Context: Recently, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued an advisory circular on interference with the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) in airspace, highlighting the threats of GNSS jamming and GPS spoofing pose for aircraft operations.

GNSS jamming and GPS spoofing

• GPS Spoofing: Global Positioning System (GPS) spoofing is an attack aimed at overriding a GPS-enabled device’s original location. 
  • Attacker uses a radio transmitter that broadcasts fake GPS signals and interferes with GPS receivers nearby. As a result, those devices display fake GPS locations. 
• Findings of EASA: According to the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), GPS spoofing has risen since 2022 with increase in sophistication. 
  • For instance, GPS spoofing in aviation has mainly been seen in areas around conflict zones but is also prevalent in the south and eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea, Baltic Sea, and Arctic area. 
  • This has caused greater concern after about 20 business jets and commercial flights reported GPS spoofing near the Iran-Iraq border.
• Implications for an Aircraft: 
  • GPS spoofing can put the aircraft off its intended course and result in intrusion or collision. 
  • A GNSS interference can also result in false data for a plane’s fuel computation system, flight management system, and ground or wind speed information on the navigation display.

• Solution to this Problem: There is no clear solution yet, but aircraft makers and technology providers are working on it. 
  • However, global aviation regulatory bodies have advised airlines to train their crew on GPS spoofing, and discuss the possible alternatives to conventional arrival-and-approach procedures during flight planning.
• Steps Taken by India: After forming a committee on GPS spoofing, the Indian civil aviation regulator issued an advisory to Indian airlines. 
  • It has provided a mechanism for air navigation service providers to establish a threat monitoring and analysis network in coordination with the regulator for preventive as well as reactive threat monitoring. 
  • It also wants reports of GNSS interference to be analyzed so as to develop a robust and immediate threat response capability to a spoofing incident.

What is GAGAN?

• GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation (GAGAN): It is a step by the Indian Government towards initial Satellite-based Navigation Services in India. 
  • It is a system to improve the accuracy of a GNSS receiver by providing reference signals.
• Collaboration of: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) have collaborated to develop the GAGAN as a regional Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS).
  •  GAGAN is inter-operable with other international SBAS systems.
• Goal: To provide a navigation system to assist aircraft in accurate landing over the Indian airspace and in the adjoining area and applicable to safety-to-life civil operations. 
• Achievement: GAGAN is the first SBAS in the world which has been certified for approach with vertical guidance operating in the equatorial ionospheric region.
  • GAGAN ionospheric algorithm was developed by ISRO. This makes India the third country in the world which has such precision approach capabilities.
• Benefits to Other Sectors: Including transportation, railways, surveying, maritime, highways, telecom industry, and security agencies.

Also Read: GPS Spoofing and Jamming: Security threats in Aviation

News Source: Mint

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Context: Along with quantum optics, optical fibre cable communication stands on the point of transition to a new era.

What are optical fibre cables?

• Optical Fibre cables: These are made of thin cylindrical strands of glass. The diameter of a typical fibre is close to the diameter of a human hair. 

• Function: These optical fibre cables can carry information, such as text, images, voices, videos, telephone calls, and anything that can be encoded as digital information, across large distances almost at the speed of light. 
  • Optical waves allow a high data-transmission rate. 
  • Unlike radio or copper-cable-based communication, fibre cables are also insensitive to external perturbations such as lightning and bad weather.
• Uses: Fibre optics technology has been widely used in telecommunication, medical science, laser technology, and sensing.

• Fragility: Ultra-thin fibres seem very fragile but when manufactured correctly, they become strong, light, and flexible, and ideal to be buried underground, drawn underwater, or bent around a spool. 
• Development: In India, the Fibre Optics Laboratory at the Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute, Kolkata, has a facility to manufacture high-quality silica-based optical fibres. 

Working of Optical fibre Cables: 

• A fibre optic communication system consists of three parts:
  • Transmitter encodes information into optical signals. 
  • Optical fibre cable carries the signal to its destination. 
  • Receiver reproduces the information from the encoded signal.
• Light is an electromagnetic wave with a spectrum of frequencies. 
• When a beam of light falls on a glass surface, it passes through partially while the rest is reflected away. 
• When it passes through, its path bends because the refractive index of glass is different from that of air. 
  • The refractive index is the property of a medium that determines how fast light can travel in it.
• Total Internal Reflection: When a beam travels from glass to air, it’s possible that it won’t enter the air and it will be completely reflected back within the glass. 
  • This phenomenon is the basis of guiding light across long distances without a significant loss of optical power. 

News Source: TH

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Context: According to a recent report by global nonprofit Access To Nutrition Initiative (ATNI), Indians are eating a growing amount of fast food. 

What are the Key findings of report?

