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The announcement in the interim Budget of a “high-powered committee to extensively consider the challenges arising from rapid population growth and demographic changes” is ground breaking.
Given its multifaceted mandate, as it is to make “recommendations on how to address these challenges in line with the goal of ‘Viksit Bharat’”, the anticipation is that there will be a formulation of policies and strategies to manage population growth.
This will mean addressing issues such as family planning, maternal and child health, education, employment, and socio-economic development.
To do so, this population committee must adopt an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on expertise from fields such as demography, public health, economics, sociology, and governance.
Text & Context
What are the regulations with respect to rice prices? (Page no. 12)
(GS Paper 3, Economy)
The Indian government recently made it mandatory for all traders, wholesalers, retailers, and millers to declare their respective rice stocks.
The government has also announced the launch of “Bharat rice” to bring down rice prices in the market. However, millers and traders feel these are not enough to control prices.
In the year 2022-2023, India produced 135 million tonnes of rice, which is 62.84 lakh tonnes higher than the previous year. However, the year 2023-2024 is seeing multiple estimates coming in.
The southern States, which are also the major rice consuming States, are said to have suffered a drop in paddy production because of inadequate rainfall. In Tamil Nadu, the production may drop by almost 30% and in Karnataka, there is almost 25% decline, claim traders and farmers.
However, in the north, trade sources say, rice production (basmati and non-basmati) is up 15%. The Union government said that there are ample stocks with the Food Corporation of India and that Kharif crop is good.
For the Rabi crop, area under paddy as of February 2, is 39.29 lakh hectares compared to the 40.37 lakh hectares last year.
News
Cabinet approves new fisheries scheme (Page no. 15)
(GS Paper 3, Economy)
The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana, a sub scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, for the micro and small enterprises operating in the fisheries sector.
It is expected to have investment of ₹6,000 crore in the next four years. The meet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the extension of Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund till 2026.
Extension of the fund, the Centre said, would intensify development of various infrastructure such as fishing harbours, fish landing centres, ice plants, cold storage, and fish transport facilities.
Low Budget outlay hurting MGNREGS, says House panel (Page no. 16)
(GS Paper 3, Economy)
A reduced budget at the outset of the financial year for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) has a “cascading effect on various important aspects” of the programme and leaves a telling impact on its progress, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development said in its report tabled on Thursday.
The allocation should instead be based on the expenditure pattern of the previous years, said the committee, headed by DMK MP K. Kanimozhi.
The committee pointed out that the budgetary allocation has been well below the demand made by the Rural Development Ministry each year.
While conceding the Ministry’s argument that it is a demand-driven programme and the budget is replenished accordingly, the committee said, “The pruning of funds at Budget Estimate (BE) stage itself does have a cascading effect on various important aspects such as timely release of wages, release of material share etc.
The Committee feels that for smooth implementation of MGNREGS at ground level, shortage of funds is a big obstacle.”
In the Union Budget for 2024-25, an allocation of ₹86,000 crore has been made, which is at par with the Revised Estimate for the programme in the 2023-24 financial year.
Launch next phase of Smart Cities Mission: panel (Page no. 16)
(GS Paper 3, Economy)
A parliamentary committee has emphasised the need to launch the next phase of the Centre’s flagship Smart Cities Mission with a thrust on Tier-2 cities located within 100 km of State capitals.
The Standing Committee on Housing and Urban Affairs also cautioned that digital infrastructure created under the mission could be misused and hence there was a need to ensure right to privacy and securing of digital platforms from cyber attacks.
The report on “Smart Cities Mission: An Evaluation” was presented in the Lok Sabha. In its report, it said that the experience and expertise gained by Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) in urban development initiatives must be leveraged for the purpose.
‘Minor’ water pollution offences to be decriminalised (Page no. 16)
(GS Paper 3, Environment)
The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Water Amendment (Pollution and Prevention) Bill, 2024. The Bill makes important changes to the Water (Pollution and Prevention) Act, 1974, such as decriminalising certain violations deemed “minor” and replaces for the most part the penalties of imprisonment with fines ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹15 lakh.
The amended version would apply to Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and the Union Territories.
It also empowers the Centre to frame rules to select the chairpersons of State pollution control boards and frame guidelines that States can follow for the grant, refusal or cancellation of consent by any State Board for establishing industries and new operating processes.
