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  • Explained: Cycle 25/ Solar Cycle

     

     

    The sunspots identified by researchers from IISER Kolkata herald the start of a new solar cycle called Cycle 25.

    What are Sunspots?

    • Sunspots are temporary phenomena on the Sun’s photosphere that appear as spots darker than the surrounding areas. They are relatively cooler spots on the Sun’s surface.
    • They are regions of reduced surface temperature caused by concentrations of magnetic field flux that inhibit convection.
    • Sunspots usually appear in pairs of opposite magnetic polarity with a leader and a follower.

    What is Solar Cycle?

    • From our safe distance of about 148 million km, the Sun appears to be sedate and constant. However, huge solar flares and coronal mass ejections spew material from its surface into outer space.
    • They originate from sunspots, an important phenomenon that people have been following for hundreds of years. They originate deep within the Sun and become visible when they pop out.
    • Their number is not constant but shows a minimum and then rises up to a maximum and then falls again in what is called the solar cycle.
    • Every 11 years or so, the Sun’s magnetic field completely flips. This means that the Sun’s north and south poles switch places. Then it takes about another 11 years for the Sun’s north and south poles to flip back again.
    • So far, astronomers have documented 24 such cycles, the last one ended in 2019.

    How do they occur?

    • Given the high temperatures in the Sun, matter exists there in the form of plasma, where the electrons are stripped away from the nuclei.
    • The Sun is made of hot ionized plasma whose motions generate magnetic fields in the solar interior by harnessing the energy of the plasma flows.
    • This mechanism is known as the solar dynamo mechanism (or magnetohydrodynamic dynamo mechanism).
    • Simply stated, it is a process by which kinetic energy of plasma motions is converted to magnetic energy, which generates the magnetised sunspots, giving rise to the solar cycle..
    • Because of the nature of the solar dynamo, the part of its magnetic field that gives rise to sunspots reverses direction when it moves from one solar cycle to another.
    • This can be inferred by observing when the relative orientation of the sunspot pairs flips.

    Features

    • The solar cycle affects activity on the surface of the Sun, such as sunspots which are caused by the Sun’s magnetic fields. As the magnetic fields change, so does the amount of activity on the Sun’s surface.
    • One way to track the solar cycle is by counting the number of sunspots.
    • The beginning of a solar cycle is a solar minimum, or when the Sun has the least sunspots. Over time, solar activity—and the number of sunspots—increases.
    • The middle of the solar cycle is the solar maximum, or when the Sun has the most sunspots. As the cycle ends, it fades back to the solar minimum and then a new cycle begins.
    • Giant eruptions on the Sun, such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections, also increase during the solar cycle. These eruptions send powerful bursts of energy and material into space.

    Impacts of Solar Cycle

    • This activity has effects on Earth. For example, eruptions can cause lights in the sky, called aurora, or impact radio communications. Extreme eruptions can even affect electricity grids on Earth.
    • Solar activity can affect satellite electronics and limit their lifetime.
    • Radiation can be dangerous for astronauts who do work on the outside of the International Space Station.
    • Forecasting of the solar cycle can help scientists protect our radio communications on Earth, and help keep satellites and astronauts safe.

    Start of cycle 25

    • Following a weakening trend in activity over the last few cycles, there were predictions that the Sun would go silent into a grand minimum in activity, with the disappearance of cycles.
    • However, a team from IISER Kolkata has shown that there are signs that cycle 25 has just begun.
    • They used the data from the instrument Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager aboard NASA’s space-based Solar Dynamics Observatory for their calculations.

    Why is this so important to us on earth?

    • After all the sunspots look small and are hardly even visible to us. Contrary to this, sunspot activity may be correlated with climate on earth.
    • In the period between 1645 and 1715, sun spot activity had come to a halt on the Sun – a phenomenon referred to as the Maunder minimum.
    • This coincided with extremely cold weather globally. So sunspots may have a relevance to climate on earth.
    • Such links are tenuous, but definitely solar activity affects space weather, which can have an impact on space-based satellites, GPS, power grids and so on.

  • What is ‘Yes Bank Crisis’?

    On the advice of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the government imposed a moratorium on Yes Bank with effect from 6 p.m. on March 5 up to April 3. This has created a furore among the account holders of the bank.

    What restrictions did RBI put?

