GS Analyst: Daily Current Affairs

President Droupadi Murmu addressed the National Conference of District Judiciary on September 1, 2024, focusing on the pressing issue of delays in justice delivery in India. Her remarks come amid growing concerns over the inefficiencies within the judicial system, especially regarding the handling of heinous crimes such as rape.

Key Issues Highlighted:

• Inordinate Delay in Justice Delivery: The President underscored the detrimental impact of prolonged delays in legal proceedings, particularly in sensitive cases like rape. She pointed out that justice delayed is justice denied, leading to a loss of faith in the judicial system.
• Culture of Adjournments: Murmu criticized the prevalent practice of frequent adjournments in courts, which she believes exacerbates the delay in delivering justice. She described this as a significant issue affecting the efficiency of the judiciary.
• Impact on Victims: The President highlighted the specific plight of victims, especially women, who endure prolonged suffering due to delayed justice. She emphasized the emotional and psychological toll on victims who face fear and stigma while perpetrators often continue with impunity.
• "Black Coat Syndrome": She coined the term "black coat syndrome" to describe the anxiety and distress experienced by ordinary citizens when interacting with the judicial system, likening it to the phenomenon of "white coat hypertension" seen in medical settings.

Reason behind issues in the Judiciary

• The delay of justice is attributed to the burdened courts and the accumulation of pending cases.
  • As of 2024, about 3.5 million cases are still stuck in the courts, waiting to be resolved.
• The considerable number of legal cases, in combination with deficient infrastructure and insufficient judicial resources, imposes a burden on the legal system. As a result, litigants are subjected to prolonged waiting periods.
• The issue of prolonged court proceedingscan be attributed to a multitude of factors. The issue is further compounded by the limited availability of judges. India is confronted with a persistent insufficiency of judges, resulting in an unfavorable ratio of judges to population.
  • India has a low judge-to-population ratio. Compared to developed nations, India has only 21 judges per million citizens while the US has 107 judges per million.
• The non-existence of dedicated courts or tribunals for specific legal domainsimposes extra weight on the judicial system. 

Required Interventions:

• Call for Judicial Reforms: President Murmu urged for a reform in the judicial process to end the culture of adjournments and improve the speed and efficiency of justice delivery.
• Coordination Among Stakeholders: She called for better coordination between the judiciary, government, and police to address the issues facing the legal system comprehensively.
• Moral Responsibility: Emphasizing the moral responsibility of judges and judicial officers, she urged them to uphold justice, truth, and dharma with sensitivity and promptness, particularly at the district level.

A recent study published in Nature Cities highlights a significant trend in urban growth worldwide, with cities increasingly expanding vertically rather than horizontally. This shift is particularly notable in Asia, where rapid urbanization and high population densities necessitate taller buildings to accommodate growing populations.

Issues highlighted in the Study

• Infrastructural Strain: As cities grow upwards, existing infrastructure—such as roads, sewage systems, and public transport—may struggle to keep pace with the increased demands. This can lead to inefficiencies and overburdened services.
• Environmental Impact: Increased vertical growth can exacerbate urban heat island effects, where the concentration of buildings and reduced green spaces lead to higher temperatures and altered local climates. Taller buildings may also contribute to higher energy consumption and greater carbon footprints.
• Planning and Regulation Challenges: Urban areas with stringent building regulations, such as those seen in parts of India, face difficulties in accommodating vertical growth. In some cases, regulatory frameworks and master plans are outdated, failing to address the complexities of modern urban development effectively.

Reason Behind the Trend:

• The primary driver of vertical growth is the necessity to accommodate a rapidly increasing urban population within limited spatial boundaries.
• As cities reach the limits of horizontal expansion, building upwards becomes a practical solution.
• This vertical growth trend is particularly pronounced in densely populated cities across East Asia, where high population densities and economic factors push for taller structures.

Impact:

• Urban Density: Vertical growth increases population density within urban areas, potentially improving land use efficiency and making it possible to house more people within a smaller footprint.
• Economic Considerations: Tall buildings can enhance property values and contribute to economic growth by providing more commercial and residential space in prime locations. However, they also require substantial investment in specialized construction and maintenance.
• Climate Resilience: The increased density and reduced green space associated with vertical growth can impact local climate conditions and increase vulnerability to heat-related issues. Urban planning must incorporate climate resilience strategies to mitigate these effects.
• Public Services: The demand for enhanced public services, including transportation and utilities, grows with vertical expansion. Effective urban planning and infrastructure development are crucial to ensuring that these services can meet the needs of a growing population.
• Positive Impacts:
  • Rapid urbanisation is crucial for harnessing the demographic dividend of a young population. With 12 million more people joining the country’s labour force every year, the potential of that dividend is huge. As the urbanisation process continues, connectivity, proximity, and diversity will accelerate knowledge diffusion, spark further innovation, and enhance productivity and employment growth.

