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THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 24 June 2020 (Downing the shutters: On H1-B visa halt (The Hindu))

Downing the shutters: On H1-B visa halt (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2: International Relations
Prelims level: H1-B visa
Mains level: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora

Context:

  • The White House has made a proclamation restricting the issuance of non-immigrant work visas across the board.
  • This decision was taken to clamp down on American jobs going to foreign workers, a consistent policy priority of the Trump administration.
  • The broad-brush order includes the H-1B, which is widely garnered by Indian nationals, the H-2B, the L-1, the J-1 visa and the H-4 visa.
  • The proclamation will enter into force on June 24 and be applicable until the end of the calendar year, which notably includes the November 3 presidential election.

Classifications of Visas:

  • H-1B visa for skilled workers
  • H-4 visa for dependents of H-1B visa holders
  • H-2B visa issued to seasonal workers
  • L-1 visa for intra-company transfers
  • J-1 visa for students on work-study summer programmes

 Reasons behind the move:

  • It is intended as a follow-on order reducing the number of foreigners entering the U.S.
  • This comes on the back of the 60-day halt in legal migration that began on April 23.
  • A broad swathe of workers is likely to be affected by the latest pause in visa processing.
  • The latest restrictions will not apply to visa-holders who are already within the U.S., or those who are outside it and have already been issued valid visas.
  • The reasoning offered by the White House is that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has “significantly disrupted Americans’ livelihoods”.
  • The overall unemployment rate in the country nearly quadrupled between February and May 2020 to 13.3%.

America first:

  • There is little doubt that the policies of the Trump White House are likely to serve to the broader requirements of the 2020 presidential campaign.
  • One of which is a sharp focus on “America First,” or in this case the need to project aggressive action against American jobs allegedly being lost to foreign workers.
  • Noting that between February and April, “more than 20 million U.S. workers lost their jobs in key industries where employers are currently requesting H-1B and L workers to fill positions”.
  • It also observed that similar or higher numbers could be found in the other listed visa categories.
  • However, Mr. Trump may find that the blowback from America Inc., the employers of millions of non-immigrant foreign workers, is speedy and savage.

 Criticism:

  • Already Google CEO Sundar Pichai has responded by tweeting, “Immigration has contributed immensely to America’s economic success, making it a global leader in tech, and also Google the company it is today.
  • Disappointed by today’s proclamation — we’ll continue to stand with immigrants and work to expand opportunity for all.”

 Conclusion:

  • If more captains of the Fortune 500 companies strike this note of disappointment and lobby quietly behind closed doors to boost the prospects of Mr. Trump’s rival, Joe Biden, then this might be the straw that breaks the back of the Trump campaign juggernaut.

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THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 23 June 2020 (Vigilance paramount: on State's tackling of coronavirus (The Hindu))

Vigilance paramount: on State's tackling of coronavirus (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2:Health 

Prelims level: Not much 

Mains level: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health

Context:

  • On June 20, a month after 1,00,000 novel coronavirus cases were reported, India crossed a grim milestone of 4,00,000 cases. 
  • If it took 13 days to double to 2,00,000 cases, India added another one lakh cases in 10 days on June 12. 
  • From a test positivity rate of 4.6% in mid-May, it is 7.9% as on June 21, reflecting a wider spread in the community, particularly in the hotspots — Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Ahmedabad. 

 Mortality rate:

  • Mortality, which was initially low, has been steadily increasing. It has reached 13,703 deaths as on June 21. 
  • The lower mortality figures are a reflection of the low median age (nearly 27 years) of the Indian population. 
  • While the low median age has helped keep mortality low, high prevalence of high-risk factors even among younger people might put them at great risk if infected with the virus. 
  • The health-care system in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Ahmedabad, already strained, could witness more deaths if the virus spreads unabated. 
  • With India now in the unlock phase, this is the time to be most..........................

