4 September 2024 : Indian Express Editorial Analysis

1. FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS

(Source: Indian Express; Section: The Editorial Page; Page: 10)

Topic: GS2– International Relations – Bilateral Relations

Context:

The article discusses the significance of the Indian Prime Minister’s upcoming visit to Singapore, highlighting the strong and multifaceted relationship between India and Singapore.

A Snapshot of India-Singapore Relations

• The Prime Minister’s forthcoming visit to Singapore offers an opportunity to reflect on the current state of India-Singapore relations.
• It is clear that these relations are vibrant and continually evolving, marked by frequent high-level inter-governmental contacts.
• A recent example is the second meeting of the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable, where senior Indian ministers engaged with their Singaporean counterparts.
• These interactions highlight the expanding and deepening bilateral ties, particularly in areas such as digitalization, skills development, sustainability, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and connectivity.
• In addition to these official exchanges, there are also supplementary interactions through parliamentary and judicial channels, further emphasizing the broad spectrum of engagement between the two nations.

Economic and People-to-People Ties

• India-Singapore relations are underscored by strong economic and people-to-people connections.
• Singapore is India’s largest trading partner among ASEAN countries and ranks as the sixth largest globally. Remarkably, Singapore is also India’s largest source of foreign direct investment, showcasing the depth of economic ties.
• Additionally, Singapore hosts the largest concentration of IIT and IIM alumni outside of India, reflecting the strong academic and professional linkages between the two countries.
• The historical ties are also significant, with Singapore playing a key role in the Indian independence movement and serving as a home to a thriving Indian diaspora that has contributed significantly to the city-state’s development as a multicultural society.

Strategic and Regional Implications

• Since the 1990s, Singapore has been a crucial partner in India’s regional policy, transitioning from “Look East” to “Act East.”
• Singapore facilitated India’s integration into ASEAN as a sectoral dialogue partner and eventually as a full dialogue partner. The India-ASEAN relationship has strategic implications, particularly concerning Myanmar, which acts as a bridge between South and Southeast Asia.
• The ongoing civil war in Myanmar and the erosion of central authority there have significant regional consequences, making it a critical point on the India-Singapore agenda.
• Moreover, the relationship has acquired an important defense and maritime dimension, with India’s regional narrative now extending to the Indo-Pacific, where new challenges and opportunities are emerging in response to Chinese assertiveness.

Future Prospects and Challenges

• A prime ministerial visit provides a platform to review bilateral, regional, and global issues, with trade and economic partnerships at the core of the relationship.
• New opportunities, such as the potential shift in India’s policy on Chinese FDI, could further enhance Singapore’s role in India’s economic landscape.
• However, it is essential to remain realistic about the nature of India-Singapore complementarities.
• While Singapore has served as a vital global window for India’s economic ambitions, this relationship also underscores the regulatory and structural challenges that India needs to address to fully leverage its partnership with Singapore.
• The relationship is a reminder of the distance India still needs to cover in its growth journey, with Singapore serving as both a partner and a benchmark in this process.

How India Can Leverage Singapore to Enhance Its Relations with ASEAN?

Economic Gateway: Singapore’s strategic location and its status as a major financial hub make it an ideal economic gateway for India into the ASEAN region. India can: Use Singapore as a base for Indian companies, especially startups and tech firms, to expand into Southeast Asian markets Leverage the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) to boost trade and investment flows with other ASEAN countries Collaborate with Singapore to promote digital financial inclusion across ASEAN, building on successes like the UPI-PayNow linkage. Maritime Security Cooperation: Given Singapore’s strategic location at the Malacca Strait and its support for India’s role in regional maritime security, India can: Expand joint naval exercises like SIMBEX to include other ASEAN nations, enhancing regional maritime cooperation Collaborate with Singapore to promote maritime security initiatives within ASEAN, such as the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise Technology and Innovation Hub: Singapore’s emphasis on innovation and technology aligns well with India’s digital ambitions. India can: Partner with Singapore to develop joint initiatives in emerging technologies like blockchain, AI, and cybersecurity, which can be extended to other ASEAN countries Use Singapore as a testbed for Indian tech innovations before scaling them across ASEAN Supply Chain Resilience: Building on the collaboration during the COVID-19 pandemic, India can: Use Singapore’s expertise in logistics and supply chain management to enhance connectivity with other ASEAN nations Collaborate on initiatives to ensure the free flow of essential goods and services across the region during crises

PYQ: What is the correct sequence of occurrence of the following cities in South-East Asia as one proceeds from south to north? (2014) Bangkok Hanoi Jakarta Singapore Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 4 – 2 – 1 – 3  (b) 3 – 2 – 4 – 1 (c) 3 – 4 – 1 – 2  (d) 4 – 3 – 2 – 1 Ans: (c)

Practice Question:  Discuss the evolving nature of India-Singapore relations, focusing on the key areas of cooperation and the challenges that need to be addressed to further strengthen the bilateral partnership. How do these relations impact India’s broader regional strategy, particularly in the context of the Indo-Pacific and ASEAN dynamics? (250 words/15 m)

2. A matter of food safety

(Source: Indian Express; Section: The Ideas Page; Page: 11)

Topic: GS2– Governance

Context:

The article discusses the importance of food in cultural and economic contexts, focusing on the need for enhancing food safety and reducing waste in India.

