Context

• The advent of digital media has significantly transformed the political landscape in India, as illustrated by two comprehensive CSDS-Lokniti surveys.
• These surveys, encompassing a vast demographic of 642 million voters and 924 million broadband connections, reveal the increasing prominence of digital platforms in shaping public opinion and political discourse.
• Despite the continuing dominance of television, digital media is emerging as a crucial channel for political engagement, particularly in influencing younger and more tech-savvy voters.

Digital Media Consumption Patterns

• The surveys indicate that a substantial 29% of respondents engage with political content on digital platforms daily, with an additional 18% doing so occasionally.
• Although television remains the leading source of political information (42%), digital platforms surpass traditional newspapers (16.7%) and radio (6.9%) in terms of daily political content consumption.
• Platforms like WhatsApp (35.1%), YouTube (32.3%), Facebook (24.7%), Instagram (18.4%), and Twitter (6.5%) are frequently accessed by users for political updates, suggesting a shift towards a content election or an influencer election.
• This shift is characterised by the growing influence of digital media over traditional forms of media.

An Analysis of the Political Influence of Digital Media

• Emergence as a Political Force
  • Digital media has become an essential force in shaping political opinions and behaviours, moving beyond traditional boundaries of political communication.
  • This transformation is primarily due to the accessibility, interactivity, and proximity that digital platforms offer.
  • Unlike television, newspapers, or radio, digital media platforms allow users to engage with content in real-time, providing a dynamic space for political discourse and activism.
• Democratisation of Information
  • One of the most significant impacts of digital media on politics is the democratisation of information.
  • Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube enable individuals to access a diverse range of perspectives and information sources.
  • This has weakened the traditional gatekeeping role of mainstream media, allowing for a broader spectrum of voices and opinions to be heard.
  • For instance, political influencers and independent journalists can reach large audiences without the backing of major media corporations.
• Enhanced Political Participation
  • Digital media has also enhanced political participation among citizens.
  • Platforms like WhatsApp, Twitter, and Facebook serve as tools for organising and mobilising political activities.
  • For example, during election campaigns, political parties and candidates use these platforms to engage with voters, share their manifestos, and respond to public concerns.
  • This direct line of communication creates a more engaged and informed electorate.
• Influencer and Content-Driven Politics
  • The rise of digital influencers has introduced a new dimension to political campaigning and discourse.
  • Influencers with substantial followings on platforms such as YouTube and Instagram often wield significant sway over their audiences.
  • These influencers can shape public opinion through their commentary, analyses, and endorsements.
  • The 2024 Indian general election, for instance, saw a marked increase in the activity of digital influencers who scrutinised the BJP's campaign and policies, contributing to a more informed and critical electorate.
• Rapid Spread of Information and Misinformation
  • While the rapid spread of information on digital platforms can enhance political awareness, it also poses the risk of misinformation and fake news.
  • The virality of content on social media means that false information can spread quickly, potentially influencing public opinion and electoral outcomes.
  • This dual-edged nature of digital media necessitates robust fact-checking mechanisms and digital literacy among the populace to discern credible information from falsehoods.

Case Studies of Political Influence

• 2016 US Presidential Election
  • The 2016 US presidential election highlighted the impact of social media on electoral politics.
  • Campaigns utilised platforms like Facebook and Twitter for targeted advertising and voter engagement.
  • Additionally, the spread of misinformation and foreign interference through social media became central issues, demonstrating both the power and vulnerabilities of digital platforms in political processes.
• 2014 and 2019 Indian General Elections
  • In India, the BJP effectively leveraged digital media to engage with voters and propagate its message.
  • The party's sophisticated use of WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter helped it connect with a vast electorate, particularly young and first-time voters.
  • This digital strategy was instrumental in the party's electoral successes in both 2014 and 2019.

Governmental Control and Regulatory Measures

• The IT Rules, 2021, provided the initial legal framework for this control, expanding MeitY’s powers and granting MIB new authorities over digital news media and online entertainment streaming apps.
• Despite these measures, the Union Government faced challenges in fully controlling digital content, prompting further regulatory expansions.
• In 2023, the creation of three Grievance Appellate Committees (GACs) marked the first expansion, allowing officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, MIB, and MeitY to manage appeals and issue content-related orders.
• A subsequent amendment in 2023, granted the government the power to remove digital content deemed fake, false, and misleading, although this amendment was stayed by the Supreme Court of India on March 21, 2024.

Key Highlights of the Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2024

• In response to the limitations of the IT Rules, 2021, the Union Government introduced the Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023, aiming to further tighten control over digital media.
• This bill, if enacted, would require digital creators commenting on politics or news to register and operate under MIB’s discretion, effectively increasing government oversight and diminishing transparency and accountability.
• The Broadcasting Bill, 2024, a revised version of the initial draft, seeks to extend the government’s command over digital media.
• Key highlights of the bill include classifying individual commentators as Digital News Broadcasters and content creators as OTT Broadcasters, requiring registration once certain user thresholds are met.
• The bill also introduces new compliances for online platforms and establishes a safe harbour regime independent of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
• This framework aims to enforce censorship through proactive compliances, registrations, and fines, often relying on vague provisions that allow for arbitrary enforcement.

Implications for Democratic Expression: A License Raj for Digital Creators

• The Broadcasting Bill, 2024, embodies a shift towards digital authoritarianism, creating a bureaucratic system designed to control online narratives.
• This approach contrasts with the administrative burden of the notice-and-takedown model and represents a significant threat to democratic expression.
• The bill's provisions, if enforced, could curtail the freedoms of digital creators and limit the diversity of political discourse in India.

Conclusion

• The rise of digital media as a powerful tool for political engagement underscores the need for balanced regulatory measures that protect democratic freedoms while ensuring responsible use of digital platforms.
• The Union Government's regulatory approach, as evidenced by the Broadcasting Bill, 2024, must carefully navigate these objectives to avoid stifling the democratic potential of digital media.

Why in the News?

The SEBI has proposed a series of short-term measures to curb speculative trading in index derivatives (futures & options).

What’s in Today’s Article?

• About Futures & Options (Meaning, Key Features, Applications, Examples, etc.)
• Difference between F&O
• News Summary

About Futures & Options:

• Futures and options are two fundamental types of derivatives in financial markets.
• They are financial contracts that derive their value from the performance of an underlying asset, such as stocks, commodities, currencies, or indexes.
• These instruments are used for hedging risks, speculating on price movements, and gaining leverage in financial markets.
• About Futures Trading:
  • A futures contract is a standardized agreement to buy or sell a specific quantity of an asset at a predetermined price on a specific future date.
  • Key Features Include:
    • Standardization: Futures contracts are standardized in terms of quantity, quality, and delivery date, facilitating liquidity and ease of trading.
    • Leverage: Traders can control large positions with a relatively small amount of capital, known as margin.
    • Obligation: Both the buyer and the seller are obligated to fulfil the contract terms at expiration unless the position is closed before the expiry date.
  • Applications:
    • Hedging: Producers and consumers of commodities use futures to hedge against price fluctuations. For example, a wheat farmer may sell wheat futures to lock in a price for their harvest.
    • Speculation: Traders use futures to speculate on price movements, aiming to profit from market volatility.
  • Example:
    • If a trader believes the price of crude oil will rise, they may purchase a crude oil futures contract. If the price increases, they can sell the contract at a profit.
• About Options Trading:
  • An options contract gives the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy (call option) or sell (put option) an underlying asset at a specified price (strike price) before or on a specified date.
  • Key Features Include:
    • Right, Not Obligation: Unlike futures, options give the holder the right to execute the contract, providing more flexibility.
    • Premium: The buyer of an option pays a premium to the seller for this right. The premium is the cost of the option.
    • Leverage: Options provide leverage, allowing traders to gain significant exposure with a relatively small investment.
  • Types of Options:
    • Call Option: Grants the holder the right to buy the underlying asset at the strike price.
    • Put Option: Grants the holder the right to sell the underlying asset at the strike price.
  • Applications:
    • Hedging: Investors use options to protect against adverse price movements in their portfolio. For instance, purchasing put options can hedge against a potential decline in stock prices.
    • Speculation: Traders use options to bet on the direction of market movements. Call options are bought when expecting a price rise, while put options are bought when expecting a price fall.
  • Example:
    • A trader buys a call option for stock XYZ with a strike price of ₹100, expiring in one month, by paying a premium of ₹5.
    • If the stock price rises to ₹120, the trader can exercise the option to buy at ₹100 and sell at ₹120, making a profit (excluding the premium paid).

Differences Between Futures and Options:

• Obligation: Futures contracts impose an obligation on both parties to fulfil the contract terms, while options grant the right without obligation.
• Risk and Reward: Futures involve higher risk as both potential gains and losses are unlimited. Options limit the buyer's loss to the premium paid, though potential gains are also substantial.
• Flexibility: Options provide more flexibility with the right to execute the contract, whereas futures require execution unless closed before expiry. 

Short-term measures to curb speculative trading:

• The Securities and Exchange Board of India has proposed several short-term measures to curb speculative trading in index derivatives (futures and options), protect investors, and ensure market stability.
• Key proposals include restricting multiple option contract expirations, raising the size of options contracts, and implementing intraday monitoring of position limits.
• These measures follow Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's proposal to double the Securities Transaction Tax (STT) on futures and options from October 1, 2024, to address the surge in trading volume.

Need for Such Measures:

• SEBI's consultation paper noted that 92.50 lakh unique individuals and firms traded in index derivatives in 2023-24, incurring a cumulative loss of Rs 51,689 crore, with 85% of traders experiencing net losses.
• The paper recommends increasing the minimum contract size for index derivatives in two phases, reflecting the rise in benchmark indices over the past nine years.
• Additionally, SEBI suggests rationalizing options strikes, requiring upfront collection of option premiums, and eliminating margin benefits for calendar spread positions with contracts expiring on the same day.
• To mitigate high implicit leverage risks near options expiry, SEBI proposes increasing margins on the day before and on expiry day.
• The consultation paper aims to enhance investor protection and promote stability in derivative markets.

Why in News?

The Ministry of Mines was forced to scrap the auction for the lithium block in Jammu and Kashmir’s (J&K’s) Reasi district for the second time, following weak investor response.

This comes nearly 18 months after then Mines Secretary announced the discovery of an inferred deposit of 5.9 million tonnes of lithium ore in Reasi, expected to be among the largest deposits in the world.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Lithium Reserves in India
• Why Access to or Control over Lithium is Important?
• What is the Reason Behind Investors Staying Away from Li Block Auctions?
• What is the Status of Other Lithium Deposits in India?
• Way Ahead to Boost Li Exploration in India

Lithium Reserves in India:

• Lithium is a soft, silvery-white non-ferrous metal and is one of the key components in rechargeable batteries for mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras and electric vehicles.
  • It is also used in some non-rechargeable batteries for things like heart pacemakers, toys and clocks.
• The Geological Survey of India (GSI) had for the first time in India's history established Lithium inferred resources of 5.9 million tonnes in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district.
• Months after India's first lithium reserves, the GSI has found another reserve of the crucial mineral in Degana in Rajasthan's Nagaur district.
  • These reserves are believed to be much bigger in quantity (than found in J&K) and can meet 80% of the total country's demand.

Why Access to or Control over Lithium is Important?

• India’s electric-vehicle (EV) market was valued at $383.5 million in 2021, and is expected to expand to $152.21 billion in 2030.
• India imported 450 million units of lithium batteries valued at $929.26 million (₹6,600 crore) in 2019-2020.
• The ongoing global transition to low-carbon economies, the rapid expansion of AI and 5G networks will greatly reshape global and regional geopolitics in favour of those possessing and producing lithium.

What is the Reason Behind Investors Staying Away from Li Block Auctions?

• Difficulties around extracting and processing lithium: From hard rock pegmatite deposits.
• Underdeveloped mineral reporting standards: Used in tender documents.
• Other complaints of prospective bidders:
  • Bid documents have limited information of the block,
  • Block being too small to apply modern mineral systems-based tools,
  • No clarity on whether any beneficiation study had been conducted to assess the feasibility of extracting and processing lithium from the resources identified in J&K,
  • Absence of an investor-friendly resource classification code, etc.

What is the Status of Other Lithium Deposits in India?

• In Chhattisgarh:
  • The Ministry of Mines successfully auctioned off India’s first lithium block in Chhattisgarh’s Korba district recently.
  • Also, a private exploration company funded by the National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) has found hard rock lithium deposits ranging from 168 to 295 parts per million (ppm) in Korba.
• In other states:
  • Lithium exploration in other states has not been as fruitful.
  • In Manipur, efforts to explore lithium in Kamjong district were stalled due to resistance from locals in the area.
  • In Ladakh’s Merak block, very close to the border between India and China, a lithium exploration funded by NMET yielded results that are not encouraging.
  • In Assam’s Dhubri and Kokrajhar districts, the NMET recommended to drop the plan of upgradation of a lithium exploration.