World
Referendum on Irish unity in this decade, says Sinn Fein leadership (Page no. 17)
(GS Paper 2, International Relation)
Northern Ireland will conduct a referendum on uniting with the Republic of Ireland in this decade, the leadership of Sinn Fein, the party that heads the government of Northern Ireland.
We believe that we will have polls, referendums on the question of unity in this decade,” Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald told journalists at a Foreign Press Association briefing in London. Earlier in the day, Ms. McDonald had clarified to Sky News that by “this decade”, she meant before 2030.
The conversation around the referendum would need to be “inclusive” and “planned, orderly, peaceful, democratic constitutional”, she said, adding that multiple identities could be accommodated within the national framework and this would involve working with the U.K., on the rights of British citizens living in Ireland.
However, Northern Ireland faces other pressing challenges. Its First Minister Michelle O’Neill , who also addressed journalists at the briefing, said “a huge amount of work” needed to be done, identifying areas such as public services, child care and education.
A functioning government based on a power-sharing agreement between the Republican (i.e., pro Irish) Sinn Fein and Unionist DUP returned to Belfast earlier this week after a gap of two years following a DUP walkout. Belfast was being “starved” by the British government, Ms O’Neill had said earlier this week.
Business
MPC holds rates; sees FY25 inflation easing to 4.5%, growth at 7% (Page no. 18)
(GS Paper 3, Economy)
The Monetary Policy Committee voted 5-1 to keep interest rates unchanged as it vowed to stay focussed on achieving 4% inflation on a durable basis.
The MPC also projected inflation to moderate to 4.5% in FY25, from 5.4% for this fiscal, and forecast real GDP growth for the 12 months from April 1 at 7%.
“CPI inflation is moderating with intermittent interruptions and spikes,” Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das said at a post-policy press conference.
We have to remain vigilant about the incoming data and outlook. Our endeavour is to achieve 4% inflation on a durable basis.
In making its inflation forecast for 2024-25, the MPC assumed “a normal monsoon”. For the four quarters, inflation was projected at 5% in Q1, 4% in Q2, 4.6% in Q3 and Q4 at 4.7%, with the risks “evenly balanced”.
RBI urges banks to ensure transparency on retail, MSME loans (Page no. 18)
(GS Paper 3, Economy)
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has asked lenders to extend theKey Fact Statement (KFS) facility containing essential information such as the all-inclusive annual percentage rate and the recovery and grievance redressal mechanism to retail and MSME borrowers.
At present, the loans and advances availed by borrowers, apart from including the rate of interest, also include other fees and charges such as processing fees and documentation charges.
“The requirement of KFS is now being extended to cover all retail and MSME loans. This measure will lead to enhanced transparency in lending and enable customers in making informed decisions.
Science
With CRISPR poised to revolutionise therapy, a pause to consider ethics (Page no. 20)
(GS Paper 3, Science and Technology)
“We will each write a ghost story”, said Lord Byron; and his proposition was acceded to. And so on a cold and rainy supposedly summer night in 1816, four friends inspired by German ghost stories, gathered to write one.Among them, a young Mary Shelley, consumed by the idea of creating a story that would “curdle the blood” of her readers.
With Frankenstein 200 years in the past, the possibility of creating such life is a reality. With the first gene editing technology securing approval for the treatment of sickle cell anemia and beta-thalassemia, we transcend into a new revolutionary phase. The possibilities are endless.
Kyasanur Forest Disease: the assault of the tick (Page no. 20)
(GS Paper 2, Health)
Since January 1 this year, two people have died due to Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), a viral infection, in Karnataka.
The number of deaths reported due to the disease since 1956, when it was noticed in the forests of Shivamogga district, is above 560.
The number of cases in Malnad’s districts — Shivamogga, Uttara Kannada and Chikkamagaluru — has been increasing, forcing the Health and Family Welfare Department to take measures to contain its spread. Since January 1, the Department of Health and Family Welfare has conducted 2,567 tests and 68 people have been found positive.
What is KFD? The disease was first noticed in the Kysanur Forest area of Sorab Taluk in Shivamogga district in 1956, and was named after the region. It is also known as monkey fever, as monkeys also get infected.
In fact, the death of a monkey serves as a warning of a KFD outbreak. The scientists concluded that the virus must have been present in the forests of Malnad region. It became active due to ecological changes.