IASbaba's Flagship Course: Integrated Learning Programme (ILP) - 2024 Read Details
TOPIC: General studies 2:
- India and its neighborhood- relations.
- Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
- Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
Revisiting Pakistanbefore the window shuts again
Post-Pathankot, India and Pakistan countries have shown some maturity in keeping the rhetoric down.
Some hope has been revived, with Islamabad promising an “investigation” into any Pakistani links, the attackers of the Indian airbase may have had, and India keeping its cool.
What measures Pakistan has taken post Pathankot attack?
Failed assurance by Pakistan in the past:
Has anything changed in Pakistan?
Way ahead:
Connecting the dots:
TOPIC:
- General studies 3: Awareness in the fields of bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
- General studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Biotech- Answer to edible oil shortage
Indian Edible Oil Industry
Ranking in World: Fourth-largest after the US, China and Brazil, accounting for close to 9 per cent of global oilseeds production
India’s consumption of edible oils: Witnessed a steady rise due to
Is there an ‘Economic’ angle?
Yes, very much so— as this increase in demand has not been matched by an increase in production of oilseeds in the country
Import Dependency
According to an estimate by the Solvent Extractors Association (SEA) of India— per capita consumption in India is expected to be closer to the global average of 26 kg per annum in about another ten years
Current per capita consumption of oilseeds in India: 15 kg per annum and is projected to reach 18 kg per annum by 2019 and 22.8 kg per annum by 2025
Government reports indicate that despite being a large producer of edible oils, India depends largely on imports:
Conventional Challenges:
Therefore, no alternative to boosting domestic production
Viable Solutions— Way Ahead
India must look at ways to increase productivity of oilseeds to bridge the demand-supply gap
Hike in import duty— Not a long-term or a durable solution
New foreign trade policy: Awards exporters of certain oils and oil-meals and has suggested plans to increase the acreage of palm oil cultivation
Biotechnology option:
Plant biotechnology has successfully increased yield in 29 agriculturally important countries including China, the US, Brazil, Argentina and South Africa for close to two decades.
Yields have gone up by an average of 24-35 per cent
India—
Biotechnology can thus, prove to be revolutionary, expediting the journey to edible oil security
Edible oils are a key determinant of a nation’s nutritional security and as one of the world’s fastest growing economies with rising prosperity levels, it is imperative that India takes urgent steps to become sustainable in edible oil production. Only a far-sighted approach can help India reap benefits.
Connecting the Dots:
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