    • The RBI superseded the private sector lender’s board and appointed as an administrator.
    • Under the moratorium, deposit withdrawals have been capped at ₹50,000.
    • Within 24 hours, the RBI proposed a reconstruction scheme under which SBI could take a maximum 49% stake in the restructured capital of the bank.

    Why was it imposed?

    • The RBI cited a steady decline in Yes Bank’s financial position mainly due to the lender’s inability to raise adequate capital to make provisions for potential non-performing assets.
    • This failing resulted in downgrades by credit rating agencies, which in turn made capital raising even more difficult — a vicious cycle that further worsened its financials.
    • This apart there were serious lapses in corporate governance.
    • The bank has also experienced serious governance issues and practices in the recent years which have led to steady decline of the bank.

    When did it all start?

    • As on March 31, 2014, the bank’s loan book was ₹55,633 crore and deposits were ₹74,192 crore.
    • Since then the loan book expanded fourfold to ₹2,24,505 crore while deposit growth failed to keep pace and increased less than three times to ₹2,09,497 crore.
    • Asset quality also worsened during the period with gross non-performing assets sharply rising from 0.31% as on March 31, 2014, to 7.39% at the end of September 2019.
    • The exponential growth at Yes Bank during that period also came under the regulator’s scanner.
    • The lender has substantial exposure to several troubled borrowers including the IL&FS.

    What will be the likely impact on depositors?

    • While deposit withdrawals have been capped at ₹50,000, there are exceptions under which a higher amount can be withdrawn, with the permission of the RBI.
    • The RBI can allow a customer to withdraw more than ₹50,000 under the following conditions:
    1. in connection with the medical treatment of the depositor or any person actually dependent on the depositor;
    2. towards the cost of higher education of the depositor or any person actually dependent on him for education in India or outside India;
    3. to pay obligatory expenses in connection with marriage or other ceremonies of the depositor or his/her children or of any other person actually dependent upon depositor;
    4. or any other unavoidable emergency.
    • The total withdrawal should, however, not exceed ₹5 lakh or the actual balance in the account, whichever is lower.

    What about deposit insurance?

    • In case Yes Bank goes belly up for any reason, depositors will not lose all their money since deposits up to ₹5 lakh are covered under deposit insurance.
    • While the deposit insurance cover was ₹1 lakh till recently, this was increased to ₹5 lakh in the aftermath of the crisis at the Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank Limited.
    • Finance Minister has announced the increase in deposit insurance in this year’s Budget.

    What do such bank failures imply?

    • While the government and the regulator have asserted that the problem is solely related to this particular bank, the latest developments spotlight the governance risks in India’s banking sector.
    • There is a risk that the already poor operating environment for the banking sector could suffer further impairment if the government’s efforts to tackle problems in the bank fail to provide reassurance to depositors and investors.

  • Right of an accused to be defended

     

     

    Recently the Karnataka High Court observed that it is unethical and illegal for lawyers to pass resolutions against representing accused in court.  This is not the first time that bar associations have passed such resolutions, despite a Supreme Court ruling that these are “against all norms of the Constitution, the statute and professional ethics”.

    What does the Constitution say about the right of an accused to be defended?

    • Article 22(1) gives the fundamental right to every person not to be denied the right to be defended by a legal practitioner of his or her choice.
    • Article 14 provides for equality before the law and equal protection of the laws within the territory of India.
    • Article 39A, part of the DPSP, states that equal opportunity to secure justice must not be denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities, and provides for free legal aid.

    What has the Supreme Court said about such resolutions by bar associations?

    • The Supreme Court referred to writer Thomas Paine, who had been tried for treason in England in 1792.
    • Thomas Erskine, Attorney General for the Prince of Wales, was warned of dismissal if he defended Paine, but still took up the brief, saying: “… If the advocate refuses to defend from what he may think of the charge or of the defence, he assumes the character of the Judge…”
    • The Supreme Court cited other historical examples of accused being defended — revolutionaries against British rule; alleged assailants of Mahatma Gandhi and Indira Gandhi; Nazi war criminals at the Nuremberg trials.

    A matter of professional ethics

    • The Supreme Court ruled that such resolutions are wholly illegal, against all traditions of the bar and against professional ethics.
    • Every person however wicked, criminal, perverted or repulsive he may be regarded by society has a right to be defended in a court of law and correspondingly and it is the duty of the lawyer to defend him.
    • It said such resolutions were against all norms of the Constitution, the statute and professional ethics, called these a disgrace to the legal community, and declared them null and void.

