Decentralization, digitization, and decarbonization are three rapidly rising developments in the energy sector. Talk about it. (Answer in 250 words)
Mains Answer Writing Latest Questions
Meera SinghBegginer
What causes India’s agricultural sector to use water so inefficiently? Make recommendations for ways to increase water efficiency. (Answer in 150 words)
Rajni GautamBegginer
Talk about the measures the government has made to manage cattle diseases and the difficulties they present. (Answer in 150 words)
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According to the 20th Livestock Census, 2019, India's livestock sector, with a total population of 535.82 million, is one of the largest in the world. This sector contributed 16 percent to the income of small farm households besides offering livelihoods to two-thirds of rural communities. It also prRead more
According to the 20th Livestock Census, 2019, India’s livestock sector, with a total population of 535.82 million, is one of the largest in the world. This sector contributed 16 percent to the income of small farm households besides offering livelihoods to two-thirds of rural communities. It also provides employment to about 8.8% of the population in India. One of the biggest impediments to the growth of this sector is the large-scale prevalence of diseases like Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Anthrax, Classical Swine Fever (CSF), Avian Influenza (AI), etc., which pose the following challenges:
- Livestock diseases cause direct losses due to morbidity and mortality, reduced production in terms of milk, meat, wool, hide, and skins, as well as indirect losses due to abortions, subsequent infertility, sterility, and deterioration of semen quality.
- The diseases add to the economic losses of farmers, as they have to buy new livestock every now and then. Moreover, it also affects their income due to reduced consumption by consumers for certain time periods when there is a disease outbreak.
- They threaten poor families’ food security and livelihoods. At the same time, since poor smallholders often live in close proximity to their animals, diseases threaten these families health as well.
- The presence of diseases deters domestic and foreign investment in the livestock sector. These not only wreak havoc on the existing stock but also limit international trade.
In this regard, the government has taken various steps to tackle the risk of livestock diseases:
- Implementing the Livestock Health & Disease Control (LH & DC) Scheme, which envisages control and containment of economically important animal diseases by providing central financial assistance to the states, carrying out vaccination, strengthening veterinary services, and training veterinarians.
- Setting up Animal Quarantine and Certification Services Centers (AQCS) in the country to prevent the ingress of exotic animal diseases into the country through imported livestock and livestock products.
- Providing financial assistance for strengthening the five Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratories (RDDLs) at Jalandhar, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Pune, Guwahati, and a Centre for Animal Disease Research & Diagnosis (CADRAD) to enhance disease diagnostic facilities in the country.
- Launching the National Artificial Insemination Programme, which aims to suggest novel methods of bringing about impregnation in female breeds. It also aims to prevent the spread of certain diseases which are genital in nature, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the animal breed.
- Approval of the National Animal Disease Control Programme for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis (NADCP) for five years (2019-24).
The livestock sector can help alleviate rural poverty and improving this sector can go a long way in doubling farmers’ income besides providing an alternative source of livelihood. Thus, there is a need to work towards better disease control management and provide incentives for the same by the government.
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Suraj SinghLearner
What is a nation’s balance of payments? Describe its different components. (Answer in 200 words)
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Reserve Bank of India defines Balance of Payments as a statistical statement that summarizes transactions between residents and non-residents of a country over a specific period of time. It provides a comprehensive picture of the country's economic transactions with the rest of the world. ComponentsRead more
Reserve Bank of India defines Balance of Payments as a statistical statement that summarizes transactions between residents and non-residents of a country over a specific period of time. It provides a comprehensive picture of the country’s economic transactions with the rest of the world.
Components of Balance of Payments –
- The Current Account measures the net flow of goods, services, income, and current transfers between a country and the rest of the world excluding capital transactions.components of current accounts are merchandise trade,services trade,income & current transfers.
- The Capital Account measures the net flow of capital transactions including investments, loans and transfers between a country and the rest of the world.components of capital accounts are direct investments, portfolio investments, capital transfers.
- The Financial Account measures the net change in a country’s financial assets and liabilities including transactions in foreign assets and liabilities, such as investments, loans, and reserves.components of financial accounts are foreign assets and liabilities .
The Balance of Payments is a vital tool that helps countries track their economic transactions with the rest of the world. It provides a comprehensive picture of a country’s trade, investment, and financial transactions.
