Climate Resilient Agriculture

Why in news?

In the wake of climate change, there is urgent need to develop an agriculture system which can withstand the changing climate to ensure food security of India.

 

About

Climate resilience is a fundamental concept of climate risk management. In this context, resilience refers to the ability of an agricultural system to anticipate and prepare for, as well as adapt to, absorb and recover from the impacts of changes in climate and extreme weather.

Resilience caan be enhanced by implementing short and long-term climate mitigation and adaptation strategies, as well as ensuring transparent and inclusive participation of multiple actors and stakeholders in decision-making and management processes.

Impact of climate change on Agriculture

 

 

Strategies and technologies for Climate Change Adaptation

Tolerant Crops

• To reach deficient downpour conditions, early maturing and drought-tolerant cultivars of green gram (BM 2002-1), chickpea and pigeon pea (BDN-708) were brought on selected farmer’s fields in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra (rainfall of 645 millimetres).
• In the same way, drought-tolerant, early maturing cultivars of pigeon pea (AKT-8811) and sorghum (CSH-14) were introduced in the villages of Amravati district, Maharashtra (rainfall of 877 mm).

 

Tolerant Breeds in Livestock and Poultry

• Use of breeds with lower water intake requirements can reduce animal mortality and optimize the use of water resources.
• Betterment of feeding systems as an adaptation measure can indirectly improve the efficiency of livestock production.

 

Water Management

• Water-smart technologies like a furrow-irrigated raised bed, micro-irrigation, rainwater harvesting structure, cover-crop method, greenhouse, laser land levelling, reuse wastewater, deficit irrigation and drainage management can support farmers to decrease the effect of variations of climate.
• Various technologies based on a precision estimation of crop water needs; groundwater recharge techniques; adoption of scientific water conservation methods; altering the fertilizer and irrigation schedules; cultivating less water requiring varieties; adjusting the planting dates; irrigation scheduling; and adopting zero-tillage which may help farmers to reach satisfactory crop yields, even in deficit rainfall and warmer years.

 

Agro-Advisory

• Response farming is an integrative approach; it could be called farming with advisories taken from the technocrats depending on local weather information. The success of response farming, viz., decreased danger and enhanced productivity has already been taken in Tamil Nadu and many other states.

 

Soil Organic Carbon

• Different farm management practices can increase soil carbon stocks and stimulate soil functional stability. Conservation agriculture technologies (reduced tillage, crop rotations, and cover crops), soil conservation practices (contour farming) and nutrient recharge strategies can refill soil organic matter by giving a protective soil cover.

 

Government Initiatives

1. National Action Plan on Climate Change
2. PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana
3. Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana
4. Green India Mission
5. Soil Health Card Scheme
6. Neem Coated Urea
7. National Project on Organic Farming 2004 and National Agroforestry Policy 2014

 

Central Bureau of Investigation

Why in news?

Tamil Nadu announced that it has withdrawn the general consent given to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), under Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, allowing the agency to investigate cases without its permission in the State.

 

About

• The CBI came into being during World War II, when the colonial government felt the need to probe cases of corruption in the War and Supply Department. A law came in 1941. It became the DSPE Act in 1946.
• It was set up in 1963 by a resolution of the Ministry of Home Affairs but now it works under Ministry of Personnel, Pension and Public Grievances. CBI was recommended by the Santhanam Committee on Prevention of Corruption.
• CBI is not a statutory body. It derives its power to investigate from the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946.
• CBI is headed by a director and assisted by a special director or an additional director.
• CBI Director is appointed by search committee headed by the Prime Minister and comprising Leader of Opposition and the Chief Justice of India (CJI) or his representative. It was prescribed by Lokpal Act 2013.
• Superintendence of CBI rests with CVC in corruption cases and in other matters it rests with Dept of P&T.
• It is exempted from the purview of Right to Information Act
• Three divisions of CBI:
  • Economic Offence Division
  • Anti-Corruption Division
  • Special Crime Division
• The CBI is required to obtain the prior approval of the Central Government before conducting any inquiry or investigation into an offence committed by officers of the rank of joint secretary and above in the Central Government and its authorities.
  • However, in 2014, the Supreme Court held it invalid and held that Section 6A of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, which granted protection to joint secretary and above officers from facing even a preliminary inquiry by the CBI in corruption cases, was violative of Article 14.

