Indian Express Editorial Summary

Editorial Topic : Lack of Ambition in the Union Budget for Agriculture

 GS-3 Mains Exam : Economy

Question: Despite the Union Budget’s emphasis on fiscal consolidation, it has been criticized for lacking innovative ideas, especially in the agricultural sector. Discuss the reasons behind this criticism and suggest measures that could be included in future budgets to address the needs of the agricultural sector comprehensively.

Introduction:

• The Union Budget praised for fiscal consolidation, criticized for lacking big ideas.
• Despite highlighting “productivity and resilience in agriculture” as a top priority, proposals fall short of expectations.

Repetition of Old Ideas:

• Natural Farming: The goal to initiate one crore farmers into natural farming in two years is a repeat of previous budgets’ promises.
• Digital Infrastructure: Building a digital public infrastructure for agriculture was mentioned in last year’s budget as well.
• Vegetable Clusters: Large-scale clusters and supply chains for vegetables were discussed in the 2018-19 budget under Operation Greens for tomato, onion, and potato.

Political Consequences:

• Lack of Ambition: Despite past major agriculture reform laws, the current budget lacks novelty and ambition.
• Fear of Opposition: Political opposition and past protests by farmer unions have deterred substantive reforms.
• No Rationalisation of Urea Prices: No attempts to redirect spending from fertiliser and food subsidies to farm research, irrigation, and infrastructure.
• Agricultural Research: Announced a comprehensive review of the agriculture research set-up, but only marginally increased the budget for agricultural research and education to Rs 9,941 crore from Rs 9,877 crore.

Neglect of R&D and Its Impact on Food Security:

• Growing Population: India, with a population expected to peak at 1.7 billion, cannot rely on food imports indefinitely.
• Long-term Plan Needed: More production from less land and resources while managing climate change requires a long-term vision.
• Historical Context: The Green Revolution’s success due to investments in ICAR, state agricultural universities, irrigation, land reforms, and consolidation.
• Current Needs: A similar visionary approach is required today but is missing in the budget.

Conclusion:

• Rural Empowerment: Raising farm income is crucial for empowering the rural population in the most populous and agriculture-dependent country.
• Productivity Surge Needed: Requires significant R&D intervention, which the 2023-24 Union Budget failed to address.

 

 

Indian Express Editorial Summary

Editorial Topic : Beijing, the Mediator

 GS-3 Mains Exam : IR

Question: Analyze the recent initiatives by China in brokering peace between Iran and Saudi Arabia, and its implications for global diplomacy. How does this reflect on China’s foreign policy and its impact on American influence in the Middle East?

Introduction:

• China is emerging as a broker of peace.
• As China goes global, the world must brace for its dominance over the Global South.
• It poses a threat to the US concept of a rules-based order.

The Chinese Miracle of Bridging the Gulf across the “Persian Gulf”:

• In March 2023, China stunned the world by brokering an agreement between arch-enemies, Iran and Saudi Arabia.
• At a meeting hosted in Beijing by Wang Yi, the Foreign Minister of China, representatives of both countries agreed to re-establish diplomatic ties.
• The meeting was widely seen as a great success of Chinese foreign policy to limit American influence in the Middle East.

Beijing Displaying its Credentials as a Benign Mediator:

• Wang Yi described his country as a “kind and trustworthy mediator.”
• Many in the West dismissed it as empty rhetoric.
• But a year later, China achieved another success.
• Wang Yi mobilized leaders of 14 different factions of the Palestinian movement in Beijing and released a unanimously approved statement called the “Beijing Declaration.”

China’s Proposal to End the Palestinian Conflict:

• Wang proposed a three-step solution to end the Palestinian conflict:
  1. Implement a comprehensive ceasefire in the Gaza Strip as soon as possible and provide humanitarian assistance.
  2. Uphold the principle of “Palestinians governing Palestine.”
  3. The two-state solution.

The Declaration is Ambitious but Won’t See the Light of the Day:

• The declaration may remain on paper because:
  1. Keeping all factions under the umbrella of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) is not easy.
  2. The US and Israel consider Hamas a terrorist organization.
  3. The most difficult part of the declaration is the creation of a “truly independent Palestinian state.”

Ukraine Too Expects Something Similar from China:

• A day after the Beijing Declaration, Wang Yi held talks with the visiting foreign minister of Ukraine about resolving the Ukraine conflict.
• Ukraine responded positively, saying Beijing can play a significant role in resolving the crisis.

The Cold War 2.0 Has Begun:

• These proactive moves by China indicate a shift in its foreign policy.
• As the world enters Cold War 2.0, China is demonstrating confidence in its ability to displace the US as the hegemon.
• Under Xi Jinping, China’s regional ambitions have expanded to global initiatives.

China’s Global Initiatives:

1. Global Security Initiative (GSI):
   • Xi first discussed GSI in April 2022 and expanded it in February 2023.
   • It pitches GSI as an alternative to the US-led “rules-based order.”
2. Global Development Initiative (GDI):
   • Proposed by Xi at the UN General Assembly in 2021.
   • Aims to revive efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
3. Global Civilisation Initiative (GCI):
   • Proposed by Xi in March 2023.
   • Advocates respecting the diversity of civilizations and strengthening international cooperation.

Conclusion:

• As China goes global, the world must brace for its dominance over the Global South.
• Cold War 2.0 is heating up.