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![[4 April 2024] The Hindu Op-ed: Turning the spotlight on the urban poor](https://d18x2uyjeekruj.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WhatsApp-Image-2024-04-04-at-6.56.14-PM-1568x882.jpeg)
[4 April 2024] The Hindu Op-ed: Turning the spotlight on the urban poor
PYQ Relevance:
Mains:
Q. Most of the unemployment in India is structural in nature. Examine the methodology adopted to compute unemployment in the country and suggest improvements. (UPSC CSE 2023)
Prelims:
Q. Disguised unemployment generally means (UPSC CSE 2013)
(a) large number of people remain unemployed
(b) alternative employment is not available
(c) marginal productivity of labour is zero
(d) productivity of workers is lowNote4Students:
Mains: Social Issues; Population; Unemployment;
Mentor comments: Unemployment/Underemployment is the most contentious issue that continues to be a challenge for the Socioeconomic landscape of India. As one of the world’s most populous nations with a diverse workforce, fluctuations in the unemployment rate have far-reaching implications for the country’s growth and development. So, we need to analyze the current status of India’s Dynamic Population. The recently published, India Employment Report 2024 is the third in a series of regular publications by the ILO on labor and employment issues. This report on Youth Employment, Education, and Skills examines the challenge of youth employment in the context of the emerging economic, labor market, educational, and skills scenario in India and changes over the past two decades.
Let’s learn.
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Why in the News?
The recent India Employment Report (IER) 2024 Report by the Institute for Human Development and International Labour Organization (ILO) poses questions on the trickle-down effect of employment.
Key highlights of the IER 2024 Report:
- Poor Employment Conditions:
- The overall labor force participation and employment rates are reflecting issues such as stagnant or declining wages, increased self-employment among women, and a higher proportion of unpaid family work among youth.
- The share of the young population with secondary or higher education in the total unemployed has almost doubled from 35.2% in 2000 to 65.7% in 2022.
- Youth Employment Challenges:
- Youth employment and underemployment surged between 2000 and 2019, with educated youths experiencing significantly higher levels of joblessness.
- The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR), Worker Population Ratio (WPR), and the Unemployment Rate (UR) showed a long-term deterioration between 2000 and 2018 but witnessed an improvement after 2019.
- Widening Regional Gaps: Significant states consistently rank lower in employment indicators. For example, states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh have struggled with poor employment outcomes over the years, reflecting the influence of regional policies.
Case Study from Kolkata:
A study conducted in 37 slums across Kolkata in 2012 and revisited in 2022-23 found that the major occupations in slums have remained the same over the decade, with a significant proportion of the working population engaged in unskilled labor. The share of employment in skilled and semi-skilled labor and private organizations decreased between 2012-19, while employment in petty businesses or small shops increased by 9%. The study also found that employment in truck driving and cleaning, and construction and related work gained momentum in the last 10 years.- Widening Gender Gaps:
- India is facing low rates of female labor force participation.
- Although educational attainment has improved across all groups, social inequalities persist despite affirmative action and targeted policies, with Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes facing barriers to accessing better job opportunities.
- Informal Employment challenges: Although non-farm employment growing faster than farm employment before 2018, it has not grown sufficiently to absorb workers from agriculture. Around 90% are engaged in informal work, especially after 2018 it is increased.
- Lack of necessary skills: 75% of workers are unable to send emails with attachments, 60% are unable to copy and paste files, and 90% are unable to perform basic spreadsheet tasks like putting a mathematical formula.
- Declining Wages of Casual Workers:
- While wages of skilled laborers maintained a modest upward trend during 2012–22, wages have remained low for unskilled workers.
- As much as 62% of the unskilled casual agricultural workers and 70% of such workers in the construction sector at the all-India level did not receive the prescribed daily minimum wages in 2022.
- No Security to Industrial Workers: Recently, online platforms and gig workers have been expanding, but it is, to a large extent, the extension of informal work, with hardly any social security provisions.
- Trends in Regional Migration:
- India is expected to have a migration rate of around 40% in 2030 and will have an urban population of around 607 million.
- The present pattern of migration also shows regional imbalance in the labor markets.
- Usually, migration in India is seen from the eastern, north-eastern, and central regions to southern, western, and northern regions.
What are the suggestive measures given by ILO?
- To address labour market disparities:
- Enhance women’s participation.
- Integrate high-quality skills training to uplift economically disadvantaged groups.
- Promote a fair labour market.
- To enhance our focus on enhancing Employment:
- Working on macroeconomic policies especially manufacturing sector.
