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Daily News Simplified - DNS

07 04 20 Notes

SL. NO. TOPICS

THE HINDUPAGE NO.

1 MPLADS suspended; PM, MPs to take 30% salary cut 01

2 Farmers are at their wits’ end 07

3 Preparing for SAARC 2.0 07

4 Democracy should not permit a trade-off 06

5 Pench Tiger Death Raises Covid-19 Fears 01

6 Cash less Indians, the new normal, and survival 06

Dated: 07-April-2020 DNS Notes

Title 1. MPLADS suspended; PM, MPs to take 30% salary cut (The Hindu – Pg. 01)

Syllabus Prelims: Polity & Governance

Theme About Suspension of MPLADS and Salary Cut for MPs

Highlights Context: The Union Cabinet has approved to cut 30% salary of all members of Parliament by making an amendment to The Salaries, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament Act, 1954 through an ordinance. The amount deducted from salaries of MPs will go to the Consolidated Fund of India.

Even President of India, Vice-President and all Governors of States has agreed for 30% salary cut. Union Cabinet has also approved a two-year suspension of the MP Local Area Development

(MPLAD) scheme so that the amount saved can go to the Consolidated Fund of India to fight COVID-19.

These funds will be used to strengthen Government’s efforts in managing the challenges and adverse impact of COVID19 in the country.

MP Local Area Development (MPLAD) Scheme The Members of Parliament Local Area Development Division is entrusted with the responsibility

of implementation of Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS). MPLADS allot Rs. 5 crore per year to each Member of Parliament (MP) to be spent on projects of

their choice in their constituency. Under the scheme, each MP can suggest to the District Collector for work to be done under the scheme.

Sanction of the eligible works and implementation of the sanctioned works in the field are undertaken by the District Authorities in accordance with State Government’s financial, technical and administrative rules.

The scheme is funded and administered through the Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). Projects are to be recommended to and implemented by the district-level administration.


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Title 2. Farmers are at their wits’ end (The Hindu Pg. No. 07)Syllabus Mains: GS Paper III - Indian Economy Theme Impact of COVID-19 on Food Security and farmersHighlights Context:

The outbreak of COVID-19 has raised global concerns related to food security and adverse impact on farmers. In this regard, this article seeks to answer three interrelated questions:

1. Does the world have enough food to feed its people?2. Is food available at affordable prices?3. How the COVID-19 outbreak affects farmers?

Does the world have enough food to feed its people?

According to the FAO, the total stock of cereals in the world was at comfortable level of about 861 million tonnes. However, the stock of cereals are pre-dominantly held by only some of the major countries. For example, about 52% of the global wheat stocks is held by China and about 20% of the global rice stocks is held by India. If these countries decide to stop exporting, then other import dependant countries would be adversely affected. Already some of the countries such as Kazakhstan (Major wheat exporter), Vietnam (Rice Exporter) have put restrictions on their exports.

Most of the countries have food stocks that can last for only one month and hence these countries can face food shortages if the lockdown continues further.

Is food available at affordable prices?Global Level: According to the FAO, the world food price index fell by 4.3% and world cereal price index fell by 1.9% between February and March 2020. This is on account of weakening demand for food and the sharp fall in maize prices owing to poor demand for biofuels. However, retail prices of rice and wheat have been rising in the Western economies due to panic buying by households and supply chain disruptions. Within India: Unlike Western Economies, food prices in India have not risen in spite of decline in their supply. This could be attributed to decline in demand, particularly among poor and vulnerable sections. Hence, it is the hunger that has led to lower level of food inflation. How the COVID-19 outbreak affects farmers?Disruption to harvesting and Marketing: The harvesting and marketing of crops have got affected due to number of reasons such as

Disruptions in the procurement of food grains Disruptions in the collection of harvests from the farms by traders; Shortage of workers to harvest the rabi crops; Shortage of truck drivers; Blockades in the transport of commodities; Limited operations of APMC mandis; Shutdowns in the retail markets.

