Core sector output falls for first time in 42 months
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Context
In recent months, India's core sector has experienced a significant slowdown, reflecting the broader challenges within the country's industrial landscape. The core sector, which comprises critical industries such as coal, power, steel, cement and fertilizers, plays a vital role in the country's economic performance.
The sector makes up nearly 40% of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), making its trends crucial for assessing overall industrial health.
As India grapples with economic uncertainties, the performance of its core sectors provides insight into the likely growth trajectory and the underlying issues impacting production and consumption.
Background
India's core sectors experienced unprecedented growth last year, recording a growth of 13.4%. However, this year has revealed a different picture, as many sectors of the economy are struggling to maintain momentum.
The performance of these sectors is often affected by various factors, including monsoon patterns, global commodity prices, and fluctuations in domestic demand. The current economic environment is further complicated by global supply chain disruptions and rising inflation, which have contributed to increased uncertainty in industrial production.
Why in the News?
In August 2024, India's core sector output fell to a nine-month low with a year-on-year contraction of 1.8%. This was the first contraction in three and a half years, raising concerns among economists and industry stakeholders about the implications for India's economic recovery.
With 6 out of 8 core sectors reporting a decline, the news highlights a worrying trend that could impact the country's overall industrial production and economic growth.
What is the Core Sector?
The core sector comprises key industries essential to the country's economy. These industries are generally capital-intensive and demand substantial investment, which significantly impacts other sectors through both forward and backward linkages.
Generally, core sectors include industries such as coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilizers, steel, cement and electricity.
What is Core Sector Growth?
Core sector growth refers to the rate of increase in production or output from the economy's major industries over a specific period, usually assessed on an annual or monthly basis.
This growth is determined by combining the growth rates of individual industries, with each industry weighted according to its importance in the overall Core Industries Index (ICI).
Core Sectors in India
India's core sectors include 8 major industries:
- Coal - Crude Oil
- Natural Gas - Refinery Products
- Fertilizers - Steel
- Cement - Electricity
Which core sector of India is performing the best?
Coal, power and cement sectors are the top performers among India's core industries. Coal production grew by 18.4%, power generation grew by 20.3% and cement production grew by 17.1% due to strong infrastructure activity and demand.
Which core sector of India is performing the worst?
Crude oil, on the other hand, is the weakest performer, showing only a marginal growth of 1.3% in October 2023. This follows several months of stagnation and a slight ,contraction in the previous period, largely impacted by global oil price fluctuations and production challenges.
Conclusion
India's core sector is currently facing significant challenges, having contracted for the first time in three and a half years in August 2024. This decline due to global supply chain disruptions, rising inflation and volatility in domestic demand raises concerns about broader implications for economic recovery and industrial health.
Way Forward
To address these challenges, policymakers should prioritize stabilizing key sectors through targeted investments, improving infrastructure and increasing resilience against global volatility.
Boosting domestic demand and streamlining supply chains will be essential to rejuvenate growth in these critical industries and ensure sustainable economic progress.
Process to resign from Cabinet
Context
Amid the ongoing impasse over his resignation, Rajasthan minister Kirori Lal Meena reiterated his decision to resign from his post, recently justifying his attendance at Cabinet meetings as an MLA to address issues of public interest.
Background
Mr Meena, a veteran tribal leader, submitted his resignation in July in response to the Bharatiya Janata Party's dismal performance in the Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan. The party's central leadership is yet to decide on his resignation.
Why in the news?
Mr Meena, who has stopped going to office and using his official car, has requested Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma to accept his resignation.
Earlier, he was considered a potential candidate for the chief minister's post after the BJP's 2023 state assembly election win, but the party high command opted for Mr Sharma.
Appointment of ministers in the Cabinet of India
Selection by the Prime Minister
The Prime Minister of India selects ministers to form the Cabinet. The Prime Minister is usually the leader of the political party (or coalition) that has a majority in the Lok Sabha (Lok Sabha).
Appointment by the President
After the Prime Minister has been selected, the ministers are formally appointed by the President of India. The President acts on the advice of the Prime Minister as per Article 75 of the Constitution.
