The Hindu Editorial Summary

Editorial Topic : Public Distribution System (PDS) Impact on Household Expenditure in India

 GS-3 Mains Exam : Economy

Revision Notes

Question : Analyze the findings of the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2022-23 concerning the impact of PDS on household non-foodgrain expenditure. What are the limitations of this survey in evaluating the proportion of program beneficiaries?

Introduction (Facts & Figures):

• PDS is a social security program in India ensuring food security.
• National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013:
  • Up to 75% of rural population
  • Up to 50% of urban population
  • Eligible for subsidized foodgrains.

On Representativeness (Facts):

• Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2022-23:
  • Renewed interest in impact of PDS on non-foodgrain expenditure.
  • Survey includes info on free food/non-food items from social programs.
  • Survey limitations:
    • Not designed for precise estimates of program beneficiary proportion.
    • Survey coverage often lower than administrative data.
  • Researchers to compare reported PDS consumption with NFSA coverage.
  • Advantage: Allows examining characteristics of beneficiary households.
• Imputing Value of Free Services (Facts):
  • Not possible to impute value for health/education due to lack of detailed information.
  • Separate surveys collect detailed info on out-of-pocket expenditure and free services for education and health.
  • Insurance considered investment, not consumption (surveyed in All India Debt & Investment Survey).

Imputation of Values (Facts & Figures):

• NSSO introduced value imputation for free food/non-food items (HCES 2022-23).
  • Allows calculation of two metrics:
    • Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure (MPCE)
    • MPCE with imputation (includes free/subsidized items)
• Two imputation values offered by NSSO:
  • Modal unit price
  • 25th percentile unit price (by state and sector)
• Imputation done using modal price only for FREE items (not subsidized PDS purchases).
• Key finding: Foodgrains from PDS are the main free item received by households.
  • 94% (rural) and 95% (urban) of imputed value attributed to food items.

Way Forward (Facts):

• Release of HCES report triggered discussions on poverty line determination.
• Debate: Expenditure vs. total consumption value (including free items) for poverty line estimation.
• In-kind social transfers (like PDS) impact well-being of low-income households.

 

The Hindu Editorial Summary

Editorial Topic : The Verdict of 2024 & Its Amplified Message

 GS-2 Mains Exam : Polity

Revision Notes

Context

The final turnout in the 2024 general election, recorded at 66.2%, reflects the sustained interest and engagement of Indian voters in the democratic process. This figure, though 1% lower than the 2019 turnout, remains the third highest in Indian national election history.

Electoral Engagement

• Voter Turnout: The high turnout underscores robust voter participation, especially among women.
• Post-Election Interest: Significant interest in exit poll predictions and discussions on the actual results indicates continued engagement.
• Trust in EVMs: According to a Lokniti-CSDS survey, 17% of Indians expressed no trust in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), while 43% had some trust, and 30% reported decreased trust.

Key Issues and Concerns

• Vindictive Politics: 44% of survey respondents believed Opposition leaders were arrested for political reasons, with only 23% disagreeing.
• Right to Question: 67% of Indians felt citizens should have the right to question their leaders, while 20% disagreed.
• Government Change vs. Continuity: 58% believed a change in government is essential for development, whereas 32% favored continuity.
• Judiciary’s Role: 58% felt courts are crucial in checking government power, compared to 27% who thought otherwise.
• Opposition to Government Decisions: 66% supported the power to oppose government decisions, with 19% against this view.
• National Issues: While national pride, identity, and security are important, unemployment and price rise remain critical concerns.
• Disenchantment with Modi Government: Unemployment and price rise were major issues leading to disenchantment, with many not wanting the government re-elected.
• Limit to Identity Politics: The 2024 verdict highlighted limits to caste and religion-based identity politics.

Towards an Ideal Democracy

• Strong Opposition: A functioning democracy requires a strong Opposition alongside a stable government.
• Reflecting People’s Views: The composition of the 18th Lok Sabha mirrors public opinion on governance.
• Theoretical Ideal vs. Practical Reality: Despite an ideal theoretical setup, practical differences are evident, such as the conflict over the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
• Future Contentions: Various issues are expected to cause further disputes between the ruling party and the Opposition.

Conclusion

The voices of the Indian populace, as expressed in the 2024 elections, should be heeded. Both the ruling party and the Opposition must collaborate to address and resolve issues over the next five years, prioritizing problem-solving over complicating matters.