GS Analyst: Daily Current Affairs

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has identified a significant financial challenge for low- and middle-income countries to achieve universal social protection. According to a working paper by the ILO, an additional $1.4 trillion per year is needed globally to provide universal access to essential social protection guarantees, including support for children, persons with severe disabilities, mothers of newborns, older persons, unemployed, and essential health care.

Key-highlights of ILO’s Working Paper

• Among all regions, Africa faces the most substantial challenge in reaching universal social protection coverage. The financing gap for low-income countries is particularly stark, amounting to more than half (52.3%) of their annual gross domestic product (GDP), underscoring the immense financial burden these countries face.
• The ILO document presents detailed estimates of the funding required at global, regional, and national levels. It emphasizes the critical need for international solidarity to bridge these financing gaps, highlighting that many low-income countries cannot achieve these goals without significant external support.
• The ILO paper underscores a formidable financial challenge in achieving universal social protection, especially for low-income countries.
• Astonishingly, these nations face a funding gap that exceeds half of their annual GDP—52.3%. This stark reality highlights an urgent need: only through international solidarity and cooperation can this immense gap be bridged, ensuring that essential social protections become a global reality.

Here is a table summarizing the distribution of funds needed for universal social protection and the basis for calculating the financing gaps for child benefits and old-age pensions:

Global and Regional Financing Gaps

• Overall Gap: The overall financing gap for universal social protection in low- and middle-income countries is 3.3% of GDP per year. This gap comprises 2% of GDP for essential health care and 1.3% for key social protection cash benefits (covering children, persons with severe disabilities, mothers of newborns, older persons, and the unemployed).
• Regional Disparities:
  • Africa: Faces the most significant challenge with a financing gap of 17.6% of the region’s annual GDP. This high percentage reflects severe financial constraints and substantial needs in the continent.
  • Arab States: The financing gap stands at 11.4% of GDP, indicating significant financial hurdles in achieving universal coverage.
  • Latin America and the Caribbean: The gap is relatively lower at 2.7% of GDP, suggesting more manageable, yet still significant, financial challenges.
  • Asia and the Pacific: With a gap of 2% of GDP, this region faces moderate financial needs for universal social protection.
  • Europe and Central Asia: The lowest among the regions, the financing gap here is 1.9% of GDP, indicating relatively better financial capacity to address social protection needs.

Measures required to address the financing gap

Achieving universal social protection in low- and middle-income countries necessitates a significant increase in government spending, estimated at 10.6% of total annual spending. This ambitious goal requires a multifaceted approach involving domestic resource mobilization, better debt management, and international support.

• Increased Government Spending: To bridge the financing gap, low- and middle-income countries must increase government spending by 10.6% of their total annual expenditure. This increase can be sourced from domestic resources, such as improved taxation systems and social security contributions, alongside better sovereign debt management practices.
• Domestic Resource Mobilization:
  • Taxation: Implementing more effective and progressive taxation policies is crucial. This includes higher taxes on higher income groups and corporations, particularly those that contribute most to carbon emissions.
  • Social Security Contributions: Expanding the base for social security contributions can provide a steady source of funding for social protection schemes.
• Sovereign Debt Management: Effective debt management strategies can free up resources for social protection. This includes renegotiating debt terms and improving fiscal policies to reduce debt burdens.
• Climate Crisis Mitigation: The working paper highlights the role of universal social protection in mitigating the impacts of the climate crisis by reducing vulnerabilities and providing a safety net against climate shocks. Social protection systems can help communities adapt to climate change, safeguarding livelihoods and enhancing resilience against environmental stresses.
• Progressive Taxation and Carbon Pricing: To address climate change and its unequal impacts, progressive taxation is essential. This includes taxes on high carbon dioxide producers and consumers.
• International Climate Financing: International climate financing can play a pivotal role in strengthening and adapting social protection systems in low- and middle-income countries.

