17th August 2022
Mains Question:
Q1. “In an era of rising cost of living, providing access to free period products is fundamental to equity and dignity” Comment (150 words)
Approach
- Introduction- Brief about rising cost of living and its impact on women
- Period poverty and its impact
- Discuss how period is a financial burden
- Period laws in India
- Nil GST for sanitary napkins
- Menstruation Benefits Bill, 2017
- Challenges/Issues
- Financial constraints
- Awareness issues
- Attached social stigma
- Required measures (Give example of Scotland)
- Conclude accordingly
Editorials
Context
Prime Minister announced that India has achieved its target of blending 10% sugarcane-extracted ethanol in petrol, ahead of schedule. India’s aim is to increase this ratio to 20% originally by 2030 but in 2021, when NITI Aayog put out the ethanol roadmap, that deadline was advanced to 2025.
What is ethanol blending?
- Naturally Produced- Ethanol is a biofuel, naturally produced by the fermentation of sugars by yeasts or by petrochemical processes like ethylene hydration.
- Derived from agricultural products- In ethanol blending, a blended motor fuel containing ethyl alcohol derived from agricultural products is blended with petrol specifically.
- High in oxygen content- Ethanol is high in oxygen content, allowing an engine to more thoroughly combust fuel.