• Rise in Obesity: About 23% Indian adults can be classified overweight or obese.
• Rise in Micronutrient Deficiency: Changes in consumer diets, including prevalence of packaged food, fast food, etc. are to be blamed for a rise in micronutrient deficiency. 
• Increasing Consumption of Ultra Processed Food: According to World Health Organization (WHO) report, the total volume of ultra processed food that India consumes has increased by more than 90% since 2011. 
• Fig. 1: The growth rate of ultra processed foods  is similar to that of essential foods where volume is up 106% in the same period

• Fig 2: Four out of five categories under consideration would see over 1 trillion in sales, with chocolates and sugar confectioneries topping the list. 

• According to a 2023 report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), obesity and non-communicable diseases caused by unhealthy diet are causing labour productivity losses in hundreds of billions of dollars and India is third among 154 countries ranked on estimated losses related to unhealthy dietary patterns. 
• Fig. 3: The cost to India was $669 billion on a purchasing power parity basis considering 2020 values. The United States’ cost was highest, followed by China.

Also Read: Nutrient Deficiency

News Source: Bussiness Standard

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Context: In a recent development, 18 countries have expressed support for new global guidelines on AI aimed at ensuring that artificial intelligence (AI) secure by design, thereby elevating the cybersecurity standards for AI.

New Global Guidelines on AI

• Guidelines: Formulated by the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the US’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
• Signatories:  US, UK, France, Germany, Australia, Canada, Norway, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Italy, New Zealand, Poland, Chile, Czechia, Estonia and Nigeria. 
  • The pact covers all G7 countries.
• Nature: The agreement is not legally binding and primarily consists of broad recommendations, including the monitoring of AI systems for potential misuse, safeguarding data against tampering, and thoroughly assessing software suppliers.
• Coverage: The guidelines deal with secure design, development, deployment, operation and maintenance of AI systems.
  • These encompass evaluating and modeling threats, preventing attacks on AI systems, establishing incident management procedures, responsibly releasing models, monitoring the system, and ensuring security by design in system updates.
• Aim: The objective is to enhance the cybersecurity standards of artificial intelligence, providing assistance to AI developers in making well-informed cybersecurity decisions at every stage of their development process.
• Significance: This is a first-of-its-kind global agreement on AI cybersecurity issues.

Further Reading:  Global AI Summit London 2023

News Source: Reuters

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Context: Ministry of Mines will organise an outreach programme on “Role of the Government and Industry in Driving the Global Action on Critical Minerals.”

Ministry of Mines Organises Outreach Programme on Global Action on Critical Minerals

• India’s G20 Presidency: The G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration has a paragraph on the Critical Minerals. 
• The Ministry of Mines has actively participated in G20 discussions and played a key role in ensuring that the G20 Community recognizes the significance of Critical Minerals in Energy Transitions.

What are Critical Minerals?

• These minerals are vital for both economic development and national security. The foundation of the future global economy will rely on technologies that are dependent on minerals like lithium, graphite, cobalt, titanium, and rare earth elements.
• Significance: 
  • Progress of Various Sectors: They are crucial for the progress of various sectors, encompassing high-tech electronics, telecommunications, transportation, and defense.
  • Net Zero Transition: They are also vital to power the global transition to a low carbon emissions economy, and the renewable energy technologies that will be required to meet the ‘Net Zero’ commitments of an increasing number of countries around the world. 
• Problem: The lack of availability of these minerals and concentration of extraction or processing in a few geographical locations may lead to supply chain vulnerabilities and even disruption of supplies. 

What steps has India taken to strengthen the supply chain of critical minerals?

• Mines and Minerals (Development And Regulation) Act (MMDR): Ministry of Mines has made an amendment in the MMDR Act, granting the Central Government the authority to auction 24 identified Critical Minerals. 
• Policy for Critical Mineral: Ministry of Mines is in the process of preparing a Policy for critical mineral which will include a road map for strengthening the supply chain of critical minerals. 
• International Collaboration: Collaborative international efforts through multilateral and bilateral engagements have been made to build a resilient critical minerals value chain. 
  • For instance, the Ministry of Mine is actively engaging in new partnerships and alliances like the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP).

Further Reading: Critical Mineral Supplies Vital To Clean Energy Shift, Amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development And Regulation) Act

News Source: PIB

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Context: The Indian Foreign Secretary recently engaged in talks with the Iranian Foreign Minister in Tehran to explore opportunities for improving connectivity via the strategic Chabahar port.

18th India-Iran Foreign Office Consultations: Key Focus on Connectivity, Trade and Regional Stability

• Enhancing Connectivity: The talks focused on enhancing connectivity through the strategic Chabahar port 
• Discussed Regional and Global Issues: Both sides exchanged views on current regional and global issues, including developments in Afghanistan and Gaza. 
• Global South Summit: India appreciated Iran’s participation in the Voice of Global South Summits held this year.