Conclusion

To achieve universal social protection, low- and middle-income countries must undertake significant fiscal reforms, including increasing government spending and enhancing domestic resource mobilization through progressive taxation and better debt management. Additionally, addressing the climate crisis through targeted policies like carbon taxes and eliminating fossil fuel subsidies is crucial. International climate financing can bolster these efforts, ensuring that social protection systems are resilient and capable of mitigating the adverse effects of climate change. This comprehensive approach not only supports social equity but also promotes sustainable economic growth and environmental stewardship.

The 33% reservation of seats in the Lok Sabha and state legislatures for women has long been a subject of debate and deliberation in India's political arena. However, the stark reality of underrepresentation persists, with only 13% of elected MPs in the 18th Lok Sabha being women, reflecting a decline from the previous term.

Key Highlights:

• Gender Disparity in Elected Representatives: Despite the provision for reservation, the number of women elected to the Lok Sabha remains significantly lower than their male counterparts. In the 18th Lok Sabha, only 73 out of 543 elected MPs are women.
• Challenges in Candidate Representation: The disparity among candidates further exacerbates the gender gap, with only 797 out of 8,337 candidates being women. While there was a marginal increase in the number of women candidates from the previous elections, their share among total candidates remains disproportionately low.
• India's Global Ranking: India's recent global ranking for women's representation in the lower house of Parliament, dropping to 148 out of 185 countries.

Factors Hindering Women's Inclusion in Politics:

• Gender stereotypes perpetuate the notion that politics is a male-dominated sphere, deterring women from actively participating in political processes.
• Lack of political networks and connections often pose significant barriers for women aspiring to enter politics, as access to influential circles remains limited.
• Financial strains and resource constraints hinder women's ability to contest elections, as the cost of campaigning and mobilizing support can be prohibitively high.
• Limited political education and awareness among women further marginalize their participation in politics, as many lack the knowledge and skills required to navigate the complexities of electoral processes.

Schemes to Promote Women Empowerment:

• National Commission for Women: Established in 1992, this statutory body is tasked with monitoring and addressing issues related to women's rights and welfare, including political representation.
• Reservation for Women in Local Self-Government: The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992 mandates one-third reservation for women in all elected offices in local bodies, aiming to enhance their participation in grassroots governance.
• Women’s Reservation Bill, 2023: This landmark legislation seeks to reserve one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies for women, ensuring greater representation and inclusivity in higher echelons of governance.
• Other Initiatives: Various government schemes and programs, such as
  • Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
  • Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana
  • National Social Assistance Programme
  • Samagra Shiksha

In a significant policy shift, the Australian military has announced plans to recruit non-citizen residents from select countries to address personnel shortages and bolster troop numbers. This move comes as Australia seeks to enhance its defense capabilities and strengthen resilience against potential threats to its national security.

Key Highlights:

• Eligibility Criteria: Non-citizen residents from countries within the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing partnership, holding Australian permanent residency, will be eligible for recruitment into the Australian Defense Force (ADF).
• Strategic Imperative: The decision to recruit non-citizen residents is driven by the strategic imperative to build a military force capable of countering foreign coercion, particularly through disrupted trade routes, in the future.
• Vulnerability to Coercion: Australia's reliance on open sea and air routes for international trade makes it susceptible to coercion from foreign militaries. Strengthening defense capabilities is essential to safeguard national interests and ensure strategic autonomy.
• Personnel Shortfall: The Australian Defense Force currently faces a shortfall of 4,400 personnel against its target strength of 63,600 full-time personnel. The government aims to increase troop numbers to 80,000 by 2040 to meet evolving security challenges.

The recent Global Soil Partnership Assembly discussed how to meet “ambitious and urgent” target of improving and maintaining health of at least 50 percent of world's soils by 2030.

Soil Map of India

In India, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), has classified soils into 8 categories:

• Alluvial Soil:

  • Formation: Deposited by rivers, particularly originating from the Himalayas.

  • Composition: Contains clay, sand, and silt particles.

  • Characteristics: Highly fertile due to adequate potash, lime, and phosphoric acid.