Size and Composition of the Cabinet
The Cabinet usually comprises senior ministers, including Cabinet ministers and Ministers of State (MoS), who may be either independent or assist Cabinet ministers. The total number of ministers cannot exceed 15% of the total number of members of the Lok Sabha.
Oath of Office
After appointment, ministers take the oath of office and secrecy before the President, undertaking to uphold the Constitution and the law.
Parliamentary Approval
After their appointment, ministers have to enjoy the confidence of the Lok Sabha. If a minister is not a member of either House of Parliament, he must become a member within six months of his appointment.
Role and Responsibilities of Cabinet Ministers
Policy Formulation
Cabinet ministers are responsible for formulating government policies in their respective departments. They play a key role in deciding national priorities and strategies.
Implementation of Policies
Cabinet ministers oversee the implementation of government policies and programs, ensuring that their departments meet their objectives effectively.
Budget Management
They are responsible for preparing and managing the budget for their respective ministries, ensuring that funds are allocated efficiently and spent wisely.
Advisory Role
Ministers advise the Prime Minister and contribute to discussions on important issues facing the country. They also represent the government in Parliament and answer questions related to their departments.
Procedure of Voluntary Resignation from Cabinet in India
Submission of Resignation
The minister who wishes to resign voluntarily submits a letter of resignation to the Prime Minister. This letter should clearly state the intention to resign from the cabinet.
Acceptance of resignation
The Prime Minister reviews the resignation and may discuss the matter with the minister. If the Prime Minister accepts the resignation, it is forwarded to the President of India.
Formal resignation
The resignation becomes effective once the President accepts it. The minister will usually receive formal acceptance from the President's Office.
Public announcement
After the acceptance of the resignation, the government usually issues a public statement or press release to inform the public about the change in the Cabinet.
Replacement of a minister resigning on an urgent basis
Selection of a replacement
When a minister resigns urgently, the Prime Minister selects a replacement. The selection may be made from among the sitting members of the ruling party or coalition in Parliament.
Appointment by the President
The selected candidate is appointed as a minister by the President of India on the advice of the Prime Minister.
Oath of office
The new minister takes the oath of office and secrecy before the President. This oath is necessary to formalize his or her position in the Cabinet.
Parliamentary membership
If the new minister is not a current member of either House of Parliament, he or she must seek election or nomination within six months of his or her appointment.
Conclusion
The resignation of Rajasthan minister Kirori Lal Meena has highlighted the internal party dynamics and leadership choices within the BJP. His absence from official duties and the stalled decision on his resignation reflect the complexities of political relationships and responsibilities. This situation raises questions about leadership and accountability within the party.
Way forward
To resolve the ongoing impasse, the BJP leadership should prioritize addressing Meena's resignation request while promoting transparent communication with party members. Additionally, establishing a clear framework for decision-making and accountability within the Cabinet will help restore trust among constituents and advance effective governance.
How Gender Performativity Redefines Gender Norms
Context
The ongoing debate about gender identity has drawn increased attention to how gender is constructed and performed in society. At the center of this discussion is the concept of gender performativity, which has influenced feminist and queer theory.
It challenges the idea that gender is fixed, and offers a more fluid approach. The work of Judith Butler, particularly her book Gender Trouble, has shaped the field, while more recent critiques, particularly those of transgender theorists such as Julia Serano, offer new insights into understanding gender expression.
Background
For most of history, gender has been understood through an essentialist lens, linking biological sex to specific gender traits. This approach claims that one’s sex determines one’s behavior, roles, and social expectations.
However, poststructuralist theorists, particularly Judith Butler, have challenged these rigid views. Butler's theory of gender performativity argues that gender is not innate but a social construction that is reinforced through repeated behaviors.
This view has gained momentum in feminist movements, queer theory, and academic discussions, but it has also faced criticism, especially from transgender activists.
Why in the news?
The debate around gender identity is constantly evolving, especially with the increased visibility of movements advocating for transgender rights and gender diversity.
