In what may be the Centre’s first strike in response to the rural distress read into the Gujarat Assembly poll outcomes, a 30% customs duty has been slapped on the import of chana dal and masoor dal.The official reasoning is clear. Cheap imports could hit farm incomes especially at a time when domestic production of pulses is at a record high and a bumper rabi crop is expected. With an adequate domestic stockpile of pulses and with international prices remaining low for a prolonged period, the Centre fears that traders may still prefer to import some pulses rather than buy the fresh crop from local farmers at higher prices.There has been a significant upsurge in imports, in the range of 30% to 46%, in four out of the first six months of this financial year. Chana and masoor were the key contributors for India’s pulses imports rising to over $1.6 billion between April and September, compared to $1.2 billion in the same period last year. The value of chana imports in this period rose 373%, while masoor grew 204% year on year. However, the recent trends suggest that there has been a moderation in imports, especially since October.Against this backdrop, the government’s is too late, but flawed market timing isn’t the real issue. Because, reflexively raising or breaking such tariff walls, as the production cycle warrants, doesn’t add up to a serious long-term policy, which should be aimed at boosting farm incomes Farmers, like investors, need predictability and coherence in government policies. Just as a duty hike on electronic goods won’t directly prop up local manufacturing or curb their consumption, hiking import duties on one dal or another won’t make farmers better-off — though traders who accumulated cheaper imports will benefit. The government must devise better means to shore up farm incomes without stirring up inflation.6. What does ‘reflexively raising’ refers to in the passage?1 pointa) By not giving much thought into itb) By consulting with the concerned officialsc) By reflecting on the issues faced by farmersd) None of the Above

In what may be the Centre’s first strike in response to the rural distress read into the Gujarat Assembly poll outcomes, a 30% customs duty has been slapped on the import of chana dal and masoor dal.The official reasoning is clear. Cheap imports could hit farm incomes especially at a time when domestic production of pulses is at a record high and a bumper rabi crop is expected. With an adequate domestic stockpile of pulses and with international prices remaining low for a prolonged period, the Centre fears that traders may still prefer to import some pulses rather than buy the fresh crop from local farmers at higher prices.There has been a significant upsurge in imports, in the range of 30% to 46%, in four out of the first six months of this financial year. Chana and masoor were the key contributors for India’s pulses imports rising to over $1.6 billion between April and September, compared to$1.2 billion in the same period last year. The value of chana imports in this period rose 373%, while masoor grew 204% year on year. However, the recent trends suggest that there has been a moderation in imports, especially since October.Against this backdrop, the government’s is too late, but flawed market timing isn’t the real issue. Because, reflexively raising or breaking such tariff walls, as the production cycle warrants, doesn’t add up to a serious long-term policy, which should be aimed at boosting farm incomes Farmers, like investors, need predictability and coherence in government policies. Just as a duty hike on electronic goods won’t directly prop up local manufacturing or curb their consumption, hiking import duties on one dal or another won’t make farmers better-off — though traders who accumulated cheaper imports will benefit. The government must devise better means to shore up farm incomes without stirring up inflation.6. What does ‘reflexively raising’ refers to in the passage?1 pointa) By not giving much thought into itb) By consulting with the concerned officialsc) By reflecting on the issues faced by farmersd) None of the Above