16th October - AAJ KA QUALITY ENRICHMENT

KEYWORDS

• Meaning: Political democracy: The primary focus is on the protection of individual rights, civil liberties, and the rule of law. 

• Social democracy: It is a way of life which recognises liberty, equality and fraternity and called them a “union of trinity”.

• Usage: It can be used in questions related to - Democracy and welfare society, Social equality and equity, DPSP and Fundamental duties, Grassroot democracy or PRIs, Social cohesion Etc.

• Meaning: It refers to the various dimensions or factors along which societies can be divided or segmented based on certain characteristics or distinctions. These divisions are important for understanding how different social groups may experience distinct challenges, opportunities, and forms of inequality.
• Usage: It can be used in questions related to – Caste and communalism, Hate speech and fake news, Mob lynching, Xenophobia, gender division Etc.

• Meaning: One Nation One Grid: It is an initiative or policy that aims to unify the electricity grids within a single nation or country. It involves connecting various regional or local grids into a national grid network. 

• One Sun One World One Grid: It is an expanded concept that goes beyond national borders. It envisions a global framework for interconnected and interdependent renewable energy grids, particularly focused on solar energy.

• Usage: It can be used in questions related to – Transition towards renewable energy (solar energy), energy security, Climate change and environmental sustainability, sustainable development Etc.

• Meaning: This refers to the potential negative consequences or expenses that can arise from inaction or a lack of response to a specific problem, issue, or opportunity.
• Usage: It can be used in questions related to - Economy (Not taking infra., economic and labour reforms), Governance (transparency and openness, good governance), Health (Focus on curative care not preventive care), Education Etc.

CASE STUDIES/ EXAMPLES

• International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD): It is supporting projects in Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttarakhand, Nagaland and Mizoram which incorporate climate-resilient seed varieties and crops, including millets, and train farmers in climate-sensitive agricultural practices and soil management to cope with increased water stress.
• World Food programme (WFP): It is collaborating with Odisha to develop solutions for smallholder farmers, focusing on women. The goal is to help manage climate impacts and promote a millet-value chain that reduces water usage and improves nutrition.

KEY FACTS

• About 60% of India’s net sown area is rainfed, contributing to 40% of the total food production. 
• Irrigated agriculture accounts for 72% of global freshwater withdrawals.
• About 40% of the planet’s total land area is degraded, leaving farmers with less productive land.
• As per GOI’s assessment. without adaptation measures, rainfed rice yields in India are projected to reduce by 20% in 2050, and by 47% in 2080 scenarios, while irrigated rice yields are projected to decline by 3.5% in 2050 and 5% in 2080 scenarios.

• Dairy sector: India  is the largest producer of milk.  Milk production has shot up from 17 MT in 1951 to 222 MT in 2022-23.
• Water and usage: India is home to almost 18 per cent of the world’s population, it has only 4 per cent of global freshwater resources. Much of this water is used in agriculture. While FAO puts this figure at 90 per cent, the Indian Central Water Commission says it is 78 per cent.
• Punjab is one of the most inefficient growers of rice in terms of water used. It emits the highest levels of carbon emissions (CO2eq) in India. 

PM/VP/PRESIDENT SPEECHES

• On Democracy: We must make our political democracy a social democracy as well. Political democracy cannot last unless there lies at the base of it social democracy.” Social democracy is a way of life which recognises liberty, equality and fraternity and called them a “union of trinity”.

DEFINITION

• Definition: Minimum Export Price (MEP) is the price below which an exporter is not allowed to export the commodity from India. MEP is imposed in view of the rising domestic retail / wholesale price or production disruptions in the country. MEP is a kind of quantitative restriction to trade.

• Definition: Non-state actors include organizations and individuals that are not affiliated with, directed by, or funded through the government.  These include corporations, private financial institutions, and NGOs, as well as paramilitary and armed resistance groups. 
• Lone wolves: They are individuals who carry out acts of violence or terrorism on their own, without formal affiliation with any organized group or network. These individuals are often self-radicalized, motivated by personal grievances, extremist ideologies, or mental health issues.

QUOTES

• Meaning: The quote conveys the idea that climate change has far-reaching consequences that extend beyond weather variations. It has the potential to reshape our way of life, influencing everything from the environment and the economy to public health and societal structures.