19 July 2025 : The Hindu Current Affairs Simplified - UPSC FOUNDATION - SST ONLY -->

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19 July 2025 : The Hindu Current Affairs Simplified - UPSC FOUNDATION

Tags: PMDDKY launch, farm reforms, crowd safety failures, RCB stampede, inequality debate, World Bank, Gujarat bridge collapse, policy, governance, welfare

All In One


1. PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY): Overview

  • Approved by Union Cabinet.

  • Merges 36 schemes across 11 departments.

  • Launch in October (Rabi season).

  • Annual outlay: ₹24,000 crore for 6 years.


2. Main Goals

  • Reduce productivity gaps across States/districts.

  • Boost local employment and value addition.

  • Promote self-reliance and higher domestic output.


3. Schemes Merged

  • PM-KISAN

  • PM Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)

  • State schemes (identified by District Dhan Dhaanya Samitis).


4. Key Features

A. District-Focused

  • Targets 100 low-performing districts:

    • Low productivity

    • Low cropping intensity

    • Low credit access

  • Based on Aspirational Districts Programme (NITI Aayog).

B. Public-Private Partnerships

  • Local partnerships with private sector encouraged.

  • Focus on self-reliance in:

    • Foodgrains

    • Edible oil

    • Pulses

C. Convergence & Uniformity

  • Unified platform for:

    • Financial, technical, and welfare schemes

  • Aims to include State-level measures.


5. Concerns

A. Declining Government Spending

  • Central agriculture allocation (as % of total outlay):

    • 2021-22: 3.53%

    • 2022-23: 3.14%

    • 2023-24: 2.57%

    • 2024-25: 2.54%

    • 2025-26: 2.51%

B. Risks of Uniformity

  • Uniform scheme may not suit all local needs.

  • Lower public spending may harm agriculture.


6. Implementation Strategy

A. District Plans

  • Local plans aligned to national priorities:

    • Crop diversification

    • Water & soil conservation

    • Self-sufficiency in agriculture

B. Progress Monitoring

  • Centre to track 117 indicators monthly.

C. Stakeholder Participation

  • Must involve:

    • States

    • Panchayats

    • Cooperatives

    • Agriculture universities

    • Farmer & trader bodies


7. Recent Indicators

  • Kharif crop data shows:

    • Decline in sowing of oilseeds and pulses.

  • Signals need for more effective policies and public investment.


“Taking Responsibility”


1. RCB's Win and Tragedy

  • RCB won their first IPL title in 2025.

  • Celebrations in Bengaluru turned tragic.

  • Stampede at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4 killed 11, injured 71.


2. What the Probe Found

  • D’Cunha Commission blamed RCB management and police.

  • Main reason: Poor crowd control and misleading announcements.

  • Recommended legal action and better medical backup.

  • Inquiry was narrow, missed wider accountability.


3. Many to Blame

  • Event had no proper permissions or safety planning.

  • All organisers failed to assess risks.

  • Police didn’t strengthen stadium entry/exit security.

  • Public excitement made it hard to stop the event later.


4. Chain of Events

  • Three events held that day.

  • CM Siddaramaiah honoured the team at Vidhana Soudha.

  • Police cancelled open bus parade.

  • Public announcement told lakhs to go to a 32,000-seat stadium.


5. Urban Crowd Challenges

  • Stampede shows how sudden urban crowds form via social media.

  • City planning isn’t ready for such events.

  • Similar disasters happen at festivals and social gatherings.


6. Ethical Concern

  • Public safety must come before celebration.

  • Organisers, police, and leaders must act responsibly.

  • Mass events need planning, permissions, and clear risk awareness.


“Indian Inequality and the World Bank’s Claims”:


1. Inequality and the World Bank Report

  • Inequality debates in India often rely on selective data.

  • World Bank’s April 2025 report claims poverty is nearly gone and inequality has fallen.


2. Report Highlights

  • Based on 2022–23 consumption survey using global methods.

  • Adjusts for free government services.

  • Gini coefficient fell from 28.8 to 25.5 since 2011–12.


3. Criticism of the Report

  • Critics say rich people's consumption is missed, but this flaw is global.

  • Even excluding the top 5%, inequality dropped for the rest.


4. Healthier Diets and Spending Patterns

  • From 2012–23, per person access increased:

    • Milk: +45%, Eggs: +63%

    • More fruits and proteins; cereals’ share dropped.

  • These gains mostly help the bottom 95%.


5. Poorer Sections Improved

  • Bottom 20% saw better diets, even without free food counted.

  • Rural fruit eating rose from 63.8% to 90%.


6. Poverty Drop Confirmed

  • Various sources agree extreme poverty has almost ended.

  • 27 crore people moved above the poverty line ($3/day).


7. Rural Progress and Welfare

  • Nightlight data shows village development.

  • Among poorest 20%, vehicle ownership rose from 6% to 40%.

  • Welfare schemes like Ayushman Bharat helped further.


8. Gaps in Income Data

  • India has no official income survey.

  • Media depends on WIL estimates, which are flawed.


9. Issues with WIL Method

  • Uses old data and tax filings for top 1%.

  • Assumes too many people spend beyond income, underestimating poor’s earnings.


10. Actual Income Share Trends

  • Bottom 50% share rose, top 10% fell, top 1% rose slightly.

  • Rise in top 1% partly due to better tax reporting.


11. Pre-tax vs Post-tax Debate

  • WIL reports pre-tax income, but post-tax is more real.

  • In 2023–24:

    • Top 1% paid over 72% of total tax.

    • Rich take home 65–75% of their income after tax.

    • Poor gain via free schemes (worth over 8% of GDP).


12. Final Thought

  • India isn’t fully equal yet.

  • Gaps in health and education access continue.

  • But progress, hope, and improvement define today’s India too.


“Gujarat Bridge Collapse: A Preventable Tragedy”:


1. Major Tragedy Due to Bridge Collapse

  • 20 people died after the Mujpur-Ghambira bridge in Gujarat collapsed.

  • The bridge was a key link between central Gujarat and Saurashtra.

2. Victims Include Entire Families

  • Many from a single family died during a pilgrimage trip.

  • Survivors like Sonalben Padhiyar lost multiple family members.

3. Warnings Ignored for Years

  • Local complaints about cracks and bridge instability were repeatedly ignored.

  • Officials admitted to the risk but delayed taking action.

4. History of Bridge Failures in Gujarat

  • At least six bridge collapses since 2021.

  • Includes Morbi (2022), where 135 people died.

5. Official Action After Collapse

  • Government suspended four officials and announced compensation.

  • A new bridge project worth ₹212 crore was approved after the disaster.

6. Political Blame and Criticism

  • Opposition parties slammed the BJP government for negligence.

  • Accused of corruption and failure of the “Gujarat Model”.

7. Pattern of Neglect

  • Hundreds of bridges found needing urgent repair only after tragedy struck.

  • Shows poor infrastructure monitoring and maintenance.

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