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India's first Edible Oil Survey

Context: The Union Ministry of Agriculture has launched its first-ever survey to assess edible oil consumption patterns in India, aiming to effectively implement the new Mission on Edible Oils-Oilseeds (NMEO-Oilseeds). 

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Questions about Palm oil and edible oil data of India; National Mission for edible-oil.

Major Highlights of the Survey: 

  • The Survey involved a 45 days questionnaire from the various stakeholders like consumers and distributors of edible oil. 
  • Aim: To capture the consumption pattern and choice of edible oils, which will help in policy decisions.
  • Behavioural analysis: 
    • The survey also analyses the behaviour pattern and influence of advertisement, labelling and willingness to pay for premium oils. 
    • The survey also explores various aspects like deep-frying frequency, seasonal usage pattern and factors influencing oil selection. 
  • Need for the survey: Report indicates that there is a rise in per capita consumption of the edible oils to over 20kg in India. This reflects the lifestyle and health risks as Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) recommends per capita consumption should be less than 12 Kg. 

Significance of the Survey

  • Evaluating pattern: Help in understanding the pattern of consumption of edible oils in India, as India is the largest consumer of oil in the world. 
  • Policy formulation: Understanding consumption patterns will help in regulation of production and import of edible oils by effective policy formulation (implementation of NMEO-Oilseeds). 
  • Controlling advertisement: By understanding the impact of advertisement on buying patterns of consumers, the government can take effective measures to counter fake claims in edible oil advertisements by companies. 
  • Preventive measures: The survey will allow the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to launch an awareness campaign to counter negative health implications of consumption on health. 

Issues in Indian Edible Oil Sector

  • Import dependency: India imports 55-60% of its edible oil requirement from nations Indonesia, Malaysia, Ukraine, etc. 
  • Dominance of Palm Oil: Palm oil dominates the consumption with 38% share in Indian edible oil consumption. 
  • Health challenges: Rise in oil consumption and prevalence of fast-foods raised oil consumption in India is leading to negative health implications. 

Suggestive measures

  • Diversification of oilseed by replacing the Palm oil with other oilseeds like sesame and groundnut oil. It is beneficial for the balance of trade and health of consumers. 
  • Promoting oil seed cultivation. More efforts like fund devolution and capacity building of farmers to cultivate oil seeds. E.g., National Mission for Edible-Oils Oilseeds programme. 
  • Awareness: Dedicated campaign on the lines of DASH eating plan that emphasises more on the fruits and vegetable consumption by replacing edible oils from diet. 
  • Strengthening norms: Government should make trans-fat norms more stringent under the Eat Right Campaign in line with the World Health Organisation (WHO).
    • In India the trans-fat limit is 2% while as per WHO it should not be more than 1%. 
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About National Mission for Edible-Oils Oilseeds programme

  • The National Mission on Edible Oils – Oilseeds (NMEO-Oilseeds) is a dedicated initiative for boosting oilseed production in India.
  • Aim: To boost domestic oilseed production and achieve self-reliance in edible oils. 
  • Implementation Period: 2024-25 to 2030-31
  • Financial outlay: Rs 10,103 crores
  • Scheme has the following targets:
    • Increasing oilseed production from 39 million tonnes (2022-23) to 69.7 million tonnes by 2030-31.
    • Focus on crops like Rapeseed-Mustard, Groundnut, Soybean, Sunflower, and Sesamum, as well as improving extraction from secondary sources. 
    • Promote high-yielding seed varieties, rice fallow cultivation, and intercropping, aiming to meet 72% of domestic edible oil needs by 2030-31. 

What is Securities Transaction Tax?

Context: Despite the volatility in the stock market, the Securities Transaction Tax (STT) collection has shot up by over 75% to Rs 44,538 crore as of January 12, 2025.

Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts about the Securities Transaction Tax. 

About Securities Transaction Tax

  • Background: 
    • Finance Act 2004 introduced Securities Transaction Tax (STT), as a clean and efficient way of collecting taxes from financial market transactions.
    • Rationale: To prevent people evading capital gains tax by not declaring their profits on the sale of stocks.
  • What is STT?
    • STT is a direct tax levied on every purchase and sale of securities that are listed on the recognised stock exchanges in India.
    • STT is an amount to be paid over and above the transaction value. Hence, it increases transaction value. 
  • Regulation: 
    • STT is governed by the Securities Transaction Tax Act (STT Act).
    • STT Act has specifically listed down various taxable securities transactions i.e., transactions on which STT is leviable.
    • Rate of STT: Decided by the Government and modified from time to time, if necessary.
  • Taxable Securities:
    • Shares, scrips, stocks, bonds and debentures
    • Derivatives (Futures and Options)
    • Units of mutual funds and other collective investment schemes.
    • Government securities of equity nature
    • Equity-oriented units of mutual funds
    • Rights or interest in securities
    • Securitised debt instruments
  • Exclusion: Off-market transactions are out of the purview of STT.
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Rise in STT Collection: 

  • Securities Transaction Taxcollection has increased by over 75% to Rs 44,538 crore as of January 12, 2025, as against Rs 25,415 crore raised in the same period in 2024.
    • The rise in collections comes despite a hike in STT on futures & options (F&O) of securities that was levied to curb speculative market activity in the F&O segment.
    • SEBI and RBI had raised concerns over the rise in volumes in the F&O segment, which can pose a risk to macroeconomic stability.
  • Increased STT collections also adds to the revenue kitty of the government.

Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code: Mechanism and Challenges

Context: Certain issues have cropped up in the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC). The recent Supreme Court judgment in Jet Airways case highlighted the structural infirmities in India’s insolvency regime.

Relevance of the topic:

Prelims: Key facts about Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code.

Mains: Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code- Issues & Way Forward.

Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016 (IBC)

  • Rationale: IBC Code was introduced to-
    • Consolidate all the existing laws related to Insolvency and Bankruptcy in India.
    • Simplify the process of insolvency resolution. 
  • Deals with: All aspects of insolvency and bankruptcy of all kinds of companies, LLPs, Partnerships and Individuals. However, it does not deal with insolvency of banks.
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Institutional Mechanism

  • Insolvency Professionals:
    • to administer the resolution process
    • manage the assets of the debtor
    • provide information for creditors to assist them in decision making.
  • Insolvency Professional Agencies to conduct examinations to certify the insolvency professionals.
  • Information Utilities to report financial information of the debt owed to them by the debtor.
  • Adjudicating authorities:
    • National Companies Law Tribunal (NCLT) for companies 
    • Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT) for individuals. 
  • Committee of Creditors (CoC):
    • Either decide to restructure the debtor’s debt by preparing a resolution plan or liquidate the debtor’s assets. 
    • However, such a decision has to be approved by at least 66% of the votes. (Earlier threshold: 75%).
  • Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board:
    • to regulate insolvency professionals, insolvency professional agencies and information utilities set up under the Code. 

Procedure- Insolvency Resolution Process (IRP)

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Liquidation (Sale of Assets)

  • It takes place if the Committee of Creditors (CoC) fails to come up with a resolution plan within the time limit of 330 days.

Issues in Insolvency Resolution in India

  • Double burden for Tribunals:
    • National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) face the dual burden of handling corporate insolvencies under IBC and cases under Companies Act. 
  • Not aligning with contemporary demands:
    • NCLT was conceived in 1999 based on Eradi Committee’s recommendations. However, it was operationalised in 2016.
    • NCLT’s structure reflects the economic realities of a bygone era. This leaves it ill-equipped to meet contemporary demands. 
  • Inadequatestrength:
    • The sanctioned strength of 63 members divide their time across multiple benches.
    • Thus, NCLT has become a bottleneck for insolvency resolutions and corporate transactions such as mergers and amalgamations.
  • Delay in functioning:
    • Several NCLT benches do not operate for the full working day, even when not tasked with handling cases from other benches. As a result, delays have worsened. 
    • According to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI), average time for insolvency resolutions increased to 716 days in FY2023-24, up from 654 days in FY2022-23. 
  • Lack of domain experience:
    • The current method of appointment ignores the need for domain experience. Members often lack the domain knowledge required to understand the nuanced complexities involved in high-stakes insolvency matters.
    • This creates a paradox where an institution tasked with resolving complex cases is hindered by a lack of specialized knowledge. (Supreme Court in the Jet Airways case).
  • Institutional inefficiency:
    • There is no effective system in place before the NCLTs for urgent listings. The Supreme Court has highlighted a growing tendency among NCLT & NCLAT members to ignore or defy its orders.
      • This threatens the very foundation of India’s judicial hierarchy.
    • This impacts both institutional efficiency as well as institutional integrity.
  • Sparse use of alternatives:
    • The limited use of alternative dispute settlement methods adds to the problems of an already overworked system.

Way Forward: Reform proposals

  • Mandatory mediation: The initiative for mandatory mediation prior to the submission of insolvency applications.
  • Hybrid model:There is the need for a hybrid model that values judicial experience and domain expertise. 
  • Specialised benches:
    • Creation of specialised benches for different categories of cases could enhance both efficiency and expertise. This also ensures that mergers and amalgamations are cleared in time.
  • Proper Infrastructure:
    • Adequate courtrooms and a qualified, permanent support staff are critical to sustaining these institutions within the broader economic framework. 

India’s insolvency regime must evolve beyond mere debt resolution to serve as a proactive driver of economic rejuvenation, especially as the country aims to attract greater foreign investment. The time for a bold reimagining is now.

Why have Private Investments dropped?

Context: Discussions regarding the upcoming Union Budget 2025 highlights the perceived underperformance of the private sector and slowdown of private investments in India.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Private Sector Investments: Key Trends;  Gross Fixed Capital Formation. 

