TOP 5 TAKKAR NEWS OF THE DAY (19th JULY 2023)

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1. RAJASTHAN MINIMUM GUARANTEED INCOME BILL, 2023

TAG: GS 2: SOCIAL JUSTICE

THE CONTEXT: Aiming to support individuals and households of the state with an “additional income”, the Rajasthan govt tables Rajasthan Minimum Guaranteed Income Bill, 2023 to guarantee minimum income.

EXPLANATION:

Provisions of the Bill introduced:

• The Bill largely covers three broad areas: Right to Minimum Guaranteed Income, Right to Guaranteed Employment and Right to Guaranteed Social Security Pension.
• Right to Minimum Guaranteed Income
• It is under the Mahatma Gandhi Minimum Guaranteed Income Yojana or MGMGIY.
• Under this, state government shall provide to eligible persons a minimum guaranteed income through:

1. Employment in urban areas through the Indira Gandhi Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme (IGUEGS)
2. Employment in rural areas through Chief Minister Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (CMREGS)
3. Pension to an eligible category of old age/specially abled/widow/single woman.

• Right to Guaranteed Employment
• Under this, every adult person residing in the rural areas shall have a right to get guaranteed employment for doing permissible work of at least additional 25 days in a financial year on completion of maximum days of work as prescribed by the MGNREGA.
• To receive minimum wages weekly or, in any case, not later than a fortnight.
• For urban areas, every adult person of the state shall have a right to get guaranteed employment for doing permissible work of at least 125 days in a financial year and to receive minimum wages weekly or, in any case, not later than a fortnight.
• The Right to Guaranteed Social Security Pension
• It entitles every person falling in the category of old age/especially abled/widow/single woman, with prescribed eligibility, to a pension.
• An important component of the pension would be an automatic increase of 15 per cent annually on the base rate in two instalments, i.e., 5 per cent in July and 10 per cent in January of each financial year, starting from financial year 2024-2025.

Universal Basic Income:

• In India, UBI was first tried out in rural Madhya Pradesh in 2011-12 with heartening results.
• It was also put forward in the 2017 Economic Survey and in a recent report by the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council as a potent social policy tool for India.
• Related Pros and Cons:

• UBI in other countries:

Government Initiatives in social security:

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005:

• It is a social welfare measure that aims to guarantee the ‘right to work’.
• It aims to enhance livelihood security in rural areas by providing at least 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to at least one member of every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.
• Women are guaranteed one-third of the jobs made available under the MGNREGA.
• Another aim of MGNREGA is to create durable assets (such as roads, canals, and wells).
• Employment is to be provided within 5 km of an applicant’s residence, and minimum wages are to be paid. If work is not provided within 15 days of applying, applicants are entitled to an unemployment allowance.
• If the government fails to provide employment, it must provide certain unemployment allowances to those people. Thus, employment under MGNREGA is a legal entitlement.

Right to Education Act (RTE), 2009:

• Enacted in 2009, It describes the modalities of the importance of free and compulsory education for children.
• The Act makes education a fundamental right of every child between the ages of 6 and 14 and specifies minimum norms in elementary schools.
• It requires all private schools to reserve 25% of seats for children (to be reimbursed by the state as part of the public-private partnership plan).
• There is also a provision for special training of school drop-outs to bring them up to par with students of the same age.

National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013:

• It marks a paradigm shiftin the approach to food security from a welfare to a rights-based approach.
• The Act legally entitles up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population to receive subsidized foodgrains under the Targeted Public Distribution System.
• About two-thirds of the population therefore is covered under the Act to receive highly subsidized foodgrains.
• As a step towards women’s empowerment, the eldest woman of the household of age 18 years or above is mandated to be the head of the household for the purpose of issuing ration cards under the Act.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/rajasthan-govt-tables-bill-to-guarantee-minimum-income-8847272/

2. THE COMMISSION ON GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE (CGRFA)

TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS; GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: Delegates from across the world have gathered at the 19th session of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) in Rome, Italy to deliberate on biodiversity, nutrition & human health. During the 5-day session, members will also discuss the commission’s future work.