- Supporting MSMEs through a decentralized approach.
- Increase agricultural productivity.
- Building a sustainable economy.
- To enhance job quality and build strategies:
- Building robust labor Policy.
- Promote Digital economy.
- Focusing on sustained urban culture and migration policy.
https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/turning-the-spotlight-on-the-urban-poor/article68025389.ece
- Poor Employment Conditions:
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Should State Governments borrow more? | Explained
Why in the News?
Recently, the SC rejected Kerala’s plea for immediate relief in its case urging the Union government to ease borrowing constraints, allowing the state to secure extra funds in the ongoing fiscal year.
State governments receive funds from three sources:
- Own revenues (tax and non-tax)
- Transfers from the Union government as shares of taxes and as grants
- Market borrowings
Fiscal Demands for Extra Funds:
- Increased Expenditure: In 2020-21, the Kerala government sharply increased its spending to 18% of its GSDP, to provide economic relief in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, aided by the relaxation in borrowing norms then
- Central Gov transfers to Kerala declined: As ratios of GSDP, the Union government’s transfers to Kerala declined to 2.8% in 2023-24, significantly lower than previous years, even as the State’s revenues remained at around 8.0%.
- This meant that, in 2023-24, the State government could meet its modest budget expenditure, equivalent to 14.2% of GSDP, only by raising the borrowing to 3.4% of the GSDP
Socio-Economic for Extra Funds:
- Aging Population: Kerala, like many other states, faces the challenge of an aging population, which puts pressure on pension funds and healthcare systems, necessitating long-term financial planning and investment.
- Pension Liabilities: The substantial outgo for pensions poses a financial burden on the state’s budget, requiring strategies for sustainable pension management to ensure fiscal stability.
- Youth Outmigration: Kerala experiences significant outmigration of its youth, leading to a loss of productive workforce and potential tax revenues, highlighting the need for policies to retain skilled workers and stimulate economic growth
About Net Borrowing Ceiling (NBC):
- The net borrowing ceiling for states in India denotes the maximum threshold set on the funds that state governments can borrow within a fiscal year.
- Significance: Ensuring fiscal discipline and preventing states from accumulating excessive debt, the net borrowing ceiling plays a pivotal role.
- Factors: The criteria for setting these limits are shaped by various factors such as inputs from the Finance Commission, the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, and specific directives from the central government, notably the Ministry of Finance.
Basis of the Net Borrowing Ceiling:
- Fiscal Responsibility Legislation: Both the central and state governments in India adhere to the FRBM Act, which establishes fiscal deficit goals to uphold fiscal discipline. Under the FRBM, states are required to maintain a fiscal deficit limit of 3% of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP).
- Central Government Guidelines: The central government, through the Department of Expenditure in the Ministry of Finance, sets the annual borrowing limits for each state based on a formula that considers the state’s GSDP, existing debt levels, fiscal discipline, and other relevant factors. These limits can be revised in response to special circumstances, such as natural disasters or significant economic downturns.
- Finance Commission Recommendations: The Finance Commission, which is constituted every five years, recommends how the central taxes are to be divided between the centre and the states and suggests measures to maintain fiscal stability. It also provides recommendations regarding the borrowing limits of states.
Conclusion: States need to put in place an effective forecasting and monitoring mechanism for cash inflows and outflows so that a need-based approach is followed for market borrowings and the interest cost of cash surpluses is minimized.
Mains PYQ
Q What were the reasons for the introduction of Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, 2013? Discuss critically its salient features and their effectiveness. (UPSC IAS/2013)
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Nuclear power is key to development, says study
Why in the news?
A recent report published by IIM-A suggested that India must prioritize investment in Nuclear energy sector and expand related infrastructure.
Why India must prioritize investment in the Nuclear energy sector?
India aims to be a developed country by 2047 and is on track to achieve net zero — or effectively zero-carbon dioxide emissions by 2070.
Key findings of the Report:
- Current Energy Mix: Solar energy constitutes 16% of India’s installed generation capacity, while coal comprises 49%. Nuclear energy currently comprises only 1.6% of India’s energy mix
- Significant increase in nuclear power: The best-case scenario shows emissions falling to 0.55 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2070, achieving ‘net zero’. This scenario entails a significant increase in nuclear power capacity, reaching 30 GW by 2030 and 265 GW by 2050.
- Investment Requirements for Nuclear Energy: Achieving the proposed figures for nuclear energy would necessitate a doubling of investments. India would require an estimated ₹150-200 lakh crore between 2020-2070 to finance the necessary transitions in the energy sector
- Need technology-based solution: The authors emphasize that achieving net zero emissions requires a combination of technologies rather than a single solution.
