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The PM-AASHA Schemes for Farmers are approved for extension by the cabinet

The continuance of the PM-AASHA programs, which guarantee fair pricing for farmers and control price volatility of necessary commodities has been approved by the Union Cabinet. The goal of PM-AASHA (Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan) is to ensure farmers a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their produce by offering them competitive pricing.

Key Components

PM-AASHA consists of:

Farmers are compensated under the Price Deficit Payment Scheme (PDPS) when market prices drop below the MSP. The central government covers the difference, limited to 15% of MSP.

Price Support Scheme (PSS): Provides market intervention to purchase crops directly at MSP.

Price Stabilization Fund (PSF): Aims to stabilize prices of essential commodities.

Market Intervention Scheme (MIS): Focuses on managing price volatility through strategic purchases.

Financial Implications

A total of ₹35,000 crore would be spent on PM-AASHA during the 15th Finance Commission Cycle which runs till 2025–2026. Under the PDPS guidelines farmers are eligible for a maximum compensation of 25% of MSP based on the notified rates.

Increased Coverage and Implementation

To incentivise state participation in the PDPS for oilseeds the coverage has increased from 25% to 40% of state production and the implementation period has been extended from 3 months to 4 months.

More About PM-AASHA

PM-AASHA (Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanraks han Abhiyan) is an Indian government initiative aimed at safeguarding farmers’ incomes and ensuring fair prices for their produce. It was introduced in 2019 and consists of three main programs: the Agri-Market Infrastructure Fund, the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi and the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of the Prime Minister. The program’s main objectives are to support farmers financially, promote agricultural diversity and improve farmers’ access to markets. Its implementation seeks to lessen the national income gap among farmers and entails cooperation with state governments.

India and Pakistan are seeking changes to the Indus Waters Treaty

India has formally notified Pakistan of its intention to amend the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) citing noteworthy and surprising justifications. This notice was given under Article XII(3) of the Agreement which allows changes to be made through a new agreement between the two countries. A notification was already sent by India in January 2023 due to continuing disputes in relation to its hydroelectric projects.

What is the Indus Waters Treaty?

To facilitate the sharing of water from the Indus River and its tributaries between India and Pakistan, the Indus Waters Treaty was signed in 1960. This treaty gives Pakistan authority over the Western Rivers (Indus, Chenab, Jhelum) and allows India to use the Eastern Rivers (Beas, Ravi, Sutlej). This convention was drafted with assistance from the World Bank to settle water problems resulting from India’s partition. A Permanent Indus Commission was also established to resolve disputes. In spite of tensions the treaty has withstood conflicts and wars making it an uncommonly successful method of controlling water resources between two nations.

The Dispute over Hydroelectric Projects

After years of disputes with Pakistan over two Indian hydroelectric projects on the Kishanganga and Chenab rivers India has finally given notice. Pakistan has expressed concerns on several occasions which prompted attempts to use the treaty’s dispute-resolution mechanism to settle the matter. However no firm remedy has been discovered.

How Are Disputes Resolved Under the Treaty?

Under Article IX, the IWT provides a three-step procedure for resolving disputes:

• Indus Commissioners from both countries try to resolve the issue.
• If not a Neutral Expert is assigned to provide clarification.
• If the issue still isn’t resolved it can be taken to a Court of Arbitration.

Why Does India Want to Renegotiate?

India has expressed its concern about issues such as cross-border terrorism, environmental concerns and population expansion. India feels that contemporary challenges like climate change are not addressed by the original pact which was written in the 1960s. India is requesting a renegotiation of the pact as a result of these worries.

Key Events Since January 2023

April 2023:India holds a meeting to review the process for changing the treaty.

July 2023: India disputes the Court of Arbitration’s assertion that it has the authority to handle the Kishanganga and Ratle projects.

September 2023: India participates in the Neutral Expert procedure while maintaining its stance against entering the concurrent Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) procedure.

Through these actions, India is signaling that the treaty’s original conditions have changed and it needs to be updated to address today’s challenges.

Exercise ‘AIKYA’

The Army Southern Command in Chennai and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) are hosting Exercise AIKYA a two-day nationwide event. Enhancing collaboration between various groups and catastrophe preparedness is the primary objective.

Aims and Objectives

Enhancing preparedness and cooperation for disaster response is the main goal of the event. In order to improve disaster management participants will engage in practice activities (simulations) and discussions.

Key Participants

People from different departments are attending, including representatives from Railways, Transport, Civil Aviation, Health, Environment and Climate Change, State and National Disaster, Management Authorities and the Indian Army.

Officials from the Central Water Commission, the National Remote Sensing Center the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Forest Survey of India are among the other significant contributors.

Focus Areas

Key contemporary challenges, including recent disasters, cyclones, floods, landslides, forest fires and tsunamis will be discussed at the conference. The main topics of discussion will be how to avert these catastrophes and effectively handle them when they do occur.

Knowledge Sharing and Capacity Building

Participant knowledge exchange will be encouraged during Exercise AIKYA in order to improve participants’ comprehension of disaster management strategies. Additionally it will support participants in strengthening their abilities and preparedness for future disasters. In order to enhance the way disasters are managed actual answers will be found through strategic planning.

About Disaster Management

There are four primary steps in disaster management. Preparedness, Reaction, Mitigation and Recovery. assisting communities and individuals in recovering from a tragedy. A global strategy to lower the risk of disaster, the Sendai Framework places a strong emphasis on planning. More than 90% of disasters are linked to climate change. FEMA (U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency) was created in 1979 to manage disasters in the U.S. Up to 30% less damage can be done by disasters when early warning systems are in place. Local communities have shown to be more resilient to catastrophes when they are involved in the process. The goal of disaster risk reduction is to keep people safe over the long run. Enhancing people’s ability to respond to disasters requires training activities such as those found in Exercise AIKYA. Lastly during disasters technology is a major factor in improving responders’ situational awareness.