The quick commerce (q-commerce) sector in India is experiencing significant growth, driven by changing consumer preferences for rapid and on-demand delivery. The sector has evolved quickly from near-zero to a major component of the e-commerce market, with projections estimating its value at $6 billion by 2025. Major players like BlinkIt and Zepto dominate the market, while global giants like Amazon are preparing to enter the space.

Key Issues Highlighted:

• The Indian q-commerce market has surged, with almost 40% of online grocery sales now attributed to q-commerce.
• India’s e-commerce market grew 18-20% by value in the first half of 2024, with grocery sales rising over 38%, primarily due to q-commerce.
• Global Trends: Q-commerce is expanding globally, with the Asia-Pacific region holding the largest market share, followed by North America. The global q-commerce market was valued at $68.82 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 22.2% through 2030.
• Technological Innovations:
  • Dynamic Pricing: BlinkIt uses AI algorithms to adjust prices in real-time based on demand and competitor pricing.
  • Dynamic Widgets: Swiggy Instamart’s dynamic UI rendering allows for real-time updates without new app releases.
  • Demand Forecasting: Zepto employs machine learning for accurate demand prediction and efficient inventory management.
  • Smart Logistics: Dunzo utilizes AI for demand prediction, dynamic pricing, automated dispatch, and fraud detection.
  • Automated Billing: BigBasket’s AI-driven self-billing system enhances efficiency and accuracy in checkout processes.

Reason Behind Innovations:

• Consumer Demand: The rise in demand for instant delivery and convenience has driven the adoption of advanced technologies in q-commerce.
• Competitive Edge: Companies use innovative technologies to maintain a competitive edge in a rapidly growing market.
• Operational Efficiency: Technological solutions are aimed at improving efficiency, reducing errors, and enhancing customer experience.

Impact:

• Enhanced Convenience: Q-commerce provides unprecedented convenience, delivering a wide range of products almost instantly.
• Improved Efficiency: Innovations such as dynamic pricing and AI-driven demand forecasting have streamlined operations and reduced costs.
• Market Expansion: The growth of q-commerce has expanded the e-commerce market and created new opportunities for technological advancements.
• Potential Applications and Future Directions:
  • The rapid delivery model could extend to critical services, potentially revolutionizing sectors like healthcare.
  • Innovations from q-commerce can be applied to various industries, including government services, enhancing efficiency and responsiveness.

PYQ

Q: What are the impediments in marketing and supply chain management in developing the food processing industry in India? Can e-commerce help in overcoming this bottleneck?  [2015]

On September 1, 1939, German troops invaded Poland, marking the beginning of World War II, the deadliest conflict in human history involving approximately 100 million people from 30 countries. Following this invasion, Great Britain and France declared war on Germany on September 3, 1939, honoring their commitment to assist Poland. This event highlights the failure of the Munich Agreement, signed less than a year earlier, which is now viewed as a significant miscalculation in dealing with Adolf Hitler’s expansionist ambitions.

About Munich Agreement

• Date of Signing: September 29-30, 1938
• Participants: Germany, France, Italy, and Great Britain
• Objective: To address Hitler’s demands regarding the Sudetenland, a region of Czechoslovakia with a large ethnic German population.
  • Czechoslovakia was not a signatory and was compelled to agree to the terms under pressure from the signatory powers.
• The Agreement allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland, which was home to over three million ethnic Germans.

The zinc covering the roofs of central Paris has given the French capital's skyline its distinctive grey hue for almost two centuries. The French culture ministry has chosen the zinc roofers as the country's entry for the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

About

• The rooftops of Paris are made using zinc and are built in the Mansard roof style.
  • These zinc rooftops were largely installed across Paris during the city’s massive redo during the 1800s under city planner Baron Haussmann. He chose zinc as it was cheap, light, weather repellant, and easy to install.
• Paris has 128,000 roofs covering a surface area of 32 million square metres, of which 21.4mn are of the traditional zinc-covered variety.
• Heating Problem: The zinc the covers almost 80% of Parisian roofs has come under criticism for its role in overheating buildings.
  • Darker roofs absorb more solar energy, leading to increased indoor temperatures.
  • The heat retention of zinc roofs contributes to the urban heat island effect

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has recently undertaken the task of copying significant stone inscriptions from various temples in Tamil Nadu to preserve and study these historical records.

