Current Affairs 03 November 2023

CONTENTS

1. Centre to Deploy National Level Monitors for Supervising Livestock Schemes
2. OECD Agricultural Policy Monitoring and Evaluation 2023
3. One Nation, One Registration Platform
4. Future Leaders Scholarship Programme
5. Awaous Motla
6. British Academy Book Prize 2023

Centre to Deploy National Level Monitors for Supervising Livestock Schemes

Context:

The Centre has decided to deploy National Level Monitors (NLM) to oversee the implementation of its livestock schemes including National Livestock Mission and Rashtriya Gokul Mission.

Relevance:

GS II: Government Policies and Interventions

Dimensions of the Article:

1. National Livestock Mission (NLM)
2. Centre to Deploy National Level Monitors for Livestock Schemes
3. About the Rashtriya Gokul Mission

National Livestock Mission (NLM)

Inception and Realignment

• The National Livestock Mission (NLM) was launched during the 2014-15 fiscal year.
• It underwent realignment in 2021-22.

Objective

• NLM seeks to enhance both the quantity and quality of livestock production systems and to build the capacity of all stakeholders.
• The core concept of the NLM Scheme is to nurture entrepreneurship, establishing connections between the unorganized and organized sectors.

Aims

• The revised scheme aspires to:
  • Generate employment opportunities.
  • Develop entrepreneurship.
  • Raise productivity per animal, ultimately leading to increased meat, goat milk, egg, and wool production.

Implementing Agency

• The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying has overseen the scheme’s implementation since the 2014-15 fiscal year.

Centre to Deploy National Level Monitors for Livestock Schemes

The Indian government plans to assign National Level Monitors (NLMs) to oversee various livestock schemes.

Monitoring of Livestock Programs

• NLMs will supervise the implementation of livestock schemes and programs.
• These include the National Programme for Dairy Development and Livestock Health and Disease Control programs.
• Two types of monitoring are proposed: regular and special.
• The objectives encompass ensuring adherence to Ministry-prescribed guidelines and processes.
• Monitoring will also gauge public perceptions, gather suggestions for improvements, and assess beneficiary selection for transparency.

Nature of NLMs

• NLMs will be independent, third-party monitors, comprising both individuals and institutions designated by the government.
• Individual NLMs will be drawn from retired Civil/Defence Services Officers and academia.

Significance of Monitoring

• The government’s attention to monitoring schemes in the Animal Husbandry and Dairying sector is noteworthy, given the sector’s growing economic contribution.
• Involving NLMs ensures impartial and objective monitoring of these schemes.

Contribution of Livestock Sector

• The livestock sector’s contribution to agriculture output has risen from 24.32% in 2014-2015 to 30.87% in 2020-21.
• The sector has experienced a compound annual growth rate of 7.93% from 2014-15 to 2020-21.
• The total value of the livestock sector’s output in 2020-21 was Rs 14.49 lakh crore, based on National Account Statistics 2022.
• The value of milk output exceeded Rs 9.31 lakh crore, surpassing the combined value of paddy and wheat.

About the Rashtriya Gokul Mission

• The Rashtriya Gokul Mission was launched in December 2014.
• It has been extended as part of the Rashtriya Pashudhan Vikas Yojana from 2021 to 2026.

Mission Objectives:

• Enhancing Productivity: The mission aims to boost the productivity of indigenous bovine breeds while ensuring sustainability. It leverages advanced technologies for this purpose.
• Increased Milk Production: One of its goals is to facilitate a significant increase in milk production through efficient bovine management practices.
• High-Quality Breeding: The mission advocates the use of high genetic merit bulls for breeding, contributing to the improvement of cattle genetics.
• Widening Insemination Coverage: Strengthening the breeding network and making artificial insemination services easily accessible to farmers is a key objective.
• Holistic Conservation: The mission is dedicated to the scientific and comprehensive conservation of indigenous cattle and buffalo breeds.

Issues with Rashtriya Gokul Mission:

• Established in 2014, the Rashtriya Gokul Mission was intended to enhance the quality of semen for various indigenous cattle breeds in India.
• However, the mission has largely prioritized the Gir cow, primarily due to its milk production and adaptability to different regions.
• This preference for Gir cows is evident from the 2019 livestock census, which showed a substantial increase in purebred Gir cows since 2013, while other indigenous breeds like Sahiwal and Hariana have not seen similar growth and, in some cases, have experienced a decline.
• This trend has raised concerns about the diminishing diversity of indigenous cattle breeds in India.

