3rd September 2024

Topic: President unveils new flag, insignia of Supreme Court

Relevance: GS Paper: 2 – Polity
Source: Business Standard

Context
The Supreme Court celebrated its 75th anniversary by unveiling a new flag and insignia, which was unveiled by President Droupadi Murmu.

About
• The Indian Constitution book, the Supreme Court building, and the Ashoka Chakra are all depicted on the flag.
• The color blue is the new flag of the Supreme Court. The emblem bears the words “Supreme Court of India” and “Yato Dharmastato Jayah” inscribed in Devanagari script.
• The Sanskrit phrase “Yato Dharmastato Jayah” means “Where Dharma is present, victory exists” or “Victory is found where righteousness (Dharma) reigns.”
• The “wheel of the law,” or Dharmachakra, is symbolized by the Ashok Chakra. The Sarnath Lion Capital, built by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka in the third century BC, served as the model for this symbol.

Establishment of India’s Supreme Court (SC)
• The Constitution’s Article 124 declares, “There shall be a Supreme Court of India.”
• The Supreme Court was established on January 28, 1950, two days after India attained the status of a Sovereign Democratic Republic.
• On August 4, 1958, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the country’s first president, dedicated the Supreme Court of India’s current structure.
• A Supreme Court with a Chief Justice and seven puisne judges was envisioned in the 1950 original Constitution, which left it up to Parliament to raise the number.
• Parliament increased the number of judges from 8 in 1950 to 11 in 1956, 14 in 1960, 18 in 1978, 26 in 1986, 31 in 2009, and 34 in 2019 (current strength) in response to the growing workload.
• The regulations governing the terms of service and behavior of the employees who work for the Supreme Court of India are found in the Supreme Court Officers and Servants (Conditions of Service and Conduct) Rules, 1961.

Sculpture of a Mother and Child
• In 1978, a 210-centimeter-tall black bronze sculpture was erected on the Supreme Court’s lawn.
• Mother India is portrayed as a woman in this image.
• The young Republic of India, symbolized by a child upholding the laws of the land, is being protected by the lady in the shape of an open book.
• A balance is depicted in the book to symbolize the administration of justice to everyone equally. It was created by the well-known artist Shri Chintamoni Kar.

An overview of India’s judiciary
• As the highest court in India, the Supreme Court has the power to interpret the Constitution, decide cases involving states and the federal government, and determine whether laws and government actions are lawful.
• Every state, or group of states, has a High Court that deals with state-level legal issues and appeals from subordinate courts.
• District courts manage a variety of specialized courts, including family, consumer, and labor courts, in addition to civil and criminal cases at the district level.
• While each branch functions independently, they are all meant to cooperate with one another to form a system of checks and balances that guarantee just governance and adherence to the Constitution.

Important Duties of the Indian Supreme Court:
• Judicial Review: It examines whether laws and executive orders are constitutional. The Court has the authority to invalidate any law or action that is determined to be unconstitutional.
• Original Jurisdiction: It has the power to hear some cases straight, such as conflicts involving states or the federal government and states. We refer to this as original jurisdiction.
• Appellate Jurisdiction: It considers appeals from subordinate tribunals and courts. Constitutional, criminal, and civil cases fall under this category.
• Constitutional interpretation is the process of interpreting the Constitution’s clauses.
• Protection of Fundamental Rights: It makes sure that the constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights are protected.
• Advisory Jurisdiction: On legal or constitutional matters, the President of India may request the Court’s opinion.
• Judicial Administration: It sets rules and supervises the operations of subordinate courts. It also affects the selection and replacement of judges.
• Public Interest Litigation (PIL): The Court accepts PILs, enabling people or organizations to ask the courts to address matters that have an impact on the general public.

Also Read Topics & Concepts:

Mains Model Questions

Q. Trace the development of India’s collegium system. Provide some possible changes that could be implemented to improve the openness, accountability, and inclusivity of the judicial appointment process.

