GS Analyst: Daily Current Affairs

Context:

Doles and freebies announced during elections and their impact on the country's long-term financial health are problematic.

Election Promises and MSP Politics

• Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh MSP Battles: Congress promises MSP based on Cost C2, BJP contends with A2+FL. Competition in MSP pledges creates economic challenges and potential inflation.
• Free Ration Announcement: During Madhya Pradesh elections, PM Modi commits to 5-year free ration. Rising food subsidy bill concerns arise with increased MSP projections for wheat and paddy.
• Inconsistent Policy Approach: Despite MSP promises, the government unloads excess paddy and restricts non-basmati rice exports, revealing policy inconsistency. The economic impact and fiscal pressure are major concerns.

Dangers of Unchecked Populist Measures

• Temporary Economic Boost: Promised doles may temporarily increase rural incomes, stimulating rural demand and some business opportunities.
• Agri-Market Distortions: Unchecked promises lead to significant distortions in agricultural markets, potentially harming the overall economy.
• Fiscal Challenges: Unplanned populist measures strain state and central finances, posing long-term risks and challenges to India's economic development.

Need for Prudent Electoral Promises

• Caution in Promising: Parties urged to exercise caution in making populist promises to avoid long-term damage to India's development.
• Focus on Income or Investment Support: Advocates for income or investment support within budgetary limits, offering crop-neutral solutions.
• Taxpayers' Committees Proposal: Suggests the Election Commission or Supreme Court form taxpayers’ committees to evaluate the rationality of promises and educate the electorate.

Context:

Mitigation strategies have to be prioritised for increasing Air pollution.

Air Quality Index (AQI) Monitoring

• Centralized Monitoring: The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) uses AQI to streamline diverse air quality data from pollutants like PM 10, PM 2.5, NO2, SO2, CO, O3, NH3, and Pb into a single, comprehensive index.
• Urban Smog Contributors: Seminal studies highlight PM2.5 and PM10 pollution from the transport and construction sector as major contributors to urban smog, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions.
• Truck Emissions Challenge: The exponential increase in the truck fleet poses a threat to air quality. Over 9 lakh new trucks annually, primarily diesel-powered, contribute significantly to PM2.5 pollution and CO2 emissions.

Electrifying Truck Fleet for Clean Freight Transport

• Critical Transition: As India faces a surge in the truck fleet, urgent electrification becomes imperative. While the electrification of buses is underway, attention must shift to diesel trucks and dust mitigation for immediate PM reduction.
• Sustainability Impact: Swift adoption of electric trucks, with a recent demand for 7,750 e-trucks by 2030, could save over 800 billion liters of diesel till 2050, aligning with energy security and sustainability goals.
• Private Capital Engagement: Public funding alone is insufficient. A strategic approach involves creating bankable projects to attract private and institutional capital, accelerating the transition to electric trucks.

Green Freight Corridors for Accelerated Transition

• Strategic Declarations: Designating expressways and national highways as green freight corridors can serve as a national model. Accelerated feasibility studies and a conducive regulatory environment are crucial for their success.
• Demonstration Effect: Green freight corridors, starting with shorter 500-kilometer stretches on heavily trafficked routes, can demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of electrified freight transport.
• Financial Innovation: To accelerate truck electrification, a combination of innovative financial instruments, robust charging infrastructure incentives, and a supportive regulatory framework is essential for transformative change.

Context:

A new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said measles cases in 2022 have increased by 18%, compared to 2021.

Discrepancies in Measles Data

• Global Estimates vs. National Refutation: Highlight the conflicting reports between global estimates, stating 1.1 million unvaccinated infants in India, and the Health Ministry's claim of just over 21,000 children, emphasizing the disagreement over measles vaccination figures.
• WHO Data Clarification: Explain the Health Ministry's assertion that the WHO data relies on estimates, referencing the WHO UNICEF Estimates National Immunization Coverage (WUENIC) 2022 report, and the ministry's commitment to catch-up vaccinations for the reported cases.
• Importance of Accurate Reporting: Emphasize the critical need for accurate vaccination data, especially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, to facilitate informed policymaking and ensure effective healthcare interventions.

Challenges to Universal Immunization

• UIP's Massive Outreach: Discuss India's Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP), targeting millions of newborns and pregnant women annually, and the disruptions it faced due to routine vaccination interruptions during and post-COVID, leading to measles outbreaks.
• IMI 4.0 as a Remedy: Introduce Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) 4.0 as a strategic response to gaps in routine immunisation. Highlight its aim to cover unvaccinated and partially vaccinated children through a comprehensive approach, especially amid pandemic-related slowdowns.
• Vaccination Against VPDs: Detail the significance of IMI, offering vaccination against 12 Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPD), including measles-rubella, and its launch in 2022 to ensure routine immunisation services reach vulnerable populations, particularly children up to two years old.

Impact of COVID-19 on Measles Vaccination

• Global Setbacks and Vulnerabilities: Discuss the WHO's acknowledgment of setbacks in global surveillance and immunisation due to COVID-19, emphasizing the increased vulnerability of millions of children, globally and in India, to diseases like measles.
• Regional Outbreaks in India: Cite instances from late last year, where Maharashtra and Kerala experienced measles spikes, leading to deaths and cases. Highlight the implications of low immunisation contributing to outbreaks and risks for unvaccinated children.
• Call to Action: Conclude by underscoring the urgency for additional measures in routine and catch-up measles vaccinations. Emphasize the role of stakeholders in children's healthcare to curb the disease's prevalence, especially in the face of ongoing health challenges.