Historical Context: Public and Private Sector Investments

  • Period of Public Sector Dominance:
    • During Second and Third Five-Year Plans (1956-1966), India had massive public sector investments.
    • Tax increases under TT Krishnamachari’s Budget (1958) financed these investments successfully.
  • Shift in the 1980s: 
    • From independence to economic liberalisation, private investment largely remained either slightly below or above 10% of the GDP.
    • By the mid-1980s, public sector investments stagnated, and the government turned to the private sector.
    • Pro-growth reforms like tax cuts in 1985 and the LPG reforms of 1991, spurred private investments, despite challenges like low consumption and high interest rates.
  • Post-liberalisation Era:
    • Post-liberalisation, private investment took the leading role in fixed capital formation.
    • Growth in private investment lasted until the global financial crisis of 2007-08. It rose from around 10% of GDP in the 1980s to around 27% in 2007-08. 
    • From 2011-12 onwards, private investment began to drop and hit a low of 19.6% of the GDP in 2020-21.
  • Recent Trends:
    • Corporate tax rate reduction in 2019 (to 22%) was aimed at attracting private investment, but failed to yield desired results.
    • Even with a 15-year high profit-to-GDP ratio of 5% in 2024, private sector investments in India remain sluggish.

Why have private investments dropped?

  • Structural issues (like policy uncertainty, issues in ease of doing business, delays in land acquisition, lengthy dispute resolution) have led to significant fall in private investment as a percentage of GDP. 
  • High levels of NPAs in the banking sector have constrained credit availability for the private sector. 
  • Crowding out of private investment due to expansionary fiscal policies and increased borrowings of the government. 
  • Narrow corporate bond market due to illiquid secondary market, narrow investor base, lack of diversity of instruments and crowding out by large public issuance impacted corporate investment.
  • Low private consumption expenditure can also be a reason for reducing demand-driven investment opportunities. 

Associated Challenges

  • Low Private Investment: Declining private investment has been impacting the Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) in India. Private investment in India declined from 27% of GDP in 2007-08 to 19.6% of the GDP in 2020-21. As per NSO, GFCF in India declined from 34% in 2009-10 to 26% in 2021-22.
    • GFCF refers to the growth in the size of fixed capital in an economy.
      • Fixed capital refers to things such as land improvements, buildings, plants, machinery etc. which require investment to be created. 
      • GFCF excludes financial assets such as bonds, stocks, and other financial instruments. 
    • Private GFCF can serve as a rough indicator of how much the private sector in an economy is willing to invest.
  • Preference to overseas investments:
    • Despite benefiting from government initiatives like Make in India (shielding domestic industries), private entities prefer international investments or overseas expansion. 
  • Labour Exploitation Concerns:
    • Suggestions by industry leaders for employees to work 72-90 hours per week raise ethical and practical questions about workforce sustainability.

Policy Recommendations

  • Rebalancing Tax Rates:
    • Government could consider revising the tax rates:
      • Increasing corporate tax 
      • Reducing personal income tax 
    • This could increase disposable income and stimulate demand and consumption.
  • Focus on structural reforms like policy consistency, labour reforms, improving the ease of doing business, ease of land acquisition, early dispute resolution, etc. 
  • Encouraging domestic investment: Introduce incentives for businesses investing in India, such as sector-specific subsidies or reduced compliance burdens for targeted industries.
  • Strengthen corporate bond markets and diversify financial instruments to ensure adequate capital for private investments.  
  • Strengthening Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Foster collaboration in long term projects (like infrastructure) and manufacturing to share risks and benefits equitably.

The biggest cost of low private investment would be slower economic growth as a larger fixed capital base is crucial to boost economic output.

What is Quantum Cryptography? 

Context: Researchers are working towards developing algorithms that can withstand attacks from both classical and quantum computers. As computational techniques evolve, the interplay between complexity and cryptography will continue to be a crucial area of research and development.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Basic idea about Quantum Cryptography; Quantum Computing; National Quantum Mission. 

What is Encryption?

  • Encryption is a way of protecting data from unauthorised access or tampering. It works by transforming the data into a secret code that only the intended recipient can decipher. 
  • This comes in useful for various cases such as,
    • securing online communications/ secure messaging systems 
    • verifying digital identities
    • facilitating internet banking
    • storing sensitive information etc. 

Read More:End-to-End Encryption

Quantum Communication

  • Quantum communication takes the advantage of the laws of quantum physics to protect data and securely transmit data.
  • Traditional Encryption: 
    • In traditional data encryption, sensitive data is encrypted and sent through fibre optic cables with a digital key to decrypt the information. 
    • This data is transmitted in classical binary bits (0s and 1s) which makes it vulnerable to hackers who can read and copy it, without a trace. 
  • Quantum Encryption: 
    • In a quantum communication network, data is transmitted via quantum bits or qubits. 
    • Qubits are particles (usually photons of light) in a superposition state, i.e., they can be in multiple states and represent numerous combinations of 0 and 1. 
    • If a hacker tries to read this data, the qubits would collapse from their fragile quantum state to either a 0 or 1, thereby leaving a clear trace of external activity.

