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Paris Club reaches agreement in principle with Sri Lanka

Context: Debt ridden Sri Lanka has reached an ‘agreement-in-principle’ with India and other Paris Club creditors on a debt treatment plan. Facing economic distress due to the economic upheaval due to COVID-19 Pandemic and Ukraine-Russia war induced economic uncertainty, Sri Lanka had appealed to its sovereign, multilateral and private creditors for a debt restructuring. In response, an Official Creditor Committee was formed which was co-chaired by India, Japan and France (as Chair of the Paris Club).

OCC and Sri Lanka have agreed to debt treatment on the lines of Extended Fund Facility (EFF) between Sri Lanka and IMF. This agreement is expected to soon be formalised between Sri Lanka and the OCC.

What is the Paris Club?

Paris Club is an informal group of mostly western creditor countries that grew from a 1956 meeting in which Argentina agreed to meet its public creditors in Paris. Their objective is to find sustainable debt-relief solutions for countries that are unable to repay their bilateral loans.

It is a forum where official creditors meet to solve payment difficulties faced by debtor countries.
There are currently 22 permanent members of Paris Club.
However, other creditor countries can participate in negotiation meetings on a case-by-case basis, provided certain conditions are met.
Representatives of international financial institutions or countries can be invited to attend the meetings of Paris Club as observers.

What does the Paris club do?

The Paris club fund has two important functions – to offer loans to countries in extreme debt situations and to provide solutions to the debt issues they face.

MEMBERS

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, Norway, Russian Federation, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America.

Apart from members there are observers—often international NGOs—who attend but cannot participate in the meetings.

PRINCIPLES OF PARIS CLUB

Solidarity: All members of Paris Club agree to act as a group in their dealings with a given debtor country.

Consensus: All decisions of Paris Club are taken with consensus.

Information sharing: Paris Club members share views and information with each other about debtor countries. These discussions are productive and deliberations are kept confidential.

Case-by-case: Paris Club makes decisions on a case-by-case basis in line with individual country’s situation. This was consolidated by Evian approach.

Conditionality: Paris Club members only negotiate with countries that meet certain conditions such as the countries that need debt relief, have implemented and are committed to reforms etc.

Comparability of treatment: A debtor country that signs an agreement with its Paris Club creditors should not accept from its non-Paris club commercial and bilateral creditor terms of treatment.

PERFORMANCESince 1956, the debt treated in the framework of Paris Club agreements amounts to $614 billion.

Does the Paris Club have statutes?

As the Paris Club is an informal group, it does not have any statutes.This situation gives Paris Club creditors the flexibility to address the specific situation of each debtor country facing debt payment difficulties.

AGREED MINUTES AND BILATERAL AGREEMENT

The outcome of the negotiation is not a legally binding agreement between the debtor and each of its creditors but instead a document called Agreed Minutes.
These Agreed Minutes are signed by the Chair of the Paris Club, the minister representing the debtor country and the representative of each creditor and constitute a recommendation to the governments of Paris Club creditors and of the debtor country to conclude bilateral agreements implementing the provisions of these Agreed Minutes.
These bilateral agreements give a legal effect to the agreement reached during the negotiating meeting.
The bilateral agreements also set the applicable interest rates

Secretariat of Paris Club

The Secretariat was established to prepare more effective negotiating sessions. The Secretariat is composed of a dozen people from the Treasury of the French Ministry of Finance and Public Accounts.

Chair of Paris Club

Since 1956, the Presidency of the Paris Club is ensured by the French Treasury.

PARIS CLUB VS CHINA

The Paris group countries dominated bilateral lending in the last century, but their importance has receded over the last two decades or so with the emergence of China as the world’s biggest bilateral lender.

PARIS CLUB VS LONDON CLUB

The London club is another informal group that was founded in 1976.
It is similar to the Paris club, except for banks lending to countries instead of other countries. London club meeting procedures are similar to the Paris club but are mostly prolonged due to the higher membership.
Another difference between the two clubs is that major clients of the London club belong to Latin America and Asia. In contrast, the Club de Paris gets its clients from Sub-Saharan Africa.

South Asian University (SAU)

Context: The Delhi High Court stated that the South Asian University (SAU) holds the status of an international organisation with 'privileges and immunities,' and the Indian government does not exert any control over its functioning and administration.

About South Asian University (SAU)

It is an international university sponsored by the eight Member States of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). The eight countries are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
The university started admitting students in 2010 at a temporary campus at Akbar Bhawan, India.
Since February 2023, the University is running on its permanent campus at Maidan Garhi in South Delhi.
As of 2023, SAU offered Master's and MPhil/PhD programs in Applied Mathematics, Biotechnology, Computer Science, Economics, International Relations, Legal Studies and Sociology.
The degrees of the university are recognized by all the member nations of the SAARC according to an inter-governmental agreement signed by the foreign ministers of the eight SAARC member states.
It attracts students from the eight SAARC countries, although students from other continents also attend.
There is a country quota system for the admission of students. SAU conducts admission tests annually at various centres in eight countries.
At the 13th SAARC Summit held in Dhaka in November 2005, India proposed the establishment of a South Asian University.
The Inter-governmental Agreement for the Establishment of the South Asian University" was signed at the 14th SAARC Summit.
As per the agreement, India was to bear the entire expenses of building the permanent campus of the SAU with the member countries.