About Chabahar port Project

• Chabahar Port: It is a collaborative development between India and Iran aimed at enhancing connectivity and trade relations.
• Location: It is situated in the Sistan-Balochistan province along Iran’s energy-rich southern coast. Its location lies in the Gulf of Oman. The port gives access to the energy-rich Persian Gulf nations‘ southern coast.

• Aim: India has actively advocated for the Chabahar port project, highlighting its capacity to promote regional trade, especially in terms of enhancing connectivity to Afghanistan.
• Part of INSTC: Chabahar port is recognized as a crucial center for the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) project. 
  • The INSTC is a comprehensive multi-mode transport initiative spanning 7,200 kilometers, designed to facilitate the movement of freight among India, Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia, and Europe.

Why Chahbahar project Significant to India?

• Chabahar is vital for both India and Iran to reduce their dependence on the Suez Canal for transporting cargo to Europe.
• Chabahar is a strategic port from an Indian perspective it is easily accessible from India’s western coasts, it serves several important functions. 
• India can reduce its commute time to Central Asia by one-third help to strengthen economic tieswith region. 
• It Provide  link betweenIndia and  Afghanistan without going through Pakistan.
• It provide an Indian strategic counter to Pakistan’s Gwadar port being developed by China.

Further Reading: Armenia Explores Joining International North South Transport Corridor, International North South Trade Corridor

News Source: Mint

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Context: Recently, the 41 workers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel were rescued and rescuers digged through around 10 metres of rubble using rat hole mining technique to bring out the workers.

What is Rat Hole Mining?

• Rat-Hole: The term ‘rat-hole’ refers to a narrow pit dug into the ground. These rat holes provide sufficient space for an individual to enter and extract coal. These holes can be dug both vertically and horizontally. 
• Rat Hole Mining: It is a method of extracting coal from narrow rat holes. Primitive tools like pickaxes, shovels, and baskets are employed for the manual extraction of coal.
• Types of Rat Hole Mining: It is broadly of two types side-cutting and box-cutting. 
  • Side-Cutting Procedure: Narrow tunnels are dug on the hill slopes and workers go inside until they find the coal seam. 
  • Box-Cutting: A rectangular opening is made, varying from 10 to 100 sqm, and through that a vertical pit is dug, 100 to 400 feet deep. 
• Ban: The National Green Tribunal banned rat hole mining in 2014 for being unscientific and unsafe. 
• Prevalent: Generally, this technique is used in Northeastern states of India to extract coal from narrow, horizontal seams. For example, the practice of rat-hole coal mining is still rampant in Meghalaya.

How rat hole mining technique works?

• The Uttarakhand Rescue Operation: Part of an under-construction tunnel in Uttarakhand collapsed, trapping 41 workers inside. 
  • Rescue operations to pull out the workers were undertaken following the incident to release 41 workers trapped in the collapsed Silkyara-Barkot tunnel.
• Method: Rat hole miner would enter the rescue pipes and use hand-held tools to dig through the remaining debris blocking the exit to the tunnel.
  • Rat hole mining was used after a 25-tonne auger machine failed in the last leg of the challenging operation.

Why is rat hole mining still prevalent in Meghalaya?

• Unholy Nexuses: Rat-hole coal mining is continued in Meghalaya owing to an unholy nexus between a section of politicians, bureaucrats and coal barons.
• Non- Compliance: According to the report by Justice BP Katakey committee, except for notifying the Meghalaya Minerals (Prevention of Illegal Mining, Transportation and Storage) Rules, 2022, none of the directions issued by the Supreme Court and the NGT had been complied with by the authorities concerned.
• Vote Bank Politics: The issue of coal mining is back in the limelight with the election and a Rajya Sabha member from the state is demanding that rat hole mining be legalised.

What are the concerns associated with rat hole mining?

• Safety Hazards:  Typically lacking regulation, the mines lack essential safety features, such as adequate ventilation, structural support, and proper safety gear for workers. This deficiency has resulted in numerous accidents, causing injuries and fatalities.
  • For instance, at least 17 labourers died when the mine they were working in at Ksan got submerged in 2018.
• Environmental Hazards: Mining through this process can cause land degradation, deforestation, and water pollution.

News Source: Indian Express

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Context: In the recent Argentine Presidential election, Javier Milei emerged victorious. He is  gaining attention for his  views on issues like abortion and economic policy, including advocating for the dollarization of Argentina’s currency (peso).

Current Status of Argentina Economy

• The country is grappling with inflation rates exceeding 100%, causing a significant erosion of purchasing power and pushing almost two-thirds of the population below the poverty level.

What are the advantages of dollarization?

