‭GYANPATH‬

‭Daily Current Affairs‬

‭15-04-2024‬
 ‭Current Affairs |‬ ‭15-04-2024‬

‭CONTENTS‬

‭PRELIMS CORNER‬

‭1.‬ ‭Doxxing‬‭......................................................................................................................‬‭2‬
‭2.‬ ‭Hubble‬‭Tension‬‭..........................................................................................................‬‭2‬
‭3.‬ ‭NHRC‬‭.........................................................................................................................‬‭3‬
‭4.‬ ‭Dragon's‬‭egg‬‭nebula‬‭...................................................................................................‬‭3‬

‭PLACES‬‭IN‬‭NEWS‬‭.....................................................................................................‬‭4‬

‭1.‬ ‭Ecuador‬‭.....................................................................................................................‬‭4‬

‭MAINS CORNER‬

‭1.‬ ‭Urbanisation‬‭and‬‭Dalits‬‭.............................................................................................‬‭5‬
‭2.‬ ‭Agri-food‬‭reforms‬‭.......................................................................................................‬‭6‬

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‭ UOTE OF THE DAY‬

Q
‭“Knowledge, if it does not determine action, is dead to us.”‬ ‭~Plotinus~‬

‭PRELIMS CORNER‬

‭TOPICS‬ ‭DETAILS‬

‭●‬ D ‭ oxing‬ ‭or‬ ‭doxxing‬ ‭is‬ ‭the‬ ‭act‬ ‭of‬ ‭publicly‬ ‭providing‬
‭1) Doxxing‬
‭personally‬ ‭identifiable‬ ‭information‬ ‭about‬ ‭an‬ ‭individual‬‭or‬
‭organisation,‬ ‭usually‬ ‭via‬ ‭the‬ ‭Internet‬ ‭and‬ ‭without‬ ‭their‬
‭ ontext:‬ ‭A‬ ‭woman‬ ‭who‬
C ‭consent‬
‭faced‬ ‭doxing‬ ‭approaches‬ ‭●‬ ‭Doxxers‬ ‭generally‬ ‭publicise‬ ‭highly‬ ‭personal‬ ‭data‬ ‭such‬ ‭as‬
‭cops‬ ‭after‬ ‭months‬ ‭of‬ ‭other‬ ‭people's‬ ‭real‬ ‭name,‬ ‭personal‬ ‭documents,‬ ‭phone‬
‭harassment.‬ ‭number,‬ ‭home‬ ‭address,‬ ‭workplace,‬ ‭and‬ ‭other‬ ‭financial‬
‭information.‬
‭●‬ ‭Victims‬‭of‬‭doxxing‬‭can‬‭report‬‭incidents‬‭through‬‭platforms‬
‭like the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.‬
‭●‬ B ‭ udapest‬ ‭Convention‬ ‭:‬ ‭The‬ ‭Council‬ ‭of‬ ‭Europe’s‬ ‭(CoE)‬
‭Cybercrime‬ ‭Convention,‬ ‭also‬ ‭known‬ ‭as‬ ‭the‬ ‭Budapest‬
‭Convention‬ ‭is‬ ‭the‬ ‭sole‬ ‭legally‬ ‭binding‬ ‭international‬
‭multilateral treaty on cybercrime.‬
‭●‬ ‭India‬ ‭remained‬ ‭outside‬ ‭the‬ ‭Europe-led‬ ‭Budapest‬
‭Convention‬‭but‬‭supported‬‭a‬‭UN‬‭resolution‬‭led‬‭by‬‭Russia‬
‭to create a new convention.‬

‭ )‬ ‭‘Right to Privacy’ is protected under which Article of the constitution of India?‬

Q
‭(a) Article 15 (b) Article 19‬
‭(c) Article 21 (d) Article 29‬ ‭[Prelims 2021] [ANS: C]‬