    How are the professional ethics of lawyers defined?

    • The Bar Council of India has Rules on Professional Standards, part of the Standards of Professional Conduct and Etiquette to be followed by lawyers under the Advocates Act.
    • An advocate is bound to accept any brief in the courts or tribunals, at a fee consistent with his standing at the Bar and the nature of the case.
    • The Rules provide for a lawyer refusing to accept a particular brief in “special circumstances”.
    • Last year, The Uttarakhand HC clarified that these special circumstances refer to an individual advocate who may choose not to appear in a particular case, but who cannot be prohibited from defending an accused by any threat of removal of his membership of the bar association.

  • Election Commission of India unveils roadmap for revamp

    The Election Commission of India (ECI) is considering a series of new reforms proposed by working groups it set up in 2019. Some of them are:

    • New voting methods,
    • Capping the campaign expenditure of political parties,
    • Online registration of new voters at 17 years and
    • Ending social media campaigning 48 hours before polling among the recommendations

    Various suggested reforms

    Voters registration

    • Among the recommendations being considered is replacing all the forms for various voter services, including registration of new voter and change of address, with one single form.
    • Multiple numbers of forms create confusion and affect the efficiency in the process. It is now proposed to have a unified and simplified form for all services to voters.
    • Another recommendation was to start online registration facilities at the school or college-level for all prospective voters at 17 years of age so they can be enrolled in the electoral roll as soon as they become eligible at 18.
    • The ECI also recommended four cut-off dates in a year to enroll as a voter. Currently, January 1 is the qualifying date so those who turn 18 after that date are not eligible to vote the whole year.
    • The ECI has proposed January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 as the qualifying dates, while the Law Ministry has suggested two dates — January 1 and July 1.

    Electronic voter cards

    • The ECI also proposed to give out electronic versions of the voter ID card — EPIC — for convenience of voters.
    • Though not specifying the method, one of the recommendations was to look at the “possibility and feasibility of different voting methods”.
    • The IIT-Madras was working on a prototype for an Aadhaar-linked remote voting system for the ECI.
    • The Commission has already implemented one-way online transfer of postal ballots for service and implemented the same for the whole country in 2019.
    • It has been seen that approximately 30% of electors are not able to participate in elections for various reasons.
    • Some of them, as assessed in a report on facilities of domestic migrants may poll to the category of migrants who continue to remain voters at their previous locations.

    Expenditure and campaigning

    • For political parties, the recommendations included online nomination of candidates and a cap on the spending allowed by parties.
    • Currently, individual candidates are allowed a limited expenditure on campaigning.
    • Another recommendation was to impose a “silence period of 48 hours” before polling on social media and print media.
    • Campaigning on electronic media in the last 48 hours before polling is prohibited currently.

  • Species in news: Red Panda

     

     

    According to a report by the TRAFFIC report, there has been a considerable reduction in the poaching of Red Panda (ailurus fulgens). The report also recommended trans-boundary law enforcement co-operation through the use of multi-government platforms like SAWEN (South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network).

    Red Panda

    IUCN Red List Status: Endangered

    • The red panda (Ailurus fulgens) is a mammal native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China.
    • Its wild population is estimated at fewer than 10,000 mature individuals and continues to decline due to habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching, and inbreeding depression.
    • Despite its name, it is not closely related to the giant panda
    • The animal has been hunted for meat and fur, besides illegal capture for the pet trade.
    • An estimated 14,500 animals are left in the wild across Nepal, Bhutan, India, China and Myanmar.
    • About 5,000-6,000 red pandas are estimated to be present in four Indian states – Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Sikkim and West Bengal.
    • The diminishing habitat is a major threat to the species which is a very selective feeder and survives on selected species of bamboos.

    About South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN)

    • SAWEN is a Regional network is comprised of eight countries in South Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
    • It aims at working as a strong regional intergovernmental body for combating wildlife crime by attempting common goals and approaches for combating illegal trade in the region.
    • The South Asia region is very vulnerable to illegal traffic and wildlife crimes due to the presence of precious biodiversity and large markets as well as traffic routes for wildlife products in the south East Asian region.
    • The collaboration in harmonizing as well as enforcing the wildlife protection in the region is considered very important for effective conservation of such precious biodiversity.
    • India adopted the Statute of the SAWEN and became its formal member in 2016.

