augmenting Local Bodies’ Resources: The Finance Commission also recommends measures to augment the revenues of municipalities and panchayats. This is crucial for ensuring that local bodies have sufficient funds to carry out their functions effectively.

4. Additional Financial Recommendations: It may also be tasked with other financial matters referred to it by the President of India, such as suggesting measures to improve the fiscal health of the States.

5.  Decision on Horizontal Devolution: 

The horizontal devolution, or the distribution of funds among States is determined by a formula devised by the Finance Commission. This formula takes into account various factors, including:

i) Population: A State’s population is a significant factor in determining its share of the tax revenue.

ii) Income Levels: The per capita income and overall economic condition of a State are considered to ensure equitable distribution.

iii) Geographical Area: The size of the State is factored in to address regional disparities.

iv) Fiscal Discipline: States demonstrating better fiscal management may receive additional incentives.

6. Duration of Recommendations: The recommendations of the Finance Commission are typically valid for five years.

UPSC Syllabus: Polity and nation

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