Yojana Summary:
India@75

(January 2021)

Quotes:

‘There is something unique in this soil, which despite many obstacles has always remained the abode of great souls.’ - Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Important Facts from the Yojana                           

 

Democracy, Polity & Governance Syllabus:  GS Paper – II (Governance) - Important Aspects of Governance, Transparency and Accountability

 

Meaning of democracy

• Democracy as a system of Governance is supposed to allow extensive representation and inclusiveness of as many people and views as possible to feed into the functioning of a fair and just society.
• When we say Indian democracy, we mean not only that its political institutions and processes are democratic but also that the Indian society and every Indian citizen is democratic, reflecting basic democratic values of equality, liberty, fraternity, secularism and justice in social sphere and individual behaviour.
• Democratic ideals include political characteristics that can be seen to be intrinsically important in terms of the objective of democratic social living, such as freedom of expression, public accountability of leaders and an equitable distribution of power.
• Democratic Governance is a condition in which the promise of justice, liberty and equality enshrined in the Constitution is realised in a democratic political framework.

Challenges to democracy in India

• Rampant corruption - Corruption continues to exist in covert and overt ways at all three levels— political, bureaucratic and corporate sector. Corruption is a sign of political instability and institutional decay, challenging seriously the validity and propriety of governance.
• Criminalisation of Indian electoral politics - The news of muscle power, money power and worthless propaganda during elections are demeaning the sanctity of election., Even after the elections, the practices of unnecessary and unreasonable horse-trading have also been alarmingly increasing.
• Disunity among the different communities of the country is greatest threat to the Indian democracy and polity today.

Way Forward

• Responsible political leadership, enlightened policymaking and a civil service imbued with a professional ethos are important for good governance.
• The presence of a strong civil society including a free press and independent judiciary are also the pre-conditions for such good governance.
• All the citizens of our country should always remember that India is a Nation of “Unity in Diversity”. We all should always unitedly uphold the value of “Democracy, Polity and Governance”.

Q. What is real meaning of democracy? Do you think that India has been successful in realizing ideals of real democracy?

 

Syllabus:  GS Paper – III (Economic Development) - Changes in Industrial Policy and their Effects on Industrial Growth.

Industry@75

Industrial Growth in India

• The advent of British in India led to the decay of the Indian handicraft industry and machine made goods started flooding into the Indian markets post-Industrial revolution.
• The First Five-year Plan mainly focused on the development of both the private and public sectors.
• The second plan on Mahalanobis Model gave priority to Industrialisation.
• The third plan along with the first and second ones helped build up the capital goods industries in India.
• Between 1965- 1980, industrial growth saw a decline mainly due to the negligence of the consumer goods sector in the first three plans.
• Between 1980-1991, industries recovered from downfall due to an increase in the productivity of Indian Industries and improvement in manufacturing and capital goods sector.
• Post-1991 economic liberalisation of India, many reforms were brought which helped shape the future of industries in India.

Recent Situation

• India ranked 63rd among 190 countries in to the ‘World Bank's Ease of Doing Business Report 2020’.
• FDI inflows between April 2014 - September 2019 stood at $319 bn which is nearly 50% of total FDI inflow in the last 20 years.
• The start-up culture in India has seen massive growth under the Start-Up India scheme launched in 2016.
• The government’s flagship initiatives like Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), have helped advance India’s position in the Global Innovation Index from 81 in 2015 to 48 in 2020.

Government Initiatives

• Recently, the government has also approved 100 percent FDI through the automatic route in coal mining, 100 percent FDI through the direct route in contract manufacturing, and 74 percent through automatic route in the Defence sector.
• 115 districts have been identified across the nation as aspirational districts. These districts are being ranked based on progress being made (delta ranking) on a real-time basis based on 49 indicators from the 5 identified thematic areas — Health & Nutrition, Education, Agriculture & Water Resources, Financial Inclusion & Skill Development, and Basic Infrastructure.