Quantum Cryptography

  • Quantum cryptography, or quantum key distribution (QKD) ensures theoretically unbreakable encryption, making communications secure against any computational attack.
  • How does QKD work?
    • QKD uses a series of photons (light particles) to transmit a secure key between two parties over a fiber optic cable. 
    • By comparing measurements of the properties of some of these photons, the two parties can determine what the key is and if it is safe to use.
    • If an eavesdropper tries to intercept the key, the photon’s quantum state changes, thus, revealing the intrusion attempt. 
  • In QKD, the eavesdropper cannot read the photon or make a copy of it, without being detected.
    • A quantum state cannot be duplicated, according to the no-cloning theorem for quantum physics. 
    • An attacker can not replicate the quantum information being communicated and manipulate their copy.
    • Quantum states would no longer be in a superposition, if an attacker attempted to read out data through an entanglement-based protocol.
image 160

Associated Challenges

  • Technical limitations:
    • Quantum decoherence: Present technologies to realise qubits are based on superconducting junctions, trapped ions and quantum dots. These qubit systems are very fragile and susceptible to losing their quantum state.
    • High cost: Quantum key distribution requires high infrastructure costs, as  qubits are only stable at very low temperatures or in a high vacuum or both, which are expensive to maintain. 
  • Building quantum resistant cryptography: 
    • A mature quantum computer could easily break some encryption methods widely used today. In that case, the current cryptosystems will fail.
    • The present challenge of quantum cryptography is to build quantum-secure cryptosystems i.e., algorithms that can resist attacks powered by a quantum computer. 

Developments in India in the Quantum field

  • National Quantum Mission: 
    • The National Quantum Mission was approved in 2023 and includes building a research hub for quantum communication. 
    • The mission is to enable:
      • satellite-based secure quantum communications between ground stations over 2,000 km
      • long-distance secure quantum communications with other countries
      • inter-city quantum key distribution over 2,000 km
      • multi-node quantum networks etc. 
  • Quantum satellite: The Indian Space Research Organisation is planning to launch a satellite with ultra-secure quantum communication capabilities.

Read More: India’s Quantum Future 

How is TRAI combating spam?

Context: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) will be using distributed ledger technology (DLT) to register spam preferences from customers, in order to reduce spam.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Spams, associated challenges and role of TRAI in controlling them.

What are Spams?

  • Spams or Unsolicited Commercial Communications (UCC) refer to any unsolicited, usually irrelevant or inappropriate messages, sent over digital channels like email, SMS, or social media. 
  • Acts involved in spamming:
    • Bulk messaging
    • System generated phone calls
    • Identity theft 

Issues associated with spams in India

  • Privacy invasion: Spam calls often involve the collection of personal data. E.g., Fake lottery scams request sensitive information like bank details.
  • Harassment: Persistent unsolicited calls for marketing disturb consumers leading to frustration of customers. 
  • Financial fraud: Spammers use misleading offers such as fake loan schemes, to defraud individuals by convincing them to share financial or personal details.
  • Phishing: Using fraudulent messaging or calls to trick people with authentic looking phone numbers and system domains.
  • Evolving methodology: The spam operators continuously change the modus-operandi and content modulation to breach blocking.
spam Communications

Initiatives to Control Spam

  • Do not Disturb (DND): TRAI has initiated the “do not disturb” policy for consumers allowing them to block commercial communications.
  • AI-driven Anti-Spam mechanism: Telecom providers use AI to detect and block spam messages in real-time. E.g., Airtel initiative to declare suspicious calls using AI as “suspected spam”.
  • Blockchain usage: Using blockchain ledgers to  protect sensitive information. E.g., Changing variables to spaced or masking of variables like “Your OTP is 112132” will be changed to “Your OTP is *******” to protect sensitive information.
  • Complaint Portal: Department of Telecommunications has launched the Sanchar Sathi portal which has a reporting site called Chakshu for complaining of spam calls.
  • Migration for Telemarketing calls to Distributed Ledger Technology platform: With effect from October 2024, Telemarketing calls starting with the 140xx numbering series have been migrated to the DLT platform for strict monitoring and control.
    • DLT platform is a block-chain based registration system adopted to keep records of all transactions exchanged between network participants. 

Acts to Combat Spam in India

  • Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations (TCCCPR), 2018: This sets guidelines for telemarketers, ensuring that only opted-in customers receive marketing calls or messages.
  • Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011: Regulates the collection, processing, and storage of personal data to prevent misuse for spamming.
  • Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Act, 1997: Empowers TRAI to regulate telecommunication services, including measures against spam.
Acts to Combat Spam in India

What more can be done?