- Transitioning away from coal: Coal is expected to remain a significant component of India’s energy system, serving as the “backbone”. However, transitioning away from coal would require substantial investment
What are the Challenges for India’s Goal of Net-Zero Emissions?
- Uranium Factor: Data by the Central Electricity Authority say solar energy accounts for 16% of India’s installed generation capacity. To achieve these idealistic figures for nuclear energy would require a doubling of investments as well as the assumption that uranium, a critical fuel but restricted by international embargo, is available in necessary quantities.
- Coal Factor: Coal accounts for 49% of India’s capacity. Coal would likely be the “backbone” of the Indian energy system and if the country has to phase down coal in the next three decades, it would need to build adequate infrastructure for alternative sources such as nuclear power, in addition to flexible grid infrastructure and storage to support the integration of renewable energy.
Suggested measures by the Report are:
- Research and Development: Invest in research and development to improve efficiency and reduce costs of renewable energy technologies, as well as advancements in nuclear energy technology.
- Policy Support: Implement supportive policies and regulations to encourage private sector investment in the energy sector, including streamlined approval processes, tax incentives, and renewable energy mandates.
- International Cooperation: Engage in diplomatic efforts to secure access to nuclear fuel and address international embargoes, while also collaborating with other countries on research and development in the energy sector.
Conclusion: India’s path to development by 2047 hinges on prioritizing energy sector investment, as per an IIM-A report. Achieving net zero emissions by 2070, India would need close to ₹150-200 lakh crore between 2020-2070 to finance these transitions.
Mains PYQ
Q With growing energy needs should India keep on expanding its nuclear energy programme? Discuss the facts and fears associated with nuclear energy. (UPSC IAS/2018)
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Living wills implementation lags in India
Why in the news?
In early March this year, 30 people in Thrissur in Kerala executed living wills.
Context:
- The Supreme Court’s 2018 order on Passive Euthanasia, wherein it recognized the ‘Right to die with dignity’ as a fundamental right and an aspect of Article 21 (right to life) of the Constitution.
- However, the people wanting to get a “living will” registered were facing problems due to cumbersome guidelines, prompting a reconsideration by the apex court.
- A Constitution Bench, led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, in three concurring opinions, upheld that the fundamental right to life and dignity includes the ‘Right to Refuse Treatment and Die with dignity’.
What is a Living Will?
A Living Will is a healthcare directive, in which people can state their wishes for their end-of-life care, in case they are not in a position to make that decision.
The Court’s procedure:
- Pre-2023: Initially, the process of creating living wills was deemed overly complex by the Court, with elaborate bureaucratic procedures in place to prevent abuse by unscrupulous individuals seeking to exploit the patient’s assets.
- Post-2023: Recognizing the impracticality of requiring judicial magistrate countersignatures on living wills, the Court streamlined the process in January 2023. Now, living will require signatures in the presence of witnesses, attestation by a notary or gazetted officer, and submission to a designated government officer acting as a custodian.
Challenges in Implementation :
- Decision-Making Process: Even if a living will is created, its implementation is not automatic. Decisions on withholding or withdrawing treatment require certification by primary and secondary medical boards, posing logistical challenges, especially in hospitals without designated boards.
- Ambiguities and Discomfort: Ambiguities in guidelines, discomfort with end-of-life care topics, and unclear legal definitions contribute to the hesitancy among officials to implement the Court’s directives without clear instructions from higher authorities.
- Legal Ambiguity: Indian law lacks a clear definition of ‘next of kin’, leading to potential disputes among family members about medical decisions for terminally ill patients.
- Barriers to End-of-Life Decisions: A survey of intensive care doctors reveals a general belief that end-of-life decisions are fraught with legal implications, serving as a significant barrier to making such decisions in the ICU.
- Regional Disparities in India:
- Haryana: While some states like Haryana have issued directions to follow the judgment, they have not provided essential guidance or protocols for implementation.
- Odisha: In contrast, Odisha has taken a more thorough approach by forming a committee of experts to develop detailed draft orders for implementing the judgment, setting a potential example for other states.
Conclusion: The central government could help bridge the gap in expertise by developing and publishing model orders and protocols to provide states with confidence and guidance in effectively implementing the judgment.
Mains question for practice
Q Discuss the challenges surrounding the implementation of living wills in India, as established by the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment in 2018.
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India among countries mulling telescopes on, around the moon
Why in the news?
