Current Affairs

Model Answer

Introduction

The Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), set to launch in mid-2026, marks a transformative shift in India’s climate policy framework. By facilitating the trading of greenhouse gas emissions credits, India aims to bolster its efforts towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 while promoting sustainable industrial growth.

Potential Advantages of CCTS

1. Industrial Competitiveness: The CCTS incentivizes industries to adopt cleaner technologies, ultimately reducing operational costs and enhancing competitiveness in global markets. For instance, companies investing in low-carbon processes can gain a competitive edge, particularly in sectors like steel and cement.
2. Compliance with Global Standards: With the EU’s implementation of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), Indian exporters will face higher tariffs unless they control emissions. A robust CCTS prepares industries for these regulations, reducing potential financial losses.
3. Climate Diplomacy: An effective carbon market enhances India’s credibility in global climate negotiations, attracting climate finance. This aligns with India’s commitments under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
4. Revenue Generation: The CCTS creates new revenue streams for both industries and the government. Companies can sell surplus carbon credits, promoting circular revenue generation, while the government can auction credits to fund green infrastructure.
5. Encouragement of Renewable Energy: By making carbon-intensive energy sources less financially viable, the CCTS encourages a shift towards renewables, supporting India’s goal of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.

Challenges in Implementation

Despite its potential, the CCTS faces significant challenges:

1. Weak Emission Reduction Targets: The current focus on emissions intensity rather than absolute reductions may lead to an excess supply of credits, dampening market prices.
2. Inadequate Compliance Mechanisms: High non-compliance rates due to weak penalties undermine the scheme’s credibility.
3. Limited Sectoral Coverage: Key polluting sectors, such as thermal power and agriculture, are currently excluded, limiting the scheme’s impact.
4. Measurement and Verification Issues: The lack of reliable systems for measuring and verifying emissions raises concerns about the integrity of carbon credits.
5. Lack of Secondary Market: The absence of a structured market for trading carbon credits hampers price discovery and overall market activity.

Measures to Enhance Effectiveness

To address these challenges, several measures can be adopted:

1. Strengthening Emission Targets: Setting ambitious and realistic emission reduction targets is essential to ensure a robust carbon market.
2. Expanding Sectoral Coverage: Gradually including more sectors, especially major emitters, will maximize the market’s depth.
3. Integrating with Renewable Energy Markets: Creating a unified trading platform for carbon credits and renewable energy certificates can enhance market efficiency.
4. Enhancing Monitoring Framework: Implementing robust monitoring and verification systems is crucial for maintaining investor confidence.
5. Promoting Private Sector Participation: Offering tax incentives and support for clean technology investments will encourage private sector involvement.

Conclusion

India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme holds immense potential for driving emissions reductions and fostering sustainable industrial growth. To realize this potential, it is crucial to address the existing challenges through a well-structured approach that strengthens regulatory mechanisms and expands market participation. A successful CCTS can position India as a leader in climate action while contributing to sustainable economic development.

Model Answer

Introduction

Policing in India is at a critical juncture, facing numerous challenges that undermine its effectiveness and public trust. With a vacancy rate exceeding 21% in state police forces, the importance of comprehensive police reforms cannot be overstated. These reforms are essential not only for enhancing public safety but also for ensuring a robust governance framework.

Key Issues in Policing

One of the most pressing issues is the severe shortage of police personnel, with states like West Bengal and Mizoram reporting vacancy rates as high as 39%. This shortage leads to excessive workloads, compelling officers to work 16-18 hours a day, which severely impacts their performance and mental health.

Additionally, political interference in police operations erodes professionalism, with 72% of officers reporting pressure to act against political opponents. This undermines the rule of law and public confidence in the police.

The excessive use of force during protests raises significant human rights concerns, while inadequate training in modern crime-solving techniques and gender-sensitive policing further exacerbates the situation. Moreover, the lack of proactive community engagement makes the police appear distant and unapproachable to marginalized communities.

Suggested Reforms

To address these issues, several reforms are necessary:

1. Manpower Management: A fast-track recruitment process should be initiated to fill vacancies, alongside improved working conditions to reduce burnout among officers.
2. Depoliticization: Establishing State Security Commissions, as recommended by various committees, can help insulate police forces from political interference, allowing for independent functioning.
3. Modernization: Investment in technology, such as AI and data analytics, alongside upgrading infrastructure, is crucial for effective policing in the modern era.
4. Community Policing Initiatives: Expanding programs aimed at building trust with communities will enhance intelligence gathering and crime prevention efforts.
5. Gender Sensitization: Increasing the representation of women in police forces to at least 33%, as recommended, will improve the handling of gender-based violence and encourage more women to report crimes.
6. Training and Capacity Building: Revamping training programs to include modern techniques, legal procedures, and human rights education will equip officers to handle contemporary challenges effectively.