  • Stronger penalties: Enforcing higher penalties for spammers, such as the US introduced penalties like the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.
  • Special numbers: Introducing special and designated numbers or code for the financial intermediaries.
  • Consumer awareness: Spreading awareness among people about consumer rights and means to block spam numbers. E.g., European Union’s anti-spam measures to empower people. 
  • Strengthening VoI: The voice over internet monitoring to control spam needs to be strengthened by authenticating genuine numbers. 

About TRAI

  • Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is a statutory body established under the Telecom regulatory Authority of India Act. 1997.
  • Main functions of the body are as follows:
    • Regulating telecommunication services
    • Promote competition among firms
    • Protect consumer’s interests in India’s telecom sector.
  • TRAI regulates and seeks implementation of Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations (TCCCPR) which are guidelines for telemarketers, ensuring consumers only receive opted-in communications.

Conclusion: India has taken significant steps to combat spam, including regulatory measures like the Do Not Disturb (DND) service and strict telemarketer guidelines. TRAI’s initiatives, alongside public awareness efforts, aim to reduce spam and protect consumers. Continued technological advancements and awareness campaigns are crucial for further success.

QS World Future Skills Index 2025

Context: Recently released QS World Future Skills Index 2025 highlights India’s strong position as a forward-thinking nation with significant potential. However, challenges in its current economic and academic systems could slow progress.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: QS World Future Skills Index 2025

QS World Future Skills Index

  • QS World Future Skills Index evaluates how well countries are equipped to meet the evolving demands of the international job market. 
  • Aim: To empower governments to align education and skills with future demand, fostering innovation, sustainable global competition and talent development.
  • Released by: London-based Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).

Key criteria in the QS Future Skills Index:

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India Spotlight on QS World Future Skills Index

  • India’s overall rank: 25th 
    • India’s overall ranking puts it as a future skills contender.
    • Comparison: Countries like US, UK, Germany, Australia, Canada and others in top 10 have been categorised as ‘future skills pioneers’.
  • Skills Fit:
    • India’s rank: 37th 
    • In this indicator, India scored 59.1, which is the worst among the top 30 countries overall.
  • Academic Readiness:
    • India’s rank: 26th
  • Future of Work:
    • India’s rank: 2nd only behind the US.
    • This indicator measures how well the job market is prepared to meet the growing demand for digital, AI, and green skills.
    • The assessment of this indicator has been largely done from the demand side. i.e., job postings. On supply side indicators, India’s ranking leaves much to be desired. 
  • Economic Transformation:
    • India’s rank: 40th 
    • India scored a full score of 100 on account of economic capacity.  
    • India fared the worst when it came to ‘future-oriented innovation in sustainability’. 
      • India’s score: 15.6/100
      • Comparison: G7 countries- 68.3, EU countries- 59, APAC countries- 44.7, African countries: 25.4.
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Challenges for future skills in India

  • Poor performance in Green Readiness:
    • Green readiness is an area of relative underperformance for the Indian economy versus G20 peers.
    • Whilst rising demand for green occupations and green skilled workers is clear through India's strong Future of Work score, India places 176 in the Environmental Performance Index.
  • Inadequate investment and innovation: 
    • Gaps in investment and innovation capacity pose challenges that could slow long-term growth.
  • Lack of relevant skills: 
    • India’s graduates are struggling to keep up with the pace of change in relevant skills required. 
    • India has a particularly large skills gap in ‘entrepreneurial and innovative mindset’.
  • Need for higher education reforms: 
    • Employers across India highlighted a critical gap in the workforce’s ability to meet the demands of a rapidly changing economic landscape. 
    • This highlights a broader challenge for India’s higher education system which is struggling to keep pace with evolving employer needs.

Way Forward: Tapping the potential of Future Skills in India

  • Invest in green skills development: Address green skill gaps by aligning curricula and learning modes to nurture the green skills necessary.
  • Higher education reforms: Universities must prioritise embedding creativity, problem solving and entrepreneurial thinking into their curricula.
  • Collaboration and Coordination:  Industries must foster stronger collaborations with universities to better align education with workforce demands. 
  • Government policy intervention:  Focused strategies are required to re-engage workers in continuous and lifelong reskilling programs. This ensures that skilled workers remain relevant and productivity contributors.  

To fully realise its potential, India must align economic momentum with robust higher education reforms and skills development, ensuring a dynamic and competitive position in the global economy. 

What is Kalaripayattu?

Context: Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has decided to exclude Kalaripayattu from the ‘competition section’ of the 38th edition of the National Games. 

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Questions based on art and culture; National Games and Indian Olympic Association. 

