AMIGOS IAS Daily Current Affairs (24^th July 2024)

Union Budget 2024-25

Why is it in the news?

• The Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, presented the Union Budget 2024-25 in Parliament.

Budget Estimates 2024-25

• For the fiscal year 2024-25, the total receipts excluding borrowings are estimated at ₹32.07 lakh crore, while total expenditure is projected at ₹48.21 lakh crore.
• Net tax receipts are expected to be ₹25.83 lakh crore, with the fiscal deficit estimated at 4.9% of GDP. The government aims to reduce the deficit to below 4.5% next year.
• The gross and net market borrowings through dated securities for 2024-25 are estimated at ₹14.01 lakh crore and ₹11.63 lakh crore, respectively.
• The budget speech highlighted India’s low and stable inflation, moving towards the 4% target. Specific measures are planned to ensure an adequate supply of perishable goods to maintain this stability.

Major Highlights of the Union Budget 2024-25

• Focus Area: The Union Budget 2024-25 focuses on four key groups: the poor (‘Garib’), women (‘Mahilayen’), youth (‘Yuva’), and farmers (‘Annadata’). This focus aligns with the priorities outlined in the Interim Budget.
• Budget Theme: The budget emphasizes employment, skilling, support for MSMEs, and the middle class. A substantial allocation of ₹1.48 lakh crore is dedicated to education, employment, and skilling, underscoring the government’s commitment to these areas.
• Budget Priorities: The budget prioritizes nine critical areas: agriculture, employment, human resource development, manufacturing, services, urban development, energy security, infrastructure, and next-generation reforms, including innovation and research & development. These priorities aim to drive comprehensive growth and development across various sectors.

Priority 1: Productivity and Resilience in Agriculture

• Measures to boost agriculture include the release of 109 new high-yielding crop varieties and the promotion of natural farming among 1 crore farmers.
• Additionally, 10,000 need-based bio-input centres will be established to enhance the production, storage, and marketing of pulses and oilseeds, aiming for self-reliance (‘atmanirbharta’) in oilseed production.
• A provision of ₹1.52 lakh crore has been announced for agriculture and allied sectors this year.
• The government, in collaboration with states, will implement Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in agriculture to cover farmers and their lands within three years, will also enable Jan Samarth-based Kisan Credit cards in five states.

Priority 2: Employment & Skilling

• The budget introduces schemes like the Employment Linked Incentive and initiatives focused on skilling 20 lakh youth over five years and upgrading 1,000 Industrial Training Institutes.
• Education:
• Financial support for higher education and loans for skilling are also announced.
• The Model Skill Loan Scheme will be revised to facilitate loans up to ₹7.5 lakh with a guarantee from a government-promoted fund, benefiting 25,000 students annually.
• Measures to Boost Women’s Workforce Participation: The government will enhance women’s workforce participation by establishing working women’s hostels and creche facilities, supporting women-specific skilling programs, promoting market access for women-led SHGs, and allocating over Rs 3 lakh crore for schemes benefiting women and girls, while encouraging states to offer lower stamp duty rates for properties bought by women.

Priority 3: Inclusive Human Resource Development and Social Justice

• Enhanced support for economic activities among marginalized groups, including tribal communities and women entrepreneurs, is emphasized.
• The Purvodaya initiative aims to develop the eastern region of India—Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh—by focusing on human resource development, infrastructure enhancement, and economic growth to make the region an engine to attain Viksit Bharat..
• The Finance Minister announced the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan to improve the socio-economic conditions of tribal communities, covering 63,000 villages in tribal-majority areas and aspirational districts, benefiting approximately 5 crore tribal people.
• Additionally, over 100 branches of India Post Payment Bank will be established in the North East region to enhance banking services, with ₹2.66 lakh crore allocated for rural development and infrastructure this year.
• Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act: Special financial support will be provided through multilateral development agencies, with Rs. 15,000 crore arranged this year and more in the future, to finance the Polavaram Irrigation Project and essential infrastructure in the Kopparthy and Orvakal nodes along key industrial corridors.