-Source: The Hindu

OECD Agricultural Policy Monitoring and Evaluation 2023

Context:

The latest report titled Agricultural Policy Monitoring and Evaluation 2023 by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has shed light on the implicit taxation of Indian farmers in 2022.

Relevance:

GS III: Agriculture

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Key Highlights of the Report

Key Highlights of the Report:

• In 2022, India had a substantial negative Market Price Support (MPS) compared to 54 countries analyzed in the OECD report.
• Globally, the total implicit taxation for farmers in these countries was approximately USD 200 billion, with India accounting for a significant share of USD 169 billion.

Market Price Support (MPS):

• MPS represents the value of financial transfers from consumers and taxpayers to agricultural producers, caused by policies creating price differences between domestic and international markets.
• It quantifies the gains or losses experienced by farmers when domestic prices deviate from global prices.

Negative MPS in India:

• India’s negative MPS was not offset by budgetary support, in contrast to other emerging economies.
• Various budgetary transfers, including subsidies for inputs like fertilizers and electricity, along with programs like Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), couldn’t compensate for the negative impact of domestic marketing regulations and trade policies.
• Budgetary transfers accounted for 11% of total farm receipts, while negative MPS reached 27.5% for different commodities, resulting in an overall negative net support of 15% of gross farm receipts.

Impact of Export Policies in India:

• In 2022, India introduced export bans, duties, and permits on various commodities, partly in response to the situation in Ukraine and extreme weather conditions.
• These measures aimed to stabilize domestic prices but adversely affected farmers’ incomes.
• Affected commodities included rice, wheat, sugar, onions, and related products, leading to concerns about India’s role as a global agricultural supplier.
• These policies had repercussions not only on domestic markets but also on India’s global agricultural presence.

Global Producer Support:

• The report noted that producer support for the agriculture sector averaged USD 851 billion annually across the 54 countries during 2020-2022.
• This increase was attributed to responses to the Covid-19 pandemic, inflation, and the Ukraine war.

Potentially Distorting Policies:

• Two-thirds of the positive support to producers in these countries fell under categories considered ‘potentially most distorting’ to production and trade.
• These categories included payments based on output and unrestrained use of variable inputs, which can lead to inefficiencies and non-targeted support.

Emerging Economies and Distorting Policies:

• Emerging economies exhibited potentially more distorting policies, generating both positive support (10% of gross farm receipts) and implicit taxation (6% of gross farm receipts) during 2020-2022.
• In contrast, OECD countries had fewer potentially distorting policies and did not implicitly tax producers.

-Source: The Hindu

One Nation, One Registration Platform

Context:

The National Medical Commission (NMC) is all set to launch its “one nation, one registration platform” for doctors across India.

Relevance:

GS II: Government Policies and Interventions

Dimensions of the Article:

1. One Nation, One Registration Platform
2. About National Medical Commission (NMC)

One Nation, One Registration Platform:

• The NMC (National Medical Commission) plans to introduce a preliminary pilot of the National Medical Register (NMR) in the coming six months, which will assign a unique identification number to doctors.
• Doctors will have the flexibility to apply for a license to practice medicine in any state of their choice.
• The NMC had earlier published a gazette notification titled “Registration of Medical Practitioners and License to Practice Medicine Regulations” this year.

Objectives and Features:

• The primary goal is to provide undergraduate students with a masked ID within the NMR, with the unmasking and allocation of this ID being based on their course completion date.
• This ID will serve as a means for updating additional qualifications, and it will be linked to all state registers for licenses, allowing doctors to work anywhere in the country.
• The key aim is to streamline processes, eliminate duplication, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and provide the public with easy access to information about any practicing physician in India.

 About National Medical Commission (NMC):

• The National Medical Commission (NMC) is a regulatory body responsible for overseeing medical education and profession in India.
• The NMC was established in 2019 under the National Medical Commission Act, replacing the erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI).

Composition:

• The NMC consists of a Chairperson, members, and ex-officio members appointed by the Central Government.
• The Chairperson and members include eminent medical professionals, academicians, and experts from various fields related to medical education and practice.

Autonomous Boards:

• The NMC comprises autonomous boards responsible for specific areas such as undergraduate education, postgraduate education, medical assessment and rating, ethics and medical registration, and continuing professional development.

Reforms and Objectives:

• The NMC was established to bring about significant reforms in the medical education sector, promote transparency, improve the quality of education, and ensure the availability of competent medical professionals.
• It aims to address challenges in medical education, bridge gaps, and align education with evolving healthcare needs.