About Kalaripayattu

  • Kalaripayattu is one of the oldest martial arts in the world, originating over 3,000 years ago in the state of Kerala, India, during the 11th–12th century CE. 
  • It is a combination of physical agility, weapon training, self-defence and spiritual discipline.
  • Terms associated:  
    • Meythari: Body control and posturing resembling animals like lions, snakes and peacocks.
    • Kolthari: Wooden weapon like stick
    • Ankathari: Metal weapons like sword and shield.
    • Verum Kai: Bare-hand combat. 
  • It was included as a demonstrative sport in 2015 National games i.e., 35th edition of National Games.
  • In the 37th edition of the National Games, held in Goa in 2023, Kalaripayattu was part of the competition section.
  • In the 38th edition of National Games, the sport has been demoted to the ‘demonstration section’ from the competition section.
Kalaripayattu

National games: 

  • The National Games of India is a multi-sport event that is held to promote India and bring together various athletes from various states.
  • Indian Olympic Association is the primary organising body for the national games. 
  • The 38th edition of National Games in 2025 will be hosted by Uttarakhand, set to begin from January 28, 2025.

ILO Report: Global Estimates on International Migrants

Context: The 4th edition of the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Global Estimates on International Migrant Workers was released in December 2024. International Migrants not only address the labour market shortages in host nations but also send remittances to their home countries, thus making significant contributions to the world economic growth. 

Relevance of the Topic Prelims: Organisation based questions on UN and ILO; Basic idea of trends of international migration and their contribution. 

Major Highlights of Report: 

  • Global migrant estimates: The report estimates approximately 169 million international migrant workers recorded in 2022.
    • This accounts for 4.7% of the global workforce.
    • Note: Global workforce stands for the number of people employed or unemployed, but are willing to work.
  • Incremental trend: The estimate of migrant workers has increased from previous years, i.e., 164 million in 2017 and 150 million in 2013.
  • Regional distribution: Over 68.4% of all migrants are in high-income nations like Europe, North America and Arab states.
  • Gender disparity: The report has highlighted the evident gender disparity in the migrant labour force
    • Only 38.7% of female migrants are employed as compared to the 61.3% of male migrants. 
    • Females are predominantly employed in the service sector, that too in the sectors associated with the care economy. 
  • Sectoral distribution of migrants: Migrant population dominates the service sector i.e., 68.4% migrants are employed in the service sector.
    • Female migrants dominate the service sector 80.1% females as compared to 60.8% male counterparts.
  • Comparison with the non-migrants: 
    • The service sector is out-numbered by migrants.
    • The manufacturing sector is marginally dominated by migrants.
    • The agriculture sector is predominantly handled by non-migrants.  
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Challenges highlighted by the Report

  • Gender-bias: The data of the report highlights the gender based biases, as most female migrants are part of the care economy. Also, the unemployment rate is higher in females as compared to males.
  • Economic vulnerability: The report also highlights the low wages and exploitative conditions of laborers. Also, the lack of social security leaves the labour in distress during any negative event.
  • Barriers in employment: Qualification and skill deficit along with the language barriers hinders the labour to adjust in the country of migration.
  • Social isolation: Migrants often face Xenophobia, racism and social exclusion that further marginalises them in the host societies.
  • High cost of migration: Migrants often pay exorbitant fees to recruiters leading to debt and financial burdens due to which workers fall victim to trafficking and forced labour. E.g., the Kafala System of Arab nations.

About International Labour Organisation

  • International labour organisation (ILO) is a specialised United Nations agency that focuses on promoting social justice and internationally recognised human and labour rights. 
  • Objectives of ILO: 
    • Promote decent work for all
    • Advance social and economic justice
    • Establish international labor standards
    • Advocate for workers’ rights, social protection and inclusive employment opportunities.
  • Major publications: World employment and social outlook; Global Wage Report; Global estimates on International Migrant Workers; Unemployment Rate Index.
  • India and ILO: 
    • ILO was established in 1919, where India was one of the original members. Narayan Malahar Joshi, founding member of All India Trade Union Congress, joined it. (Social Service League of 1911 is also associated with NM Joshi)
    • ILO has eight core conventions, of which India has not-ratified two conventions: 
      • No. 87: Freedom of Association and Protection of Rights to Organise Convention
      • No. 98: Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining.
    • In 2017, India ratified ILO Conventions No. 138 and 182, signaling its legal commitment to the elimination of child labour.

Section 108 of BNS: Abetment to Suicide

Context: The Supreme Court has reiterated the need for investigative agencies to show restraint when invoking the charge of abetment to suicide. Recently, a bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and KV Viswanathan said that Section 108 of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita is invoked casually.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Section 108 of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita.

What is Section 108 of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (Section 306 of IPC)?

  • As per the section, if any person commits suicide, whoever abets the commission of such suicide, shall be punished with:
    • imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years
    • shall also be liable to fine.
  • It is a non-bailable offence where the police can arrest without a warrant. 
  • The abetment law involving suicide has been strengthened to protect women, reversing the burden of proof against the husband for the first seven years of marriage. 