  • Types: Old alluvium (Bangar) and new alluvium (Khadar).

  • Locations: Northern plains from Punjab to West Bengal, Assam, and delta regions of rivers like Mahanadi, Kaveri, Godavari, and Krishna.

  • Crops: Wheat, maize, sugarcane, rice, pulses, and oilseeds.

• Black Soil (Regur):

  • Formation: Derived from lava and volcanic rocks.

  • Composition: Rich in potash, lime, magnesium carbonate, and calcium carbonate.

  • Locations: Predominantly found in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.

  • Characteristics: High moisture retention and water holding capacity.

  • Crops: Cotton, wheat, millet, and tobacco.

• Peaty Soil:

  • Formation: Accumulation of organic matter in humid climates.

  • Composition: High organic matter, low potash, and phosphate content.

  • Locations: Few districts of Kerala, coastal areas of Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Uttaranchal, and Sundarbans of West Bengal.

  • Characteristics: Acidic, black soil.

  • Organic Matter Content: 10-40%.

• Saline and Alkaline Soil:

  • Formation: High sodium, potassium, and magnesium content, poor drainage, and dry climate.

  • Locations: Arid and semi-arid areas of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Maharashtra.

  • Characteristics: High salt content, calcium, and nitrogen deficiency.

  • Improvement: Enhanced irrigation, drainage, gypsum application, and cultivation of salt-resistant crops.

  • Suitability: Leguminous crops.

• Red Soil:

  • Formation: Weathering of metamorphic and igneous rocks, high iron content.

  • Locations: Parts of Karnataka, Orissa, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra.

  • Characteristics: Rich in potash, sandy or clayey texture, deficient in nitrogen, phosphate, and humus.

  • Color: Red due to iron oxide.

• Desert Soil:

  • Formation: High sand content (90-95%), low clay content, low rainfall.

  • Locations: Rajasthan, Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, parts of Haryana, and Punjab.

  • Characteristics: Low water holding capacity, high phosphate content.

  • Vegetation: Cactus, shrubs; fertility increased temporarily by rainfall and irrigation.

• Laterite Soil:

  • Formation: Heavy rainfall regions, sedimentation of rocks, high iron oxide content.

  • Locations: Western and Eastern Ghats, Vindhya, Malwa Plateau, Satpura.

  • Characteristics: Pinkish color, high in nitrogen, acidic.

  • Suitable Crops: Rubber, coconut, coffee, cashew nuts, sugar, ragi, and rice.

• Mountain Soil:

  • Formation: Accumulation of organic matter from forest growth.

  • Locations: Himalayan regions, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, peninsular India, Eastern Ghats, and Assam.

  • Characteristics: Rich in humus.

  • Texture:

Issues

• Challenges: low nutrient levels, with the average soil organic carbon (SOC) being around 0.54 percent, land degradation, Nutrient depletions and deficiencies in soil, deterioration of soil health.
  • Acidic soil: Over 30 per cent of cultivable land in India is said to carry acidic soil, impacting plant growth. 
  • Sulphur Deficiency
  • Loss of soil inorganic carbon
  • 55 percent of the country’s soil is deficient in nitrogen, 42 percent in phosphorus and 44 percent in organic carbon (2019-20 Soil Health Survey)
• Impact: Negatively affected nutrition intake, declining productivity, threatened food security, soil erosion, reduced soil biodiversity, diminished soil fertility, and compromised water quality and availability, significant risks to human health and ecosystems.

The National Level Coordination Committee (NLCC) for the World’s largest grain storage plan recently held its maiden meeting in the Ministry of Cooperation, New Delhi.

What is the World’s largest grain storage plan?

• This pilot project aims to enhance agricultural infrastructure at the grassroots level by establishing facilities like warehouses, processing units, and Fair Price Shops in Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS).
• It integrates several existing government schemes like the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure Scheme (AMI), Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme (PMFME) etc.
• Implementing Agencies: National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) with the support of NABARD, Food Corporation of India (FCI), Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC), NABARD Consultancy Services (NABCONS) in coordination with States/ UTs concerned.

