Editorial 1 : Next steps in agriculture
Introduction: India's agricultural sector faces a challenging road ahead in the coming decades (Amrit Kaal). Decades of reliance on outdated methods and a lack of support for farmers' well-being have created significant hurdles. We're also facing external factors that may be difficult to control.
Challenges faced by Indian Agriculture sector (which are out of India’s control)
1. Erratic climate events
- The climate is changing irreversibly for the worse.
- We are already witnessing the beginning of erratic climatic events impacting crop production and livelihoods.
2. WTO’s adversarial rulings against Indian agriculture
- The World Trade Organisation will not change and we will have to live with its iniquitousness.
- For many years, the US has deliberately crippled the dispute-settlement mechanism.
- When it does become operational, Indian politicians are not likely to know how to wriggle out of its rulings domestically.
3. Fragmentation of landholdings in India
- The large number of small land holdings (85 per cent of total arable land) fundamentally limits the scope for primary producers to eke out a life of dignity from their profession.
4. Global drive for low food prices
- The global priority to ensure low food prices for consumers is easiest achieved by artificially driving down farm-gate prices.
- This makes farming environmentally unsustainable and economically unremunerative.
5. Depleting aquifers
- The depleting aquifers due to the insatiable demand for water for agriculture is reaching a threshold point where it won’t be economically viable to extract water for irrigation in food basket regions.
- Drinking water is already becoming a sought-after monetised commodity in large swathes of the country.
Challenges that can be managed by Indian policymakers
- Investment in agriculture: Investments in agricultural research and extension services have stayed below the level of inflation. In other words, funding has actually dropped, even when every rupee invested in agricultural research yields economic returns upwards of 10 times over other investments.
- Unfair Markets & Unintended Consequences: Agricultural markets are inherently unfair, and unintended consequences are inevitable. However, solutions remain elusive.
- State-Level Dissonance: Agriculture is a state subject, yet many states prioritize populist handouts over collaborating with national goals and investing in the future.
- Distorted Pricing: Free or unrealistically low prices for cereals through public distribution systems depress farm-gate prices, making farming an unattractive profession.
- Inefficient Subsidies: Skewed fertilizer subsidies encourage excessive use, harming both human health and the environment.
- Fiscal Constraints: High public debt at central and state levels limits long-term planning and hinders further subsidies.
- State Bankruptcy Risks: Many states face potential bankruptcy, with no clear procedure for sovereign debt restructuring.
- Inept governance: Inept governance and lack of accountability in the ministries managing the agricultural sector at the Centre and the states is not primarily due to incompetence but to the attitude of those at the top — they believe they have the powers because they have the answers.
Conclusion: Today, the steps that matter the most will be those that the prime minister is going to take. A mere tinkering of the framework will not suffice and if nothing were to fundamentally change, including the process of framing policies, we may find ourselves chasing chimeras and living our nightmares.
Editorial 2 : The state we need
Introduction: India has embarked on the path towards Viksit Bharat by 2047. It’s clear what India aspires to achieve: Becoming a manufacturing hub in the global supply chain, critical exporter of value-added services and mass supplier of human skills to an ageing developed world. But the “how” seems to concern many.
Mission Karmayogi Launch
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Mission Karmayogi to transform India's civil servants.
- Aim: Develop citizen-centric, future-ready, and result-oriented civil servants.
What is Capacity Building Commission (CBC)?
- Established in 2021 under Mission Karmayogi.
- Provides policy guidance and tools to enhance capabilities of India's civil services.
Challenges in Infrastructure Projects
- Historically, infrastructure projects faced delays due to inter-ministerial permissions.
What is PM Gati Shakti Platform?
- Integrates legal and geographic layers for planning and execution of infrastructure projects.
- Promotes a “whole of government” approach for harmonized sector-specific perspectives.
- Critical for officials to have knowledge and skills in emerging technologies and GIS.
Significance of CBC on various sectors
Training and Skill Development
- CBC collaborated with various ministries and training institutions for digital training courses.
- Over 24,000 officials trained in PM Gati Shakti learning modules.
- Over 3,88,000 personnel certified in emerging technologies through iGOT Karmayogi Bharat.
- Courses on high-tech road construction and geohazards curated with national and international institutions.
Impact on Infrastructure Development
- Increase in construction of new rail lines from 4 km per day to 12 km per day.
- 15 highway projects under Bharatmala-2 prepared using PM Gati Shakti.
- New rail and highway alignments avoid sensitive wildlife habitats due to integrated planning.
Citizen-Centric Approaches
- CBC partnered with the Ministry of Home Affairs to train police personnel in “sewa bhaav”.
- Training improved citizen satisfaction and sense of security, notably in Kashmir and during the G-20 summit in Delhi.
Railway Customer Service Training
- CBC, Railway Board, and IRITM trained 1,00,000 railway staff in customer service.
- Independent assessments showed increased citizen satisfaction after training.
Enhanced Citizen Service Delivery
- Over 4 lakh Gramin Dak Sevaks and 1 lakh village-level CSCs trained in service delivery.
Tax System Improvements
- CBC partnered with Central Board of Direct Taxes for training on systemic solutions to taxpayer grievances.
- Over 14,000 tax personnel completed the training module.
Municipal Governance
- Capacity building piloted in Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Nagpur, Pune, Bhubaneswar, and Mysuru.
- Staff trained in municipal finance, road engineering, solid waste management, etc.
Ongoing Learning Culture
- 15 lakh online learning modules completed by section officers and administrative assistants.
- Increased proficiency in data analytics and e-governance tools reported.
Future Steps
- Continuous implementation of annual capacity building plans by 90 departments and 2,700 attached agencies.
Conclusion: Mission Karmayogi, flanked by the CBC and Karmayogi Bharat, have made giant leaps in the capacity building of Indian civil services. The dream of Viksit Bharat cannot be fructify without a robust civil service. The Mission Karmayogi is a prominent step in that direction.