Key details of the project:

• Locations and Temples Involved:
  • Tiruchi District:
    • Mattrurai Varadeswarar Temple at Thiruvasi, Manachanallur taluk.
    • Agneeswarar Temple at Periya Karuppur village, Srirangam taluk.
  • Theni District:
    • Mayapandieswarar Temple and Varadharaja Perumal Temple at Melmangalam, Periyakulam taluk.
  • Madurai District:
    • Moolanathaswamy Temple in Sholavandan taluk.
  • Methodology: Inscriptions are copied onto maplitho papers to create accurate reproductions. These copies are then used for detailed study. The process involves tracing the inscriptions to preserve the exact details for further research.
  • Major inscriptions identified:
    • Thiruvasi Temple Inscriptions: Believed to date back to the Kulothunga Chola period; exact dates are pending further analysis.
    • Periya Karuppur Temple Inscriptions: Date back to the 14th Century during the Vijayanagara Kingdom, with references to donations made to temples.
    • Theni Temples Inscriptions: From the 12th Century, with references to the Pandiya king Sundarapandiyan and Devadana (land donated to temples).
    • Madurai Temples Inscriptions: Found on nearly 30 pillars at Moolanathaswamy Temple.

Massive floods, due to relentless rain disrupted life in Andhra and Telangana, following a low-pressure system in the Bay of Bengal.

What factors are responsible?

• The torrential rains were fueled by a low-pressure system in the Bay of Bengal.
• The situation had intensified, with Vijayawada caught between the surging Krishna river on one side and the overflowing Budameru rivulet, known as the 'Sorrow of Vijayawada', on the other.
  • The Budameru rivulet, which originates in Khammam district, saw a significant rise in floodwaters. 

Given the shifting dynamics in India's neighbourhood, it becomes important to evaluate India's role and response to recent political upheavals in neighboring countries.

Historical Successes

• Bangladesh's Democratic Transition: In 2008, India played a crucial role in facilitating democratic elections in Bangladesh, leading to Sheikh Hasina’s government, which has been generally supportive of Indian interests.
• Sri Lanka’s Post-LTTE Period: India’s support was instrumental in Sri Lanka's post-2009 recovery from the LTTE conflict, helping establish closer ties with a unified Sri Lanka.
• Democratic Advancements in Maldives and Myanmar: India supported democratic transitions in the Maldives (2008) and Myanmar (2010), contributing to their political stability and democratic maturation.

Recent Challenges

• Bangladesh’s Political Crisis: In 2024, Bangladesh faced a political crisis with the collapse of Sheikh Hasina’s government, revealing India’s limited influence and failure to engage effectively with opposition forces.
• Sri Lanka’s Economic and Political Instability: Sri Lanka’s severe economic crisis and political turmoil in 2022 highlighted India’s role in providing emergency financial aid and maintaining diplomatic engagement amid instability.
• Maldives and Myanmar’s Political Turbulence: India misjudged the political shifts in the Maldives and Myanmar, leading to diplomatic challenges and necessitating a recalibration of India’s foreign policy approaches.

Current Strategies and Recommendations

• Recalibrating Engagement with Neighbors: India needs to engage more dynamically with Bangladesh and Myanmar, balancing its support between democratic forces and strategic interests to stabilize the region.
• Continued Developmental Support: India’s developmental projects across the region, including in Afghanistan, demonstrate its commitment to fostering goodwill and stability, even amid political upheavals.
• Strategic Patience and Diplomacy: India must employ strategic patience and enhance diplomatic efforts to navigate the complex political landscapes of its neighbors while protecting its interests and promoting regional stability.

Practice Question

Q. Discuss the impact of political instability in India’s neighboring countries on its foreign policy. How should India adapt its diplomatic strategies to effectively manage these challenges?

The devastating conflict in Sudan has emerged as the world's worst humanitarian crisis in 2023, surpassing even the Gaza situation. The conflict, involving the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Force (RSF), has led to catastrophic humanitarian conditions and drawn international attention.

Historical Background

• Long History of Strife: Sudan has a history of civil conflict and military coups since gaining independence in 1956. It has experienced 15 military coups and two civil wars, including the Darfur conflict involving the Janjaweed militia, the precursor to the RSF.
• Autocratic Rule and Its Collapse: The 30-year autocratic rule of Omar Hassan al-Bashir ended with a military coup in April 2019. Efforts to establish a civilian-military government were undermined, leading to another coup in October 2021 and the current conflict between SAF and RSF.
• Emergence of the Current Conflict: The conflict began in April 2023 between SAF and RSF, exacerbated by the failure of a proposed integration plan and the ambitions of the two military leaders. Despite SAF’s larger military, it struggled to control the situation, leading to widespread devastation.