Need of such initiative

• At present, India holds 11% (16 Crore Hectare) of World’s total Cultivable Area (138 Crore Hectare) and 18% (140 Crore) of Total World Population (790 Crore).
• However, the total Food Grain Production in India is 311 MMT and total Storage Capacity in India is only 145 MMT, i.e, there is a shortage of 166 MMT in Storage capacity.(as per FAO Statistical Data 2021).
• While other countries boast a surplus of 131%, India faces a deficit of 47% in storage capacity.

The transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing India's digital public infrastructure (DPI) is significant. The focus is on how AI can expand the reach, efficiency, and user-centricity of DPI, addressing the diversity of the Indian population and overcoming current limitations.

AI’s Role in Enhancing DPI:

1. Decentralized Compute Power: The shift from centralized massive data centers to distributed micro data centers using interoperable protocols allows for more efficient and accessible compute power across the country.
2. AI-Guided Innovation: With AI companies pledging to follow a code-of-conduct, innovation can be guided ethically without waiting for new AI laws, ensuring responsible development and deployment of AI technologies.
3. Dynamic Adaptability: AI’s ability to dynamically adjust to individual preferences and contexts makes public services more responsive and user-centric, addressing linguistic and cultural diversity by adapting to local contexts.

Transformative Potential of AI in DPI:

1. Unbundling Traditional Processes: Standardization at the heart of DPI design ensures that services can reach the largest cross-section of society. AI can enhance these standardized solutions by enabling private sector innovation to meet diverse customer requirements.
2. Enhancing User Interaction: AI can simplify complex interactions through intuitive, conversational interfaces, making it easier for users to engage with technology without needing extensive digital skills.
3. Case Study - Setu’s PFM App: The personal financial management (PFM) app, integrated with WhatsApp, demonstrates AI’s potential to offer personalized financial advice through familiar and user-friendly platforms, enhancing user experience and accessibility.

Challenges and Policy Implications:

1. Standardization vs. Diversity: While standardization has allowed DPI to scale, it often sacrifices variability. AI can help bridge this gap by bringing variety to standardized solutions.
2. Integration with Existing Systems: AI’s integration with existing DPI, such as the Account Aggregator system, showcases its potential to enhance current services, but also highlights the need for seamless integration.
3. Inclusivity and Scalability: Ensuring that AI-enhanced DPI solutions remain inclusive and scalable is crucial. AI’s ability to adapt to individual contexts while maintaining scalability can help achieve this balance.

UPSC Mains Questions

Q. Examine the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing India’s digital public infrastructure (DPI). Discuss the benefits and challenges associated with integrating AI into DPI.

India’s road infrastructure has expanded significantly however the unsustainable and inequitable nature of India's road mobility highlights the adverse effects of expanding road infrastructure without adequate planning. It addresses issues such as air pollution, traffic congestion, and the disproportionate impact on poorer communities.

Controversy Surrounding Road Infrastructure:

1. Introduction to the Issue: India has significantly expanded its road infrastructure, with a current road length of 5.13 km per 1,000 people, compared to 20 km in the US and 3.6 km in China. The budget for road transport and highways has increased, focusing more on new roads than maintaining existing ones.
2. Impact on Road Quality and Efficiency: Poor quality of existing roads leads to more accidents, lower fuel efficiency, and higher pollution. The average intra-city vehicle speed in major Indian cities is among the lowest in the world, contributing to increased fossil-fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
3. Air Pollution and Health Hazards: The transport sector is a major contributor to urban air pollution and global greenhouse gas emissions. Pollution-related deaths in India were 1.67 million in 2019, with a significant fraction caused by vehicular emissions. India's commitment to reduce road-related accidents by 2030 faces challenges with the current strategy.

