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Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Production Gap Report 2023 and Enforcement Directorate

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) started in 1929. Its goal was to improve farming education and research in India. Over time, it has played an important part in changing how farming is done in the country. ICAR has helped India’s farming industry a lot. It has helped farming grow and develop

  • About:
    • It is the apex body for coordinating, guiding and managing research and education in agriculture including horticulture, fisheries and animal sciences in the entire country.
    • It is the largest network of agricultural research and education institutes in the world.
  • Ministry:
    • It is an autonomous organization under the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India.
  • HQ: New Delhi.
  • President of ICAR: 
    • The Union Minister of Agriculture serves as its president.

Role of ICAR Towards Agriculture

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) plays a crucial role in advancing agriculture in India. Through its research, education, and extension activities, ICAR contributes to the development and growth of the agricultural sector. Here are the key roles and contributions of ICAR:

  • ICAR does research to make farming better and help farmers with their problems.
  •  Indian Council of Agricultural Research wants farming to be good for the environment and uses techniques like organic farming and pest control to protect nature.
  • ICAR shares new farming technologies with farmers through science centers and universities.
  • ICAR teaches farmers through training programs and workshops about the latest ways to farm.
  • It helps people working in agriculture to learn more and get better at their jobs and it works together with other organizations and universities to share knowledge and do research together.
  • ICAR helps the government make good decisions about agriculture by giving them advice based on science.
  • ICAR cares about improving the quality of crops and making sure we have enough food.
  • ICAR wants to make sure farming is sustainable and doesn’t harm natural resources.

Initiative of Indian Council of Agricultural Research

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has undertaken various initiatives to address the challenges faced by the agricultural sector. Some notable initiatives include:

  • National Agricultural Innovation Project (NAIP): Promotes research and development in agricultural innovation systems.
  • National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP): Enhances the quality and relevance of agricultural education in the country.
  • National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA): Aims to enhance the resilience of Indian agriculture to climate change.
  • National Agricultural Science Fund (NASF): Provides financial support to research projects and infrastructure development.

 

 

National Agricultural Education Accreditation Board (NAEAB):

 

·         ICAR provides accreditation to agriculture universities, colleges and programmes, through its accreditation unit, National Agricultural Education Accreditation Board (NAEAB).

·         The accreditation serves only as a badge of quality assurance.

·         It is not mandatory, is not a form of affiliation or recognition and does not give approval to open an institute or a program.

 

 

Milestones of Indian Council of Agricultural Research

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has achieved several milestones in its journey of promoting agricultural research and education. Some notable milestones include:

  •  Establishment of the first agricultural university in India, Uttar Pradesh Agricultural University, in 1906.
  • Setting up the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in New Delhi in 1905.
  • Launch of the Green Revolution in the 1960s, which significantly increased agricultural production.
  • Development of high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice, leading to self-sufficiency in food grains.
  • Introduction of innovative farming practices, such as integrated pest management and organic farming.

 

Future Targets of ICAR

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has set ambitious targets for the future to address emerging challenges and harness opportunities in the agricultural sector. Some of the key targets include:

  • Enhancing farm productivity through the adoption of advanced technologies and practices.
  • Promoting sustainable and climate-smart agriculture.
  •  Strengthening the resilience of Indian agriculture to climate change.
  • Improving the income and livelihoods of farmers through value addition and market linkages.
  • Enhancing the quality and relevance of agricultural education and research.

 

Conclusion

ICAR helps India’s farmers in lots of ways. It does research to make farming better. ICAR thinks of new ideas. It teaches farmers how to farm the right way. ICAR also makes rules to improve farming. And it works with other countries. All this helps Indian farming grow.

 

Production Gap Report 2023

The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), Climate Analytics, E3G, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) have recently released the Production Gap Report 2023.

This report evaluates the anticipated production of coal, oil, and gas by governments and compares it to the global levels required to align with the temperature goals of the Paris Agreement.

The production gap is defined as the disparity between the planned fossil fuel production by governments and the global production levels necessary to achieve the objectives of limiting global warming to either 1.5°C or 2°C

 

Key Highlights of the Report:

  • Under the Paris Agreement, countries have committed to a long-term goal of limiting average global temperature to less than two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and even try to limit them further to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
  • However, the report analyzed the 20 major fossil fuel producing countries.
  • It found that these countries plan to produce more than double the amount of fossil fuels in 2030 than would be consistent with limiting warming to 1.5°C and 69% more than that would be consistent with 2 degrees Celsius

 

India Specific findings:

India’s Updated NDCs:

  • Emission Reduction: India’s NDC aims to cut emissions intensity by 45% compared to 2005 levels by 2030.
  • Renewable Energy Share:It targets 50% non-fossil power capacity by 2030.
  • Long-term Vision:The updated NDC is a stride toward the 2070 net-zero emissions goal.