Astronomers are looking forward to opening a new window on the universe by posting high-resolution telescopes on the moon and in orbit around it.
Why Astronomers are looking forward to opening telescopes on the moon?
- Radio telescopes launched into orbit around Earth exacerbated the problem of receiving radio noise from the entire planet, along with signals from outer space.
- The moon’s far side offers pristine, airless conditions ideal for optical telescopes, providing crystal-clear seeing conditions during the two-week lunar night.
Global Initiatives to Install Telescope on the Moon:
- NASA’s LuSEE Night Project: LuSEE Night, a joint NASA-Berkeley Lab project scheduled for launch in December 2025, aims to study the Dark Ages period by landing on the far side of the moon, shielded from radio frequency noise from Earth.
- ESA’s Projects: ESA is preparing to launch a radio telescope to the moon’s far side aboard its lunar lander, ‘Argonaut’, by 2030, along with other projects focused on gravitational wave detection and infrared observations.
- China’s Initiatives: China is also actively involved in lunar exploration, with plans to launch a moon-orbiting radio telescope in 2026 and deploy the Queqiao-2 satellite, which includes a radio telescope payload, to serve as a communications relay between Earth and future missions.
Indian Initiative
- PRATUSH: Indian scientists plan to deploy the radio telescope PRATUSH on the moon’s far side, built by the Raman Research Institute (RRI) in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
- Deployment Process: Initially, ISRO will place PRATUSH into orbit around the Earth, then fine-tune it before launching it towards the moon. Operating in Earth orbit will offer advantages such as free space operation and reduced ionosphere impact compared to ground-based experiments.
- Observational Advantages: PRATUSH in lunar orbit will have ideal observing conditions, operating in free space with minimal radio frequency interference (RFI) and no ionosphere, essential for studying the signal from the Dark Ages.
- Instrument Features: PRATUSH will carry a wideband frequency-independent antenna, a self-calibrating analog receiver, and a digital correlator to capture radio noise in the signal from the Dark Ages.
Conclusion: The global initiative to deploy telescopes on and around the moon aims to overcome Earth’s radio noise and capitalize on the lunar far side’s pristine conditions for groundbreaking astronomical observations, including studying the universe’s early Dark Ages.
Mains question for practice
Q Discuss the global initiatives to deploy telescopes on the moon.
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Digital India Trust Agency (DIGITA) to check Illegal Lending Apps
Why in the news?
To address the rising threat of cyber fraud, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is planning to establish a Digital India Trust Agency (DIGITA).
About Digital India Trust Agency (DIGITA)
DIGITA aims to tackle the proliferation of illegal lending apps by verifying and maintaining a register of authenticated digital lending platforms.
Role of DIGITA:
- Public Register: It will maintain a public register of verified apps, providing transparency and aiding law enforcement agencies in identifying unauthorised platforms.
- Verification Hub: It will serve as a central agency for vetting digital lending apps, ensuring their authenticity and compliance with regulations.
Regulatory Implications
- Apps lacking the ‘verified’ signature from DIGITA will be deemed unauthorized, enhancing law enforcement efforts against financial crimes in the digital domain.
- Verification processes will promote transparency and accountability within the digital lending sector, curbing fraudulent activities.
Progress made so far
- The RBI has shared a list of 442 digital lending apps with the IT Ministry for whitelisting with Google.
- Google has removed over 2,200 digital lending apps from its PlayStore, aligning with RBI and DFS directives to only allow apps from regulated entities or their partners.
PYQ:
2016:
Regarding ‘DigiLocker’, sometimes seen in the news, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. It is a digital locker system offered by the Government under Digital India Programme.
2. It allows you to access your e-documents irrespective of your physical location.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Practice MCQ:
Consider the following statements about RBI led Digital India Trust Agency (DIGITA):
1. It aims to tackle the proliferation of illegal lending apps.
2. Apps lacking the ‘verified’ signature from DIGITA will be deemed unauthorized.
Which of the given statements is/are correct?
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
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Taiwan’s Earthquake and the Pacific Ring of Fire
Why in the news?
- Taiwan was struck by its most powerful earthquake in at least 25 years.
- Its susceptibility to earthquakes is attributed to its location along the Pacific “Ring of Fire” where a majority of the world’s seismic activity occurs.
- Taiwan is primarily influenced by the collision of the Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian Plate.
What is the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’?
- The Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’ or Pacific Rim, or the Circum-Pacific Belt, is an area along the Pacific Ocean that is characterized by active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes.
