23 July 2024, The Indian EXPRESS
No case is made out for special category status for Bihar, Govt tells Parliament
Page no- 6
GS2- Issues and Challenges Pertaining to the Federal Structure
- ON THE eve of the Union Budget presentation, the government told Parliament on Monday that the case for special category status for Bihar is not made out.
- “Earlier, the request of Bihar for special category status was considered by an inter-ministerial group (IMG), which submitted its report on March 30, 2012.
- The IMG came to the finding that based on existing NDC (National Development Council) criteria, the case for special category status for Bihar is not made out,” Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary told Parliament while answering a question by JD(U) MP Rampreet Mandal.
NREGS demand not true indicator of rural distress: Survey
Page no- 7
GS2- Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors and Issues arising out of their Design and Implementation
- Laying the groundwork for revisiting the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) as a poverty alleviation tool, Chief Economic Adviser V. Anantha Nageswaran on July 22 noted in the Economic Survey that demand under the scheme was not a “real indicator” of rural distress.
- While there is a marked variation in the performance of the scheme across States, Mr. Nageswaran said that none of the studies conducted so far had come up with a satisfactory explanation on the unevenness in outcomes.
Worth considering incentives to states for modernizing agricultural marketing
Page no- 7
GS3- Transport and Marketing of Agricultural Produce and Issues and Related Constraints
- Stating that improving the market infrastructure by incentivising states can be explored, Economic Survey 2024 has said it is “worth” considering providing financial incentives for states to undertake necessary interventions to modernise agriculture marketing as recommended by the 15th Finance Commission.
- The Survey indicated that implementing the e-National Agriculture Market (e-NAM), supporting Farmers Producer Organisations (FPOs), and enabling cooperatives to participate in agri-marketing could enhance market infrastructure and facilitate better price discovery.
Govt, people need to focus on diet, mental health
Page no- 7
GS2- Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health
- This year’s Economic Survey takes note of economic impact of an increasing burden of non-communicable diseases and mental health issues, stating: “For India’s working-age population to be gainfully employed, they need skills and good health.
- Social media, screen time, sedentary habits, and unhealthy food are a lethal mix that can undermine public health and productivity and diminish India’s economic potential.”
- It goes on to say: “The private sector’s contribution to this toxic mix of habits is substantial, and that is myopic.
- The emerging food consumption habits of Indians are not only unhealthy but also environmentally unsustainable.”
Spelling it out
Page no- 10
GS3- Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Growth, Development and Employment
- The Economic Survey 2023-24, the annual flagship document of the finance ministry, is remarkably realistic and forthright in its assessment of the state of the Indian economy and its growth prospects.
- The Survey has carefully documented economic progress over the years, especially the rebound from the depths of the pandemic, and analysed in detail the challenges that lie ahead.
- It captures the paradox of the Indian corporate sector “swimming in excess profits” and banks interest margins rising to a “multi-year high”, while the economy witnesses subdued private sector investments, limited growth in more productive employment opportunities, and private consumption grows at just 4 per cent.
India must plug itself into China’s supply chain, attract investments
Page no- 13
GS3- Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Growth, Development and Employment
- Amid a rapidly rising trade deficit with China despite efforts to curb imports and investments in the backdrop of the Galwan clash in 2020, the Economic Survey has advocated attracting investments from Chinese companies to boost exports.
- The Survey suggested the change in stance as a number of countries such as Mexico, Vietnam, Taiwan and Korea are benefiting from China plus one phenomenon pursued by Western firms with a simultaneous rise in investment from China.
Deregulation, balancing ties with China vital
Page no- 13
GS3- Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Growth, Development and Employment
- Reducing the compliance burden on India’s MSME sector through subnational deregulation alongside balancing trade and security concerns with China is vital for the sector’s growth, the Economic Survey 2023-24 said.
- In addition to improving access to credit for MSMEs, the Survey also noted the need for intervention in providing MSME entrepreneurs with training in enterprise management and to upgrade data collection on indicators of production and employment in MSMEs.
Govt servants and RSS activities: what Rules say
Page no- 15
GS4- Public/Civil Service Values and Ethics in Public Administration
- The Centre has decided that the “mention of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)” as an organisation that government officials cannot be part of, should be “removed”.
- This bar on officials participating in activities of the RSS first came into effect almost six decades ago.
- Following a directive issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) earlier this month, employees can now participate in the activities of the RSS without attracting disciplinary action under the rules of conduct applicable to them.
Key takeaways from Economic Survey
Page no- 15
GS3- Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Growth, Development and Employment
- The Economic Survey for 2023-24 stands out from previous economic surveys in that it provides a more realistic picture of the challenges before India’s economic growth.
- As such, despite India’s GDP growing at more than 8% in FY 2023-24, the survey pegs the GDP growth rate for the current financial year (FY 2024-25) between 6.5% and 7%.
