Context: The recently concluded Summer Paralympics has shown that assistive technologies in combination with the will power of specially abled persons can be a game changer in ensuring a dignified life for them.
Relevance of the topic: Mains- Role of assistive technology in empowering PWDs and the inherent challenges.
What is Assistive Technology?
Assistive technology is an umbrella term for assistive products, software and related services that enhance learning, working, mobility and routine functions for persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Examples include: Hearing Aid, Wheelchair, Prosthetics body parts, Smart Walking sticks, Smart and AI-enabled assistive devices like screen readers etc.
Role of Assistive Technology:
It is crucial for enabling health, well-being, inclusion and participation for people with disabilities.
Provide accessibility: Through assistive technologies, specially abled people get to lead life with greater independence and dignity. E.g., SmartCane (a mobility aid for the visually impaired).
Support Education and Livelihood: ATs empower individuals to continue education, engage in employment and earn a livelihood.E.g.,TacRead (an affordable digital text reader).
Enable full-participation in society: From advanced prosthetics to precision tools, ATs provide PWDs the necessary support for their fullest integration in society and push them past their boundaries. E.g., Prosthetics for athletes to participate in Paralympics.
Schemes launched by the Government:
Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase / Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP) to assist the disabled persons in procuring suitable, durable, scientifically-manufactured, modern, standard aids and appliances. Provides motorised tricycles and wheelchairs for people with severe disabilities, among other aids.
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has released the National List of Essential Assistive Products, thus standardising and improving access to AT across India.
BIRAC-Social Alpha Quest for Assistive Technologies and the Attvaran India Accelerator play a vital role by supporting startups focused on AT solutions. E.g., interactive learning app for students with learning disabilities.
Public launch of Assistive Devices at IIT Delhi’s National Centre for Assistive Health Technologies.
Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan): To provide universal accessibility to persons with disabilities. It focuses on developing an accessible physical environment, transportation system and Information & communication ecosystem.
Challenges with dissemination of Assistive Technology:
Lack of Funding: Many many promising innovations struggling to secure funding.
Lack of Inclusivity: The access to ATs is largely confined to urban areas, thereby generating a regional inequality in its access. The World Health Organisation reports that globally, 90% of persons with disabilities lack access to AT.
Lack of Affordability: The ATs come with a lot of cost attached to the research and innovation that has gone into its development. Hence, income and wealth inequality manifest in terms of lack of access to ATs for poor people.
Poor R&D ecosystem in India: The overall investment in the R & D sector in India is just around 0.68% of GDP. Even this small chunk of investment is concentrated majorly in defence and space sectors, which leaves little amount for investing in ATs.
Way Forward:
Efficient implementation of accessibility schemes like Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase / Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP) & Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan.
Subsidised and DBT mechanisms to ensure the outreach and affordability to different sections of society.
Provide investment to start-ups to design affordable customised, user-centric designs that empower disabled individuals and communities.
Conclusion: While India has done tremendous work to close the gap, there is an increasing need for such technology given the rising incidence of non-communicable diseases and injuries. Universal access to such technology must become a cornerstone of an inclusive healthcare system.
Context: Despite extensive research and econometric studies, there is no conclusive evidence that inflation targeting is the most effective monetary policy framework.
What is Inflation Targeting?
Inflation Targeting is a monetary policy framework where the Central Bank of a country aims to maintain the rate of Inflation within a targeted (pre-defined) range.
India adopted inflation targeting through the Monetary Policy Framework Agreement in 2015, signed between the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Central Government.
Objective: RBI's primary objective would be to maintain price stability while keeping in mind the objective of growth.
Target: The RBI is required to maintain inflation of 4% (with a deviation of +/- 2%), i.e., between 2% to 6%.
Why the Need to Review Inflation Targeting?
1. Inflation-Growth Dichotomy:
Inflation targeting relies on contractionary monetary policy (higher interest rates) to control inflation. However, such a policy would lead to an increase in rate of interest on loans, will raise borrowing costs, reduce private investment and consumption expenditure, thereby causing a decline in GDP growth rates.
2. Persisting Inflation:
In Inflation targeting, controlling the money supply only alters demand-side inflation but does not address the inflation caused by supply-side constraints.
E.g., Rise in prices of vegetables, pulses highlight supply side constraints, which are out of the purview of the RBI and hence they continue to erode household savings.
3. Inefficient Monetary Policy Transmission:
Despite a cumulative hike in repo rate of 250 bps (during May 2022 to October 2023), banks revised their marginal cost of funds-based lending rate (MCLR) only by 152 bps. Hence, the cost of credit still remains high for prospective borrowers, thereby discouraging capital investment.