Way Ahead to Boost Li Exploration in India:

• Need to improve reporting standards:
  • Clarity on the economic viability of mining lithium is important as the extraction process is expensive, and with global lithium prices falling significantly, miners are increasingly eager to maintain their margins.
  • India’s current resource classification rules are largely based on the UN Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC), which do not provide sufficient information to determine the economic viability of mining a mineral block.
  • Most regulatory bodies across the world adhere to the Committee for Mineral Reserves International Reporting Standards (CRIRSCO) template, which requires the reporting of economically viable reserves.
  • Hence, India should adopt CRIRSCO-aligned internationally-compliant mineral reporting standards to attract private investment in the sector.
• Allocation to the government companies:
  • The blocks that have not received the bare minimum bids should be allocated to the government companies for prospecting or mining operations.
  • This is allowed under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Act.
• Global best practices: In Chile, the government has designated lithium as a strategic resource and its development has been made the exclusive prerogative of the state.

Why in news?

High temperature at high altitude is disrupting flight operations to and from Leh, located at nearly 10,700 feet above the mean sea level.

What’s in today’s article?

• How do aircraft fly?
• High temperatures and impact on aircraft’s flight
• Role of global warming

How do aircraft fly?

• Aircraft wings are designed with the top surface more curved than the bottom. As the aircraft moves, air flows faster over the top of the wings than beneath them.
• According to Bernoulli’s principle, this faster-moving air results in lower pressure above the wings compared to the pressure below.
  • Bernoulli's principle: Within a horizontal flow of fluid, points of higher fluid speed will have less pressure than points of slower fluid speed.
• This pressure difference generates a force known as lift, which helps the aircraft take off.

High temperatures and impact on aircraft’s flight

• Thinning of air and loss of required lift
  • Higher temperatures cause air to expand and become less dense, resulting in fewer air molecules beneath an aircraft's wings to generate sufficient lift.
  • According to experts of atmospheric science, aircraft lose about 1% lift for every 3°C temperature increase.
• Impact on engine performance
  • Thinner air also affects engine performance by reducing the oxygen available for combustion, thereby decreasing thrust.
  • As a result, planes need longer runways and more powerful engines to take off in hotter conditions.
  • For example, a runway that is 6,500 feet at 20°C would need to be 8,200 feet at 40°C. In extreme heat, takeoff can become impossible.
• Landing becomes more challenging
  • Thinner air also makes landings more challenging. In addition to the brakes on the wheels, pilots use reverse thrust (literally, thrust in the opposite direction to the movement of the aircraft) to slow down the aircraft while landing.
  • In case of thin air, the reverse thrust generated might not be enough to perform the task.
• Situation at Leh
  • These issues are particularly felt in airports located in higher altitudes (like the one in Leh), where the air is anyway thin and runways are often shorter.

Role of global warming

• The extreme heat affecting aircraft take-offs and landings is a result of global warming.
• Since 1880, the global average temperature has risen by at least 1.1°C, and in India, annual mean temperatures have increased by about 0.7°C since 1900.
• Studies show that higher temperatures are already disrupting air travel.
  • A 2020 study on Greek airports found that the warming trend reduced the maximum take-off weight of the Airbus A320 by 127 kg per year, impacting lift and thrust.
  • A 2023 study predicted that rising temperatures will increase the take-off distance for a Boeing 737–800 by 6% on average by 2071-2080, requiring an additional 113-222 meters at low-altitude airports.
• In the short term, airports must adapt by scheduling flights during cooler times, extending runways, and reducing take-off weights.
• Long-term solutions involve significantly reducing fossil fuel consumption to mitigate global warming.

Why in news?

At least 144 persons were killed and 197 injured after multiple landslides flattened some three villages in Vythiri taluk of the hilly Wayanad district of Kerala early on July 30.

What’s in today’s article?

• Landslide
• Landslide in Wayanad

Landslide and what Causes one?

• About
  • A landslide is defined as the movement of a mass of rock, debris, or earth down a slope.
  • Landslides are a type of "mass wasting," which denotes any down-slope movement of soil and rock under the direct influence of gravity.
  • Landslides occur mainly in mountainous terrains where there are conducive conditions of soil, rock, geology and slope.
• Causes
  • Natural Causes that trigger it include heavy rainfall, earthquakes, snow melting and undercutting of slopes due to flooding.
  • Landslides can also be caused by Anthropogenic Activities such as excavation, cutting of hills and trees, excessive infrastructure development, and overgrazing by cattle.
  • In India, rainfall-induced landslide events are more common.

Classification and mapping of Landslides

Landslide in Wayanad

• A massive landslide struck the hilly areas of Meppadi in Kerala's Wayanad district, killing at least 144 people.
• The tragedy occurred past midnight, with the first landslide hitting around 1 am and a second one following at 4:30 am.

Possible reasons behind Wayanad Landslide

• Heavy rainfall
  • Extremely heavy rainfall, a fragile ecology particularly vulnerable to landslides, and steadily increasing population pressures all combined to trigger multiple landslides.
  • The region received more than 140 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours between the mornings of Monday and Tuesday, about five times more than what is expected.
    • Heavy rains during the monsoon season trigger landslides in Kerala almost every year.
• Hilly terrain with sharp slopes
• The whole of western Kerala, which is a hilly terrain with sharp slopes, is susceptible to landslides.
  • According to the landslide atlas released by the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) National Remote Sensing Centre in 2023, 10 out of the 30 most landslide-prone districts in India were located in Kerala, with Wayanad ranked 13th.
• The terrain here has two distinctive layers, a layer of soil sitting atop hard rocks.
• When a lot of rain happens, the soil gets saturated with moisture and water reaches the rocks and flows between the soil and the rock layers.
• This weakens the force that binds the soil to the rocks and triggers the movement.
• Loss of green cover
  • A 2021 study on landslide hotspots in India revealed that 59 per cent of the total landslides in Kerala occurred in plantation areas.
  • Loss of forests increase the fragility of the terrain, especially in areas prone to heavy rains in the western ghats.
• Climate change
  • Climate scientists have pointed towards the warming of the Arabian Sea as one of the causes for the extremely heavy and unpredictable rain patterns in the state.
    • The southeast Arabian Sea is becoming warmer, causing the atmosphere above this region, including Kerala, to become thermodynamically unstable.
    • Scientists have noticed a trend of deep cloud systems forming due to the warming of the Arabian sea.
    • This causes extremely heavy spells of rain in shorter periods of time, increasing the risk of landslides, especially when these intrude into land.
• Environmental neglect and mining
  • Since 2011, the "Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel" set up by the government under ecologist Madhav Gadgil, has recommended that the Wayanad hill ranges be declared ecologically sensitive.
    • The panel recommended that 75% of the 129,037 sq km area of the mountain range be declared ecologically sensitive because of the presence of dense forests, a large number of endemic species and unique geology. 
    • The panel also said that the region needed to be divided into zones based on their ecological sensitivity, where the most vulnerable sections needed to be monitored and protected him from rampant commercial activity.
  • They recommended a ban on mining, quarrying, new thermal power plants, hydropower projects and large-scale wind energy projects in ecologically sensitive zone 1.
  • The suggestions made by the panel have not been implemented even after 14 years due to resistance from state governments, industries and local communities.
  • 

Context

• The decennial Census in India, a crucial exercise for understanding the nation's demographic and socio-economic landscape, has been significantly delayed.
• Despite the recent deadline of June 30, 2024, to freeze administrative boundaries, the anticipated start in October 2024 seems uncertain, especially given the reduced budget allocation for 2024-25.
• Therefore, it becomes imperative to explore the necessity of the Census, the preparatory steps involved, and the political and social complexities surrounding its execution.

The Importance of Conducting the Census

• Informed Policy-Making and Planning
  • The Census provides granular data on the population’s size, distribution, and composition.
  • This data is vital for informed decision-making and strategic planning at all levels of government.
  • Policies related to healthcare, education, housing, and infrastructure rely heavily on accurate demographic information.
  • Without current data, planning becomes guesswork, potentially leading to misallocation of resources and ineffective policies.
• Equitable Distribution of Resources
  • Government schemes and welfare programs are designed based on population data to ensure resources reach those in need.
  • Programs such as the Public Distribution System (PDS), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), and various health and education initiatives are all dependent on accurate Census data.
  • The absence of updated Census data since 2011 means that many programs may not be effectively targeting the intended beneficiaries, resulting in inequities and inefficiencies.
• Implementation of Legislative Acts
  • The Women’s Reservation Act, which mandates reserving 33% of seats in Parliament and Assemblies for women, is a significant piece of legislation aimed at enhancing gender representation in politics.
  • The implementation of this Act requires up-to-date demographic data to accurately determine the constituencies and seats to be reserved.
  • Without a current Census, the execution of such important legislative measures remains stalled.
• Understanding Social Dynamics
  • The Census provides insights into various social indicators such as literacy rates, employment patterns, and household composition.
  • These indicators are essential for understanding the socio-economic conditions of different communities.
  • For instance, data on literacy rates can help in designing targeted educational interventions, while employment data can guide job creation policies.
• National Security and Emergency Planning
  • Accurate population data is crucial for national security and disaster management.
  • In times of natural disasters, pandemics, or other emergencies, knowing the population's size and distribution helps in efficient resource allocation and emergency response.
  • For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, accurate demographic data was essential for vaccine distribution and healthcare planning.
• Urban Planning and Infrastructure Development
  • Rapid urbanisation in India necessitates detailed planning for cities and towns and the Census data helps in understanding migration patterns, urban growth, and housing needs.
  • This information is critical for developing infrastructure projects such as roads, public transportation, water supply, and sanitation facilities.
  • Effective urban planning based on accurate data can significantly improve the quality of life for urban residents.
• Economic Analysis and Development
  • The economic profile of a population, including income levels, employment status, and occupational patterns, is crucial for economic planning and development.
  • Census data supports economic analyses that inform policies on taxation, subsidies, and economic incentives.
  • It also aids in identifying areas that require economic development initiatives to boost local economies and reduce disparities.
• Social Justice and Inclusion
  • The Census plays a key role in promoting social justice by identifying marginalized and vulnerable groups.
  • Data on Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and other backward classes is essential for implementing affirmative action policies and ensuring these groups receive the benefits and protections they are entitled to.
  • Additionally, understanding the socio-economic conditions of these groups helps in designing programs to uplift them and promote inclusivity.
• Tracking Progress and Setting Benchmarks
  • The Census allows for the tracking of progress over time by providing a baseline against which future data can be compared.
  • This helps in evaluating the effectiveness of policies and programs and making necessary adjustments.
  • Setting benchmarks based on Census data ensures that development goals are realistic and measurable.

Preparatory Steps for the Census

• Preparations for the Census involve meticulous planning and execution. It typically takes about three months after the boundaries are set to prepare for fieldwork.
• Preliminary arrangements include updating maps and lists of administrative areas, pre-testing draft Census questionnaires, and training officers and core staff.
• The transition to a digital Census, using mobile apps for data collection, further necessitates extensive training and logistical planning.
• Despite the delay, Census Directorates in States and Union Territories have been actively preparing, ensuring that they can commence operations swiftly once the new date is fixed.

Complexities Surrounding the Execution of Census

• Budgetary Constraints and Delays
  • The recent allocation of ₹1,309.46 crore for the Census in the 2024-25 budget, a significant reduction from the ₹3,768 crore allocated in 2021-22, raises concerns about the feasibility of conducting the Census even in 2024.
  • This reduced budget allocation indicates potential further delays, pushing the exercise beyond its already overdue schedule.
  • However, this allocation can still be utilised for essential preparatory activities such as firming up enumeration areas, finalising questionnaires, and providing refresher training for core staff.
• Political and Social Complexities
  • Several political and social issues complicate the execution of the Census. One major concern is the update of the National Population Register (NPR) during the first phase of the Census.
  • The draft NPR form includes questions on “mother tongue, place of birth of father and mother, and last place of residence,” which were absent in the 2011 Census.
  • These additions have been met with opposition from some States and citizen groups, as the NPR is seen as a precursor to the National Register of Citizens (NRC), raising fears of potential exclusions and discrimination.
• Subsequent Clarification on NPR
  • To create a comprehensive database of usual residents in the country, the NPR with details of persons usually residing in villages and towns and other rural and urban areas was first prepared in 2010 during the House listing and Housing Census phase of Census 2011.
  • It was updated in 2015 incorporating changes due to birth, death, and migration. This process was put through under the Citizenship Act, 1955.
  • The Centre has clarified that NPR data will not be used for the NRC, but it must decide whether to retain these contentious questions in the NPR format.
• The Growing Demand of Caste-Based Census
  • There is growing demand for a caste-based Census to understand the economic well-being of marginalised communities.
  • However, the Union Government, in a 2021 affidavit to the Supreme Court, deemed a caste Census (except for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) as administratively difficult and cumbersome.
  • This decision is critical as it affects the socio-economic policies aimed at addressing caste-based inequalities.