Consent of State

• Section 6 of the DPSE Act authorises the central government to direct CBI to probe a case within the jurisdiction of any state but only with the consent of the concerned state government. SC and HC, however, can order CBI to investigate such a crime anywhere in the country without the consent of the state.
  • Section 6: Nothing contained in section 5 [titled ‘Extension of powers and jurisdiction of special police establishment to other areas’] shall be deemed to enable any member of the Delhi Special Police Establishment to exercise powers and jurisdiction in any area in a State, not being a Union territory or railway area, without the consent of the Government of that state.
  • While National Investigation Agency has jurisdiction all over India.
• CBI can suo-moto take up investigation of offences only in the Union Territories.
• There are two types of consent for a probe by the CBI. These are: general and specific.
  • When a state gives a general consent to the CBI for probing a case, the agency is not required to seek fresh permission every time it enters that state in connection with investigation or for every case.
  • When a general consent is withdrawn, CBI needs to seek case-wise consent for investigation from the concerned state government. If specific consent is not granted, the CBI officials will not have the power of police personnel when they enter that state. However, CBI can continue to investigate cases in a state registered prior to the withdrawal of general consent.

Calcutta HC Order: High Court, in a case of illegal coal mining and cattle smuggling being investigated by the CBI, ruled that the central agency cannot be stopped from investigating a central government employee in another state. High Court observed that corruption cases across the country must be treated equally, and that central government employees could not be exempt from investigation on the grounds that their offices were located in states that had withdrawn general consent.

 

Issues faced by CBI

• Political involvement: The current administration’s political intervention and influence have harmed the integrity and independence of the CBI. For instance, concerns about political influence were raised in 2018 when CBI head Alok Verma was fired.
• Lack of transparency: It has been criticized for operating in an opaque manner and for lacking transparency in its inquiry process. For instance, the 2015 Vyapam scam investigation’s management came under fire for its lack of transparency.
• Efficiency: Slow in wrapping its investigations and bringing charges against the accused. For instance, the inquiry into the 2020 AugustaWestland fraud was condemned for moving slowly and being ineffective.
• Corruption: The CBI has been the target of several charges of corruption, and its employees have been charged with accepting bribes. In May 2022, CBI arrested its four officials for corruption charges.
• Lack of resources: It lacks the facilities and staff necessary to conduct investigations efficiently.  Lack of adequate housing discourages officers from states to join the CBI which is facing a staff crunch, a parliamentary panel report stated in 2017.
• Legal issues: The CBI has encountered legal issues that have questioned its integrity, including claims of prejudice and erroneous arrests. For instance, the CBI’s probe into the Malegaon bombings in 2008 came under fire for making erroneous arrests.
• The appointment of CBI directors has become politicized, which harms the agency’s reputation and independence.
• Lack of accountability: lack of oversight procedures, and employees being charged for acting outside the bounds of the law. For instance, the way the investigation into Sushant Singh Rajput’s death in 2020 was handled was condemned for lacking accountability.
• Poor coordination: CBI’s coordination with other law enforcement agencies is poor, which causes delays and inefficiency in investigations. For instance, the 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape case handling received criticism for lacking collaboration.
• Concerns are raised about CBI due to its inconsistent approach to investigations and prosecution. One instance of inconsistent handling was the disproportionate asset lawsuit against former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

 

Steps need to be taken:

• Non-Intervention: The central government should refrain from meddling with the CBI’s investigations and operations in order to stop the central bureau of inquiry in India from losing credibility. The Supreme court also asked the government to give the CBI additional autonomy in 2019.
• Process of appointment: The CBI director’s appointment procedure has to be more open and merit-based.
• Adequate funding: The central government must give the CBI enough money to cover the cost of its facilities, staff, and other resources. For instance, the CBI received funding for a new headquarters building in 2018.
• Accountability: The national government must make sure that any misbehaviour by CBI agents is punished.
• Legal framework: To ensure the CBI’s independence and openness, the central government should tighten its laws. As an illustration, the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, which created a separate anti-corruption authority, was passed.
• Process streamlining: To avoid delays, the CBI should be encouraged to streamline its investigation and prosecution procedures.
• Specialized training: To improve the skills and capabilities of CBI officials, the central government should offer them specialized training. The CBI should start an ongoing online training program for its officers.
• Collaboration: The central government should promote better CBI-other law enforcement agency coordination.
• Public confidence: The central government should endeavour to restore public confidence in the CBI by guaranteeing accountability and transparency. For instance, the CBI should start a fresh campaign to educate the public about corruption and related crimes.
• Implementation of recommendations: To enhance effectiveness, the government should implement the recommendations of various committees and commissions into practice.