Introduction:

The Supreme Court and High Court use the Collegium system for the appointment and removal of judges. The Constitution is not its foundation. Rather, it has changed as a result of Supreme Court rulings. The appointment and transfer of judges is recommended by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and the four seniormost Supreme Court judges under the current system. In the meantime, the Chief Justice of the court and the two senior judges serve as the leaders of a High Court Collegium.

Body:

Collegium System Evolution

• In S P Gupta v. Union of India, 1981 (First Judge Case), the Supreme Court ruled that consultation in the appointment process merely entails a sharing of opinions and does not call for concurrence.
• In the 1993 Second Judge Case Record Association Vs. Union of India, the Supreme Court overturned its earlier ruling and redefined consultation to mean concurrence. It was determined that the President must abide by the CJI’s advice when it comes to selecting justices for the Supreme Court. Moreover, prior to providing such advice, the CJI must confer with two of his most senior colleagues.
• In the Third Judge Case of 1998, the Supreme Court ruled that “consultation of plurality” is necessary for the CJI’s chosen consultation of plurality judges. A collegium consisting of the four seniormost Supreme Court judges should be consulted by the CJI. They ought not forward the recommendation to the government, even in the event that two judges render a disapproving ruling.
• Law of 2014, National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC): It was introduced to take the place of the previous collegium system for choosing judges. But a five-judge Constitution Bench ruled that it was unconstitutional and void, arguing that it endangered the judiciary’s independence.

Possible changes to the Collegium System that would increase its accountability, transparency, and inclusivity

• Revision of the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP): A revision of the current MoP is necessary. To maintain checks and balances, this may involve including representatives from the executive and judicial branches in the decision-making process regarding the appointment of judges.
• Extending the eligibility requirements: It should incorporate additional standards for judging candidates’ suitability and merit in addition to those outlined in the Constitution. All qualified applicants may receive an open invitation to submit an application in the required format for the judicial position.
• Increasing diversity: Women ought to be fairly represented in appointments to the judiciary.
• Increasing openness: The collegium members should keep a list of candidates who they independently applied, nominated, or considered.

Conclusion:

Although the Collegium System is commended for maintaining judicial independence, discussions have continued because of its perceived lack of accountability, nepotism risk, and lack of transparency. Reforms rather than elimination have been advocated in recent talks, with a focus on prompt appointments, enhanced background checks, and cooperation between the judiciary and executive.

Topic: Tests for detecting deception

Relevance: GS Paper: 2 – Governance

Source: Financial Express

Context

Seven individuals underwent a second round of polygraph examinations by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in relation to the rape and killing of a physician at the R.G. Kar Medical College in Kolkata.

What are tests for detecting deception?

• Scientific techniques called deception detection tests (DDTs) are used to identify potential deception during questioning.
• These examinations consist of brain mapping, polygraphs, and narco-analysis.

Polygraph test

• The basis of a polygraph test is the assumption that lying causes particular physiological reactions in the subject.
• The test is conducted by placing sensitive electrodes or cardio-cuffs on the suspect to monitor vital signs like breathing, pulse rate, blood pressure, and galvanic skin response, which is a stand-in for sweating.
• Each physiological response to a question is given a numerical value to help determine whether the respondent is being truthful or dishonest.

Medicinal Analysis

• It entails giving the accused a sodium pentothal injection to put them in a hypnotic or sedated state.
• A subject in such a state is thought to be less inhibited and more likely to reveal information.
• The medication is sometimes referred to as a “truth serum” because it is believed to lessen the subject’s determination to lie.

Mental mapping

• It makes use of electrodes affixed to the face and neck to measure a subject’s neural activity, more precisely brainwaves.
• It functions according to the idea that the brain produces unique brain waves in response to recognizable stimuli, like an image or a sound.