• Hyperinflation Control:
  • It breaks the feedback loop between rising prices and an expanding money supply, offering a potential solution to hyperinflation.
  • Replacing the domestic currency with dollars limits the control of money supply by political interests, curbing excessive spending and moderating inflation.
• Stimulates Economic Growth:
  • Incentivizes  focus on export successes and attracts foreign capital, fostering economic growth.
  • Small economies, reliant on dollars through foreign trade and capital inflows, are encouraged to prioritize successful exports and create favorable conditions for foreign investment.
• Long-Term Planning:
  • The stable value of the dollar enables economic agents to make sustainable, long-term plans compared to a rapidly depreciating domestic currency.

What are the drawbacks of dollarization?

• Loss of Policy Leverage: Countries lose an essential source of policy leverage, as monetary policy can no longer control the money supply.
• Limited Foreign Trade Tools: With the adoption of the dollar, countries cannot resort to currency depreciation to enhance exports, relying solely on export promotion to address economic downturns.
• Potential Overreliance on Exports: Overemphasis on export promotion may lead to an overreliance on external markets.

Experiences of Dollarized Economies

• Looking at dollarized economies like Ecuador, Panama, and El Salvador provides promising examples. 
• Ecuador, in particular, faced severe economic crises in the late 1990s before adopting the dollar in 2000. 
  • Despite initial political unrest, Ecuador experienced substantial progress in economic growth and social welfare. 
  • The poverty rate decreased, inequality fell, and the inflation rate dropped significantly.

What is the active role of policy decisions in dollarization?

• Dollarization is not a standalone solution for economic success, policy decisions and external factors contribute significantly.
• For Instance: 
  • Key Factors in Ecuador’s Economic Growth: 
    • Resource-Driven Growth: Ecuador is helped by significant reserves of oil and gas.
    • Inflows of Dollar: The commodity price boom of the 2000s greatly aided the growth of the economy and allowed for a greater inflow of dollars.

News Souce: The Hindu

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Context: Dubai, UAE will host the 28th edition of the Conference of the Parties (COP) starting on November 30. 

Climate Change and COP28 – Key Terms and Definitions used in Climate Change Conversation

• COP (Conference of the Parties):
  • COP is an international climate meeting organised annually by the United Nations (UN). 
  • COP is short for Conference of the Parties. ‘Parties’ is a reference to 198 countries that have joined the international treaty called the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). 
• Kyoto Protocol:
  • The Kyoto Protocol was an international treaty that placed obligations on the set of rich and industrialised countries to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by assigned amounts. 
  • It was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997, and came into effect in 2005. 
  • The treaty formally expired in 2020 and was replaced by the Paris Agreement as the main international treaty for coordinating global action against climate change.
• Paris Agreement:
  • Adopted in 2015 at COP21 in Paris, the agreement is aimed to limit rising global average temperature. 
  • It legally binds (now) 195 nations to combat climate change and adapt to its effects.
• 1.5 Degree Limit:
  • Under the Paris Agreement, the countries have agreed to keep average global temperature “well below” 2 degree Celsius this century compared to pre-industrial levels. 
  • They have also pledged to pursue efforts to limit the rise to 1.5 degree Celsius to avoid severe climate impacts.
• Glasgow Pact:
  • At the COP26 summit in Glasgow, Scotland, participants reached an agreement calling for the phasedown of coal and the phaseout of fossil fuels. 
  • This marked the first instance in which a UN climate agreement explicitly addressed coal. 
  • The pact also marked the resolution of the deadlock over carbon markets.
• Carbon Markets:
  • Trading systems, where countries or industries sell and buy carbon credits, enable earning credits for exceeding greenhouse gas emission reduction targets.
  • Countries or industries can trade these carbon credits to the highest bidder in exchange for money.
  • Buyers of carbon credits can claim emission reductions as their own and use them to meet their reduction targets.
  • One tradable carbon credit equals one tonne of reduced, sequestered, or avoided carbon dioxide or an equivalent amount of another greenhouse gas.
  • Once a credit is used to reduce, sequester, or avoid emissions, it transforms into an offset and becomes non-tradable.
• Greenhouse gases:
  • The gases that trap heat in the atmosphere are known as greenhouse gases (GHGs). 
  • They allow sunlight to pass through the atmosphere, but obstruct the heat the sunlight brings from leaving. 
  • Source of GHGs: Fossil fuels like coal, diesel, gasoline or petrol, kerosene and natural gas. 
  • Prominent GHGs: Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide are among the most 
• Net Zero:
  • Achieving a balance between emitted and removed greenhouse gases, often through creating carbon sinks like forests or advanced technologies.
  • In 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) marked 2050 as the deadline by which the world must reach net zero if it wants to limit global warming to 1.5 degree Celsius.
    • IPCC: It is the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change. 
      • It was set up in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). 
      • Objective: To prepare Assessment Reports, special reports, and methodology reports assessing the state of knowledge of climate change.
• Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS):
  • A process that captures carbon dioxide from industrial sources and stores it underground to prevent it from entering the atmosphere.
  • Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS): CCUS goes a step further than CCS and uses the captured carbon in the production of goods such as alcohols, biofuels, plastics or concret
• Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs):
  • The Paris Agreement requires each country to prepare an outline for their efforts to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. 
  • These commitments are known as NDCs and they are submitted every five years.
• Global stocktake: 
  • A five-year review where countries assess progress in fighting climate change and plan future actions. The first stocktake findings will be presented at COP28.
• Loss and Damage:
  • Unavoidable social and financial impacts caused by extreme weather events, with a fund established to help affected countries.
• Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR):
  • A principle recognizing different capacities and responsibilities of countries to address global environmental issues like climate change.
  • Example of the CBDR principle: 1989 Montreal Protocol is designed to protect the ozone layer. It gave a 10-year grace period for ‘developing countries’ to implement the control measures.
• Triple Renewable Energy:
  • A goal to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030, as recommended by the International Energy Agency to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
• Just Transition:
  • Shifting to a low-carbon economy without neglecting workers’ rights and community needs, particularly in industries undergoing major changes.
• Loss and Damage Fund:
  • Financial assistance to countries facing climate disasters, established at COP27, though currently empty.