• In December 2019, NITI Aayog had released the second edition of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) India Index and an online dashboard to track the progress on 17 SDGs of all the States and UTs on a set of 100 National Indicators.
• India has made considerable progress especially in SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation by constructing over 11 crore toilets to become open defecation-free in five years.
• The Digital India campaign launched in 2015 has ensured the creation of a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. Through the Bharat Net programme, which is also the world’s largest rural broadband connectivity programme, 2.5 lakh gram panchayats are being connected by a fiber-optic network.
• UPI and Aadhaar has drastically reduced the cost of money distribution among the poor.
• According to the 2019 global Multidimensional Poverty Index India has lifted 271 million people out of poverty between 2006 and 2016.
• Mudra loan scheme, launched in 2015, by providing credit up to 10 lakh to non-farming and no corporate micro and small enterprises has helped enable every last mile financer to lend credit to all types of businesses in the country.

• Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana launched in 2019 is providing 6,000 per year as minimum income support to all farmers.
• India’s Global stature has improved considerably with its recent election as Chair of the World Health Organization’s Executive Board in May 2020 and being elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
• India has dealt with the pandemic better than any country in the world.
• India manufactures more than 60% of all vaccines sold across the globe.
• The world’s largest distributor of vaccines - Serum Institute of India is also located in India.
• Aatmanirbhar Bharat economic stimulus relief package of 20 lakh crore amounting to 10% of GDP was released to fight the pandemic.
• Under the ‘Make in India’ initiative the MSME contribution to the GDP is being targeted to be increased to 50 percent from the existing 30 percent which will create 5 crore jobs in the next few years.

Q. Comment on the recent success of India’s industrial sector. Enumerate the recent measures taken by government to promote Indian industry.

 

Syllabus:  GS Paper – III (Technology) - Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology; Indigenization of Technology and Developing New Technology.

Awareness in the fields of Space

Successful Endeavour in Space

From a fledgling Sounding Rocket Launch Facility established in the early 1960s in Thumba near Trivandrum, Indian space programme has matured into a giant world-class space power.

Space Programme - Progress and Achievements

• The Indian space programme began in a modest way in 1962 with the formation of the Indian National Committee on Space Research (INCOSPAR).
• The formal beginning of the Indian space programme can be traced to the launch of a Nike-Apache sounding rocket on November 21, 1963 from Thumba.
• Later, Thumba became an international sounding rocket launching facility and such rockets were launched for upper atmospheric, geomagnetic and space research by many countries.
• In 1969, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was formed.
• The 70s were the learning phase during which many experimental satellites were built, including India’s first satellite Aryabhata (launched in 1975).
• Bhaskara 1 and 2, the two experimental earth observation satellites, provided the rich experience.
• APPLE, India’s first experimental communication satellite, launched by the European Ariane rocket, reached its final geosynchronous orbital home in June 1981.
• Aryabhata, the two Bhaskaras, as well as APPLE were launched free of cost, which reflects India’s successful international space cooperation policy.
• ISRO conducted two significant experiments in the 70’s — SITE and STEP — to obtain hands-on experience on the utilisation of satellites for television broadcasting and telecommunications.
• ISRO developed its first Satellite Launch Vehicle SLV3 and successfully launched in July 1980.
• As a result, India entered into the select league of six countries with the capability to launch satellites on their own.
• Later, India developed ASLV, a more capable launch vehicle compared to SLV-3.
• INSAT- 1B, India’s first multipurpose operational satellite was launched in 1983. It brought revolution in in India’s telecommunications, television broadcasting and weather forecasting fields.
• In 1988, IRS-1A, the first operational satellite built in India started imaging the earth from orbit.
• During the 1990s, ISRO began building INSAT-2 series of multipurpose satellites indigenously.
• Weather watching satellites INSAT-3D and INSAT-3DR — circling the earth in the 36,000 km high geosynchronous orbit, are providing valuable inputs to weather forecasting.
• Apart from these satellites, the Indian National Satellite (INSAT) system today is one of the largest domestic communication satellite systems in Asia-Pacific region.
• High throughput satellites such as GSAT-11, GSAT29 and GSAT-19 are supporting the “Digital India” campaign by boosting the broadband connectivity to the rural and inaccessible Gram Panchayats in the country.