Kolkali Art

Context: The mothers’ grouping of the Thrissur Archdiocese performed ‘Kolkali, a folk art’, on the Lour des Metropolitan Cathedral premises in remembrance of St. Thomas’ arrival in India.

About Kolkali Art:

Having a historical lineage of approximately two centuries, Kolkali emerged as a folk art performed in the North Malabar region of Kerala, with influences drawn from Kalaripayattu, a martial art tradition prevalent in both Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
In the realm of Kolkali, each participant holds a stick, executing circular movements, striking a rhythmic chord that resonates with the accompanying music.
Typically, a group of 12 to 24 dancers move rhythmically in a circle around a ceremonial lamp named ‘Nilavilakkua,’ synchronizing foot taps with the manipulation of lengthy wooden sticks in their hands.
On occasions, this dance unfolds on a specially constructed on a wooden stage, thus it is also called, ‘Thattinmelkalia.’
The songs interwoven into Kolkali performance narrate devotional stories depicting regional deities, with the primary musical accompaniment emanating from the rhythmic sounds of the sticks.
The dance is enhanced by musical instruments such as Chenda, Elathalam, Mathalam, and Chengala.
Traditionally an annual post-harvest celebration, Kolkali united villagers across caste and creed. However, in contemporary times, the dance has transcended its seasonal roots, finding a place in various tribal festivals and celebratory events, including wedding ceremonies.
The influence of Kolkali extends beyond Kerala's borders, influencing folk dance forms in Bengal, Gujarat, Punjab, and Maharashtra. In Tamil Nadu, it is recognized as Kolattam, while in Andhra Pradesh, it goes by the name Kolamu.
Currently, Kolkali enjoys widespread popularity and has become a prominent feature in the Kerala School Youth Festival, lauded as one of the largest cultural events in Asia.
This evolution underscores the enduring allure and cultural resonance that Kolkali brings to the forefront of artistic expression in the region.

Arrival of St. Thomas in India:

During his initial mission, St. Thomas arrived at the capital of Parthian King Gondophares (c. 19 – c. 46), who governed the regions of Afghanistan and Punjab, with Takshasila as the capital.
Accompanying him was the trader Abbanes. On his subsequent mission, St. Thomas journeyed to a kingdom in South India, ruled by a dynasty from the 1st Century.
According to tradition, St. Thomas preached in this region before crossing over to the Coromandel Coast in Southeast India.
Unfortunately, he was killed while fulfilling his mission at Mylapore near Madras.

What is Domestic Violence?

Context: Forty years after the introduction of the domestic violence provision in the Indian Penal Code, women are still at risk of having their complaints dismissed or disbelieved by police and judiciary.

About domestic violence

Protection of Women from domestic violence Act 2005 (PWDVA): The act provides the definition of domestic violence as: Harms or injures or endangers the health, safety, life, limb or well-being, whether mental or physical, of the aggrieved person or tends to do so and includes causing physical abuse, sexual abuse, verbal and emotional abuse and economic abuse.

Crime against women

Crimes against women have increased year on year. As per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report 2015, every day 21 women die because of dowry in India.
According to the NCRB report 2019, 4 lakh cases were registered under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
As per the National Family Health Survey 5 (2019- 20), 30 percent of women between the ages of 18 and 49 experienced physical violence from the age of 15 (that's over 20 crore women), while six per cent experienced sexual violence in their lifetime.
In 2021, 136,000 complaints were registered under Indian Penal Code Section 498A (cruelty by husband or his relatives).
According to NFHS data, 87 per cent of married women who are victims of marital violence do not seek help.

Cause for domestic violence against women

Cultural factors

Patriarchy: It is a cultural value that places men in power and authority over women. This leads to an unequal power dynamic between the sexes. This imbalance of power can lead to the use of physical force to exert control over women.
Collectivism: This cultural value places a greater emphasis on the requirements of the community and family over those of the individual, and honour and reputation within the family are highly valued in collectivist societies. As a direct consequence of this, instances of domestic violence go unreported, thus ensuring that the cycle of abuse continues.
Religious beliefs: In traditionalist societies, religion is used to justify domestic violence, with men citing religious texts to support that male is superior than female.

Socio-economic factors

Lack of education: A lack of education might result in a lack of knowledge regarding women's rights and gender equality. As a result, women may experience domestic violence and be treated as less valuable.
Poverty: Due to the tension that financial strain can cause inside families, poverty can make domestic violence worse. Due to their possible financial dependence on their abusers, women in low-income households may be especially susceptible to domestic violence.
Alcohol and substance misuse: In India, alcohol and drug misuse might be risk factors for domestic violence. Alcoholism can cause people to lose their inhibitions and act violently.
Dowry: It is often linked to social status and can be seen as a measure of a family's wealth and prestige. In situations where the dowry is not considered sufficient, the bride may face mistreatment as a way for the groom's family to assert dominance and control, reinforcing power imbalances.