Priority 4: Manufacturing & Services

• For  MSMEs:
• The budget emphasizes support for MSMEs, particularly in labour-intensive manufacturing. A new self-financing guarantee fund will offer up to ₹100 crore per applicant.
• Public sector banks will improve their internal assessment capabilities for MSME credit, and Mudra loan limits will increase to ₹20 lakh for previous ‘Tarun’ category borrowers.
• For promotion of Manufacturing & Services:
• Other budget initiatives include setting up 50 food irradiation units, establishing 100 food quality labs, and creating E-Commerce Export Hubs.
• Additionally, a scheme for internships in 500 top companies aims to benefit 1 crore youth over five years.

Priority 5: Urban Development

• PM Awas Yojana Urban 2.0 has been allocated ₹10 lakh crore to address the housing needs of 1 crore urban poor and middle-class families, with ₹2.2 lakh crore in central assistance over five years.
• Water Supply & Sanitation: The government will collaborate with state governments and multilateral development banks to promote water supply, sewage treatment, and solid waste management in 100 large cities through bankable projects.
• Street Markets: Building on the success of PM SVANidhi, the government plans to establish 100 weekly street food hubs (haats) annually over the next five years.
• Stamp Duty Policy: States will be encouraged to maintain moderate stamp duty rates for all and consider further reducing charges for properties purchased by women, forming a key part of urban development plans.

Priority 6: Energy Security

• Solar Power: The PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana aims to install rooftop solar plants to provide free electricity (up to 300 units monthly) to 1 crore households.
• Nuclear Energy: Research and development of small and modular nuclear reactors is emphasized, highlighting nuclear energy as a significant component of India’s energy mix.
• Pumped Storage Policy: A strategy will be devised to encourage pumped storage projects for electricity storage and to smoothly integrate the growing share of renewable energy into the overall energy mix.
• Roadmap for ‘hard to abate’ industries: A strategy for transitioning the ‘hard to abate’ industries from ‘energy efficiency’ to ’emission objectives’ will be developed.
• Advanced Ultra Super Critical Thermal Power Plants: NTPC and BHEL’s joint venture has developed indigenous technology for Advanced Ultra Super Critical (AUSC) thermal power plants, leading to a full-scale 800 MW commercial plant, while also enhancing local production of high-grade steel and advanced metallurgy materials for economic benefits.

Priority 7: Infrastructure

• Allocation: The government plans to maintain strong fiscal support for infrastructure, allocating ₹11,11,111 crore for capital expenditure this year, which is 3.4% of GDP.
• Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana: Phase IV of  PMGSY will be launched to provide all-weather connectivity to 25,000 rural habitations due to population growth.
• Irrigation and Flood Control:
• For Bihar, under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme and other sources, ₹11,500 crore will be allocated for projects like the Kosi-Mechi intra-state link and 20 other schemes, including barrages, river pollution abatement, and irrigation.
• Additionally, financial assistance will be provided to Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim for flood management, landslides, and related projects.
• Tourism Development: The Vishnupad Temple and Mahabodhi Temple in Bihar will be developed into world-class destinations like the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, with comprehensive strategies for Rajgir, Nalanda, and support for key sites in Odisha.

Priority 8: Innovation, Research & Development

• Fundamental Research and Prototype: The government will establish the Anusandhan National Research Fund to support basic research and prototype development, allocating ₹1 lakh crore to encourage private sector-driven research and innovation at a commercial scale.
• Space Economy: To quintuple(expand) the space economy in the next decade, the government plans to establish a venture capital fund of 1000 crore.

