01 January 2024 Daily Mains Answer Writing

MAINS DAILY QUESTIONS & MODEL ANSWERS

Q1. India's states appear hesitant to give urban local bodies more financial and functional authority.

GS I - Government Policies and Interventions

Introduction:

The press frequently discusses the poor performance of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), such as municipalities. These
organisations still struggle with funding and staff, even with the 1992 74th Amendment Act's constitutional protections.

In what way are states hesitant?

Lack of funding: Because state governments' revenue streams are insufficient and the amount of taxes they collect is
insufficient, ULBs are dependent on state funds.
Even though they are permitted to collect taxes, ULBs typically avoid doing so in order to appease the public.
There are currently unexplored avenues for raising cash, including municipal bonds, public-private partnerships, and the
monetization of existing infrastructure.
Functional Control: State governments are reluctant to give the ULBs more authority, even though they are mandated to do
so under Articles 243P to 243ZG of the constitution.
Parallel Structures: The ULBs' duties and authority are taken away by organisations such as development authorities and
water boards.
Bureaucratic Overpower: The state-appointed bureaucracy severely limits the elected representatives' ability to make
decisions.

Way Forward:

Therefore, in order for Urban Local Bodies to reach their full potential, there is still more work to be done in terms of their
liberalisation and appropriate devolution of powers.

Q2. In what ways does e-technology assist farmers in growing and selling their produce? Analyze.

GS III - Agriculture related issues

Introduction:

Digital information-based systems, or e-Technologies, have proliferated in the last several years and are now omnipresent in
every aspect of our lives. Agricultural integration has yielded benefits as well.

Advantages for agriculture:

Irrigation: Watering crops has never been simpler or more effective thanks to the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI)
enabled techniques that use less water.
Climate Prediction: Farmers can make decisions about crop cycles and cropping patterns by using data collected from
sensors over time to predict the climate.
Crop Safety: It is possible to protect crops from pests and rodents by using sensors and integrated systems.

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 Simple Financing: Thanks to the expansion of financial networks built on the internet and databases, loans can now be
approved more quickly.
Alternative Techniques: Techniques like hydroponics and aquaponics can be used with e-technology to automate, regulate,
and carry out tasks that are typically completed by humans.

Advantages of marketing:

Online Marketplace: Thanks to online platforms that display product availability in real time, selling agricultural produce has
become more easier.
Reduced Supply Chain Length: This can be accomplished by optimising the transportation and warehousing operations
through enhanced information dissemination.
Real-time pricing updates: Because they are more transparent, real-time price updates can be advantageous to both
farmers and consumers.

Way Forward:

With the help of technology, agriculture has become much more transparent and farmers now have effective instruments
for producing crops that significantly lessen stress.

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