Conclusion

• The delay in conducting India’s decennial Census has far-reaching implications for policy-making and socio-economic planning.
• While preparatory steps have been taken, budgetary constraints and political complexities pose significant challenges.
• The government must prioritise the Census to ensure equitable access to schemes and services and to facilitate the implementation of critical legislation like the Women’s Reservation Act.

Why in news?

The Supreme Court of India commenced a special Lok Adalat drive as part of its 75th anniversary celebrations.

From 2 p.m., the first seven Benches of the court, including a five-member Bench headed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, transformed into Lok Adalats to amicably settle long-pending disputes. The Lok Adalats started hearing these cases after the judges concluded their regular Bench duties for the day.

This initiative, running until August 3, aims to expedite the resolution of various cases such as matrimonial disputes, property disputes, motor accident claims, land acquisition, compensation, and service and labour disputes.

What’s in today’s article?

• About Lok Adalat

Lok Adalat:

• Background:
  • National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) has been constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, and the Chief Justice of India is the Patron-in-Chief of NALSA.
  • It aims to provide free Legal Services to the weaker sections of the society and to organise Lok Adalats for amicable settlement of disputes.
  • Hence, the Lok Adalats have been given statutory status under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
• About:
  • Lok Adalat as the very name suggests means people’s court (Lok - people, Adalat - court).
  • It is one of the alternative dispute redressal mechanisms, a forum where disputes or cases are settled or compromised amicably.
  • In a nutshell, it is a form of party-based (parties involved in the dispute) justice in which people and judges work together to resolve problems by discussion, persuasion and mutual consent, in order to provide affordable and timely justice.
• Organization of Lok Adalat:
  • The State authority or district authority or the High Court legal services committee or Tehsil legal services committee (as the case may be) may organize Lok Adalat at such intervals and places as it thinks fit.
  • National Lok Adalats are held at regular intervals, with Lok Adalats held throughout the country on a single day, in all courts from the Supreme Court to the Taluk Levels, where cases are disposed of in large numbers.
• Composition:
  • Every Lok Adalat organised for an area shall consist of -
    • Serving or retired judicial officers.
    • Other persons as may be specified by the state/district authority or the High Court/Tehsil legal services committee or as the case may be, organising such Lok Adalats.
  • The persons deciding the cases in the Lok Adalats are called the Members of the Lok Adalats. Role played by these members:
    • They have the role of statutory conciliators only and do not have any judicial role.
    • This means, they can only persuade (and shall not pressurize or coerce) the parties.
    • As a result, the Lok Adalat will not decide the subject on its own initiative, but rather on the basis of a compromise or settlement reached between the parties.
    • The members will assist the parties in reaching an amicable settlement of their dispute in an unbiased and impartial way.
• Types of cases at Lok Adalat:
• Transfer or change of land title cases, compoundable criminal offences, family disputes, encroachment on forest lands, land acquisition disputes, motor accident claims and cases which are not sub-judice.
• Provided that the Lok Adalat shall have no jurisdiction in respect of any matter or case relating to an offence not compoundable (can’t be quashed) under any law.
• Powers: Under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 -
  • Lok Adalats shall have jurisdiction to determine and to arrive at a compromise or settlement between the parties to a dispute in respect of -
    • Any case pending before the court.
    • Any matter which is falling within the jurisdiction of and is not brought before any court for which the Lok Adalat is organised (pre-litigation stage).
  • The award (decision) made by the Lok Adalats is deemed to be a decree of a civil court.
  • Such award is final and binding on all parties and no appeal against such an award lies before any court of law.
  • However, in exercising their right to litigate, the parties involved are free to approach the court with relevant jurisdiction and file a case by following the required procedure.
• Court fee:
  • There is no court fee payable when a matter is filed in a Lok Adalat.
  • The court fee originally paid in the court on the complaints or petition is also refunded back to the parties if a matter pending in the court of law is referred to the Lok Adalat and is later settled.
• Difference between Lok Adalat and a law court:
  • In general, Lok Adalat is not a court in the traditional sense.
  • Lok Adalat is a forum established by the people or interested parties such as legal aid providers and public-spirited individuals to allow ordinary residents to air their grievances against state agencies or other citizens and seek an equitable resolution.

Why in news?

Quad Ministerial Meeting was held recently in Tokyo. After the meeting, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa released a joint statement.

They expressed their enthusiasm for the upcoming Quad summit in India, highlighting the importance of the summit in strengthening their collaborative efforts. The ministers reiterated their commitment to advancing a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region and emphasized the importance of their partnership in addressing regional and global challenges.

The joint statement underscored the shared values and strategic interests of the Quad nations.

What’s in today’s article?

• Quad
• Key highlights of the Quad Ministerial Meeting

Quad

• About
  • The grouping of four democracies –India, Australia, US and Japan– is known as the quadrilateral security dialogue or quad.
  • The aim of this grouping is to ensure a free and open international order based on the rule of law in the Indo- Pacific.
• Objectives
  • The group’s primary objectives include
    • maritime security,
    • combating the Covid-19 crisis, especially vis-à-vis vaccine diplomacy,
    • addressing the risks of climate change,
    • creating an ecosystem for investment in the region and
    • boosting technological innovation.
• Evolution of Quad
• Following the Indian Ocean tsunami, India, Japan, Australia, and the US created an informal alliance to collaborate on disaster relief efforts.
• Quad as a formal group was first mooted by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2007.
  • However, due to Chinese resistance and reluctance shown by India, it could not move ahead.
• Later, during the 2017 ASEAN Summits, all four former members re-joined negotiations to revive the quadrilateral alliance.
• The Quad was upgraded to the ministerial level in September 2019.
• In March 2021, the first-ever summit of QUAD leaders took place virtually.
  • It was participated by the PMs/Presidents of all the member countries. The summit was hosted by US.
• Later, in September 2021, the first in-person meeting of Quad leaders was hosted by the US.
• Divergences between India and the remaining Quad members
  • Divergences between India and the remaining Quad members US, Japan and Australia over Russia and bilateral differences over the Pannun assassination plot have cast a shadow on the grouping.
  • With Beijing as the principal challenge, Quad is trying to paper over the differences and make a case for cooperation.

Key highlights of the Quad Ministerial Meeting

• India to host Quad Leaders’ Summit in 2024
  • Ministers reaffirmed that India will host Quad Leaders’ Summit in 2024 and USA will host the next Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in 2025.
• On Ukraine War
  • The participating leaders expressed their deepest concern over the war raging in Ukraine, and flagged respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
  • This was a clear reference to Russian invasion of Ukraine.
    • Significantly, this formulation of respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is not used by India in its national statements on the Russia-Ukraine war.
  • The negative impacts of the war in Ukraine with regard to global food and energy security, especially for developing and least developed countries, was also highlighted.
• Free and open Indo-Pacific
  • The Quad leaders reaffirmed its steadfast commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
  • They vowed to work towards a region where no country dominates others and each state is free from coercion in all its forms.
    • This was a veiled reference to China’s aggressive behaviour in the region.
• Achievements of Quad highlighted
  • Leaders also listed the outcomes from the Quad meeting including:
    • the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness initiative that links information fusion centres;
    • the Open-RAN (Radio Access Network) deployed in Palau;
    • a space-based climate warning system to be launched in Mauritius, and
    • off-grid solar projects in the Indo-Pacific.

Why in the News?

India, a founding member of the International Labour Organization (ILO), is likely to raise a complaint against the UN agency over its India Employment Report 2024, released in March this year.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• About ILO (Background, Objectives, etc.)
• India Employment Report (Key Highlights of the 2024 edition)
• Centre likely to Lodge Complaint against ILO’s India Employment Report

About International Labour Organisation:

• The ILO was created in 1919, as part of the Treaty of Versailles that ended World War I, to reflect the belief that universal and lasting peace can be accomplished only if it’s based on social justice.
• In 1946, the ILO became a specialized agency of the United Nations.
• The ILO is devoted to promoting social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights, pursuing its founding mission that labour peace is essential to prosperity.
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

Objectives of ILO: The ILO has four strategic objectives:

• Promote and realize standards and fundamental principles and rights at work,
• Create greater opportunities for women and men to decent employment and income,
• Enhance the coverage and effectiveness of social protection for all, and
• Strengthen tripartism and social dialogue.

Membership of ILO:

• The ILO has 187 state members.
• India is a founding member of the ILO and it has been a permanent member of the ILO Governing Body since 1922.
• The ILO constitution permits any member of the UN to become a member of the ILO.
• To gain membership, a nation must inform the director-general that it accepts all the obligations of the ILO constitution.

About India Employment Report 2024:

• The India Employment Report 2024 is the third in the series of regular publications by the Institute for Human Development on labour and employment issues.
• It is undertaken in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO).
• The report examines the challenge of youth employment in the context of the emerging economic, labour market, educational and skills scenarios in India and the changes witnessed over the past two decades
• the report highlights recent trends in the Indian labour market, which indicate improvements in some outcomes along with persisting and new challenges, including those generated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key Highlights of the India Employment Report 2024:

• The report is primarily based on analysis of data from the National Sample Surveys and the Periodic Labour Force Surveys between 2000 and 2022.
• Employment Trends & Current Scenario:
  • 
  • The female labour market participation rate, after declining significantly in the earlier years, took to a faster upward trend as of 2019, particularly in rural areas.
  • One of the most significant features of the Indian labour market is a slow and steady transition of the workforce away from agriculture and into the non-farm sectors.
  • Employment in India is predominantly self-employment and casual employment.
  • Nearly 82 per cent of the workforce engages in the informal sector, and nearly 90 per cent is informally employed.
  • While wages of casual labourers maintained a modest upward trend during 2012–22, real wages of regular workers either remained stagnant or declined.
  • There are large variations between states in their employment outcomes, which are captured through the employment condition index prepared for this report.
  • The migration levels in India are not adequately captured through official surveys.
  • The rates of urbanization and migration are expected to considerably increase in the future.
  • India is expected to have a migration rate of around 40 per cent in 2030 and will have an urban population of around 607 million.
• Challenges of Youth Employment:
  • A large proportion of the population is of working age, and India is expected to be in the potential demographic dividend zone for at least another decade.
  • But the country is at an inflexion point because the youth population, at 27 per cent of the total population in 2021, is expected to decline to 23 per cent by 2036.
  • Each year, around 7–8 million youths are added to the labour force whose productive utilization could lead to India reaping a demographic dividend.
  • Youth participation in the labour market has been much lower than among adults and was on a long-term (2000–19) declining trend, primarily due to greater participation in education.
  • Youth unemployment increased nearly threefold, from 5.7 per cent in 2000 to 17.5 per cent in 2019 but declined to 12.1 per cent in 2022.
  • After the lockdowns, the youth labour market indicators recovered quite quickly.
  • But this movement was accompanied by additions to the labour force and workforce, primarily in poor-quality work.
• Suggestions:
  • The report highlights five key policy areas for further action, which apply more generally and also specifically for youth in India:
    • promoting job creation;
    • improving employment quality;
    • addressing labour market inequalities;
    • strengthening skills and active labour market policies; and
    • bridging the knowledge deficits on labour market patterns and youth employment.

Centre likely to Lodge Complaint against ILO’s India Employment Report:

• The Indian government plans to lodge a complaint against the International Labour Organization (ILO) over its India Employment Report 2024.
• A Union Labour Ministry official criticized the ILO's model as unsuitable for India, stating that India's own assessments and data provide a more accurate picture.
• The ILO report, prepared with the Institute of Human Development, highlighted that 83% of India's unemployed are youth, with a significant increase in the share of educated young people among the unemployed.
• The Labour Ministry has expressed concerns over the ILO's data sources and emphasized the importance of employment generation and improving employability through government initiatives.

Why in News?