Priority 9: Next Generation Reforms

• Rural & Urban Land Reforms: Reforms include assigning Unique Land Parcel Identification Numbers (ULPIN), digitizing cadastral maps, surveying sub-divisions based on ownership, establishing a land registry, linking to the farmers registry, and digitizing urban land records with GIS mapping.
• NPS Vatsalya: A new plan will allow parents and guardians to contribute for minors, which can seamlessly convert into normal NPS accounts when the minors reach adulthood.
• Ease of Doing Business: The government is advancing Jan Vishwas Bill 2.0 to improve business ease, with states incentivized for implementing Business Reforms Action Plans and digitalization.
• New Pension Scheme (NPS): A committee has been constituted to review the NPS, addressing relevant issues while maintaining fiscal prudence to protect common citizens.
• Foreign Direct Investment and Overseas Investment: Rules and regulations for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Overseas Investments will be simplified to facilitate foreign investments, encourage prioritization, and promote the use of the Indian Rupee as a currency for overseas investments.
• Economic Policy Framework: The government will formulate an Economic Policy Framework to guide economic development and reforms, with a focus on enhancing employment opportunities.
• Labor-Related Reforms:
• Comprehensive labour reforms will be implemented through integrated portals like e-shram, Shram Suvidha, and Samadhan.
• These portals will be revamped to enhance ease of compliance for industry and trade. Additionally, the government will develop a taxonomy for climate finance to increase the availability of capital for climate adaptation and mitigation.
• Climate Finance Taxonomy: A taxonomy will be created for climate finance to improve capital availability for climate adaptation and mitigation.

Prime Minister’s Package of Five Schemes for Employment and Skilling

• The Prime Minister’s package consists of five schemes and initiatives aimed at creating employment, skilling, and other opportunities for 4.1 crore youth over a five-year period.
• Scheme A: First Timers: This scheme provides one month’s salary of up to ₹15,000 in three instalments to first-time employees, as registered with the EPFO.
• Scheme B: Job Creation in Manufacturing: Incentives will be provided on a specified scale directly to both employees and employers based on their EPFO contributions during the first four years of employment.
• Scheme C: Support to Employers: The government will reimburse up to ₹3,000 per month for two years towards the EPFO contribution of employers for each additional employee they hire.
• New Centrally Sponsored Skilling Scheme: This scheme aims to skill 20 lakh youth over a five-year period and upgrade 1,000 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in a hub-and-spoke arrangement.
• New Internship Scheme: A new scheme will be launched to provide internships in 500 top companies to 1 crore youth over the next five years.

Other Highlights:

Direct Tax Reforms:

•  A comprehensive review and simplification of direct and indirect tax regimes are proposed.
• Changes include revised income tax slabs and deductions, simplification of tax compliance, and reforms in capital gains taxation.

Custom Duty Reforms:

• Rationalization of GST and custom duty rates, exemptions for essential medicines and critical minerals, and measures to promote domestic manufacturing are highlighted.

Dispute Resolution:

• Initiatives like the Vivad se Vishwas Scheme, increased monetary limits for appeals, and measures to streamline transfer pricing assessments aim to reduce litigation and provide tax certainty.

Highlights for Tax Collection

Indirect Taxes

GST:

• Buoyed by GST’s success, the tax structure will be simplified and rationalized to expand GST to remaining sectors.

Sector-Specific Customs Duty Proposals

Medicines and Medical Equipment:

• Three cancer drugs, Trastuzumab Deruxtecan, Osimertinib, and Durvalumab, will be fully exempt from customs duty.
• Changes in Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on x-ray tubes and flat panel detectors for use in medical x-ray machines will be implemented under the Phased Manufacturing Programme.

Precious Metals:

•  Customs duties on gold and silver will be reduced to 6%, and on platinum to 6.4%.

Telecommunication Equipment:

• BCD on printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) of specified telecom equipment will be increased from 10% to 15%.

Trade Facilitation:

• For promoting domestic aviation and boat & ship maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO), the time period for export of goods imported for repairs will be extended from six months to one year.
• The time limit for re-importing goods for repairs under warranty will be extended from three to five years.

Critical Minerals:

• 25 critical minerals will be fully exempted from customs duties. BCD on two critical minerals will be reduced.

Solar Energy:

• Capital goods for use in the manufacture of solar cells and panels will be exempted from customs duty.

Direct Taxes

• Efforts to simplify taxes, improve taxpayer services, provide tax certainty, and reduce litigation will continue.
• In FY23, 58% of corporate tax was from the simplified tax regime, and more than two-thirds of taxpayers availed the simplified tax regime for personal income tax in FY24.

