Passage 1
The Tobacco is the most widely recognised preventable cause of disease and death in the world. It causes a wide range of diseases and affects those consuming it as well as those cultivating it. India has the world’s highest number of tobacco consumers — nearly 26 crore, according to an estimate in 2016-2017. Additionally, the health of more than 60 lakh people employed in the tobacco industry is also placed at risk because of the absorption of tobacco through the skin, which can cause various diseases.
Tobacco’s deleterious influence extends beyond human health. It is a highly erosive crop that rapidly depletes soil nutrients. This requires more fertilizers to be used which further worsens soil quality. The plant is also a major contributor to deforestation. Up to 5.4 kg of wood is required to process 1 kg of tobacco. The production and consumption of tobacco generates nearly 1.7 lakh tonnes of waste every year in India. Therefore, tobacco production and use impose a heavy economic burden on India.
Source – https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/the-tobacco-ep
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Passage 2
India has recorded a trade deficit, the difference between imports and exports, with most of its top 10 trading partners, including China, Russia, Singapore, and Korea, in 2023-24, according to official data.
The data also showed that the deficit with China, Russia, Korea, and Hong Kong increased in the last fiscal compared to 2022-23, while the trade gap with the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Indonesia, and Iraq narrowed.
The trade deficit with China rose to $85 billion, Russia to $57.2 billion, Korea to $14.71 billion and Hong Kong to $12.2 billion in 2023-24 against $83.2 billion, $43 billion, $14.57 billion and $8.38 billion, respectively, in 2022-23.
Source- https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/india-in-trade-d