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the Report on Currency and Finance (RCF) for the year 2023-24 with the theme - India’s Digital Revolution.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• India’s Digital Revolution - Highlights of the RCF
• Significance of the Digitalisation in Finance in India
• Challenges Posed by the Digitalisation in Finance
• Remittances in India - Highlights of the RCF
• Way Forward for a Robust Digital Finance Ecosystem in India

India’s Digital Revolution - Highlights of the RCF:

• India is leading the global digital revolution, emerging as a frontrunner on the back of its robust digital public infrastructure (DPI), rapidly evolving institutional arrangements, and a growing tech-savvy population.
• Globally, India ranks first in biometric-based identification (Aadhaar) and real-time payments volume; second in telecom subscribers; and third in terms of the startup ecosystem.
• The flagship Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has revolutionised the retail payment experience for end users, making transactions faster and more convenient.
• In the digital currency arena, the RBI is at the forefront with pilot runs of the e-rupee, the central bank digital currency (CBDC).
• The digital lending ecosystem is becoming vibrant with initiatives such as the Open Credit Enablement Network, the Open Network for Digital Commerce and the Public Tech Platform for Frictionless Credit.
• FinTechs are collaborating with banks and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) as lending service providers.
  • They are also operating platforms to facilitate digital credit.

Significance of the Digitalisation in Finance in India:

• Paving the way for next-generation banking: For example, loans in the retail segment are being enabled by online payments and innovative credit assessment models with instant disbursements.
• Innovations are making financial markets more efficient, integrated and inclusive: By -
  • Improving access to financial services at affordable costs;
  • Enhancing the impact of direct benefit transfers (DBTs) by effective targeting of beneficiaries in a cost-efficient manner; and
  • Boosting E-commerce through embedded finance.
• On the external front: Digitalisation is driving growth in India’s services exports and lowering remittance costs.
• Transforming DPI as a global public good: For example, the RBI has joined Project Nexus - a multilateral international initiative to enable instant cross-border retail payments by interlinking domestic Fast Payments System (FPS).
  • As part of the project, the country’s UPI and FPSs of Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand will be interlinked through Nexus.

Challenges Posed by the Digitalisation in Finance:

• Customer protection: It presents challenges related to cybersecurity, data privacy, data bias, vendor and third-party risks.
• Complex products and business models: Emerging technologies can introduce such models with risks that users may not fully understand, including the proliferation of fraudulent apps and mis-selling through dark patterns.
• Human resource challenges: Digitalisation may induce human resource challenges in the financial sector, necessitating strategic investments in upskilling and reskilling.

Remittances in India - Highlights of the RCF:

• Highest remittance recipient in the world:
  • According to the World Bank, global remittances are estimated to have increased to US$ 857.3 billion in 2023.
  • This is led by India (US$ 115.3 billion - accounting for 13.5% of the world total), Mexico (US$ 66.2 billion), China (US$ 49.5 billion) and the Philippines (US$ 39.1 billion).
  • The cost of sending remittances globally has decreased over time, with digitalisation playing a key role.
• Trends in India:
  • In 2021, more than half of India’s inward remittances were from the Gulf countries, while North America accounted for 22% share.
  • The ratio of remittances to GDP for India has gradually increased from 2.8% in 2000 to 3.2% in 2023. It is now above that of gross FDI inflows to GDP ratio (1.9% in 2023), providing strength to India’s external sector.
• Future projections:
  • Going forward, India is poised to be the world’s leading supplier of labour as its working-age population is expected to rise until 2048, while it has started dwindling for major advanced economies.
  • This will propel remittances to around $160 billion in 2029 from $115 billion in 2023, and propel skill upgradation of the workforce.

Way Forward for a Robust Digital Finance Ecosystem in India:

• Regulatory and supervisory frameworks must scale up and become more sophisticated to balance financial stability, customer protection and competition.
  • For example, the Government of India has introduced the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act 2023 to fortify the protection of personal data in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
• The goal is to balance effective regulation with fostering financial innovations in a safe, robust and trustworthy ecosystem.

Context

• On July 26, 2024, India commemorated the 25th anniversary of the Kargil War, a conflict that tested the nation's resolve and showcased the extraordinary valour of its armed forces.
• Prime Minister Modi led the nation in paying tribute to the brave soldiers who, despite the formidable challenges posed by the rugged Himalayan terrain, safeguarded India's sovereignty.
• While commemorating the Kargil anniversary, it is important to reflect on whether the Kargil war of mid-1999 was a victory or a case of the armed forces evicting Pakistani troops from Indian territory at a high human cost.

The Legacy of Kargil War

• Military Strategy and Tactics
  • The Kargil War was marked by the audacious infiltration of Pakistani soldiers and militants into the Indian side of the Line of Control (LoC), occupying strategic high-altitude positions.
  • The Indian military's response, involving coordinated operations by the Army and the Air Force, showcased exemplary strategic planning and tactical execution under extreme conditions.
  • The terrain and altitude posed severe logistical challenges, yet the Indian forces managed to reclaim most of the occupied positions.
  • This demonstrated not only the military's resilience and adaptability but also highlighted gaps in India's defence preparedness that needed urgent attention.
• Political and Diplomatic Impacts
  • On the political front, the Kargil War solidified the leadership of then-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his government.
  • Despite being a caretaker government after losing a vote of confidence, Vajpayee's administration took decisive steps to address the crisis.
  • The successful military campaign and the government's handling of the war contributed significantly to the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) electoral success later that year.
  • Diplomatically, the war reinforced India's stance on the sanctity of the LoC and exposed Pakistan's duplicity on the global stage, as international opinion largely sided with India.
• National Identity and Public Sentiment
  • The Kargil War was the first conflict in India to be extensively covered by television media, bringing the harsh realities of war into living rooms across the nation.
  • This unprecedented media coverage created a strong sense of nationalism and collective solidarity among the Indian populace.
  • Stories of heroism, such as Captain Vikram Batra's legendary battle cry Yeh Dil Maange More, became part of the national ethos, inspiring generations and embedding the sacrifices of the soldiers into the national consciousness.
• The Nuclear Context and Military Restraint
  • The Kargil War holds a unique place in history as the first post-Cold War conflict between two nuclear-armed neighbours.
  • Despite initial threats from Pakistani diplomats at the UN, both nations exercised nuclear restraint, preventing the feared apocalyptic escalation.
  • PM Vajpayee's prudent decision to evict the intruders without crossing the LoC reassured the international community of India's limited military objectives.

Gaps Highlighted by the Kargil War in India’s Defence and Security Apparatus and Post-War Steps and Reforms

• Military and Intelligence Shortcomings
  • Detailed analyses and first-person accounts reveal significant lapses in inter-service cooperation, particularly between the Army and the Air Force.
  • The lack of timely intelligence, which allowed Pakistani troops to stealthily intrude into Indian territory, has been a point of contention.
  • While some blame the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) for this failure, others dispute this view. Regardless, these embedded lessons are crucial for the current Modi government.
• Post-War Reforms
  • Following the war, Prime Minister Vajpayee took unprecedented steps to address these lapses.
  • He established the Kargil Review Committee (KRC) in July 1999 to examine the sequence of events and recommend future measures.
  • The KRC's report led to the formation of a Group of Ministers (GoM) in April 2000, which reviewed the national security system and set up four Task Forces on intelligence, internal security, border management, and defence management.
  • The involvement of domain experts like G.C. Saxena, N.N. Vohra, Madhav Godbole, and Arun Singh highlighted the government's commitment to comprehensive reform.
  • However, the Vajpayee government's focus was diverted by subsequent events, including the 9/11 attacks and the terrorist attack on the Indian Parliament in December 2001.
  • As a result, the implementation of the GoM's recommendations remained incomplete.
  • This lack of follow-through had grave consequences, as evidenced by the Mumbai attacks in November 2008 and the Galwan clash in June 2020.
• Long-term Defence Reforms
  • The aftermath of the Kargil War prompted a comprehensive review of India's defence and intelligence apparatus.
  • Recognising the lapses that allowed the initial infiltration, the Vajpayee government initiated significant reforms.
  • These efforts marked a shift towards a more integrated and responsive defence strategy.
  • The focus was on improving inter-service coordination, enhancing intelligence capabilities, and modernising the armed forces.
  • Although the implementation of these reforms was disrupted by subsequent global and domestic events, the foundations laid during this period continue to influence India's defence policies.
• Lessons for Future Conflicts
  • The Kargil War also served as a stark reminder of the necessity for continuous vigilance and preparedness.
  • The conflict exposed vulnerabilities in India's defence posture, particularly in high-altitude warfare and intelligence gathering.
  • The lessons learned have informed subsequent military strategies and training programs, ensuring that the armed forces are better equipped to handle similar threats in the future.

An Analysis of Incomplete Implementation of Post-War Reforms and Ongoing Challenges

• Political and Bureaucratic Hurdles
  • Changes in government, shifting political priorities, and bureaucratic inertia slowed the reform process.
  • The Vajpayee government's focus was diverted by significant events such as the 9/11 attacks and the 2001 Parliament attack.
• Resource Constraints: Adequate funding and resources were not consistently allocated to sustain the modernization and reform initiatives.
• Resistance to Change: Institutional resistance within the armed forces and intelligence agencies hampered the adoption of new practices and structures.
• Inconsistent Follow-Through: Subsequent governments did not always prioritize the continuation and completion of the reforms initiated by the Vajpayee administration.

The Path Forward for National Security

• The incomplete implementation of post-Kargil reforms underscores the need for sustained political will and strategic focus to build a robust national security framework.
• Prime Minister Modi, in his third tenure, faces the challenge of completing the task initiated by Vajpayee.
• National security must transcend partisan politics and be treated as a paramount concern for the nation.
• At the Dras commemoration, PM Modi asserted that it is not the party (BJP) but the country that is paramount for me.
• His leadership in this regard will define his legacy and honour the sacrifices of the soldiers who fought in Kargil.

Conclusion

• The 25th anniversary of the Kargil War serves as a poignant reminder of the bravery and sacrifice of India's armed forces.
• It also underscores the importance of addressing the shortcomings in military and intelligence coordination.
• As India moves forward, the lessons from Kargil should guide efforts to build a more robust and responsive national security framework.

Why in the News?

In the current supply year, from November 2023 to October 2024, sugar mills and distilleries provided 401 crore litres of ethanol to oil marketing companies by June 30.

Of this total, 211 crore litres (52.7%) were produced using maize and damaged food grains (primarily broken or old rice unfit for human consumption).

The remaining 190 crore litres were derived from sugarcane-based feedstocks, including molasses and whole juice/syrup.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• About Biofuel (Definition, Purpose, Types of Biofuels)
• Ethanol Blending (Meaning, how it is done, Blending in India)
• News Summary (Reasons Behind Positive Change)

About Biofuel:

• Biofuel is a fuel that is produced over a short time span from biomass, rather than by the very slow natural processes involved in the formation of fossil fuels, such as oil.
• Since biomass can be used as a fuel directly (e.g., wood logs), some people use the words biomass and biofuel interchangeably.
• However, the word biofuel is usually reserved for liquid or gaseous fuels, used for transportation.
• Most of biofuel consumption occurs as a blend with refined petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel fuel, heating oil, and kerosene-type jet fuel.
• However, some biofuels do not require blending with their petroleum counterparts and are referred to as drop-in biofuels.
• The most common biofuels now are:
• Bioalcohols such as ethanol, propanol, and butanol (a substitute for petrol/gasoline);
• Biodiesel (a substitute for diesel);
• Bio-oils (substitutes for kerosene).

Generations of Biofuel:

What is Ethanol Blending?

• Ethanol is a biofuel, naturally produced by the fermentation of sugars by yeasts or by petrochemical processes like ethylene hydration.
• Ethanol is high in oxygen content, allowing an engine to more thoroughly combust fuel.
• In ethanol blending, a blended motor fuel containing ethyl alcohol derived from agricultural products is blended with petrol specifically.

How is Ethanol Produced?

• In India, the nodal department for the promotion of fuel-grade ethanol-producing distilleries is the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD).
• Ethanol is produced or procured from sugarcane-based raw materials which are – C & B heavy molasses, sugarcane juice, sugar syrup, surplus rice with Food Corporation of India (FCI) and maize.
• A paper released by the NITI Aayog stated, that in 2019, over 110 billion liters of ethanol fuel was produced globally.
• The US and Brazil account for 84% of the global production followed by the European Union, China, India, Canada and Thailand.

What are the Benefits of Ethanol Blending?

• Presently, India imports over 85 per cent of its oil requirement and ethanol blending could help in reducing dependency on petroleum.
• In 2020-21, the net import of petroleum in India was 185 million tones at USD 551 billion.
• Thus, ethanol blending can help in saving billions of dollars for the country and reduce import dependency.
• Also, ethanol is a less polluting fuel and equally efficient at a lower cost than petrol.