The Cultural and Economic Significance of Food

• Food plays a multifaceted role in society, extending beyond basic sustenance to embody cultural identity and tradition. It is central to festivals, rituals, and daily practices, reflecting the rich diversity of our heritage.
• Economically, the food industry is a major driver of growth, contributing to job creation, rural development, and the national economy through both domestic consumption and exports.
• As India approaches its 78th year of independence with the vision of “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India), ensuring food safety and security becomes paramount.
• This involves not only making sure that food is safe for consumers but also minimizing loss and waste to ensure that sufficient, nutritious food is available to all.

The Critical Issue of Food Losses and Safety

• Addressing food losses, particularly of perishable items like fruits and vegetables, is crucial for ensuring food security and providing fair prices to farmers.
• As the trade of agricultural and processed food products grows, the importance of food safety management increases, especially as many developed economies enforce stringent food safety regulations for imports.
• Food safety incidents can lead to significant economic repercussions, including public health risks, reduced consumer confidence, and disruptions in food supply and price stability.
• To combat these issues, the Indian government has allocated funds in the Union Budget 2024-25 to set up 50 multi-product food irradiation units in the MSME sector, aimed at extending the shelf life of agri-food products and reducing food losses along the supply chain.

The Role of Food Irradiation in Enhancing Food Safety

• Food irradiation involves exposing food to ionizing radiation in a controlled environment, reducing the risk of food-borne illnesses by eliminating harmful microorganisms, preventing spoilage, and minimizing food loss.
• This method also decreases the need for chemical preservatives, contributing to a more sustainable food supply chain.
• While traditional methods of food preservation, such as drying under the sun, have been used for centuries, modern interest in food irradiation has grown since global standards were established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, part of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
• Food irradiation has been widely adopted in countries with advanced safety standards, such as the US, Japan, Australia, Canada, and the EU, where it is extensively used for both domestic and export markets.

India’s Progress and Challenges in Food Irradiation

• India has made significant strides in establishing irradiation processing facilities, with 34 facilities nationwide, 16 of which have received support from the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI).
• However, expanding this infrastructure is crucial to meet the growing demands of India’s vibrant agri-food market. The high capital costs of setting up irradiation facilities, which can amount to Rs 25-30 crores, pose a significant challenge.
• Despite these costs, there are substantial opportunities for investors, given the growing demand for safe, long-lasting food products in both domestic and international markets.
• The Indian food processing sector is expected to reach $535 billion by 2025-26, making food irradiation facilities essential for reducing food waste and meeting stringent export standards.

Investment Opportunities and Government Support

• The MoFPI offers financial assistance of up to Rs 10 crore per project for setting up food irradiation units, aimed at enhancing the hygiene and shelf life of perishable produce.
• Following the Union Budget 2024-25, the MoFPI has invited expressions of interest from entrepreneurs for establishing multi-product food irradiation units under the Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure scheme.
• Expanding this infrastructure is essential to meet the demands of the Indian food supply chain and agri-food export sector.
• Investors and entrepreneurs are encouraged to seize this opportunity, leveraging government support to contribute to the future of sustainable agriculture and a thriving economy.

What are the challenges to food Safety in India?

1. Rampant Adulteration– Widespread and rampant adulteration of food products which includes milk, spices, and edible oils, remains a grave challenge to food safety in India. For ex- A 2012 study conducted by the FSSAI across 33 states found that milk in India was adulterated with diluted water, detergent, fat and even urea. 2. Feeding of ’empty calories’– Major packed food brand products contain items that have no nutritive value like added sugar. These are major causes of diabetes, cardio vascular diseases and obesity in India. 3. Weak Enforcement and Accountability– The enforcement of food safety regulations is often lax in India. Many food businesses operate without proper licenses and continue to compromise on safety standards. 4. Corrupt practices on part of FMCG players– The Fast Moving Consumer Goods industry players are often found to indulge in violation of the labelling requirements about the ingredients in their products. For ex- Maggi noodles ban due to high levels of lead and MSG. 5. Lack of Infrastructure and Resources– The food safety standards domain in India suffers from the challenge of shortage of laboratories, trained personnel, and funds necessary for regular and stringent food inspections. For ex- Use of synthetic sweetener in cake leading to death of teenage girl in Punjab. 6. Limited Public Awareness– A significant proportion of the Indian population remains unaware of food safety practices, including proper food handling, storage, and hygiene. For ex- Over use of pesticides and fruit ripening agents in agriculture cause cancer. 7. Complex Regulatory Framework– The complex regulatory framework for food safety makes it difficult for small and medium enterprises businesses, to adhere to the necessary standards. These also lead to regulatory gaps and inconsistencies in enforcement.

PYQ: Consider the following statements: (2018) The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 replaced the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is under the charge of Director General of Health Services in the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Ans: (a)

Practice Question:  Analyze the role of food safety and waste reduction in ensuring food security in India. Discuss how advancements in food irradiation technology can contribute to this goal, and evaluate the challenges and opportunities for expanding this infrastructure within the Indian food industry. (250 words/15 m)