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 States doing better:

  • Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh have done exceptionally well in containment. 
  • If Kerala was fully geared even before the first case was reported, the other two States utilised the early phase of the lockdown to track, test and isolate those infected and trace contacts. 
  • Nothing else can explain why Bengaluru has bucked the trend while Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai have become pandemic epicentres. 
  • Maharashtra has adopted the correct approach of enhanced testing unmindful of the large number of cases getting reported each day. 
  • Aggressive testing enabled Maharashtra to achieve the remarkable feat of containment in Dharavi. 
  • In stark contrast, till a few days ago, Delhi had used every trick in the textbook to keep cases and deaths low. 

 States to worry about:

  • That fewer cases are reported from Telangana, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar raises suspicion about their testing and counting. 
  • Many States have reported migrant workers testing positive on arrival. 
  • It is inconceivablethat Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal, which have recorded the most returnees, should not see a spike. 
  • Through fever clinics and testing of people with influenza-like illness in certain areas in Chennai that have high spread, Tamil Nadu is making up for lost time. 
  • But true containment will remain difficult and will depend on door-to-door surveillance and large-scale testing in these areas. 
  • Going by the cases reported, Gujarat seems to be the only place where the virus spreads to a definite number of people every fortnight even when tests are increased incrementally. 

 Conclusion:

  • The only way to contain numbers is by not hiding them.
  • States have tackled the virus differently, but they must learn from ...............................

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(The Gist of Science Reporter) World’s Fastest Ant  [APRIL-2020]

(The Gist of Science Reporter) World’s Fastest Ant

 [APRIL-2020]

World’s Fastest Ant

  • Of the 1200 species of ants known, a species known as Saharan Silver ant found in the desert are the world’s fastest ants.
  • These ants routinely brave the blazing hot-midday sun to forage for food.
  • They are technically known as Cataglyphis bombycina and commonly known as Saharan silver ants.
  • These ants are one of the most heat-resistant animals known.
  • Their critical thermal maximum is 56°C and they run at a speed up to 0.7 m/second.
  • Their body is covered on the top and sides with uniquely triangular shaped hairs which serve as an antireflection layer that enhances the ants’ ability to offload excess heat by thermal radiation which is emitted from the hot body of the ants to the air.
  • These ants have long legs to keep their bodies away from the sand.
  • While running at high speed they use only four of their six legs, raising their front pair of legs.
  • This ant is the fastest of all well known ant species.
  • It covers 108 times its own body length per second.
  • This is quicker than an Olympic 100 m runner.
  • They are active outside their nest for about ten minutes/day due to pressure of predation and temperature.
  • They come outside in midday when the temperature is around 47°C.
  • The whole colony of ants leaves the nest in search of food and have to complete their work before the temperature reaches 53°C.
  • The navigational capabilities of these ants have been the subject of numerous scientific investigations.
  • The suggestion that the ants use polarized light as a guide, is contradicted by the observation that they are able to assess how far they have walked even in the dark.
  • Another experiment concluded that the ants measure the distance travelled by sensory ability called proprioception that counted the number of steps taken.
  • The study was published in the Journal of Experimental Biology (October 2019).

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(The Gist of PIB) Spring harvest festivals in India  [APRIL-2020]

(The Gist of PIB) Spring harvest festivals in India

 [APRIL-2020]

Spring harvest festivals in India

  • The President of India greeted people on the occasion of Vaisakhi, Vishu, Rongali Bihu, Naba Barsha, Vaisakhadi, Puthandu, Pirappu, which are being celebrated in different parts of the country on 13th and 14th April 2020.