EXPLANATION:

Highlights of the meeting:

• The meeting is taking place at the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) headquarters in Rome.
• Delegates and observers will deliberate on three matters:
• A review of work on biodiversity, nutrition and human health
• Access and benefit-sharing for food and agriculture
• Digital sequence information for food and agriculture.
• Delegates will discuss biodiversity for food and agriculture, the role of genetic resources for food and agriculture in mitigation of and adaptation to climate change, forest genetic resources, and animal genetic resources.
• Other than working on the diversity of domesticated crops, livestock and farmed fish and aquatic invertebrates, forest trees and aquatic species, the commission also covers the diversity of all the non-domesticated species that enable production to occur.
• These include pollinators, soil-dwelling organisms, the natural enemies of pests and the microorganisms that enable ruminant animals to digest their food.

Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA):

• It is the only permanent forum for governments to discuss and negotiate matters specifically relevant to biological diversity for food and agriculture.
• The commission was established in 1983, and on July 16, it completed 40 years of existence.
• Its headquarters is located in Rome, Italy.
• Its membership comprises 179 countries and the European Union.
• Its functions:

– It has a coordinating role and deals with policy, sectorial and cross-sectorial matters related to the conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources of relevance to food and agriculture.

– It monitors the state of the world’s genetic resources for food and agriculture.

– It strives to reach international consensus on policies and action programmes to ensure the conservation and sustainable utilization of genetic resources for food and agriculture, as well as the fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from their use.

– It contributes to the strengthening of national and regional policies on biodiversity for food and agriculture and promotes cooperation in capacity-building.

– It continues and strengthens cooperation and partnerships on biodiversity for food and agriculture.

Access and benefit-sharing:

It ensures that appropriate genetic resources with relevant traits are available and accessible is crucial for food security.

Globally, the issue of access and benefit-sharing (ABS) is addressed, in varying degrees of detail, by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the FAO International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (Treaty) and the Nagoya Protocol, a supplementary agreement to the CBD.

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD):

• Itis the international legal instrument for “the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources” that has been ratified by 196 nations.
• The CBD’s governing body is the Conference of the Parties (COP). This ultimate authority of all governments (or Parties) that have ratified the treaty meets every two years to review progress, set priorities and commit to work plans.

International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (Treaty):

• The objectives of the treaty are the conservation and sustainable use of all plant genetic resources for food and agriculture and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of their use.
• It is in harmony with the Convention on Biological Diversity for sustainable agriculture and food security.
• It also calls for protecting the traditional knowledge of these farmers, increasing their participation in national decision-making processes and ensuring that they share in the benefits from the use of these resources.

The Nagoya Protocol

• The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (ABS) to the Convention on Biological Diversity is a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
• It provides a transparent legal framework for the effective implementation of one of the three objectives of the CBD: the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.

Source: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/genetic-resources-commission-gathers-in-rome-to-deliberate-on-biodiversity-nutrition-human-health-90700

3. GLOBAL BIOFUEL ALLIANCE

TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS; GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: The upcoming 14th Clean Energy Ministerial and Eighth Mission Innovation (CEM14/MI-8) conference, scheduled to take place in Goa from July 19-22, 2023, is likely to establish the Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA).

EXPLANATION:

• Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) serves as a prominent international platform, bringing together influential figures to promote clean energy technology and knowledge exchange and facilitate the global transition towards a clean energy economy.
• Under the leadership of India during its G20 Presidency and with the support of Brazil and the United States, the alliance will focus on fostering international collaboration and cooperation to encourage the widespread acceptance and utilisation of biofuels.

Global Biofuel Alliance:

• It can power India’s energy transition drive but must have time-bound targets.
• The focus of the group will be on strengthening markets, facilitating global biofuel trade, sharing concrete policy lessons and providing technical support for national biofuel programmes.
• It will collaborate and complement existing regional and international agencies and energy transition initiatives, including the Clean Energy Ministerial Biofuture Platform, the Mission Innovation Bioenergy initiatives and the Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP).
• This alliance aims to promote cooperation and accelerate the adoption of sustainable biofuels.