Legal validity of Test

• Indian courts were firmly in favor of these tests prior to 2010. They promoted these “scientific methods of investigation” as a less dangerous substitute for the physical abuse that is frequently used in prison to get information.
• In 2010, the Supreme Court decided in Selvi v. State of Karnataka that, in line with the fundamental right against self-incrimination guaranteed by Article 20(3) of the Constitution, no lie detector test should be given “except on the basis of consent of the accused.”
• It was also clarified that a person’s right to privacy is inextricably linked to their ability to speak up or remain silent.
• Thus, it would be against Article 21 of the Constitution to require someone to make a statement.
• The Court further pointed out that there isn’t much empirical data to support the claim that these tests give investigators trustworthy leads.
• The results of these tests should not be interpreted as confessions, it warned.
• It also mandated that the subject’s consent be officially documented in front of a judicial magistrate and that the National Human Rights Commission’s 2000 guidelines for conducting these tests be properly followed.

What are the concerns?

• The effectiveness of lie-detection techniques in uncovering “concealed knowledge in applied real-world settings” has been questioned, according to a 2010 paper published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research.
• It contested the validity of polygraph examinations, highlighting flaws in the test’s fundamental theory that parameters like blood pressure and heart rate are not always indicative of lying.
• In a similar vein, a 2019 US study discovered that people can self-train to ace a polygraph and highlighted high false positive rates.
• In spite of the Supreme Court’s apprehensive position, these tests are still widely administered in India.

Also Read Topics & Concepts:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/is-the-administration-of-lie-detector-tests-legally-valid/article68568568.ece

Mains Model Questions

Q. Discuss about the importance of the Supreme Court’s ruling in the K.S. Puttaswamy case. What actions should the Indian government take to safeguard its citizens’ privacy?

Introduction:

In the 2017 case of Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India, a nine-judge Supreme Court bench rendered a landmark decision. It stated that, in accordance with Part 3 of the Indian Constitution, privacy is a fundamental right. However, the Supreme Court has made it clear that, similar to the majority of other fundamental rights, the right to privacy is not a “absolute right” and must meet a number of requirements.

Body:

Importance of the Puttaswamy ruling:

• The right to privacy was proclaimed a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution as a result of the Puttaswamy case. One can therefore go to the Supreme Court or high court against tyranny of state.
• This will support the freedom of ideas, expression, religion, and other things.
• Offers defense against governmental meddling in personal affairs, such as marriage, family, and sex.
• It will assist in averting the state’s surveillance scenario.
• As demonstrated by the removal of section 377 of the IPC, it will strengthen the rights of LGBT people and transgender people.
• The right to privacy safeguards an individual’s physical, mental, and spiritual integrity.
• In the event of a private zone infringement or needless surveillance conducted without the subject’s consent, she can now hold the state responsible and pursue legal action.
• The legitimacy of many companies’ privacy policies will also be called into question by this right to privacy ruling, which will hold them accountable and transparent.

What steps should the government take to safeguard Indian citizens’ right to privacy?

• Data sharing should require individual consent. All entities, including the State, that decide the purpose and method of data processing, must require consent.
• It is necessary to establish a Data Protection Authority (DPA), an independent regulatory body in charge of upholding and successfully implementing the law.
• The government should keep a close eye on and transparently enforce all applicable laws and regulations.
• The government ought to support studies and public education regarding citizens’ rights to privacy.
• It should be illegal to use sensitive personal information, such as biometric data, without authorization.
• An appeal tribunal will be established by the Central Government to consider and rule on any appeal against a privacy breach order.
• Violators of the data protection law should face consequences. Individuals should receive compensation for privacy loss in lieu of such fines.

Conclusion:

The ruling of the Supreme Court is crucial for the rights of Indian citizens in the age of rising cybercrimes and deceptions. The government is in charge of defending the rights of its citizens. The government ought to closely monitor different businesses and outlaw those that violate people’s privacy.