India’s Biofuel Policy:

• In 2021-22, the Central government amended the Biofuel Policy (2018) to set a target of country-wide blending rates of 20% ethanol and 5% biodiesel by 2025.
• According to the Roadmap for ethanol blending in India 2020-2025 report from NITI Aayog, India will need to increase ethanol production capacity from the expected 3.3 billion liters (in 2020–2021) to at least 10.2 billion liters (5.5 billion liters from sugarcane and 4.7 billion liters from grains) by 2025.

Ethanol Used In Petrol Now More From Maize, Damaged Foodgrains Than Sugar:

• During the current supply year (November 2023 to October 2024), sugar mills and distilleries have supplied 401 crore litres of ethanol to oil marketing companies up to June 30.
• Of this total, 211 crore litres, or 52.7%, were produced using maize and damaged foodgrains (primarily broken or old rice unsuitable for human consumption).
• The remaining 190 crore litres were derived from sugarcane-based feedstocks, including molasses and whole juice/syrup.
• This is the first time that the contribution of grains to India’s ethanol production has surpassed 50% — from 27.1% in 2022-23, 16.7% in 2021-22, 13.6% in 2020-21, 9.2% in 2019-20, 5% in 2018-19 and zero in 2017-18.
• 

Reasons Behind this Positive Change:

• Until 2017-18, ethanol production in India was limited to C-heavy molasses, a sugar industry byproduct.
• The Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) program expanded in 2018-19 under the current government, allowing production from B-heavy molasses and whole cane juice/syrup, with mills receiving higher prices to offset reduced sugar production.
• The program further diversified when mills began using grains like surplus and damaged rice from the Food Corporation of India (FCI).
• From July 2023, the government stopped supplying FCI rice and restricted the use of cane juice and B-heavy molasses due to concerns over cereal and sugar inflation.
• Consequently, maize has become the primary ethanol feedstock, incentivized by a higher ex-distillery price of Rs 71.86 per litre.
• The EBP program now uses multiple feedstocks to meet ethanol demand, benefiting maize farmers in states like Karnataka and Bihar.
• However, poultry and livestock feed industries report a domestic maize shortage, with production at 36 million tonnes against a requirement of 41 million tonnes.
• The government has allowed 0.5 million tonnes of maize imports at a 15% concessional duty, but the industry seeks up to 5 million tonnes of imports at zero duty.

Why in news?

A recent report by PARAKH, a unit established within NCERT to standardize assessments across school boards, recommends that a student’s performance in Classes 9, 10, and 11—based on exams and continuous classwork—should contribute to their final marks at the end of Class 12.

This recommendation aligns with the National Education Policy and aims to ensure common assessment standards, develop capacity, conduct achievement surveys, and establish equivalence among different school boards.

What’s in today’s article?

• PARAKH
• Recommendations by PARAKH

PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development)

• About
  • National Assessment Centre- PARAKH was set up in NCERT as an independent body in 2023.

• PARAKH team will consist of leading assessment experts with a deep understanding of the education system in India and internationally.
• PARAKH will eventually become the national single-window source for all assessment-related information and expertise, with a mandate to assist all forms of learning assessment, both nationally and globally.

• Objective
  • To fulfil the basic objectives of setting norms, standards, guidelines and implement activities related to student assessment along with other tasks as mandated by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
• Four major areas of focus for PARAKH
  • Capacity Development in Competency-Based Assessment: Project Vidyasagar –
    • PARAKH is organizing workshops across India to familiarize educators with the new pedagogical and policy changes in the National Curriculum Framework 2023.
    • The goal is to bridge gaps in implementing competency-based learning and teaching.
  • Large-Scale Achievement Survey:
    • PARAKH conducted the State Educational Achievement Survey in November 2023, assessing students in Grades 3, 6, and 9 across 30 States/UTs.
    • The survey aims to monitor and assess educational competencies in foundational literacy, numeracy, language, and mathematics.
  • Equivalence of School Boards:
    • PARAKH is working to standardize examination reforms across all Indian school boards.
    • Regional workshops were held to collect data on administration, curriculum, assessments, and infrastructure.
    • A report was prepared, and national workshops were conducted to discuss and draft policy recommendations for equivalence. T
    • The goal is to allocate credit points to academic, vocational, and experiential learning.
  • Holistic Progress Cards
    • The Holistic Progress Card, or HPC, will no longer depend on marks or grades to evaluate a student’s academic performance. Instead, it will rely on a 360-degree evaluation.
    • Under the HPC model, the students will be regularly assessed through class activities where they are not just passive learners but active agents.
    • The activities will prompt students to apply diverse skills and competencies that will demonstrate whether they have been able to grasp concepts.

• Significance:
• Uniformity: PARAKH would be expected to address the issue of differences in scores among students associated with different boards, who are at a disadvantage during college admissions when compared to their CBSE peers.
• Standardisation: It will establish and implement technical standards for test design, administration, analysis and reporting at all levels of schooling.
• Skill development: It will encourage and help school boards to shift their assessment patterns towards meeting the skill requirements of the 21st century.

Recommendations by PARAKH

• Include performance from Classes 9, 10, and 11 in final assessment for class 12
  • Include performance from Classes 9, 10, and 11 in the final Class 12 report card, with a weight of 15% for Class 9, 20% for Class 10, 25% for Class 11, and 40% for Class 12.
• Evaluation using combined method
  • Evaluation should be a combination of:
    • formative assessments (continuous classroom assessments through holistic progress cards, group discussions, projects) and
    • summative assessments (term-end examinations).
  • In Class 9, 70% of the final score be drawn from formative assessments and 30% from summative assessments.
  • In Class 10, the final score will be based 50% on formative assessments and 50% on summative assessments.
  • For Class 11, it will be 40% formative and 60% summative assessments.
  • In Class 12, the weight for formative assessments will drop to 30% with 70% of the final score based on summative assessments.
• Assessments be in terms of credits
  • PARAKH has also suggested that the assessments be in terms of credits: a student can earn 40 credits in Classes 9 and 10 each, and 44 credits in Classes 11 and 12 each.
  • In Classes 9 and 10, 32 credits will be subject-specific (12 credits in three languages; four credits in mathematics; four for science, four for social science etc).
• Facilitate credit transfer in line with the National Credit Framework
  • Recommendations include that boards should develop a system of credit transfer in line with the National Credit Framework.

Why in news?

India has successfully prevented inclusion of Aquilaria malaccensis (agarwood) in the Review of Significant Trade (RST) of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). 

The CITES also notified a new export quota of highly valuable and aromatic resinous wood and oil of agarwood from India from April 2024.

What’s in today’s article?

• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
• Agarwood
• CITES eases export of agarwood from India

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

• About
  • CITES is an international agreement aimed at ensuring that international trade in wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
  • It seeks to regulate and monitor the trade of endangered species of plants and animals to prevent their exploitation and ensure their long-term survival in the wild.
  • It was signed in 1973 by 184 parties. It entered into force in 1975.
  • Although CITES is legally binding on the Parties, it does not take the place of national laws.
    • Basically, CITES provides a legal framework to promote cooperation among its members, ensure sustainability, and regulate international trade.
• Structure
• The CITES Secretariat is administered by UNEP (The United Nations Environment Programme). It is located at Geneva, Switzerland.
• The Conference of the Parties to CITES, is the supreme decision-making body of the Convention.
• Three categories or appendices
  • CITES works by placing species into three categories or appendices, each offering a different level of protection:
    • Appendix I: Includes species threatened with extinction. Trade in these species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances.
    • Appendix II: Includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction but for which trade must be controlled to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival.
    • Appendix III: Includes species that are protected in at least one country, which has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling the trade.
  • Species can be added to or removed from Appendices I and II, or moved between them, only by the Conference of the Parties.
  • However, species can be added to or removed from Appendix III at any time by any Party unilaterally.
• Review of Significant Trade (RST) of the CITES
  • RST is a process, under the CITES, designed to ensure that trade in certain species is sustainable and does not threaten their survival.
    • Species are identified for review based on trade data, reports from member countries, or concerns raised by CITES scientific committees.
    • The status of these species is assessed to determine whether trade levels are sustainable and if they comply with CITES requirements.
    • If issues are identified, recommendations are made to the countries involved to improve management and conservation efforts.
    • These can include actions such as setting export quotas, improving legislation, or enhancing enforcement measures.

Agarwood

• About
  • Aquilaria malaccensis, commonly known as agarwood, is a species of tree belonging to the Thymelaeaceae family.
  • It is well-known for producing a fragrant resinous wood, which is highly valued for its distinct aroma.
  • This resin forms in response to infection by a particular type of mold, and the resulting aromatic wood is known as agarwood, oud, or aloeswood.
• Uses
  • Agarwood has been used for centuries in various cultures for religious, medicinal, and perfumery purposes. Some of its key uses include:
    • Perfumes and Incense: Agarwood is highly prized in the perfume industry for its unique and long-lasting fragrance.
    • Traditional Medicine: Agarwood is believed to have medicinal properties and is used in traditional medicine systems like Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine for its potential to treat various ailments.
    • The essential oil extracted from agarwood has anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, analgesic and anti-oxidant properties.
    • Spiritual Practices: In many cultures, agarwood is used in spiritual rituals and meditation due to its calming and soothing properties.
• Conservation Status
  • It was listed in Appendix II of CITES for the first time in 1995 based on India’s proposal at CoP9 in 1994.
    • i.e., While it is not immediately threatened with extinction, trade must be controlled to avoid exploitation that could threaten its survival.

CITES eases export of agarwood from India

• Inclusion of agarwood in the RST of CITES prevented
  • India has successfully prevented inclusion of agarwood in the RST of the CITES.
  • This development is going to benefit lakhs of farmers in certain districts of Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, and Tripura.
• Decision based on study by BSI
  • India's removal from the RST for Aquilaria malaccensis was achieved through a study conducted by the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) under the MoEFCC.
  • This study, known as a non-detriment finding (NDF), concluded that the species could be sustainably harvested under certain conditions.
  • Key points from the NDF include:
    • Restrictions: Harvesting plants, collecting seeds, seedlings, saplings, and other propagules should not be allowed from existing wild populations, protected areas, and reserve forests.
    • Permitted Harvesting: Harvesting should be allowed from home and community gardens, plantations on leased or patta lands, private or community plantations, and other small-scale or large-scale plantations.
    • Export Quotas: The NDF recommended an export quota for 2024–2027, allowing for 151,080 kg per year of agarwood chips and powder/sawdust and 7,050 kg per year of agarwood oil.
• Various restrictions affected trade in agarwood from India
  • The absence of an export quota for a long period and other trade-related restrictions in India caused an increase in informal trade/export of agar chips, oil, powder etc. to the Middle East and other foreign countries.
  • It also caused an increase in costs of agarwood chips and oil in the global market as India is a major agarwood trading nation.
  • Though India had an export quota since November 2021, the growers and farmers were unable to trade agarwood legally due to imposing several legal restrictions that led them towards informal traders.

Why in News?

The Supreme Court agreed to hear a case by online legal chronicler (Indian Kanoon), whose outcome will likely shape the contours of the “right to be forgotten”.

The online portal challenged a Madras HC order, which after reversing a trial court judgment convicting a person of sexual assault charges, had directed the portal to remove the conviction judgment.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• What is the Right to be Forgotten?
• How is the 'Right to be Forgotten' Interpreted in India?
• When can the ‘Right to be Forgotten’ be Asserted?
• Questions to be Addressed by the SC in the ‘Right to be Forgotten’ Case

What is the Right to be Forgotten?

• It is the right to have publicly available personal information removed from the internet, search engines, databases, websites or any other public platforms.
• One can seek this right when their personal information is no longer necessary or relevant and the presence of his/her digital footprint violates their right to privacy.
• This right has been recognised as a statutory right in the EU (as “right to erasure”) under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and has been upheld by a number of courts in the UK and elsewhere in Europe.

How is the 'Right to be Forgotten' Interpreted in India?

• Position in India:
  • In India, there is no statutory framework that prescribes the right to be forgotten.
  • However, the Personal Data Protection Bill 2019 and court rulings have expressly recognised this right.
• The Personal Data Protection (PDP) Bill 2019:
  • The Bill gave an individual the right to restrict or prevent the continued disclosure of their personal data when such data -
    • Has served the purpose for which it was collected.
    • Was made with the individual's consent, which has since been withdrawn.
    • Was made contrary to the PDP Bill or any law in force.
• The court rulings:
  • The SC in the landmark KS Puttaswamy or Right to privacy judgement (2017) recognised that the right to control his/her own life would also encompass his/her right to control their existence on the internet.
  • Since the right to privacy verdict, high courts have taken a broader view of the issue. For example,
    • In 2019, the Delhi HC said the “right to be forgotten” and “right to be left alone” are inherent aspects of the right to privacy.
    • In 2021, the Delhi HC extended the right to be forgotten to even a criminal case by ruling to take down search results relating to an American law student (acquitted in a customs case).
    • In 2020, the Orissa HC held that the right to be forgotten is a thorny issue in terms of practicality and technological nuances and needs a widespread debate.