Way Forward:
Shift to flexible inflation targeting: Post-Global Financial crisis, the dominant view around the world is that flexible inflation targeting (FIT), rather than pure inflation targeting, is more efficient for monetary policy formulation. By FIT, during times of extraordinary shocks (pandemics or financial crises), Central banks could temporarily adjust their inflation target to allow for more economic flexibility.
Address supply-chain constraints: Strengthening policy coordination with the government and undertaking structural reforms in the agriculture and developing efficient logistics and transport networks to address inflationary pressure due to supply-side shocks.
Context: The All-India House Price Index (HPI) of the Reserve Bank of India rose by 4.34% as of September 2024. The rising HPI shows that the house prices are on the rise in India, despite high interest rates in the banking system and inflation.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims- House Price Index
What is the House Price Index?
Released by: Reserve Bank of India
Frequency: Published quarterly.
Base year: 2010-11
Coverage: The Index tracks the price movements of residential property in ten major cities in India. (Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Jaipur, Kanpur, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, and Mumbai)
Data Source: Official data of property price transactions collected from registration authorities of respective state governments.
Based on these city indices, an average house price index representing all-India house price movement is also compiled.
Utility of House Price Index:
Functions as an analytical tool for estimating:
Changes in the rates of Real estate and mortgage defaults
Housing affordability
Used by policymakers and banks to assess the impact of monetary policy on the housing sector and assists in framing housing and urban development schemes.
Context: The Indian Navy is expecting to finalise the Rs 90,000 crore deals for 26 Rafale Marine combat aircraft and 3 additional Scorpene submarines by January 2025.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Rafale Aircraft; Scorpène-class Submarine; Project 75.
Major Highlights:
The Indian Navy has been negotiating with:
France for the purchase of 26 Rafale Marine fighter aircraft
French Naval Group for the construction of 3 additional Scorpene-class submarines at Mazagon Dockyards Limited.
The 3 additional submarines will complement the six Scorpene-class submarines that have already been built by the dockyard. From the earlier contract, five submarines have been inducted under Project 75, and the sixth is expected to be commissioned in December 2024.
What is Rafale Aircraft?
The Dassault Rafale is a French twin-engine, canard delta wing, multirole fighter aircraft.
Designed and built by: Dassault Aviation
It is referred to as an "omnirole" (conduct both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions simultaneously) 4.5th generation aircraft by Dassault.
India had ordered the 36 Rafale combat aircraft from France in a Rs 59,000-crore deal in September 2016. The delivery of all the jets to the Indian Air Force (IAF) in December 2022.
For the Indian Navy, India selected the Rafale M over the American-made Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet.
About: They are diesel-attack submarines based on the Scorpène design developed by Naval Group (France).
Under Project 75,six Scorpene-class submarines have been constructed indigenously (at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited Mumbai) with Transfer of Technology from France.
The project was initiated in 1997, and five submarines are currently commissioned.
Submarines under Project 75 (Kalvari-class):
INS Kalvari: Inducted in 2017
INS Kandheri: Inducted in 2019
INS Karanj: Inducted in 2021
INS Vela: Inducted 2021
INS Vagir: Inducted 2023
INS Vagsheer: To be commissioned in December 2024.
Diesel Electric submarines: This class of submarines have Diesel Electric transmission systems and are attack submarines or the ‘hunter-killer’ type which are designed to target and sink adversary naval vessels.
They have the capability of operating in a wide range of Naval combat including anti-warship and anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering and surveillance, underwater mining operations and naval mine laying.
Context: As India aims to achieve its development objectives by 2047, the government has heavily emphasised on the role of science and technology in strategic and emerging sectors. However, the intensification of research and development (R&D) poses threats to Research Security.
Relevance of the Topic: Mains: Need to promote Research Security.
What is Research security?
Research security refers to safeguarding scientific research from threats to confidentiality, economic value, or national interest. These threats include:
Foreign interference
Intellectual property theft
Cyberattacks and Insider threats
Espionage and unauthorised access to sensitive information.
Need to safeguard Scientific Research:
Identify threats emerging from collaboration: Indian universities and industries are increasingly collaborating with foreign entities. Collaboration and the free exchange of knowledgeare fundamental to scientific progress, but they pose aforementioned threats to scientific research.
Protect investments in critical technology: India is ramping up investments in strategic technologies which include space, defence, semiconductors, nuclear technology, cybersecurity, biotechnology, clean energy, artificial intelligence, and quantum technology. If the threats are not identified or left unaddressed, they could undermine India’s progress in strategic sectors and risk its investments.
