07 April 2023

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS ANALYSIS

 1 – Fortified Rice: GS III – Agriculture-related issues:

Context:

• As many as 269 districts in 27 States have started distributing fortified rice under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), according to Union Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra, achieving the 100% goal set for Phase II by March 2023 in the Rice Fortification Program.

Fortification:

• By adding vital nutrients like iron, iodine, zinc, Vitamin A, and D, fortification raises the nutritional value of staple foods like rice, milk, and salt.
• These nutrients may or may not have been present in the food before processing.

Fortification of rice:

• The Food Ministry claims that rice fortification can be used to complement diets with additional vitamins and minerals.
• According to FSSAI requirements, 1 kilogramme of fortified rice must include a minimum of 10 milligrammes of vitamin B-12, 75 micrograms of folic acid, and 28 mg to 42.5 mg of iron (0.75-1.25 microgram).
• Moreover, rice can be supplemented with a variety of micronutrients, including zinc, Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, and Vitamin B6.

Why is it necessary to fortify food?

• India has one of the worst rates of malnutrition among women and children. According to the Food Ministry, every second mother in the country has anaemia, and every third child has stunted growth.
• India’s ranking on the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2021 among 116 nations fell from 94th in 2020 to 101st.
• Health risks associated with micronutrient deficiency, also known as “hidden hunger,” are significant.
• One of their staple foods is rice, which is consumed by about two thirds of Indians. Each person in India eats 6.8 kg of rice every month. So adding vitamins to rice is one approach to help the poor have a better diet.

What issues does fortification of rice cause?

Unreliable Proof:

• The data in favour of fortification is weak and far from definitive unless significant national measures are implemented.
• Conflicts of interest arise because food companies who stand to profit from fortification pay a large portion of the research that the FSSAI uses to justify it.

Hypervitaminosis:

• Research from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and the medical journal Lancet shows that anaemia and vitamin A deficiency are both overdiagnosed conditions, which raises the possibility that forced fortification could lead to hypervitaminosis.
• Hypervitaminosis, a disorder caused by abnormally high vitamin storage levels, can manifest as a number of symptoms, including excessive elation, discomfort, or even poisoning.

Toxicity:

• One of the primary problems with chemical fortification of food is that nutrients don’t operate independently and need one another for efficient absorption.
• Undernutrition in India is a result of the nation’s frequent eating of cereal-based meals and its poor intake of vegetables and animal protein.
• One or two synthetic, fake vitamins and minerals won’t cure the broader problem, and in those that are malnourished, doing so can be dangerous.
• An iron supplementation in undernourished infants results in gut inflammation and a pathogenic gut flora composition, according to a 2010 study.

Cartelisation:

• The massive informal economy of Indian farmers and food processors, including local oil and rice mills, would be severely harmed by the required fortification, which would instead profit a small number of overseas companies that would control a Rs. 3,000 crore market.

Natural food prices are falling:

• Diversified diets were a more cost-effective and healthful way to fight hunger.
• A strategy of quiet will have suffocated the value and accessibility of naturally iron-rich foods like millets, various types of green leafy vegetables, meat items, and liver, to name a few, once iron-fortified rice is advertised as the solution for anaemia.

How to Proceed:

• The right to make informed dietary decisions is a fundamental right. The right to understand what is being ingested is another fundamental right. It can be seen that in the case of rice fortification, no recipients’ prior informed consent was ever obtained.
• Because no nutrient consumed in excess will be advantageous to you, accuracy is required.
• Nutrient deficiencies are not resolved by fortifying all foods.

Source The Hindu

2 – Public Distribution System: GS III – Indian Agriculture:

Context:

• As many as 269 districts in 27 States have started distributing fortified rice under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), according to Union Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra, achieving the 100% goal set for Phase II by March 2023 in the Rice Fortification Program.
• He claims that Phase II produced 105 LMT of fortified rice and focused on distributing PDS to 27 States and Union Territories (UT). The States/UTs lifted an additional about 29 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) under the Integrated Child Development Services and PM POSHAN in Phase II, for a total of nearly 134 LMT fortified rice lifted in 2022–2023. The department is poised to complete covering all remaining districts under Phase III before the goal date of March 2024, with the exception of those that use wheat, he noted.

Past of Public Distribution System:

• Throughout the interwar period, India maintained a public distribution system for essentials.
• PDS, on the other hand, was developed in response to the acute food shortages of the 1960s and is heavily focused on providing food to urban poor areas.
• Ultimately, the government established the FCI and the Agricultural Prices Commission to improve the acquisition and storage of domestic food grain for PDS.
• PDS had made a considerable contribution to preventing food grain prices from rising and guaranteeing food access for urban customers.
• During the Green Revolution, national agricultural productivity grew, and in the 1970s and 1980s, PDS outreach was extended to tribal blocks and high-poverty areas.
• Prior to 1992, PDS was an all-inclusive entitlement programme for clients without a specific goal.

