25 October 2023

MAINS DAILY QUESTIONS & MODEL ANSWERS

Q1. How can technology be leveraged to improve India’s food and nutrition security? What are the current obstacles to incorporating cutting-edge technical solutions into agriculture?

GS III – Indian Agriculture related issues

Introduction:

• Food and nutritional security is the ability of everyone to always have access to wholesome, sanitary food that is fortified with micro and macronutrients. In order to guarantee food and nutritional security, technology can be extremely helpful in the following ways.

Improved food accessibility:

• Both urban and rural communities are receiving food and rations thanks to the use of technological technologies. Food security is being promoted by a number of smartphone apps and food delivery services. Adoption of e-PoS for National Food Security Act ration delivery is another.
• Value addition for improved nutrition: Biotechnology and nanotechnology tools are already being employed for a number of applications, such as gene editing of seeds, food fortification, and biofortification.
• The problem of a lack of particular grains and vegetables in the markets can be addressed by balancing the supply and demand of agricultural products and by accurately predicting output and demand well in advance.
• Building infrastructure, utilising technology to create effective digitalized procurement platforms (like E-NAM), and installing cold storage systems to extend the shelf life of perishable agricultural products are some examples.
• Technological advancement to support the simple, quick, and effective movement of agricultural products across India.
• Drone usage: Drones will be essential to ensuring food security since they can be used to distribute rations to remote locations, supply fresh food to cities, and enhance farming production through a wide range of applications.
• Encouraging research and development, technology, and science to investigate different approaches to construct climate-smart and resilient ways to guarantee safe and secure food production to fulfil our daily needs.
• Digital technology holds great promise for empowering farmers, consumers, and society at large. The spread of knowledge about nutritious meals (e.g., millets, milk, daals, etc.) and educating farmers about chemical-free, organic, and natural products.
• Technology automation to maximise the use of agricultural resources and produce more food at the lowest possible cost and price. For instance. Accurate farming.

To that end, the government is putting in place a number of programmes:

• As part of Azaid ka Amrit Mahotsav, 75 Nutrition Smart Villages are being established to increase food and nutritional security and combat hunger and poverty.
• The goal of the Digital India initiative is to improve access to ICT-based resources for knowledge, information, and the internet.
• Submission of Agricultural Mechanisation: More effective use of technology to maximise agricultural output by utilising water, seeds, land, manpower, and other inputs efficiently

Existing issues prior to technology adoption:

• Since that agri-R&D receives only 0.6-0.7% of GDP, inadequate R&D, investment, and government spending raise serious concerns about the development of farmer-friendly and efficient technology.
• Farmers who are neither tech-savvy or digitally illiterate are hesitant to use technology into their farming methods.
• Because of their limited access to credit and the fact that over 85% of Indian farmers are small and marginal farmers, it is not feasible or sustainable for them to invest in technology resources.
• There is just one genetically modified crop since new technologies like gene editing and biotechnology are viewed as unsafe. Bt linen.
• Lack of a defined policy supporting food processing, food storage, and buffer stocks results in policy paralysis. It serves as a deterrent to institutional and private investment in agriculture.
• India’s agriculture could reach unprecedented heights if science and technology are combined with better human resources. Incorporating technology would not only guarantee food and nutrition security but also open doors for farmers to earn more and eradicate poverty, hunger, and malnutrition from our nation.

Q2. What fundamental ideas underlie effective governance? Examine India’s governance record and provide some recent instances.

GS II – Governance related issues

Introduction:

• The World Bank defines good governance as careful planning, effective resource mobilisation, and administration that implements policies in letter and spirit to guarantee the welfare of the general public.

The guiding ideas are as follows:

• Accountability: it guarantees that the governmental apparatus is governed by law and not by decree.
• In democratic societies, gaining the confidence and support of the populace requires openness and transparency in decision-making.
• Accountability; the political leadership’s and the bureaucracy’s answerability to the people, office, and the constitution ensures that they are held responsible for their commissions and omissions of actions.
• Efficient and quicker: It’s critical for the government to promptly provide social services, such as health and education, to the public in a democracy with over 130 crore citizens.
• Inclusivity: In a multireligious and multiethnic democracy, the government must uphold values that advance the well-being of all citizens.
• Tech-driven and tech-enabled administration is necessary to satisfy the expectations of the twenty-first century, given the fast digitization and electronic medium of service delivery.
• In light of the growing number of instances of corruption, theft, and poor administration, having an ethically sound and compassionate administration is crucial.

The administration of India has demonstrated sound governance in the subsequent areas:

• Antyodaya and Sarvodaya are used to achieve inclusive administration, and Public Distribution Systems (PDS) and the National Food Security Act (NFSA) guarantee public service delivery to the final person seated at the last mile.
• Progressive steps include the integration of technology into faceless evaluation and faceless appeal portals, as well as e-portals for health, education, and other service delivery. Additionally, it aids in the government’s goal of establishing maximum governance and minimum government.
• Through the public exchange of information, the RTI, Lokpal, and Lokayukta acts have guaranteed more transparency in the administration.
• Innovative platforms such as MyGov facilitate public contact and the inclusion of specialists in legislative committees, thereby promoting participatory governance.
• The administration is being led towards a citizen-centric approach by the robust institutions of NITI Aayog & Finance Commission, grievance redressal mechanism, and feedback mechanisms and experts.
• However, enduring issues with hunger, poverty, illiteracy, inequality, violence, and other issues point to some areas where administration is falling behind.
• Nepotism, communalism, and rising corruption are the main obstacles to good government. India’s Corruption Perception Index 2020 score puts it at number 85 out of 180 countries.
• Decreasing public confidence in public service delivery as India lost human capital as a result of a shortage of oxygen, hospital beds, and medical resources.
• Lack of gender-sensitive public infrastructure in hospitals, schools, and public offices discourages some women, LGBTQIA people, and others from pursuing administrative positions, which is a clear sign of indifferent governance.
• Policy paralysis is being caused by politics devoid of morality, which results in political manifestos full of false promises, a freebie culture to win over voters, and distorted policy planning for local benefits.
• Public expenditures are wasted when plans and projects are delayed, in addition to causing hardship to the affected individuals.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of bureaucrats, departments, and ministries, both qualitative and quantitative assessments at various administrative levels must be conducted, for example. An index of good governance developed by NITI Ayog. To achieve the objective of good governance, citizens, the political class, bureaucracy, and the civic society comprising NGOs and pressure organisations must collaborate.