16 November 2022

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS ANALYSIS

1 – Population Growth in India: GS II – Topic Social Issues

Context:

• The UN said on Tuesday that India’s population growth appeared to be stabilising as the world’s population surpassed eight billion people, underlining the effectiveness of the nation’s national policies and health systems, including access to family planning alternatives.
• India added the most people—177 million—to reach the milestone of eight billion people, according to the UN, while China, which added 73 million people, is predicted to have a negative impact on the next billion. On Tuesday, the eight billion milestone was reached.

What population changes has India experienced over the years?

• According to the UN World Population Prospects, India will surpass China as the most populated nation by 2023 with a population of 140 crore (WPP). Presently, 17.5% of the world’s population resides in India.
• India’s population has increased fourfold since the country gained independence in 1947. (34 crore).
• By 2030, India is expected to have 150 crore people, and by 2050, 166 crore.
• India’s total fertility rate (TFR), which is below the replacement level fertility of 2.1, fell to two children per woman in 2021. India had a TFR of six after gaining independence in the 1950s.
• Only five states—Bihar, UP, Jharkhand, Manipur, and Meghalaya—have not yet achieved a TFR of two.
• Widespread illiteracy, numerous child marriages, high infant mortality rates, low female labour force participation, decreased contraceptive use, and women’s lack of economic and political power are the key contributors to this.
• Indicators of mortality have improved: A significant recovery can be seen in the life expectancy at birth graph, which has increased from 32 years in 1947 to 70 years in 2019.
• In the major States, the infant mortality rate decreased from 133 in 1951 to 27 in 2020.
• The under-five mortality rate was 250 in the 1940s; it is currently 41, and the maternal mortality ratio was 2,000 in the 1940s; it was 103 in 2019.

What does the population growth mean?

• A greater population is seen to be associated with better human capital, more economic growth, and higher living standards.
• Increased economic activity brought on by a higher proportion of persons who are working age and a lower dependency rate results in better economic growth.
• The dependency ratio has significantly decreased as a result of the proportion of individuals of working age rising from 50% to 65% over the preceding seven decades (number of children and elderly persons per working age population).
• India would have one of the greatest labour forces in the world, according to the WPP 2022.
• One in five people of working age will reside in India throughout the course of the next 25 years.
• What Obstacles Keep Us From Benefiting from Demographic Change?
• worries over the labour market Only one-fourth of women are employed in India, which limits the growth of the labour force.
• The labour force of the country lacks the fundamental competencies needed in the modernised labour market, and academic achievement levels are below average.
• Despite having the largest population in the world, India has one of the lowest rates of employment.
• There is still a sex ratio. Dissappointing: The male-predominant sex ratio in independent India is a further cause for concern.
• In the entire nation in 1951, there were 946 more females than males.
• By 2022, it is predicted that there would be 950 females for every 1,000 males, up from the 2011 ratio of 943 females for every 1,000 males.
• Even now, India is to blame for one in three missing females worldwide due to sex inequality (both pre- and post-natal).
• Hunger: In India, every other woman in the reproductive age range is anaemic and every third child under five has stunted growth.
• According to the Global Hunger Index, India is rated 101st out of 116 countries, which is alarming considering that the Public Distribution System and the Midday Meals Scheme are two of the nation’s most significant social programmes for guaranteeing food security.
• Disease burden: Prior to the move toward non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which are currently responsible for more than 62% of all fatalities in the nation, India suffered with communicable diseases after gaining its freedom.
• India has the largest disease burden in the world as a result of the virtually doubling percentage of NCDs since the 1990s.
• There are more than eight crore diabetics in India.
• Only India accounts for more than 25% of all air pollution-related fatalities worldwide.
• In addition, India’s healthcare system is horribly underfunded and ineffective. Additionally, India has one of the lowest public health financing ratios in the world, which is between 1% and 1.5% of GDP.

What actions are necessary as a result?

• Age-Related Populations: Although India is a young country today, 12% of its population is predicted to be over the age of 65 by 2050.
• Therefore, it is crucial to invest early in the creation of a strong system of social, financial, and healthcare support for the elderly.
• The main areas of focus should be significant human capital investment, ageing populations that are healthy, and senior citizens who live with dignity.