Decline in Food Prices: The disruption to harvesting and marketing has created supply side bottlenecks leading to fall in food prices and an adverse impact on the farmers.Absence of agricultural labourers: The absence of agricultural labourers has forced the farmers to leave the crops in the fields. Further, most of the rice mills which are facing labour shortage have stopped paddy from the farmers leading to an adverse impact on farmers. Supply Chain Disruption: The food supply chain remains disrupted due to blockades in the transport of commodities. For example, about5 lakh trucks are reportedly stranded in the highways and State borders. Similarly, trucks are in shortage as drivers are not available.

Personal Notes


Title 3. Preparing for SAARC 2.0 (Page number 07) Syllabus Mains: GS Paper II– International Relations Theme Possibility of revival of SAARC Highlights Context:

SAARC has been dormant for several years due to regional tensions (mainly India-Pakistan), it is worth stressing that the fight against COVID-19 has broght few positive developments as well.

And one of them is activity of SAARC after many years.

What shows that SAARC is beginning to become active? An informal call from PM Modi

o A tweet by Prime Minister Narendra Modi resulted in the first-ever virtual summit of SAARC leaders on March 15.

Participation by all the members o All the eight member-states were represented at the video conference — all at the

level of head of state or government, except Pakistan. India’s initiative got positive response (both in terms idea and finances)

o Second, India’s proposal to launch a COVID-19 Emergency Fund was given positive reception.

o Within days, all the countries, except Pakistan, contributed to it voluntarily, bringing the total contributions to $18.8 million.

Quick operationalization of Fund o The fund has already been operationalised.

India in leadership position o In the domain of implementation, India is in the lead, with its initial contribution of $10

million. o It has received requests for medical equipment, medicines and other supplies from

Bhutan, Nepal, Afghanistan, Maldives, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. o Many requests have already been accepted and action has been taken, whereas others

are under implementation.

But few observers have claimed that SAARC 2.0 is around the corner, is it true? According to author it wil be premature to conclude that SAARC is now returning to an active

phase. Reason?

o India is actively promoting BIMSTEC SAARC has been lying dormant since last 5 years but BIMSTEC has seen a lot

activity. o India and Pakistan hostility is at its peak post Pulwama attack

And no signs are emerging that Indian and Pakistan are likely to coordinate in near future.

Finally author claims that India’s imaginative diplomacy has leveraged the crisis to create a new mechanism for workable cooperation. It will become stronger if the crisis deepens and if member-states see advantages in working together. Seven of the eight members already do.


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Title 4. Democracy should not permit a trade-off (The Hindu Pg. No. 6)Syllabus Prelims: Polity & GovernanceTheme Rise of Authoritarianism during COVID-19


Highlights Context: The article argues that amid the crisis caused due to national lockdown, the government has become authoritarian and is using violent means to enforce the lockdown. The decision to close down an entire country without simultaneously recognising the specificities of Indian society has resulted in brutality and violence. Amassing Power by Government

In emergencies, government clothes themselves in extra ordinary powers to meet the extra ordinary situations at the expense of Judiciary, Media and Civil Society. The author has asked that once the impact of disease is over, will the central government stop using draconian measures to curtail Liberty.

As per the author, there is a remote chance of Centre abdicating authoritarian power even in normal times as the laws which have been implemented were drafted in Colonial time to suppress the voice of Indians.

The author cautions that there is need to ensure that excessive powers are not integrated into legal and political systems even after the pandemic is over.

Example of Amassing Power by Different Countries In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is facing court cases for corruption and

breach of trust, has closed the judiciary and postponed his own trial. The government has been given immense powers of surveillance. And a newly constituted

Parliament, or Knesset, is not allowed to meet. In Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, notorious for his anti-migrant tirades, has

personalised immense power. He now rules by decree. Existing laws and parliamentary oversight have been suspended.

In the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte has appropriated broad emergency powers in order to take effective decisions to tackle the virus. Again, he is not known for his commitment to civil liberties or to the Constitution.

In Chile, the declaration of a ‘state of catastrophe’ has repressed anti-government dissent that has been raging on the streets since last year.

United Nations Human Rights Officials of UN have asked leaders of the world not to amass power during lockdown to avoid

an ‘overreach’ of security measures when they respond to the coronavirus outbreak. Emergency powers of states should not be used to quash dissent and the measures imposed

must be proportionate, necessary and non-discriminatory. Governments should deploy the least intrusive method to protect public health. Government must remain steadfast in maintaining a human rights-based approach to regulate

this pandemic, in order to facilitate the emergence of healthy societies with rule of law and human rights protections.