Protection from increasing cyber-security attacks: India ranked 5th in global data breaches in 2023 with 5.3 million leaked accounts. Any breach of security could compromise national interests, delay technological advancements, and expose sensitive data to exploitation by foreign actors.
Hence, India needs to ensure that its strategic research outputs remain protected.
Global Instances of Research Security breaches:
There have been several cases of research security breaches around the world with serious consequences.
A senior professor at Harvard University, the US (who received funding from the U.S. Department of Defense) was arrested for not-disclosing their links to Chinese funding.
COVID-19 vaccine research facilities were subject to cyber attacks in 2020 to steal sensitive vaccine research and development data.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has also suffered several cyberattacks to sabotage or steal sensitive information.
Global Initiatives for Research Security:
Such incidents have prompted several countries to develop policies and guidelines to strengthen research security.
US: The US CHIPS and Science Act has several provisions on research security. They are complemented with the research security framework of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Canada: Canada has come up with National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships and a Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern, along with a list of sensitive technologies. It has identified research institutions (primarily from China, Iran, and Russia) with which collaborations should be avoided.
EU: European Space Agency has developed a partnership on cybersecurity with the European Defence Agency on cybersecurity.
China: Working on a military-civil fusion plan to share strategic research and technologies between the civilian and military sectors.
Way Forward to promote Research Security in India:
Systematically map the security vulnerabilities in India’s research ecosystem. This would involve:
Understanding the nature of foreign influence in our universities
Assessing the vulnerabilities of key research labs and sensitive research infrastructure
Analysing foreign collaborations and funding in strategic technologies
Reviewing the personnel hiring and access control practices to comprehend possible insider threats in the crucial research facilities.
Develop Institutional Framework: The Anusandhan National Research Foundation should set up a special research security office, similar to one in the U.S. National Science Foundation.
It can help develop a framework for research security that minimises overregulation while safeguarding important research areas.
It can become a focal point for coordinating and synergising efforts for research security among security agencies and academic institutions.
International Collaborations: Foster engagement with trusted international partners could be explored for the initial capacity building and awareness-raising in this area.
Increase investments in strengthening the cyber security framework to protect critical infrastructure and business ecosystems.
The Union Budget of India (2024-2025) allocated ₹759 crores for cybersecurity projects, which was an increase from the past, but is very low.
Developed economies allocate separate funds for cyber security purposes, and India should consider 1% of its GDP is spent on cyber security.
Science is inherently international and collaborative in nature and international collaborations are crucial drivers of scientific progress. We need to find a balance between open science (which includes sharing of research infrastructure, open data, and involving the general public in the scientific research) and ensuring Research Security. Only this would guarantee that research is "as open as possible, as closed as necessary.” and build an innovation ecosystem to harness the transformative power of these technologies.
Context: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is exploring the idea to establish an AI Safety Institute (AISI) in Indiaunder the IndiaAI Mission.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about AI Safety Institute (once it is established); Global Partnership on AI (GPAI) initiative; Bletchley Declaration; IndiaAI Mission.
Major Highlights:
In recent years, India has displayed leadership in developing a robust Artificial Intelligence ecosystem and AI governanceat the G20 and the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI) initiative.
India needs to consider setting up its own globally assimilated, but locally driven, AI institute to create an ecosystem for cutting-edge AI innovation, access, and safety, as outlined in the Bletchley Declaration.
Bletchley Declaration:
Bletchley Declaration is a global agreement on the responsible development of AI.
Aim: Enhance global cooperation on artificial intelligence (AI) safety by identifying AI-related risks and developing collaborative policies for mitigation of these risks.
It was signed by the 28 countries & EU at the AI Safety Summit, UK, in November 2023.
Important signatories: India, China, the US, the UK, European Union etc.
What is AI Safety?
AI safety refers to practices and principles that help ensure AI technologies are designed as responsibly as possible tobenefit humanity and minimize any potential harm or negative outcomes. It includes:
Ethical design of algorithms
Ensuring data privacy and security of individuals and organisations
Identifying potential AI risks (such as bias, data security, vulnerability to external threats) and developing AI safety measures for risk mitigation.
Scope of AI Safety Institute:
Advocate responsible AI deployment adapting to the unique needs of industries such as healthcare, finance, and logistics etc.
Facilitate proactive information sharing without being a regulator.
Assess the risk to public safety from frontier AI models by leveraging multi-stakeholder consortiums and partnerships.
Improve government capacity and mainstream the idea of external third-party testing and risk mitigation and assessment.
Deliver insights which can transform AI governance into an evidence-based discipline.
Structure of AI Safety Institute:
Standardisation Agency: AISI should be a technical institution that operates exclusively as a technical research, testing, and standardisation agency which sets standards for AI safety. It should be independent from rulemaking and enforcement authorities.