Issues with Section 306 IPC (BNS 108)

  • Ambiguous definition:
    • The term "abetment" is not clearly defined, leading to varied interpretations.
    • Abetment can include instigation, conspiracy, or aiding the act, but proving these elements can be challenging. 
    • The courts have emphasised that mere knowledge of someone's suicidal tendencies does not constitute abetment.
  • High burden of proof:
    • For a conviction under Section 306, the prosecution must demonstrate clear mens rea—the intention to instigate suicide. 
    • This requirement can be difficult to establish, especially in emotionally charged situations where actions may be misinterpreted as instigative. 
    • The Supreme Court has reiterated that words spoken in anger or haste cannot be deemed as instigation.
  • Potential for misuse:
    • There are concerns about the misuse of this section, mainly when charges are filed to appease grieving families rather than based on substantive evidence. This has led to wrongful accusations and legal consequences for innocent individuals. 
    • The non-bailable nature of the offense further exacerbates this issue, allowing for arrests without sufficient grounds.
  • Low conviction rates:
    • Data from the National Crime Records Bureau indicates a low conviction rate for cases under Section 306 (17.5% in 2022), suggesting that many cases do not meet the legal standards required for a conviction. 
    • This low rate highlights the challenges faced by prosecutors in substantiating claims of abetment.
  • Impact on individuals:
    • The consequences of being charged under Section 306 can be severe, affecting personal lives through social stigma, legal costs, and emotional distress. 
    • Even if charges are eventually dropped, the mere accusation can have lasting effects on an individual's reputation and mental health.

Judicial caution: Recent Supreme Court rulings have called for greater judicial scrutiny when considering charges under this section. 

Conclusion: Section 108 BNS is crucial in addressing suicide abetment, however, its current application raises concerns of potential misuse. The Supreme Court has reiterated that abetment charges should only apply when the act is proximate and intended to incite self-harm, not for casual remarks or actions. 

Thus, there is a need to take cognisance by thorough evaluation whether the essential ingredients of abetment are present before proceeding with such cases.

Liberalism and Hinduism

Context: In a recent interview, a Member of Parliament remarked that there are many similarities between Liberalism and Hinduism, and both are compatible.

Relevance of the Topic:Mains: GS-2 (Core Principles of Liberalism); Essay; Ethics. 

About Liberalism

  • Liberalism is a political, social, and economic ideology centered on the principles of individual liberty, equality, and limited government. 
  • It emphasises the protection of individual rights and freedoms along with a system of governance that ensures equality of opportunity and justice.
  • Principles of liberalism are deeply embedded in the Indian Constitution, particularly in the Preamble and the Fundamental Rights.  

Core Principles of Liberalism

  • Individual Liberty: The belief that individuals should have the freedom to make choices regarding their lives, thoughts, and actions, as long as they do not harm others. This includes freedoms such as speech, religion, and association.
  • Equality: It advocates for equal treatment under the law regardless of race, gender, or social status. It seeks to ensure that everyone has equal opportunities to succeed.
  • Limited government: Advocates for a government with clearly defined powers that exist primarily to protect individual rights and prevent harm. Excessive state control is seen as a threat to personal freedoms.
  • Rule of Law: Laws must be applied fairly and consistently to all individuals, ensuring justice and accountability in governance.
  • Economic freedom: Supports free markets, private property rights, and minimal state interference in economic activities to foster innovation and individual enterprise.
  • Democratic governance: Advocates for representative democracy, where governments are accountable to the people through elections and public participation.
  • Tolerance and Pluralism: Commits to accepting diverse viewpoints and cultures within society. This aligns with the liberal ideal of fostering co-existence without imposing uniformity.

About Hinduism

  • Hinduism, in the context its compatibility with liberalism, is characterised by its pluralistic and inclusive nature. 
  • It embodies several principles that resonate with liberal values like pluralism, individual autonomy, tolerance and non-violence.
image 153

Similarities between  Liberalism and Hinduism

  • Pluralism and Diversity of choices: Both liberalism and Hinduism emphasize the importance of pluralism. Hinduism, as described by Tharoor, offers an "extraordinarily eclectic mix of choices" in worship and belief systems, reflecting the liberal value of individual freedom to choose one's path.
  • Tolerance and Acceptance: Hinduism, according to Swami Vivekananda, not only teaches tolerance but also universal acceptance. This is in consensus with liberalism's core principle of respecting diverse viewpoints and lifestyles.
  • Individual Freedom: Liberalism places a high value on individual autonomy and personal freedoms. Similarly, Hinduism allows "tremendous amounts of freedom" for individuals in their spiritual and religious practices, as highlighted by Tharoor.
  • Rejection of Monopoly or Exclusivity of idea: No one holds a monopoly on Hinduism, reflecting a rejection of narrow, authoritarian interpretations. Liberalism also opposes monopolistic control over ideas or systems, and advocates for open discourse and multiplicity.
  • Adaptability to Modern time: Hinduism acts as an "ideal faith for the 21st century" due to its flexibility and inclusivity, echoing liberalism's adaptability to contemporary societal needs and challenges.
  • Non-dogmatic Approach: Both ideologies reject dogmatism. Liberalism encourages critical thinking and skepticism towards absolute truths, while Hinduism is often described as non-dogmatic, allowing for various interpretations of spiritual texts and practices. This flexibility enables adherents to adapt their beliefs to modern contexts without losing their core values.
  • Focus on Social Justice: Hinduism contains elements that promote social justice through concepts like Sarva Dharma Samabhava, which emphasizes equality among all religions. Liberalism also includes a commitment to social justice, advocating for equality and the protection of minority rights.
  • Spirituality beyond Materialism: Both Liberalism and Hinduism encourage a view of life that transcends materialistic pursuits. Liberal thought often critiques excessive consumerism, advocating for a life guided by values rather than possessions. Similarly, Hindu teachings emphasise non-attachment to material goods as a pathway to spiritual fulfillment.