Way Forward

In conclusion, addressing the multifaceted challenges within India’s police system requires urgent and comprehensive reforms. By focusing on manpower, autonomy, modernization, community engagement, and gender sensitivity, we can build a more effective and accountable police force that earns the trust of the public and upholds the rule of law. Implementing these reforms will not only enhance public safety but will also contribute to a more just and equitable society.

Model Answer

Introduction:

Nutritional security is a critical aspect of national health that ensures all individuals have access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to maintain a healthy life. In India, despite numerous government initiatives aimed at combating malnutrition, the country continues to grapple with significant nutritional insecurity, driven by systemic issues that go beyond mere food availability.

Key Issues Contributing to Nutritional Insecurity:

1. Persistent Child Malnutrition and Anaemia: According to the NFHS-5 report (2019-21), 36% of children under five are stunted and 57% of women aged 15-49 are anaemic. This highlights a significant gap in nutritional outcomes.
2. Double Burden of Malnutrition: While undernutrition persists, urbanization and changing dietary habits have led to rising obesity rates and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes and hypertension. Nearly 77 million adults suffer from type 2 diabetes in India.
3. Social Disparities: Gender discrimination and caste hierarchies significantly affect access to nutrition. Women often eat last and least, leading to micronutrient deficiencies, while government programs frequently overlook adolescent girls and elderly women.
4. Climate Change Impact: Extreme weather events, such as erratic monsoons and heatwaves, are adversely affecting crop yields and food prices, exacerbating malnutrition in vulnerable regions.
5. Weak Implementation of Nutrition Programs: Programs like the Mid-Day Meal Scheme and Saksham Anganwadi face challenges including leakage, poor execution, and exclusion errors, which undermine their effectiveness.
6. Economic Inequality: The economic slowdown and inflation have made nutritious food increasingly expensive, disproportionately impacting low-income households.

Multi-Pronged Strategy for Nutritional Well-Being:

1. Strengthening Health & Wellness Centres: Upgrading these centres into Nutrition Resource Centres can provide personalized diet counseling and regular screenings for malnutrition.
2. Revamping Mid-Day Meal Schemes: Emphasizing regionally available, nutrient-rich foods like millets and pulses will enhance the nutritional quality of meals provided to children.
3. Mandatory Fortification Programs: Scaling up the fortification of staple foods such as rice, wheat, and milk can help combat hidden hunger without altering eating habits.
4. Creating Healthier Urban Food Environments: Implementing zoning laws to restrict fast-food outlets near schools and introducing a graded taxation system on unhealthy foods can promote healthier dietary choices.
5. Expanding Social Protection Schemes: The Public Distribution System (PDS) should focus on nutritional adequacy by including pulses and fortified dairy products, ensuring access to essential nutrients.
6. Mass Nutrition Literacy Campaigns: A nationwide campaign can build awareness about balanced diets, food labeling, and the risks of unhealthy foods, especially among marginalized groups.

Way Forward

To achieve holistic nutritional well-being, India must adopt a multi-faceted approach that addresses the root causes of nutritional insecurity. Aligning these efforts with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will not only enhance public health but also contribute to the overall socio-economic development of the nation. A community-driven, inclusive strategy is vital for sustainable nutrition security for all.

Model Answer

Introduction

Rural growth is pivotal for India, given that over 65% of its population resides in villages. Building rural resilience is essential not only for improving living standards but also for ensuring the sustainable development of the entire nation. However, rural areas face numerous challenges that hinder their growth.

Key Challenges:

One of the foremost challenges is agrarian distress, characterized by low income levels, fragmented landholdings, and the adverse effects of erratic weather patterns driven by climate change. According to a NABARD report, the average monthly income of a farming household stood at just ₹13,661 in 2021-22, reflecting the economic strain on rural households.

Moreover, health infrastructure is critically lacking, with only 25% of the rural population having access to modern healthcare facilities. This inadequacy results in poor health outcomes and high out-of-pocket expenses.

Educational inequality persists, with significant gaps in infrastructure and teacher availability. Reports indicate that nearly 43% of rural children struggle to read basic texts, limiting their future opportunities.