Julia Serano, a transgender theorist, has challenged some aspects of Butler's performativity theory, offering a different perspective on gender identity that emphasizes the internal, subconscious experience of gender. These different perspectives have renewed discussions on gender identity, performance, and social norms.
Introduction to Gender Performativity
Judith Butler first introduced the concept of gender performativity in her groundbreaking 1990 work Gender Trouble. In it, Butler critiques the essentialist view that sees gender as fixed and biologically determined.
She argues that gender is socially constructed, shaped and maintained through repeated actions, behaviors and discourses.
Rather than being a fixed identity, gender is fluid and constantly constructed through performance. This view has significantly influenced feminist and queer theory, providing a basis for challenging traditional gender roles.
The role of social norms in gender
According to Butler, social norms play a key role in how gender is perceived and performed. These norms become so deeply embedded in our daily lives that they seem natural, restricting individuals to rigid gender expectations.
However, Butler argues that these norms are not fixed and can be reversed. Since gender identities are constantly reinforced through repetition, acts of resistance have the potential to disrupt traditional gender roles, leading to a new understanding of gender fluidity.
Butler's work has been instrumental in reshaping feminist theory, particularly third-wave feminism.
Essentialism vs. Social Constructivism
Gender theory is shaped by 2 major perspectives:
- Essentialism
- Social Constructivism
Essentialism holds that gender is biologically determined, rooted in sex chromosomes and DNA, and that associated behaviors emerge naturally from one's biological makeup.
In contrast, social constructivism argues that gender is shaped by social expectations and discourse rather than biology.
In this view, individuals learn and internalize gender roles through social interactions and experiences. While essentialism links gender directly to biology, social constructivism emphasizes the role of culture and society in shaping gender identity.
Cultural and Social Norms: Shaping Gender Expectations
Cultural expectations about gender are manifested in everyday life, influencing how individuals are expected to behave based on their gender.
For example, in many Indian schools, girls are expected to tie their long hair neatly, while boys with long hair often face criticism. This enforcement of traditional gender norms extends beyond appearance to behavior.
In her essay "Throwing Like a Girl," Iris Marion Young discusses how girls are socialized to use less physical energy and space than boys, reinforcing notions of weakness and restraint. These norms highlight how gender roles are shaped by social expectations.
Challenging the separation of sex and gender
In her critique of second-wave feminism, Butler challenges the distinction between sex and gender. While many feminists argue that sex is biologically determined and gender is socially constructed, Butler argues that sex is also influenced by social interpretations.
She argues that sex and gender are not distinct, as our understanding of biological sex is shaped by social discourse. This view implies that both sex and gender are social constructions, which reinforces the idea that gender is not inherently tied to biology.
Gender as performance and performativity
Butler makes an important distinction between performance and performativity. Performance suggests that individuals consciously perform gender roles, while performativity refers to the unconscious process of reinforcing social norms.
Gender is not what someone is but what someone does – a set of repeated actions and behaviors that conform to social expectations. Just as speaking involves constant repetition within a language structure, gender performativity is the repeated performance of socially expected behaviors.
Criticisms and Alternative Viewpoints: Julia Serano's View
Judith Butler's theory of gender performativity has been criticized, most notably from transgender theorist Julia Serano. In her book Whipping Girl, Serano argues that while gender is influenced by social norms, it also stems from an internal sense of identity, which she calls "subconscious sex".
Serano emphasizes that transgender individuals often express gender identities that are not simply a response to social conditioning, but rather align with their internal self-perception. This challenges Butler's theory, which focuses primarily on external social influences shaping gender.
Conclusion
Judith Butler's work on gender performativity has revolutionized gender theory, providing a more fluid and dynamic understanding of identity. However, the rise of transgender activism and theorists such as Julia Serano have added nuance to the conversation, suggesting that gender identity can be shaped by both social norms and internal experiences.
The way forward
These discussions are likely to continue to evolve as more voices, particularly from the transgender community, contribute to the ongoing exploration of gender identity.