Simplification and Rationalization of Capital Gains

• Short-term gains on certain financial assets will attract a tax rate of 20%.
• Long-term gains on all financial and non-financial assets will attract a tax rate of 12.5%.
• The exemption limit for capital gains on certain financial assets will be increased to ₹1.25 lakh per year.

Litigation and Appeals

• The ‘Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme, 2024’ will resolve income tax disputes pending in appeal.
• Monetary limits for filing direct taxes, excise, and service tax-related appeals in Tax Tribunals, High Courts, and the Supreme Court will be increased to ₹60 lakh, ₹2 crore, and ₹5 crore respectively.
• Safe harbour rules will be expanded to reduce litigation and provide certainty in international taxation.

Employment and Investment

• The angel tax for all classes of investors will be abolished to bolster the start-up ecosystem. The corporate tax rate on foreign companies will be reduced from 40% to 35%.

Deepening the Tax Base

•  The Security Transactions Tax on futures and options of securities will be increased to 0.02% and 0.1% respectively.
• Income received on the buyback of shares will be taxed in the hands of the recipient.

Social Security Benefits

• The deduction of expenditure by employers towards NPS will be increased from 10% to 14% of the employee’s salary.
• Non-reporting of small movable foreign assets up to ₹20 lakh will be de-penalized.

Additional Information:

What is the Union Budget?

• The Union Budget (officially the Annual Financial Statement under Article 112 of the Constitution of India) provides a detailed account of the government’s financial status.
• The term ‘Budget’ is not mentioned in the constitution
• It includes past revenue, expenditures, borrowing needs, and forecasts for the upcoming financial year and also encompasses both the Revenue and Capital sections.
• In addition to the estimates of receipts and expenditure, the budget contains certain other elements. Overall, the budget contains the following:

1. Estimates of revenue and capital receipts;

2. Ways and means to raise the revenue;

3. Estimates of expenditure;

4. Details of the actual receipts and expenditure of the closing financial year and the reasons for any deficit or surplus in that year; and

5. Economic and financial policy of the coming year, that is, taxation proposals, prospects of revenue, spending programme and introduction of new schemes/projects.

• Budget preparation: The Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, is the nodal body responsible for preparing the Budget document.
• Important Budget Documents
• Constitution-Mandated Documents:
• Annual Financial Statement (AFS) – Article 112
• Demands for Grants (DG) – Article 113
• Finance Bill – Article 110
• Documents under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2003:
• Macro-Economic Framework Statement
• Medium-Term Fiscal Policy cum Fiscal Policy Strategy Statement
• The budget goes through the following six stages in the Parliament: 1) Presentation of budget, 2) General discussion, 3) Scrutiny by departmental committees, 4) Voting on demands for grants, 5) Passing of appropriation bill and 6)Passing of finance bill.

Key Budget Terms:

• Receipts:
• Revenue receipts are current incomes of the government categorized as tax revenue and non-tax revenue, neither creating liabilities nor reducing government assets.
• Capital Receipts are those receipts of the government which either create liability or cause any reduction in the assets of the government which includes borrowings, Recovery of Loans and Disinvestment-Resale of shares of public sector undertakings.
• Expenditure:
• Revenue expenditure encompasses routine operational costs, service provision, interest payments on debt, subsidies, grants-in-aid, etc., excluding expenditures that generate assets for the Government of India.
• Capital expenditure includes acquiring assets such as land, buildings, machinery, and investments in shares, along with granting loans and advances to state governments, union territories, government companies, corporations, and other entities.
• Fiscal Deficit: The gap between total revenue (including non-debt receipts) and total expenditure, indicating the government’s borrowing needs.
• Customs duty: It is a tax imposed on imports and exports of goods
• Budget Estimates: They are financial projections presented by the Union finance minister, outlining allocations for different sectors in the annual budget. They signify the government’s intended expenditure but are not exact figures or binding commitment.
• Demands for Grants: Estimates of expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of India submitted to the Lok Sabha for approval, as per Article 113.
• Money Bill: Defines provisions related to taxes, borrowing, and expenditures from the Consolidated Fund of India, as per Article 110.
• Finance Bill: Accompanies the Annual Financial Statement, detailing tax changes and regulatory measures, as per Article 110(1)(a). Unlike Money Bills, it includes Rajya Sabha’s recommendations, though the Lok Sabha can reject them.