Redesign of the Public Distribution System (RPDS):

• The Revamped Public Distribution System (RPDS) was implemented in June 1992 with the goal of strengthening and streamlining the PDS as well as extending its reach in remote, hilly, and unwelcoming areas where a substantial portion of the poor reside.
• It encompassed 1775 blocks where, in collaboration with State Governments, area-specific programmes such as the Desert Development Programme (DDP), Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP), Integrated Tribal Development Programmes (ITDP), and some Designated Hill Areas (DHA) were designated for special priority.
• For usage in RPDS zones, States were given food grains at a 50 cent discount off the Central Issue Price. The weight limit for each card is 20 kg.
• The RPDS included an area approach, their delivery by State Governments at the front doors of FPSs in identified areas, additional ration cards for excluded families, infrastructure requirements like more Fair Price Shops, storage capacity, etc., and additional commodities like tea, salt, pulses, soap, and so on for distribution through PDS outlets in order to ensure the efficient distribution of PDS commodities.

Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS):

• The Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), which provides the population that lives below the poverty line with the bare minimum of food grains they require at costs that are heavily subsidised, is an essential strategy for reducing poverty.
• With a network of ration stores, TPDS seeks to provide low-income people with access to subsidised food and petrol.
• An yearly allocation of roughly 72 lakh tonnes of food grains to roughly 6 crore low-income families was the program’s original objective.
• The states adopted the State-by-State Poverty Estimates for 1993-1994 from the Planning Commission, which were based on the approach used by the late Prof. Lakdawala’s “Expert Group on the Estimation of Percentage and Number of Poor.”
• Based on historical consumption patterns, namely the average annual offtake of food grains under the PDS during the ten years preceding to the establishment of the TPDS, the allocation of grains to the States and UTs was made.
• The two categories of people that get benefits from the TPDS are “Households Below the Poverty Line” (BPL) and “Households Above the Poverty Line” (APL).
• Also, this system splits up its duties between the centre and the state.

Source The Hindu

3 – Fake News: GS III – Internal Security:

Context:

• Certain publications regarding the Union Government have been labelled as “fake news” by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), and as a result, social media platforms and other internet intermediaries are now required to remove such materials from their platforms as soon as they become aware of them.
• On April 6, 2023, in the evening, the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2023, which updated the IT Regulations, 2021, were released. The fact-checking team would speak with the necessary government departments to get their view on whether a piece of news is fake or not before making a decision, according to sources from the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB), which had previously been quoted by The Hindu.

What challenges are there to combating fake news in India?

Digital literacy levels are low.

• India still has a low level of digital literacy, which makes it easy for misleading information to spread because many people lack the skills required to verify the validity of news sources.
• According to the India Inequality Report 2022: Digital Gap, around 70% of the population has poor or no access to digital services.
• Of the 20% of the poorest households, only 2.7% and 8.9%, respectively, have access to computers and internet services.

Political usage:

• Fake news is frequently used for political purposes in India, especially during elections. Because political parties employ fake news to affect public opinion, it is challenging to stop its spread.

Fact-checking infrastructure is inadequate:

• India’s infrastructure for fact-checking is inadequate, and many of the previously existing organisations (PIB fact-check units) are small and underfunded.

Sanctions are not present:

• As there are currently no strong penalties for spreading fake news in India, it is difficult to stop people from doing so.

The secrecy of social media platforms:

• The primary arena for public discourse is increasingly being used on social media platforms, which are mostly managed by a limited number of individuals.
• One of the biggest barriers to eliminating incorrect information is the lack of transparency exhibited by social media platforms.
• Even when platforms have made a particular type of information accessible, the data is typically not set up in a way that makes it easy to analyse.

Anonymity:

• The most well-known uses of anonymity are to speak the truth against vindictive governments or to avoid having one’s thoughts associated with a real person in the offline world.
• Even if it allows people to voice their thoughts without feeling insecure, it actually causes more harm since people may spread false information without facing any repercussions.

What initiatives have been made in this regard?

Information technology intermediary guidelines and the digital media ethics code, 2021:

• Social media platforms are required to remove anything that has been verified as false by the fact-checking division of the Press Information Bureau, according to a proposed rule in the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Regulations, 2021.
• This regulation aims to halt the spread of erroneous news and information on social media platforms.

IT Act 2008:

• Offenses that involve online communication are governed by Section 66 D of the IT Act of 2008.
• This includes punishing users of social media platforms or messaging applications who send insulting messages. Those who utilise online communication to spread false information can be punished under this rule.

The Disaster Management Act of 2005:

• The Disaster Management Act of 2005 and the Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897 both prohibit the dissemination of untrue information or rumours that could alarmed the public, particularly during Covid-19.

Indian Criminal Code of 1860:

• It regulates information that fuels riots and spreads falsehoods. This law can be used to prosecute those who spread untruths that incite violence or damage the reputations of others.
• What should be done as a result?