When can the ‘Right to be Forgotten’ be Asserted?

• The SC of India clarified in its right to privacy decision that -
  • An individual should be able to remove his/her personal data, if such data or information is no longer necessary, relevant or incorrect and serves no legitimate interest.
  • This right cannot be exercised where the information or data is
    • Necessary for exercising the right of freedom of expression,
    • In compliance with legal obligations,
    • In public interest, etc.
  • The Delhi HC also noted that the right to privacy should be balanced with the right to information of the public and maintenance of transparency in judicial records.
  • Therefore, the issue underscores the tension between the “right to be forgotten” of the acquitted person and citizens’ “right to be informed”.

Questions to be Addressed by the SC in the ‘Right to be Forgotten’ Case:

• The top court has to decide whether the right to be forgotten is a fundamental right and, if so, how it relates to other fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India.
• Two questions before the SC:
  • Can a person, upon reversal of his conviction in a criminal case by a higher court, demand erasure from the websites the earlier judgement that had convicted him/her?
  • Would a higher court that acquits an accused in a criminal case (by reversing the earlier judgement) be within its jurisdiction to order a web portal to expunge the earlier conviction judgement to honour the acquitted person’s right to be forgotten?

Why in news?

In the 2024-25 Budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has allocated ₹11 lakh crore for capital expenditure, representing 3.4% of the GDP. To encourage states to invest in infrastructure, ₹1.5 lakh crore will be provided to them as long-term interest-free loans.

What’s in today’s article?

• Target Sectors
• Performance on road, railways, shipping and airports
• Attracting private investments

Target sectors of Budget 2024-25

• Overall expenditure remains steady
  • The government's expenditure on infrastructure as a share of the total budget remains steady at 13.9%, slightly down from 14.3% in FY2024.
• Transport sector
  • The transport sector constitutes the largest portion of infrastructure spending, at 11.29% of the budget, though its share has decreased by 0.4 percentage points from last year.
• Power sector
  • The allocation for the power sector has seen a slight increase.
• Roads, Transport and Highways
  • The Ministry of Roads, Transport and Highways has been allocated ₹2.78 lakh crore for 2024-25.
• Railways outlay
  • The Railway outlay remains above 5%, with a record allocation of over ₹2.55 lakh crore.
  • Funding for signalling and telecom work, including the KAVACH automatic train protection system, has increased compared to FY2024.
• Civil aviation and shipping
  • The Ministry of Civil Aviation's allocation decreased by 20% to ₹2,357 crore.
  • The outlay for shipping remains unchanged at ₹2,377 crore.
• Regional Connectivity Scheme
  • The regional connectivity scheme is set to receive ₹502 crore.

Performance on road, railways, shipping and airports

• Road
  • National highways have expanded by 1.6 times from 2014 to 2024.
  • The Bharatmala Pariyojana has significantly contributed to this growth, increasing high-speed corridors by 12 times and 4-lane roads by 2.6 times during the same period.
  • The government is developing 11 industrial corridor projects in phases.
  • To attract private investment, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has revised the model concession agreement for Build-Operate-Transfer projects, including offering construction support for timely completion.
    • The industry is cautious about the profitability of the new agreements and emphasizes the need to shift focus from asset creation to asset management, maintenance, and safety as many projects near completion.
  • Experts recommend establishing standard operating procedures for constructing bridges and tunnels to prevent safety incidents like the Silkyara tunnel collapse in Uttarakhand in 2023.
• Railways
  • The capital expenditure for Indian Railways has increased by 77% over the past five years, reaching ₹2.62 lakh crore in FY24, with investments in new lines, gauge conversion, and doubling.
  • Despite this growth, challenges remain. As per the experts, there is need to adjust the freight movement share, which currently favors roads.
    • Long-haul road freight transportation is 25-30% more expensive than railways for distances under 500 km.
  • Other issues include uncertainty in rake supply, delays in providing adequate infrastructure, and the sharing of lines by passenger and freight trains.
  • Improving the smooth entry and exit of freight vehicles is necessary for efficient loading and unloading operations.
• Shipping and airports
  • Since its launch in 2015, the Sagarmala national program has initiated 839 projects valued at ₹5.8 lakh crore across five key areas, including new development projects.
    • To date, 262 projects worth ₹1.4 lakh crore have been completed.
  • Experts note that while there are over 230 maritime ports in India, nearly 40% of export and import cargo is handled by just two ports, JNPT and Mundra, highlighting the need for a development plan for the other ports.
  • Regarding airports, under the second phase of privatization in 2019, six AAI airports were privatized, with plans to privatize 25 more airports.

Attracting private investments

• From FY2019 to 2023, the Central Government contributed 49% of total infrastructure investments, state governments contributed 29%, and the remaining investments were expected from the private sector.
• Experts highlight that the private sector is hesitant to invest due to market risks associated with project delays, which affect returns.
• There is a need to identify more assets for monetizing-built infrastructure.
• To address policy and regulatory challenges, as mentioned by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the government should implement the recommendations of the Kelkar Committee report of 2015.

Why in news?

The Centre’s high-level interministerial panel has identified loopholes in banking, immigration and telecom sectors that enable cyber scams originating from Southeast Asian countries.

What’s in today’s article?

• Cybercrimes Originating from these Southeast Asian Countries
• Types of Cybercrimes Originating from these Southeast Asian Countries
• Panel Report
• Proposed steps to address this issue

Cybercrimes Originating from these Southeast Asian Countries

• As per various reports, over 5,000 Indians are suspected of being stuck in Cambodia and forced to carry out cyber fraud.
• According to government estimates, Indians have been duped of at least Rs 500 crore in the past six months.
• Analysis of data by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has observed an increase in the number of cybercrime incidents targeting India.
  • About 45% of them originate from the Southeast Asia region, mainly Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos PDR.
• Around 1 lakh cyber complaints have been registered with the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) since January 2023, and 800 complaints from January to June 1 this year.

Types of Cybercrimes Originating from these Southeast Asian Countries

• Trading scams:
• The alleged fraudsters issued ads on social media offering free trading tips, often using pictures of well-known stock market experts and fake news articles.
• The victims would be asked to install some specific trading applications and start investing on the apps.
• The victims deposited money in particular bank accounts to buy shares, and were shown some fake profits in their digital wallets. But when they tried to withdraw this money, they were unable to do so.
• Between January and April this year, Indians lost Rs 222 crore to 20,043 trading scams.
• Digital arrest:
• A caller would inform potential victims that they had either sent or were the intended recipients of a package containing contraband, illegal products, drugs, forged passports, etc.
• Once they had the target, the criminals would contact them over Skype or another video calling platform.
• They would pose as law enforcement officials and demand money for a compromise and closure of the case.
• The victims were digitally arrested, which meant they were forced to stay visible to the criminals until their demands had been met.
• Between January and April this year, Indians lost Rs 120 crore to 4,600 digital arrest scams.
• Investment/ task-based scams:
• Scammers target victims through WhatsApp, promising money for boosting social media ratings of some entities.
• They are then asked for bank details, receive a small sum, and are lured into larger investments with promised returns.
• Profits never materialise, leaving victims trapped in a fraudulent scheme, highlighting the exploitation of trust for financial gain.
• Between January and April this year, Indians lost Rs 1,420 crore to 62,587 investment scams.
• Dating scams:
• The male victims were seduced by individuals they mistook for foreign women.
• These "women" would make preparations to meet in person after making marriage or relationship proposals.
• The victim would receive a call from the "woman" explaining that she had been held at the airport and needed money to be released.
• Between January and April this year, Indians lost Rs 13 crore to 1,725 romance/dating scams.

Panel Report

• The high-level inter-ministerial panel has identified three shortcomings in the system:
  • Involvement of the senior bank managers of two nationalised banks to open mule accounts;
    • It was found that maximum accounts were allegedly opened with the connivance of senior bank managers/ staffers in several branches of State Bank of India and Punjab National Bank.
  • Around 30,000 unreturned passengers travelling on visitor visa to Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam from January 2022-May 2024; 
  • Misuse of bulk SIM cards.

Proposed steps to address this issue

• In the first six months, around 4 lakh mule accounts (bank accounts used for laundering cybercrime funds by using KYC documents of others) have been frozen.
• Between January 2022 and May 2024, around 73,000 Indians traveled on visitor visas to Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Cambodia. However, about 30,000 of them did not return.
• The immigration bureau plans to share the details of these individuals with the relevant states—Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Mumbai, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh.
• These states are tasked with tracing the families of the missing individuals to gather more information about their whereabouts.

Why in the News?

The Union Budget for 2024-25 showed that creating jobs is a top priority for the government, as the finance minister mentioned it 23 times in the budget speech.

With many people unhappy about rising unemployment, PM Modi has supported a package of schemes focused on employment.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Employment in India (Present Status, Latest Schemes, Challenges, Suggestions, etc.)

Current State of Employment in India:

• According to the Economic Survey, India's workforce in 2022-23 was approximately 56.5 crore:
  • 45% employed in agriculture,
  • 11.4% in manufacturing,
  • 28.9% in services, and
  • 13% in construction.
• Although the official unemployment rate was 3.2%, these statistics often mask the reality of underemployment and informal work.
• Many job seekers are either engaged in farming, casual labor, or unorganized retail, and nearly one in five workers, primarily women, are unpaid in household enterprises.
• Urban unemployment for the quarter ending March 2024 stood at 6.7%, with youth unemployment at 10% in 2022-23.
• Despite policy efforts to formalize the workforce, the percentage of regular salaried workers dropped from 22.8% in 2017-18 to 20.9% five years later.
• Many salaried workers lack contracts or social security benefits, which are essential characteristics of formal employment.

Employment Schemes Announced in the Budget:

• First-time Employee Subsidy: A wage subsidy of up to ₹15,000 for hiring first-time employees, expected to cover one crore individuals.
• Manufacturing Sector Subsidy: Wage subsidies for first-time employees in manufacturing, with incentives up to 24% of a ₹25,000 monthly wage for four years.
• New Worker Incentive: Reimbursement of up to ₹3,000 of the employer's monthly EPFO contribution for hiring new workers.
• Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) Upgrade: Enhancing ITI facilities to boost skills, benefiting 20 lakh students.
• Internship Program: On-the-job skilling for one crore youth with internships in top companies, offering a monthly allowance of ₹5,000 for one year.

Challenges in Implementation of Such Schemes:

• Economists and small industrialists highlight potential obstacles in these schemes.
• For instance, the first-time employee subsidy, paid in three installments, requires the employee to complete an online financial literacy course for the second installment, which may be impractical across different sectors.
• Additionally, employers must refund the subsidy if the employee leaves within 12 months, deterring small employers from participating due to the financial risk involved.
• The manufacturing job creation scheme requires hiring at least 50 people or 25% of the existing workforce, which is a significant burden for small firms seeking marginal benefits.

Effectiveness of the Schemes:

• These schemes aim to reduce the cost of hiring new employees.
• However, economists argue that wage costs are not the primary constraint.
• The real issues lie in insufficient demand, low consumption, and lack of private investment. Skilling, while important, is not the central barrier to hiring.
• Additional Measures Needed:
  • To create meaningful employment, efforts should focus on the MSME sector and labour-intensive industries, particularly in small towns.
  • Increasing wages in these areas and infusing capital into MSMEs can have a multiplier effect on the economy.
  • Another recommendation is to enhance the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) wages and create a similar scheme for urban workers to stimulate consumption and demand directly.

Conclusion:

• While the government's employment schemes are a step in the right direction, addressing deeper structural issues such as low demand, underinvestment, and the need for formal job creation in labor-intensive sectors is crucial for sustainable employment growth in India.

Why in News?

In her Budget proposals for 2024-25, the Union Finance Minister announced that in the next two years, one crore farmers across the country will be initiated into natural farming supported by certification and branding.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• What is Natural, Organic and Zero-Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF)?
• Government Initiatives to Promote Natural Farming in India
• Challenges and Concerns Regarding Natural Farming
• Union Budget 2024-25 Announcements wrt Natural Farming
• Way Forward Ensuring Gradual Adoption of Natural Farming in India

What is Natural, Organic and Zero-Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF)?

