MAINS DAILY QUESTIONS & MODEL ANSWERS
Q1. Analyse India’s efforts to combat climate change critically in light of the UNEP’s Emissions Gap Report 2023.
GS III – Environmental Conservation related issues
Introduction:
- The 14th Emission Gap Report, published by UNEP recently, tracks our progress towards keeping global warming well below 2°C and aiming for 1.5°C in accordance with the Paris Agreement. Since the UNEP is the global environmental regulating body that all 193 UN Member States are part of, the report is extremely important for assessing both India’s and the world’s progress in combating climate change.
The report brought to light certain shortcomings in India’s response to climate change:
- Increased Emission: The 14th Emission Gap Report states that in 2022, G20 GHG emissions rose by 1.2%, led by rises in the USA, China, India, and Indonesia. India has only made 5% of the global warming to yet.
- Dependency on Coal: India’s energy needs are still mostly met by coal, which generates more than 70% of the country’s electricity, according to the 14th Emission Gap Report. This dependency on fossil fuel runs counter to India’s long-term climate objectives.
- Inadequate Emission Reductions: India’s present emission reduction goals fall short of the 1.5 degree Celsius target set forth in the Paris Agreement.
- Inadequate Infrastructure: Integrating renewable energy sources into the grid is hampered by inadequate infrastructure, especially in the transmission and distribution networks.
- Financial Restrictions: India needs between $500 and $600 billion annually to meet its climate-related targets, but the country’s climate action initiatives continue to face difficulties due to a lack of funding.
- However, India has gone above and beyond in combating climate change. A number of initiatives have been initiated by India and can be observed in the following ways:
- The National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC) is a project-based organisation that has 30 approved projects spread throughout 27 States and UTs. ₹847.5 crores is the total project cost intended for climate change adaptation.
- Mangrove Cover and Ramsar Sites: India has 75 Ramsar sites totaling 13.3 lakh hectares, 49 of which were added within the previous eight years. The mangrove cover grew by 364 square feet. km. 2021 as opposed to 2013.
- The government is working to map and integrate the 5Ps (people, policy, plan, programme, and project) in order to conserve and revitalise rivers.
- Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC): In accordance with the Paris Agreement, India updated its NDC and set a goal to reduce its GDP’s emissions intensity by 45% by 2030.
- Renewable Energy Transition: Between 2014 and 2021, India invested a total of US$ 78.1 billion on renewable energy. By 2029–2030, approximately 800 GW of installed capacity is anticipated, with over 500 GW coming from non-fossil fuels.
- Green Hydrogen Mission: By 2030, the National Green Hydrogen Mission hopes to raise more than 8 lakh crore in funding.
- Extra Carbon Sink: By 2030, an extra 2.5–3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent are expected to be absorbed by the atmosphere. Carbon stock increased by 79.4 million tonnes when compared to projections from 2017.
India’s financial strategies for sustainable development encompass the following areas of finance:
- Green Bonds: Sovereign Green Bonds were announced in the Union Budget 2022–2023.
India’s international projects include:
- The International Solar Alliance (ISA) now includes all 110 of its member nations. obtained the UN General Assembly’s status as a Permanent Observer.
- The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (or CDRI) is made up of two commercial sector organisations, six international organisations, and thirty-one member countries.
- Environmental Conservation and Biodiversity: India is the ninth most biodiverse country in the world and the fourth most biodiverse country in Asia. four years ahead of schedule, the tiger population was doubled in 2018.
- The Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022 seeks to implement CITES and expand the list of protected species.
- In an effort to lessen plastic pollution, the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, were announced. Products made with identifiable single-use plastic are banned.
Way Forward:
- India ranked eighth in the Climate Change Performance Index 2023 report, up two spots from the previous edition. The study was just issued. This illustrates the outcome of India’s comprehensive strategy and resolute commitment to combating climate change. Notable nations like the USA, China, and the EU, on the other hand, fall short in their proportionate efforts in comparison to the extent of their impact on global warming, underscoring the pressing need for more coordinated international action against climate change.
Q2. Analyse the proposal that N.R., the founder of Infosys, made recently that, Young Indians must labour for 70 hours a week. Provide a well-rounded strategy that supports worker wellbeing and productivity.
GS III – Economy related issues
Introduction:
- Founder of Infosys, N.R. It was recently said by Narayana Murthy that young Indians need to work seventy hours a week. Some people have praised the comment while others have criticised it. However, a person aged 15 to 29 spends about 7.2 hours a day in job and related activities in rural areas and 8.5 hours a day in urban areas, according to the Time Use Survey that was done in India in 2019.
Arguments in Support of Extended Workdays:
- Extended Working Hours: Proponents contend that extended working hours might boost output since they provide workers more time to concentrate on assignments and fulfil deadlines.
Narayana Murthy presented a case study that:
- Following World War II, German and Japanese labourers put in an average of 2,200–2,400 hours annually, which was their peak.
- India benefits from a workforce that is more competitive due to its median age of 28.4 years. Extended work hours offer a chance to make better use of this labour pool.
- India’s productivity at work is among the lowest in the world, thus it needs to do better in order to effectively compete with countries that have made great progress.
- Career progression: Working extra hours shows passion and effort, which may lead to professional achievement and career progression.
- Global Competition: As the economy becomes more interconnected, businesses may find it necessary to work longer hours in order to stay competitive.
- Flexibility and Autonomy: Some people enjoy working longer hours since they can arrange their work to better fit their schedules and lifestyle.
Reasons opposing extended work hours:
But a deeper look finds serious holes in the argument that call into question its validity on several grounds:
- Productivity, not working hours, determines economic growth. In India, worker productivity is below the global average of $36.22 in Japan and $59.77 in the US due to a lack of capital investment.
- Declining Productivity: Studies show that productivity significantly declines beyond 50 hours worked per week. As a result, adding extra hours to the workday in India could have unintended consequences, given that the country already has higher working hours than most other nations.
- Misplaced Burden: The co-founder downplays the importance of innovation and instead puts the onus of higher productivity on employees. India’s low productivity is mostly due to its underfunding of innovation, with R&D accounting for only 0.67% of GDP.
International Labour Standards (ILS) Are Important for International Trade:
- The support for a seventy-hour workweek runs counter to ILO Convention No. 1, and ILS is becoming more and more prevalent in international trade regulations.
- ILS adherence is emphasised in bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs), such as those with the EU and the UK, which may limit market access for Indian businesses.
- May Increase Unemployment: Given our labour surplus in India, working longer hours may have an effect on unemployment.
- Burnout and Job Satisfaction: Extended workdays lead to mental and physical exhaustion, which decreases family time and limits time spent participating in sports and other physical activities.