‭●‬ T ‭ he‬ ‭Hubble‬ ‭tension‬ ‭is‬ ‭a‬ ‭disagreement‬ ‭between‬ ‭two‬

‭2) Hubble Tension‬
‭methods for measuring the‬‭universe's expansion rate.‬
‭●‬ ‭One‬ ‭method,‬ ‭based‬ ‭on‬ ‭the‬ ‭cosmic‬ ‭microwave‬
‭ ontext:‬ ‭Debate‬‭around‬‭the‬
C ‭background‬‭, suggests a slower expansion.‬
‭validity‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭Lambda-CDM‬ ‭●‬ ‭The‬ ‭other‬ ‭method,‬‭using‬‭Cepheid‬‭variable‬‭stars,‬‭suggests‬
‭cosmological model.‬ ‭a faster expansion.‬
‭●‬ ‭A‬ ‭recent‬ ‭study‬ ‭using‬ ‭data‬ ‭from‬ ‭the‬ ‭James‬ ‭Webb‬ ‭Space‬
‭Telescope‬ ‭confirmed‬ ‭the‬ ‭Cepheid‬ ‭variable‬ ‭star‬
‭measurement.‬
‭●‬ ‭This‬ ‭suggests‬ ‭that‬ ‭the‬ ‭current‬ ‭cosmological‬ ‭model,‬
‭Lambda-CDM(Cold Dark Matter) may be flawed.‬
‭●‬ ‭It’s‬ ‭currently‬ ‭the‬ ‭simplest‬ ‭model‬ ‭that‬ ‭explains‬ ‭various‬
‭features‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭universe,‬ ‭including‬ ‭radiation‬‭leftover‬‭from‬
‭the‬‭Big‬‭Bang,‬‭the‬‭arrangement‬‭of‬‭galaxies‬‭in‬‭the‬‭universe,‬
‭and the fact that the universe is expanding.‬
‭●‬ ‭Cosmologists‬ ‭are‬ ‭now‬ ‭looking‬ ‭for‬ ‭a‬ ‭new‬ ‭model‬‭to‬‭explain‬
‭the universe's expansion.‬
‭●‬ H ‭ ubble‬ ‭Space‬ ‭Telescope‬ ‭is‬ ‭a‬ ‭large‬ ‭and‬ ‭space-based‬
‭observatory.‬‭It‬‭is‬‭an‬‭international‬‭collaboration‬‭between‬
‭NASA and the European Space Agency.‬
‭●‬ ‭Cepheids,‬ ‭also‬ ‭called‬ ‭Cepheid‬ ‭Variables,‬ ‭are‬ ‭stars‬
‭which brighten and dim periodically.‬

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‭ )‬ ‭The‬ ‭terms‬ ‭‘Event‬ ‭Horizon’,‬ ‭‘Singularity’,‬ ‭̀String‬ ‭Theory’‬ a

Q ‭ nd‬ ‭‘Standard‬ ‭Model’‬ ‭are‬
‭sometimes seen in the news in the context of‬
‭(a) Observation and understanding of the Universe‬
‭(b) Study of the solar and the lunar eclipses‬
‭(c) Placing satellites in the orbit of the Earth‬
‭(d) Origin and evolution of living organisms on the Earth‬ [‭Prelims 2017] [ANS: A]‬

‭●‬ T
‭ he‬ ‭National‬ ‭Human‬ ‭Rights‬ ‭Commission‬ ‭(NHRC)‬ ‭is‬ ‭an‬
‭3) NHRC‬
‭independent‬ ‭statutory‬ ‭body‬ ‭established‬ ‭by‬ ‭the‬
‭Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.‬
‭ ontext:‬
C ‭The‬ ‭National‬
‭Human‬ ‭Rights‬ ‭Commission‬ ‭●‬ N ‭ HRC‬‭consists‬‭of‬‭a‬‭Chairperson,‬‭five‬‭full-time‬‭Members‬
‭(NHRC)‬ ‭conducted‬ ‭a‬ ‭spot‬ ‭and seven deemed Members.‬
‭inquiry‬ ‭into‬ ‭the‬ ‭●‬ ‭The‬‭Chairperson‬‭is‬‭a‬‭retired‬‭Chief‬‭justice‬‭of‬‭India‬‭or‬‭a‬
‭Sandeshkhali‬ ‭case‬ ‭in‬ ‭West‬ ‭judge of the Supreme Court.‬
‭Bengal.‬ ‭●‬ ‭Two‬‭Members‬‭:‬‭One‬‭who‬‭is,‬‭or‬‭has‬‭been,‬‭a‬‭Judge‬‭of‬‭the‬
‭Supreme‬‭Court‬‭of‬‭India‬‭and‬‭one‬‭member‬‭who‬‭is,‬‭or‬‭has‬
‭been, the Chief Justice of a High Court.‬
‭●‬ ‭Three‬ ‭Members:‬ ‭One‬ ‭shall‬ ‭be‬ ‭a‬ ‭woman‬ ‭from‬ ‭amongst‬
‭persons‬‭having‬‭knowledge‬‭of,‬‭or‬‭practical‬‭experience‬‭in,‬
‭matters relating to human rights.‬
‭●‬ ‭Exofficio‬ ‭members‬‭:‬ ‭Chairpersons‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭National‬
‭Commission‬ ‭for‬ ‭SC,ST,Minorities,Backward‬
‭Classes,Women,Protection‬‭of‬‭Child‬‭Rights‬‭and‬‭the‬‭Chief‬
‭Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities.‬
‭●‬ ‭They‬ ‭are‬ ‭appointed‬ ‭by‬ ‭the‬ ‭President‬ ‭on‬ ‭the‬
‭recommendations‬ ‭of‬ ‭a‬ ‭six-member‬ ‭committee‬
‭consisting‬‭of:‬‭Prime‬‭Minister‬‭(head),‬‭Speaker‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Lok‬
‭Sabha,‬‭Deputy‬‭Chairman‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Rajya‬‭Sabha,‬‭Leaders‬‭of‬
‭the‬‭Opposition‬‭in‬‭both‬‭the‬‭Houses‬‭of‬‭Parliament,‬‭Union‬
‭Home Minister.‬