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Gita SharmaBegginer
Crop losses as a result of post-harvest value chain inefficiencies have a severe negative influence on small and marginal farmers’ means of subsistence. Talk about it in relation to India. What actions has the government done to resolve these issues? ...
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The post-harvest value chain includes harvesting and primary processing; storage and crop protection; processing; and market linkage. As per NITI Ayog, the estimated post-harvest losses in foodgrains hovers around 10%, semi-perishables and commodities like milk, fish, meat, eggs, fruits, and vegetabRead more
The post-harvest value chain includes harvesting and primary processing; storage and crop protection; processing; and market linkage. As per NITI Ayog, the estimated post-harvest losses in foodgrains hovers around 10%, semi-perishables and commodities like milk, fish, meat, eggs, fruits, and vegetables between 10 to 20%, and the horticultural produce at around 16%. Inefficiencies in the post-harvest value chain
- Inadequate harvesting and primary processing: Lack of awareness, limited finance, and weak markets for primary processed produce restrict small and marginal farmers from adopting primary processing such as threshing, sorting, and grading.
- Lack of storage and crop protection: Small and marginal farmers lack access to suitable on-farm and near-farm storage facilities and packaging materials. Whereas, middlemen invest very little in quality storage and packaging leading to post-harvest losses.
- Lack of near-farm processing facilities: Due to a lack of near-farm processing infrastructure, a considerable quantity of farm produce is lost before it reaches distant processing units through a chain of middlemen.
- Lack of market information: Due to lack of market information, crop selection is based on prevailing prices instead of projected market demand, resulting in oversupply.
Impact on the livelihood of small and marginal farmers :- Income loss: Crop losses due to inadequate primary processing lead to income loss for farmers.
- Distress sale: Lack of near-farm storage facilities forces farmers to make distress sale thus affecting their profit margins.
- Lack of value addition: The absence of near-farm processing facilities leads to farmers earning lower incomes, as the benefits of value addition mostly accrue to middlemen and large private sector firms.
- Low bargaining power: Poor linkage with markets, limits selling options to mandis and local middlemen resulting in low bargaining power.
Steps Taken by the Government Few major schemes have been introduced by the government to address the problem of losses in the post-harvest value chain and subsequently provide better remuneration to small and marginal farmers for their produce.
- PM Kisan SAMPADA Yojana: It will result in the creation of modern infrastructure with efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlet. In addition to the growth of the food processing sector, it would also help in providing better returns to farmers.
- Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI): It aims to support food manufacturing companies to expand their processing capacity and branding abroad to incentivize emergence of strong Indian brands. This in turn will help in ensuring remunerative prices of farm produce and higher income to farmers.
- Private Entrepreneurs Guarantee Scheme: This scheme aims at the construction of storage godowns in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. Out of a sanctioned capacity of 152.74 LMT under the PEG scheme, a storage capacity of 144.67 LMT has been completed as of March 2022.
- Viability Gap Funding Scheme: Capital investment in the creation of modern storage capacity has been made eligible for the Viability Gap Funding scheme of the Finance Ministry. Cold chain and post-harvest storage have been recognized as an infrastructure sub-sector.
Increasing activity in agribusiness from the government, private sector, and civil society organizations is translating into a wide range of interventions towards post-harvest loss reduction and improvement in the livelihoods of small and marginal farmers. Further, effective farmer engagement through models like Farmer Producer Organizations, Self Help Groups, etc. is critical for the success of interventions to address post-harvest losses.
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Meera SinghBegginer
Is reviving the livestock industry the answer to improving Indian farmers’ income and ensuring a sustainable way of life? Provide evidence to back up your response.(Answer in 150 words)
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Indeed, reinvigorating the livestock industry may well be one of the ways to assure a sustainable livelihood and boost the earnings of Indian farmers. The following are some grounds in support of this claim: Diversification of Income: Livestock farming offers a regular source of income that is not dRead more
Indeed, reinvigorating the livestock industry may well be one of the ways to assure a sustainable livelihood and boost the earnings of Indian farmers. The following are some grounds in support of this claim:
Diversification of Income:
Livestock farming offers a regular source of income that is not dependent on crop failures during different seasons. This helps to mitigate the risks associated with purely agricultural-based economies that depend on crops for sustenance.