Global Environmental Concerns and Policy Implications:

1. Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Road transport accounts for a significant portion of global greenhouse gas emissions, with 14% of the total in 2018. Urban air pollution, exacerbated by vehicular emissions, poses severe health risks, particularly to poorer communities.
2. Congestion and Traffic Management: Expanding road infrastructure without proper planning results in shifting choke points and persistent congestion. Examples like the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway and Dwarka Expressway illustrate the inefficiencies and safety issues of current road projects.
3. Demand Management vs. Capacity Expansion: Capacity additions often fail to ease congestion due to rising demand. Strategies like odd-even schemes lead to higher vehicle ownership rather than effective demand management. Public and rail transportation modes should be prioritized for environmental and cost-effectiveness.

Challenges of Implementation and Ensuring Inclusivity:

1. Inadequate Planning and Design: Many road projects, such as the Delhi-Gurgaon and Dwarka expressways, cater primarily to fast-moving vehicles, neglecting the needs of pedestrians and users of smaller vehicles. This results in unsafe conditions and increased accidents.
2. Environmental and Social Impact: Expanding road infrastructure without addressing environmental concerns exacerbates pollution and resource depletion. The focus should shift towards sustainable mobility solutions that consider the broader environmental and social impacts.
3. Equity in Mobility Solutions: Current road infrastructure disproportionately benefits wealthier commuters while neglecting the needs of poorer communities. Effective demand management and inclusive planning are essential to ensure equitable access to mobility services.

UPSC Mains Questions

Q. Discuss the impact of road transport on urban air pollution and public health in India. What measures can be taken to mitigate these effects?

As India faces a water crisis exacerbated by heatwaves, cities like Surat and Bengaluru are leading the way in wastewater reuse.

Controversy Surrounding Wastewater Management:

1. Introduction to the Issue: India faces a severe water crisis due to heatwaves and declining freshwater resources. Cities like Delhi, Bengaluru, and Pune have experienced significant water shortages. NITI Aayog estimates that by 2030, the national water demand will be twice the available supply.
2. Volume of Wastewater Generated: Approximately 80% of water supplied to urban areas is released as domestic wastewater. Indian cities generated over 72,000 million liters of domestic sewage per day in 2021, but only 28% of this was treated. By 2030, cities are projected to generate over 30 billion cubic meters of wastewater.
3. Importance of Treated Wastewater: Treated wastewater can be a valuable resource for non-potable uses like irrigation, industrial processes, and urban cleaning, reducing the pressure on freshwater sources and improving water quality in rivers and aquifers.

Global Environmental Concerns and Policy Implications:

1. Performance of ULBs: The Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) developed an index to evaluate the performance of ULBs in managing wastewater. Among 500 ULBs from 10 states, Surat ranked highest, followed by Bengaluru. These cities have set clear targets for reusing treated water.
2. Successful Examples: Surat Municipal Corporation directed 92% of its investment towards sewage management and recovers costs by selling treated water to industries. Bengaluru reuses 50% of its treated water for industrial and horticultural purposes, addressing its water crisis.
3. Challenges in Implementation: Despite successful examples, many ULBs struggle with financial planning, investment priorities, and public data availability. 414 out of 503 assessed ULBs do not reuse treated water or lack functional treatment infrastructure.

Challenges of Implementation and Ensuring Inclusivity:

1. Data and Information Access: Reliable and current data are essential for formulating effective water reuse plans. Over 65% of ULBs face challenges in maintaining and publicly sharing municipal data. CEEW's index provides a baseline for improving data management and decision-making.
2. Leveraging National Initiatives: ULBs can leverage existing national missions like AMRUT 2.0 and the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) to implement treated water reuse projects. These initiatives focus on water security and pollution abatement.
3. Cross-Learning and Competition: Timely evaluations and sharing of best practices can promote healthy competition among cities. For example, Vishakhapatnam and Udaipur have successful business models involving private sector financing for advanced wastewater treatment and reuse.

UPSC Mains Questions

Q. Discuss the potential of wastewater reuse as a solution to water scarcity in Indian cities. What are the key challenges and opportunities in implementing such initiatives?