Read the following text carefully and answer the given questions on the basis of the same and common understanding : India urged the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to relax rules to allow the country to export food grains from its public stocks to the nations facing food crises. India can help, reduce food insecurity but there is hesitation on the part of the WTO, in relaxing its rules. India's Finance Minister said food, fuel and fertilizers are global public goods and ensuring access of these for developing and emerging economies is critical. She also shared India's experiences, including robust gains in agriculture production, citizen centric food security programmes and innovative delivery mechanisms such as the 'One Nation one Ration Card' Scheme. (Source : The Economic Times; July 16, 2022) (a) State and discuss any two objectives of World Trade Organisation. (b) Name any two steps taken by India to strengthen the food security.

Question

Accepted Answer

India urged WTO to relax rules to allow the country to protect its domestic industries and agriculture. India's arguments:

1. **Protecting Domestic Agriculture:** Developing countries like India need to protect their agriculture from subsidies given by developed countries.

2. **Fair Trade Rules:** India advocated for fair global trade rules that consider the interests of developing countries.

3. **Special Safeguard Mechanism:** India sought flexibility to protect farmers from sudden import surges.

4. **Food Security:** India argued that food security concerns should be given priority in trade negotiations.

India's role in WTO:
- India has been at the forefront of framing fair global rules
- India has kept commitments made to WTO
- India has taken steps to liberalise trade by removing quantitative restrictions and reducing tariff rates