Nutritional Security:
Milk, meat, and eggs from livestock provide nutrition security by supplying essential nutrients often missing in cereal-based diets, hence leading to overall improved health and productivity within farming communities.
Employment Generation:
The potential for employment creation is enormous in the livestock sector, particularly in rural areas. The sector includes farmers as well as others involved in activities like feed production, veterinary services, and processing industries.
Women’s Empowerment:
In this line of business, women make a significant contribution towards animal husbandry, thus making it highly relevant for their empowerment. A higher involvement of women, together with appropriate resources and training, will promote better handling of animals, thereby raising household incomes.
Marginal Land Utilization:
This is the use of marginal lands and non-arable lands that are not fit for crop farming. It helps to improve land use efficiency and contributes towards improved agricultural productivity.
Value Addition:
Processing and marketing of animal products can lead to value addition, hence increasing income among farmers. Cheese, yogurt, and processed meats, among other products, have a wider market base and higher prices.
Government Initiatives and Support:
The Indian government has put in place various programs like the National Livestock Mission and the Rashtriya Gokul Mission, which enhance various schemes in support of the livestock sector. These programs are directed towards improving livestock productivity, health, and access to markets, thus enhancing favorable conditions for farmers.
Environmental Sustainability:
Properly managed animal husbandry can be part of environmental sustainability. Integrated farming systems practice where livestock waste is utilized as organic manure reduces dependence on chemical fertilizers besides promoting soil health.To sum it up, re-energizing the livestock industry could be a strategic approach that would enable sustainable livelihoods as well as increase the income of Indian farmers. It presents various advantages, like economic stability, job creation, gender equality, and environmental protection. However, this demands a joint effort in availing adequate resources, training, and policy support towards harnessing the potential of the livestock sector.
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Ayushi jainBegginer
Although the digitalization of land records is a good thing, there are certain issues that must be resolved. (Answer in 200 words)
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Access to land is a critical factor for economic growth and poverty reduction. For government, industry, and citizens to be able to use this asset effectively and to minimize land conflicts, digitization can help by improving access to reliable land and property records. Advantages of digitization oRead more
Access to land is a critical factor for economic growth and poverty reduction. For government, industry, and citizens to be able to use this asset effectively and to minimize land conflicts, digitization can help by improving access to reliable land and property records.
Advantages of digitization of land records:
- Reduction in litigations and burden of cases: A NITI Aayog paper suggests that land disputes on average take about 20 years to be resolved. Land disputes add to the burden of the courts and impact sectors and projects that are dependent on these disputed land titles.
- Promoting agricultural credit: Land is often used as collateral for obtaining loans by farmers. Digitization of land records and online creation of equitable mortgages would help in faster disbursement of agriculture credit.
- Development of new infrastructure: The economy of the country is shifting from agrarian to manufacturing and services-based. However, several new infrastructure projects are witnessing delays due to a lack of updated land records.
- Urbanization and housing: Slum dwellers do not have access to a clear land title or ownership rights. Further, since many colonies in which the poor reside are unauthorized, it is difficult for Urban local bodies to provide basic services to them. Easier online approvals of plans and occupancy certificates will provide clarity over ownership status.
- To check benami transactions: Unclear titles and non-updated land records enable carrying out property transactions in a non-transparent way. The Standing Committee on Finance in 2015 noted that the generation of black money through benami transactions could be eliminated by the digitization of land records and their regular updation.
Challenges Faced in Digitization of Land Records:
- Lack of unified legal framework: The system of land records was inherited from the Zamindari system. The legal framework in India does not provide for guaranteed ownership, and how information about land records is collected and maintained further exacerbates the gaps in these records.
- Land unavailability in the development of infrastructure: These delays occur because of non-availability of encumbrance-free land, non-updation of land records, resistance to joint measurement survey of land records, demands for higher compensation by landowners, and filing of large number of arbitration cases by landowners.
- Lack of manpower: One of the major roadblocks in ensuring continuous updation of land records is the lack of skilled manpower in the land record departments of states.