‭ )‬‭Consider the following organisations/bodies in India:‬

Q
‭1. The National Commission for Backward Classes‬
‭2. The National Human Rights Commission‬
‭3. The National Law Commission‬
‭4. The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission‬
‭How many of the above are constitutional bodies?‬
‭(a) Only one (b) Only two‬
‭(c) Only three (d) All four‬ ‭[Prelims 2023] [ANS: A]‬

‭●‬ D
‭4) Dragon's egg nebula‬
‭ ontext:‬
C ‭Astronomers‬
‭unravel‬ ‭the‬ ‭mystery‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬
‭'Dragon's Egg' nebula‬
‭ ragon's‬ ‭Egg‬ ‭nebula‬ ‭is‬ ‭a‬ ‭cloud‬ ‭of‬ ‭gas‬ ‭and‬ ‭dust.‬ ‭The‬
‭Dragon's‬ ‭Egg‬ ‭is‬ ‭so‬ ‭named‬ ‭because‬ ‭it‬ ‭is‬ ‭located‬‭relatively‬
‭near‬‭a‬‭larger‬‭nebula‬‭complex‬‭called‬‭the‬‭Fighting‬‭Dragons‬
‭of Ara.‬
‭●‬ ‭Two‬ ‭large‬ ‭stars‬ ‭residing‬ ‭inside‬ ‭this‬ ‭nebula‬ ‭have‬ ‭puzzled‬
‭astronomers‬ ‭as‬ ‭one‬ ‭star‬ ‭has‬ ‭a‬ ‭magnetic‬ ‭field‬ ‭but‬ ‭its‬
‭companion does not.‬
‭●‬ ‭The‬ ‭larger‬ ‭star‬ ‭engulfed‬ ‭its‬ ‭smaller‬ ‭sibling,‬ ‭creating‬ ‭the‬
‭nebula and the magnetic field.‬
‭●‬ ‭This‬ ‭merger‬ ‭is‬‭the‬‭first‬‭observational‬‭evidence‬‭supporting‬
‭simulations on magnetic field formation.‬
‭●‬ ‭The‬ ‭study‬ ‭sheds‬ ‭light‬ ‭on‬‭the‬‭formation‬‭of‬‭magnetic‬‭fields‬
‭in massive stars, which was previously unclear.‬

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‭●‬ N
‭ ebulae‬ ‭are‬ ‭interstellar‬ ‭clouds‬ ‭of‬ ‭gas‬‭and‬‭dust,‬‭mostly‬
‭hydrogen and helium.‬

‭ )‬ ‭Consider the following pairs:‬

Q
‭Objects in space Description‬
‭1. Cepheids : Giant clouds of dust and gas in space‬
‭2. Nebulae : Stars which brighten and dim periodically‬
‭3. Pulsars : Neutron stars that are formed when massive stars run out of‬
‭fuel and collapse‬
‭How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?‬
‭(a) Only one (b) Only two‬
‭(c) All three (d) None‬ ‭[Prelims 2023] [ANS: A]‬

‭PLACES IN NEWS‬

‭●‬ E ‭ cuador‬ ‭is‬ ‭a‬ ‭country‬ ‭in‬ ‭northwestern‬ ‭South‬ ‭America,‬

‭1) Ecuador‬
‭bordered‬ ‭by‬‭Colombia‬‭on‬‭the‬‭north,‬‭Peru‬‭on‬‭the‬‭east‬‭and‬
‭south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west.‬
‭ ontext:‬‭Ecuador‬‭raided‬‭the‬
C ‭●‬ ‭Ecuador‬ ‭also‬ ‭includes‬ ‭the‬ ‭Galápagos‬ ‭Islands‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬
‭Mexican embassy.‬ ‭Pacific.‬
‭●‬ ‭Capital: Quito‬
‭●‬ C ‭ otopaxi,‬ ‭which‬ ‭is‬ ‭one‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭world's‬ ‭highest‬ ‭active‬
‭volcanoes, is located in Ecuador.‬
‭●‬ ‭Mt.Chimborazo‬‭is the highest mountain in Ecuador.‬