Launch Vehicles

• Till now, ISRO has developed five launch vehicles (SLV-3, ASLV, PSLV, GSLV and GSLV Mk III which is also known as LMV3).
• Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is the third generation launch vehicle of India. It is the first Indian launch vehicle to be equipped with liquid stages.
  • On February 15, 2017, PSLV created a world record by successfully placing 104 satellites (launched by PSLV-C37) in orbit during a single launch.
• Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark II (GSLV Mk II) is fourth generation launch vehicle having three stages (including the cryogenic upper stage). Cryogenic technology involves storage of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen at very low temperatures
  • GSLV Mk III, India’s fifth generation satellite launch vehicle has two solid strap-ons, a core liquid booster and a cryogenic upper stage.
  • The vehicle is designed to carry 4-ton class of satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit or about 10 tons to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
  • With the successful injection of Chandrayaan-2 in to Earth Parking Orbit in July 2019, GSLV Mk III successfully entered into its operational phase.
• India’s Reusable Launch Vehicle Technology Demonstrator (RLV TD) was successfully flight tested in May 2016.
• The first experimental mission of ISRO’s Supersonic Combustion Ramjet (SCRAMJET) engine towards the realisation of air breathing propulsion system was also successfully conducted in August 2016. With this, India became the fourth country to flight test the SCRAMJET engine.

Space science missions of India

• ISRO entered into the realm of science missions with a unique mission, Space Capsule Recovery Experiment-1 (SRE-1).
• The Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft was successfully navigated to the Moon. With this mission, India became the fourth country to send a probe to the lunar surface after the United States, the Soviet Union and Japan.
  • Later, when Chandrayaan-1 conclusively discovered water molecules on the lunar surface.
• Mars Orbiter Mission demonstrated India’s capability to build, launch and navigate an unmanned spacecraft to Mars. Launched by PSLV in November 2013, the Mars Orbiter Spacecraft encountered Mars on September 24, 2014.
  • With this, ISRO has become the fourth space agency to successfully send a spacecraft to Mars orbit.
  • Achieving success in the first mission itself is yet another accomplishment of ISRO.
• AstroSat launched by PSLV in September 2015, is the first dedicated Indian astronomy mission aimed at studying celestial sources in X-ray, optical and UV spectral bands simultaneously.
  • AstroSat recently made a major breakthrough by discovering one of the earliest galaxies in extreme-Ultraviolet light.
• The Chandrayaan-2 mission, India’s second mission to the moon, was successfully launched in July 2019.
• Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) provides highly accurate Position, Navigation and Time information to users in India and its surroundings.
  • Global Standards body 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), which develops protocols for mobile telephony, has approved NavIC.
  • Further, through GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation (GAGAN), ISRO is providing Satellite based Navigation services with accuracy and integrity required for civil aviation applications and to provide better Air Traffic Management over Indian Airspace.

• Apart from this, ISRO has also facilitated students in building/ launching satellites for various applications. So far, 10 student satellites have been launched by ISRO.
• The “Gaganyaan Programme”, approved in 2018, has the objective of demonstrating human space flight capability to Low Earth orbit with 3 crew members for 5-7 days in orbit and safely recover them after the mission.
• Space science missions like Chandrayaan-3, Aditya-L1, Mission to Venus to further explore the solar system, are in progress.

Capacity building in human resources and private sector participation

• Towards capacity building in human resources and to meet the growing demands of the Indian Space Programme, the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), a deemed university, was established at Thiruvananthapuram in 2007.
• Recently, the space sector was opened up to promote, handhold, regulate and authorise private enterprises and start-ups to undertake space activities by creation of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe).