Advisory role of AISI: AISI’s role should not be limited to safety testing and standard-setting but should also be advisory in nature, helping policymakers and the private sector understand and mitigate the socio-technical risks AI poses. The institute could champion perspectives on risks relating to bias, discrimination, social exclusion, gendered risks, labour markets, data collection and individual privacy.
Multi-stakeholder collaboration: In collaboration with a broad range of stakeholders (including startups, large enterprises, academic institutions, civil society organizations, and government bodies), AISI should work closely to develop and disseminate industry best practices, responsible AI use guidelines, and advocate the importance of responsible AI practices across sectors.
Scalability and Global Engagement: AISI should collaborate with governments and stakeholders from across the world. Shared expertise will be essential to keep up with AI’s rapid innovation trajectories and help in scaling the capabilities of AI.
The AI Safety Institute would help India become a global steward for forward-thinking AI governance which embraces many stakeholders and government collaboration. AISI can demonstrate India’s scientific temper and willingness to implement globally compatible, evidence-based and proportionate policy solutions.
Context: In a recent case, the Supreme Court has held that Section 197(1) ofthe Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) will also be applicable to the proceedings in Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2002.
Relevance: Prior sanctions under Section 197(1) of CrPC.
Section 197(1) of CrPC:
Under Section 197(1) of the CrPC, public servants, judges, or magistrates can not be prosecuted for the acts done in their official capacity (official duties) without prior approval from the relevant government authority.
The sanction must come from the Central Government for Central Government officials and from the State Government for those in State.
It intends to prevent malicious prosecutions and protect decision-making in good faith.
BNSS, 2023: A similar provision exists under Section 218 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS).
Intentions of the Provision:
This provision is meant to shield public servants from unnecessary prosecution.
However, no sanction are required when public servants are accused of certain crimes against women (such as rape, sexual harassment, stalking, and voyeurism), and other serious crimes such as human trafficking.
Impact on Public Servants:
It will add procedural safeguards under the stringent provisions of PMLA involving civil servants. The accused public servant, even after being convicted, can appeal and potentially have the conviction set aside, if they can demonstrate:
The Act was part of their official duty.
The trial took place without the legally mandated government sanction.
As a result, the accused can argue that the trial itself was invalid. If the court agrees, any conviction resulting from such a trial could be overturned.
In P K Pradhan v. State of Sikkim (2001), the SC held that prior sanction under Section 197 was not obtained and can be raised by the accused at any time during a trial, or even after conviction. However, the accused public servant must establish that his alleged act was in the course of the performance of his official duty.
Other Constitutional Protection for Civil Servants:
Part XIV of the Constitution: Services under the Union and the States.
Article 309: Parliament and State legislatures to regulate the recruitment and conditions of service for civil servants.
Doctrine of Pleasure: As per Article 310, civil servants hold office at the pleasure of the President or Governor.
Article 311: It lays down two major safeguards for civil servants.
Dismissal or removal can only be done by the appointing authority or a higher rank.
Dismissal or reduction in rank requires an inquiry with a reasonable opportunity to defend.
Context: A global outbreak of H5N1 (a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus) has been spreading across the world since late 2020. Recent human cases of H5N1 infections have raised alarms regarding its potential to turn into pandemic.
About Influenza:
Influenza (flu) is a highly-contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses.
Symptoms of influenza include acute onset of fever, cough, sore throat, body aches and fatigue.
Influenza viruses are of four different types: A, B, C and D.
i. Type A:
Influenza A is associated with severe respiratory illness and deaths in humans.
Only influenza type A viruses are known to have caused pandemics.
They are further classified into subtypes according to the combinations of the proteins on the surface of the virus. E.g.,
H3N2 (HongKong Flu) and H1N1 (Swine Flu) viruses are subtypes of Influenza A virus.
H5N1 (Avian influenza/ Bird Flu) is also a subtype of the Influenza A virus that primarily infects birds, but can also infect humans and other mammals.
ii. Type B: Influenza B almost exclusively infects humans, and is less common than influenza A.
iii. Type C: Detected less frequently and usually causes mild infections, thus does not present public health importance.
iv. Type D: Primarily affects cattle and are not known to infect or cause illness in people.
H5N1 Virus (Avian influenza/ Bird Flu):
H5N1 (Avian influenza/ Bird Flu) is a subtype of the Influenza A virus that predominantly infects birds, but can also infect humans and other mammals.
The virus can infect people in close contact with infected birds, including dairy or poultry farm workers.
Recent human cases of H5N1 in Canada and California have increased concerns about the possible mutations in the virus that could facilitate human-to-human transmission.