Functions and Responsibilities:

• Regulating Medical Education: The NMC sets standards, guidelines, and regulations for undergraduate and postgraduate medical education in India.
• Assessing Medical Institutions: It conducts inspections and assessments of medical colleges and institutions to ensure compliance with prescribed standards.
• Granting Recognition: The NMC grants recognition to medical qualifications and degrees obtained from Indian and foreign institutions.
• Promoting Ethical Practices: It establishes and enforces ethical standards and guidelines for medical professionals.
• Conducting Common Entrance Examinations: The NMC conducts a common entrance examination called the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to undergraduate medical courses in India.
• Oversight and Quality Assurance: The NMC monitors the quality of medical education, training, and research to maintain high standards in the healthcare sector.

-Source: The Hindu

Future Leaders Scholarship Programme

Context:

Recently Imperial College London announced its biggest-ever scholarship programme for Indian students.

Relevance:

Facts for Prelims

Future Leaders Scholarship Programme Overview:

• This scholarship initiative is dedicated to supporting 30 of India’s most outstanding Master’s scholars over the forthcoming three years.

Scholarship Coverage:

• Recipients of this scholarship will receive comprehensive coverage of their tuition fees and living expenses.

Eligible Fields of Study:

• The scholarship is available for students pursuing Master’s programs in a range of fields, including engineering, natural sciences, business, and medical research.

Promoting Gender Diversity:

• A noteworthy feature of this program is that half of the scholarships have been reserved for female scholars, emphasizing the importance of gender diversity in higher education.

Empowering Talented Students:

• This scholarship program aims to create opportunities for India’s brightest students, allowing them to further their studies and broaden their horizons by attending one of the world’s premier universities.

Additional Partnerships:

• In conjunction with the introduction of this new scholarship program, the university has also entered into a partnership with the UK government’s Chevening Scholarships program.
• This collaboration will offer funding for an additional three Master’s scholars from India within the next three years.

-Source: Times of India

Awaous Motla

Context:

Recently, a group of scientists discovered an edible freshwater fish available in the markets of western Odisha.

Relevance:

GS III: Species in News

Dimensions of the Article:

1. About Awaous Motla
2. Mahanadi River

About Awaous Motla:

• Awaous Motla is a fish species characterized by its vibrant yellow-colored body and distinctive fleshy upper lip.
• This species was discovered in the Mahanadi River.
• The discovery of Awaous Motla is a result of ongoing research efforts that are being funded by the Department of Science and Technology of the Odisha government.
• Taxonomically, Awaous Motla belongs to the family ‘Awaous’ (Oxudercidae), hence its name ‘Awaous Motla.’

Mahanadi River:

• The Mahanadi River is one of the prominent east-flowing peninsular rivers in India.
• It originates in the Sihawa range of hills located in the Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh state.
• The river’s course takes it in a southeastern direction through the states of Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
• The Mahanadi River’s basin covers significant areas in Chhattisgarh and Odisha, along with smaller portions in Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh.
• Geographically, the river is bounded by the Central India hills to the north, the Eastern Ghats to the south and east, and the Maikal hill range to the west.
• Notable tributaries of the Mahanadi include the Seonath River, Jonk River, Hasdeo River, Mand River, Ib River, Ong River, and Telen River.

-Source: The Hindu

British Academy Book Prize 2023

Context:

Nandini Das, an India-born author, won the British Academy Book Prize 2023 for Global Cultural Understanding, for her book ‘Courting India: England, Mughal India, and the Origins of Empire.’

Relevance:

Facts for Prelims

About the British Academy Book Prize:

• The British Academy Book Prize, previously known as the Nayef Al-Rodhan Prize, was established in 2013.
• This prestigious award is designed to recognize and celebrate outstanding works of non-fiction that exhibit rigor, originality, and a significant contribution to enhancing the public’s understanding of diverse world cultures and their interactions.
• The British Academy, which is the United Kingdom’s national academy for humanities and social sciences, administers this book prize.
• Eligible books considered for this prize encompass a wide range of subjects within the humanities and social sciences. This includes fields such as archaeology, history, psychology, philosophy, languages, cultural studies, and more.
• The latest recipient of the award is Nandini Das, a Professor in the English faculty at the University of Oxford, who was honored for her book titled ‘Courting India: England, Mughal India and the Origins of Empire.’
• The winner of the British Academy Book Prize receives a cash award of £25,000. Additionally, each of the shortlisted works is granted a prize of £1,000.

-Source: Indian Express