Q. The Indian space programme implemented by ISRO has enabled the pursuit of various frontier areas of space research besides facilitating the country’s overall development and technological advancement. Illustrate.

Syllabus:  GS Paper – III (Economic Development) - Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Government Budgeting

Fiscal Federalism

• “Fiscal Federalism’ refers to the financial relations between the country’s Central Government and other units of Government.
•  It essentially represents how expenditure and revenue are allocated across different layers of Government administration.

Evolution of Fiscal Federalism in India

• Evolution of Fiscal Federalism can be traced back to 18th century when Alexander Hamilton in his federalist papers, written in 1780s, stated that a Multi-layered Government (Federal) permits various functions to be assumed by different layers, potentially improving the efficiency of Government since different activities have different optimal scales.
• In India, fiscal federalism originated in pre-independence India. Over time, a rigid unitary system with immense scope of discretionary power to the Central Government was transformed into a constitutionally regulated federal system.
• By 1858, there was no standardised system of accounting and annual budgets did not exist. Central Government retained the entire control on finances. Local Governments collected revenue as agents of Central Government resulting in no direct interest in the result of collection.
• Later, the Government of India Act, 1919 introduced a system of diarchy, dividing the administrative subjects and sources of revenue into two categories — Central and Provincial.
• In 1927, Simon Commission reviewed the Government of India Act, 1919 and recommended the establishment of a federation of Indian States and provinces.
• Thereafter, the Expert Committee of 1931 with Lord Viscount Peel as the Chairman, examined the fiscal relations between the Centre and Provinces and suggested sharing of income tax between Centre and Provinces while fixing the share of Provinces for a period of five years.
• Based on these recommendations, the Government of India Act, 1935 was brought forth which established a federal system with Provinces and Indian States as two distinct units.
• Thus, the Act of 1919 and Act of 1935 established a basic structure of fiscal federalism in India, where Act of 1919 provided for a separation of revenue heads between the Centre and the Provinces, and the Act of 1935 allowed for sharing of Centre’s revenues and for the provision of grantsin-aid to Provinces.

The Federal Character of Public Finance in India

• Federalism is an essence of the constitution. The Constitution specifies taxation powers of both the Centre and the State and the principles governing the sharing of revenue and certain other resources.
• Post implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) which is shared between Centre and States, Central Government retains the exclusive right for income tax (corporates and individuals) while States have the right to collect stamp duty, excise duty on alcoholic beverages, registration/ commercial use of vehicles, and a few other minor taxes.

Central Transfers to States

• In India, in order to correct the vertical and horizontal imbalance and for equitable and efficient development, the Central Government transfers funds to State Governments as General-Purpose transfers and Specific Purpose transfers.
• The General-Purpose transfers are untied funds devolved to the State Governments via the Finance Commission.
• Finance Commission is appointed every five years since 1951 under Article 280 recommends the criteria for devolution of central taxes to States and the principles for distribution of grants-in-aid.
• 15th Finance Commission has already made recommendations for 2020-21.
• Specific Purpose Transfers may also be termed as tied transfers. These transfers are made by the concerned Central Ministries/Departments in the form of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS).
• It was only after 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts passed in 1992, the two-tiered Indian federal structure evolved into three-tiered structure.

• Article 243 (I) & Article 243 (Y) further necessitated constitution of State Finance Commissions at regular interval of five years, to decide distribution of net proceeds of taxes between State and Panchayats, determination of taxes, duties, tolls etc. to be assigned to Panchayats and Municipalities, grant in aid to be provided to the Panchayats and Municipalities.

Pronouncement which brought about structural changes in the Centre State financial relations:

I. Increase in untied funds devolved to States

• Following the recommendation of FC-XIV to increase the share of union tax proceeds from 32% to 42%, the biggest increase ever, the share of FC grants in total transfers increased to 74%,.

