The Tribune Analysis 18-01-2021

ARTICLE CONTENTS

 G7 invite  Iran warns US  EU supports Palestinian general election  Use of regional languages in the Rajya Sabha has risen to over five times.  PM flags off 8 trains to boost connectivity to Statue Of Unity  Include vaccination prog elementsas CSR spend: CII to govt  Healthcare in has improved: ICMR  Call to follow ideals of Rupkonwar konwar Jyotiprasad Agarwala

EDITORIAL DISCUSSION

 Hydroponics: The future of urban farming  APSC reform

GENERAL STUDIES 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. G7 invite  UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has invited his Indian counter part Narendra Modi for the G7 summit as he confirmed details on Sunday for the high-level meeting to be presided over by Britain in the coastal region of Cornwall between June 11and 13.  The Group of Seven (G7) is an intergovernmental organization consisting of Canada, France, , Italy, Japan, the and the United States. The heads of government of the member states, as well as the representatives of the European Union, meet at the annual G7 Summit. As of 2018, the G7 represents 58% of the global net wealth ($317 trillion), more than 46% of the global gross domestic product (GDP) based on nominal values, and more than 32% of the global GDP based on purchasing power parity. The seven countries involved are also the largest IMF-advanced economies in the world.

2. Iran warns US  Iran has warned the US to stop “illegal actions” taken against its diplomats on American soil, Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh confirmed.  “Iran has officially warned the US that it will sue it before the International Court of Justice if it does not stop its illegal actions against Iranian diplomats in international organisations,”.  For a long time, the US government has been creating “illegal constraints” for Iraniandiplomats and their families.  Washington should refrainfrom taking “illegal action”against Iranian representatives before international organisations such as the UN,the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, that have their siege on American soil Iran foreign minister stated.

3. EU supports Palestinian general election  A European Union (EU) official announced the bloc’s support for the Palestinian legislative polls scheduled for May 22 and the presidential elections slated to take place on July 31.  Shadi Othman, an EU communication official in Jerusalem, told Xinhua news agency on Saturday that the bloc is ready to support the Palestinian Central Elections Commission (PCEC) and provide the required assistance for the upcoming elections.  The EU will communicate with all relevant parties to make the Palestinian elections successful.  Its position is to hold the general Palestinian elections in all the Palestinian territories,including the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem.  The last parliamentary elections were held in the Palestinian territories in late 2006,where the Hamas movement won a majority. In 2005, Abbas was elected as the President of the Palestinian.

GENERAL STUDIES 2: POLITY

1. Use of regional languages in the Rajya Sabha has risen to over five times.  Useof regional languages in theRajya Sabha has risen to overfive times. Members spoke in10 of the 22 scheduled languages first time during 2018-20,while another six languages including Assamese, Bodo and Manipuri have been used after a long gap.  While Hindi and English arethe widely used languages during the proceedings of the House, the use of 21 others cheduled Indian languages(other than Hindi) has increased to over five times (512 per cent) per sitting in 2020 over that of the 14 year period between 2004-17.  Four of the 22 scheduledlanguages, including Dogri,Kashmiri, Konkani and Santhali were used for the first time in the House since 1952.

GENERAL STUDIES 3: INFRASTRUCTURE 1. PM flags off 8 trains to boost connectivity to Statue Of Unity  Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday flagged off eight trains connecting Gujarat’s Kevadia, where the Stat-ue of Unity of Sardar Patel is located, to different regions ofthe country.  The Ahmedabad-Kevadia Jan Shatabdi Express, one of the eight trains, is equipped with the Vistadome coaches which offer large viewing areas with rooftop glasses and seats for passengers.

GENERAL STUDIES 3: HEALTH RELARED ISSUE

1. Include vaccination prog elementsas CSR spend: CII to govt  The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Taskforce on Vaccines has recommended inclusion of certain elements in the vaccination programme as part of the 2 percent corporate social responsi- bility (CSR) expenditure required to be undertaken by a class of profitable entities.  It will encourage the private sector to inoculate its workforce and help enhance the reach of vaccines.  Under the Companies Act,2013, a certain class of profitableentities are required to spend at least 2 per cent of their three year annual average net profit towards CSR activitiesfor social good or affirmative action.  The task force has also recommended that the government utilise private sector capacity from phase one itself of the vaccination drive, by undertaking it in a public-private partnership mode.