About:

  • Baisakhi: Baisakhi, also known as Vaisakhi, Vaishakhi, or Vaisakhi, is celebrated with much fanfare in Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh. Baisakhi is a spring harvest festival for the Sikhs. Baisakhi also commemorates the formation of Khalsa Panth by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699.
  • Rongali Bihu: Assam celebrates Bihu thrice in a year but Rongali Bihu is the biggest and most popular. Rongali or the Bohag (spring) Bihu starts on the last day of the Assamese calendar month of Chot, which normally falls on April 13 or 14 annually.
  • Poila Boishakh: Poila Boishakh also known as Pahela Baishakh or Bangla Nababarsha is the first day of Bengali Calendar.
  • Mahabishuva Sankranti: On the same day, Odisha celebrates Mahabisuha Sankranti, better known as Pana Sankranti.
  • Puthandu: Puthandu in Tamil Nadu marks the first day of the Tamil New Year.
  • Vishu: Vishu in Kerala marks the completion of the spring equinox. But unlike Onam, the other harvest festival, Vishu is a quieter affair, with Lord Vishnu in his Krishna avatar, the presiding deity of the festivities. Malayalis observe the ritual of ‘Vishukanni’.
  • Bikhoti: The Bikhoti Festival of Uttarakhand involves people taking a dip in holy rivers.
  • Jurshital: In the Mithal region of Bihar and Nepal, the new year is celebrated as Jurshital.

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(The Gist of Kurukshetra) BUDGET FOR STRENGTHENING AGRICULTURE, FARMERS AND RURAL INDIA [APRIL-2020]

(The Gist of Kurukshetra) BUDGET FOR STRENGTHENING AGRICULTURE, FARMERS AND RURAL

INDIA [APRIL-2020]

BUDGET FOR STRENGTHENING AGRICULTURE, FARMERS AND RURAL INDIA

Introduction:

  • In budget 2020-21 a clear blueprint is presented for ensuring the overall growth of the agriculture sector, improving the economic condition of the farmers and all-round development of rural India.

Ease of living has been underlined in the budget in the form of three major subjects:

  1. agriculture, irrigation and rural development
  2. wellness, water and sanitation and
  3. education and skills.
  • By improving the conditions of agriculture and farmers, not only standard of living of 70% of the population can be transformed, but the dream of ‘New India’ can also be realized.

Budget Announcements:

A. Agriculture:

  • The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj are brought under one umbrella so that concrete policies and strategies can be implemented keeping their inter-linkages at the core.
  • A 16-point action plan has been introduced for agriculture, irrigation and rural development. A provision of Rs. 2.83 lakh crores has been made in the Budget.

B. Agriculture Credit:

  • During the year 2020-21, institutional lending of Rs. 15 lakh crore to farmers has been targeted. This will ensure availability of more loans to farmers on low interest and easy terms of agricultural operations.
  • All the beneficiaries of PM-KISAN Yojana will be linked to Kisan Credit scheme and NABARD’s refinance plan will be made more comprehensive.
  • A comprehensive action plan will be prepared for 100 water-stressed districts in the country.

C. Irrigation and Income Enhancement

  • To transform Annadata (food giver) to Urjadata (energy provider), the Budget has proposed to make “PM Kusum Yojana” comprehensive. Under this, solar units will be installed in the fields and connected to power grid.
  • This plan envisions production of 25750 MW solar power by the year 2022. Under PM Kusum Yojana, 20 lakhs farmers will be assisted in installing solar power pumps.
  • In addition, financial assistance will be provided to 15 lakh farmers to operate grid connected pump sets with solar power. Assistance will be provided to farmers to set up solar power plants on their fallow or barren land.

D. Storage and Marketing:

  • The government has announced introduction of Kisan Rail Service through PPP for transportation of farm produce. AC farmer goods trains will be run for transportation. Refrigerated coaches will be attached in express and goods trains.
  • It is proposed to create a seamless national cold supply chain.
  • Krishi Udaan Yojana will also be launched. The service will be operated on both national and international air routes.
  • This will enable agricultural produce from the NE region and tribal areas to reach the market in a short time. Krishi Udaan will also make it possible to sell agricultural products abroad.
  • The government has also decided to build a warehouse in every village for safe storage of farmers’ grains. Farmers will be linked to storage systems operated by SHGs with the aim of reducing logistics costs on products.
  • Food Corporation of India and Central Warehousing Corporation will also build such store houses on their land. Funding carried out on negotiable warehousing receipt will be integrated with e-NAM.
  • The state governments implementing Model Acts like Agricultural Produce Market Act and Contract Farming will be given incentives.