High unemployment and underemployment rates further exacerbate the situation, particularly among the youth, who often migrate to urban areas in search of better prospects. Additionally, despite progress through the Jal Jeevan Mission, many rural households lack consistent access to clean drinking water and sanitation facilities.

The looming threat of climate change poses a significant challenge, as unpredictable weather patterns lead to crop failures and income instability. Social inequalities, including caste discrimination and gender disparities, also persist, limiting opportunities for marginalized communities.

Lastly, financial exclusion remains a critical barrier, with rural households often relying on informal credit sources, which charge exorbitant interest rates.

Comprehensive Measures:

To address these multifaceted challenges, several measures must be implemented. Promoting climate-smart agriculture through practices like crop diversification and agroforestry can enhance resilience to climate change. Investments in rural infrastructure, such as roads and irrigation, are crucial for improving connectivity and access to markets.

Strengthening health systems by expanding healthcare infrastructure and mobile health units will significantly improve health outcomes. Additionally, enhancing educational facilities and digital access is vital to bridge the educational gap.

Encouraging rural entrepreneurship through support for MSMEs and start-ups can diversify income sources and create jobs. Empowering local governance by enhancing the capacity and autonomy of Panchayati Raj Institutions will ensure effective implementation of rural development programs.

Fostering public-private partnerships can amplify the impact of government initiatives in skill development and infrastructure projects.

Way Forward

In conclusion, addressing the challenges hindering rural growth is imperative for achieving sustainable and inclusive development in India. A holistic approach that integrates infrastructure development, technological advancements, and community participation will unlock the immense potential of rural areas, ultimately contributing to the nation’s overall growth and stability.

Model Answer

Introduction

The fisheries dispute between India and Sri Lanka has persisted for decades, straining diplomatic relations and impacting the livelihoods of fishermen from both nations. This issue is particularly significant due to the geographical proximity of the two countries and the shared resources in the Palk Bay.

Key Issues in the Dispute

One of the primary challenges is the recurrent arrests of Indian fishermen who inadvertently stray into Sri Lankan waters, often due to engine failures or sudden weather changes. These arrests lead to the confiscation and destruction of fishing vessels, resulting in heightened tensions.

Additionally, Indian fishermen claim historical rights to fish beyond the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), leading to disputes over fishing rights in the Palk Bay. The IMBL, established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), is meant to regulate maritime activities, but its interpretation remains contentious.

Overfishing on the Indian side has exacerbated the issue, forcing fishermen into Sri Lankan waters, which Sri Lanka considers illegal poaching. Furthermore, the practice of bottom-trawling by Indian fishermen poses serious ecological threats to marine habitats, drawing strong opposition from Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka also expresses national security concerns, fearing that the intrusion of Indian trawlers could facilitate the re-emergence of Tamil militant groups. The ownership of Katchatheevu Island further complicates the situation; while recognized as part of Sri Lanka in a 1974 agreement, access rights for Indian fishermen remain unclear.

Impact of the Dispute

The socio-economic impact on fishing communities is profound, as arrests and conflicts disrupt livelihoods and create distress among families. The rising costs of enforcing the IMBL patrols place a significant strain on resources for both nations. Moreover, distinguishing between genuine fishers and smugglers complicates enforcement and increases the vulnerability of marine resources.

International Legal Framework

The UN Fish Stocks Agreement (UNFSA) and UNCLOS provide a legal basis for managing fisheries and resolving disputes. These treaties advocate for sustainable fishing practices and cooperation among states sharing marine resources.

Suggested Solutions

To address these issues, establishing a regional fisheries management authority is essential to regulate fishing activities and prevent over-exploitation. The India-Sri Lanka Joint Working Group (JWG) on Fisheries should be revitalized to seek a permanent resolution for fishermen’s issues.

Promoting deep-sea fishing and alternative livelihoods can help reduce pressure on coastal resources. The Indian government should expedite efforts to transition Tamil Nadu fishermen towards deep-sea fishing through initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).

Strict enforcement of sustainable fishing regulations, along with clear guidelines for joint fishing activities, is crucial. Both countries should enhance regional cooperation through technology sharing and scientific research. Finally, a humanitarian framework for the treatment of detained fishermen must be established to ensure timely repatriation and legal support.

Conclusion

Resolving the India-Sri Lanka fisheries dispute is not merely an economic or environmental necessity; it is a diplomatic imperative that can enhance regional stability. By leveraging shared interests and cooperating on sustainable fishing practices, both nations can strengthen their bilateral ties and contribute to peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region.