International and Regional Implications

• Foreign Involvement: Sudan's strategic location and resources have attracted foreign interests. Egypt and Iran support SAF, while Russia’s Wagner Group and the UAE back RSF. The involvement of multiple international actors complicates the conflict.
• Failed Peace Initiatives: Numerous attempts by international bodies like the UN and regional organizations to broker peace have failed. The UN Security Council’s resolution was largely symbolic, and recent peace talks in Geneva ended without a ceasefire agreement.
• Impact on India: India has significant stakes in Sudan due to trade and investment interests. It evacuated its nationals early in the conflict but remains concerned about the potential revival of Islamic militancy affecting its interests.

Indian Stakes and Strategic Considerations

• Economic and Investment Ties: India’s trade with Sudan reached $2 billion in 2022-23, with a favorable trade balance. India also has substantial investments in Sudan’s upstream sector and has provided considerable financial aid through lines of credit.
• People-to-People Relations: Strong people-to-people ties exist through Sudanese students and medical tourists in India, reflecting the deep-rooted relationship between the two countries.
• Potential Threats: A prolonged conflict in Sudan could lead to increased Islamic militancy, posing a potential threat to India’s security interests in the region.

Practice Question

Q. “To achieve a sustainable impact in South Sudan and across the broader region, India must modernize its peacekeeping strategies to align with its evolving foreign policy objectives.” Comment

A recently introduced scheme by the Centre and the Punjab government aimed at diversifying agriculture away from paddy cultivation, offers an incentive of Rs 17,500 per hectare to farmers to switch to less water-intensive crops. Despite this initiative, there are concerns about its effectiveness due to existing subsidies favoring paddy and the need for additional policy measures to ensure successful implementation.

Scheme Overview and Challenges

• Incentive Details: The scheme offers Rs 17,500 per hectare to farmers shifting from paddy to alternative crops, covering up to five hectares. The funding is shared between the Centre and Punjab government, totaling Rs 289.87 crore for 2024-25. While this is a positive step, further efforts are needed to achieve sustainable agriculture.
• Challenges in Haryana: Haryana has a similar scheme, but results have been lackluster due to a significant profitability gap between paddy and alternative crops like pulses and oilseeds. The current incentive of Rs 17,500 per hectare is insufficient compared to the subsidies farmers receive for paddy, which exceed Rs 38,000 per hectare.
• Need for Long-Term Policy: For effective diversification, the incentive should be operational for at least five years. The current policy does not specify if the Rs 17,500 is an annual amount or a one-time incentive, which could impact farmers’ willingness to switch crops if the support is not sustained.

Policy Recommendations and Support

• Reorienting Subsidy Policy: To make diversification more attractive, the incentive should match or exceed the existing paddy subsidies, ideally around Rs 35,000 per hectare. This adjustment would not increase state or central budgets but would involve reallocating existing subsidies from power and fertilisers.
• Ensuring Procurement at MSP: Farmers need assurance of procurement at Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for alternative crops. The Centre should involve NAFED in guaranteeing the MSP for pulses and oilseeds to reduce market risk and make crop diversification more feasible.
• Additional Support Measures: The scheme could be complemented by redirecting funds from paddy procurement to support other crops. Transitioning away from paddy could release substantial funds, which could be used to stabilize MSPs for alternative crops and support market-oriented approaches for high-value crops.

Environmental and Economic Benefits

• Environmental Impact: Diversifying crops will reduce groundwater depletion, greenhouse gas emissions, and soil degradation. Paddy cultivation requires extensive irrigation and contributes to environmental issues like stubble burning, while alternative crops need significantly less water and have lower emissions.
• Economic Opportunities: Successful diversification could open opportunities for carbon credits and high-value horticulture exports. Engaging Farmer Producer Organisations and developing logistics for export markets, particularly in West Asia, could enhance economic benefits for farmers.
• Collaborative Efforts Required: A successful transition will require coordinated efforts between the Centre and the state governments of Punjab and Haryana. This collaboration should focus on both policy adjustments and practical support mechanisms to ensure the scheme’s effectiveness and sustainability.

Practice Question

Q. Critically evaluate the new scheme introduced by the Centre and the Punjab government to incentivize crop diversification away from paddy cultivation. What additional measures are necessary to ensure its success, and how can these measures address the existing challenges in Punjab and Haryana?