- Poor synergy across land record departments: The Revenue department is the custodian of textual records; the survey and the settlement departments manage the spatial records and the registration department responsible for registering land transactions, lacks synergy in functioning.
- Digital divide: Lack of awareness and digital illiteracy are prevalent, especially in rural areas.
To address these challenges, there is a need for wider adoption of technologies such as geographical information systems, data warehouses, and webs. It would help in making land records management efficient and easier for decision-making, strategy planning, and productive modeling. Also, an online or digital record department could be established for the betterment of online land records maintenance.
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Anshika SinghLearner
The creation of a successful investment strategy for urban infrastructure depends on cooperation between the public and private sectors. Talk about it. (Answer in 250 words)
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In urban infrastructure, stakeholders from different economic sectors are involved including real estate, knowledge economy sectors etc. There is a multiplicity and sometimes, divergence of interests. Hence, there emerges a need for collaboration of public and private sectors to address the common mRead more
In urban infrastructure, stakeholders from different economic sectors are involved including real estate, knowledge economy sectors etc. There is a multiplicity and sometimes, divergence of interests. Hence, there emerges a need for collaboration of public and private sectors to address the common misalignment between them in the following ways:
- Investment requirements: Significant initial public subsidies might help kick-start the development. But long-term budget commitments – spanning over potentially different political mandates – may ultimately become a threat to the full delivery of the project and raise risks. Thereby, there is requirement of mobilisation of additional private capital.
- Convergence of different interests: Usually the public sector has some clear interests in developing, urbanising, regenerating, or optimising profits from either derelict or underperforming sites and brownfield areas. At the same time, for the private sector it means unlocking of new jobs and new investment opportunities in real estate and the possibility of associated investments in the local economy.
- Reduced risks: Risk allocation between partners needs to be at the heart of any collaboration between the public and private sector. While the government needs to take care of policy continuity, security of private investment, predictable timeframe of regulatory processes etc., the private sector undertakes socially comfortable cost recovery pricing of services and bears operational and constructional risk.
- Sharing of responsibility: While the government can bear the administrative and transactional cost of managing a collaborative project and wading through the complex bureaucratic procedures, the private sector can bring in efficiency gains from improved project delivery, operation and management, and access to advanced technology.
- Increase in rewards: Properly executed planning and development of a project also allows better screening of options, and helps in deciding appropriate project structure and choice of technology considering cost over the whole life cycle of the project. This expertise of the private sector provides relief to the public sector from the burden of the costs of design and construction.
- Complementary objectives: Stakeholders from business sectors require the levelling of knowledge gap regarding dynamics, pace and plurality of assets while the public sector seeks opportunities to create economic growth, boost innovation, tap into new technologies and invest in the future of the region.
Smart city solutions have emerged as a way forward to enable the convergence of stakeholders’ interests and to facilitate cooperation between investors for a more efficient and transparent use of resources and capital. The public sector may contribute by delivering the initial infrastructure rather than subsidising the development in later stages. Binding land use regulations should be set by the public sector from the early planning stages to ensure a wider shared value is delivered to the local community. Special public agencies or a department of local government could oversee relations with the developer over time. Some cities have successfully implemented public-private collaboration in wastewater management e.g. Alundur, Bangalore, Salt Lake (Kolkata) etc. as well as in urban road projects such as Mumbai Trans Harbour Sea Link Project, IT corridor project in Chennai, Hyderabad Outer ring road, Delhi- Gurgaon Expressway etc.
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What challenges have you encountered in developing AI-driven traffic management systems, and what strategies have you used to address them?
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Developing AI-driven traffic management systems poses several challenges, including: 1. Data Integration: Integrating diverse data sources (e.g., traffic cameras, sensors, GPS data) into a cohesive system can be complex due to varying formats and quality. 2. Real-Time Processing: Processing large voRead more
Developing AI-driven traffic management systems poses several challenges, including:
1. Data Integration: Integrating diverse data sources (e.g., traffic cameras, sensors, GPS data) into a cohesive system can be complex due to varying formats and quality.
2. Real-Time Processing: Processing large volumes of data in real-time to make instant traffic management decisions requires robust computational power and efficient algorithms.
3. Accuracy and Reliability: Ensuring AI models accurately predict traffic patterns and congestion is crucial for effective decision-making and user trust.