Also Read: NDC Synthesis Report For 2023: UNFCCC

News Source: Indian Express

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Context: This article is based on the news  “Producing more from less: How Indian agriculture has grown with limited ‘factors of production” Which was published in the Indian Express. 

According to a NITI Aayog paper, despite limited Factors of Production, technology in agriculture, including factors such as genetics and agronomic interventions, has significantly boosted agricultural growth in India.

Technology in Agriculture – How Technology is Reshaping India’s Farming Practices?

• Agriculture Output is determined by the quantity of inputs used for a given level of technology in agriculture.
  • Farmers use four “factors of production” Land, water, labor and energy to produce crops. 
• Member (Agriculture) of NITI Aayog Ramesh Chand and consultant in the government think tank Jaspal Singh concluded in there studies that  growth in agricultural production over the last 50 years or more has been mainly because of technological factors.
• This is evident from India’s net sown area rising by just 3.3% – from 135.4 lh to 139.9 lh – between 1961-62 and 2019-20, as against 14% from 1950-51 to 1961-62. 
• The annual growth during the period from 2005-06 to 2021-22, at 3.7%, has been the highest among all phases (See Image).

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What are the key limitations in India’s agriculture sector?

Land:

• Land fragmentation: India’s average landholding size is just 1.08 hectares. This makes it difficult for farmers to use modern farming techniques and achieve economies of scale.
  • The average size of operational holdings has decreased from 2.28 hectares in 1970-71 to 1.84 hectares in 1980-81, to 1.41 hectares in 1995-96, and to 1.08 hectares in 2015-16 as per the Agriculture Census (2015-16).
• Soil Degradation: Soil erosion, nutrient depletion, and salinization are all major problems in India. Overgrazing, deforestation, and the use of chemical fertilizers are major reasons (See Image).

Water:

• Water scarcity:
  • India’s per capita water availability is just 1,500 cubic meters per year, compared to the global average of 5,000 cubic meters yearly. 
  • By 2050, it is projected that India will face a water deficit of 25%, making it one of the most water-stressed countries in the world.
• Lack of irrigation:  As per the latest data against the total agricultural land of 1,80,888 thousand hectares, the cultivated land in the country is 1,53,888 thousand hectares. Of the total available agricultural land 71,554 thousand hectares or only 40 per cent is irrigated.
• Overexploitation of groundwater: In many parts of India, groundwater is being overexploited, leading to declining water levels and increased salinity.
  • Over 60% of India’s groundwater is being overexploited. In many parts of India, groundwater levels have declined by up to 100 meters over the past few decades.
• Poor water management: Water infrastructure, such as canals and reservoirs, is often in disrepair. This leads to water losses and inefficiencies.
  • Due to inefficient irrigation and distribution systems, India loses an estimated 25% of its water. 
  • A study by the World Bank found that India could save up to 50% of its water usage by improving irrigation infrastructure and management practices.

Energy:

• High energy costs: The energy cost for agriculture is high in India, due to factors such as subsidies and inefficient technologies.
  • The accessibility, availability and high cost of electricity make it difficult for farmers to adopt modern farming techniques, such as drip irrigation, solar pumps and cold storage facilities.

Labor: 

• Shortage of skilled labor: There is a shortage of skilled labor in India’s agriculture sector, due to factors such as migration to urban areas and a lack of training opportunities.
  • The migration of young people from rural areas to urban centers has led to a shortage of skilled labor in agriculture.
  • The low wages make it difficult for farmers to attract and retain workers, especially during peak seasons.

Also Read: Climate Smart Agriculture

How does technology contribute to India’s agricultural growth story?

• More Crop Per Acre, Per Farmland, And Per Drop Of Water: Technology enables more efficient use of production factors, resulting in higher yields. 
  • Farmers can produce from the same acre of land or number of laborers –besides better utilization of water resources and replacing animal and human power with mechanical and electrical power.