    Back2Basics

    TRAFFIC

    • The TRAFFIC, the Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network, is a leading non-governmental organisation working on wildlife trade in the context of both biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
    • It is a joint program of World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the IUCN.
    • It aims to ensure that trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature.
    • The TRAFFIC is governed by the TRAFFIC Committee, a steering group composed of members of TRAFFIC’s partner organizations, WWF and IUCN.
    • TRAFFIC also works in close co-operation with the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

  • Who were the Marakkars?

    The big-budget Malayalam film Marakkar: The Lion of the Arabian Sea is set to be released. It is a war film depicting the heroics of the Marakkar clan, whose leaders were naval chieftains of the Zamorin of Calicut during the 16th and 17th centuries.

    Who were the Marakkars?

    • By some accounts, they were of Arab origin and had migrated from Tunisia to Panthalayani near Koyilandy in present-day Kozhikode, and later moved to the region around present-day Kottakkal and Thikkodi near Payyoli.
    • By other accounts, the Marakkars were descendants of affluent businessman from the Cochin kingdom who migrated later to Calicut.
    • Historians say the name ‘Marakkar’ could have originated from maram or marakkalam, meaning ship, as these families lived along the coast and used ships.
    • Alternatively, it could have originated from the Arabic word markaba, meaning those who migrated via ships.
    • The Marakkars were mostly Muslims, but in some parts, they have been found to be Hindus as well.

    What was the war against the Portuguese about?

    • The Zamorin, Samoothiri in Malayalam, was the title given to rulers of the Calicut kingdom on the Malabar coast.
    • Faced with invading Portuguese ships, the Zamorin reached out to the Marakkars to defend the coast. The Marakkars fought against Portuguese invaders for nearly a century.
    • They were led in succession by four Marakkars, chief admirals who were appointed by the Zamorin with the title of Kunjali.
    • Related by bloodline, they were Kuttyali Marakkar (Kunjali Marakkar I, appointed in 1507), Kutty Pokker (Kunjali Marakkar II), Pathu Marakkar (Kunjali Marakkar III) and Muhammad Ali Marakkar (Kunjali Marakkar IV, appointed in 1595).
    • Their strategy was similar to guerrilla warfare. The Portuguese had massive ships which could not make easy manoeuvres in the sea.
    • The Marakkars used small ships which could easily surround the Portuguese ships, enabling the fighters to attack at will.

    Who is depicted the ‘Lion of the Arabian Sea’?

    • Kunjali Marakkar IV earned his reputation with his fierce onslaught on Portuguese ships, the favours he gave those who fought against the Portuguese, and his efforts to strengthen the fort at Kottakkal.
    • When he took charge in 1595, relations between the Zamorin and the Marakkars were deteriorating.
    • The Zamorin was feeling threatened by Kunjali Marakkar IV’s popularity, and by reports (said to be spread by the Portuguese) that he was planning to create a Muslim empire.
    • In 1597, the Zamorin signed a peace treaty with the Portuguese and attacked Kottakkal fort. For months, the Marakkars resisted the attack by the Zamorin’s Nair soldiers and the Portuguese fleet.
    • Eventually, as Portugal sent more forces and the Zamorin mounted his effort, Marakkar surrendered to the Zamorin on the assurance that their lives would be spared. But the Portuguese violated the terms, arrested him, took him to Goa and beheaded him.

  • [Prelims Spotlight] Important Governor Generals and Viceroys

     

    Prelims Spotlight is a part of “Nikaalo Prelims 2020” module. This open crash course for Prelims 2020 has a private telegram group where PDFs and DDS (Daily Doubt Sessions) are being held. Please click here to register.

    9th March 2020

    With almost absolute power the Governor-General and viceroy played a significant role in the shaping history of the country. Following are some of these important figures and significant events and major reforms carried out by them.

            Governor Generals of                            Bengal/India

                        (Period)

    		                   Important events/Reforms
     

     

     

    Warren Hastings

    (1773-1785)

    		  

    Regulating Act of 1773.

    First Governor-General of Bengal.

    End of the dual system of administration (1765-1772).