II. Rationalisation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS)

• The most recent rationalisation took place in 2016-17 based on the recommendations of the subgroup of Chief Ministers on Rationalisation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes.
• The number of CSS were reduced from 66 to 28, the funding pattern of core schemes was changed for large States to 60:40 (Centre: State) from 70:30 earlier; the flexibility for States to use funds as per their local needs and requirements within schemes was increased from 10% earlier to 25%.
• Each Ministry/Department along with NITI Aayog were recommended to evolve transparent criteria for allocation under each scheme and NITI Aayog was entrusted with carrying out third party evaluation to improve efficiency of expenditure and to improve outcomes.

III. End to Centralised Planning Era and Discretionary Grants

• Plan and Non-Plan distinction in the budgeting exercise was done away with by the Union Budget 2017-18.
• Discretionary transfers such as additional central assistance, special plan assistance, granted by the erstwhile Planning Commission were discontinued.

IV. Introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST)

• The Constitution now with Article 279A, provided for creation of a GST Council which is a joint forum of the Union and States entrusted with the responsibility of making recommendation on GST rates, taxes, cesses, exemptions etc.

V. Outcome Based Budgeting

• An expenditure reform was introduced in 2017-18 with the formulation of output outcome framework for 68 Ministries/ Dept. along with the Union Budget document.
• Data Monitoring and Evaluation Office of NITI Aayog and Public Finance (States) of Ministry of Finance are key coordinators in finalising and monitoring this framework.
• It is an important transition from mere outlays of schemes to result-oriented outputs and outcomes.

Role of NITI Aayog in Strengthening Federalism

• On the premise that strong States make a strong nation, a number of initiatives have been taken by NITI Aayog to foster cooperative federalism.
• These include meetings between Prime Minister/Cabinet Ministers with all Chief Ministers; subgroups of Chief Ministers on subjects of national importance; sharing of best practices; launching of the Aspirational Districts Programme for development of backward districts; theme-based extensive engagements in various sectors.
• The Governing Council of NITI Aayog, provides a platform whereby the Centre and the States – Team India – can come together to resolve differences and chart a common course to progress and prosperity.
• NITI Aayog has been providing relevant technical advice to the Centre, States and UTs.
• NITI Aayog has also established models and programmes for development of infrastructure and to reignite and establish private-public partnership, such as the Centre-State partnership model: Development Support Services to States and Union Territories (DSSS); and the Sustainable Action for Transforming Human Capital (SATH) programme.
• NITI Aayog has endeavoured to promote competitive federalism by facilitating improved performance of States/UTs by encouraging healthy competition through transparent ranking in various sectors. Some of the indices launched by NITI Aayog include Education Index; Health Index; Composite Water Management Index; SDG Index; and Delta Rankings for Performance of Aspirational Districts.

Way Forward

• The challenge of striking balance between efficiency and equity has always been a critical aspect in federalism.
• The recent experience of tackling Covid crisis is a successful example of how Centre and States have worked together to fight the pandemic.
• Likewise, steps have also been taken for localisation of Sustainable Development Goals so as to identify specific steps at the subnational levels.
• New reforms are required in public financial management system both at Centre and State level.
• There must be mechanisms in place to reward best performers, be it States or districts or even at block levels.

Q. Discuss the evolution of Fiscal Federalism in India. Comment on the role played by NITI Aayog in Strengthening Federalism in India.

 

Syllabus:  GS Paper –II (Social Justice) - Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health.

Public Health Innovation

Health for All

• The idea behind ‘Health for All’ is intrinsically interlinked with the idea of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) which envisages, that everyone, everywhere, has access to essential health care services without facing financial hardship.
• SDG 3 aspires to ensure health and well-being for all, along with tackling epidemics and selected communicable diseases by 2030. It also aims to achieve universal health coverage and provide access to safe and effective medicines and vaccines for all.