‭ )‬ ‭Which‬‭of‬‭the‬‭following‬‭countries‬‭has‬‭been‬‭suffering‬‭from‬‭decades‬‭of‬‭civil‬‭strife‬‭and‬‭food‬
Q
‭shortages and was in news in the recent past for its very severe famine?‬
‭(a) Angola (b) Costa Rica‬
‭(c) Ecuador (d) Somalia‬ ‭[Prelims 2023] [ANS: D]‬

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‭MAINS CORNER‬

‭1) Urbanisation and Dalits‬

‭ S1-‬ ‭Role‬ ‭of‬ ‭women‬ ‭and‬ ‭women’s‬ ‭organisations,‬ ‭population‬ ‭and‬ ‭associated‬ ‭issues,‬ ‭poverty‬
G
‭and developmental issues, urbanisation, their problems and remedies.‬

‭Why in the news?‬

‭●‬ ‭Revisiting‬ ‭Ambedkar's‬ ‭vision‬ ‭on‬
‭Ambedkar Jayanti.‬
‭The Hindu:‬‭https://shorturl.at/dnAGN‬
‭Introduction‬
‭●‬ ‭The‬ ‭process‬ ‭of‬ ‭urbanisation‬ ‭in‬ ‭India‬ ‭has‬
‭been‬ ‭perceived‬ ‭as‬ ‭a‬ ‭potential‬ ‭avenue‬ ‭for‬
‭Dalit‬ ‭liberation,‬ ‭offering‬ ‭opportunities‬ ‭for‬
‭anonymity,‬‭economic‬‭mobility,‬‭and‬‭escape‬
‭from‬ ‭the‬ ‭rigid‬ ‭caste‬ ‭structures‬ ‭prevalent‬
‭in rural areas.‬
‭●‬ ‭However,‬ ‭despite‬ ‭initial‬ ‭hopes,‬
‭urbanisation‬‭has‬‭failed‬‭to‬‭fulfil‬‭the‬‭aspirations‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Dalit‬‭community,‬‭as‬‭caste-based‬
‭discrimination continues to permeate Indian cities.‬
‭Ambedkar's Vision of Urbanization:‬
‭●‬ ‭Dr.‬ ‭B.R.‬ ‭Ambedkar‬ ‭envisioned‬ ‭urbanisation‬ ‭as‬ ‭a‬ ‭means‬ ‭of‬ ‭Dalit‬ ‭liberation,‬ ‭where‬
‭systems of caste oppression prevalent in villages would weaken.‬
‭●‬ ‭He‬ ‭saw‬ ‭cities‬ ‭as‬ ‭spaces‬ ‭where‬ ‭individuals‬ ‭could‬ ‭become‬ ‭anonymous,‬ ‭transitioning‬
‭from‬ ‭a‬ ‭caste-based‬ ‭to‬ ‭a‬‭class-based‬‭order,‬‭defined‬‭by‬‭economic‬‭accumulation‬‭rather‬
‭than genealogy.‬
‭Realities of Urbanization for Dalits:‬
‭Persistence of Caste Discrimination‬
‭●‬ ‭Despite‬ ‭the‬ ‭transition‬ ‭to‬ ‭urban‬ ‭life,‬ ‭caste-based‬ ‭discrimination‬ ‭persists‬ ‭in‬ ‭cities,‬
‭shaping spatial segregation and access to resources.‬
‭●‬ ‭The‬ ‭language‬ ‭of‬ ‭'purity-pollution'‬ ‭reinforces‬ ‭caste‬‭divisions‬‭in‬‭urban‬‭spaces,‬‭as‬‭seen‬
‭in‬ ‭housing‬ ‭discrimination‬ ‭based‬ ‭on‬ ‭dietary‬ ‭preferences‬ ‭and‬ ‭the‬ ‭imposition‬ ‭of‬
‭Brahminical‬ ‭regulations‬ ‭on‬ ‭public‬ ‭spaces.‬ ‭Eg:‬ ‭A‬ ‭consumer‬‭survey‬‭in‬‭2021‬‭revealed‬
‭that‬‭eating‬‭non-vegetarian‬‭food‬‭is‬‭the‬‭biggest‬‭deal-breaker‬‭in‬‭finding‬‭rental‬‭housing‬‭in‬
‭India.‬
‭State-Sanctioned Segregation‬
‭●‬ ‭Government‬ ‭policies‬ ‭and‬ ‭regulations‬ ‭perpetuate‬ ‭caste-based‬ ‭segregation,‬ ‭as‬
‭evidenced‬ ‭by‬ ‭restrictions‬ ‭on‬ ‭meat‬ ‭shops‬ ‭and‬ ‭bans‬ ‭on‬ ‭meat-based‬ ‭street‬ ‭food‬ ‭near‬
‭religious‬‭sites.‬‭Eg:‬‭In‬‭2021,‬‭several‬‭municipal‬‭corporations‬‭in‬‭Gujarat‬‭banned‬‭the‬‭sale‬
‭of meat-based street food on the city’s main roads citing “religious sentiments”.‬
‭●‬ ‭Urban‬ ‭governance‬ ‭policies‬ ‭contribute‬ ‭to‬ ‭the‬ ‭marginalisation‬ ‭of‬ ‭Dalits‬ ‭and‬ ‭Muslims,‬
‭leading to disparities in access to public services and municipal infrastructure.‬
‭Housing Crises and Forced Evictions‬
‭●‬ ‭Dalits‬‭and‬‭Muslims‬‭face‬‭the‬‭most‬‭severe‬‭housing‬‭crises‬‭and‬‭forced‬‭evictions‬‭in‬‭Indian‬
‭cities, exacerbating their socio-economic vulnerabilities.‬
‭●‬ ‭Segregation‬ ‭is‬ ‭further‬ ‭entrenched‬ ‭in‬ ‭sacrifice‬ ‭zones‬ ‭and‬ ‭areas‬ ‭marked‬ ‭for‬
‭environmental pollution, disproportionately inhabited by marginalised communities.‬
‭Economic Exploitation and Vulnerability:‬
‭●‬ ‭Dalits‬ ‭often‬ ‭face‬ ‭economic‬ ‭exploitation‬ ‭in‬ ‭urban‬ ‭areas,‬‭with‬‭limited‬‭access‬‭to‬‭formal‬
‭employment opportunities and subjected to exploitative labour conditions.‬