Genome sequencing identified a particular mutation which is linked to faster replication of the virus in human cells and greater severity of illness.
The findings raise concerns about the potential of the virus to cause more severe respiratory illness in humans.
Influenza viruses are constantly evolving, the factors include:
High population density, poor hygiene practices, weather conducive to the survival and spread of the virus increase the risk of flu transmission.
Indiscriminate antimicrobial use due tothe absence of definitive diagnosis and influenza symptoms coinciding with other acute respiratory infections.
Low Vaccination rates as strategies for influenza prevention and control have not been prioritised by the Indian Medical Association. Influenza vaccine is not includedinto the government’s Universal Immunisation Programme.
Due to climate change, seasonal epidemics of influenza may shift spatially and temporally, with rising temperatures and abnormal rainfall patterns being contributing factors.
Context: Majority of the efforts tofight climate change have been land-biased. The countries have invested heavily on land but underutilised the potential of oceans, seas, lakes, and rivers for carbon dioxide removal.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims- Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal, Ocean alkalinity enhancement, Ocean fertilization, Deep ocean biomass sinking.
What is Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal?
Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR) is any ocean-based process or technique designed to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it for long periods of time in the ocean.
Marine carbon capture strategies fall into two categories.
Biotic approaches: Taking advantage of living systems like mangroves and macro-algae of our rivers to carefully calibrate biomass burial at sea.
Abiotic approaches: Manipulating physical or chemical properties, such as through ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE), which are relatively more complicated.
Other examples: Adding alkaline materials to the ocean to increase the amount of carbon stored in ocean waters; adding iron or other nutrients to ocean waters to increase phytoplankton growth and export of carbon to the deep ocean; and sinking organic materials, such as kelp or crop residue, into the deep ocean.
Why should oceans be focussed?
Land saturation: Soils and rocks are so severely damaged that they no longer support efficient carbon capture. Land resources are also under severe pressure to support a huge population, agriculture, infrastructure etc.
Huge potential of Oceans: Sea and oceans have large surface areas (cover over 70% of the Earth's surface), thus better suited for CO2 absorption and removal.
What is ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE)?
Ocean alkalinization is an approach to carbon removal that involves adding alkaline substances to seawater to enhance the ocean's natural carbon sink.
How is it done?
Adding alkaline and/or basic solutions directly into seawater – using electrochemical methods to split ocean water into its acidic and basic components and then returning the basic components again to the ocean.
Adding certain types of mined alkaline minerals, such as olivine, to coastal and ocean waters.
Mechanism:
Adding alkalinity to seawater (or removing acid from seawater) would lead to a temporary elevation in seawater pH.
This then results in a series of chemical reactions that convert dissolved carbon dioxide (already present in the seawater) into dissolved inorganic carbon, primarily in the form of bicarbonate (relatively stable form of carbon).
The seawater (now depleted in dissolved carbon dioxide) then takes up additional carbon dioxide from the atmosphere at the ocean surface.
Merits of OAE:
Long-term storage of carbon in the form of stable bicarbonate ions.
Provides the co-benefit of locally mitigating ocean acidification.
Ocean fertilization is a form of geoengineering that involves adding nutrients to the upper (sunlit) layers of the ocean to stimulate phytoplankton activity (photosynthesis) in an attempt to draw down atmospheric CO2 levels.
The transfer of carbon from the surface ocean to the deep ocean must result in a subsequent transfer of carbon from the atmosphere into the surface ocean.
This could be accomplished by adding nutrients, such as iron, to the open oceans or nutrients may be moved from the deep ocean to the surface ocean through a process called "artificial upwelling.”
Ocean fertilization does not include conventional aquaculture, mariculture or the creation of artificial reefs.
What is deep ocean biomass sinking?
Deep ocean biomass sinking is the process of extracting carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through sinking carbon-rich biomass into the deep oceans.
Plants on land and in the ocean pull in carbon dioxide from their environment during photosynthesis.
The carbon contained in terrestrial or marine biomass, such as crops or macroalgae, could potentially be sequestered from the atmosphere for long periods of time by sinking it in the deep ocean.
Context: The Central Government is planning to bring out a National Policy document on female labour force participation (FLFP) with a focus on providing an enabling atmosphere like a viable care economy structure.
Relevance of the Topic: Mains- Present situation of FLFP in India and the need for a national policy to promote it.
Major Highlights:
What is the Care economy?
Care economy is the sector of economic activities related to the provision of care (both paid and unpaid) for the present and future populations.
It includes:
Direct care such as feeding a baby
Indirect care such as cooking and cleaning, health care, education, and other personal and domestic services.