    Supreme Court at Calcutta.

    Wrote Introduction to the first English translation of Gita.

    Founded Madarasa Aliya at Calcutta.

     
     

     

    Lord Cornwallis

    (1786-1793)

    		  

    Separation of three branches of service: commercial, judicial and revenue.

    Permanent Land Revenue Settlement of Bengal-1793.

    Reformed, modernised and rationalised the civil service.

    Introduced the Cornwallis Code.

    Sanskrit College, Varanasi.

     
     

    Lord Wellesley

    (1797-1805)

    		  

    Introduction of Subsidiary Alliance System.

    Fourth Anglo-Mysore war.

    Fort William College, Calcutta.

     
     

     

    Lord Hastings

    (1813-1823)

     

     

    		  

    Anglo-Nepal War-(1814-16)

    Third Anglo-Maratha War-(1817-19) and dissolution of Maratha confederacy.

    Introduction of Ryotwari System of Thomas Munro, Governor of Madras-1820.

     
     

    Lord William Bentinck

    (1828-1835)

    		  

    Charter Act of 1833.

    Abolition of Sati-1829.

    Resolution of 1835 and Education reforms and introduction of English as the official language.

    The annexation of Mysore-1831, Coorg, and Central Cachar-1831.

     
     

    Lord Dalhousie

    (1848-1856)

    		  

    Introduction of the Doctrine of Lapse and annexations of Satara-1848, Jaitpur and Sambhalpur-1849, Udaipur-1852, Jhansi-1853, Nagpur-1854 and Awadh-1856.

    Wood’s Dispatch of 1854.

    Railway Minute of 1853.

    Telegraph and Postal reforms.

    Widow Remarriage Act-1856.

     
     

    Lord Canning

    (1856-1857)

     

    		 Establishment of universities at Bombay, Madras and Calcutta.

    Mutiny of 1857.

     

     

           Governor-General                            and

             Viceroy of India

                    (Period)

    		                                Important events/Reforms
     Lord Canning

    (1858-1862)

    		 Transfer of control from East India Company to the Crown by the Government of India Act 1858

    Indian Councils Act-1861
     

     

    Lord Mayo

    (1869-1872)

    		  

    Opening of Rajkot College in Kathiawad and Mayo College at Ajmer for political training of Indian Princes.

    Statistical Survey of India was established.

    Department of Agriculture and Commerce was established.

    Introduction of state railways.

     
     

     

     

    Lord Lytton

    (1876-1880)

     

    		  

    The great famine of 1876 affecting Bombay, Madras, Mysore, Hyderabad, Central India and Punjab.

    Appointment of Famine Commission under the presidency of Richard Strachey.

    Vernacular Press Act was passed- 1878.

    The Arms Act-1878.

     
     

    Lord Ripon

    (1880-1884)

    		  

    Education Commission 1882 under William Hunter-1882.

    Ilbert Bill controversy.

    Repeal of Vernacular Press Act in 1882.

    The First Factory Act in 1881 to improve labour conditions.

    Government resolution on local self government-1882.
     

    Lord Dufferin

    (1884-1888)

    		  

    Establishment of Indian National Congress.
     

    Lord Lansdowne

    (1888-1894)

    		  

    The categorisation of civil services into imperial, provincial and subordinate.

    Indian Councils Act-1892

    Durand Commission (1893) was set up to define the Durand Line between India and Afghanistan.
     

     

     

    Lord Curzon

    (1899-1905)

    		  

    Police Commission (1902) was appointed under Sir Andrew Frazer.

    University Commission (1902) was appointed and Universities Act (1904) was passed.

    Department of Commerce and Industry was established.

    Calcutta Corporation Act-1899

    Partition of Bengal (1905).
     

    Lord Minto-II

    (1905-1910)

    		  

    Popularisation of anti-partition and Swadeshi Movements.

    Split in Indian National Congress at Surat in 1907.

    Indian Muslim League was established by Aga Khan (1907)

    Morley-Minto reforms or Indian Councils Act 1909.
     

    Lord Hardinge-II

    (1910-1916)

    		  Transfer of capital from Calcutta to Delhi (1911).

    Establishment of Hindu Mahasabha (1915) by Madan Mohan Malviya.
          Lord Chelmsford

    (1916-1921)

    		 Home Rule League was formed by Annie Besant and Tilak (1916)

    Lucknow session of Congress (1916).

