Introduction

The hindu analysis for the day of 26 August 2023 for the UPSC CSE WBPCS preparation.

INDIAN ECONOMY
FISCAL FEDERALISM
The Emerging Fiscal Diversity Needs to Rethink.
Equity as Concern as the 16th Finance Body
ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY
CLEANTECH
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
NEAR AND FAR SIDE OF MOON

INDIAN ECONOMY

FISCAL FEDERALISM

The Emerging Fiscal Diversity Needs to Rethink.

The economy of India has shifted from a market economy to a planned economy.
The two-tier federation has turned into a three-tier system by the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendment that is the Panchayat and Municipality.
The Planning commission is replaced by NITI Aayog.
With the passing of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act (FRBM) almost forced all the states to follow the same fiscal policy.
The share of the GST Council holding the control over extensive use of cess affects the size of the divisible pool.

Equity as Concern as the 16th Finance Body

The 16th finance commission and the HDI index could be a strong factor in the horizontal distribution of tax devolution. The Article 246 and the Seventh Schedule should be re-considered in terms of distribution of power, responsibilities and fiscal share driven by the following reasons:

India is no longer a one-party governance like post-independence time. As of now it has turned into a multi-party system. So, the nature of political setup, demographic structure, society, and technological aspiration have changed. Which directs towards a thorough re-consideration of article 246.
Under the changing dispersion, several pieces of central policies such as NREGA Act 2005, the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009 etc. mainly the subjects of the concurrent list are imposing an extra burden on the state.
The 73rd and 74th amendments provided an opportunity to rethink but the introduction of XI & XII which added the subjects of panchayats and municipalities, simply by lifting items from the state and the concurrent list but they lacked operational meaning.
Persistent failure to place the third tied in the fiscal system is a matter of serious concern.
The off-budget borrowings of both union and state need to be reviewed. Though the states are under control by Article 293(3) and FRBM Act by Union, the states have no bindings.

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

CLEANTECH

The clean technology or the green economy provides a balance between sustainable environment and development. Just like the reviving millets helps to improve the agricultural outcome in rain shadow areas and strengthen the food security.
Building a solar park or electric vehicle charging stations help to expand green infrastructure.
India’s rural economy comprising 120 million farmers and 34 million micro enterprises depends on expensive energy consumption and imported diesel.
The cleantech solutions are powered by renewable energy and will help India to reduce diesel import.
Boost its foreign reserve.
Environment friendly development.
Enhance rural livelihood.
Paves an investment opportunity worth 50 million for investors and financiers.
Steps to Scale Up:
Boost the existing government programs for supporting livelihood and rural development.
Like the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana that extends the loan opportunity for the microenterprises can be used for the adoption of clean tech solutions.
Large scale financing.
Enable multi sector partnership between investors, innovators, manufacturers, distributors, service providers etc.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

NEAR AND FAR SIDE OF MOON

Near side refers to almost 60% of the moon which is always towards the earth side and visible to us as the moon takes the same to rotate about its axis as it does not circle around the earth. That also does not mean the opposite side of the moon is eternal dark. In a new moon or times when the moon is invisible from earth are the times when the far side of the moon gets light.
Far side or the dark side of the moon is the most mysterious part of the moon with various topographical features. India’s Chandrayaan 3 mission made the Vikram land closest to the south pole still it is on the near side of the lunar surface. Whereas China's Chang’e 4 mission remains as the only to have landed in the far side. Still India is the first ever country to have a successful landing in the lunar south.