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What are the four factors of technology in agriculture?

• Genetics:  Development of the High-Yielding Varieties of wheat and rice were at the center of the Green Revolution. 
  • These varieties incorporated dwarfing genes that reduced the height of the plants, enabling them to absorb more nutrients and convert these to high yields.
• Crop Nutrition: The use of chemical fertilizers having much higher NPK content: Urea (46% N), di-ammonium phosphate (18% N and 46% P) and muriate of potash (60% K). 
  • Synthetic Fertilizers, combined with breeding varieties responsive to high nutrient doses, result in an increase in crop yields. 
• Crop Protection Technologies: The application of pesticides,  insecticides and  herbicides helped to reduce crop yield from pathogens (fungi, bacteria, and viruses) and weeds.
  • Crop protection chemicals ensured that the yield gains from genetics/breeding and nutrition/fertilizers would be realized in farmers’ fields to the maximum possible extent.
  • For instance, herbicides helped to replace the manual removal of weeds.
• Farm Mechanization and other Agronomic interventions. Tractors have made it possible to use implements such as rotavators  to do deep tillage, mix, and pulverize the soils and break their hardpan layers.
  • Agronomic interventions also extend to water-saving technologies drip irrigation and laser land levelers (which help in the uniform placement of seed and fertilizer too) – and intercropping or growing more than one crop simultaneously on the same piece of land. 
  • Today, farmers cultivate pomegranates in Rajasthan’s arid desert soils through drip irrigation and water-soluble/liquid fertilizers. 

What is the role of emerging technology in addressing India’s agricultural challenges?

• Generative AI: Generative AI can revolutionize Indian agriculture by providing farmers with real-time insights and recommendations based on vast amounts of data. This can help farmers:
• Optimize crop yields: Generative AI models can analyze soil conditions, weather patterns, and historical data to predict optimal planting dates, irrigation schedules, and fertilizer applications. This can help farmers to maximize crop yields while minimizing resource inputs.

• Improve crop quality: Generative AI can identify genetic traits associated with desirable crop characteristics, such as improved yield, disease resistance, and drought tolerance. This can help breeders develop new crop varieties better suited to local conditions.

Geo-Spatial Technology: Geo-spatial technology such as remote sensing can map soil conditions, crop health, and water resources. This information can then be used to develop precision agriculture plans to help farmers:

• Target fertilizer and pesticide applications: Geo-spatial maps can show farmers where their crops are most deficient in nutrients or where pests and diseases are most prevalent. This allows farmers to target their inputs more precisely, which can reduce waste and improve the environment.
• Monitor crop health: Geo-spatial imagery can be used to track crop health over time. This allows farmers to identify problems early on, such as nutrient deficiencies or disease outbreaks, and take corrective action.

Drones: Drones can be used for various tasks in agriculture, including

• Spraying. Drones can use sprayers to apply pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. This can be done more precisely and efficiently than traditional methods, such as using tractors or helicopters.

Sensors and Microchips: Sensors can be used to collect real-time data on crop health, soil conditions, and environmental factors. This data can then be used to:

• Monitor crop growth: Sensors can be used to measure factors such as plant height, leaf area, and chlorophyll levels. This information can be used to track crop growth and identify any problems that may be affecting yield.
• Optimize irrigation: Sensors can be used to measure soil moisture levels and evapotranspiration rates. This information can then be used to develop precise irrigation schedules.
• Reduce pesticide use:  Sensors can be used to identify pest and disease outbreaks early on, allowing farmers to take targeted interventions instead of blanket spraying pesticides. This can reduce the environmental impact of agriculture and improve food safety.

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What challenges are associated with using technology in Agriculture?

• Lack of Awareness and Understanding: Smallholder farmers often lack awareness and understanding of the benefits and applications of modern agricultural technologies. This knowledge gap hinders their ability to adopt and utilize these technologies effectively.
  • A survey by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) revealed that 60% of farmers lack the technical knowledge to adopt modern agricultural practices.
• Lack of Capital: Adopting modern agricultural technologies often requires significant upfront investments in equipment, machinery, sensors, and data analytics tools. This poses a major challenge for smallholder farmers with limited financial resources.
  • The average cost of adopting precision agriculture technologies in India is estimated to be around ₹50,000 per acre. 
  • The Agricultural Census 2015-16 classifies about 86 percent of farmers as small and marginal, having less than one hectare of land and relatively lower income than their consumption expenditure.
• Labor Disruption: Implementing automation technologies, such as automated harvesting machines and robotics, can lead to job displacement and social disruption in rural areas.
  • The adoption of labor-saving technologies in agriculture is expected to displace an estimated 30% of agricultural laborers in India by 2030.
• Regional Disparity and Inequalities: The adoption of modern agricultural technologies is often uneven across different regions of India, with farmers in more developed regions having greater access to technology and financial resources. This can exacerbate existing regional disparities and inequalities.
  • A study by the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi found a significant gap in the adoption of precision agriculture technologies between different states in India.
• Lack of Training and Localized Assistance:  This can hinder the effective implementation of these technologies at the farm level.
  • A survey by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) revealed that only 40% of farmers have received training on the use of modern agricultural technologies.