- Volcanic arcs and oceanic trenches partly encircling the Pacific Basin form the so-called Ring of Fire.
- It is home to about 75 per cent of the world’s volcanoes – more than 450 volcanoes.
- Also, about 90 per cent of the world’s earthquakes occur here.
Its spread
- Its length is over 40,000 kilometres and traces from New Zealand clockwise in an almost circular arc covering Tonga, Kermadec Islands, Indonesia.
- It is moving up to the Philippines, Japan, and stretching eastward to the Aleutian Islands, then southward along the western coast of North America and South America.
Seismic activity of the region
- The area is along several tectonic plates including the Pacific plate, Philippine Plate, Juan de Fuca plate, Cocos plate, Nazca plate, and North American plate.
- The movement of these plates or tectonic activity makes the area witness abundant earthquakes and tsunamis every year.
- Along much of the Ring, tectonic plates move towards each other creating subduction zones.
- One plate gets pushed down or is subducted by the other plate.
- This is a very slow process – a movement of just one or two inches per year.
- As this subduction happens, rocks melt, become magma and move to Earth’s surface and cause volcanic activity.
PYQ:
2020: Discuss the geophysical characteristics of Circum-Pacific Zone.
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Caracals on the brink of extinction in India
Why in the news?
- With only an estimated 50 individuals remaining, predominantly in western India, the caracal (Caracal caracal schmitzi) is on the verge of extinction in the country.
- Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan and Kutch in Gujarat are the last strongholds for caracals in India, hosting around 28 and 20 individuals, respectively.
About Caracals
- Caracals are small wild cats known for their long ears with tufts and a reddish-tan or sandy-brown fur. It is called Siya Gosh in India.
- It is nocturnal animal typically preys upon small mammals, birds, and rodents.
- They live naturally in India, especially in Northwestern India. They are also found in Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia.
- They are found in Aravalli hill range, semi-deserts, savannahs, scrublands, and dry forests.
- Caracals used to live all over Central India and the Indo-Gangetic plains, but they haven’t been spotted in those areas for 40 years.
Conservation Status
- Caracals are listed as ‘Least Concern‘ on the IUCN Red List globally.
- It is listed as Near Threatened in India,
- It falls in the Schedule-I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Protection Efforts
- In 2021, the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC) announced a plan to recover and increase the population of 22 species in India, including caracals.
- Areas like Kutch, Aravalli mountains, Malwa plateau, and Bundelkhand region have been identified as potential habitats, with the Ranthambore-Kuno Landscape being a key conservation site.
PYQ:
2017:
In India, if a species of tortoise is declared protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, what does it imply?
(a) It enjoys the same level of protection as the tiger.
(b) It no longer exists in the wild, a few individuals are under captive protection; and now it is impossible to prevent its extinction.
(c) It is endemic to a particular region of India.
(d) Both B and C stated above are correct in this context.
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Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR)
Why in the news?
The Forest Department and a temple authority at Ahobilam have imposed certain restrictions on visitors arriving at a shrine in Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR).
About Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve
Details Origin of Name Named after Nagarjuna Sagar Dam and Srisailam Dam. Location Situated in the Nallamala hill range, part of the Eastern Ghats in Andhra Pradesh. Area Largest tiger reserve area in India, covering a total area of 3727 sq km. Wildlife Sanctuaries Constituted by the Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and the Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife Sanctuary. Vegetation Features tropical, dry, moist, deciduous vegetation with diverse flora and fauna. Topography Consists of plateaus, ridges, gorges, and deep valleys. River Krishna Traverses through the reserve for approximately 270 kilometers. Additional Information - Attained tiger reserve status in 1983.
- Home to Bengal tigers, Indian leopards, and more.
- Habitat contains several endemic species of plants.
- Tropical dry deciduous forests with bamboo and grass undergrowth.
PYQ:
2020:
Among the following Tiger Reserves, which one has the largest area under “Critical Tiger Habitat”?
(a) Corbett
(b) Ranthambore
(c) Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam
(d) Sunderbans
2015:
Consider the following pairs :
Place of Pilgrimage: Location
1. Srisailam : Nallamala Hills
2. Omkareshwar : Satmala Hills
3. Pushkar : Mahadeo Hills
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Practice MCQ:
It is the largest tiger reserve in India, covering a total area of 3727 sq km. It is constituted by the Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and the Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife Sanctuary and features tropical, dry, moist, deciduous vegetation with diverse flora and fauna.
Which protected area is implied by the above description?
(a) Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve
(b) Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve
(c) Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve
(d) Biligiriranga Swamy Temple Tiger Reserve