Category: Environment Content

Environment Content:

  • Economic Environment: Liberalization, Privatization, and Globalization

    Economic Environment: Liberalization, Privatization, and Globalization

    What is Economic Environment? The totality of economic factors, such as employment, income, inflation, interest rates, productivity, and wealth, that influence the buying behavior of consumers and institutions. This article we have a discussion on Economic Environment and their parts; liberalization, privatization, and globalization. Economic environment refers to all those economic factors which have a bearing on the functioning of a business unit.

    Economic Environment discusses the questions of What do liberalization, privatization, and globalization of the Indian Economy mean? Better Explanation.

    Business depends on the economic environment for all the need inputs. It also depends on the economic environment to sell finished goods. Naturally, the dependence of business on the economic environment is total and it is not surprising because, as it rightly says, business is one unit of the total economy.

    Define Economic Environment in India?

    To solve the economic problems of our country, the government took several steps including control by the State of certain industries, central planning and reduced importance of the private sector. Besides people, markets require purchasing power and that depends upon current income, savings, prices, debt and credit facilities, etc. The economic environment affects the demand structure of any industry or product. The following factors should always keep in mind by the business people to determine the success of the business.

    • Per capita income.
    • Gross national product.
    • Fiscal and monitory policies.
    • The ratio of interest charged by different financial institutions.
    • Industry life cycle and current phase, and.
    • Trends of inflation or deflation.

    Each of the above factors can pose an opportunity as well as a threat to a firm. For example, in a developing economy, the low demand for the product is due to the low-income level of the people. In such a situation a firm or company can not generate the purchasing power of the people to generate the demand for the products. But it can develop a low priced product to suit the low-income market otherwise it will slip out from the market.

    Extra Things:

    Similarly, the industry gets several incentives and support from the government if it comes under the purview of the priority sector whereas some industries face a tough task if they are regarding as inessential ones. In the industry life cycle, timing is everything when it comes to making good cycle-sensitive decisions.

    The managers need to make appropriate cutbacks before the onslaught of recession because at that time sales are bound to decline which leads to increasing inventories and idle resources and that is a costly situation.

    On the other hand, business people cannot afford to get caught short during a period of rapid expansion. This is where accurate economic forecasts are a necessity and therefore, a manager must pay careful attention to the major economic changes.

    The main objectives of India’s development plan are:

    • Initiate rapid economic growth to raise the standard of living, reduce unemployment and poverty.
    • Become self-reliant and set up a strong industrial base with emphasis on heavy and basic industries.
    • Reduce inequalities of income and wealth.
    • Adopt a socialist pattern of development — based on equality and prevent exploitation of man by man.

    As a part of economic reforms, the Government of India announced a new industrial policy in July 1991.

    The broad features of this policy are as follows:
    • The Government reduced the number of industries under compulsory licensing to six.
    • Disinvestment was carrying out in the case of many public sector industrial enterprises.
    • Policy towards foreign capital was liberalizing. The share of foreign equity participation was increasing and in many activities, 100 percent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) was permitted.
    • Automatic permission was now granting for technology agreements with foreign companies.
    • Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) was set up to promote and canalize foreign investment in India.

    Main Features of economic Reforms or New Economic Policy:

    They are three things liberalization, privatization, and globalization. The following features of the economics below are;

    Economic Environment Liberalization Privatization and Globalization
    Economic Environment: Liberalization, Privatization, and Globalization

    Liberalization:

    Liberalization of the economy means to free it from direct or physical controls impose by the government. Before 1991, the government had imposing several types of controls on the Indian economy, e.g., industrial licensing system; price control or financial control on goods, import license, foreign exchange control, restrictions on investment by big business houses, etc. these had to dampen the enthusiasm of the entrepreneurs to establish new industries.

    These controls had given rise to corruption, undue delays, and inefficiency. Economic reforms, therefore, made a bid to reduce restrictions impose on the economy. Also, Economic reforms were based on the assumption that market forces could guide the economy more effectively than government control.

    Measures Taken for Liberalization:

    Following measures have been taking under economic reforms for liberalization of Indian economy:

    Abolition of Industrial Licensing and Registration:

    The New Industrial Policy (NIP) is the first part of the liberalization measures. Under the NIP, industrial licensing has been greatly liberalizing. All industries, except a few specified ones, have been de-licensing under the NIP and liberated from the clutches of control in a bid to eliminate the obstacles to industrial growth. De-licensing of passenger car industry, bulk drugs industry, consumer electronics industry, etc. became landmarks and several new players entered these industries.