• Natural farming and organic farming, both come under agroecological practices (which guides public policies towards sustainable agriculture and food systems) and are terms used interchangeably in India.
• In natural farming the focus is on the use of bio inputs prepared from farm and local ecosystems instead of purchasing those from outside.
  • ZBNF is one of the many methods of natural farming, popularised by agriculturist Subash Palekar.
  • According to the approach, a mixture of natural inputs like cow urine and dung, jaggery, lime, neem, etc., are used to improve soil health, nutrients and reduce input costs.
  • It also restores environmental health and mitigates and/or reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
• Organic farming is defined more from a perspective of product certification. What binds organic and natural farming is the thrust on the absence of application of chemical fertilisers/ pesticides during cultivation.

Government Initiatives to Promote Natural Farming in India:

• Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY):
  • It was launched in 2015, as an extended component of Soil Health Management (SHM) under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA).
  • PKVY aims at supporting and promoting organic farming, in turn resulting in improvement of soil health.
• Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati (BPKP)/ZBNF:
  • It is a sub-scheme of the PKVY and was launched with a total outlay of ₹4,645 crore for six years (2019-20 to 2024-25).
  • It aims at promoting traditional indigenous practices, which give freedom to farmers from externally purchased inputs.
  • Under BPKP, financial assistance of Rs 12200/ha for 3 years is provided for cluster formation, capacity building and continuous hand holding by trained personnel, certification and residue analysis.
  • Its vision is to cover 12 lakh ha in 600 major blocks of 2000 hectares in different states.
• National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF):
  • The Union Agriculture Ministry has been preparing to launch the Mission to motivate farmers to adopt chemical-free farming and draw them towards adopting natural farming willingly on the system’s merit.
  • The success of the NMNF will require a behavioural change in farmers to shift from chemical-based inputs to cow-based, locally-produced inputs.

Challenges and Concerns Regarding Natural Farming:

• Reduction in yields:
  • While Andhra Pradesh emerges as a forerunner in adopting ZBNF with encouraging results, there are concerns about the sustainability and yield (productivity) potential of this farming method.
  • Findings of agro-scientists of the ICAR-IIFSR highlights a 59% decline in wheat yields and a 32% decline in basmati rice yield compared to integrated crop management.
• May adversely impact food supply:
  • Agriculture and food experts have their reservations surrounding a large-scale transition from chemical farming to natural farming in a country like India.
  • This is because it is a challenging task to meet the demands of expanding food needs in a country with a population as huge as India.
• Lessons from Sri Lanka:
  • A couple of years ago, neighbouring Sri Lanka went through economic and political turmoil after it decided to turn completely organic, and banned the import of chemical fertilisers.
  • The government’s policy shift had severe consequences with farmers struggling to get natural fertilisers.
  • They faced a reduction in yields of key crops including rice, putting the country’s food security at risk.
  • A sharp price escalation was witnessed in the country, resulting in huge protests and unrest.

Union Budget 2024-25 Announcements wrt Natural Farming:

• In the next two years, one crore farmers across the country will be initiated into natural farming supported by certification and branding.
  • Its implementation will be through scientific institutions and willing gram panchayats. Besides, 10,000 need-based bio-input resource centres will be established.
• The need for the shift - from targeting the area coverage to number of farmers now - was felt as 30-40% of about 10 lakh farmers re-shifted to chemical farming after 3 years when they received complete financial incentives under the BPKP.

Way Forward Ensuring Gradual Adoption of Natural Farming in India:

• Rigorous scientific tests of natural farming: Especially surrounding the crop yields should be held before its nationwide implementation to allay the fear of potential risk to national food security.
• Natural farming at a localised level: Because, adopting it at a large scale may not be a successful model.
• First, natural farming can be used to grow supplementary foodstuffs: Instead of growing staples like wheat and rice.

Context

• The Indian school education system stands as one of the most expansive and intricate ecosystems globally.
• It encompasses approximately 15 lakh schools, 97 lakh teachers, and nearly 26.5 crore students from pre-primary to higher secondary levels.
• This vast system includes stakeholders from varied socioeconomic backgrounds, which adds to its complexity and richness and therefore adherence to the principles of data privacy and data minimisation is particularly pertinent given the sensitive nature of children’s personal data.

Key Functions of Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+)

• Data Collection, Management and Real-Time Updates
  • UDISE+ is designed to collect comprehensive data from schools across the country.
  • This includes information on school infrastructure, teacher demographics, student enrolment, and academic performance.
  • By integrating this data into a centralised system, UDISE+ provides a holistic view of the education landscape in India.
  • One of the standout features of UDISE+ is its ability to provide real-time updates.
  • This means that any changes in school infrastructure, staff, or student enrolment can be quickly reflected in the system.
  • Such immediacy ensures that policymakers have the most current information when making decisions.
• Resource Allocation, Monitoring and Evaluation
  • With accurate and up-to-date data, UDISE+ facilitates more effective resource allocation.
  • Whether it is the distribution of textbooks, deployment of teachers, or infrastructure development, resources can be directed to areas where they are most needed, enhancing the overall quality of education.
  • UDISE+ enables continuous monitoring and evaluation of educational programs and policies.
  • By tracking progress and identifying trends, the Ministry of Education can assess the effectiveness of its initiatives and make necessary adjustments to achieve desired outcomes.
• Educational Trends Mapping and Policy Formulation
  • The platform is instrumental in mapping educational trends across the country.
  • This includes tracking enrolment rates, dropout rates, gender parity, and academic achievements.
  • Such data is crucial for identifying gaps and areas that require targeted interventions.
  • The insights gained from UDISE+ data are invaluable for policy formulation.
  • The Ministry can develop and implement policies that are evidence-based and tailored to the specific needs of different regions and demographics, ultimately improving the quality of education.

The Linkage of UDISE+ and the National Education Policy 2020 and Its Benefits

• UDISE+ and the National Education Policy 2020
  • In alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, UDISE+ incorporates the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR).
  • APAAR serves as a unique identifier for each student, allowing for the consolidation of academic credentials and demographic information in one place.
  • This integration ensures that every student's educational journey is tracked accurately, facilitating seamless transitions between different levels of education.
• Enhancing Ease of Schooling
  • The linkage between UDISE+ and APAAR is central to enhancing the ease of schooling.
  • Automating student admissions helps reduce dropout rates during critical transitional phases, such as moving from primary to secondary education.
  • This automation also improves opportunities for continuing education by making the admission process smoother and more accessible.
• Collaborations with Ed-Tech Companies
  • UDISE+ frequently collaborates with ed-tech companies and entities like DigiLocker.
  • These collaborations integrate modern technological solutions into the education system, providing digital infrastructure for storing and accessing academic records securely.

Concerns Surrounding UDISE+ and Solution

• Data Privacy and Security
  • While UDISE+ significantly improves data management and policy formulation, it also brings challenges related to data privacy and security.
  • There are numerous potential pressure points wherein non-compliance of the involved actors may materialise.
  • For instance, there is limited guidance on what constitutes verifiable parental consent. Consent from parents for minors’ data, sought under the UDISE+/APAAR regime, may violate this requirement.
  • Moreover, the DPDP Act emphasises the importance of collecting personal data for specified legitimate purposes only.
  • Sharing children’s data under UDISE+ for a purpose incremental to the authorised one could violate this statutory requirement.
  • The interlinking of data raises concerns about the exposure of student information to various actors within the educational ecosystem.
  • The platform’s reliance on personal data, including Aadhaar information, necessitates stringent measures to protect sensitive information.
• Solution: Adherence to SC’s Puttaswamy Judgement
  • The Supreme Court's recognition of the right to privacy as a fundamental right in the Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) v. Union of India (2018) case laid down a three-part test for assessing the impact of state action on citizens' privacy rights.
  • The test includes legitimate state interest in restricting the right, necessity and proportionality of the restriction to achieve the interest, and the restriction being imposed by law.
  • Aadhaar integration in APAAR/UDISE+ must comply with these conditions, with due caution to prevent data theft and cyber breaches.

The Need for Specific Protocols to Handle Children’s Data in Indian Education System

• Lack of Specific Mechanism for Sharing Children’s Data
  • When it comes to sharing children's personal data without a clear purpose, involving third parties like DigiLocker can create uncertainty about their roles.
  • It is necessary to identify who is responsible for data (data fiduciary), who processes it (data processor), and whose data it is (data principal) to assign liability, but this has not been done yet.
  • APAAR's privacy policy includes some data security and handling rules, but it lacks specific protocols for sharing children's data for unspecified purposes.
• No Clarity on Legal Responsibilities
  • Both the data policy and the annual report state that the Ministry is not legally responsible for the disclosure or accuracy of data shared on UDISE+.
  • The privacy policy directs complaints to a grievance officer, but it is unclear how legal responsibility is assigned or handled.
  • This shows a clear lack of a proper complaint system for those whose data is collected and shared under APAAR.
  • There are many questions about how different systems work together, consent, and how complaints are handled.
  • Developing standard operating procedures, both technical and legal, within a strong governance framework is urgently needed.
  • These protocols will help ensure data accuracy and establish legal responsibilities for everyone involved.

Conclusion

• The Indian school education system, with its vast and diverse ecosystem, requires robust mechanisms to manage and protect the personal data of millions of students.
• Standard operating procedures, both technical and legal, under a comprehensive governance framework, are essential to preserve data authenticity and enforce legal obligations for stakeholders.
• Implementing such protocols will create a conscientious approach to sharing, using, and retaining children's personal data, ensuring it is done lawfully and securely.

Why in news?

The Supreme Court has extended the interim order staying the directives of the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand governments that the eateries along the Kanwariya pilgrim route must display the names of the owners and the staff.

The stay order will continue till August 5, the next hearing date.

What’s in today’s article?

• Background of the case
• Key takeaways from the hearing
• Legal basis for the directions issued by police
• Police directives and shopkeepers’ right to privacy
• Police directions and the issue of discrimination

Background of the case

• Directive issued by the Muzaffarnagar district police
  • On July 17, Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar district, directing hotels, dhabas, and shops on the route of the Kanwar Yatra to display the names of their owners and employees.
    • The Kanwar Yatra began on July 22 and will continue until August 19.
  • It said that while there is no intention of "religious discrimination," previous "law-and-order situations" have arisen due to shop names causing confusion among the Kanwariyas, who follow a strictly vegetarian diet.
• Directive challenged in Apex court
  • The notice has been challenged by several parties.
  • The petitioners argue that the directive targets Muslim-owned businesses by forcing them to disclose their religious identity, which could have economic consequences and lead to targeting of businesses and individuals.
  • They have requested that the directive be publicly withdrawn.
• Stay order by the SC
  • The Supreme Court has prohibited the enforcement of the public notice until further hearing.

Key takeaways from the hearing

• No Government Order
  • The Court noted that there was no government order empowering the police to give directions in this case.
  • In its order, the Bench observed that such directions could be issued under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 or the Street Vendors Act, 2014 to ensure shudh shakahari (strictly vegetarian) food is served to the Kanwar Yatris.
• Limits to Police Action
  • The Bench stated that the police cannot usurp the powers of the competent authority under these Acts without a legal foundation.
  • The police directions asked shops to "voluntarily display" the names of their owners and employees.
  • However, the court noted the petitioners' submissions that penal actions had been initiated against food business operators, indicating that the police's actions may have overstepped their legal authority.
• Question of Discrimination
  • The court did not address the petitioners' constitutional arguments.
  • Petitioners argued that the directions violated Article 15(1) by discriminating against individuals based on religion and supported the practice of untouchability, which is banned under Article 17.
  • This, he contended, led to an economic boycott of establishments hiring people from backgrounds including Muslims and Dalits.

Legal basis for the directions issued by police

• Police did not cite any specific law in their directions
  • The Muzaffarnagar Police have not cited any specific law in their directions to shopkeepers, prompting the Supreme Court to consider which law might authorize such actions by the police and state governments.
  • Typically, in urgent situations involving "nuisance or apprehended danger," orders are issued under Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, which is largely mirrored in Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
  • This provision allows a Magistrate, empowered by the state government, to direct individuals to refrain from certain acts to prevent public disturbances or danger to life and safety.
• SC guidelines for exercising power under Section 144
  • In 2012, the Supreme Court established guidelines for exercising power under Section 144 in the 'In Re: Ramlila Maidan Incident' case.
  • This involved a protest organized by yoga guru Baba Ramdev in 2011 against alleged corruption, where Section 144 was imposed, leading to police intervention at night.
  • The court held that actions by public authorities under statutory power must be tested on two grounds:
    • whether the action was within the legal authority conferred by law, and
    • whether it was reasonable.
• Onus on apex court
  • In the Kanwar Yatra case, the court must determine whether any law grants the police and state government the power to issue directions to shopkeepers and whether those directions were reasonable.