India’s Green Fuel Push:

• In the fiscal year 2020-21, India achieved a significant milestone by producing 4.08 billion litres of ethanol, resulting in a blending rate of 10.02 per cent.
• This accomplishment led to a reduction of 2.7 million tonnes of CO2 emissions and saved approximately Rs 41,500 crore in foreign exchange.
• The current target for 2022-23 is to achieve a blending rate of 12 per cent. However, to reach the goal of 20 per cent blending by 2025, the production capacity for ethanol needs to be expanded to 17 billion litres.

• The Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) programme has played a crucial role in establishing 46 CBG plants and the sale of around 16,164 tonnes of CBG as of March 2023.
• India successfully conducted its first commercial passenger flight using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blend produced domestically to address decarbonisation in the aviation sector. The flight, which took place from Pune to Delhi on May 19, 2023, marked a significant milestone.
• The Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has established the Bio-Aviation Turbine Fuel Programme Committee to further advance the programme in the country.
• The establishment of the GBA could assist India in achieving greater energy independence and reduce its reliance on foreign oil by promoting the increased utilisation of biofuels.
• In the context of India, immediate objectives could involve strengthening the biomass supply chains, transferring technology for the efficient production of second-generation ethanol from agricultural residue and promoting sustainable financial support for bioenergy initiatives.

National biofuel programmes.

• National Biofuel Policy 2018: The policy is aimed at taking forward the indicative target of achieving 20% blending of biofuels with fossil-based fuels by 2025-26. The Policy categorises biofuels as ‘Basic Biofuels’ viz. First Generation (1G) bioethanol & biodiesel and ‘Advanced Biofuels’ Second Generation (2G) ethanol, Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) to drop-in fuels, Third Generation (3G) biofuels, bio-CNG etc. to enable extension of appropriate financial and fiscal incentives under each category.
• GOBAR (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resource)-DHAN Yojana: The scheme aims to positively impact village cleanliness and generate wealth and energy from cattle and organic waste. It also aims at creating new rural livelihood opportunities and enhancing income for farmers and other rural people. It was launched under Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen).
• SATAT (Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation) Scheme: The scheme aims to extract economic value from bio-mass waste through Compressed Biogas (CBG) and bio-manure. It aims to cut down on import dependence and reduce vehicular emissions and pollution from the burning of organic waste.

Clean Energy Ministerial Biofuture Platform

• It was launched to lead global actions to accelerate development, scale-up, and deployment of sustainable bio-based alternatives to fossil-based fuels, chemicals, and materials.
• It is chaired by the U.S. Department of Energy and coordinated by the IEA, provides a forum for policy dialogue and collaboration among leading countries, organizations, academia, and the private sector.
• Partners include key organizations such as the IEA Bioenergy Technology Collaboration Programme (TCP), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP).

Strategic goals of the Biofuture Platform Initiative:

• Foster consensus on biomass sustainability, availability and governance.
• Promote policy best practices and convergence
• Enable supportive financing mechanisms.
• Promote cooperation on policy, regulation and technology.

Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP)

• GBEP was founded in 2006 to implement the Gleneagles Plan of Action of the G8 +5 (Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa) to promote the continued development and commercialisation of renewable energy.
• It is a forum where voluntary cooperation works towards consensus amongst governments, intergovernmental organizations and other partners to advance bioenergy for sustainable development, climate change mitigation and food and energy security.
• It also provides a platform for raising awareness, sharing information and examples of good practice on bioenergy.

The main objectives of the Global Bioenergy Partnership are to:

• Promote global high-level policy dialogue on bioenergy and facilitate international cooperation
• Support national and regional bioenergy policy-making and market development
• Favour the transformation of biomass use towards more efficient and sustainable practices
• Foster exchange of information, skills and technologies through bilateral and multilateral collaboration.

Source:https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/energy/global-biofuel-alliance-can-power-india-s-energy-transition-drive-but-must-have-time-bound-targets-90694

4. GM CROPS

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: There is a determined battle by environmentalists in the Supreme Court of India against Delhi University’s genetically modified (GM) herbicide-tolerant (HT) mustard which is causing an issue between GM food and Indian farmers and consumers.

