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Oct 27 2023

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Indian Ports Hold the Key to Growth & Employment

October 27, 2023

Context:

  • This article is based on an Editorial “Ports hold the key to growth, employment” which was published in Hindustan Times.  Indian ports are integral to country’s goal of becoming a global manufacturing hub and a major export powerhouse.
Relevancy for Prelims: Indian Port Sector,  Major Ports in India, Ancient Indian Ports, Special Economic Zones, Sagarmala scheme, 

Relevancy for Mains: Indian Ports and Economic Development, Historical Significance of Indian Ports, Multifaceted Role of Ports, Government Reforms.

Indian Ports – Historical Significance 

  • Indian Ports have played a pivotal role throughout Indian history, connecting the country to distant lands.
  • They facilitated trade, cultural exchange, and economic prosperity in ancient times.
    • Indus Valley Civilization: The ancient city of Lothal, part of the Indus Valley Civilization connected the Indus Valley Mesopotamia, Oman, and the Persian Gulf. 
    • Mauryan Era: Pataliputra, located near the confluence of the Ganges and Son rivers served as a natural route for transportation, facilitating trade within the Indian subcontinent. 
    • Gupta Period: The port of Broach (modern-day Bharuch) on the west coast of India became a significant center for maritime trade. 
    • Chola Dynasty: The Cholas developed the port of Nagapattinam on the southeast coast of India as a major center for trade and maritime activities. 
    • Medieval Period:  The port of Calicut (Kozhikode) on the Malabar Coast gained prominence during the medieval period. It became a key center for the spice trade, attracting traders from the Middle East and Europe. 

Indian Ports – Growth in the Modern Era

  • Over the past three decades, the Indian ports sector has experienced significant growth due to rapid economic development and government policies.
    • As of 2022, India had 12 major and over 210 non-major ports.
  • Public and Private Sector Involvement: While most ports are government-controlled, the private sector has made substantial contributions to port infrastructure development.
    • The Mundra port and the Adani Group’s seaport in Vizhinjam are notable private sector examples.

Indian Ports

Indian Ports – Multifaceted Role

  • Economic Contribution: Indian ports are essential for international trade, industrial growth, energy imports, tourism, and employment generation.
    • Approximately 95% of India’s trade by volume and 68% by value relies on maritime transport.
    • India’s extensive coastline (over 7,500 km) supports rapid economic development and diversification.
    • As India targets exports worth $900 billion in FY24, Indian ports serve as the crucial gateway to becoming a $5 trillion economy.

Indian Ports and Economic Development

  • SEZs and Industrial Clusters: The Special Economic Zones Act in 2006 paved the way for port-connected SEZs, promoting industrial and commercial development around ports.
  • Energy Imports: Indian ports on the western coast, including Mundra and Kandla, handle significant volumes of crude oil and energy imports crucial for the nation’s needs.
  • Eastern Coast Trade and Tourism: Indian ports on the eastern coast, like Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Kolkata, Paradip, and Haldia, support trade with countries in Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

Government Reforms and Infrastructure Schemes

  • The Sagarmala scheme aims to provide holistic development to ports, with 802 projects worth ₹5.40 lakh crore by 2035.
  • This support leads to increased revenues for the government, substantial employment generation, and an overall significant contribution to the Indian economy.

Also read: MISSION SAGAR: Indian Ocean Diplomacy and India’s Strategic Outreach

Conclusion:

Indian ports, with their rich historical legacy and modern strategic importance, serve as vital catalysts for economic growth, global trade, and extensive employment opportunities. Thus, the Indian port sector has the potential to play an important role in India’s journey toward becoming a $5 trillion economy. 

 

Prelims Question (2022)

Which one of the following statements best describes the ‘Polar Code’?

(a) It is the international code of safety for ships operating in polar waters.

(b) It is the agreement of the countries around the North Pole regarding the demarcation of their territories in the polar region.

(c) It is a set of norms to be followed by the countries whose scientists undertake research studies in the North Pole and South Pole.

(d) It is a trade and security agreement of the member countries of the Arctic Council.

Ans: (a)

 

Mains Question: Examine the future potential of ports in India. What are the challenges faced by the Indian port sector? (250 words, 15 Marks)

 

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Land Degradation and Desertification: India Lost Over 30 Million Hectares of Healthy Land – UN Data

October 27, 2023

Context: :

  • This article is based on an Editorial “100 million hectares of arable land lost yearly to degradation, shows UN report” which was published in the DownToEarth.  Recently, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has launched its first-ever Data Dashboard on land degradation and desertification, aggregating national reporting figures from 126 countries, reveals escalating land degradation worldwide, emphasizing the urgency of global intervention.
Relevancy for Prelims: Land Degradation and Desertification,  Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY).