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‭●‬ L ‭ ack‬ ‭of‬ ‭access‬ ‭to‬ ‭education‬ ‭and‬ ‭skills‬ ‭training‬ ‭further‬ ‭exacerbates‬ ‭their‬ ‭economic‬
‭vulnerability, perpetuating cycles of poverty and marginalisation.‬
‭Inadequate Social Infrastructure:‬
‭●‬ ‭Dalit‬ ‭communities‬ ‭in‬ ‭urban‬ ‭areas‬‭often‬‭lack‬‭access‬‭to‬‭essential‬‭social‬‭infrastructure‬
‭such as healthcare facilities, schools, and community centres.‬
‭●‬ ‭Discrimination‬ ‭and‬ ‭stigmatisation‬ ‭in‬ ‭accessing‬ ‭public‬ ‭services‬ ‭contribute‬ ‭to‬
‭disparities in health outcomes, educational attainment, and social well-being.‬
‭Political Marginalisation:‬
‭●‬ ‭Dalits‬‭continue‬‭to‬‭face‬‭political‬‭marginalisation‬‭in‬‭urban‬‭governance‬‭structures,‬‭with‬
‭limited representation in decision-making processes and local institutions.‬
‭●‬ ‭Lack‬ ‭of‬ ‭political‬ ‭empowerment‬ ‭hinders‬ ‭their‬ ‭ability‬ ‭to‬ ‭advocate‬ ‭for‬ ‭their‬ ‭rights‬ ‭and‬
‭interests, perpetuating their socio-economic marginalisation.‬
‭Intersectional Discrimination:‬
‭●‬ ‭Dalit‬ ‭women,‬ ‭LGBTQ+‬ ‭individuals,‬ ‭and‬ ‭persons‬ ‭with‬ ‭disabilities‬ ‭face‬ ‭intersecting‬
‭forms of discrimination and marginalisation in urban areas.‬
‭●‬ ‭Intersectional‬ ‭identities‬ ‭compound‬ ‭the‬ ‭challenges‬ ‭faced‬ ‭by‬ ‭Dalits,‬ ‭exacerbating‬
‭disparities in access to resources, opportunities, and rights.‬
‭Impact‬
‭●‬ ‭Caste‬‭Persists:‬‭Cities‬‭haven't‬‭eliminated‬‭caste.‬‭Dalits‬‭face‬‭segregation‬‭in‬‭ghettos‬‭and‬
‭encounter prejudice in housing and professions.‬
‭●‬ ‭"Purity-Pollution":‬ ‭Caste‬ ‭translates‬ ‭into‬ ‭urban‬ ‭space‬ ‭through‬ ‭concepts‬ ‭like‬
‭"pollution" associated with Dalits, limiting their presence in certain areas.‬
‭●‬ ‭State‬ ‭Policy:‬ ‭Government‬ ‭regulations‬ ‭based‬ ‭on‬ ‭caste‬ ‭notions‬ ‭(e.g.,‬ ‭meat‬ ‭bans)‬
‭reinforce the idea of "purity" and "impurity" in public spaces.‬
