E-technology offers numerous benefits for Indian farmers by improving productivity and ensuring access to critical resources. Digital platforms provide real-time weather updates, helping farmers plan better, while mobile apps enable them to access expert advice, market prices, and crop management techniques. This reduces dependency on middlemen and increases profitability.

The Indian government has introduced various initiatives to promote e-technology among farmers. The Digital India initiative, along with platforms like the e-NAM (National Agricultural Market), connects farmers to national markets for better price discovery. The PM-KISAN scheme, accessible via digital tools, provides financial assistance directly to farmers’ bank accounts. Additionally, the government has launched Kisan Call Centres and mobile apps for advisory services.

These measures are enhancing agricultural efficiency and empowering farmers with technology-driven solutions, helping them become more self-reliant and informed.

In India, women disproportionately experience poverty due to various socio-economic and cultural factors.

Causes of Poverty Among Women

• Limited Access to Education: Despite improvements, many women, especially in rural areas, lack educational opportunities, leading to low literacy rates and restricted employment options.

• Unemployment and Underemployment: Women often face higher unemployment rates and are more likely to engage in low-paying, informal jobs, contributing to economic vulnerability.

• Gender Inequality: Deep-seated patriarchal norms result in unequal access to resources and opportunities, limiting women’s economic independence and decision-making power.

• Time Poverty: Women bear the brunt of unpaid domestic work, reducing their availability for paid employment and perpetuating the poverty cycle.

Measures to Address Women’s Poverty

• Government Welfare Schemes: Initiatives like the Subhadra Yojana in Odisha provide direct financial assistance to women aged 21 to 60, aiming to empower economically disadvantaged women.

• Employment Guarantee Programs: The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) offers 100 days of wage labor annually to rural households, with a focus on enhancing women’s participation in the workforce.

• Microfinance and Self-Help Groups (SHGs): Programs facilitating women’s access to credit and savings groups have proven effective in enhancing women’s economic status and reducing poverty.

• Educational Initiatives: Investments in girls’ education have shown to reduce poverty levels, as each additional year of schooling significantly boosts future earnings and community well-being.

Addressing women’s poverty in India requires a multifaceted approach that combines policy interventions, economic empowerment, and cultural shifts towards gender equality.

Challenges in Balancing Development and Sustainability

• Environmental Impact: The Ken-Betwa project may harm ecosystems, including the Panna Tiger Reserve. Deforestation and biodiversity loss remain major concerns.
• Water Distribution: Ensuring equitable water access across regions with different needs and priorities is challenging.
• Displacement: The project could displace communities, raising issues of land rights and livelihoods.

Strategies for Balance

• Sustainable Practices: Implementing effective water management and conservation techniques can minimize waste and improve efficiency.
• Mitigation Measures: Conducting rigorous environmental assessments and creating compensatory mechanisms for biodiversity and displaced populations.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Involving local communities in planning and decision-making processes helps ensure more sustainable development while addressing concerns.

Balancing the economic benefits of water supply and agricultural productivity with long-term environmental sustainability is crucial.

India’s groundwater crisis is escalating due to over-extraction, pollution, and climate change.

Key Factors:

• Over-Extraction: Unsustainable agricultural practices and rapid urbanization contribute to excessive groundwater depletion. For example, 60% of India’s groundwater is used for irrigation.
• Pollution: Industrial effluents and agricultural runoff are contaminating groundwater. Over 70% of India’s water bodies are contaminated with pollutants.
• Climate Change: Unpredictable rainfall patterns and increasing temperatures reduce aquifer recharge, worsening the water shortage.

Sustainable Solutions:

• Water Conservation: Promoting rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge initiatives can help restore depleted aquifers.
• Efficient Water Management: Adoption of water-efficient technologies in agriculture like drip irrigation can significantly reduce water consumption.
• Pollution Control: Stringent regulation of industrial waste and better management of agricultural runoff are essential.

India must adopt sustainable water practices to mitigate the groundwater crisis and ensure water security for the future.

Instruments of Monetary Policy

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) utilizes several tools to regulate the economy’s money supply and ensure financial stability:

• Repo Rate: The interest rate at which the RBI lends short-term funds to commercial banks. Adjusting this rate influences borrowing costs and overall economic activity.
• Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR): The percentage of a bank’s total deposits that must be maintained as reserves with the RBI. A recent adjustment occurred on December 6, 2024, when the RBI reduced the CRR by 50 basis points to 4%, injecting approximately ₹1.16 trillion into the banking system to stimulate economic growth.
• Open Market Operations (OMO): The buying and selling of government securities by the RBI to control liquidity. Purchasing securities injects funds into the economy, while selling absorbs excess liquidity.

RBI as Banker to Commercial Banks

The RBI serves as the central institution for India’s banking system:

• Lender of Last Resort: Provides financial assistance to banks facing liquidity shortages, ensuring stability within the banking sector.
• Regulatory Oversight: Monitors and guides commercial banks to maintain sound banking practices and financial health.

RBI as Banker to the Government

The RBI manages the banking needs of both central and state governments:

• Government Transactions: Handles receipts and payments, manages public debt, and facilitates the issuance of government securities.
• Financial Advisor: Offers strategic advice on economic and financial matters, aiding in policy formulation.

Through these instruments and roles, the RBI plays a pivotal part in steering India’s economic and financial landscape.