4. Scalability: Adapting systems to handle varying traffic loads and expanding coverage areas without compromising performance is challenging.
Strategies to address these challenges include:
1. Data Standardization: Implementing data standardization protocols to ensure compatibility and consistency across different data sources.
2. Advanced Algorithms: Developing and refining AI algorithms (e.g., machine learning models) to improve prediction accuracy and optimize traffic flow.
3. Edge Computing: Utilizing edge computing to process data closer to the source, reducing latency and enhancing real-time decision-making capabilities.
4. Cloud Infrastructure: Leveraging cloud infrastructure for scalability, enabling systems to handle increasing data volumes and expand geographically.
5. Continuous Monitoring and Feedback: Implementing systems for continuous monitoring, feedback, and improvement based on real-world performance data.
By addressing these challenges with strategic technological solutions, AI-driven traffic management systems can effectively optimize traffic flow, enhance safety, and improve overall urban mobility.
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Bharti SinghBegginer
Emphasize the importance of the Mega Food Park Initiative. Talk about the accompanying difficulties as well. (Answer in 200 words)
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Significance of the Mega Food Park Scheme The Mega Food Park Scheme, initiated by the Government of India, aims to enhance the food processing sector by providing a mechanism to link agricultural production to the market. Here are the key points highlighting its significance: Boost toRead more
Significance of the Mega Food Park Scheme
The Mega Food Park Scheme, initiated by the Government of India, aims to enhance the food processing sector by providing a mechanism to link agricultural production to the market. Here are the key points highlighting its significance:
- Boost to Agricultural Sector: By creating a direct link between farmers and processing units, the scheme helps in reducing the wastage of perishable agricultural produce, ensuring better returns for farmers.
- Employment Generation: Establishing food processing units and ancillary infrastructure generates significant employment opportunities, especially in rural areas, contributing to the reduction of rural-urban migration.
- Economic Development: The development of food parks fosters economic growth by encouraging investments in the food processing sector, thus boosting GDP and contributing to the nation’s economic development.
- Infrastructure Development: The scheme promotes the development of world-class infrastructure facilities for food processing, including cold chains, packaging centers, and logistics facilities, which enhances the overall efficiency of the supply chain.
- Promotion of MSMEs: It provides a conducive environment for the growth of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the food processing sector by offering them access to modern infrastructure and facilities.
- Reduction in Food Wastage: By facilitating better processing, storage, and transportation of food products, the scheme aims to minimize post-harvest losses and food wastage, ensuring food security.
- Value Addition: The scheme encourages value addition to agricultural produce, resulting in higher profitability and a wide range of processed food products for domestic consumption and export.
- Quality and Safety Standards: Establishing state-of-the-art food processing units ensures adherence to international quality and safety standards, enhancing the competitiveness of Indian food products in global markets.
One success story highlights the impact and potential of the Mega Food Park Scheme in India. Here are a few notable examples:
- Patanjali Food and Herbal Park (Uttarakhand)
Overview: One of the most successful mega food parks, the Patanjali Food and Herbal Park, is located in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. It is operated by Patanjali Ayurved Ltd.
Achievements:
– Economic Growth: The park has significantly contributed to the economic development of the region, attracting substantial investments.
– Job Creation: Thousands of jobs have been created, providing livelihoods to many residents.
– Value Addition: The park focuses on processing herbal and Ayurvedic products, adding considerable value to raw agricultural produce.
– Export Growth: Patanjali products processed here have a strong presence in international markets, boosting India’s export earnings.
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Given the ever-increasing carbon emissions and carbon footprint of the energy sector, decarbonization, decentralization, and digitization are fast emerging as potent solutions to global energy issues. Decarbonization: This trend refers to the transition towards a clean, carbon-free world, largely byRead more
Given the ever-increasing carbon emissions and carbon footprint of the energy sector, decarbonization, decentralization, and digitization are fast emerging as potent solutions to global energy issues.
Global energy demand is expected to increase in the coming years, especially with the industrial growth aspirations of developing countries like India. Therefore, it is imperative that most of this new energy demand is met by low-carbon, renewable sources for achieving sustainable development. This would require ramping up institutional, technical, and financial capacity across the globe.
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