2. Healthcare in India has improved: ICMR  The healthcare system of India has improved a lot after the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic and now the country is in a much better position to deal with any outbreak of epidemic or pandemic, said the Director of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Dr Rajni Kant.  He also said that simple habits like maintaining hand hygiene, maintaining social distance and wearing masks would not only protect people from COVID-19 but also from various other diseases.

 There are around 2,300 laboratories in the country which can detect COVID and now the country has real-time data about COVID and the Government can plan accordingly, he added.  The coordination between the Central and State governments in dealing with diseases improved, while, at the same time, the coordination between the government, academics, researchers and industry also improved considerably. That is why, India could produce vaccines within a short span of time.  India has shown to the world that it can progress in the field of healthcare despite resource crunch and having such a large population

GENERAL STUDIES 5: ASSAM HISTORY/CULTURE

1. Call to follow ideals of Rupkonwar konwar Jyotiprasad Agarwala  “We must follow the ideals of Rupkonwar Jyotiprasad Agarwala to transform Assam into a vibrant State resplendent with values and honour together with a strong sense of self identity.  He put Assamese culture and ethos on a firm footing and dispelled the darkness of pseudo-culture.  The relevance of his ideals will hold good for all the time to come Delivering his speech as the chief guest, Sonowal said that Golaghat district had a history of being a leader is diverse spheres – from the country’s freedom struggle to the making of the first Joymati, and from tea cultivation and agar cultivation to ushering in rural development.  At the central programme organised by the cultural affairs department in association with the Golaghat district administration, folk artiste Indreswar Pegu and singer Namita Bhattacharya were presented with the State government’s Silpi Bota (award) that carries Rs 2 lakh, a citation, and a memento each.  Jyoti Prasad Agarwala (17 June 1903 – 17 January 1951) was a noted Indian playwright, songwriter, poet, writer and film maker from Assam. He was considered as Assamese cultural icon, deeply revered for his creative vision and output and is popularly called the Rupkonwar of Assamese culture. In fact, he is regarded as the founder of Assamese cinema for Joymoti (1935). His death anniversary (17 January) is observed as Silpi divas (Artists' Day) in his honor.

EDITORIAL DISCUSSION

GENERAL STUDIES 3: FOOD SECURITY

1. Hydroponics: The future of urban farming  Hydroponics is the technique in which plants can grow without soil. This is a system where greens are grown organically without soil,with nutrients and with 90% less water.  The word hydroponics comes from two Greek words – hydro meaning water and ponos meaning labour. This word was first used in 1929 by Dr William F Gericke, a California-based professor who began to develop a laboratory technique into a commercial means of growing plants.  Hydroponic flowers, herbsand vegetables are planted in inert growing media and supplies with nutrient-rich solutions, oxygen and water.  Cultivable areas are shrinking day by day due to the rapid growth of population. The solution for the future will be urban agricultural technology like hydroponics in which we can grow more food in less areas/soil.  To maintain a flourishing hydroponic system, few components are required like proper growing media, net pots, pipes, air stones,pump, etc.  it can be done by using all recyclable organic substrate like rice husk, volcanic rocks/aqua clay pebbles, coco coir,saw dust, coffee husk, wood dust,peat moss, etc., as the growing media. Coco coir is mostly used in hydroponic technology as the water retention capacity and air porosity is very high in coco coir.  Among inorganic media like perlite, pumice rock, vermiculite,sand, volcanic rock, clay pebbles,rockwool, etc. vermiculite, perlite, rockwool and clay pebbles are mostly used with organic media coco coir.  Using hydroponics technology,everyone can produce food with high nutritional value. Since there is no need for soil in the hydroponic system, every inch of open space with sunlight and clean water can be used to grow vegetables and herbs in cities. Areas like rooftops, balconies, open spacelying unused, empty space withinbuildings, etc., can be used for growing food. There are three main

types of hydroponic systems: nutrient film technique, ebb and flow system,wick system, drip system, aquapon-ics and aeroponics.

