GS Paper II

News Excerpt:

In its 63rd council meeting, the International Sugar Organization (ISO), headquartered in London, has announced India as the organization's Chair for 2024.

Significance and opportunity for India:

• India can seek support and cooperation from other countries and focus on sustainable practices, especially in sugarcane cultivation, sugar and ethanol production, and better utilisation of by-products.
• Being the 3rd largest country in ethanol production after the USA and Brazil, India has shown commitment towards green energy and its capability to twist the challenges of surplus sugar in the domestic market to solve fossil fuels imports and a tool to meet COP 26 targets for India.

Efforts made by the Indian Government in the sugar industry:

• Modernised and Sustained: The Indian sugar industry has come a long way in diversifying and exploiting to its fullest potential of its by-products to generate additional revenue streams to make the whole business model both sustainable and profitable. For e.g., during the COVID-19 pandemic, the government operated sugar mills while the country faced lockdown.
• It is remarkable that ethanol blending in India has increased from 5% in 2019-20 to 12% in 2022-23, while the production has increased from 173 crore litres to more than 500 crore litres during the same period.
• Maintaining good synergy: India has a unique distinction of being the payer of the highest cane price to its farmers and still being efficient enough to make profits and operate self-sufficiently without government financial assistance. 
• This synergy has made it possible to rejuvenate the Indian sugar industry and transform it into a major player in green energy in the country. 
• Consumer First Policy (CFP): Domestic sugar retail prices are consistent and stable. While global prices are hiked by about 40% in one year, India has contained sugar prices within a 5% increase from last year without burdening the industry.
• Maintaining collaboration at Global hub: National Sugar Institute, Kanpur, has spread its wings and is collaborating with many countries, including Indonesia, Nigeria, Egypt, Fiji, etc., to share the latest technologies in the sector and best practices. 

Mains PYQ:

Q. (a) Do you agree that there is a growing trend of opening new sugar mills in the Southern states of India? Discuss with justification.

     (b) Analyze the factors for the highly decentralized cotton textile industry in India (UPSC 2013)

Prelims PYQ:

Q. According to India’s National Policy on Biofuels, which of the following can be used as raw materials for the production of Biofuels? (UPSC 2020)

1. Cassava
2. Damaged wheat grains
3. Groundnut seeds
4. Horse Gram
5. Rotten potatoes
6. Sugar beet

Select the correct answer using the code given below

(a) 1, 2, 5 and 6 only

(b) 1, 3, 4 and 6 only

(c) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only

(d) 1, 2,3,4,5 and 6