Context:

India could end up importing as much as 15.5 million tonnes of edible oils in 2022-23, surpassing the past record of 15.1 million tonnes in 2016-17.

Possible Reason for record imports of cooking oil:

• Erratic Monsoon: Poor rains in major oilseed-growing states could lead to a production cut.
  • For Example:  Soya bean, which is the largest kharif oilseed, is in a poor state due to a prolonged dry spell in major producing states such as Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
  • Similarly, erratic rains have impacted the groundnut crop in Gujarat and Karnataka. 

Why is India so dependent on imports?

• Home-grown soybeans, mustard and groundnut oil, among others, meet just 40% of requirements. 
• Oilseed productivity of a tonne per hectare is less than half the global average, due to lack of access to the latest seed technology.
• Farmers also hesitate to grow oilseeds as they cannot compete with the flood of cheap imports and lack of price support mechanisms.

What steps has the government taken?

• Lowering of Import Duties:  The government lowered import duties and urged retail brands to slash prices as global prices fell earlier this year. 
• As a long-term solution, India is also pushing production of oil palm in 15 states with a focus on the North-east and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. 
• Technology Mission on Oilseeds and other policy initiatives have helped India increase the area under oilseeds in India from 9 million tons in 1986 to 32 million tons in 2018-19, though not sufficient to meet the domestic demand.
• Several other initiatives like Oil Palm Area Expansion under Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, increasing the minimum support prices of oilseed crops, creation of buffer stock for oilseeds, cluster demonstration of oilseed crops, etc are being implemented by the government to boost domestic production.

News Source: Livemint

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context: India has enacted a five-year anti-dumping duty targeting specific types of Chinese steel.

Reason:India enacted an anti-dumping duty on china due to a 62% rise in steel imports from China to India between April and July, compared to the same timeframe last year.

What is Anti-dumping duty?

• An anti dumping duty is a measure designed to prevent a country’s trading partners from “dumping” goods into its domestic markets at a price lower than its normal value. 
• It is permitted by the World Trade Organisation.Anti dumping duties are levied against exporter / country in as much as they are country specific and exporter specific as against the customs duties which are general and universally applicable to all imports irrespective of the country of origin.
• Directorate General of Trade Remedies  under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry is nodal authority for administering  anti-dumping, countervailing duties and safeguard measures to check unfair trade practices.

WTO’s Provisions Related to Anti-Dumping Duty:

• Under Article VI of GATT 1994, and the Anti-Dumping Agreement, WTO Members can impose anti-dumping measures.
• Time-Period: Anti-dumping measures must expire five years after the date of imposition, unless an investigation shows that ending the measure would lead to injury.
• Committee on Anti-Dumping Practices: The Committee, which meets at least twice a year, provides Members of the WTO the opportunity to discuss any matters relating to the Anti-Dumping Agreement.

Importance of  Anti Dumping measures:

• Checks  unfair trade practice: Anti dumping measures serve the purpose of providing a remedy to the domestic industry against the injury caused by the unfair trade practice of dumping. 
• Corrects Trade Distortion: In fact, anti dumping is a trade remedial measure to counteract the trade distortion caused by dumping and the consequential injury to the domestic industry.

News Source: Livemint

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context:

Recently, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, unveiled five transformative initiatives to improve the lives of persons with disabilities across the nation.

Overview of Five pioneering initiatives:

• MOU with Council of Architecture: Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities(DEPwD) has joined hands with the Council of Architecture (COA) to introduce universal accessibility courses within Bachelor of Architecture programs.
• Releasing of Anonymous Data of UDID: DEPwD’s release of anonymous data through the Unique Disability ID (UDID) portal for research purposes represents a significant leap in data-driven decision-making within the disability sector. 
• PM Daksh Portal: It is  a  digital platform to empower Persons with Disabilities in their pursuit of skill training and employment opportunities. 
  • The portal offers seamless registration through UDID, access to location-based skill training options, a wide array of job listings from across India, and streamlined administrative processes.
• Pathways to Access: DEPwD has compiled notable judgments from India’s Supreme Court and High Courts concerning disability rights into a comprehensive booklet. 
  • This resource serves as a valuable reference guide for persons with disabilities and stakeholders in the disability sector.
• Online Case Monitoring Portal by CCPD: The Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) has adopted an application for handling grievances filed by persons with disabilities. 
  • This initiative streamlines the entire process, making it paperless and efficient. Key features include seamless online complaint filing, automated reminders, and simplified hearing scheduling.