Impact of Countries getting Authoritarian Modern states share a common determination of ruthless ambition to control the minds and

bodies of citizens. COVID-19 Epidemic has provided an opportunity to do away with inconvenient checks and

balances institutionalised in the media, the judiciary, and civil society. The dismantling of constitutions and institutions will have a major impact on freedom and

liberty exercised in any society based on rule of law. Way Forward – Thus, controlling the situation of pandemic need not be done on the altars of democracy, human rights and rule of law. Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has advised governments to protect all citizens medically and economically without discrimination specially the vulnerable and neglected people in the society.


Personal Notes

Title 5. Pench Tiger Death Raises Covid-19 Fears (Page number 01)


Syllabus Prelims: Environment and BiodiversityTheme About Pench Tiger Reserve Highlights Context:

A tiger has passed away due to “respiratory illness” in Pench Tiger Reserve (MP). This news in conjunction with a news arriving from New York where a tiger was declared Covid-

19 +ve. Hence doubts are being raised if the Tiger death in Pench is also due to COvid-19.

Now NTCA is mulling whether the tiger should be tested for the novel coronavirus disease. But the Tiger reserve has decided to test all the forest officials in close contact with the tiger.

Let us see how has UPSC approached Tiger reserves in prelims examination?

Consider the following protected areas: (2012)1. Bandipur2. Bhitarkanjka3. Manas4. SunderbansWhich of the above are declared Tiger Reserves?(a) 1 and 2 only(b) 1, 3 and 4 only(c) 2, 3 and 4 only(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

From the ecological point of view, which one of the following assumes importance in being a good link between the Eastern Ghats and the Western Ghats ? (2017)(a) Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve(b) Nallamala Forest(c) Nagarhole National Park(d) Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve

Title 6. Cash less Indians, the new normal, and survival (The Hindu Pg. No. 6)


Syllabus Mains: GS Paper III – Indian Economy Theme Need to remonetize Economy after COVID-19 Highlights Abstract

The lockdown and consequent economic impact highlights the prevalence of cash inequality in India with more than 45% of the population rendered cashless, according to the findings of the author. As a result the author prescribes remonitising the economy after the lockdown in order to augment incomes and spur demand.

Context: Impact of the lockdown on cash economyThe author highlights the prevalence of cash inequality in India through following findings

1. Cash inequality: The Gini Coefficient for cash that measures inequality is as high as 0.71 in India . About 62% of all currency in circulation is held by top 1% in India

2. Cashless: The lockdown will drive the bottom 47 percentile of India’s population cashless3. Further about 87% will have only half the cash they had before the lockdown began.4. Regional disparity: The findings also reveal that the inter-district and intra-district cash

inequality is also very high in India. I. Inter-district inequality: The top 10% districts which comprises of Tier 1 and Tier II

cities held 764 times more currency than the bottom 10% districts. II. Intra-district inequality: The Gini Coefficient in about 60% of all districts was greater

than or equal to 0.7 What is the impact of cash inequality?

1. Lack of cash curbs the freedom of the poor to choose the goods and services they want to buy2. Diminishing wages: Lack of cash means the poor migrant labour (particularly informal economy)

will re-migrate to cities to fill their cash coffers. However with no cash they will lose their agency to demand fair wages and decent working conditions.

Is the economic stimulus enough?In the aftermath of the lockdown the government released a stimulus package of Rs. 1.7-lakh crore including

1. increased entitlements of ration 2. supply of free gas cylinders 3. Increase of wages under MGNREGA4. Cash transfer of Rs.500/month to Jan Dhan accounts

While the first two steps will ensure food security, the cash transfers and wage increase does not compensate enough for forced loss of jobs.

What should be done? The author prescribes remonitisation of economy by way for direct cash transfers to bottom 87

percentile of the population This will compensate for the lost wages and thereby spur demand after the lockdown


Personal Notes

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tinglado-mediafiles.s3.amazonaws.com€¦ · Web view2020/04/07 · Mains: GS Paper III - Indian Economy Theme Impact of COVID-19 on Food Security and farmers Highlights Context: