Milk Consumption on the Rise in India: Challenges and Opportunities
Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) Findings:
- Milk emerges as the top food expenditure item in both rural and urban India (2022-23).
- Rural households show sharper spending growth compared to urban.
- Milk consumption:
- Rural: ₹314 per month (higher than other food categories).
- Urban: ₹466 per month (tops the list).
India’s Milk Production:
- Largest producer globally (24% of world’s milk production in 2021-22).
- Top 5 producing states: Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh (contribute 53%).
Challenges with Increased Demand:
- Inflation: Milk prices have risen significantly in the past five years.
- Rising input costs: Fodder, feed, and raw materials have become more expensive.
- Impact on consumers: Higher prices may lead to reduced demand.
Solutions to Reduce Milk Production Cost:
- White Revolution 2.0: Improve upon Operation Flood’s success.
Strategies for Cost Reduction:
- Improved breeding and genetics: Invest in high-yielding breeds and cross-breeding programs.
- Nutrition management: Provide balanced and cost-effective feed for better milk yield.
- Reduced fodder cost: Models like Amul’s Total Mixed Ration (TMR) plant can provide cost-effective solutions.
- Improved healthcare and disease management: Minimize losses from preventable diseases.
- Cooperative farming and collective bargaining: Empower small-scale farmers for better resource access.
- Government support: Subsidies for essential inputs and policy reforms can benefit farmers.
- Research and development: Invest in innovative solutions for dairy farming challenges.
Government Initiatives for Dairy Sector Promotion:
- Rashtriya Gokul Mission: Conserve and develop indigenous cattle breeds (launched in 2014).
- National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD): Strengthen infrastructure for milk production, processing, and marketing (since 2014).
- Dairy Entrepreneurship Development Scheme (DEDS): Create self-employment opportunities (implemented by NABARD).
- National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP): Control Foot & Mouth Disease and Brucellosis (launched in 2019).
- National Livestock Mission (NLM): Ensure sustainable development of the livestock sector (focuses on productivity, health, and fodder/feed resources).
Way Ahead:
- Faster vaccination drives to combat diseases like Lumpy skin disease.
- Robust value chain to overcome supply chain disruptions.
- Coordinated implementation of strategies can reduce production costs, improve farmer livelihoods, and ensure a thriving dairy industry.
Karnataka Temple Bill
Key Provisions:
- Aims to collect funds from richer temples for the welfare of priests and upkeep of less wealthy temples.
- Proposes a Common Pool Fund:
- 5% from temples earning ₹10 lakh – ₹1 crore.
- 10% from temples earning above ₹1 crore.
- Funds used for:
- Archaka (priest) welfare (insurance, scholarships etc.).
- Upkeep of C category temples (annual income < ₹5 lakh).
Temple Revenue Collection in Other States:
- Telangana: 1.5% from religious institutions earning > ₹50,000 annually.
- Kerala: Temples managed by state-run Devaswom Boards.
- Uttarakhand: Certain temples recently freed from state control.
Regulation of Temples in India:
- A long history of regulation through state laws and central commissions.
- Balancing misuse prevention with temple autonomy remains a challenge.
Tripura: Tripartite Agreement to Address Indigenous Concerns
Tipra Motha’s Demands:
- Greater Tipraland: A separate state for indigenous people, including those outside the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).
- More powers for TTAADC:
- Direct central funding.
- Own police force.
- Share of revenue from gas exploration.
- Roman script for Kokborok language.
Background:
- Anxiety among indigenous communities due to declining population (from 63.77% in 1881 to 31.8% in 2011).
- Displacement from ancestral lands.
Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC):
- Formed in 1985 under the Constitution’s 6th schedule.
- Legislative and executive powers.
- Covers nearly two-thirds of Tripura’s area.
Greater Tipraland:
- Encompasses TTAADC region and 36 additional villages within Tripura.
- Tipra Motha seeks statehood or Union Territory status under Articles 2 & 3 of the Constitution.
- Broader vision includes uniting indigenous communities across India and Bangladesh.
Constitutional Provisions for New States:
- Article 2: Parliament can create new states.
- Article 3: Existing states have no veto power (can only express views).
- Parliament can create new states by:
- Separating territory from a state.
- Uniting states or parts of states.
- Uniting territories with parts of states.
- Requires Presidential recommendation and referral to affected state legislatures for their views.
University Rankings: A Flawed System with Global Influence
What Rankings Do:
- THE, QS, ARWU, U.S. News & World Report are major ranking systems.
- Rank universities based on teaching, research, reputation, industry focus, and collaboration.
- Influence educational policies and priorities worldwide.
Criticisms of Rankings:
- Unidimensional: Focus on a single score neglecting universities’ diverse roles.
- Over-represent established, wealthy, research-intensive universities in developed nations.
- Arbitrary measures: Citations and reputation heavily influence research excellence scores.
- Manipulation: Cases of universities inflating citations to climb rankings.
- Favoritism: Potential bias towards universities hosting ranking system events.
- Conflicts of interest: Private ranking entities may consult with universities.
- Data security: Universities relinquish data control by participating in rankings.
Conclusion:
- Rankings incentivize some improvements but also harmful behaviors.
- May produce negative long-term effects on higher education.
Loss of Tails in Humans and Apes: A Genetic Mystery Solved
The Culprit: AluY Snippet
- A snippet of genetic code (AluY) inserted itself into the TBXT gene millions of years ago.
- TBXT is known to influence tail development in some animals.
- This altered TBXT gene, combined with AluY, led to tail loss in humans and apes.
Benefits of Being Tailless
- Enhanced balance and mobility: Crucial for bipedalism (walking upright on two legs).
- Upright posture: Facilitated use of hands for tool-making, etc.
What Tails Do
- Balance and movement in various environments.
- Communication (e.g., signaling in social interactions).
- Body temperature regulation (in some species).
Hominoids and Tail Loss
- All present-day hominoids (including humans) lack tails.
- Even the earliest known hominoid (Proconsul) was tailless.
- Humans have a tailbone (coccyx) – a remnant of our tailed ancestors.
Significance of the Discovery
- Explains a key evolutionary change in humans and apes.
- Links tail loss to bipedalism and tool use.
- Hints at the genetic basis of some health issues.
- Opens doors for further research into genes and disease evolution.
Prelims
Seamounts: Underwater Mountains
What are Seamounts?
- Underwater mountains rising from the seafloor with steep sides.
- Formed by underwater volcanic eruptions (similar to how islands are formed).
- Range in height from 1,000 meters to several kilometers.
Significance of Seamounts:
- Provide habitat for deep-sea organisms like corals, sponges, and fish.
- Influence ocean currents, causing nutrient-rich deep water to rise to the surface.
Lahore Resolution: A Pivotal Moment in Pakistan’s History
What it Was:
- A formal statement by the All-India Muslim League in 1940.
- Drafted by Muhammad Zafarullah Khan.
- Called for creation of independent Muslim states in areas with Muslim majorities.
- Notably absent: The word “Pakistan.”
Significance:
- Marked a shift towards a separate Muslim homeland.
- Jinnah, previously advocating Hindu-Muslim unity, became a key figure for Pakistan.
- Led to the creation of Pakistan in 1947.
- Celebrated as Pakistan National Day.
Supreme Court Cracks Down on Misleading Patanjali Ads
The Case:
- Supreme Court issued a contempt notice and banned Patanjali Ayurved’s medicine advertisements.
- Indian Medical Association (IMA) accused Patanjali of:
- Discrediting modern medicine and vaccination.
- Making false claims about medicine efficacy (violating Drugs and Magic Remedies Act & Consumer Protection Act).
Significance:
- Deters misleading claims in medicine advertising.
- Highlights the role of regulators (CCPA) and judiciary in enforcing advertising laws.
Consumer Protection Act, 2019:
- Replaced the 1986 Act and strengthens consumer protection.
- Bans false information about products and misleading advertisements.
Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA):
- Established by the 2019 Act to enforce consumer rights.
- Powers include:
- Investigating consumer rights violations.
- Ordering product recalls and stopping unfair practices/advertisements.
- Imposing penalties for misleading advertisements.
Grey Zone Warfare: Blurring the Lines of Conflict
What it is:
- An ambiguous space between peace and war in international relations.
- Employs tactics that fall short of open warfare.
- Examples include:
- Economic coercion (debt traps, sanctions).
- Cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns.
- Proxy military actions (mercenaries).
Objectives:
- Project strength and influence.
- Normalize territorial claims through persistent presence.
Examples:
- China’s actions in the South China Sea.
- Taiwan’s concerns about Chinese military activities.
- US economic sanctions against China.
Green Tug Transition Programme (GTTP)
Aim: Convert 50% of Indian tugboats to Green Tugs by 2030.
Green Tugs:
- Run on non-fossil fuels like methanol, ammonia, or hydrogen.
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from domestic shipping and port operations.
GTTP Initiatives:
- Develops Green Hybrid Tugs:
- First tug – “Ocean Grace” – built by Cochin Shipyard Limited.
- Aims for Green Tugs in all major ports.
Benefits:
- Contributes to India’s goal of reducing emissions by 50% (2030) and 70% (2047).
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