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Here are the topics covered for 12 January 2024:
GS-1: Engendering Land Ports in India
GS-2: India-Out Campaign , Swachh Survekshan Awards 2023
GS-3: Fiscal Deficit
Facts For Prelims: Genetically Modified, Agnipath Scheme
Engendering Land Ports in India
Context
- The Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) has recently released a report on ‘Engendering Land Ports in India’.
Land Ports in India
- India\’s network of 11 operational Integrated Check Posts (ICPs), also known as land ports, handled impressive trade volumes and passenger flow in 2023.
- While all 11 land ports contributed, Attari, Agartala, Petrapole, Raxaul, Jogbani, Sutarkandi, and Srimantapur emerged as the trade powerhouses, accounting for a significant portion of the Rs 76,000 crore value and roughly 24 lakh passengers.
Why Land Ports are Important?
- Spanning over 15,000 km, India\’s international land border touches seven South Asian nations: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan.
- While numerous designated entry and exit points facilitate cross-border movement, outdated infrastructure long presented a major roadblock to regional trade, impacting both goods and passenger flow.
- To address this challenge, the Committee of Secretaries in 2003 recommended establishing Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) equipped with cutting-edge infrastructure.
India-Out Campaign
Context
- A recent spat between India and Maldives has re-ignited the ‘India-Out’ campaign in Maldives.
What is an ‘India-Out’ campaign?
- The ‘India Out’ campaign started in 2020 as on-ground protests in the Maldives and quickly moved to social media platforms.
- Though the campaign gained popularity in the past year or so, its root cause can be traced back to 2013 when Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom of the Progressive Party (PPM) became the president.
- The relationship between India and Maldives soured as the PPM was considered pro-China.
Diplomatic Spat
- Ties strained between Maldives and India after offensive online comments targeting PM Modi by Maldivian officials.
- India-Maldives bilateral relations are going through a period of uncertainty following regime change in the Maldives in November 2023.
- Muizzu administration’s policy decision
- asking India to withdraw all the Indian military personnel from the Maldives,
- non-renewal of the hydrographic agreement signed in 2019,
- non-attendance of the Colombo Security Conclave and
- its disinclination to follow through on the ‘India first’ policy has raised doubts about the future of India-Maldives relations.
Swachh Survekshan Awards 2023
Context
- The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu conferred the Swachh Survekshan Awards 2023, hosted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
Highlights of the Awards
About the Awards
- These awards have been conducted since 2016 and are the world’s largest urban sanitation and cleanliness survey.
- It is conducted under the ambit of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban).
- Its goal is to encourage citizen participation and create awareness.
- The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is the nodal Ministry.
Fiscal Deficit
Context
- Rating agency ICRA forecasts a fiscal deficit goal of 5.3% of GDP for the upcoming Union Budget, setting a step towards the government\’s long-term target of 4.5% by 2025-26.
What is Fiscal Deficit?
- The gap between a government\’s income and spending is called its fiscal deficit.
- This deficit tells us how much money the government needs to borrow to cover its expenses.
Why Fiscal Deficit is important for the economy?
- Interest rate tango: Higher deficits, fueled by borrowing, can push up interest rates, impacting production costs and potentially stoking inflation.
- Spending matters: The type of government expenditure plays a crucial role. Investments in infrastructure and human capital can mitigate inflationary pressures compared to pure consumption spending.
- Budgetary tightrope walk: The Union Budget becomes a crucial balancing act, aiming to manage the deficit while supporting economic growth and price stability.
Union Budget 2022-23
- The government projected to bring down the fiscal deficit to 5.9% of the gross domestic product (GDP) in the FY 2023-24.
- The fiscal deficit was 6.4% of the GDP in 2022-23 against the earlier estimate of 6.71%.
Facts For Prelims
Genetically Modified
- A genetically modified organism (GMO) is an animal, plant, or microbe whose DNA has been altered using genetic engineering techniques.
- For thousands of years, humans have used breeding methods to modify organisms.
- Corn, cattle, and even dogs have been selectively bred over generations to have certain desired traits.
- Within the last few decades, however, modern advances in biotechnology have allowed scientists to directly modify the DNA of microorganisms, crops, and animals.
Agnipath Scheme
- Agneepath scheme is a central government scheme launched in 2022.
- Under the scheme, Indian youth can join the Indian Army for four years and will be able to serve the country.
- This is a pan-India scheme so any Indian youth can apply for this job and join the Indian Army.
Candidates between the ages of 17.5 years to 21 years will be eligible to enroll in the Agnipath scheme.