The Hindu – 04 July 14 – Opinion

1) The big deal about the Army’s small arms

TAKEAWAY – F-INSAS  – Future Infantry soldier As a System; The Army continually blames the MoD for creating bureaucratic hurdles in its modernisation efforts, but fails in acknowledging its own shortcomings in drawing up realistic Qualitative Requirements, conducting timely trials and, above all, realistically determining its operational needs and working towards them economically.-  CAN READ 

In which topic of the CS Mains syllabi, can this article fit in? –

• Paper -2  formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity;
• Paper -3,  Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate; science and technology- indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
• Paper -4  dimensions of ethics; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance;

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2) Controlling rising prices

TAKEAWAY – The need for macro-economic policy + food specific measures to tackle high food inflation; climate-smart agriculture; conservation agriculture – MUST READ for analysing the short-term and long-term measures to contain inflation.

In which topic of the CS Mains syllabi, can this article fit in? –

• Paper -1, Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
• Paper -2, Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation;
• Paper -3, Indian Economy, Inclusive growth, Budgeting; storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; food security
• Paper -4  Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships.; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; social influence and persuasion

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3) Take your kettledrums elsewhere

TAKEAWAY –  CAN AVOID A READ – just talks of the ages of journalism.

In which topic of the CS Mains syllabi, can this article fit in? –

• Paper -4, Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships; Code of Conduct; Work Culture; Quality of Service delivery; Code of Ethics

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BE Consistent!

The Hindu – 16 June 14 – Premature optimism

The latest economic data relating to retail inflation and factory output can give rise to optimism. <the statistics>> Consumer price index inflation for May at 8.28 per cent on a year-on-year basis was lower than the 8.59 per cent for the previous month. The index of industrial production (IIP) grew 3.4 per cent in April over the same period last year. In March it had contracted by 0.5 per cent. Also, in April, according to government figures there was a revival in exports. Merchandise trade deficit shrunk as exports grew after declining over the previous three months. <notice the political timing now!>> All these relate to a period when UPA-II was in power. However, for the NDA government these could be a harbinger of better times. <What can be the effects??>> At the very least, the first set of important monthly statistics after the new government was formed can reinforce the robust sentiment reflected in the stock indices and spur the Narendra Modi government’s economic revival plans. <But on deep-reading the statistics>> Yet, for all their positive connotations, <1.> evidence of a growth revival is not robust. <2.>The IIP, regarded as an important lead indicator, has often been faulted for being inconsistent and volatile.< 3.> The drop in retail inflation by itself is not significant enough to influence the Reserve Bank of India to cut rates immediately. < 4.> Food inflation, which has underpinned both the main inflation indices, has not come down appreciably. Core retail inflation, excluding food and fuel prices, has remained high.

<Other environmental risks>> Besides, there are other important risks. < 1.>The forecast of a less-than-satisfactory monsoon raises the possibility of higher agricultural prices.< 2.> All of a sudden the geopolitical situation in West Asia has deteriorated sharply. Petroleum prices have shot up in the global markets and this naturally has important ramifications for India. Oil imports will become more expensive. The much-vaunted reduction in the current account deficit to below 2 per cent of GDP as was seen last year (2013-14) will be difficult to achieve now. Higher oil prices can push up other commodity prices. India’s subsidy burden might go up, adding to the fiscal deficit. If, however, the government decides to pass on the burden of high global oil prices to consumers, retail inflation will rise. << concretise the understanding of the way economy works> Turning to factory output data,<5.> <back to the earlier discussion above – deep reading>> it is difficult to explain the 16 per cent jump in the capital goods segment in April, the highest such rise in nine months. In March it had contracted by 11.6 per cent. Over three months the trend in capital goods output has been negative. The small uptick in intermediate goods does not really suggest a revival. <6.> Bank credit has grown at a lower rate than what an economy on the rebound would require. <Conclusive Comment>>The upshot of all this is: the usual lead indicators need to be evaluated over time to draw firm conclusions regarding the economy.

Q: Evaluate if the recent economic data relating to inflation and factory output (April-May) can be considered as vital signs to the revival of growth of Indian Economy.

In which topic of the CS Mains syllabi, can this article fit in? –

• Paper -2, Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests
• Paper -3, Indian Economy, Infrastructure
• Paper -4, ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance;

BE Consistent!