Topic: EU’s 2030 emission targets

Relevance: GS Paper: 3 – Environment

Source: Down to Earth

Context

Nonprofit organizations in Europe have filed a lawsuit against the European Commission recently, claiming that the EU’s 2030 emission targets fall short of the lofty objectives established by the Paris Agreement.

About the Paris Agreement 2015

• It was approved at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris, France.
• It is the result of 196 Parties working together to address the pressing issue of global warming.

Temperature Goals

• Limiting the rise in the average global temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels is the main objective of the Paris Agreement.
• Efforts to keep the temperature increase to 1.5°C over pre-industrial levels—an even more ambitious target—are also highly prioritized.

Why the Focus on 1.5°C?

• According to scientific data compiled by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), going over the 1.5°C threshold may have serious consequences for the climate, such as an increase in the frequency and severity of heatwaves, droughts, and extreme rainfall events.

Lower Emissions

• Countries pledge to cut their greenhouse gas emissions in order to meet these temperature targets.
• The Agreement acknowledges that in order to stay on track for the 1.5°C target, emissions must peak no later than 2025 and decline by 43% by 2030.

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

• Through its NDC, each nation shares its climate action plan.
• The mitigation (reduction of emissions) and adaptation measures are outlined in the NDCs.
• It is recommended that nations gradually increase the level of ambition in their NDCs over time.

Extended-Term Plans

• Countries are encouraged to develop and submit long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies (LT-LEDS) as part of the Paris Agreement.
• These LT-LEDS are optional, but they support the NDCs and offer a vision for future development.

International Collaboration and Assistance

• The Agreement creates a framework for providing nations with financial, technical, and capacity-building support.
• Developed countries promise to support developing countries’ efforts to combat climate change.

Five-Year Review Period

• The Paris Agreement runs in cycles of five years.
• Countries revise their NDCs on a regular basis, trying to get more ambitious with each revision.

What difficulties does the EU face?

• Insufficient Objectives: The EU’s emission reduction targets, according to CAN-Europe and GLAN, are insufficient to achieve the Paris Agreement’s goal of keeping global warming to 1.5°C.
• Science-Based Approach: States are required to set science-based emissions targets that align with the 1.5°C target, as previously highlighted by the European Court of Human Rights.
• Request for Internal Review: GLAN and CAN-Europe filed a Request for Internal Review (RIR) in August 2023 in reference to the Annual Emissions Allocations (AEA) that each member state of the European Commission has been given.

Urgency:

• Climate Crisis: The court has given this case priority status and set a hearing for 2025 because of the urgency of the climate crisis.
• Absence of Scientific Evaluation: The main legal argument against the EU is based on its inability to carry out a thorough scientific evaluation of the emissions reductions required to keep global warming below 1.5°C.

What’s at Stake?

• Increasing Ambition for Emissions Reduction: Should this legal challenge succeed; the EU and its member states may decide to considerably increase their aspirations for emissions reduction.
• The actions of the European Union have a global impact. Being a significant emitter and one of the biggest economies, the EU’s dedication to setting high climate targets sends a strong message to other countries.

Also Read Topics & Concepts:

Prelims Practice Questions

Q. Consider the following statements regarding Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

1. India can only finance its NDC commitments with international climate finance support.
2. By 2030, India wants to generate half of its installed capacity for electricity from sources other than fossil fuels.

Which of the above statements are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: b

Explanation
Although it is not the only source of funding, India intends to look to the international climate finance community for assistance in financing its NDC commitments. India intends to make use of both domestic and foreign funding sources in addition to a mix of private and public investment.
By 2030, India wants to achieve 50% of its installed capacity for electricity from non-fossil fuel-based energy sources, according to its NDC. This objective is highly ambitious and will necessitate large investments in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and other low-carbon technologies.

Mains Model Questions

Q. ‘Climate Change’ is a global problem. How will India be affected by climate change? How Himalayan and coastal states of India are affected by climate change?

