Did 250 million Indians exit Poverty? 

• PM Modi welcomed the noteworthy decrease in “multidimensional poverty” among Indians between 2013–14 and 2022–23, as reported in a recent research by Niti Aayog.
• It is critical to understand multidimensional poverty and assess the technique in order to fully interpret this data.

Understanding Multidimensional Poverty

• Conventional Measures of Poverty: Income or spending requirements are frequently used to quantify poverty.
• India uses the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), a global measure of poverty that takes into account twelve factors other than income. These factors come under headings such as living standards, health, and education.
• Deprivation Assessment: Every household’s level of deprivation is assessed in relation to each of the 12 indicators. They are classified as “multidimensionally poor” (MDP) if they experience deprivation in multiple domains.

Data Sources

• National Family Health Surveys (NFHS): The raw material consists of household-level data. This data is subsequently processed by Niti Aayog to determine MDP numbers.
• NFHS Rounds: Three rounds of NFHS data are available: NFHS-3 for 2005–06, NFHS-4 for 2015–16, and NFHS-5 for 2019–21.
• Ratio of Indians in MDP: It was 55% in 2005–06 and dropped to 25% in 2015–16. According to the report, it might have been 29% in 2013–14 if the pace remained constant. By 2022–2023, extrapolation predicts it will reach 11%.

Assessing the Assumptions

• Suggested Beginning Point: The selection of 2013–14 as the beginning point leaves room for interpretation and acts as a benchmark for assessing Modi’s nine-year presidency.
• Consistent Speed Assumption: It can be difficult to assume a constant speed over an extended period of time because it does not take into consideration differences in advancement throughout various years.
• Ignoring the Impact of the Pandemic: Drawing conclusions too soon without taking into account how the pandemic has affected data collecting and welfare reversals could result in inaccurate findings.

Interpreting the Data

• Value of Indices: Data on monetary poverty are still important, even though indices like the MPI provide a consolidated perspective of several indicators.
• Not Equivalent to Poverty: Since multidimensional poverty and poverty itself represent distinct things, they shouldn’t be confused. Making a distinction between the two is crucial.
• Selective Mathematics: The use of extrapolation and interpolation to match a government’s term of office should be evaluated thoroughly and take possible constraints into account.

Conclusion

• NFHS data show that the decrease in multidimensional poverty in India is a notable accomplishment.
• But it’s imperative to examine such data with a sophisticated comprehension of the assumptions, methods, and results.

Complex China-Taiwan Relations

• The results of Taiwan’s presidential election on January 13, which saw Lai Ching-te of the ruling party win, have important ramifications for both the island nation and world geopolitics.
• It is essential to examine the intricate past and changing relationship between China and Taiwan in order to comprehend the dynamics at work.

Taiwan Tension: A Historical Background

• Early Settlement: It is thought that Austronesian tribal people, who originated in southern China, were the first people to settle on Taiwan.
• Chinese Records: Taiwan is mentioned in Chinese records dating back to AD 239 as part of China’s territorial claims.
• Japan and the Qing Dynasty: Following the First Sino-Japanese War, Japan acquired control of Taiwan, which had been ruled by the Qing dynasty of China.
• Following World War II: With the approval of the US and UK, Taiwan was formally deemed to be under the Republic of China’s (ROC) occupation following the war.

Exile and the Civil War

• Civil War: In 1949, Chiang Kai-shek and the Kuomintang (KMT) administration, together with their allies, fled to Taiwan as a result of the civil war that had broken out in China.
• Dictatorship Period: From Chiang’s founding until the 1980s, Taiwan was governed by a dictatorship.
• Democracy Transition: Following Chiang’s passing, Taiwan started its democratic transition, holding its first elections in 1996.

Status of Taiwan

• Dispute: There is controversy over Taiwan’s legal position.
• Independent Governance: Taiwan has an armed forces, democratically elected authorities, and a constitution of its own.
• Decline in Recognition: Over time, fewer nations have come to recognize Taiwan as the home of the People’s Republic of China, primarily as a result of diplomatic pressure from Beijing.

Evolving Relations with China

• 1980s Improvement: As Taiwan loosened restrictions on travel to and investment in China, ties began to improve in the 1980s.
• One Country, Two Systems: Taiwan rejected China’s proposal of “one country, two systems.”
• Political Shift: In 2000, Chen Shui-bian’s victory signaled a change in direction because he publicly supported Taiwan’s “independence.”
• Anti-Secession Law: China threatened Taiwan with non-peaceful measures when it introduced an anti-secession law in 2005.
• Cross-Strait Relations: Under President Tsai Ing-wen, relations between China and Taiwan were strained as China refused to support the idea of a single Chinese country, prompting China to cut off formal contacts.

US Involvement

• Relations between the US and Taiwan: Although the US formally acknowledges Beijing, it continues to be Taiwan’s principal foreign backer.
• Defensive Commitment: President Joe Biden has vowed to use force to defend Taiwan, and the US is required by law to give Taiwan defensive weapons.
• Taiwan is still a hotly debated topic in US-China ties, with Beijing denouncing what it sees as US support for Taipei.
• Increasing Tensions: In reaction to US-Taiwan discussions, China has escalated its “grey zone warfare” around Taiwan, deploying fighter jets and holding military drills.

The outcome of Taiwan’s presidential election and the changing Sino-Taiwani relationship will have a significant impact on world affairs. The tenuous balance in the Taiwan Strait between territorial disputes, diplomatic recognition, and US involvement will continue to influence the direction of international affairs in the Asia-Pacific area.

Startup Ranking 2022

Tamil Nadu was named the “Best Performer,” the highest category in the recently announced States Startup Ranking 2022.

Context:

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade conducted the fourth edition of the Startup India Ranking.

About Startup Ranking 2022:-

• Published by the Department of Industry and Internal Trade Promotion (DPIIT).
• The aim of this study is to assess the progress made by each of India’s States and Union Territories (UT) in creating an environment that supports the expansion of startups.
• The States’ Startup Ranking is a recurring initiative to enhance capability.
• In February 2018, States’ Startup Ranking was introduced.
• Its objectives are to assess the Indian startup scene from the perspective of state/UT policy involvement and to pinpoint strategies that quicken ecosystem creation and growth.
• Every state and territory has established specific startup policies as a result of the States’ Startup Ranking Exercise, and by publishing annual rankings, it is able to monitor the development of these policies as well as the collective efforts of the states and territories to create an ecosystem.
• The States Startup Ranking Framework expedites the Center’s and States’/UTs’ efforts to invigorate the entrepreneurial mindset throughout the nation.
• The Startup India Team has also implemented capacity-building initiatives throughout States and Union Territories to support innovators and ecosystem enablers in fostering economic growth while preserving the cooperative federalism spirit.

Startup Ranking 2022:-

• The exercise’s fourth iteration, which debuted in 2022, featured a ranking structure made up of seven reform areas totaling 25 action points and 85 marks, as well as an overall score of 100 marks that included the feedback exercise.
• 33 States and Union Territories participated in this edition, the most of any other event.
• To create consistency and guarantee standardization in the ranking procedure, the states and union territories were split into two categories: Category-A (Population more than 1 crore) and Category-B (Population less than 1 crore).

African cheetah

Experts have recently petitioned the IUCN to change the status of cheetahs in the Horn of Africa to “endangered.”

Context:

• Experts have petitioned the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to change the Northeast African Cheetah’s (Acinonyx jubatus soemmeringii) status from “vulnerable” to “endangered.” The cheetah is situated in the Horn of Africa.

About Africa cheetah:-

• Scientific Name: Jubatus jubatus Acinonyx
• Habitat: Savannahs in Africa.
• Their 1.2 m (4 foot) tall, slender body is balanced by a long (65–85 cm) tail that typically culminates in a white tuft.
• Between 34 and 54 kg (75 and 119 pounds), is their weight range, with males being slightly larger than females.
• When compared to the Asiatic Cheetah, they are larger in size.
• All over their bodies are small circular black spots, and there are black marks that extend from the corner of their lips to the inner of their eyes.
• The Sanskrit root of its name translates to “the spotted one.”
• They feed on birds, animals, and tiny antelopes.
• Out of all the land animals, they are the fastest.