The pluralistic ethos of both ideologies offer solutions to emerging issues like religious intolerance, authoritarianism, and would contribute to a more equitable and harmonious society. 

Indian engagement with Afghanistan

Context: Recently, India’s Foreign Secretary met the Taliban’s acting Foreign Minister in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Taliban has called India a “significant regional and economic partner” in the meeting. 

Relevance of the Topic: Mains: Detailed question on India-Afghanistan relations after Taliban takeover. 

Background: 

  • In August 2021, the US forces vacated Afghanistan, leading to Taliban takeover of the country and the government in Kabul. 
  • Concerns of India after Taliban’s takeover: 
    • Connectivity challenge: India sees Afghanistan as a key element to Central Asia connectivity via Zaranj-Delaram Highway. Taliban takeover may hamper the connectivity project leading to delay.
    • Skepticism over investments: The Indian government invested in infrastructure like Salma dam and Parliament building of Afghanistan. Taliban takeover threatened the safety of these investments.
    • Internal security challenge: Taliban regime can give push to cross-border terrorism in India.
    • Narco-terrorism: Taliban is sanctioned by the US leaving little scope to raise funds. This may lead Taliban to give a push to the drug trade as Afghanistan is part of Golden crescent.
    • Human rights violations: India has raised concerns over the Taliban’s decision to ban education for women.

Challenges in dealing with Taliban

image 151
  • Third-party influence: Taliban is influenced by Pakistan intelligence agency ISI and other nations like China, creating an external challenge for India to deal with the Taliban.
  • Ideological difference: Indian and Taliban ideology differs in domains like human rights and civil rights. This makes consensus difficult between India and the Taliban regime.
  • Trust deficit: India is doubtful about the Taliban intentions as Taliban has established terrorist involvements against India.
  • Indian policy: Indian policy to not to engage with terrorist organisations leads to the obstacle to deal with Taliban and recognising the Taliban government in India.
  • Stalled diplomacy: India and Afghanistan had suspended their embassies in the nations after the Taliban takeover.

Steps Taken to Negotiate

image 152
  • Establishing contact: India held the first formal meeting with Taliban in August 2021 in Doha, Qatar. This meeting marked a significant departure from India’s earlier reluctance to engage with the Taliban.
  • Humanitarian Assistance: Recognising the Humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, Indians began sending aid in December 2021. E.g., Wheat grant for Afghanistan and free CoVid vaccines to Afghanistan.
  • Re-establishing diplomatic presence: In 2022, India reopened its embassy in Kabul, signaling a willingness to engage more directly with the Taliban administration.
  • High level engagement: India 2025, India engaged in a high level meeting with the Taliban’s Foreign Minister Muttaqi unfolding new agendas of engagement between the nations.

What more can be done?

  • Multilateral engagement: India can explore relations with Afghanistan at Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to promote central-asia connectivity.
  • Expanding soft power: India can explore cricket diplomacy and cultural connect with Afghanistan.
  • Humanitarian aid: India needs to expand humanitarian aid with medical assistance and allowing Afghan students to join Indian Universities.
  • Inclusive governance: Encouraging the Taliban to protect the rights of ethnic minorities, women, and children to create a more inclusive governance system.

Three redline concept to deal with Taliban

  • Counter-terrorism and Security- India insists that Afghan soil must not be used to harbor or support terrorist groups targeting India, such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Any direct or indirect support for terrorism by the Taliban is a strict redline.
  • Inclusive governance: India emphasises the need to include minorities, women and all ethnic groups in the government.
  • Safeguarding development: India expects the Taliban to respect and secure its developmental investment in Afghanistan. Any harm to these assets would jeopardise India's willingness to deepen its engagement.

Conclusion: India’s engagement with the Taliban reflects a pragmatic shift, balancing geopolitical challenges and humanitarian needs. By fostering diplomatic ties, boosting trade, supporting Afghan stability, and countering security threats, India can safeguard its interests while promoting regional peace. A nuanced approach ensures India's role as a constructive partner in Afghanistan’s future. 

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