GS Analyst: Daily Current Affairs

Context:

Foreign nations should engage in a sincere inquiry into Indian parents’ claims of cultural prejudice and unfair trials in their child protection system.

Expatriate Indian Mothers Facing Child Separation

• Cultural Prejudice: It refers to a biased or negative attitude, belief, or stereotype held by individuals or groups against people from different cultural backgrounds or ethnicities.
• Violation of Human Rights and Tragic Consequences: This violates human rights, affecting mothers, children, and families, leading to tragic consequences.
• Unjust Separations- Cases from Australia and Germany: Instances in Australia and Germany highlight unjust separations, causing immense distress and despair for these families.

The Disturbing Trend and Its Playbook

• Accusations and One-Sided Trials: Expatriate families often face accusations of child abuse in high-income countries, leading to one-sided trials and termination of parental custody.
• Cultural Disconnection in Foster Care: Children are placed in foster care, losing cultural and ethnic ties, and becoming doubly alienated.
• Urgent Need for Policy Reform and Extended Family Support: The current playbook neglects the option of placing children with extended family members, emphasizing the need for change.

Advocating for Repatriation and Cultural Sensitivity

• A Kinder Solution: Returning children to their home country is a more humane solution, ensuring they grow up in familiar cultures with extended family support.
• Prioritizing Cultural Sensitivity and Fair Trials: Foreign nations should investigate claims of cultural prejudice and unfair trials, prioritizing the child's best interests over technical considerations.
• Balancing Best Interests: Decision-makers and governments must weigh the benefits of repatriation, acknowledging the importance of preserving cultural connections and extended family bonds.

Context:

Our Constitution, the world’s largest living document, has served our country in an efficient manner for the last seven decades. However, it needs timely supervision for upcoming challenges.

Reflecting on the Constitution’s Significance

• Birth of India's Constitution: The iconic old Parliament building was the birthplace of India's Constitution, crafted over 2 years and 293 days.
• Contemplating the Constitution's Future: As we prepare to move, debates about the Constitution's future arise, including renaming India as Bharat.
• Fundamental Debates on Constitutional Matters: Fundamental questions about terms in the Preamble, India's nature, and the "Basic Structure" argument are being discussed.
  The Rich Legacy and Ongoing Debates
• India's Robust Constitution: India's Constitution, with 448 articles and 12 schedules, has efficiently guided the nation for seven decades.
• Crafted by visionaries: It is a sacred document, shaped by stalwarts like B R Ambedkar, and enriched by leaders and debaters.
• Evolving with Time: Despite its robustness, periodic re-examination of facets is essential, as demonstrated by the 106 amendments it has undergone.

Constitution's Evolution and Future Contemplations

• Revisiting India's Identity: The "Basic Structure" argument and redefining India's nature are timely considerations for the Platinum Jubilee.
• Vision of ‘Constitution as a Living Document’: Ambedkar's stance on the Constitution's adaptability and its role as a statement of intent is pertinent today.
• Upholding Constitutionalism: Reflecting on global constitutional experiences, the editorial calls for conscientious constitutionalism as vital for a thriving republic.

Context:

The shortfall in pulse production has spurred inflation. The government must ease restrictions, and allow imports.

Concerns Over Below-Normal Monsoon Impact on Pulses

• Reduced Sowing of Key Pulses: The sowing of key kharif season pulses like arhar, urad, and moong has reduced by 8.6% compared to the previous year.
• Diminished Crop Prospects: Low prospects for a robust crop have led to a notable surge in pulse prices over the last two months.
• Surge in Pulse Prices: Arhar prices rose from Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,500 per quintal, impacting moong and chana prices as well.

Prices Surge Above Minimum Support Levels

• Price Escalation Beyond MSP: Prices for Arhar, Moong, and Chana now exceed their official minimum support prices (MSP), causing financial strain.
• International Pulse Price Impact: The situation is aggravated by soaring international pulse prices, with India being a major producer, consumer, and importer.
• Escalating Prices: Landed prices for masoor, the primary imported pulse, have significantly risen, surpassing the MSP.

Recommendations for Government Intervention

• Strategic Use of Stocks: Advocate for judicious utilization of government-held chana stocks through open market operations, possibly limiting bids to actual users/dal millers.
• Revising Import Restrictions: Propose revising restrictions on imported stocks, allowing holdings beyond 30 days, and enabling imports of yellow/white peas without excessive duties or price constraints.
• Facilitating Yellow/White Peas Imports: There is a need for well-considered measures to address the current pulse price surge and stabilize the market.

Context:

There is a vital role of critical minerals in India's clean energy transition. India needs to focus on curbing the challenges in global supply chains and strengthen self-reliance and international partnerships.

The Significance of Critical Minerals for Clean Energy Transition

• Importance of Critical Minerals: Critical minerals like cobalt, lithium, and rare earth elements are crucial for clean energy technologies.
• Key to India's Sustainable Energy Goals: They are vital for achieving India's sustainable energy goals and reducing emissions as outlined for 2030.
• Reliable Supply Chains for Critical Minerals: The G20 Energy Transitions Ministers emphasize the need for reliable and sustainable supply chains of these minerals.

Challenges in Global Critical Minerals Supply Chains

• Surge in Mining: Global demand for clean technologies has led to a substantial increase in the mining of critical minerals.
• Complex Supply Chains: Vulnerabilities in supply chains are vulnerable to disruptions from trade treaties, geopolitical issues, and natural disasters.
• Securing Supply Chains for National Security and Independence: Securing the supply chain is crucial for reducing import dependence, strengthening national security, and fostering a domestic value chain.

India's Initiatives for Atmanirbhar Bharat in Critical Minerals Sector

• Efforts: The government, led by Prime Minister, is committed to developing the domestic critical minerals sector.
• Policy reforms: Including amendments to the Mines and Minerals Act, have been implemented to support exploration, processing, and recycling.
• Involvement of States: Cooperative federalism is demonstrated by exclusively auctioning concessions related to critical minerals, benefiting state governments' revenue receipts.