News Source: PIB

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context: 

• Kilauea volcano recently resumed eruption following a two-month pause.

About Kilauea volcano:

• Kilauea is an active shield volcano in the Hawaiian Islands which has been erupting almost continuously for 200 years. 
• It is located in a closed area of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
• The lavas of Kilauea, one of five volcanoes that form the island of Hawaii, are building the loftiest mountain on Earth.

Image Source: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context:

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud and Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks recently (post G-20), agreeing to expand trade and security ties.

More On News:

• The two leaders co-chaired the first meeting of the India – Saudi Strategic Partnership Council (SPC).

• Signed eight agreements to boost cooperation in a range of areas — from energy to interconnectivity, digitalisation and electronic manufacturing to finance and security.
  • Both Leaders discussed ways to further unlock the potential of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership.

The Importance of India- Saudi Arabia Relations:

• Strategic Partnership
  • Riyadh declaration signed in 2010, upgraded bilateral partnership to Strategic Partnership.
  • In following Years, partnership widened to include a broad range of areas including energy security, trade and investment, defence and security, food security, culture and community welfare issues among others.
• Energy Security: Energy cooperation forms a central pillar of the Indo-Saudi bilateral ties.

• • Saudi Arabia remained India’s third-largest Crude and Petroleum products supplier for Financial Year 2022-23. 
  • Signed an Agreement on Cooperation in the Energy Sector that covers renewable energy, energy efficiency, hydrogen electricity and investments in petroleum reserves.
  • Joint cooperation in the fields of electricity and grid interconnection, in addition to cooperating in the field of hydrogen and its derivatives.
• Economic Cooperation, Trade and Investment
  • India is the second largest trade partner of Saudi Arabia, while Saudi Arabia is the fourth largest trade partner of India. 
  • Bilateral trade has increased to more than US$ 52 billion in 2022-23, marking a growth of more than 23%.
  • Both sides agreed to explore investment opportunities in the field of fertilizers, petrochemicals, agricultural and food industries.
  • They also discussed the possibility of trade in local currencies and a joint task force for expedite implementation of the $50-billion ‘West Coast refinery project (Maharashtra).’Science and Technology:
  • Agreed to strengthen partnership in the areas related to communications and information technology, digital economy, innovation and space, remote sensing, satellite communication and satellite-based navigation.
• Climate Change: the two sides reaffirmed the importance of adhering to the principles of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement.
• Defence Cooperation- Counter Terrorism and Security:
  • A Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation that holds regular meetings.
  • A comprehensive security dialogue mechanism between the two countries focuses on security cooperation and collaboration in defence industries.
  • For  example: In December 2020, General MM Naravane,the Chief of Army Staff, made a historic visit to Saudi Arabia.
  • Strengthening cooperation in the field of defense and   anti-terror cooperation and made a special mention of preventing access to “missiles and drones” to carry out terror attacks.

