Shanta Kumar Committee 6

2 Editor’s Message This is not a journalistic venture but an academic one designed to handhold keen and sincere UPSC aspirants. We do not claim this to be yet another surrogate window to the world. We are sure, nevertheless, that you would find this venture novel as well as useful. www.amritaias.com | [email protected] | +91 85890 60000 3 In This Issue Sl. Topics GS Page No. Paper No. 1 Monsoon Deficit and Water Stress in India GS I 4 Sustainable Development Goal - Gender Index and Equal 2 GS I 9 Measures 2030 3 Significance of BIMSTEC GS II 15 4 Draft National Education Policy 2019 and Issues around GS II 20 5 Sudan Crisis and Ouster of Bashir GS II 25 6 Shanta Kumar Committee GS II 29 7 Hong Kong Protests and related issues GS II 36 8 Code on Wages Bill GS II 41 9 India’s Foreign Policy Challenges and Prospects GS II 47 10 Need for the Simultaneous Election GS II 52 11 A High Powered Committee to be set up for Agriculture GS II 58 Issues with the Civil Service – Selection, Training and Periodical 12 GS II 63 assessment 13 Libyan Crisis and the aftermath GS II 69 14 Acute Encephalitis Syndrome in Bihar and Malnutrition GS II 74 15 NCRB’s Prison Statistics India 2016 GS II 80 16 NITI Aayog’s Health Index 2019 GS II 87 17 National Registry of Citizen and the Mohammad Sanaullah’s Case GS II&III 92 18 Blacklisting Pakistan under FATF GS II&III 98 19 Liquidity Risk Management Framework for NBFCs and CICs - RBI GS III 103 20 Why India needs a Solar Manufacturing Strategy? GS III 109 21 Impact of Air Pollution on Human Health GS III 115 22 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum GS III 121 23 Need for a Legal Framework for Artificial Intelligence in India GS III 126 24 SEBI Norms for Credit Rating Agencies GS III 132 25 Agricultural Credit in India and issues around GS III 138 26 India as an Innovation Economy GS III 144 27 Report Card on Left Wing Extremist Hit States GS III 149 28 U.K. Sinha Committee on MSMEs Sector GS III 153 www.amritaias.com | [email protected] | +91 85890 60000 4 1 MONSOON DEFICIT AND WATER STRESS IN INDIA GS1: Important Geophysical phenomena and changes in critical geographical features What is the Issue? • Apparently, about 40% of the country is facing an acute paucity of pre-monsoon rain, causing severe water distress in scorching heat. BACKGROUND • Rain fed agriculture contributes to 60 per cent of the value of agriculture GDP of India. • About 61 per cent of India’s farmers rely on rain-fed agriculture and 55 per cent of the gross cropped area is under rain-fed farming. • Rainfed crops account for 48 percent area under food crops and 68 percent under non-food crops. • India ranks first among the rainfed agricultural countries of the world in terms of both extent and value of produce. • Due to population pressure on agricultural lands, the poverty is concentrated in rainfed regions. • Despite all these, rain-fed areas contributed significantly to the country’s food production. • They account for 89 per cent of millets production, 88 per cent of pulses, 73 per cent of cotton, 69 per cent of oilseeds and 40 per cent rice production in the country. Water Scarcity Profile of India • India is suffering from the worst water crisis in its history and millions of lives and livelihoods are under threat. • Currently, 600 million Indians face high to extreme water stress www.amritaias.com | [email protected] | +91 85890 60000 5 and about two lakh people die every year due to inadequate access to safe water. • By 2030, the country’s water demand is projected to be twice the available supply, implying severe water scarcity for hundreds of millions of people and an eventual ~6% loss in the country’s GDP. DISCUSSION Rain Deficit Scenario in India • Though summer droughts are very common, the extent and intensity of aridity witnessed this year are rare. • The rain deficit has been as high as 48% in the southern peninsula, especially Tamil Nadu and coastal Karnataka. • It is nearly 30% in western India, notably Gujarat and large parts of Maharashtra, and 17% and 12% in the Central and north-east region respectively. • Shortfalls of 70 to 80% have also been reported from some places. • The overall countrywide average rainfall between March and May, 2019 remained 23% below normal. Monsoon Forecasts Indications • The rain deficit conditions across the country are a matter of grave concern. • But the redeeming factor is that the onset of the monsoon is round the corner. • The rain during the 4-month monsoon season (June to September) is anticipated to be well spread out. • It is also expected to be quantitatively normal or somewhat below normal. • The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast has suggested rainfall to be likely around 96% of the long-period average (LPA). www.amritaias.com | [email protected] | +91 85890 60000 6 • On the other hand, private