Introduction:

India is already feeling the effects of climate change in a number of ways, such as altered rainfall patterns, rising temperatures, and more frequent and severe weather events. Because crop yields and food security are impacted by unpredictable rainfall patterns, the agricultural sector is especially vulnerable. Water availability, biodiversity, and public health are all impacted by climate change.

Body:

• Impacts on Himalayan States: Because of their distinct topography and delicate ecosystems, Himalayan states are especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The thawing of glaciers and snowpack has resulted in amplified hazards of inundations, landslides,
• Impacts on Coastal States: Sea-level rise poses a serious threat to coastal infrastructure and communities, making coastal states particularly susceptible to the effects of climate change. The coastal regions are also suffering significant damage from storm surges, saltwater intrusion, and cyclones that are occurring more frequently and intensely.
• The entire world is impacted by the global phenomenon of climate change:
• Rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, and melting glaciers are just a few of the effects of climate change that the Himalayan states of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir are already feeling.
• Coastal states: The possibility of sea level rise puts Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha at risk for flooding and coastal erosion. Cyclones are occurring more frequently and with greater intensity, which has the potential to seriously destroy infrastructure and property.

Conclusion: In India, climate change is an urgent problem that has to be addressed right away. The environment, the economy, and society are all impacted by climate change, with the Himalayan nd coastal regions being especially vulnerable. To lessen the severity of the effects, India must take proactive steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adjust to the changing climate.

Article: 3^rd September, 2024

Topic: Anti-dumping duty on aluminium foils imported from China

Relevance: GS Paper: 3 – Economy

Source: Indian Express

Context

• The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) has proposed the imposition of an anti-dumping duty on aluminum foil imports from China. This recommendation comes after India’s market share was nearly entirely taken over by shipments from China, even though the country has ample capacity for local production.
• For foil that is up to 80 microns thick, it suggested a duty of $619 to $873 per metric ton; aluminum foil that is thinner than 5.5 microns should not be used for applications other than capacitors.

Anti-Dumping Duty:

• About: A government-imposed protective tariff on imports from overseas that are thought to be priced below fair market value.
• When a business exports a good at a price much less than what it charges on the domestic market, this is known as dumping.
• Goal: By addressing the trade-distorting effects of dumping and promoting fair trade, we hope to protect home companies against unfair competition.
• Application: The duty amount is the same as the difference between the market value of comparable goods in the exporting country and the typical costs in the importing country.
• Anti-dumping duties are allowed by the World Trade Organization (WTO) in cases where there is proof of a material harm to the domestic market.

Countervailing Duty (CVD):

• About: An import tax levied to offset the detrimental effects of foreign subsidies that drive down the price of imported goods.
• Goal: To counteract the subsidized imports’ price advantage and shield homegrown producers from unfair competition.
• The implementation of subsidies by foreign governments to their producers results in lower prices for their products. To level the playing field, the duty equals the subsidy amount.

Comparison with Anti-Dumping Duty

• Foreign goods that are priced less than fair market value is subject to anti-dumping duties.
• CVD: Applied to imported goods that receive price-cutting subsidies.
• Calculation: While CVD is based on the value of the subsidy, anti-dumping duty is based on the margin of dumping.

Challenges to Countervailing Duties and Anti-Dumping:

• Greater Costs: Anti-dumping and countervailing duties have the potential to raise prices for domestic consumers, thereby diminishing their purchasing power and having an impact on overall consumption.
• Decreased Options: Elevated import taxes may restrict the array of products accessible to buyers, thereby influencing their selection and caliber of merchandise.
• Risks of Retaliation: Putting these duties in place might make exporting nations take retaliatory action, which could start a trade war or other disputes.
• WTO Disputes: Arguments concerning the application of these duties may give rise to disputes within the WTO, which may be punished with fines or other sanctions.
• Complex Procedures: Determining the extent of subsidies or dumping necessitates thorough investigations and can be a laborious and time-consuming administrative process.