1. A nutrient filmhydroponic technique involves plants being grown in a grow tray that is slightly angled and positioned above a reservoir filled with the water-nutrient mix. This allows a thin stream of water to flow across plant roots and allows the plants to have sufficient water, nutrients, aeration and then drained back into the reservoir. This is the most common hydroponic system used.

2. The ebb and flow system allows plants to be flooded with the nutrient-rich water and after the plant roots uptake nutrients, water is actively drained back into a reservoir to be reused.

3. Wick hydroponic system is the simplest of all, as nutrients are passively given to the plant from a wick or piece of string running up to the plant from the water reservoir. In this system, plants are grown in an inert growing medium as mentioned above.

4. Aquaponics refers to a food production system that couples aquaculture (raising fish, snails,prawns in tanks) with hydroponics in a symbiotic environment where by the nutrient rich aquaculture water is fed to hydroponic grown plant, involving nitrifying bacteria for converting ammonia into nitrates.

5. The drip hydroponic system is a type of hydroponic system where water and the nutrients are supplied to the plant roots slowly by drip irrigation. Water is supplied in slow drips so that the plant roots are kept moist but not over watered.

This method reduces water evaporation as the water is slowly being dripped and also water wastage by leaching or run off. There is control over how much water needs to be supplied for the plant.

6. Finally the aeroponic systems are a specialized version of hydroponics where the roots of the plant extend only in air and the roots are directly sprayed with nutrient water. Water use is 25% less with aeroponics than other methods of hydroponics.

 Hydroponics technology can change the Indian agriculture industry. Plants mostly grown in hydroponic systems are tomatoes, bell pepper,cucumber, strawberries, watermelon, potato, onion, lettuce and all other leafy vegetables.

 The advantages of hydroponics are faster growth with greater production, less sicknesses, less insect damages, elimination of soil related insects, fungi and bacteria,much crop yields, no weeding and intercultural operation required, ideal for small spaces.  But there are some disadvantages like the high initial and operational cost than soil culture. Also, skill and knowledge are needed to operate properly. The hydroponic technology may never replace conventional farming, but with increasing population,this type of urban agricultural technology have started getting more demand in urban areas.  Also we may see a new generation of modern farmers building green walls inside their houses to feed families with fresh produce, grown all year round.

GENERAL STUDIES 5: GOVERNANCE & CONSTITUTIONAL BODIES

1. APSC reform  A disturbing trend in recent years concerns an anomalous recruitment process by the State Government.  When even a constitutional authority like the Assam Public Service Commission has been found to be flouting every norm and indulge in corrupt practices in its recruitment drives,the overall situation can well be left to imagination.  Mercifully, some sort of order has been restored in the functioning of the APSC, thanks to the present BJP-led State Government’s tough stand on the issue, especially with regard to the APSC.  This is most welcome and the Government needs to sustain it and cleanse the entire recruitment process in various departments of the different anomalies. The past two decades had seen merit ceasing to figure as a criterion for the APSC in the matter of selection of candidates, with favouritism, nepotism, and political and monetary considerations accounting for the success or failure of a large majority of the candidates.  It has been revealed now how evaluation norms for candidates, including for interviews, adopted by the APSC for different examinations had been far frombeing consistent with the conditions stated in the published advertisements.

 Notwithstanding the positives following the Government’s intervention in the functioning of the APSC, a lot still needs to be done to put in place a foolproof recruitment system.  Anomalies in appointment processes are bound to have far-reaching implications for administration and governance, as it perpetrates a perverse cycle of corruption.  The APSC chairman has come up with a set of recommendations aimed at reforming the APSC’s operations and the Government would do well to give due weightage to those.  Implementation of the recommendations will be critical to restoring the APSC’s credibility, impartiality, fairness and transparency.  At the same time,the practice of putting undeserving persons at the helm of the APSC’s affairs has to stop.  It is a fact that the APSC’s ability to discharge its responsibility as an independent body was negated when political connections became the sole criterion for selection of its chairman and members during the previous Congress regime.