• Environmental Concerns: The intensive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, can have negative environmental impacts, such as soil degradation, water pollution, and biodiversity loss.
  • The use of pesticides has been linked to water pollution and the decline of pollinators, such as bees, which are essential for crop pollination.

Way Forward:

• Awareness creation among farmers: There is a need for awareness among farmers and other stakeholders about the impact of climate change and the need for undertaking mitigation and adaptation activities, which can be incentivised through the Green credit scheme. 
  • Green Credit Scheme is an innovative market-based mechanism incentivizing voluntary environmental actions across diverse sectors.
• Solarization of Agriculture: As per Ministry of New and Renewable Energy the adoption of solar-powered irrigation help reduce the burden of over Rs 1 lakh crore towards agriculture’s electricity subsidy and reduce oil import bill by reducing diesel consumption by 1.38 billion liters per annum.
• • Furthermore, it is estimated that off-grid solarisation of pumps can help reduce transmission & distribution losses by up to 20%, according to the World Irrigation Forum report.
• Strengthening Training and Extension services: A strong agricultural extension system is vital in transferring the knowledge and technology generated by the research system to the diverse categories of stakeholders that may lead to its adoption, and further, to translate production gains into increased value generation.
  • Restructuring of the Indian agricultural extension system is vital in developing the sector into a major source of growth in the Indian economy. 
• Cooperative Farming: It was, therefore, necessary to make cost-effective usage of new technology on small and marginal-size holdings through some institution-building measures like the formation of group farming.
• Promoting Sustainable Agricultural Practices: Encouraging the adoption of sustainable technologies and practices, such as organic farming, precision agriculture, and conservation agriculture, to minimize environmental impacts.
• Green Revolution to Gene Revolution: GM seeds are considered to be more productive, more pest-resistant and more suitable to all categories of farms and all the agricultural regions. 
  • However, the adoption of gene technology in Indian agriculture is subject to debate and discussion, as its positive and negative effects on plants, animals and human lives have not yet been fully examined.

Conclusion:

Emerging Technologies have the potential to transform the agriculture sector  towards low-input, high-efficiency and sustainable to increase agricultural productivity, improve farmer livelihoods, and ensure food security and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG indicator 2.4.1).

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Context: This article is based on the news  “As deaths due to work-related factors increase, ILO report (Occupational Safety and Health) calls for countries to strengthen safety net” Which was published in the Hindu. The ‘23rd World Congress on Safety and Health at Work  has started from 27 November 2023  in Sydney, Australia. It is the largest international event focused on the prevention of workplace harm.

23rd World Congress on Safety and Health at Work – Key Heighlights

• Theme of Event: “Shaping Change- collaborating for a healthier and safer world of work,”
• India’s Representation: The Director General of the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), is representing India at the conference.
• • ESIC aims to provide for certain benefits to Employees in case of sickness, maternity and employment injury and to make provisions for related matters.
• Key Collaborators of Event:  United Nations International Labour Organisation, the International Social Security Association, and SafeWork NSW.
• The  ILO report, titled ‘A Call for Safer and Healthier Working Environments’, will be discussed at this event.

Know more about the ILO here.

What is Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)?

• Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) deals with all aspects of health and safety in the workplace and has a strong focus on primary prevention of hazards. 
• Goal: To prevent accidents and harm to people from work-related activities.
• “Welfare of Labour including conditions of work” is a subject listed in the concurrent list of the constitution
• Nodal Agency: The Ministry of Labour & Employment (MoL&E) , Government of India and Labour Departments of the State Governments and Union Territories are responsible for Occupational Safety and Health of workers. 

What are the key findings of the ILO Report on Occupational Safety and Health?

• Work-Related Health Hazards: Exposure to long working hours , with almost 7.45 lakh people dying of it in 2016, followed by exposure to occupational particulate matter, gases, and fumes (4.5 lakh deaths) and occupational injuries (3.63 lakh deaths).
• Global Deaths: Nearly 30 lakh workers die every year globally due to work-related accidents and diseases.
  • More than 63% of these deaths are reported from the Asia-Pacific region.
• Rising Diseases: The rate of non-melanoma skin cancer increased by over 37% between 2000 and 2020.
• Non-Compliance of ILO conventions: As per ILO report, 79 out of the 187 member countries have ratified the ILO Occupational Safety and Health Convention (No. 155), while 62 countries have ratified the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187). 
  • India has not ratified both the conventions, however after the Uttarkashi tunnel incident, Central Trade Unions asked the Union government to sign these treaties.