One of the initiatives being explored is a core skilling package for caregivers for children. Govt. is also looking to provide child care facilities for women in the informal sector such as for workers under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development already runs the ‘Palna’ scheme, or the National Programme on Anganwadi-cum-Crèche, which provides day-care facilities for children of working parents. A total of 1,000 Anganwadi creches are operational till now as part of this scheme.
About Female Labour Force Participation (FLFPR) Rate:
Female labour force participation (FLFPR) rate refers to women (over 15 years) who are either working or looking for a job.
FLFP Rate in India: The Periodic Labour Force Survey for 2022-23 highlights that the FLFPR for prime working age group (15 years & above) has increased from 23% in 2017-18 to 37 % in 2022-23.
In Rural areas: 36.6% of females aged 15 years & above are participating in the labour force, as against 78.2% male in 2021-22.
In Urban areas : 23.8% of females aged 15 years & above are participating in the labour force, as against 74.7% male in 2021-22.
From 2017 to 2022, women’s LFPR increased relative to men, in rural areas because of the larger engagement of rural women in agriculture and allied activities.
Only four states, namely Assam, Bihar, Haryana, and Delhi, have a FLFPR below 25%, with Delhi recording the lowest rate at 14.8%.
As per the recent World Bank report:
Women face a sharp drop in their labour force participation post-marriage in India.
It is estimated that in India post-marriage female employment rates drop by 12 percentage points (about one-third of the female pre-marital employment rate), even in the absence of children.
Necessitating factors for National Policy on FLFP in India:
Unpaid care work: Women have to bear the burden of unpaid care work (taking care of children, elderly family members, and household chores). It is often undervalued and not recognised as work, which limits women’s ability to participate in paid employment.
Societal norms and cultural expectations: In India, traditional gender division of labour dictate that women should focus on household duties and raising children, while men are the primary breadwinners.
Lack of access to education: Girls are often denied access to education, or they drop out of school early due to poverty or familial responsibilities. This limits their skill development, employment opportunities and earning potential.
However, presently, more women are pursuing higher education which can delay their entry into the workforce. While education can empower women, societal expectations may still lead them to leave the workforce after education.
Health related issues: Health challenges, especially for older women, impact their productivity and contribute to low FLPR.
Limited job opportunities: Women often face discrimination in the job market, and there are fewer job opportunities available to them compared to men. For example, the technology and finance sector.
Safety concerns: Women often face safety concerns and harassment in the workplace and while commuting to and from work which discourages them from seeking employment outside of the home.
Lack of supportive policies: India lacks supportive policies, such as parental leave, and flexible work arrangements (especially in the informal sector), which can enable women to balance work and family responsibilities.
According to the IMF, if the women's participation in the workforce could match men's, the GDP of India could increase by 27%. Hence, the central government is working towards increasing the FLPR.
Government initiatives to improve Female Work Participation:
1. For Survival and Education of Females:
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme: For creating awareness among the people to educate all girl children in the country. The initiative intends to tackle the issue of the diminishing sex ratio in recent years, raise social awareness, and improve the effectiveness of welfare benefits for girls.
National Education Policy(NEP), 2020: The policy prioritises gender equity and envisions ensuring equitable access to quality education to all students, with a special emphasis on Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs).
2. For Safe and Convenient Accommodation:
Working Women Hostel: One of the main difficulties faced by working women is lack of safe and conveniently located accommodation. The objective of the scheme is to promote availability of safe and conveniently located accommodation for working women, with day care facilities for their children, wherever possible, in urban, semi urban, or even rural areas where employment opportunities for women exist.
3. For Supporting Women affected by violence
One Stop Centre (OSC) and Universalisation of Women Helpline: To provide 24 hours immediate and emergency response to women affected by violence through referral (linking with appropriate authority such as police, One Stop Centre, hospital) and information about women related government schemes programs across the country through a single uniform number.
Women Helpline (WHL) will be integrated with One Stop Centre Scheme (OSC) under which one OSC shall be established in every State/UT to provide integrated support and assistance to women affected by violence, both in private and public spaces under one roof.
4. Codification of the Labour Laws for harmonizing the needs of job seekers, workers and employers:
Labour Codes: The four Labour Codes namely, the Code on Wages, 2019, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, the Code on Social Security, 2020 and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020. Codification of the Labour Laws provides a policy framework for harmonizing the needs of job seekers, workers and employers.
The Labour Codes will, inter-alia, reduce multiplicity of definitions & authorities, facilitate implementation and use of technology in enforcement of labour laws and bring transparency and accountability in enforcement, promote setting up of more enterprises, catalysing the creation of employment opportunities in the country.