    Industries for which licenses are still necessary are:

    • Liquor.
    • Cigarette.
    • Defense equipment.
    • Industrial Explosives.
    • Dangerous Chemicals, and.
    • Drugs.

    Small Scale Industry (SSI) de-reservation, however, has not made much progress.

    The concession from the Monopolies Act:

    According to the provisions of Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act (MRTP Act) all those companies having assets worth more than 100 crores used to declare MRTP firms and were subject to several restrictions. Now the concept of MRTP has been done away with. These firms are now no longer require to obtain prior approval of the government, at the time of making investment decisions.

    Freedom for Expansion and Production to Industries:

    As a result of the liberalization policy, industries have been giving the following freedom:

    • Before liberalization under the provisions of old policy at the time of granting the license, the government used to fix the maximum limit of production capacity. No industry could produce beyond this limit. Now, this limit has been removing.
    • Producers are now free to produce anything based on demand in the market. Previously, only those goods could produce which were mentioning in the license.
    Increase in the Investment Limit of the Small Industries:

    The investment limit of the small industries has been raising to Rs. 1 crore to enable them to introduce modernization. Investment limit of tiny industries has also been increased to Rs. 25 lakh.

    Freedom to import Capital Goods:

    Under the policy of liberalization. Indian industries will be free to buy machines and raw materials from abroad to expand and modernize themselves.

    Privatization:

    In the context of economic reforms, privatization means allowing the private sector to set up more and more of such industries as were previously reserved for the public sector. Under it, an existing enterprise of the public sector is either wholly or partially sell to the private sector.

    Measures adopted for Privatization:

    Following measures were adopted in respect of privatization under economic reforms:

    Contraction of the Public Sector:

    Initially, in the economic development of India, the public sector was according to prime importance. As observed by Dr. Manmohan Singh, priority was given to the public sector in the hope that it would help capital accumulation, industrialization, development, and removal of poverty. But none of these objectives could realize. The policy of contraction of the public sector was, therefore, adopt under the new economic reforms.

    The number of industries exclusively reserved for the public sector was reduced from 17 to 4. The Government has been divesting its stake in public sector undertakings in the light of the redefinition of its role from being a provider of goods and services to that of a policy-maker and facilitator. Between 1991-2002 the Government has privatized assets worth US$ 6.3 billion.

    Note: At present, the Government is considering disinvestment of the Shipping Corporation of India, State Trading Corporation, Minerals and Metals Trading Corporation, among others. One of the biggest privatization programs that the Government has initiated is the leasing of international airports at the four metropolitan cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata.

    Globalization:

    It means integrating the economy of a country with the economies of other countries under conditions of freer flow of trade and capital and movement of persons across borders.

    “ Globalization may define as a process associated with increasing openness, growing economic interdependence and deepening economic integration in the world economy.”

    Main components of Globalization of the Indian economy are as under:

    Increase in Foreign Investment:

    Under economic reforms, the limit of foreign capital investment has been growing from 40 percent to 51 percent. In 47 high priority industries foreign direct investment to the extent of 51 percent will allow without any restriction and red-tapism. Also, Export trading houses will allow foreign capital investment up to 51 percent. In this regard, the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) will enforce.

    Devaluation:

    To promote exports under the policy of globalization, the Indian rupee was devaluing. In July 1991, the rupee was devaluing to the extent of 20 percent on average. The objective was an export promotion, import substitution and attraction of foreign capital.

    Reduction in tariffs:

    To render the Indian economy beneficial internationally, custom duties and tariff impose on imports and exports are reducing gradually.

    Export Promotion:

    Several measures have been taking to meet the deficit of the balance of payments. Exports have been promoting. Special facilities like the abolition of export duties, cheaper export credit and cuts in import duty have been providing to the exports to increase the share of Indian exports in world trade. The government also enhance the duty drawback in respect of a large number of items. The greater flow of bank finance to the export sector at a concessional rate also enhances the competitiveness of exports.

    The rupee made Convertible:

    The government brought in partial convertibility of the rupee in 1992-93 and full convertibility on the trading account in 1993-94. The move supported the intention to give the exchange rate mechanism its due role in regulating the trade flow. It also serves to encourage exports.