‭●‬ ‭Unequal‬ ‭Services:‬ ‭Urban‬ ‭governance‬ ‭neglects‬ ‭Dalit‬ ‭settlements,‬ ‭leading‬ ‭to‬ ‭poor‬
‭infrastructure and limited access to basic services.‬
‭●‬ ‭Environmental‬‭Burden:‬‭Dalit‬‭communities‬‭are‬‭disproportionately‬‭located‬‭in‬‭polluted‬
‭areas, highlighting environmental injustice.‬
‭●‬ ‭Forced‬‭Evictions:‬‭Dalits‬‭face‬‭higher‬‭risks‬‭of‬‭eviction‬‭due‬‭to‬‭slum‬‭clearances,‬‭further‬
‭disrupting their lives.‬
‭Way forward‬
‭●‬ ‭Anti-discriminatory‬ ‭Urban‬ ‭Policies:‬ ‭Enact‬ ‭and‬‭enforce‬‭policies‬‭prohibiting‬‭housing‬
‭and job discrimination based on caste.‬
‭●‬ ‭Inclusive‬ ‭Urban‬ ‭Planning:‬ ‭Develop‬ ‭plans‬ ‭that‬ ‭integrate‬ ‭Dalit‬ ‭bastis‬ ‭into‬ ‭the‬ ‭city,‬
‭ensuring access to quality infrastructure and public services.‬
‭●‬ ‭Challenge‬‭Caste‬‭in‬‭Public‬‭Spaces:‬‭Promote‬‭policies‬‭that‬‭celebrate‬‭diversity‬‭in‬‭public‬
‭spaces,‬ ‭dismantling‬ ‭the‬ ‭idea‬ ‭of‬ ‭"purity"‬ ‭and‬ ‭"pollution"‬ ‭associated‬ ‭with‬ ‭certain‬
‭activities (e.g., meat consumption).‬
‭●‬ ‭Affirmative‬ ‭Action:‬ ‭Implement‬ ‭targeted‬ ‭programs‬ ‭to‬ ‭improve‬ ‭living‬ ‭conditions‬ ‭in‬
‭Dalit settlements, including sanitation, education, and healthcare initiatives.‬
‭●‬ ‭Dalit-led‬ ‭Development:‬ ‭Empower‬ ‭Dalit‬ ‭communities‬ ‭through‬ ‭participation‬ ‭in‬
‭planning and decision-making processes that impact their neighbourhoods.‬
‭Conclusion:‬
‭●‬ ‭While‬ ‭urbanisation‬ ‭has‬ ‭brought‬ ‭some‬ ‭economic‬ ‭opportunities‬ ‭for‬ ‭Dalits,‬ ‭caste‬
‭remains‬ ‭a‬ ‭defining‬ ‭feature‬ ‭of‬ ‭Indian‬ ‭cities.‬ ‭Achieving‬ ‭Ambedkar's‬ ‭vision‬ ‭for‬ ‭Dalit‬
‭liberation‬ ‭requires‬ ‭dismantling‬ ‭caste-based‬ ‭discrimination‬ ‭and‬ ‭ensuring‬ ‭equitable‬
‭access to resources and opportunities in urban spaces.‬
‭ )‬ ‭Discuss‬ ‭the‬ ‭various‬ ‭social‬ ‭problems‬ ‭which‬ ‭originated‬ ‭out‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭speedy‬ ‭process‬ ‭of‬
Q
‭urbanisation in India.‬ ‭[Mains 2013]‬