Challenges in Bilateral Relation:

• Energy Security and Oil Prices
  • India is highly dependent on imports of crude oil and natural gas for its energy security.
  • High oil prices can have a significant impact on India’s economy.
  • Ensuring a continuous supply of oil is a constant concern.
• Geopolitical Alliances/Competition
  • The influence of external power in the region such as the United states, Russia and China can affect the dynamics of india-Saudi Arabia relations. 
  • Managing these alliances and their respective interests can be a challenging task.
• Instability and Regional conflicts in Middle East: 
  • Saudi Arabia is the third pole in regional politics (others are Iran and Israel).
  • Balancing diplomatic relations with other two poles can be challenging.
• Trade imbalance: while trade between two countries has been increasing, there is trade imbalance ( $31.3 billions-CMIE-2023).
• Human Rights and Cultural Differences: Both countries have different cultural and political system, differences can lead to concern and challenges
• Indian Diaspora and migrant workers
  • A large number of Indian diaspora work in the Middle-East (approx. 8 million). Ensuring their rights , welfare and security is an ongoing concern.
• Counter Terrorism And Security: both countries face threat from terrorism and extremism, ever-evolving nature of these threats pose ongoing challenges.
• Diaspora and Labour Issues: More than 2.4 million Indians work in Saudi Arabia, they face issues such as Nitaqat law.

Way Forward:

• Diversification in Economic Ties:
  • Need to diversify economic cooperation beyond the energy sector. 
  • Exploring opportunities in digital technology, renewable energy and healthcare. 
• Trade and Investment Promotion: 
  • Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan Offers Opportunities for Indian Business to invest will contribute to economic growth, innovation and job creation.
  • Identifies new areas  where India can increase its exports (such as Information Technology services, Pharmaceuticals and Agriculture products.)
• Energy Transition: 
  • Need to transform  buyer-seller relationship into a much broader strategic partnership based on mutual complementarity and interdependence and need to adapt to the changing global energy landscape. 
• Multilateral Cooperation: Coordinate efforts in international Forums and organizations to address global challenges, including climate change, health crisis and globalization.
• Strategic alignment: Explore new areas  of strategic alignment in regional and global matters, such as United Nations initiatives.
• Regional Conflicts, Counter terrorism and Security: 
  • Engage in constructive diplomacy to contribute to conflict resolution and stability in the region.  
  • A balanced approach, while respecting the principles of sovereignty and non-interference.
• Labour Rights and Indian diaspora: Ensure the welfare and rights of indian diaspora and workers.
• Cultural and educational Exchanges: fostering people to people connections through cultural exchange partnerships, it will promote a deeper understanding of each other’s culture and societies.

News Source: The Indian Express

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context:

The inclusion of the African Union into the G20 Grouping as its 21st member has given a new voice to the global south, providing an opportunity in ensuring global critical mineral security.

More on News:The global shift toward low-carbon economies and ambitious net-zero emission targets has driven the race for critical minerals.

• According to the International Energy Agency, the energy sector has played a pivotal role in tripling the overall demand for lithium from 2017 to 2022, with cobalt witnessing a 70% jump in demand and nickel seeing a 40% rise.
• India has recently identified 30 critical minerals, including lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, tin and copper.
  • It was done on the basis of a report on critical minerals prepared by an expert team constituted by the Ministry of Mines.
  • That report analysed 11 groups of minerals under categories such as metallic, nonmetallic, precious stones and metals, and strategic minerals. 

About African union (AU):

• AU is a continental body which consists of the 55 member states (including Niger) that make up the countries of the African Continent.
•  It was officially launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity.
• It aims to promote unity, cooperation and development among African nations.

SWOT Analysis of Role of Africa in Solving World’s Critical Mineral Challenge

Strengths:

• Resources Availability: It has approximately 30% of the world’s reserves, including about 85% of manganese, 80% of platinum and chromium, 47% of cobalt, 21% of graphite, and 6% of copper.
  • Global Supply: Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with its cobalt reserves and Zimbabwe’s lithium deposits play pivotal roles in the global supply chain. 
• India:
  • India- AU Relations: India has good relations with AU and it played a key role in addition to AU in G20 as member.
  • Economic Cooperation: India has invested in various sectors and it imports a variety of goods from Africa, including raw materials and minerals.
    • For instance, as per a report by Bloomberg, India has provided credit to 42 African countries, totaling about $12 billion, with 38% of this credit extended in the last decade.
• For World at Large:
  • Abundant Reserves: These reserves can potentially meet a significant portion of global demand for these essential resources.
  • Diverse Mineral Resources: AU has diverse mineral resources, providing a broad spectrum of critical minerals that are vital for different industries, including electronics, energy storage, aerospace, and automotive.
  • Reducing Supply Chain Dependence: AU offers an opportunity to reduce the world’s dependence on a single source, such as China, for critical mineral requirements.

