Context:
India’s output from all eight core infrastructure sectors surpassed pre-pandemic production levels this January, even as the pace of growth slowed marginally to 3.7% from a 4.1% uptick recorded in December 2021.
Relevance:
GS-III: Indian Economy (Growth and Development of Indian Economy, Inflation)
Dimensions of the Article:
- What is Index of Industrial Production (IIP)?
- About Index of Eight Core Industries:
- Significance of IIP:
What is Index of Industrial Production (IIP)?
- The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is an index that shows the growth rates in different industry groups of the economy in a fixed period of time.
- It is compiled and published MONTHLY by the National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
- Base Year for IIP is 2011-2012.
- IIP is a composite indicator that measures the growth rate of industry groups classified under:
- Broad sectors, namely, Mining, Manufacturing, and Electricity.
- Use-based sectors, namely Basic Goods, Capital Goods, and Intermediate Goods
About Index of Eight Core Industries:
- The Eight Core Industries comprise 40.27% of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
Released by: The Office of the Economic Adviser, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
Base year: 2011-12
Below image attached Eight Core Industries based on their weightage.
Significance of IIP:
- IIP is the only measure on the physical volume of production.
- It is used by government agencies including the Ministry of Finance, the Reserve Bank of India, etc., for policy-making purposes.
- IIP remains extremely relevant for the calculation of the quarterly and advance GDP estimates.
-Source: The Hindu
Land Protests Over Deocha Pachami Coal Block
Context:
The West Bengal government’s ambitious Deocha Pachami coal block mining project despite the announcement of a relief and rehabilitation package, saw widespread protests which resulted in the arrests of nine people.
Relevance:
GS III- Indian Economy (Energy)
Dimensions of the Article:
- What is the Deocha Pachami coal block mining project?
- Why are locals upset?
What is the Deocha Pachami coal block mining project?
- The State government is planning to start mining at the Deocha Pachami coal block, considered to be the largest coal block in the country with reserves of around 1,198 million tonnes of coal and 1,400 million cubic metres of basalt, spread over an area of 12.31 sq. km, which is around 3,400 acres.
- There are around 12 villages in the project area with a population of over 21,000, comprising Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
- However, the ₹35,000 crore Bengal government project is facing protests over land acquisition.
- The government owns 1,000 acres, of which 300 acres is forest land, but needs to acquire the rest to begin coal mining.
Why are locals upset?
- Villagers have been organising protests and rallies against the project, with activists claiming that there is a “misleading propaganda” that locals are willing to “give land voluntarily”.
- Locals, mostly Santhal tribals, have close affinity with the land, with forests and waterways, and rely on it for their needs.
- The project is facing protests over land acquisition of which a significant part is forest land.
- The tribals were harassed and had been arrested under false and serious charges for protesting.
- Also, the project details have not yet been made public; and the environment clearance is awaited.
-Source: The Hindu