    Lucknow Pact between Congress and Muslim League (1916).

    Champaran Satyagraha (1918), and Satyagraha at Ahmadabad (1918).

    Montague’s August Declaration.

    Government of Indian Act- 1919

    Jallianwalla Bagh massacre (1919).

    Non-Cooperation and Khilafat Movements were launched.

    Foundation of Women’s University at Poona (1916) and Saddler’s Commission was appointed for reforms in educational policy.

    Appointment of S. P. Sinha as governor of Bihar first Indian to do so.
     

     

     

    Lord Reading

    (1921-1926)

    		  

    The Chaura-Chauri Incident-Feb5, 1922 and withdrawal of Non-Cooperation movement.

    Moplah rebellion in Kerala (1921).

    Repeal of the Press Act of 1910 and Rowlatt Act of 1919.

    Kakori train robbery (1925)

    Establishment of Swaraj Party (1922).

    The decision to hold a simultaneous examination for ICS in Delhi and London with effect from 1923.

     
     

     

     

    Lord Irwin

    (1926-1931)

    		  

    Simon Commission-1928

    Appointment of the Harcourt Butler Indian States Commission (1927)

    Murder of Saunders and Bomb blast in the Assembly Hall of Delhi-1929

    Lahore session of Congress 1929 and Purna Swaraj Resolution.

    Dandi March (12 March, 1929) and launch of Civil Disobedience Movement.
     

     

     

     

    Lord Willingdon

    (1931-1936)

    		  

    Second Round Table Conference and failure of the conference, resumption of the Civil Disobedience Movement.

    Announcement of the Communal Award (1932).

    Poona Pact (1932)

    Third Round Table Conference 1932.

    The Government of India 1935.

    Establishment of All India Kisan Sabha 1936.

    Establishment of Congress Socialist Party by Acharya Narendra Dev and Jayaprakash Narayan (1934)
     

     

     

     

    Lord Linlithgow

    (1936-1944)

    		  

    First general elections were held and Congress attained absolute majority (1936-1937).

    Congress ministers resigned (1937) after the outbreak of WW-II

    Subhash Chandra Bose elected as the president of Congress-1938.

    Lahore Resolution by Muslim League for the demand of separate state for Muslims.

    August Offer by the viceroy-1940.

    Cripp’s Mission to India

    Passing of the Quit India Resolution by Congress-1942
     

     

     

    Lord Wavell

    (1944-1947)

    		  

    C Rajgopalachari’s CR Formula (1944) and Gandhi-Jinnah Talks failed.

    Wavell Plan and the Shimla Conference (1942)

    Cabinet Mission and Congress accepted its plan 1946

    Observance of the ‘Direct Action Day’ (16 August 1946) by the Muslim League.

    Elections to the Constituent Assembly and formation of Interim Government by the Congress (September 1946).

    Announcement of the end of British rule in India by Clement Attlee on February 20, 1946
     

     

    Lord Mountbatten

    (1947-48)

    		 June Third Plan (June 3, 1947) announced.

    Introduction of Indian Independence Bill in the House of Commons.

    Appointment of two boundary commissions under Sir Cyril Radcliff for the partition of Bengal and Punjab.

     

  • The role of women in developing a knowledge economy

    The role of women in developing a knowledge economy

    Context

    Indian economic success requires scientific skills that can foster a knowledge economy, the emergence of which depends on how gender-balanced the workforce is.

    Half the scientific potential squandered

    • The requirement of the skilled workforce: A rapidly growing India requires a highly skilled technical workforce that is crucial for developing a knowledge economy.
      • Unfortunately, half the scientific potential of India—women in science—is squandered.
      • Women make up only 14% of the 280,000 scientists, engineers, and technologists in research and development institutions across the country, according to a recent study.
    • Several barriers in careers: Today, fewer women apply for or hold key scientific positions as several barriers prevent them from progressing in their careers, in comparison with their male counterparts.