Way Forward

• Make sure the duties that have been imposed are still necessary and effective in addressing trade distortions by conducting periodic reviews of them.
• To foster trust and minimize conflict, make sure that the investigation and imposition procedures are transparent.
• To avoid escalating trade tensions, negotiate diplomatically with trading partners to resolve disagreements.
• Follow WTO regulations and dispute procedures to handle trade issues in an equitable and efficient manner.
• In order to help industries improve their competitiveness and adapt to new trade conditions, implement domestic support programs.

Also Read Topics & Concepts:

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/india-trade-ministry-proposes-anti-dumping-duty-on-chinese-aluminium-foil-imports/articleshow/112940989.cms?from=mdr

Mains Model Questions

Q. What recent problems have there been with WTO dispute resolution? Have WTO policies acted against the interests of developing nations such as India?

Introduction:

The dispute resolution process of the World Trade Organization (WTO) is facing a crisis. The body is having trouble filling the Appellate Body, which hears trade appeals, with new members.

Body:

Causes of delays and other problems at the WTO

• Non-appointment of members: The body’s membership has decreased over the past two years, from the required seven to just three. The United States has been obstructing the appointments of new members and the reappointment of certain members who have served out their four-year terms because it feels that the WTO is biased against it.
• Potential loss of minimum strength for appeal decision-making: WTO disputes settlement rules stipulate that an appeal must be presided over by at least three people. The body will become irrelevant if new members are not appointed to replace the two retiring members. About 68% of the 201 panel reports that were adopted between 1995 and 2014 were appealed.
• Politicization of the Appellate Body: WTO members have voiced concerns regarding the political nature of the appointment and reappointment procedures for the Appellate Body.

WTO policies that are detrimental to developing nations like India

• Domination of developed nations: The WTO is giving in to pressure from developed nations and becoming more and more helpless. Previously, developing nations such as India were accorded leniency and received preferential treatment within the WTO which gave them more time and leeway to comply with the WTO rules, but now the US has begun to question this special treatment because countries like India.
• Intellectual property policies: The World Trade Organization (WTO) exerts pressure on developing nations to amend their IP laws; this has a significant effect on the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors.
• Attack multilateralism: The WTO has attacked the multilateral spirit of the organization by forming a plurilateral arrangement to discuss e-commerce policy in recent times. This is done in an effort to compel developing nations like India to give up policy autonomy in sunrise industries.

Conclusion:
WTO governance reforms are necessary because, in the absence of reforms, developing nations will not be able to use their influence to protect their interests. The WTO is a crucial institution for international trade.

Topic: Digital Agriculture Mission

Relevance: GS Paper: 3 – Agriculture

Source: PIB

Context

The Digital Agriculture Mission, which has an estimated cost of Rs. 2817 crore, including the central share of Rs. 1940 crore, was recently approved by the Union Cabinet Committee.

About the Digital Agriculture Mission

• By utilizing state-of-the-art developments in cloud computing, earth observation, remote sensing, data analytics, and artificial intelligence/machine learning models, it seeks to support agri-tech start-ups.
• The Digital Public Infrastructure, the Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES), and other IT initiatives by the Central Government, State Governments, and Academic and Research Institutions are just a few examples of the digital agriculture initiatives that it is intended to support.

Mission’s Background

• Fundamentally, DAM aims to introduce digital nutrients into India’s agricultural landscape, transforming it.
• The goal of the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for Agriculture is to give cultivators and tenant farmers access to verified demographic data, land holdings, and crop information.

The Digital Agriculture Mission’s Three Pillars

• Agristack: The electronic toolkit for farmers. It is a federated structure that was created in concert by numerous federal and state government agencies. Three core registries are located in Agristack:
• Farmers’ Registry: An online directory of farmers.
• Village maps that are georeferenced and have crop details superimposed for each village.
• Crop Seed Registry: An electronic log of what seeds where.
• Krishi Decision Support System: It helps farmers make decisions by giving them accurate and timely information. It seeks to build an all-encompassing geospatial system to integrate data from remote sensing on crops, soil, weather, water resources, etc.
• Precision agriculture is aided by soil profile mapping, which charts the characteristics of the soil, including moisture and nutrient content.
  
