Indian Express Editorial Summary

Editorial Topic : Revitalizing Agricultural Research in India

 GS-3 Mains Exam : Economy

Question : Discuss the significance of agricultural research institutions like IARI in India’s agricultural sector, particularly in the context of Basmati rice exports.

Introduction:

• India is a major exporter of Basmati rice, with varieties like Pusa 1121 and 1509 (bred by IARI) contributing over 90% of exports valued at over $5.8 billion (Rs 48,389 crore) in 2023-24.

IARI – The Neglected Hero:

• IARI, the institute behind India’s Green Revolution wheat varieties, is inadequately funded.
• IARI’s annual budget (Rs 710 crore) is insufficient for:
  • Research & breeding programs.
  • Modern equipment (microscopes, DNA analyzers etc.) for advanced research.
  • Attracting talent in genomics, AI, and blockchain for agriculture.
• IARI breeds wheat varieties for 1/3rd of India’s 30 million hectares under wheat cultivation.

The Urgent Need for Revamping Public Farm R&D:

• India’s public agricultural research system (ICAR institutes & state universities) is outdated.
  • Many institutes were established in the 1960s and 1970s.
  • IARI’s Delhi campus dates back to 1936.
• A one-time fund of Rs 5,000 crore is needed to modernize research infrastructure.
  • This is in addition to ICAR’s annual budget of nearly Rs 10,000 crore.

Revamp Needs Structural Reforms:

• ICAR has too many institutes focused on single crops or animals.
• This fragmented approach doesn’t reflect real-world farming practices.
• A cropping systems-based research approach is required.
• This would consider interactions between crops and develop solutions for various agro-climatic zones.
• More IARI-like institutes with multidisciplinary teams are needed.
• Autonomy in hiring talent and raising resources (public-private partnerships, sponsored research, royalties) is crucial.

Challenges are Different Now:

• Today’s agricultural challenges are not just about yield.
• Focus has shifted to producing more with less (nutrients, water, labor).
• This needs to address climate change and extreme weather events.

Conclusion:

• The government’s upcoming budget should prioritize agricultural research (public & private).
• Stronger Intellectual Property protection is needed for breeders and technology developers.
• Weakening IP regime is evident in declining cotton and stagnant oilseeds production.

 

 

Indian Express Editorial Summary

Editorial Topic : Death and Desolation in Gaza

 GS-2 Mains Exam : IR

Question : Evaluate the reliability of casualty figures in war zones and the role of international organizations such as WHO and the UN in verifying these numbers.

Context and Initial Onslaught

• October 7: Israel begins an onslaught on Gaza in retaliation to Hamas’s attack.
• Objective: Israel’s leaders claim the aim is the complete elimination of Hamas and achieving “total victory.”

US Response to Palestinian Casualty Reports

• President Joe Biden: Expressed skepticism about the casualty numbers reported by the Palestinian Health Ministry.
  • Claim: Over 7,000 Palestinians reported dead by the Ministry.
  • Biden’s Statement: “No confidence in the number that the Palestinians are using.”
  • Quote: “I have no notion that the Palestinians are telling the truth about how many people are killed.”

Orientalism and Credibility Issues

• Western Discourse: Long-standing prejudice suggesting Orientals have an aversion to truth.
• Historical Reference: Curzon, Viceroy of India, claimed Indians had a lesser standard of truth compared to Englishmen.
• Implication: Labeling Palestinians as “terrorists” implies they are liars, potentially exaggerating casualties.

War Casualty Figures Dispute

• Nine Months In: Credibility of Israel and the US questioned.
• March 7: Biden, in his State of the Union address, acknowledges over 30,000 Palestinians killed, based on Gaza Ministry of Health data.
• UN Agencies: WHO and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs have not tracked casualties but rely on Gaza Ministry figures.

The Lancet Study

• Publication Date: July 5.
• Reported Deaths (as of June 19): 37,396.
• Additional Casualties: Estimated 10,000 dead under rubble.
• Indirect Deaths Ratio: Proportion of indirect to direct deaths is 3:1 to 15:1.
• Health Crisis: Widespread destruction of health infrastructure and desalination plants.
• Famine: Not officially declared, but malnutrition and starvation are widespread.
• Estimated Total Deaths: Up to 186,000 or more due to the conflict.

Focus on Palestinian Deaths

• Oxfam Report (January 10): Israel killing Palestinians at an average rate of 250 people per day, the highest daily death toll in recent major conflicts.
• Western Response: US and Western European democracies condone Israel’s actions despite historical commitments to “Never again.”
• Israel’s Stance: Claims special victim status and acts with impunity.

International Safeguards and Israel’s Actions

• International Court of Justice: Issued restraining orders on Israel, but ineffective.
• International Criminal Court: Requested arrest warrants for Hamas and Israeli leaders, including Benjamin Netanyahu, treated with contempt by Israel.
• Future Prospects: No indication that Israel will change its approach or is vulnerable to US pressure.

Conclusion

• Current Situation: Palestinians bear the cost of international inaction.
• Global Response: Existing mechanisms of managing international relations and violent conflict are inadequate to address the situation.