  • Economic System: Capitalism, Socialism, and Communism

    Economic System: Capitalism, Socialism, and Communism

    The economic system divides into three groups; capitalism, socialism, and communism. The scope of private business and the extent of government regulation of economic activities depend to a very large extent on the nature of the economic system, which is an important part of the business environment.

    This article explains about the Economic System and their points: Capitalism, Socialism, and Communism.

    What is the economic system? An economic system or economic order is a system of production, resource allocation and distribution of goods and services within a society or a given geographic area. It includes the combination of the various institutions, agencies, entities, decision-making processes and patterns of consumption. That comprises the economic structure of a given community.

    As such, an economic system is a type of social system. The mode of production is a related concept. All economic systems have three basic questions to ask: what to produce, how to produce and in what quantities and who receives the output of production.

    Economic System Capitalism Socialism and Communism
    Economic System: Capitalism, Socialism, and Communism

    Broadly the economic system is divided into three groups.

    1. Capitalism.
    2. Socialism, and.
    3. Communism.

    Now, explain each one;

    Capitalism:

    What is Capitalism? Capitalism is an economic system based on the private ownership of the means of production and their operation for profit. Characteristics central to capitalism include private property, capital accumulation, wage labor, voluntary exchange, a price system, and competitive markets.

    The system of capitalism stresses the philosophy of individualism believing in private ownership of all agents of production, in the private sharing of distribution processes. That determines the functions rewards of each participant and individual expression of consumer choice through a free market place.

    In its political manifestation, capitalism may fall in a range between extreme individualism and anarchism (no government) and the acceptance of some state sanctions. The capitalist system also knows as a free enterprise economy and market economy.

    Two types of capitalism may be distinguished, viz.,

    • The old, Laissez-fair capitalism, where government intervention in the economy is absent or negligible, and.
    • The modern, regulated or mixed capitalism, where there is a substantial amount of government intervention.

    Socialism:

    Under socialism, the tools of production are to organize, managed and owned by the government, with the benefits occurring to the public. A strong public sector, agrarian reforms, control over private wealth and investment and national self-reliance are the other planks of socialism.

    What is Socialism? Socialism is a range of economic and social systems characterized by social ownership of the means of production and workers’ self-management. As well as the political theories and movements associated with them. Social ownership can be public, collective or cooperative ownership or citizen ownership of equity.

    Socialism does not involve an equal division of existing wealth among the people but advocates the egalitarian principle. It believes in employing all and emphasizes suitable rewards to the efforts put in by every worker. Also called Fabian socialism, this philosophy follows in our country and other social-democratic countries in the world.

    Communism:

    What is Communism? Communism, the political and economic doctrine that aims to replace private property and a profit-based economy with public ownership and communal control of at least the major means of production (e.g., mines, mills, and factories) and the natural resources of a society.

    In political and social sciences, communism is the philosophical, social, political, and economic ideology and movement whose ultimate goal is the establishment of the communist society. Which is a socioeconomic order structured upon the common ownership of the means of production and the absence of social classes, money, and the state.

    Communism is thus a form of socialism a higher and more advanced form, according to its advocates. Exactly how communism differs from socialism has long been a matter of debate, but the distinction rests largely on the communist’s adherence to the revolutionary socialism of Karl Marx.

    Communism goes further to abolish all private property and property rights to income. The state would own and direct all instruments of production. Sharing in the distributive process would have no relationship to the private property since this right would not exist. Alternatively called maxims, communism was followed in Russia, China, and East European Countries.

    Table of Compared: Capitalism, Socialism and Communism.

    Economic System Capitalism Socialism and Communism - Table of Compared
    Economic System: Capitalism, Socialism, and Communism – Table of Compared,
  • Environmental Education: Aim, Principles, and Concept

    Environmental Education: Aim, Principles, and Concept

    Environmental education (EE) concerns with those aspects of human behavior which are more directly related to man’s interaction with the biophysical environment and his ability to understand this interaction. The article explaining Environmental Education – with their topic Aim, Principles, and Concept. EE is a methodology in which people pick up familiarity with their surroundings and secure learning, abilities, values, experiences, and passion, all of which will empower them to act – separately and aggregately – to take care of present and future environmental issues.

    Learn and understand the Environmental Education: Aim, Principles, and Concept, deeply explain.

    One of the most glaring problems which the world faces today is environmental pollution. The man has exploited nature excessively at the cost of the environment. There is an immediate need to make people aware of environmental degradation. What is Pollution and Types of Environmental Pollution? Education and public participation may change and improve the quality of the environment.