Police directives and shopkeepers’ right to privacy

• The court will need to decide if requiring businesses to publicly disclose the names of shop owners and employees violates their right to privacy under Article 21 of the Constitution.
• In the 2017 Right to Privacy judgment ('Justice K S Puttaswamy v. Union of India'), the Supreme Court recognized the fundamental right to privacy.
  • This included the "privacy of the mind," which covers religious faith and the freedom to express or withhold such choices.
• Justice D Y Chandrachud outlined a "three-fold" test for government restrictions on privacy:
  • There must be an existing law allowing such restrictions.
  • The restriction must serve a legitimate state aim.
  • The restriction must not be "disproportionate" to the government's objective, ensuring a rational nexus between the restriction and the objective.
• In the Kanwar Yatra case, the court will consider if the police directions restrict the right to privacy.
• If a supporting law is found, the court will evaluate whether avoiding a "law and order situation" is a legitimate aim and if requiring businesses to display names is a proportionate measure to achieve this aim.

Police directions and the issue of discrimination

• Article 15(1) of the Constitution states, “The State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them.”
• The court will need to assess whether the requirement for individuals to disclose their names, potentially revealing their religious and caste identities, constitutes discrimination against shop owners and employees based on identity, particularly targeting Muslim-owned businesses.
• The Muzaffarnagar police stated that the directions were intended to provide convenience to devotees passing through Muzaffarnagar district who abstain from certain food items.
• However, petitioners have argued that the directions are based on a discriminatory assumption that only people of certain castes/religions can prepare and serve satvik or pure veg food.
• Additionally, the court may consider whether these directions violate the right to "practise any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business" under Article 19(1)(g).
• Petitioners claimed that the directions have led to the complete economic boycott of Muslim minorities.

Why in news?

In an important cultural achievement for India “Moidams – the Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty” from Assam has been officially inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List under the category Cultural Property.

The announcement was made during the ongoing 46th session of the World Heritage Committee at New Delhi. This makes it the 43rd property from India to be included in the list.

This is the third World Heritage Property from Assam, following Kaziranga National Park and Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (both inscribed under the Natural category in 1985).

India became a member of the World Heritage Committee from 2021-25 and is currently hosting its first ever session since joining UNESCO’s World Heritage Convention of 1972. The 46th session of the World Heritage Committee started on July 21st and will last until July 31st at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

What’s in today’s article?

• Ahoms
• Moidams
• Significance of Charaideo

Ahoms

• About
  • The Ahoms were one of India's longest-reigning dynasties, with a kingdom that stretched from modern-day Bangladesh to deep inside Burma.
    • The Ahom rule lasted for about 600 years until the British annexed Assam in 1826.
  • They were known for their administrative skills and valor in battle, with enduring cultural significance in Assam.
  • As per the historians, Ahoms represented a time of unity for the Assamese people, especially in their resistance against the Mughal empire.
• Celebration in recent years
  • Last year, the 400th birth anniversary of Ahom general and folk hero Lachit Borphukan was celebrated in New Delhi from November 23 to 25.
  • PM Modi highlighted Borphukan's courage and leadership, noting his prioritization of the people's well-being.
  • Although the Ahoms originated from South Chinese ruling dynasties, they are remembered today as local Indian rulers who left a lasting legacy.

Moidams

• About
  • The Moidams (also Maidams) are the mound-burial system of the Ahom dynasty (13th century-19th century).
  • The mound-burial system of the royals of the Ahom dynasty in Assam’s Charaideo district can be likened to the royal tombs of ancient China and the Pyramids of the Egyptians Pharaohs.
  • Basically, a moidam is a tumulus – a mound of earth raised over a grave – of Ahom royalty and aristocracy.
• 
• Location
  • While Charaideo exclusively contains moidams of Ahom royals, other moidams of aristocrats and chiefs can be found scattered across Eastern Assam, in the region between the towns of Jorhat and Dibrugarh.
• Features
  • Charaideo moidams are burial sites for Ahom kings and queens, similar to pyramids, located in Assam.
  • These structures feature one or more chambers in a vault, topped by a hemispherical earthen mound covered in grass.
  • A pavilion, called the chow chali, sits atop the mound, which is encircled by a low octagonal wall with one entrance.
  • Unlike Hindus who typically cremate their dead, the Ahoms, who trace their origins to the Tai people, practiced burial.
  • The height of a moidam reflects the power and stature of the person buried within.
  • Within these chambers, the deceased king was interred alongside items needed for the "afterlife," as well as servants, horses, livestock, and even their wives.
  • The burial practices of the Ahoms bear a resemblance to those of ancient Egyptians, earning the moidams the nickname "Pyramids of Assam.

Significance of Charaideo

• The name "Charaideo" comes from the Tai Ahom words "Che-Rai-Doi," meaning "a shining town situated on a hilltop."
• It was the first capital of the Ahom kingdom, established in 1253 AD by King Sukaphaa.
  • Sukaphaa was buried there in 1856, and it became the chosen resting place for subsequent Ahom royals.
• Though the Ahoms changed capitals several times over their 600-year rule, Charaideo remained a symbolic and ritual center due to its historical significance.
• Today, the moidams of Charaideo are major tourist attractions.

Why in the News?

Union labour minister chaired an inter-ministerial roundtable meeting on capturing and creating a central database on employment.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Employment in India (Current Trends, Challenges, Key Initiatives, Suggestions, etc.)
• Govt to form Inter-Ministerial Core Group on Employment

Employment in India:

• Employment in India is a multifaceted issue, influenced by the country's diverse economy, demographic trends, and evolving industrial landscape.
• As one of the world's fastest-growing economies, India faces both opportunities and challenges in creating sufficient and quality employment for its vast population.
• Current Employment Trends:
  • India's labor market is characterized by a large informal sector, significant rural employment, and a burgeoning services industry. Key trends include:
  • Informal Sector Dominance: Over 80% of India's workforce is employed in the informal sector, which includes agriculture, construction, and small-scale industries. This sector often lacks job security, benefits, and consistent income.
  • Rural Employment: A substantial portion of India's population still relies on agriculture for their livelihood.
    • As per Government data, about 65 percent of the people in India are engaged in agriculture and allied activities directly.
  • Growth of Services Industry: The services sector, including IT, finance, and retail, has seen significant growth, contributing to job creation in urban areas and improving India's global economic standing.

Challenges w.r.t. Employment in India:

• India's employment scenario faces several challenges that need to be addressed to ensure sustainable growth:
• Unemployment and Underemployment: Despite economic growth, unemployment remains a concern, particularly among the youth and educated populations. Underemployment, where individuals work in jobs that do not fully utilize their skills, is also prevalent.
• Skill Gap: There is a notable gap between the skills possessed by the workforce and those demanded by employers. This mismatch hinders productivity and limits economic potential.
• Job Quality: Many jobs in India, especially in the informal sector, are characterized by poor working conditions, low wages, and lack of social security, impacting the overall quality of life.

Key Government Initiatives:

• Skill India Mission: It was launched in 2015 with an aim to train over 400 million people in different skills by 2022, enhancing employability and bridging the skill gap.
• Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana: Launched in 2015 to provide loans up to Rs. 10 lakh to the non-corporate, non-farm small/micro-enterprises.
• Make in India: Encourages domestic and international companies to manufacture in India, creating jobs in manufacturing and related sectors.
• Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA): Provides legal guarantee for at least 100 days of wage employment in rural areas, promoting livelihood security.

Suggestions / Way Ahead:

• Economic Diversification: Expanding beyond traditional sectors to include emerging industries like renewable energy, biotechnology, and digital services can drive job creation.
• Educational Reforms: Aligning educational curricula with market demands and promoting vocational training can prepare the workforce for future challenges.
• Technological Integration: Embracing technology in various sectors can enhance productivity and create new job opportunities, particularly in tech-driven fields.

Latest Employment Data for India:

• According to PLFS and RBI's KLEMS data, India has generated more than 8 crore (80 million) employment opportunities from 2017-18 to 2021-22.
• This translates to an average of over 2 crore (20 million) employment per year, despite of the fact that the world economy was hit by COVID-19 pandemic during 2020-21.

Govt to form Inter-Ministerial Core Group on Employment:

• Union Labour Minister chaired an inter-ministerial meeting focused on creating a central employment database to integrate various employment data sources for a comprehensive view of employment generation in India.
• The meeting involved 19 union ministries and industry associations aiming to establish systematic data recording on employment resulting from government schemes, programs, and projects.
• Minister emphasized the need for a core group comprising different ministries, departments, and industry to build synergies and integrate efforts currently existing in silos.
• He also highlighted the industry's demand for a skilled workforce, urging industry bodies to offer internships to young people to prepare them with adequate skills and professional qualifications.
• This initiative aligns with recent Union Budget proposals related to employment, internships, and skilling.

Why in News?

In her Budget 2024-25 speech, the Finance Minister announced customs duty (which was earlier ~10%) exemptions on 3 targeted cancer drugs - trastuzumab deruxtecan, osimertinib, and durvalumab.

The decision is likely to make these drugs more accessible to Indian patients, and reduce the overall cost of cancer therapies.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• What is the Cancer Profile in India?
• What are Some of the Targeted Cancer Therapies?
• About the 3 Custom Duty Exempted Targeted Cancer Drugs
• Regulation of Prices of These Cancer Drugs in India
• What will be the Impact of the Customs Duty Exemptions

What is the Cancer Profile in India?

• Cancer is a disease in which some of the body’s cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body.
  • When cells grow old or become damaged, they die, and new cells take their place.
  • Sometimes this orderly process breaks down, and abnormal or damaged cells grow and multiply.
  • These cells may form tumors, which are lumps of tissue and can be cancerous or not cancerous.
• The number of cancer cases in India is on the rise. According to the National Cancer Registry data,
  • An estimated 14.6 lakh new cancer cases were detected in 2022, up from 14.2 lakh in 2021 and 13.9 lakh in 2020.
  • The number of deaths due to cancer increased to an estimated 8.08 lakh in 2022, up from 7.9 lakh in 2021 and 7.7 lakh in 2020.
• The incidence of cancer cases in India:
  • According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 1 in 9 Indians will develop cancer during their lifetime.
  • The incidence is higher among women - 103.6 per 100,000 population in 2020 compared to 94.1 among men.
  • The most common cancers among men were of the lung, mouth, prostate, tongue and stomach; for women, they were breast, cervix, ovary, uterus and lung.

What are Some of the Targeted Cancer Therapies?

• Targeted cancer drugs:
  • These drugs are designed to attack only the cancer cells, leaving the normal cells unaffected.
  • They target specific genetic changes in cancer cells that help them grow, divide and spread.
  • These drugs have better outcomes and fewer side effects compared to traditional chemotherapy drugs that indiscriminately target all cells.
• Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy does not target the cancer itself by using any drug. Instead, they train the patient’s immune system to find and attack the cancer cells.

About the 3 Custom Duty Exempted Targeted Cancer Drugs:

• Trastuzumab deruxtecan:
  • It is an antibody-drug conjugate developed by Daiichi Sankyo and marketed by Astrazeneca as Enhertu.
  • It is a second-line treatment, which costs around Rs 1.6 lakh per vial and is used when traditional therapies have failed. In 2019, the drug was approved for the treatment of breast cancers.
  • In 2024, it became the first drug in its class to receive “tissue-agnostic approval” (from the US FDA) - meaning it can be used to treat any cancer with HER-2 receptor regardless of where it originates.
• Osimertinib:
  • It is the most commonly used of the three cancer drugs in India and it is quite expensive as it costs 5 lakh per strip of ten pills, and has to be taken every day.
  • Marketed as Tagrisso by AstraZeneca, the drug is used to treat lung cancers.
• Durvalumab:
  • An immunotherapy treatment, it is used for the treatment of certain lung cancers, biliary tract cancers, bladder cancer, and liver cancer.
  • Sold as Imfinzi, durvalumab costs around Rs 1.5 lakh for every 10ml vial.

Regulation of Prices of These Cancer Drugs in India:

• Trastuzumab Injection is a scheduled drug under National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) 2022 and National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has fixed the ceiling price (Rs. 54725 per vial) of the same.
• The other two medicines i.e., Osimertinib and Durvalumab are non-scheduled medicines under Drug Prices Control Order (DPCO), 2013.
  • Hence, NPPA monitors the maximum retail price (MRP) of the non-scheduled formulation to ensure that the same does not increase by more than 10% of MRP during the preceding 12 months.

What will be the Impact of the Customs Duty Exemptions?

• In India, one in 68 men will develop lung cancer, and one in 29 women will develop breast cancer.
• This means, around one lakh patients need rastuzumab deruxtecan, osimertinib, and durvalumab in India, as they are useful for the treatment of lung and breast cancers.
• Hence, the customs duty exemptions on these drugs is widely expected to help reduce the financial burden on cancer patients and their families.