    Several unacknowledged factors that disadvantage women

    • There is widespread frustration experienced by women, who find it difficult if not impossible to fulfil their scientific potential.
      • Even today, several factors that disadvantage women are not acknowledged widely enough.
    • What are the difficulties faced by women: Peer-reviewed research reports have indicated that women-
      • Scientists earn less.
      • Have less prestige within departments.
      • Have less lab space.
      • Are offered inadequate jobs on graduating with science degrees and have more teaching responsibilities.
      • They also face greater difficulty in receiving grants and therefore apply for fewer grants in the first place.
    • Imperative to tackle issues: It is imperative to tackle these issues with vigour if India is to take its rightful place among developed nations.

    Lack of informal networks

    • Women tend to lack access to informal networks that provide opportunities to work in high-profile projects.
      • Which include attending conferences abroad or on-the-job opportunities.
    • How it affects them? They lack the work experience that would enable them to rise up the ranks and provide access to the wide range of developmental models that could build the credibility they need to advance.

    Importance of mentor

    • Performance assessment is now an integral part of an organization’s performance management systems, implemented as companies move away from the age-old concepts of training and skill development.
    • How mentors matters? Mentors often help build confidence as well as professional identity in protégés and offer access to developmental opportunities, allowing individuals to demonstrate their ability and gain trust.
      • Mentors keep information channels open and provide feedback on performance in crucial times.
      • It has been noted that almost every successful woman has had a mentor at some time.

    How organizations work culture matters?

    • Unepathetic culture: Organizations often define success by the willingness of their employee to work for long hours and prioritize work over everything else—a “live to work” ideal, generally regarded as more masculine.
      • Group membership as criteria leads to discrimination: When women feel selected or assessed on the basis of group membership rather than their work record and abilities, they experience gender discrimination.
      • Women feel that an unempathetic culture is one of the most significant barriers to their advancement.
    • Gender bias as a major career obstacle: A study highlighted that only 3% of women surveyed regarded family responsibilities as their most serious career obstacle, while 50% cited gender bias.
      • Only 7% of female employees surveyed reported leaving the organization for family reasons, whereas 73% reported leaving because they saw limited opportunities.
      • Quit rate: The quit rates for women were significantly lower in organizations that provided better training and promotion opportunities.
    • The need for the employee-friendly policies: In recent years, we have witnessed an increase in the number of women with children who participate in the country’s paid workforce.
      • An organization’s culture has a significant impact on those who work within it.
      • Unfortunately, not many organizations have revised their work policies or employee expectations to enable women to strike a balance between their work and family responsibilities.
      • Flexible policies: For instance, the internet and telecom revolutions have enabled organizations to introduce employee-friendly policies such as Flexi-work hours and work-from-home that have significantly transformed workplace practices.

    Way forward

    • Need for the realisation of the full potential of women: Science needs the best scientists, and a knowledge economy needs a gender-balanced workforce. This can only be attained by realizing the full potential of women.
    • Reach out to young girls: Apart from being wasteful and unjust, the under-representation of women in science threatens the goal of achieving excellence in the field. To tackle this, we must set an ambitious target of reaching out to 1 million young girls each year and encourage them to take up science and make a difference.
    • Convention of women: A national convention of women in science must be held annually, with a specific focus on discussing and building general awareness around the major challenges that women face.

    Conclusion

    We must mobilize all our resources if India aims to be a $5 trillion economy. The gender imbalance in science and technology is a looming challenge and threatens to weaken our country’s competitive economic position. By addressing these concerns, we can empower and motivate more women to join scientific fields, unlock India’s full potential, and develop the country to become a knowledge economy.

  • 7th March 2020 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions

    [WpProQuiz 406]

  • Common mistakes that can cost you UPSC Prelims 2020

     

    In this talk, we are going to discuss do’s and don’t for UPSC Prelims 2020. It is a very important topic considering the fact that very little time is left time left. In this lesson, Birendra Sir, a core mentor at Civilsdaily shares various tips obtained after taking the feedback from more than 150 students.

    In this talk, we are going to discuss the following components:

    • How to crack UPSC prelims with just 3 months of preparation.
    • Common mistakes committed by most of the Civil Services aspirants during their UPSC prelims preparation. Do’s and Don’t.
    • The most effective way to revise any subject from the prelims point of view.
    • How one should analyze the test paper attempt, previous year UPSC prelims questionnaire and increase the score in UPSC prelims 2020.
    • How to perform multiple revision of all subjects before UPSC prelims 2020 in the shortest possible time.
    • Motivational boost.

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    Click here to Enroll for the Nikalo Prelims 2020

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