    Explain it each one of Environmental Education (EE): Definition, Objectives of Environmental Education, Aim of Environmental Education, Principles of Environmental Education, and Concept of Environmental Education! Environmental Education in India – Concept, and Role of Environmental Education.

    Definition of Environmental education (EE):

    According to UNESCO,

    “Environmental education is a way of implementing the goals of environmental protection. It is not a separate branch of science but the lifelong interdisciplinary field of study.”

    It means education towards the protection and enhancement of the environment and education as an instrument of development for improving the quality of life of human communities.

    Objectives of Environmental Education (EE):

    The following are the objectives of environmental education:

    1] Awareness:

    To help social groups and individuals to acquire knowledge of pollution and environmental degradation.

    2] Knowledge:

    To help social groups and individuals to acquire knowledge of the environment beyond the immediate environment including the distant environment.

    3] Attitudes:

    To help social groups and individuals to acquire a set of values for environmental protection.

    4] Skills and Capacity Building:

    To help social groups and individuals to develop the skills required for making discriminations in form, shape, sound, touch, habits, and habitats. Further, to develop the ability to draw unbiased inferences and conclusions.

    5] Participation:

    To provide social groups and individuals with an opportunity to actively involve at all levels in environmental decision making.

    There are four areas of decision making:

    • Types of environmental issues on which decisions might make.
    • The physical setting of the prospective environmental decision, including its spatial scale.
    • Types of social groups and individuals who might interact in a process leading up to an environmental decision, and.
    • The time frame within which the decision must make.

    The aim of Environmental Education (EE):

    UNESCO has highlighted the following aims of environmental education:

    The aim of environmental education is clearly to show the economic, social, political and ecological interdependence of the modern world, in which decisions and actions by different countries can have international repercussions. They should, in this regard, help to develop a sense of responsibility and solidarity among countries and regions as the foundation for a new international order which will guarantee the conservation and improvement of the environment.

    The main aim of environmental education at the grass-root level is to succeed in making individuals and communities understand the complex nature of the natural and the built environments. Further, to acquire the knowledge, values, attitudes, and practical skills to participate responsibly and effectively in anticipating and solving social problems, and in the management of the quality of the environment.

    Therefore, necessary steps for environmental education are:

    • Awareness.
    • Knowledge.
    • Attitude building for motivating to protect the environment.
    • Evaluation of environmental measures, and.
    • Skill and capacity building.

    According to D.H. Meadows’, environmental educators on every continent develop materials and methods as varied as the different cultures and ecosystems on earth. He lists some key concepts which underlie all environmental education. These are food for thought, levels of being, complex systems, population growth and carrying capacity, ecologically sustainable development, socially sustainable development, knowledge, uncertainty, and sacredness.

    Guiding Principles of Environmental Education (EE):

    The Principles of Environmental Education is deeply explaining – These are as follows:

    1] Resource Principles:
    • Resource use demands long-term planning if we are to achieve truly sustainable development.
    • Rationale utilization of a renewable source is a sensible way of preserving the resources while obtaining maximum benefits from it.
    • A mode of life heavily dependent upon rapidly diminishing non­-renewable energy sources (i.e. fossil fuel) is unstable.
    2] Soil Principles:
    • The protection of soils and the maintenance of sustainable agriculture are essential factors in the survival of civilizations and settlements.
    • Soil erosion is the irreversible loss of essential resources and must prevent.
    • A vegetation cover (grass, forest) is important for the balance of nature and the conservation of soil, besides being exploitable natural resources.
    3] Wildlife Protection Principles:
    • Wildlife population is important aesthetically, biologically and economically.
    • Nature reserves and other protected wilderness areas are of value in protecting endangered species because they preserve their habitats.
    • The survival of humanity is closely linked to the survival of wildlife both being dependent on the same life-supporting systems.
    4] Environmental Management Principles:
    • Sound environmental management is beneficial to both man and the environment.
    • Management of natural resources should do rationally.
    • Elimination of wastes through recycling and the development of clean.
    • Technologies are important to modern societies to help reduce the consumption of resources.
    • Human activities and technologies influence considerably the natural environment and may affect its capacity to sustain life, including human life.
    5] Other Principles:
    • The relations between humans and their environment are mediated by their culture i.e.
    • Cultural, historical and architectural heritage are much in need of protection.
    Environmental Education Aim Principles and Concept
    Environmental Education: Aim, Principles, and Concept #Pixabay

    The Concept of Environmental Education (EE):

    Any curriculum should base on well-thought-out and clearly define concepts that one wishes the learner to acquire. Some important concepts of environmental education have interdisciplinary significance such as environmental pollution, carrying capacity, ecosystems, ecology, and conservation, etc.