Relevancy for Mains: UNCCD Reports on Land Degradation and Desrtification, Causes of Land Degradation and Desertification, Impacts of Land Degradation and Desertification, Government Measures to Combat Land Degradation and Desertification

What is land degradation?

  • Land degradation is the result of human-induced actions which exploit land, causing its utility, biodiversity, soil fertility, and overall health to decline.​
  • Land degradation within dry land regions (arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid regions) is termed as ‘desertification’.

Land Degradation and Desertification

What are the causes of land degradation and desertification?

  • Natural Causes:
    • Loss of Soil Cover: Soil erosion due to rainfall and surface runoff, accounting for 11.01% of desertification.
    • Water Erosion: Water-driven erosion contributing to 10.98% of desertification.
    • Wind Erosion: Wind erosion, carrying away soil, responsible for 5.46% of desertification.
  • Anthropogenic Causes:
    • Poor Agricultural Practices: Including improper crop rotations and agrochemical overuse.
    • Deforestation: Leading to vegetation degradation (9.15% of desertification).
    • Increasing Urbanization: Diverting land from agriculture to urban development.
    • Overgrazing: Unsustainable grazing practices.
  • Climate Change: Rising temperatures, droughts, and forest fires intensifying desertification.

Land Degradation and Desertification

Impacts of Land Degradation and Desertification

  • Economic Impact: Land degradation caused a loss of over 2% of India’s GDP in 2014-15 (TERI).
  • Environmental Impact:
    • Soil Erosion: Topsoil detachment by water, ice, waves, or wind.
    • Loss of Fertility: Due to unscientific farming practices and chemical inputs.
    • Salinity/Alkalinity: Caused by over-irrigation or excessive rainfall.
    • Water Scarcity: Dryland population vulnerable to water stress and increased drought (178 million projected by 2050).
  • Potential Impacts on Human Health:
    • Malnutrition: Reduced food and water supplies.
    • Water- and Food-Borne Diseases: Poor hygiene and lack of clean water.
    • Respiratory Diseases: Atmospheric dust from wind erosion and air pollutants.
    • Infectious Diseases: Impacting public health as populations migrate.
  • Rights of Indigenous People:
    • Insecure land tenure hampers the ability of people and indigenous groups to combat climate change, further endangering their rights and livelihoods.

Government Measures to Combat Land Degradation and Desertification

  • Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas: Published by Space Applications Centre (SAC) of the Indian Space Research Organisation.
    • Estimated land degradation and desertification in India: 97.84 million hectares in 2018-19.
    • Offers state-wise information on degraded land to aid restoration planning.
  • Online Portal for Visualization: Developed in collaboration with Space Application Center (SAC), Ahmedabad.
    • Allows visualization of degraded land areas and the processes causing degradation.
  • Centre of Excellence at ICFRE Dehradun: Envisioned at the Indian Council for Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), Dehradun.
    • Focuses on South-South Cooperation for knowledge sharing and best practices.

Also read: Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA)

Way forward

  • Implement comprehensive land use planning to balance stakeholder needs while preserving land resources.
  • Promote practices like terrace farming and rainwater harvesting for land restoration, increased crop yields, reduced emissions, and carbon sequestration.
  • Align Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) with Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) to treat 30% more land.
  • China’s Great Green Wall: China’s Three-North Shelterbelt Program combats desertification and dust storms with large-scale non-native forest strips in the Gobi Desert region.

Conclusion:

UNCCD’s Data Dashboard reveals a concerning reality for India, with the nation losing more than 30 million hectares of healthy land—highlighting a serious problem of land degradation and desertification that needs urgent attention and action.

 

Prelims Question (2016)

What is/are the importance/ importances of the ‘United Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)’? 

1. It aims to promote effective action through innovative national programmes and supportive international partnerships 

2. It has a special/particular focus on South Asia and North Africa regions, and its Secretariat facilitates the allocation of major portion of financial resources to these regions. 

3. It is committed to bottom-up approach, encouraging the participation of local people in combating the desertification. 

Select the correct answer using the code given below. 