5. Equal Opportunity and Congenial Work Environment
Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017: The Act increased the paid maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks, also made a provision for mandatory crèche facilities in establishments having 50 or more employees, permitting women workers in the night shifts with adequate safety measures, etc.
The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013: To provide protection against sexual harassment of women at workplace and for the prevention and redressal of complaints of sexual harassment and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
4. Promoting Entrepreneurship:
Female Entrepreneurship: To promote female entrepreneurship, the Government has initiated schemes like MUDRA, Stand Up India and Mahila e-Haat.
Rashtriya Mahila Kosh: Provides micro-credit at concessional terms to poor women for various livelihood and income generating activities.
Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP): Under the scheme, women entrepreneurs are provided 25 per cent and 35 per cent subsidies for the project set up in urban and rural areas respectively.
Measures to improve Female Work Participation:
Need of National Women’s Urban Employment Guarantee Act (WUEGA): Women should form at least 50% of the programme management staff, with a vision for decentralized management and local community involvement. Includes provisions for childcare at work sites, free public transportation for women, and work availability within a 5-km radius.
Case study of WUEGA: Women-led waste management in Karnataka, demonstrates the feasibility and success of women-centric programs: In this initiative women handle end-to-end waste management in gram panchayats of selected districts including collection and driving of the ‘Swacch’ vehicles.
Japan’s ‘womenomics’:
-Japan was grappling with falling fertility rates, a declining population, and stagnant growth. A series of reforms on “womenomics” were introduced as part of the “Abenomics” era.
-Women’s labour force participation rate (WLFPR) in Japan has grown by ten percentage points, from 64.9 percent in 2013 to 75.2 per cent in 2023.
-Majority of the “womenomics” reforms have been linked to investments in the care economy and rebalancing gender norms.
Ensure high participation of women in MGNREGS: Recommendations given by Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj:
The government must take measures for better promotion of “women-centric works” through creation or linking of existing livelihood projects under the scheme.
The Ministry of Rural Development needs to bridge the wage disparity among states by notifying a uniform wage rate structure.
Identification of niche sectors: There is a need for identification of niche sectors like countries like the United States initiative like Girls Who Code in the USA aim to close the gender gap in technology, Japan and Italy are focusing on the healthcare and social work sectors as areas of potential job growth for women.
Flexible Work Options as like Netherlands: Promote work models like part-time work, remote work, and parental leave policies, empowers women to manage work-life balance effectively.
Accounting for care work: There is a need to capture the value of care in the GDP calculation.
Conclusion: These strategies can contribute to meeting goals of SDG 1 (end poverty); SDG 3 (ensure healthy lives); SDG 4 (ensure inclusive and equitable quality education); SDG 5 (achieve gender equality) etc.
Context: The Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 is scheduled to be held between 13 January to 26 February, 2025 at Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. This Kumbha is likely to attract 400 million people from across the world.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims- Key facts about Kumbh, Ardhkumbha and Mahakumbh.
About Kumbh, Ardhkumbha and Mahakumbh:
Kumbh Mela is a major pilgrimage and festival in Hinduism or Sanatana tradition. It is a religious pilgrimage that is celebrated four times, over a course of 12 years, at four river-bank pilgrimage sites:
Ujjain (Shipra). All the pilgrims take a holy dip in the river water.
Kumba is held at Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik every three years.
Ardhkumbha is held at Prayagraj and Haridwar every 6 years.
Mahakumbha is the event that takes place after every 144 years, following 12 Purna Kumbh Melas.
Key facts about Kumbha Mela:
Kumbh Mela has been included in the UNESCO’s Representative list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (2017). Theevent intrinsically encapsulates the science of astronomy, astrology, spirituality, ritualistic traditions, and socio-cultural customs and practices, making it extremely rich in knowledge.
Each site’s celebration is based on a distinct set of astrological positions of the Sun, the Moon, and Jupiter. The celebrations occur at the exact moment when these positions are fully occupied, as it is considered to be the holiest time in Hinduism.
This congregation, primarily, includes Ascetics, Saints, Sadhus, Sadhvis, Kalpvasis and Pilgrims from all walks of life. The seekers believe that bathing in these rivers is a means to prāyaścitta (atonement, penance, restorative action) for past mistakes, and that it cleanses them of their sins.
Origin of Concept:
1. Ancient India:
Puranas are the oldest source of Magha mela (probably the older name of Kumbh mela). According to these texts, the gods and demons once engaged in a cosmic battle over a kumbha (pot) containing Amrita, the elixir of immortality. This struggle was part of their joint endeavour to churn the milky ocean. During this celestial tug-of-war, drops of amrita fell on four earthly locations:Haridwar, Ujjain, Nashik, and Prayag (now Prayagraj). These sites, sanctified by the divine nectar, later became the venues for the Kumbh Mela.