E. Blue Economy:

  • Under the blue economy, the target for export of fish by year 2024-25 is kept at Rs. 1 lakh crore. The target of increasing fish production to 200 lakh tonnes by the year 2022-23 will be emphasized.
  • To promote fisheries sector, youth will be involved in it by 3477 Sagar Mitras and 500 fish farmer producers’ organisations. The cultivation of algae and seaweeds and cage culture would be promoted.
  • The budget also hints at giving the status of farmer to fishermen. This will make fishermen entitled to government benefits being given to the agriculture sector.

F. Sustainable Agriculture and Horticulture:

  • In order to improve the marketing and export system in the horticulture sector, “One Product One District” scheme has been chosen in the budget.
  • Emphasis has been laid in the budget on promoting use of conventional organic fertilizers in order to curtail the excessive use of chemical fertilizers.
  • “Organic framing portal” will be launched to strengthen the online national market of organic products.

G. Women and Agriculture:

  • The proposal to strengthen natural farming and to expand integrated farming system in rainfed areas for irrigation has also been made in this Budget.
  • The budget has given full attention to the self-reliance of women in rural areas and as result “Dhaanya Laxmi Yojana” has been announced. Under this scheme, women will be specially linked to seed-related programmes.
  • Women farmers will be given training in quality-checking of seeds and scientific farming. Loans and financial assistance will be given to SHGs of these women to involve them on a large scale in various storage schemes.

H. Livestock:

  • Livestock has recorded 8% increase during the last five years. Currently, India is the largest milk producer in the world.
  • The Budget has set a target of doubling milk production by the year 2025.
  • Milk processing capacity will be raised to 108 million metric tonnes from the current 53.5 million metric tonnes.
  • The coverage of artificial insemination will be raised from present 30% to 70%. Convergence of MGNREGS will be done for development of pastures.
  • A special action plan will be prepared to eradicate Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) of cattle and Peste de Petits Ruminants (PPR), also known as Ovine Rinderpest (which affects sheep and goats)completely by the year 2025.
  • In milieu to indigenous dairy sector to insulate it against cheap imports decimating the industry, the budget has done away with the concessional basic customs duty of 15% on imports of upto 10,000 tonnes of Skimmed Milk Powder in any financial year.
  • That concession under the extant Tariff Quota Regime has been withdrawn and all imports would henceforth attract a uniform 60% duty.
  • What the govt. in the budget has done is to hike the import duty on all dairy products to the maximum permissible bound rates under the rules of the WTO in order to help facilitate better procurement prices for farmers in the dairy business.

I. Infrastructure:

  • The govt has announced expenditure of Rs. 103 lakh crore over the next five years in infrastructure related to the development of roads, electricity, water, rail, airports and metro.
  • Under UDAN scheme, 100 new airports will be developed by yr. 2024. Currently, there are only 600 airplanes in the country. There is a plan to increase this number to 1200.
  • Before 2024, 6000 kms of highways will be laid and 9000 kms of economic corridors will be built. Roads covering 2000 kms will be built in coastal areas. Construction of 2000 kms of roads in strategic areas including North-east will be undertaken.
  • It has also been promised to complete the work of Delhi-Mumbai Expressway by the year 2023 and start work of Chennai-Bengaluru Expressway soon.
  • The government will soon come up with a policy to create Data Centre Parks across the country through the private sector. This year, under the BharatNet, one lakh gram panchayats will be connected to Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH).

J. Environment:

  • The budget provision of Rs. 4400 crore for clean air programme is an important announcement of the government.

Conclusion:

  • There was a time when the main thrust of the country’s agricultural policy was based on increasing the yield, but today we are self-reliant in foodgrains.
  • Now we talk about doubling the income of the farmer, raising his standard of living and providing him with urban facilities.

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