 

NOTE: NDCs are ‘Nationally Determined Contributions’ and they represent the commitments of each country to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change

 

 

Government’s Stance on Fossil Fuel Production:

 

    • Low-Carbon Transition with National Scale: The Long Term-Low Emission Development Strategy(LT-LEDS) released during COP 27 commits to a low-carbon shift that preserves development needs.
      • Emphasis is placed on maintaining energy security, access, and employment.
    • Support for Domestic Fossil Fuel: An emphasis on self-reliance calls for the expansion of coal production to generate state income and job opportunities.
      • Plans include scaling up domestic oil and gas exploration to meet increasing demand as the country’s demand for gas is expected to rise by over 500% by 2030.
      • The government has set up rolling electronic auctions of mining blocks to increase domestic coal production and is encouraging foreign direct investment in the oil and gas sector
      • While investing in green energy, India maintains its commitment to fossil fuels, primarily coal.
      • ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL), a subsidiary of India’s national oil company, has stakes in 33 oil and gas projects in 15 countries (ONGC Videsh, 2023).

 

 

Recommendations of the Report:

  • Enhanced Transparency in Plans: Governments ought to enhance transparency in their plans, projections, and support for fossil fuel production, ensuring clear alignment with both national and international climate goals.
  • Adoption of Fossil Fuels Reduction Targets: There is a pressing need for governments to embrace reduction targets in both the short and long term for fossil fuel production and usage. These targets should complement other climate mitigation goals and mitigate the risks associated with stranded assets.
  • Phasing Out of Fossil Fuels: Nations should strive for a comprehensive phase-out of coal production and usage by 2040, coupled with a collective reduction of at least three-quarters in oil and gas production and usage by 2050 compared to 2020 levels.
  • Equitable Transition: A transition away from fossil fuel production must be approached equitably, acknowledging the differentiated responsibilities and capabilities of countries. Governments possessing greater transition capacity should aspire to more ambitious reductions and contribute to financing the transition processes in countries with limited capacities.

 

Enforcement Directorate

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is a multi-disciplinary organization tasked with investigating money laundering offenses and violations of foreign exchange laws. It operates under the Department of Revenue within the Ministry of Finance and stands as a premier financial investigation agency of the Government of India, adhering strictly to the Constitution and laws of the country.

Organizational Structure:

  • Headquarters: The ED, headquartered in New Delhi, is led by the Director of Enforcement.
  • Regional Offices: There are five regional offices located in Mumbai, Chennai, Chandigarh, Kolkata, and Delhi, each overseen by Special Directors of Enforcement.

Recruitment:

  • Officer recruitment is carried out directly and by selecting officers from other investigation agencies.
  • The team comprises officers from various services, including IRS (Indian Revenue Services), IPS (Indian Police Services), and IAS (Indian Administrative Services), encompassing roles such as Income Tax officer, Excise officer, Customs officer, and police.

Tenure:

  • The standard tenure is two years, but directors have the option of extending their term up to five years through three annual extensions.

Legal Amendments:

  • The Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946 (for ED) and the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) Act, 2003 (for CV Commissioners) have been revised, granting the government the authority to retain the two chiefs in their positions for one year after completing their initial two-year terms.

 

Roles and Responsibilities:

  • Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA): FEMA is a civil law designed to consolidate and amend regulations to facilitate external trade, payments, and the orderly development of the foreign exchange market in India. The ED is entrusted with investigating suspected contraventions, adjudicating, and imposing penalties for violations.
  • Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA): Acting under COFEPOSA, the Directorate is authorized to initiate cases of preventive detention related to violations of FEMA.

 

  • Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 (FEOA): With the rise in cases of economic offenders seeking refuge in foreign countries, the Government introduced FEOA, and the ED is responsible for its enforcement. This law aims to prevent economic offenders from evading Indian legal proceedings by staying outside the jurisdiction of Indian courts. The ED is mandated to attach the properties of fugitive economic offenders, who have fled India to avoid arrest, and facilitate the confiscation of their properties by the Central Government.
  • Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA): Enacted following FATF recommendations, PMLA assigns the ED the task of investigating, tracing assets derived from proceeds of crime, provisionally attaching property, ensuring the prosecution of offenders, and confiscating property through the Special court.