EXPLANATION:

Issues regarding GM crops in India:

• India has seen a robust debate on GM crops in the last two decades. Environmentalists, scientists, politicians, farmers, consumers and the higher judiciary have asked probing questions about the safety, efficacy and even the very necessity of GM food.
• Many have been alarmed by the experience with Bt cotton, the first and only GM crop approved in the country. Long-term research suggests that Bt cotton has provided only fleeting benefits to farmers while enormously increasing their costs of cultivation and risk. On the other hand, some seed companies have profited handsomely from the expensive GM seeds.
• In the wake of the fierce debate, two Standing Committees of the Parliament independently and comprehensively examined GM crops and food. The Supreme Court also appointed a Technical Expert Committee (TEC) in the public interest litigations filed separately by the non-government organisation Gene Campaign.

Findings of Standing Committees of the Parliament:

• The Committee recommended that the central government, in consultation with states should ensure that the process of field trials is done in a closed environment and in consultation with agricultural universities. This will ensure bio and health safety and minimise the scope of fudging primary data.
• It stated that the Ministry should review the functioning and organisational setup of GEAC and take necessary corrective measures. This will ensure that the process of assessment and approval is transparent.

Findings of Supreme Court appointed Technical Expert Committee (TEC):

• It has recommended an indefinite moratorium on open field trials of genetically-modified (GM) crops till the deficiencies in the regulatory and safety systems are effectively addressed.
• A deeper understanding of the process of risk assessment is needed within the regulatory system for it to meet the needs of a proper bio-safety evaluation.
• The committee has suggested setting up a secretariat comprising dedicated scientists with area and bio-safety expertise.

GM Crops:

• GM crops are quite different from conventional varieties and hybrids, such as those developed by farmers, agricultural research institutions and companies.
• Biotechnologists insert select genes at a random location in the DNA of a plant to develop a GM crop. The insertion makes a GM crop express traits that it ordinarily would not.

• For instance, GM mustard has been altered to withstand the broad-spectrum plant-killer or herbicide glufosinate. This makes it easier to develop hybrid mustard seeds for higher yields. And farmers growing GM mustard can spray the herbicide to kill all plants except the mustard.

Regulations of GM Crops in India:

• In India, the regulation of all activities related to GMOs and products thereof are regulated as per “Rules for the Manufacture/Use/Import/Export and Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms, Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells, 1989” under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
• It covers the entire spectrum of activities involving GMOs and products thereof, including sale, storage, exportation, importation, production, manufacturing, packaging, etc.
• These rules are implemented by the MoEFCC, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India and State Governments.

Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC):

• It functions in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
• As per Rules, 1989, it is responsible for appraisal of activities involving large-scale use of hazardous microorganisms and recombinants in research and industrial production from the environmental angle.
• It is also responsible for the appraisal of proposals relating to the release of genetically engineered (GE) organisms and products into the environment, including experimental field trials.
• It is chaired by the Special Secretary/Additional Secretary of MoEF&CC and co-chaired by a representative from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).
• Presently, it has 24 members and meets every month to review the applications in the areas indicated above.

Regulations in other countries:

Benefits of GM Crops:

• Improve yields
• Reduced costs for food or drug production
• Reduced need for pesticides
• Enhanced nutrient composition and food quality
• Resistance to pests and disease
• Greater food security
• Medical benefits to the world’s growing population.

Risks Associated with GM Crops:

• Serious harm to the environment
• Long-term health risks
• Loss of nutrition
• Antibiotic resistance

Source:https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-push-for-gm-mustard-disregarding-science-the-law/article67095116.ece#:~:text=In%20recent%20hearings%20in%20the,it%20was%20to%20improve%20yields

5. WTO DISPUTE SETTLEMENT MECHANISM

TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS; GS 3: ECONOMY

THE CONTEXT: One of the significant outcomes of the Indian Prime Minister’s official state visit to the U.S. was the decision of the two countries to end six long-standing trade disputes at the World Trade Organization (WTO).

EXPLANATION:

Issues:

• The WTO Appellate Body has been redundant since 2019, which led to the exaggeration of disputes between India and the US.
• Three cases settled as part of the deal are before the defunct Appellate Body, while the rest could have potentially been ‘appealed into the void’.