What are the issues related to Occupational Safety in India?

• Predominance of the Unorganized and Informal Sectors: Around  80% of India’s workers are employed in the unorganized sector, and more than 90% in informal jobs.
  • Such a huge part of the workforce is not covered by a majority of the labor laws which debar them from benefits like safety standards and minimum wage.

• • India has not ratified both the conventions.
• Selective Occupational Safety and Health framework: Apart from the existing Occupational Safety and Health related legislations for the four sectors, i.e., the manufacturing, mining, ports and construction, legislation to cover the other sectors such as agriculture sector, service sector, transport sector, etc., are not available leaving a huge gap.
• Lack of Defined Budget: The National Policy on Safety, Health and Environment at Workplace was announced in 2009. The review of policy is in progress. For effective implementation, there has been no specific financial budget and scheme.
• Challenges in Managing Occupational Safety and Health Risks: The changing job patterns and working relationships, outsourcing of work, homework and the increasing number of employees working away from their establishment, pose problems to management of occupational safety and health risks at workplaces.
• Economic unpredictability: India has seen two lockdowns and multiple restrictions. This creates economic uncertainty, making it difficult for organizations to make concrete decisions that transform the organization’s safety culture.

Also Read: India’s Informal Economy: Over 90% Workforce, Half of GDP

What laws and regulations are for Occupational Safety and Health in India?

• Constitutional Framework:  Under the Constitution of India, labor is a subject in the concurrent list where both the Central and the State Governments are competent to enact legislation subject to certain matters reserved for the Central Government.
  • Article 39: It  ensure that  the citizens of India are provided with adequate means of livelihood, fair distribution of wealth, equal pay for equal work, protection of children and labor
  • Article 42: Just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief are provided.
• National Policy on Safety, Health and Environment at Workplace(2009):It recognizes a safe and healthy working environment as a fundamental human right.
• Legislative Framework: The Government of India has enacted four main legislations relating to Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) at workplaces:
  • The Factories Act, 1948 , covering factories wherein the enforcement of safety at workplace is by the Chief Inspector of Factories in the respective states
  • The Mines Act, 1952 and Mines Rules, 1955 for mining industry where the enforcement is by the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) under Ministry of Labour & Employment , Government of India
  • The Dock Workers (Safety, Health and Welfare) Act, 1986 followed by notification of the Dock Workers (Safety, Health and Welfare) Regulations, 1990 dealing with the major ports of India
  • The Building & Other Construction Workers (Regulations of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996 , covering construction workers at construction sites wherein the enforcement is by the Directorate General Labour Welfare in the central sphere and by the Labour Commissioners/Factory Inspectorates in the States/UTs
• Mechanisms to Prevent Industrial Disaster, Protect Environment and Promote Public Safety:
  • National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA): Its primary purpose is to coordinate response to natural or man-made disasters and for capacity-building in disaster resiliency and crisis response.
• OSH Code (Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code) – 2020: 
  • National database to be created for the InterState Migrant Workers. 
  • Instead of 240 days, now if a worker has worked 180 days, he shall be entitled for one-day leave for every 20 days of work done.

Way Forward:

• Implementation of recommendation of ILO Report on Occupational Safety and Health:
  • The report  recommended five categories of “Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work” for ensuring safety and health at work. These are:
    • freedom of association;
    • effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining,
    • elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour, abolition of child labour, 
    • elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation, and
    • a safe and healthy working environment.
  • Role of  Social Dialogue and Participation: In line with the core principles of the ILO Conventions, a sound and resilient national occupational safety and health (OSH) framework, built on social dialogue and participation, is essential for the realization of the fundamental right to a safe and healthy working environment.
• Upskilling employees in workplace ergonomics: According to the American authority on Occupational Safety and Health, 34% of workplace injuries are ergonomics-related, costing organizations nearly USD 50 billion per year.
  • Upskilling employees in workplace ergonomics will support a safer environment. 
• Integrating Ministries and Allocating Resources for Occupational Safety and Health Awareness and Prevention: At the national level, the government needs to include all relevant ministries to ensure that workers’ safety and health are prioritized in the national agenda. 
  • This requires allocating adequate resources to increase general awareness around Occupational Safety and Health, knowledge of hazards and risks, and an understanding of their control and prevention measures.
• Establishing a Specialized Research Institution for Workplace Safety, Health, and Environment: An institution in the country needs to be identified for providing research in the field of safety, health and environment at workplace and by developing innovative methods for dealing with safety, health and environment at workplace.

Conclusion:

There is a need to develop close involvement of social partners to meet the challenges ahead in the assessment and control of occupational safety by mobilizing local resources and extending protection to such working populations and vulnerable groups where social protection is not adequate.

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