Promotion of media literacy:

• Education and awareness are crucial in the fight against fake news. People need to learn how to cross-reference material, fact-check claims, and differentiate between reliable and trustworthy news sources.

Improve Laws:

• In India, there are laws prohibiting fake news, but they need to be more thoroughly enforced. Laws must be changed in order to address the rapidly evolving online media ecology.

Promote moral journalism:

• Journalists are expected to respect moral standards and accept accountability for their reporting. Media firms may aid in the encouragement of ethical journalism and fact-checking.

Encouragement for Social Media Companies to Act:

• Social media platforms must be more proactive if fake news is to be found and eliminated. Businesses can work with fact-checking organisations to validate news stories and use artificial intelligence tools to identify incorrect information.

Supporting Fact-Checking Organizations:

• Fact-checking organisations may be very helpful in both validating news reporting and alerting the general public to erroneous information. These organisations require support and promotion from the government and media.
• The fact-checking branch of the Press Information Bureau has identified 1,160 instances of false information since its launch in November 2019.

Encourage responsible usage of social media:

• People need to take responsibility for how they use social media. People need to read online content with greater scepticism and stop spreading unverified news claims.

Fostering a culture of scepticism:

• Critical thinking skills need to be promoted in schools and society at large.
• It’s crucial to exhort people to verify their information sources and to consider what they read and hear with caution.

Source The Hindu

4 – IMF: GS II – International Relations:

Context:

• The International Monetary Fund chief predicts that the global economy will expand by less than 3% this year, down from 3.4% last year, increasing the risk of famine and poverty everywhere.
• The expected growth rate for the next five years was described by Kristalina Georgieva as “our lowest medium-term growth forecast since 1990, and well below the average of 3.8 percent over the prior two decades.” She claimed that slower growth would be a “severe blow” and make it harder for low-income countries to catch up.

What Are the IMF’s Procedures?

Its three most crucial duties are:

• improving international monetary cooperation, encouraging improved trade and economic growth.
• avoiding actions that might impede economic expansion.
• To complete these missions, member countries of the IMF work together as well as with other international organisations.

What is the history of the IMF?

• At a UN conference held in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, in July 1944, the concept for the IMF, sometimes known as the Fund, first surfaced.
• The 44 nations present at the meeting aspired to create a framework for economic cooperation in order to avoid a repeat of the competitive devaluations that had contributed to the Great Depression of the 1930s.
• To be eligible for membership in the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, countries had to be IMF members (IBRD).
• The IMF introduced a system of convertible currencies with fixed exchange rates and replaced the U.S. dollar as the official reserve with gold (gold at $35 per ounce) in order to encourage international financial cooperation.
• Since the Bretton Woods system (a system of fixed exchange rates) failed in 1971, the IMF has supported the floating exchange rate system. Because governments are free to select their preferred exchange system, market forces determine the value of currencies relative to one another. This system is still in operation today.
• According to IMF estimates, 100 developing countries who imported oil during the 1973 oil crisis faced a 150% increase in their foreign debt between 1973 and 1977, which was further exacerbated by a global switch to floating exchange rates. The Oil Facility was a brand-new credit programme that the IMF administered between 1974 and 1976. It was funded by oil-exporting nations and other lenders and made accessible to countries that were having serious issues with their trade balance as a result of the rise in oil prices.
• The IMF, one of the most significant organisations in the world economy, ensured a balance between the promotion of national economic sovereignty and human welfare, or embedded liberalism, and the revival of international capitalism.
• The IMF played a significant role in helping the former Soviet Union’s countries transition from centrally planned to market-based economies.
• 1997 saw a wave of financial crises sweep over East Asia, hurting nations like Korea, Thailand, and Indonesia.
• The International Monetary Fund created a series of bailouts (rescue packages) that were dependent on financial, banking, and currency reforms in order to assist the most severely affected economies escape default.
• Global Economic Crisis of 2008: The IMF made enormous efforts to increase monitoring in order to adapt to a more interconnected and globally integrated society.
• These initiatives included modernising the legal framework for surveillance to take into account spillovers (when economic policies in one country may have an impact on those in another), in-depth research into risks and financial systems, accelerated evaluations of members’ external positions, and quicker responses to member concerns.

What functions does the IMF perform?

• Financial Assistance: In order to replenish foreign reserves, stabilise currencies, and enhance the conditions for economic growth, the IMF lends money to member countries who are having balance of payments problems. Governments are required to carry out IMF-supervised structural adjustment plans.
• IMF Monitoring: The IMF maintains an eye on the financial and economic plans of the 190 countries that make up its membership as well as the world’s monetary system.
• In this process, which takes place both internationally and in particular countries, the IMF emphasises potential stability threats and provides advice on necessary policy adjustments.
• Capacity Development: It provides technical assistance and instruction to central banks, finance ministries, tax authorities, and other financial institutions.
• This supports the improvement of governance, modernization of banking systems, growth of public income, and better reporting of macroeconomic and financial data. Furthermore, it helps countries move closer to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Source The Hindu