Government Initiatives

• Ayushman Bharat programme was introduced with the aim to bolster the two pillars of Health for All - strengthening primary health care and providing health coverage.

• Under this programme, 1.5 lakh health and wellness centres are being set up to provide comprehensive primary health care to the community.
• It also provides health coverage for the bottom 40% of people in the country.

• Under National Health Mission Numerous programmes have been designed to address health issues.
• The Universal Immunisation Programme, which is one of the largest health programmes of the world, has achieved stellar results such as the eradication of smallpox and polio.
• Moreover, Various National programs on health ranging from Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent health (RMNCAH), nutritional programmes, communicable and non- communicable diseases to health system strengthening programs have been designed and implemented.
• Prime Minister gave a clarion call to end TB and Malaria by 2025 and 2030 respectively and launched the National Strategic Plans (NSP) to this end.

Way Forward

• Innovation through public-private partnerships - Significant component of “Health for All” is innovation in public health research, driven by public-private partnerships. Innovation, particularly in the development of indigenous solutions, is essential to develop affordable health care products and services.
• The role of multi-sectoral partnerships and collaboration- In January 2020, India had only one laboratory testing for Covid-19, at the National Institute of Virology, Pune. With the collaboration of private players, ICMR has established testing labs even in the remotest parts of the country.
• The National Health Policy (2017) envisages the attainment of the highest possible level of health and well-being for all at all ages, through a preventive and promotive health care orientation in all developmental policies, and universal access to good quality health care services.
• Technology - transformation of health services can lend a positive push towards health care delivery, health promotion and prevention, therefore encompassing all aspects of universal health care. The new Science, Technology and Innovation Policy currently in progress will also be a guiding document in attaining the health for all.

Q. Discuss the Strategy required for realising the idea of ‘Health for All’ in India. What measures has government taken in this regard?

Syllabus:  GS Paper –III (Economic Development) - Storage, Transport and Marketing of Agricultural Produce and Issues and Related Constraints; E-technology in the aid of farmers, Issues related to Direct and Indirect Farm Subsidies and Minimum Support Prices

Agriculture: The Road Ahead

Achievements in agriculture sector

• With 11% of total global agriculture, India ranks second in the world in agriculture production as the leading producer of several commodities.
• Agriculture production in 2019 was valued at USD 459 billion
• The workforce engaged in this sector sharply declined from 60% in 2000 to 42% in 2019.  Still the current agricultural production has been ever increasing touching new heights; food grains 297 MT, horticulture 31 MT, cotton 37 million bales of 170 kg each have been all records.

Future Challenges

• The growing population poses a challenge to food and nutritional securities when there is pressure on land due to urbanisation, improved standard of living, etc.
• These challenges are further exacerbated by declining soil health, low nutrient content, occurrence of new biotic stresses and frequent droughts and floods due to climate change.
• Climate change will impact the lives of the people in India mainly due to erratic rainfall as nearly 62% cultivated land is rain-fed.
• According to UNICEF, India was at 10th spot among countries with highest number of underweight children and at 17th position for highest number of stunted children in world in 2019.
• To meet these challenges, it is estimated that the country must prepare for increasing land productivity by 4 times, water productivity by 3 times and labour output by 6 times.
• All this has to be achieved with low carbon emission technology, no ecological footprints.

 

Way Forward

Technology Innovation

• Many Crops are improved through genomics- assisted breeding, transgenic, and now through the CRISPR-Cas 9 technology. In India, several molecular breeding products have been commercialised.
• Thus, the country shall be benefitted once scientists given are freedom to commercialise products the of modern breeding.
• Besides the seed technologies, refining integrated crop management systems like resource conservation, innovations in irrigation application, sustainable intensification, prevention of post-harvest losses, new crop protection techniques and modern communication tools including social media, ICT for updating the farmers in rural areas are important for mitigating the challenges of future agriculture.