The disputes

• A challenge of the domestic content requirements under India’s National Solar Mission.
• While disagreements persisted regarding India’s compliance with the WTO treaty obligations, with the U.S. seeking authorisation from the WTO’s Dispute Settlement Body for trade retaliation, which India contested.
• India, too, challenged certain sub-federal programmes implemented in the U.S. in the renewable energy sector and won the case.
• The challenges also involved some of its foreign trade policy schemes, including the special economic zone (SEZ) and export-oriented unit schemes.
• Another dispute between the two nations was over India’s export subsidy programmes, such as Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS), Export Oriented Units Scheme, and sector-specific schemes, including Electronics Hardware Technology Park Scheme, Special Economic Zones, and Export Promotion Capital Goods Scheme.
• A challenge by India against the controversial Section 232 tariffs imposed under the U.S. Trade Expansion Act, 1962. The U.S. had imposed an additional duty of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminium, triggering a series of WTO challenges and unilateral trade responses.
• India considered these as safeguard measures and imposed retaliatory measures. The U.S. considered India’s retaliatory duties excessive, while India believed that it could retain these duties as long as the Section 232 tariffs remained.
• India will now revert to the currently applied ‘most favoured nation’ (MFN) rate for eight products. India is only removing the retaliatory duties on these eight products and not offering any preferential concessions on them. The MFN-applied rates would continue to apply to these products.
• Against that backdrop, settling disputes in all six cases shows a pragmatic approach on the part of two strong trading partners. They have accepted each other’s domestic challenges in dispute compliance and realised the importance of burying differences.

WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism:

• The World Trade Organization (WTO) is responsible for maintaining the free flow of trade between its member countries.
• WTO, in the form of Dispute Settlement Undertaking (DSU), provides an instrument for the settling of trade disputes between the parties.
• The dispute generally arises when any member country violates any provision of the WTO agreement which other member countries think unreasonable.
• This dispute settlement process is the outcome of the Uruguay round (1996-1994). This mechanism provides a speedy resolution of a trade dispute.
• This settlement system applies to all disputes covered under the WTO agreement.

Dispute Settlement Body (DSB)

• It is a body established for resolving the disputes between the conflicting parties by overseeing the entire dispute settlement mechanism.
• The General Council of WTO, which carry out the functions of the Ministerial Conference, renders its obligations under the Dispute Settlement Understanding through Dispute Settlement Body.
• The Dispute Settlement Body consists of a Chairman and representatives of all WTO members (usually government representatives).
• The Chairman is usually a leader of the permanent mission of one of the member countries of WTO. The Chairman is elected with the consent of all WTO members.
• The Dispute Settlement Body shall be responsible for the establishment of the Appellate Body.

Appellate body:

• Where the parties are not satisfied with the decision of the panel report, then either of the parties may appeal to the Appellate Body.
• The Appellate body consists of seven persons. But only three of them shall serve in one case.
• These three people shall be selected based on rotation.
• The appointed person shall be in service for four years and can be re-appointed once. Therefore, a member can serve for a maximum of eight years.
• The persons comprising the Appellate body shall be persons of a recognized authority having expertise in the field of law, international trade and subject matter of the agreement in dispute.
• The person shall not be part of any governmental service. They shall be made available till the end of the dispute.

Problems with WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism:

• Reduced Manpower: The AB generally consists of seven members, but as of mid-2017, it was reduced to three members, which is the minimum number of members required for its functioning. The US has blocked the appointment of new members to the Appellate Body, and thus it has not been able to conduct its work.
• Time-taking process: While over half of all disputes are settled during the consultation period, the time taken for dispute resolution has grown from the original six months to an average of fifteen months.
• Biasness: It is believed that the WTO dispute settlement body is functioning transparent and favouring developed countries which gets more stakes in the dispute resolution process.

Way Forward:

• There is a need to find mutually agreed solutions to long-standing disputes. A greater use of diplomacy and bilateral negotiations can be more practically useful when adjudicatory outcomes are not immediately available or politically infeasible.
• There is a need for reforms by bringing transparency in existing WTO dispute to make the process inclusive and addresses the developmental concerns of developing and least developing countries.

Source:https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/dispute-settlements-that-have-no-parallel/article67089892.ece