  

Importance of the Digital Agriculture Mission

• Effective Services: Farmers will have quicker access to programs and services, such as a timely monsoon shower.
• Data-Driven Insights: AI-powered crop forecasts and tailored recommendations can help with future policy support and improved interventions.
• Inclusive Growth and Employment: It is anticipated to give approximately 2.5 lakh trained local youth and Krishi Sakhis job opportunities in the agriculture sector, with the goal of acting as a catalyst for the creation of both direct and indirect employment.
• Resilience: DAM will act as a farmer’s digital scarecrow, warning them ahead of time when pests attack or a drought is imminent.

Conclusion
The agri-tech scene in India blossoms on DAM as the sun rises. It’s about taking care of the roots that support our country, not just about bytes and algorithms.
This ambitious goal, “Viksit Bharat@2047,” which envisions a developed India by 2047, is in line with the Digital Agriculture Mission.

Also Read Topics & Concepts:

https://businessworld.in/article/cabinet-approves-digital-agri-mission-with-rs-2817-cr-outlay-531676

Mains Model Questions

Q. How can the ‘Digital India’ Programme help farmers to improve farm productivity and income? What steps has the Government taken in this regard? (UPSC PYQ 2015)

Introduction:

In order to build digital infrastructure for empowering rural communities and advancing digital literacy, Digital India was established in 2015. Agriculture-related digital public infrastructure will be developed as an open source, open standard, and interoperable public utility. Given that 50% of Indians depend on agriculture as their primary source of income and that 70% of the country’s population lives in rural areas (according to the 2011 census), Digital India has a lot to offer the agriculture industry.

Body:

The Digital India initiative and agricultural output:

• Information Accessibility: Farmers will have real-time access to information on market prices, weather forecasts, reports on soil analysis, and more through the Digital India program. They will be better able to make decisions and increase their yields as a result.
• E-Commerce Platforms: By eliminating middlemen and increasing their revenue, farmers will be able to sell their produce to customers directly through e-commerce platforms.
  recommendations that are specifically tailored to farmers based on crop sown, weather observed in real time, and anticipated market prices: Digital technology holds the key to increasing agricultural productivity.
• E-Agriculture Services: Through the Digital India initiative, farmers will have online access to services like crop insurance, seed selection, and soil testing.
• Direct cash transfer: With the help of Digital India, the government will be able to replace agricultural subsidies with a system of direct cash transfers to needy and impoverished farmers. This would lessen the amount of debt owed by farmers and contribute to higher agricultural productivity.

Actions taken by the government

• The National Agriculture Market, also known as e-NAM, is an online marketplace where agricultural commodities are traded in India. The market makes it easier for buyers, sellers, and farmers to trade commodities online.
• BharatNet: Formerly known as Bharat Broadband Network Limited, BharatNet seeks to enhance communication in India and realize the Digital India campaign objective by offering connectivity to all 250,000 gram panchayats nationwide.
• National initiative on technology and agricultural extension: The Mission’s objective is to enhance agricultural extension in order to facilitate delivery of appropriate technology and improved agronomic practices to farmers.
• The AgriMarket app is a mobile application designed to inform farmers about crop prices and dissuade them from conducting distressed sales.

Conclusion:

Digital applications hold great potential to enhance the livelihoods of farmers. Overall, by giving farmers access to services and information that can raise the quality of their produce and lower the risks involved in farming, the “Digital India” program will assist farmers in increasing their income and productivity on the land. By providing access to fair markets, it would enable farmers to boost their profitability and enable young people living in rural areas to reach their full potential.