What to Read in Indian Express Editorial( Topic and Syllabus wise)

Editorial 1 : A Reason to Talk

Context: India-Taliban talks — realism in Acting West

 

Introduction: Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s meeting with the Taliban’s acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai on January 8 is a significant elevation in the level of dialogue. India, like the rest of the international community, has yet to accord formal recognition to the Taliban regime.

 

India’s Engagement with the Taliban

• Historical Context
  1. India has not formally recognized the Taliban regime since their return to power in August 2021.
  2. Despite the lack of recognition, India has maintained functional communication channels with the regime.
• Recent Developments
  1. The meeting in Dubai is India’s highest-level engagement with the Taliban.
  2. India has committed to extending material support in the health sector and aiding refugees through humanitarian assistance.
• Practical Measures
  1. India reinstated a technical team to its embassy in Kabul in 2022.
  2. Humanitarian aid includes medicines, vaccines, food supplies, and other essential items.
  3. The Union Budget for 2024-25 allocated Rs 200 crore for assistance to Afghanistan.

 

Geopolitical Context

• Pakistan’s Role and Challenges
  1. Pakistan has long sought “strategic depth” in Afghanistan but now faces a resurgent Taliban threatening its western flank.
  2. The Taliban’s refusal to recognize the Durand Line and support for Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has escalated tensions.
  3. Pakistan’s airstrikes against TTP camps have drawn international condemnation, including from India.
• Taliban’s Geopolitical Position
  1. The Taliban remains unrecognized by the international community, including the UN Credentials Committee.
  2. They face accusations of human rights violations and links with terrorist organizations like al-Qaeda.
• Broader Implications
  1. The rise of regional terrorist networks, including the Islamic State (Khorasan Province), further complicates the Afghan security scenario.
  2. Comparisons are drawn with the rehabilitation of Syria’s Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), raising questions about the Taliban’s prospects for international legitimacy.

 

Opportunities for India

• Strengthening Humanitarian Support
  1. Enhanced humanitarian aid, particularly for refugees expelled by Pakistan, can improve India’s standing in Afghanistan.
  2. Leveraging Chabahar Port for trade and assistance delivery, in collaboration with Iran, could expand regional influence.
• Promoting Soft Power: India’s involvement in promoting cricket in Afghanistan, including through the IPL, serves as a tool for youth engagement and fostering goodwill.
• Resuming Development Projects: Reviving infrastructure and development initiatives could strengthen traditional ties and enhance India’s influence in Afghanistan.
• Act West Policy Integration: Afghanistan could play a crucial role in India’s broader “Act West” policy, complementing its strategic goals in the region.

 

Challenges for India

• Security Concerns
  1. The Taliban’s ties with terrorist groups like al-Qaeda and TTP pose a direct threat to regional stability.
  2. Afghanistan’s volatile political and security environment remains a significant challenge.
• Lack of International Recognition
  1. The absence of global consensus on recognizing the Taliban limits India’s engagement options.
  2. Balancing relations with the Taliban without alienating other global powers is a diplomatic tightrope.

 

Conclusion and Way Forward

The Taliban is here to stay. India should enhance humanitarian assistance and resume development projects in Afghanistan. Capitalising on traditional friendship, there is scope for Afghanistan to figure even more prominently in India’s Act West policy.

Editorial 2 : It Would be a Folly

Context: Why MSP should not be legalised

 

Introduction: Legalising minimum support prices (MSPs) would be a folly; it would throw a spanner in the working of the economy. Making MSPs effective is different from making MSPs legal.

 

Understanding Minimum Support Price (MSP)

• MSP is the price set by the government to ensure farmers receive a minimum profit for their produce. Currently, it is applicable to 23 crops.
• Purpose of MSP
  1. Introduced during the 1960s to address acute grain deficits.
  2. Primarily implemented for rice and wheat procurement in select states.
• Current Status: Centre’s latest Situation Assessment Survey revealed that not more than 10% of farmers sold their produce at MSP.
  1. 23 MSP crops constitute roughly 30% of the value of agriculture.

 

Arguments Against Legalising MSP

• Market Distortion: In a market economy, prices are determined by demand and supply. Legalising MSP disrupts this balance, especially when supply exceeds demand.
• Burden on Government
  1. The government would have to procure excess stock, incurring significant costs.
  2. The logistics of buying, storing, and distributing all excess produce are impractical.
• Trader-Farmer Collusion: There is a high probability that farmers and traders will collude in showing market prices much lower than the MSP.
  1. This would make it very difficult to estimate the hit to the financial exchequer.
• Lessons from Past Attempts: Madhya Pradesh's price deficiency payment scheme failed after one season due to market manipulation.

 

Economic Challenges of MSP Legalisation

• Fiscal Burden
  1. Open-ended procurement would strain the financial exchequer.
  2. Managing 23 MSP-covered crops across multiple states is logistically and financially unfeasible.
• Impact on Market-Based Growth: Market-oriented segments like fisheries, meat, eggs, milk, and horticulture have grown at higher rates than MSP-backed crops like wheat and rice.
• Consumer Bias in Policy
  1. Government interventions (export bans, stocking limits) suppress market prices to control inflation, indirectly taxing agriculture.
  2. India is the only G20 country with negative Producer Support Estimates (PSEs), reflecting this bias.

 

Way Forward: Alternative Approaches

• Strengthen MSP Implementation: Focus on making MSP more effective, not legal.
  1. Create a stabilisation fund of about Rs 25,000 crore, especially focused on pulses and oilseeds of which India is a net importer.
• Market-Based Solutions
  1. Develop agri-value chains akin to the AMUL model, ensuring farmers receive 75-80% of the consumer price.
  2. Liberalise agriculture by reducing government interference in export bans and stocking limits.
• Diversification of Agriculture: Encourage farmers to shift toward high-growth sectors like fisheries, meat, and horticulture, which have performed better in a free-market system.

 

Conclusion

Making MSP legal will be going backwards, which is not in line with the liberalisation of the economy. India should focus on enhancing market-based systems, reducing government distortions, and building robust value chains to empower farmers.