EducatorIAS

India has already unleashed bold and transformational reforms which will bolster our efforts in becoming a global champion and the manufacturing hub of the world. The production linked incentive schemes, reforms in labour laws, GST, corporate tax rationalization and an overall ease in doing business will give a fillip to India’s growth. India must seize the opportunity in sunrise areas of growth - this would require size, scale, speed of action and a focus on technological disruption. India’s ability to lead and globally drive these sunrise sectors of growth holds the key to our sustained growth, advancement and job creation.   Mobility : ·         Mobility is causing the biggest disruption of today. USA already has over 900 cars per 1000 persons while Europe has over 800. In contrast, India has only around 20 cars per thousand people. ·           This presents a unique opportunity--our low share of ...

Horticulture refers to the art and science of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers and other plants for human food, non-food uses and social needs. India is the domicile for numerous horticultural crops of commercial significance. 30% of the India’s GDP accounts from horticulture and provides about 37.1% of the total exports of agricultural commodities.    Indian horticulture which is imperative to cater to the country’s estimated demand of 650 Million MT of fruits and vegetables by the year 2050.  Facts  Total Horticulture production in 2020-21 is estimated to be  326.58 Million Tonne,  an increase of about 5.81 Million Tonne (increase of  1.81% ) over 2019-20. Increase in production of Fruits, Vegetables, Aromatics & Medicinal Plants and Plantation Crops, while decrease in Spices and Flowers over previous year, is envisaged. The Fruits production is estimated to be  103.23 Million Tonne  compared to 102.03 Million Tonne in 2019-20. The p...

  About National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm The Government of India through the National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm has the objective to augment the availability of edible oils and reduce the import of edible oils by increasing the production and productivity of oilseeds and oil palm. To this end a multi-pronged strategy is being adopted which includes the following: Increasing the seed replacement ratio with focus on varietal replacement Increasing irrigation coverage Nutrient management Intercropping with cereals/pulses/sugarcane Productivity improvement and adoption of proven and climate-resilient technologies Area expansion through diversification of low yielding food grains. Targeting rice fallow areas and high potential districts Promotion in non-traditional states Encouraging mechanization Research projects Training of farmers and extension officials Supporting cluster demonstrations for the adoption of good agricultural practices Creation of 36 oilseed hubs with...

W ith record number of new COVID-19 patients, the country is facing shortage of medical facilities like hospital, medical oxygen and medical staff. It is indeed a war-like situation except this time enemy is not China or Pakistan but rather an invisible virus. And experts believe that there is only a minuscule percentage of their (military) capability has been put to use. O nly the military health resources (Army medical corps ) have been fully engaged and, there are other capacities available with military and those are not being fully utilised. Less than one-tenth capacity of the armed forces is being engaged. For example, during 2014 flood in Jammu and Kashmir, Indian Army not only provided relief and rescue to the general public. Status of armed forces India’s armed forces have 1.5 million trained personnel deployed all over the country and, by now, they all are COVID vaccinated. Some feel that the reluctance on part giving larger role to military could be a reflection on governmen...

  T he EU-India connectivity partnership The recently announced European Union (EU)-India connectivity   partnership  is substantial in its scope and ambition. This partnership assumes great significance as the global market for connectivity and infrastructure development becomes hotly contested following the COVID-19 pandemic.   The India-EU Strategic Partnership based on a shared commitment to democracy, fundamental freedoms, rule of law and multilateralism. They exchanged views on three key thematic areas:  i) foreign policy and security: The growing convergences on regional and global issues, including counterterrorism, cybersecurity and maritime cooperation. The leaders acknowledged the importance of a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific and agreed to closely engage in the region, including in the context of India’s Indo-Pacific Ocean’s Initiative and the EU’s new strategy on the Indo-Pacific.   ii) COVID-19, climate and environmen...

  1)Leader ship: Prime Minister  took a high level meeting today to review the preparedness of States and Central Ministries/Agencies concerned to deal with the situation arising out of Cyclone  . 2) Administrative : Cabinet Secretary has taken a meeting of National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) on , with Chief Secretaries of all the Coastal States and UTs and Central Ministries/ Agencies concerned.  3) Ministry Of Home Affairs : Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is reviewing the situation 24*7 and is in touch with the State Governments/ UTs and the Central Agencies concerned.  MHA has already released first instalment of SDRF in advance to all States.  NDRF has pre-positioned 46 teams which are equipped with boats, tree-cutters, telecom equipments etc.  In addition,  4) Indian Coast Guard Indian Coast Guard and the Navy have deployed ships and helicopters for relief, search and rescue operations. Air Force and Engineer task force unit...

  Forecast   In its latest edition of the World Economic Outlook, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects India’s gross domestic product (GDP) to grow at 12.5 per cent in fiscal year (FY) 2021-22, 1  the highest among emerging and advanced economies reflecting a stronger recovery than initially expected after lockdowns were eased in some large countries. However, the report cautions that emerging market economies and low-income developing countries have been hit harder and are expected to suffer significant medium-term losses.   The IMF has exhorted countries to work together to ensure universal vaccination. Obviously boosting vaccinations will require ramping up vaccine production and distribution. Countries like India may also have to cut back on export commitments. Policymakers will need to continue supporting their economies while dealing with more limited policy space and higher debt levels than prior to the pandemic. T he Reserve Bank of India (RBI), dur...

  On 24 March 2020, the Indian government announced a sudden 21-day nationwide lockdown owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. The lockdown, which was extended to 68 days, imposed the shutdown of all commercial, industrial and transport activity. Since then, various state governments have imposed curfews and lockdowns in areas experiencing a spike in the number of reported COVID-19 cases. According to the Stringency Index developed by Oxford University, India’s lockdown was among one of the harshest lockdowns worldwide .    Status Of India : India, like all low-income countries, is particularly vulnerable in a lockdown for three reasons: firs t, it has a large proportion of households that rely on casual employment – about 20 per cent; second, the size of its informal sector, where about 80 per cent of the total workforce contributes to over 50 per cent of its gross domestic product; and third , low median household savings that are inadequate to take 38 per cent of all househ...