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‭2) Agri-food reforms‬

‭ S3-‬ ‭Major‬ ‭cropping‬ ‭patterns‬ ‭in‬ ‭various‬ ‭parts‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭country,‬ ‭different‬ ‭types‬‭of‬‭irrigation‬‭and‬
G
‭irrigation‬ ‭systems‬ ‭storage,‬ ‭transport‬ ‭and‬ ‭marketing‬ ‭of‬ ‭agricultural‬ ‭produce‬ ‭and‬ ‭issues‬ ‭and‬
‭related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers‬

‭Why in the news?‬

‭●‬ ‭Article‬ ‭on‬ ‭necessity‬ ‭of‬‭Agri-food‬‭reforms‬‭in‬
‭India‬
‭Indian Express:‬‭https://shorturl.at/tFRY8‬
‭Introduction‬
‭●‬ ‭India's‬ ‭agriculture‬ ‭sector‬ ‭faces‬ ‭challenges‬
‭of‬ ‭feeding‬ ‭a‬ ‭growing‬ ‭population‬ ‭(estimated‬
‭1.6‬ ‭billion‬ ‭by‬ ‭2047)‬ ‭with‬ ‭rising‬ ‭incomes‬
‭and climatic threats.‬
‭●‬ ‭This‬ ‭necessitates‬ ‭a‬ ‭food‬ ‭systems‬
‭transformation‬ ‭for‬ ‭efficiency,‬ ‭resilience,‬
‭and inclusivity.‬
‭Need for Agri-reforms‬
‭●‬ ‭Feeding‬ ‭a‬ ‭Growing‬ ‭Population:‬ ‭India's‬ ‭population‬ ‭is‬ ‭projected‬ ‭to‬‭reach‬‭1.6‬‭billion‬
‭by‬ ‭2047.‬ ‭Agri-reforms‬ ‭are‬ ‭needed‬‭to‬ ‭increase‬‭food‬‭production‬‭efficiently‬‭to‬‭meet‬‭the‬
‭needs of this larger population with rising incomes and changing dietary preferences.‬
‭●‬ ‭Climate‬ ‭Change‬ ‭Threat:‬ ‭Extreme‬ ‭weather‬ ‭events‬ ‭due‬ ‭to‬ ‭global‬ ‭warming‬ ‭threaten‬
‭agricultural‬‭productivity.‬ ‭Reforms‬‭are‬‭needed‬‭to‬‭adopt‬‭climate-resilient‬‭practices,‬‭like‬
‭heat-resistant‬ ‭seeds‬ ‭and‬ ‭water‬ ‭conservation‬‭techniques,‬‭to‬‭ensure‬‭food‬‭security‬‭in‬‭a‬
‭changing climate.‬
‭●‬ ‭Reducing‬‭Food‬‭Losses:‬ ‭India‬‭faces‬‭significant‬‭post-harvest‬‭losses‬‭due‬‭to‬‭inadequate‬
‭infrastructure‬ ‭and‬ ‭inefficient‬ ‭logistics.‬ ‭Reforms‬ ‭are‬ ‭needed‬ ‭to‬ ‭improve‬ ‭storage,‬
‭transportation,‬ ‭and‬ ‭processing‬ ‭facilities‬ ‭to‬ ‭minimise‬ ‭food‬ ‭waste‬ ‭and‬ ‭ensure‬ ‭efficient‬
‭food delivery to consumers.‬
‭●‬ ‭Empowering‬ ‭Small‬ ‭Farmers:‬ ‭Indian‬ ‭agriculture‬ ‭is‬ ‭dominated‬ ‭by‬ ‭small‬ ‭and‬
‭fragmented‬ ‭landholdings.‬ ‭Reforms‬ ‭are‬ ‭needed‬ ‭to‬ ‭empower‬ ‭small‬ ‭farmers‬ ‭through‬
‭cooperatives‬ ‭or‬ ‭FPOs‬ ‭to‬‭improve‬‭bargaining‬‭power,‬‭access‬‭markets,‬‭and‬‭benefit‬‭from‬
‭economies of scale.‬
‭●‬ ‭Nutritional‬‭Security:‬‭Malnutrition,‬‭particularly‬‭among‬‭children,‬‭remains‬‭a‬‭challenge‬
‭in‬‭India.‬‭Reforms‬‭are‬‭needed‬‭to‬‭promote‬‭the‬‭fortification‬‭of‬‭staple‬‭foods‬‭with‬‭essential‬
‭micronutrients to address malnutrition and improve public health.‬
‭●‬ ‭Improving‬‭Farmer‬‭Incomes:‬ ‭Low‬‭farmer‬‭incomes‬‭are‬‭a‬‭major‬‭concern.‬‭Reforms‬‭are‬
‭needed‬ ‭to‬ ‭improve‬ ‭farm‬ ‭profitability‬ ‭through‬ ‭better‬ ‭market‬ ‭access,‬ ‭efficient‬ ‭input‬
‭delivery‬ ‭systems,‬ ‭and‬ ‭potentially‬ ‭shifting‬ ‭subsidies‬ ‭from‬ ‭inputs‬ ‭to‬ ‭direct‬ ‭income‬
‭support.‬
‭Key Areas for Reform:‬
‭Food Systems Transformation:‬
‭●‬ ‭Shift‬ ‭towards‬ ‭a‬ ‭food‬ ‭systems‬ ‭transformation‬ ‭paradigm‬ ‭to‬ ‭meet‬ ‭the‬ ‭growing‬‭demand‬
‭for‬‭food,‬‭fibre,‬‭and‬‭fuel‬‭while‬‭optimising‬‭resource‬‭use.‬‭Focus‬‭on‬‭producing‬‭more‬‭with‬
‭fewer resources (land, water, labour, inputs).‬
‭●‬ ‭Emphasise‬ ‭total‬ ‭factor‬ ‭productivity‬ ‭through‬ ‭increased‬ ‭investment‬ ‭in‬ ‭agricultural‬
‭research and development (R&D), innovation, and extension services.‬
‭Climate Resilient Agriculture:‬
‭●‬ ‭Invest‬‭in‬‭climate-resilient‬‭agriculture‬‭to‬‭mitigate‬‭the‬‭impact‬‭of‬‭extreme‬‭weather‬‭events‬
‭caused by global warming.‬

