DAILY NEWS ANALYSIS 16 AUGUST
Defense
Explained: What is Chief of Defence Staff that PM Modi announced in I-Day speech
PM Narendra Modi said his government has decided to establish the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) for the three services -- the Indian Army, the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) is a post that will act as the single-point advisor to the Government of India. The officer concerned will be in a position to advise on matters related to all the three services -- Army, Navy and Air Force -- thus making India's armed forces integrated.
Need for CDS:
- Will strengthen coordination between the three forces: Army, Navy and Air Force.
- Facilitate 'jointmanship' and render single-point military advice to the government on matters of national security
- Reconcile possible differences" in service-specific opinions to enable the government to arrive at considered military decisions.
- CDS would play a critical role in fostering inter-services jointness in terms of budgeting, equipment purchases, training, joint doctrines and planning of military operations-an imperative of modern warfare.
- India may be the only country in world where, a generalist, civil servant occupies defense secretary post to advise government on defense requirements and preparation of operational plans.
- It will do away with duplications occurring in the functioning of three forces.
- Expert Committee after Kargil war had recommended formation of CDS.
- A group of ministers formed in 2001 to strengthen internal security had also supported it.
Challenges Involved:
- CDS will draw power from minister and government much like NSA. Hence, effectiveness will always remain in doubt.
- Political consensus was a basic requirement for creation of CDS; however, the decision is unilateral.
- He should be a member of Cabinet for better appraisal of requirements.
- CDS post is more required for strategic issues than internal security. The Post can wait until India becomes a regional power.
Some Information on Indian war strategies:
It is well known that the operational plans of the armed forces lack synergy. In 1962, the IAF was not given any role to play during the war with China when it could have wreaked havoc on the Chinese hordes that had concentrated on the Tibetan Plateau without air cover. In 1965, the Indian Navy (IN) was not even informed about the plans to launch a three-pronged attack across the international boundary (IB) into Pakistan.
International
Kashmir issue: U.N. Security Council to hold closed-door meeting on August 16
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will meet on August 16 morning to discuss Kashmir (India’s abrogation of Article 370).
- Closed mean that consultations will not be open for public. It precludes Pakistan also.
- Informal means, no records will be kept.
- Pakistan’s ambassador had requested council to take up the issue.
- India considers abrogation of article 370 as an internal matter while Pakistan has launched an international campaign against the step.
- China has called for this informal meeting. It implies that China values its relationship with Pakistan and Indian delegation has failed to impress China.
- Pakistan is projecting it as humanity issue than a land issue between two countries.
- UN’s authority to undertake subjects on Kashmir under India-Pakistan is not valid. UN has recognized Shimla accord in 1972 and agreed that Kashmir is a bilateral issue.
Polity
Govt. making rules for us without us: transgenders
The community is unhappy with the transgender Bill passed in Lok Sabha earlier this month.
Parliament and government should consider taking community along with them. Transgenders are one of the most marginalized section and providing jutice to them is key to achieve the objective of social Justice.
Odisha government’s scheme for farmers runs into rough weather
The Odisha government’s much-hyped Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme has gone haywire. A total of 51 lakh cultivators, loanee and non-loanee farmers, sharecroppers and landless agricultural labourers have been provided with financial assistance under the scheme so far.
Issues:
- bogus beneficiaries
- It was applicable to one member of the family but more than one member has received the benefits.
- Applications outnumber the ration card issued in a block.
Cash Transfer Schemes for Farmers:
In this year’s budget, the Union government announced PM-KISAN, which promises Rs 6,000 a year to landholding farmers with holding size of up to 2 hectares.
Farmers’ support coerces two key questions: is the money enough, and, can the schemes make a meaningful impact on farmers’ lives?
Utility for farmers:
- Can undertake farming investment before the sowing seasons.
- Reduces financial burden on farmers.
- Better placed to deal with financial stress.
- Covers upto 40 percent of the input costs.
- Can pave the way for implementation of selective UBI (Universal Basic Income).
- Reduces debt on farmers.
Concerns:
- Not enough amount to cover the input expenses. Paddy cultivation takes rs 41000 per hectare while government is meagrely providing rs 6000.
- Farmers demand right prices for their produce.
- Issues of exclusion. Central government has left out landless farmers, who are most marginalized outside of this scheme.
- Issues of Ghost beneficiaries.
- Government focus should be on bettering its procurement system, tinkering with its export policy, which curtails agricultural exports.
Most schemes have meagre cash amount, but the policy is a great way for uplifting farmers economically.
Art and Culture
No more joy for those who make Andhra's famous Kondapalli toys.
While Kondapalli toys are growing in popularity, its creators are a neglected lot, and tell a different story.
Kondapalli Toys: These are wood toys made in Kondapalli of Krishna district in Andhra Pradesh.
- The artisans who make the toys are referred as Aryakhastriyas .
- Made from soft wood “Tella Poniki”.
- Produces figures of mythology, animals, birds, bullock carts, rural life etc.
- Registered as Geographical Indicator.
Challenges:
- Declining Profits
- Competition from Machine made wood toys of China.
- Scarcity of Tella Poniki wood.
Solutions:
- Growing of the Tella Poniki wood.
- Training to younger generations.
- Better Marketing in the abroad and Indian market.
Agriculture
Booming agritech sector aims at solving supply chain woes
25% year on year growth of start-ups, 10 fold increase in funding from 2014; says NASSCOM.
Utility:
- Targeting wastage of the products. According to government, 16% of the fruits and vegetables go to waste.
- Providing Innovative solution like Digitized Mandis, Storage monitoring based on Internet of things, and image sensing for quality degradation.
- Some are focussing on increasing crop productivity through Big Data analytics and Artificial intelligence.
- Some are focussing on providing timely credits, low cost financing for agricultural equipments.
- Evolving business areas such as farm to fork, or direct delivery of produce from farmers to hotels, restaurants and cafes.
Technology firms are trying to break into the agricultural landscape using newer business models.
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