(a) 1 only 

(b) 2 and 3 only 

(c) 1 and 3 only 

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (c)

 

Mains Question: Discuss the global phosphorus problem, its significance, and the multifaceted challenges associated with phosphorus usage in agriculture. Also, elaborate on potential strategies for managing phosphorus usage. (250 Words, 15 Marks)

 

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Birth Rate in Italy Reaches New Record Low in 2023

October 27, 2023

Context:

  • Severely depleted birth rate is affecting the entire Europe significantly. Italy has recently set a new all-time low, as there were no births in the entire country for three months.
Relevancy for Prelims: Birth Rate in Italy,  Fertility Rate, Dependency Ratio, and Population Replacement Rate.

Relevancy for Mains: Declining Birth Rate in Italy, and Aging Population, Demographic Dividend, and Migration.

Why the low birth rate in Italy? – Reasons 

  • Italy has one of the lowest fertility rates, with an average of 1.26 children per woman in 2022.
  • Below the replacement rate of 2.1 children per woman needed to maintain a stable population.
  • Reasons for Low Fertility Rate:
  • Economic uncertainty
    • Changing gender roles
    • High cost of childcare
    • Lack of family support
Italy’s Aging Population

  • Median age of 45.7 years in 2023: Due to a combination of low fertility and high life expectancy. 
  • Increasing Life Expectancy: This positive development is also putting a strain on the social security system and public services.
  • Low Fertility Rate: There are fewer young people to support the growing population of older adults.

Negative Net Migration

In 2022, there were 147,000 more departures than arrivals due to following reasons: 

  • Economic opportunities: Many young Italians are emigrating to other countries in search of better economic opportunities.
  • High unemployment: Italy has a high unemployment rate, especially among young people.
  • Political instability: Italy has a history of political instability, which can deter people from immigrating to the country.

Consequences

  • Shrinking Workforce: The number of people of working age (15-64) is projected to decline from 35.8 million in 2023 to 31.9 million by 2050.
  • Declining Tax Revenues: This is making it difficult to fund public services such as healthcare, education, and pensions.
  • High Dependency Ratio: The dependency ratio is the number of people who are not working divided by the number of people who are working. Italy has a very high dependency ratio, which is putting a strain on the working-age population.
  • Regional disparities: The population decline is most severe in southern Italy, where there are high rates of unemployment and emigration. 
  • Social and cultural impacts: The population decline is leading to a loss of cultural vitality and a sense of community.

What steps has the Italian Government taken to increase the birth rate in Italy?

  • Financial Incentives: The Italian government has incentives for people to have more children, such as tax breaks, childcare subsidies, and paid parental leave.
  • Immigration Policies: More flexible immigration policies to attract more workers to the country.
  • Support for Families: Increased support for families, such as affordable childcare and flexible work arrangements.
Challenges in Utilizing Potential Demographic Dividend

  • Informal Economy
  • Caste Discrimination
  • Religious Differences
  • Gender Disparities
  • Lack of Access to Healthcare Services
  • Low Employability
  • Widening Income Gap
  • Generating Sufficient Employment Opportunities

Birth Rate in Italy

Way Forward 

  • Health and Education Spending: Better health facilitates improved economic production.
    • Investment in education is crucial for preparing the working-age population for the demands of the economy.
  • Increase Female Workforce Participation: Implement legally compulsory gender budgeting to analyze gender-disaggregated data and its impact on policies.
    • Increase childcare benefits to support working mothers.
  • Bridge Skill Gap: Emphasize the importance of vocational skills development and promote internships to provide practical experience.
  • Encourage Foreign Capital Inflows: Aim for a Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) of 33% of GDP to meet growth and job creation goals.
  • Transition from the Agriculture Sector: Facilitate the absorption of labor into productive employment in non-agricultural sectors.

Also read: India-Italy Bilateral Relations

Conclusion:

The alarming decline in the birth rate in Italy necessitates urgent and comprehensive measures to address demographic challenges and ensure a sustainable future for the country.

 

Prelims Question (2019)

In the context of anycountry, which one of the following would be considered as part of its social capital?

(a) The proportion of literates in the population

(b) The stock of its buildings, other infrastructure and machines

(c) The size of population in the working are group

(d) The level of mutual trust and harmony in the society

Ans: (d)

 

Mains Question: Discuss the concept of depopulation, a recent focal point of discussions. What has been India’s position within global population trends? (250 words, 15 Marks)

 

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