Opportunities Available:

• For African Union:
  • Economic Development: Export of critical minerals can boost the economies of African countries, creating jobs and generating revenue. 
  • Value Addition: Investing in processing and refining capabilities within Africa would create a more significant economic impact and reduce reliance on external markets.
• For India:
  • Access to Critical Minerals: India can explore partnerships with African nations to access these resources for its domestic industries.
  • Investment in Mining Operations: India is encouraging its domestic industries to invest in mining operations and infrastructure development in African countries. 
    • This could involve joint ventures, public-private partnerships, or direct investments in mining projects.
  • Technology Transfer: India can collaborate with African nations to transfer knowledge and expertise in mining, processing, and sustainable resource management.
• For World at Large:
  • Diversification of Trade: With a significant demand for critical minerals, establishing trade partnerships with African countries can secure a stable supply of critical resources. 

Associated Weaknesses:

• AU’s Weaknesses:
  • Africa’s Resource Curse: It has hindered the development of domestic industries, leading to economic stagnation and political instability. 
    • For example, the DRC provides only 19% of its population with electricity.
  • High Indebtedness: It is holding back public spending on energy projects, while private investors are reluctant to invest because of the prevalence of fragile states.
• India:
  • Competition with Other Countries: Including China, the United States, and European nations, which have already established a presence in Africa’s critical mineral sector and have more extensive financial resources.
• World:
  • Resource Nationalism: Some African nations may adopt resource nationalist policies, seeking a larger share of mining profits or greater control over their resources.
  • Security Concerns: Including risks associated with civil conflicts, terrorism, and theft of mineral resources.

Threats:

• China taking the lead: Beijing has pursued a decades-long strategy to secure a reliable supply of critical minerals through its Belt and Road Initiative and other efforts.
  • For instance,  Zimbabwe has seen over $1 billion in Chinese investments in lithium projects, surpassing Western nations. 
• Environmental Degradation: Mining operations can lead to extensive environmental degradation, including deforestation, soil erosion, and habitat destruction. 
  • For example, Open-pit mining can have a profound impact on local ecosystems.
• Habitat Disruption: Critical mineral mining can disrupt natural habitats and migration routes for wildlife, leading to habitat loss and potentially threatening endangered species.
• Waste Management: The disposal of mining waste, including tailings and slag, can pose significant environmental risks if not properly managed. 

Way Forward:

• Promoting Regional Cooperation. In order to maximize the benefits of these resources, developing common standards for mining and processing and sharing information on investment opportunities can help the world to tap the resource potential. 
• Asia-Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC): The idea of AAGC emerged in the joint declaration issued by India and Japan in 2016, it can be utilized to overcome challenges posed by lack of infrastructural development.
• Value Addition and Local Processing: Encourage investments in mineral processing and refining facilities within African countries to add value to raw materials before export. 
  • For instance, African countries are now investing in developing processing and refining facilities.
•  Diversification of Trade Partners: Forge partnerships with a diverse range of countries to reduce dependency on a single market and enhance resource security.
  • For example, India is also engaging with other critical mineral exporters like sArgentina, Australia, China, and Mongolia for critical minerals.
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Align mineral resource development, emphasizing poverty reduction, gender equality, and environmental sustainability.

Conclusion:

Collaborative efforts among African countries, India, and the international community can create a win-win situation, promoting economic development, technological advancement, and sustainability for all stakeholders.

News Source: Mint

DOWNLOAD PDF