Prelims Practice Questions:

Q. Along with the Budget, the finance minister also places other documents before the Parliament which include ‘The Macro Economic Framework Statement’. The aforesaid document is presented because this is mandated by (UPSC 2020)

(a) Long standing parliamentary convention

(b) Article 112 and Article 110(1) of the Constitution of India

(c) Article 113 of the Constitution of India

(d) Provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2003

Answer: D

Q. When the annual Union Budget is not passed by the LokSabha (UPSC 2011)

(a) the Budget is modified and presented again

(b) the Budget is referred to the Rajya Sabha for suggestions

(c) the Union Finance Minister is asked to resign,

(d) the Prime Minister submits the resignation of Council of Ministers

Answer: D

Mains Practice Question:

Q. Distinguish between Capital Budget and Revenue Budget. Explain the components of both these Budgets. (UPSC 2021)

Climate finance taxonomy

GS 3: Economy: Climate finance

Why is it in the news?

• On July 23, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget for 2024-25, highlighting the government’s plan to develop a ‘climate finance taxonomy.’
• The initiative aims to enhance capital availability for climate adaptation and mitigation, supporting India’s transition to a greener economy and meeting its climate commitments.

Climate Finance Taxonomy

About:

• A climate finance taxonomy is a classification system that identifies which sectors and activities can be marketed as sustainable investments.
• It guides investors and financial institutions in directing funds towards impactful climate solutions.
• Taxonomies often set standards for climate-related financial instruments like green bonds and are increasingly used for climate risk management, net-zero transition planning, and climate disclosures, according to the Government of Canada’s report.

Significance of the Taxonomy:

• As global temperatures rise and climate change impacts worsen, countries must transition to a net-zero economy, balancing greenhouse gas emissions with removal efforts.
• Taxonomies are crucial in this process, as they help determine if economic activities align with science-based transition pathways.
• They also facilitate climate capital deployment and mitigate greenwashing risks. For India, a taxonomy could attract more international climate funds, which are currently insufficient, representing only around 3% of total FDI inflows, as noted in the 2022 Landscape of Green Finance in India report by Climate Policy Initiative.
• The taxonomy would provide much-needed clarity on what constitutes sustainable activity.

Global Context of Taxonomies:

• Several countries have developed or are working on their climate finance taxonomies, including South Africa, Colombia, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Canada, and Mexico.
• The European Union has also established a taxonomy.

Potential for Green Investments in India

• India has a significant climate-smart investment potential of $3.1 trillion from 2018 to 2030, according to the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
• The largest investment opportunity is in the electric vehicle sector, with a projected $667 billion as India targets the electrification of all new vehicles by 2030.
• The renewable energy sector also presents a substantial investment avenue, with a potential of $403.7 billion.

India’s Climate Commitments

• India is committed to achieving a net-zero economy by 2070. Additionally, the country has pledged to reduce its GDP emissions intensity by 45% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels.
• It also aims to source about 50% of its cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030.

Supreme Court delivers split verdict on nod for GM mustard

GS 3: Economy – Agriculture: GM Mustard

Why is it in the news?

• On July 23, 2024, the Supreme Court delivered a split verdict on the validity of the Centre’s 2022 decision to grant conditional approval for the environmental release of genetically modified (GM) mustard crops.

More about the news

• The court’s Bench, comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Sanjay Karol, has directed the Centre to develop a national policy concerning GM crops, addressing aspects of research, cultivation, trade, and commerce.
• The verdict follows a recommendation by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) on October 18, 2022, which had endorsed the environmental release of the GM mustard hybrid DMH-11.

Additional Information:

What are Genetically modified (GM) crops?

• GM crops are plants altered through artificial genetic modification to exhibit enhanced traits like pest resistance, herbicide tolerance, improved nutrition, or better adaptability, achieved by introducing genetic material from other organisms.
• Bt cotton is the only transgenic crop that has been approved by Centre for commercial cultivation in India.

About Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC):

• It is a statutory committee established under the Rules for the Manufacture, Use/Import/Export, and Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms/Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells (Rules, 1989), framed under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
• Functions:
• The committee oversees the evaluation of activities using hazardous microorganisms and recombinants in research and industrial production, focusing on environmental impact.
• Additionally, it reviews proposals concerning the release of genetically engineered organisms and products into the environment, including experimental field trials.
• Clearance of GEAC is mandatory for the environmental release of GM crops.
• GEAC functions under Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).

About GM mustard hybrid DMH-11:

• It is an indegenously developed transgenic mustard that is resistant to herbicides.
• It is created by crossing the Indian mustard variety ‘Varuna’ with the East European mustard ‘Early Heera-2’.
• DMH-11 includes two foreign genes (‘barnase’ and ‘barstar’) from the soil bacterium Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, which help in producing high-yielding commercial mustard hybrids.
• The gene barnase in Varuna causes temporary sterility, preventing natural self-pollination, while the barstar gene in Heera blocks barnase’s effect, allowing seeds to be produced.
• DMH-11 has shown about 28% higher yield than the national check and 37% higher than zonal checks, and its use has been approved by the GEAC for commercial use.

Advantages of GM Mustard:

• Increased Yield: GM Mustard variety DMH-11 can potentially boost yield by 25 to 30% while requiring less water, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides.
• Advancement in Genetic Research: DMH-11 paves the way for further genetic engineering in mustard, aiming to develop hybrids with improved input efficiency, product quality, and pest resistance.
• Recently, the GEAC has recommended field trials for GM hybrids of Banana, Cotton, Potato, and Rubber.
• Enhanced Pest Management: GM mustard varieties engineered to resist the herbicide glufosinate aid in effective pest control and contribute to higher seed yields.
• Herbicide Tolerant: Herbicide-tolerant GM crops help conserve soil moisture and nutrients while effectively managing weed growth.

Dis-advantages of GM Mustard:

• Impact on Honey Production: GM mustard’s altered flowering and pollen production may directly or indirectly affect honeybees, potentially impacting their longevity and behavior due to the presence of protease inhibitors.
• Health Risks: Introduction of novel proteins from genes like bar, bacterial protein Barnese, and barstar, which are not traditionally part of the human diet, raises concerns about potential health impacts.
• Herbicide Use and Resistance: Herbicide-tolerant GM mustard varieties like DMH-11 allow for increased herbicide application, which could lead to weed resistance and the emergence of more resilient “superweeds.”
• Employment Implications: The adoption of herbicide-tolerant GM mustard may reduce the need for manual labor in weed control, potentially impacting employment in agricultural communities dependent on manual labor for weeding.

Conclusion:

In weighing the advantages and concerns of GM mustard, it is essential to balance potential benefits in agricultural productivity with the careful management of environmental and health impacts associated with genetic modification and herbicide use. Continued research and regulation are crucial for informed decision-making regarding its adoption.

Q. With reference to the Genetically Modified 65 mustard (GM mustard) developed in India, consider the following statements: (UPSC 2018)

1. GM mustard has the genes of a soil bacterium that give the plant the property of pest resistance to a wide variety of pests.

2. GM mustard has the genes that allow the plant cross-pollination and hybridization.

3. GM mustard has been developed jointly by the IARI and Punjab Agricultural University.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: B

Q. Other than resistance to pests, what are the prospects for which genetically engineered plants have been created? (UPSC 2012)

1. To enable them to withstand drought

2. To increase the nutritive value of the produce

3. To enable them to grow and do photosynthesis in spaceships and space stations

4. To increase their shelf life

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a)1 and 2 only

(b) 3 and 4 only

(c) 1, 2 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: C

Mains Practice Questions:

Q. What are the present challenges before crop diversification? How do emerging technologies provide an opportunity for crop diversification? (UPSC 2021)

Q. What are the research and developmental achievements in applied biotechnology? How will these achievements help to uplift the poorer sections of the society? (UPSC 2021)

Q. How is science interwoven deeply with our lives? What are the striking changes in agriculture triggered off by science-based technologies? (UPSC 2020)