weather forecaster Skymet has put it at 91%. Persisting Concerns • The problem is that both IMD and Skymet have forecast that the monsoon would be sluggish/slow to begin with. • The reason cited for this is the existence of El Nino (warming up of the Pacific Ocean), which often impairs the monsoon performance. • Also, IMD and Skymet differ on the progression of El Nino. • The IMD expects El Nino conditions to turn neutral in the second half of the rainy season. • But Skymet reckons it to last the whole season, even if in a weaker form. • So clearly, there is a possible delay in relief from the current water crisis in some areas. Government Initiatives Against Erratic Monsoon • NITI Aayog’s composite water management Index (CWMI) is a major step towards creating a culture of database decision- making for water in India, which can encourage ‘competitive and cooperative federalism’ in the country’s water governance and management. • The NDMA guidelines on management of drought are issued in 2010. • National River linking programmes is also give an impetus to the government plan to fight against erratic monsoon. • There was a policy bias against farmers working in rain-fed systems, the latest move of giving income support to farmers, however little it may be, is a progressive step. Favourable Factors • Of the three main facets of drought (meteorological, hydrological, agricultural), the present conditions conform chiefly to the www.amritaias.com | [email protected] | +91 85890 60000 7 meteorological drought (rainfall inadequacy). • Only in some areas, aridity has accentuated to cause hydrological drought, reflected in exhaustion of the surface and groundwater resources. • The overall hydrological profile of the country is still positive. • The total water stock in 91 major reservoirs monitored by the Central Water Commission is around 14% above the last year’s corresponding level. • It is 3% higher than the long-period average (May, 2019 data). • Agricultural drought has, by and large, been averted as the rabi crops have mostly been harvested and the kharif ones are yet to be planted. Issues with the Rain Fed Agriculture in India • A clear-cut bias towards irrigated areas when it comes to public investment in agriculture in the country. • Unsuitable programme design has ensured that potential of rain-fed areas remains unrealised. • Rainfall is highly unreliable, both in time and space, with strong risks of dry spells at critical growth stages even during good rainfall years. • Rainfed areas in India are highly diverse, ranging from resource rich areas to resource-constrained areas. • growing farm suicides in rainfed areas. • Green Revolution bypassed the less-favored rainfed areas which were not the partners in this process of agricultural transformation. Way forward • An enduring solution to the recurring water crisis largely lies in drought-proofing the vulnerable areas. • In-situ conservation of rainwater should be a key priority in this regard. www.amritaias.com | [email protected] | +91 85890 60000 8 • The need is to construct rainwater-harvesting structures at the field, village and watershed levels. • Either digging ponds or putting up check dams at suitable sites on the natural water drainage routes should be taken up. • This is a time-tested water management practice that has helped people survive even in the chronically arid areas. • Piecemeal measures as isolated water conservation works under the rural employment programmes can, at best, offer only limited gains. • So what is needed is a broad-based planning, keeping in view the whole watershed, transgressing village, district or even state boundaries. #Practice Question 1. Do you think Rain fed farmers are the most neglected in the country? Analyse the reasons for this neglect towards farmers throughout the ages. (200 words) www.amritaias.com | [email protected] | +91 85890 60000 9 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL - 2 GENDER INDEX AND EQUAL MEASURES 2030 GS1: Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues What is the Issue? • The SDG Gender Index, a new index to measure global gender equality, was launched recently. BACKGROUND • The SDG Gender Index has been developed by Equal Measures 2030, a joint effort of regional and global organisations including: • African Women’s Development and Communication Network • Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women • Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation • International Women’s Health Coalition • The index accounts for 14 out of 17 SDGs (sustainable development goals). • The goals cover aspects such as poverty, health, education, literacy, political representation and equality at the workplace. • A score of 100 reflects the achievement of gender equality in relation to the targets set for each indicator.

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