Other references: However, the earliest mention of holy bath at Prayag is mentioned in Sanskrit text Rigveda and Pali text Majjhima Nikaya.
7th century Buddhist monkHiuen Tsang, who travelled during the period of King Harsha, mentioned about people gathering to take dip in hold rivers.
2. Medieval India:
It was Adi Shankarain the 8th century who formalised the Kumbha Mela. He intended to establish major gatherings for philosophical discourse and debates among the Hindu monastic community. These gatherings were aimed at consolidating and strengthening the philosophical foundations of Hinduism, fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose among its practitioners.
Context: India has signed the Riyadh Design Law Treaty to foster inclusive growth and strengthen India’s intellectual property (IP) ecosystem.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Riyadh Design Law Treaty, World Intellectual Property Organisation
About Riyadh Design Law Treaty:
The Riyadh Design Law Treaty (DLT) was adopted under the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).
Aim: To harmonise procedures and simplify registration processes of industrial designs in different countries.
Key Features:
The DLT introduces a standardised framework for design registration, reducing complexity and administrative burdens for applicants.
Applicants can file multiple designs in a single application, saving time and costs.
It provides a mechanism to restore rights in case of lapses, ensuring that applicants can recover lost opportunities. Provisions have been added to make it easier to correct or add priority claims.
It encourages countries to adopt electronic systems for design registration and facilitate the digital exchange of priority documents, reducing cost and time for startups.
About World Intellectual Property Organisation:
The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) is the United Nations Agency.
WIPO was created to:
develop an international intellectual property (IP) system that encourages innovation and creativity.
promote and protect intellectual property (IP) across the world by cooperating with countries as well as international organisations and resolve disputes.
Established in 1967.
Membership: 193 member states.
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
What are Intellectual Property Rights?
Intellectual property rights (IPRs) are the rights given to persons over the creations of their minds. They usually give the creator an exclusive right over the use of his/her creation for a certain period of time.
There are various types of IPRs, for E.g., Patent, Trademark, Copyright, Industrial design etc.
India is a signatory to Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), which sets global standards for intellectual property protection.
India has formulatedthe National IPR Policy 2016 to strengthen the Indian IPR ecosystem including- speeding up registration proceedings and reinforcing enforcement mechanisms and processes for all IP rights.
Indian Designs Act, 2000:
Industrial design is a specific IPR which protects the aesthetic or outward appearance of a product such as its unique shape, pattern and colour combinations. Some examples of industrial design include:
Unique shape of an iPhone
Shape of a Coca-Cola bottle
Outward appearance of a Volkswagen Beetle.
India provides legal protection for industrial designs under the Designs Act, 2000 and the associated Designs Rules, 2001.
The registered design is protected for the period of 10 years from the date of registration of the design, which can be further renewed to 5 more years.
What can India gain from Riyadh DLT?
Streamlined procedures:
Simplified applications procedures for filings licenses and recording changes in design licences.
Single application and submitting a limited number of documents as per international best practices to the IPR office.
This will make it easier, faster, and more affordable for designers to protect their work internationally.
Flexibility in Compliance: The DLT allows applicants to request a deferment of the publication of their designs by the IP Office and provides a grace period that enables applicants to seek design protection even after their designs have been publicly disclosed.
Deferment allows the designers to delay the public disclosure of their design for a specific period (keep the design confidential until they are ready to launch the product in the market).
The Indian Design treaty presently does not offer a deferment of publication, and the grace period available under our law is also limited in scope.
Linking India’s existing Intellectual property rights (IPR) initiatives with the Design Law Treaty will amplify India’s IP capacity and boost its competitiveness.
Recommendations of EAC-PM Working Paper:
India should sign-
Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement on Industrial Designs 1999:
The Hague Agreement allows for a single international application for design protection in multiple countries.
In absence of this agreement, Indian designers have to file separate applications in each country, which is time-consuming and costly.
Strasbourg Agreement Concerning the International Patent Classification 1971
Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Geographical Indications 2015.
Conclusion: An industrial design framework at par with global standards is a prerequisite for India which seeks to become a manufacturing hub for the world. Signing the DLT and the other major IPR treaties to align with the international best practices will send the right signals to domestic and foreign entrepreneurs about India’s commitment as a protector of IPR and showcasing itself as an IPR-savvy destination.
About World Intellectual Property Organisation:
The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) is the United Nations Agency.
WIPO was created to:
develop an international intellectual property (IP) system that encourages innovation and creativity.
promote and protect intellectual property (IP) across the world by cooperating with countries as well as international organisations and resolve disputes.