Source The Hindu

 2 – Exports of India: GS III – Topic Indian Economy

Context:

• Exports of goods fell 16.7% year over year in October, the greatest drop since May 2020 when a statewide lockdown was implemented to combat the Covid pandemic. This was the first reduction in exports in 20 months.
• Exports fell below the crucial $30 billion mark for the first time since March 2021, according to official figures released on Tuesday, with a value of $29.8 billion. However, imports increased 5.7% to $56.7 billion. As a result, the trade imbalance increased slightly from $25.7 billion in September to $26.9 billion in October. Nevertheless, the deficit was still smaller than the $30 billion record-low level reached in July.
• Due to a slowdown in the economy in large markets that started to impair demand, exports of 24 of the 30 major export market segments—including petroleum products, engineering goods, gems and jewellery, textiles and apparel, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals—decreased in October. The constant increase in imports, despite the fact that domestic consumption has slowed down, demonstrates that it is still more strong than in many other parts of the world.
• For the first time ever, India’s annual exports of products have surpassed $400 billion.
• The $400 billion in exports reflects an increase of more than 21% from the $330 billion in exports carried out in FY2019 before the Covid-19 epidemic.

How did India manage to do that?

• Reaching the milestone was made possible by a surge in the shipping of items, including engineering products, clothes, gems, and jewellery, as well as petroleum products.
• The export of rice, marine goods, wheat, spices, and sugar helped the agriculture sector, which had previously seen its greatest-ever exports during 2021–2022, reach its highest export level.

 The causes of the increase:

• One of the key reasons for the increase in exports is pent-up demand, which had decreased as a result of countries’ ongoing severe lockdown due to the Covid epidemic, which had an effect on international trade.
• The expansion of domestic manufacturing stimulated by PLI (production-liked incentive) programmes and the signing of a few short-term trade agreements has increased exports.
• The Refund of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) and Rebate of State and Central Levies and Taxes (RoSCTL) Schemes are just two of the actions the Center has taken to encourage the export of goods and services.

External variables:

• Pent-up demand that went unfulfilled during the initial waves of the Covid-19 outbreak is one of the key reasons for the surge in exports.
• Demand for Indian goods has also increased as a result of the expansionary monetary measures adopted by industrialised countries in reaction to the economic effects of the pandemic.

Where has the import growth occurred?

• Even if commodities exports have increased significantly, imports have increased even more quickly, topping $550 billion in the first 11 months of the fiscal year.
• Imports of technology, gold, coal, and goods associated with coal have all increased significantly.
• Due to rising commodity prices, such as those for coal and crude oil, India’s import expenditures have increased significantly, resulting in a record-high trade deficit of $176 billion for the first 11 months.

Why are exports such a big deal?

• One of the main forces behind economic growth in any economy is exports.
• The GDP, exchange rate, inflation, and interest rates of a nation may all be impacted.
• Strong export numbers are advantageous since they boost manufacturing, create employment opportunities, enhance foreign exchange reserves, and boost tax revenue for the government.
• A nation can successfully exit the recession using this strategy.
• Additionally, it is essential for boosting domestic manufacturing units’ competitiveness and ability to differentiate themselves from competitors abroad by raising the calibre of their product.

Source The Hindu

 3 – Federalism in India: GS II – Topic Constitutional Provisions

Context:

• There were hopes that India will become closer to cooperative federalism when the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government came to power in 2014. Narendra Modi, the chief minister of Gujarat, brought to this situation by supporting state autonomy. This optimism grew after NITI Aayog, whose primary goal is the promotion of cooperative federalism, took the role of the Indian Planning Commission.

The Indian federal system:

• Indian Federalism: According to K.C. According to federal theorist Wheare, the Indian Constitution has a framework that is akin to a federal one.
• The Supreme Court noted that the Indian Constitution is more quasi-federal than federal or unitary in Sat Pal v. State of Punjab and Others (1969).
• The Indian Constitution’s Articles 245 to 254 outline the state and federal governments’ respective legislative authority.
• The Constitution’s Seventh Schedule divides authority between the Center and States into three lists (Article 246).