    Environmental Education (EE) in India:

    The prosperity and well-being of a nation depend on the effective utilization of human and physical resources through industrialization based on science and technology. But there is a perennial controversy between development and the environment. Also, the question is whether we shall go for industrial or modernization or we shall protect the environment.

    On one hand, we know that the development of a nation depends on industrialization, and on the other hand, rapid industrial and agricultural development entails many adverse effects on the environment of the countries concerned. So we have to apply our wisdom in striking a balance between these two contradictory factors. Also, Development and the environment are concerned with global ecology. We should, therefore; clearly, know the basic concepts of environment or ecology and its relation to our developmental activities at the macro as well as micro-level.

    Basic Concept of Environmental Education:

    Everything that surrounds us and on which our life depends is our environment. Our room, our home, our village or town, our family and friends, the air we breathe, the water we drink, the sunshine and the rain – all are part of our environment. Even the environment of two individuals is different. But these environments are interrelated so closely that in a sense we all belong to the same environment.

    This interrelatedness is a matter of ecology. The term “ecology” has been deriving from the Greek word “Oikos” which means home. So, ecology is literally, the science that deals with the home conditions of all living beings. Also, Ecology deals with the interrelationships between living beings and their environment.

    Previously, in the old days, a natural balance was maintained between all living beings including men and plants. Also, They were living together in harmony and the natural setting. Human beings live in harmony with Nature including the Forest which was providing most of the necessities for living. But over recent years, due to rapid industrialization, urbanization, nature has been adversely affecting.

    Extra explain:

    The environment seriously degrades and there are imbalance and disharmony. Also, the water and air have been polluted to a great extent because of the destruction of the vast forest on the earth. Because, the forest plays an important role in the conservation of water, purification of air and supplying many useful things to human beings.

    Another disaster that is posed before us is that due to the rapid growth of urbanization. Also, the living conditions of the people in the cities and towns have been deteriorating. There is the pollution of water, air, and noise, etc. due to the rapid expansion of industries, power stations, and motor vehicles, etc. Everywhere, there is pollution. It has been proving harmful to the physical and mental health of the people.

    All the Influences on the growth of the individual constitute the environment. As well as, the environment includes several situations or experiences that influence the development of the individual. So the environment of an individual comprises all the physical and social factors around him which directly affect his living including the working conditions.

    The various environmental factors are interrelated. Also, the physical environment includes living and non-living, the geographical landmarks, topography, and climatic conditions, man-made features like buildings, roads, transport and other facilities like health, sanitation, nutrition aspects. As well as, the social environment consists of the family and community life, fairs and festivals, modes of production and supply of essential commodities.

    The various environmental factors are inter-related. We know the environment of an individual comprises all the physical and social factors. Then only the individual can survive on his earth. For this reason, our environment is to protect.

    Role of Environmental Education (EE):

    Education regards as an important instrument and means for generating proper awareness and adequate knowledge and skills regarding environmental protection. It is, therefore, felt essential to develop education about the environment, education for the environment and education through the environment.

    So as a whole, it will be environmental education.

    • They should integrate into the whole system of formal education at all levels.
    • It adopts a holistic perspective that will examine the ecological, social, cultural and other aspects of particular problems.
    • They should center on practical problems related to real life.
    • They should aim at building up a sense of values.

    However, it universally agrees that environmental education should be interdisciplinary, drawing from biological, sociological, anthropological, economic, and political and human resources. It is also agreed that a conceptual approach in teaching environmental education is the best.

    It also involves decision-making and development strategies for promoting environmental protection. As well as, it treats as a discipline in which various subjects like Zoology, Botany, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics are including. This makes it imperative to train specialists in environmental education for planning,’ management, development, and taking remedial measures for solving the problems.

    The NCERT developed the guidelines for the school curriculum based on the Education Commission, 1964-66. It has also prepared a resource material on the use of the environment as a basis for meaningful learning in Primary Education.

    The National Policy on Education 1986 has also given a special place of significance to education and the environment. So a great need is being felt to create awareness for the protection of the environment by redesigning the objectives, methods, and curriculum in the field of education.