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‭●‬ F ‭ ocus‬ ‭on‬ ‭heat‬ ‭and‬ ‭flood-resistant‬ ‭seed‬ ‭varieties,‬ ‭efficient‬ ‭water‬ ‭management‬
‭techniques,‬ ‭and‬ ‭precision‬ ‭agriculture‬ ‭practices‬ ‭to‬ ‭enhance‬ ‭productivity‬ ‭and‬
‭sustainability.‬
‭●‬ ‭Enhance water resource management for "more crop per drop."‬
‭Logistics Revolution:‬
‭●‬ ‭Develop infrastructure for efficient food movement from farms to urban areas.‬
‭●‬ ‭Promote‬ ‭private‬ ‭sector‬ ‭investments‬ ‭in‬ ‭transportation,‬ ‭storage,‬ ‭processing,‬ ‭and‬
‭organised retailing infrastructure to meet the needs of urban populations.‬
‭●‬ ‭Modernise archaic laws to build efficient value chains and reduce post-harvest losses.‬
‭Empowering Small Farmers:‬
‭●‬ ‭Promote‬ ‭Farmer‬ ‭Producer‬ ‭Organizations‬ ‭(FPOs)‬ ‭and‬ ‭cooperatives‬ ‭for‬ ‭collective‬
‭bargaining and scale.‬
‭●‬ ‭Draw‬‭lessons‬‭from‬‭successful‬‭models‬‭like‬‭AMUL‬‭to‬‭create‬‭inclusive‬‭value‬‭chains‬‭and‬
‭improve market access for small-scale farmers.‬
‭Nutritional Security:‬
‭●‬ ‭Go beyond food security to address malnutrition, especially among children under 5.‬
‭●‬ ‭Fortify staples like rice and wheat with micro-nutrients (e.g., zinc, beta-carotene).‬
‭●‬ ‭Advocate‬ ‭for‬ ‭the‬ ‭adoption‬ ‭of‬ ‭high-nutrition‬ ‭varieties‬ ‭like‬ ‭golden‬ ‭rice‬ ‭to‬ ‭improve‬ ‭the‬
‭nutritional quality of staple crops and combat deficiencies.‬
‭Public-Private Partnerships (PPP):‬
‭●‬ ‭Leverage‬ ‭private‬ ‭sector‬ ‭expertise‬ ‭for‬ ‭efficient‬ ‭value‬ ‭chain‬ ‭development‬ ‭and‬
‭climate-resilient seed production.‬
‭●‬ ‭Develop PLI-type schemes to incentivize investments in food systems transformation.‬
‭Income Enhancement and Subsidy Rationalisation:‬
‭●‬ ‭Repurpose‬ ‭subsidy‬ ‭regimes‬ ‭to‬ ‭prioritise‬ ‭direct‬ ‭income‬ ‭transfers‬ ‭for‬ ‭beneficiaries,‬
‭thereby reducing reliance on price subsidies for food and fertilisers.‬
‭●‬ ‭Reinvest‬‭subsidy‬‭savings‬‭into‬‭initiatives‬‭aimed‬‭at‬‭enhancing‬‭resilience‬‭and‬‭improving‬
‭nutrition in the agri-food sector.‬
‭Conclusion‬
‭●‬ ‭The‬ ‭success‬ ‭of‬ ‭agri-food‬ ‭reforms‬ ‭hinges‬ ‭on‬ ‭adopting‬ ‭a‬ ‭holistic‬ ‭approach‬ ‭that‬
‭integrates‬‭climate‬‭resilience,‬‭urbanisation‬‭challenges,‬‭nutritional‬‭security,‬‭and‬‭private‬
‭sector‬‭participation.‬‭By‬‭embracing‬‭innovation,‬‭collaboration,‬‭and‬‭policy‬‭reforms,‬‭India‬
‭can‬ ‭realise‬ ‭its‬ ‭vision‬ ‭of‬ ‭a‬ ‭sustainable‬ ‭and‬ ‭inclusive‬ ‭agri-food‬ ‭system‬ ‭capable‬ ‭of‬
‭meeting the needs of future generations.‬
‭ )‬ ‭Explain‬ ‭various‬ ‭types‬ ‭of‬ ‭revolutions,‬ ‭took‬ ‭place‬ ‭in‬ ‭Agriculture‬ ‭after‬ ‭Independence‬ ‭in‬
Q
‭India. How these revolutions have helped in poverty alleviation and food security in India?‬
‭[Mains 2017]‬

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