Federalism-Related Issues:

• The Union government took many actions that undercut the principles of fiscal federalism and increased central control over fiscal policy. These are how it has shown up:
• Increasing the States’ financial support of centrally sponsored programmes (CSS).
• The implementation of demonetization lacked sufficient State consultation.
• Outsourcing of the Smart Cities Mission’s legal duties
• By 2020–21, the Union government was responsible for 68% of all petroleum industry contributions, leaving the States with just 32%.
• The Union:State ratio was around 50:50 in 2013–14.
• A few of the Covid-19 management strategies that were restricted to the states included the acquisition of testing kits, immunisation, implementation of the Disaster Management Act of 2005, and the unexpected nationwide closure.

Way Forward:

• Reevaluating Federalism: The aforementioned policy blunders demand additional investigation and thought about federalism.
• The States should push for the establishment of a formal institutional structure to require and promote collaboration between the Union and the States on issues of legislation covered by the Concurrent List.
• Enhancing Inter-State Relations: State governments should think about sending staff to assist them in preparing responses to the Union’s consultations, with a focus on the federalism component in particular.
• Chief ministers may establish forums for ongoing discussion of this topic rather than merely speaking with one another at times of emergency.
• When arguing for important requests like prolonging GST compensation until 2027 and include cess in the list of taxes that can be divided, this would be essential.
• The Importance of Consultation Hearing from interested parties is crucial to ensuring that the public welfare is served, as the Constitution’s framers intended.

Source The Hindu

 4 – UNGA: GS II – Topic International Relations

Context:

• India voted against a draught resolution in the UN General Assembly that demanded that Russia be held responsible for invading Ukraine in violation of international law and that Moscow provide restitution to Kiev for the harm, loss, and damage caused by the conflict.
• The 193-member UN General Assembly accepted the Ukrainian-sponsored draught resolution on Monday with a recorded vote of 94 in favour, 14 against, and 73 abstentions, including those from India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Israel, Nepal, Pakistan, South Africa, and Sri Lanka.

About UNGA:

• One of the main elements of the UN is the UNGA. It serves as the organization’s primary governing body and is the UN body with the greatest degree of representativeness.
• The UNGA, also known as just the GA, is attended by representatives of every UN member. It therefore has 193 members (all the UN member countries).
• It holds yearly meetings in its headquarters in New York City, usually in September. Depending on the situation, it may also convene at other times.
• The President of the UNGA is in charge and is chosen for a one-year term.
• It is sometimes referred to as the global parliament.
• Important problems like peace and security and other global concerns are discussed and decided by the UNGA.
• It also makes decisions about membership expansion.
• Voting is used to make decisions. In most cases, a simple majority is taken into account, but in cases of significant decisions, a two-thirds majority is taken into account. Each participant has one vote.
• There is no one with a veto power, unlike the Security Council.
• Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, the only Indian General Assembly President to date, was elected as the UNGA’s eighth president in 1953.

Powers & Responsibilities of UNGA:

• Examining and approving the UN budget and determining the member countries’ budgetary evaluations.
• Analysing and recommending ways to cooperate in order to preserve international security & peace, including disarmament.
• Selecting the Secretary-General in accordance with the UNSC’s recommendations, as well as the non-permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) and other UN organisations and agencies.
• Addressing issues of global peace and security and giving suggestions thereupon (unless the matter is currently being discussed by the Security Council).
• Developing and codifying international law, achieving fundamental freedoms and human rights, and fostering international cooperation in the social, economic, humanitarian, educational, cultural, and health domains. initiating studies and making recommendations to improve international political cooperation.
• Making suggestions for the peaceful resolution of any dispute that threatens international harmony.
• Reports from the UNSC and other UN bodies are also taken into consideration by the UNGA.
• When there are risks to peace and the UNSC has not taken action as a result of a permanent member’s veto, the GA may take the situation under consideration and make recommendations to its members.

Source The Hindu