Initiative taken by government:

Dowry Prohibition Act 1961: The court is empowered to act in its own knowledge or on a complaint by any recognized welfare organization on dowry murder. Indian Evidence Act is also amended to shift the burden of proof to the husband & his family when the bride dies within 7 yrs. of marriage.
Amendment to Criminal Act 1983: This Act talks about domestic violence as an offence, rape is also made a punishable offence.
Protection of Women from domestic violence Act 2005(PWDVA, 2005): Any person who has reason to believe that an act of domestic violence has been, or is being, or is likely to be committed, may give information about it to the concerned Protection Officer/police.
The act also defines physical abuse, sexual abuse, verbal and emotional abuse and economic abuse.
Indian Penal Code (IPC):
Section 498A IPC: It was introduced in 1983 with the objective to tackle the problem of the large number of women dying in their homes. The section addresses the subjection of any woman to cruelty (whether mental or physical of such a nature that is likely to drive the woman to commit suicide or to cause grave injury or danger to life, limb or health and also with unlawful demand for any property or valuable security.
Sections 319 to 338 of the IPC: Deal with assaults and grievous hurt in various forms.
National Commission for Women (NCW): The NCW is an organisation that works to support and assist women who have experienced domestic abuse. Their helpline number is 1091.
Domestic Violence Helpline: It is a toll-free hotline that offers victims of domestic violence support and assistance around-the-clock. Their phone number for their helpline is 181.

Challenges in Addressing the issues of domestic violence

Misuse of law: In Rakesh and Reena Rajput v The State of Jharkhand case, the Jharkhand High Court said , "There is a phenomenal increase in matrimonial disputes in recent years and it appears that in many cases, the object of Section 498A IPC is being misused and the section is used as weapon rather than shield by dis gruntled wives, this is one of the reason where innocent individuals have been wrongly implicated.
Under the PWDVA law, state governments are required to appoint protection officers (POs). Several States are yet to implement POs. And where they are in post, they are under-resourced, under-skilled and overworked.
Inadequate support services: Insufficient availability of shelters, counselling services, and legal support can hinder women from leaving abusive relationships. Adequate funding and resources for support services are critical. In Delhi only, there are 13 women shelters and short-stay homes for women and most are overcrowded and used mainly by the underprivileged, according to Ending Domestic Violence Through Non-Violence: A Manual for PWDVA Officers, published by Lawyers Collective.
Social shame: Societal stigma and the fear of judgment can prevent women from disclosing their experiences of domestic violence. The stigma attached to being a victim may lead to feelings of shame and isolation.
Threats and intimidation tactics: Many women face the fear of retaliation from their abusers, making it difficult for them to speak out or seek help. Threats and intimidation tactics can be powerful barriers to reporting abuse.
Lack of reliable and periodical data: On violence against women (VAW) and girls, which leads to a situation of speculations and sensationalism; it also creates an atmosphere of fear and anxiety.
Attitudinal problem: Across many States, it is observed that the police were more likely to send women back to violent households to reconcile with the perpetrator or go for counselling.

Way forward

Prevention of violence requires numerous immediate, medium and long term interventions including large scale campaigns to sensitise and educate men and women on VAW.
The intervention should begin by focusing on gender equality in education since the quality of education received by women has not equipped them to question the patriarchy.
Trauma-informed institutional response, revamping of the support systems based on impact assessments and increasing the number of one-stop centres with adequate professionals are some of the other measures needed.
Draft National Policy for Women, 2016:
- Strict monitoring of response of enforcement agencies to violence against women will be put in place. Efforts will be made to ensure speedy /time bound trial of crimes against women.
- Alternate dispute redressal systems such as family courts, Nari Adalats etc., will be strengthened.
- Efforts will be made to increase the representation of women in judicial positions across the board as female judges often bring a heightened sensitivity to gender-related cases and their presence can lead to fairer and more informed decisions in such cases.
- Efforts will be made to streamline data systems through review of various data sources (Census, NFHS, NSS, NCRB) to develop a compatible and comprehensive data base on Violence Against Women.
- Gender specific training incorporating gender sensitivity and a thorough briefing on the specific laws for women will be undertaken continuously for all ranks and categories of police personnel.

Case study of VAW: Mararikulam Panchayat

The Mararikulam Panchayat implemented the mapping programme through the Kudumbashree community network as part of their effort to make Mararikkulam a women-friendly Panchayat.

A crime-mapping exercise and awareness campaign on the issue of VAW taken up.

Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN)

Context: The Union Cabinet has approved Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) scheme.

About PM-JANMAN

Announced in: Budget 2023-24
Launched in: 2023
Outlay: 24,104-crore
- Centre’s share: Rs 15,336 crore
- States share: Rs 8,768 crore.
Aim: To provide a number of facilities to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
Features of the scheme: This scheme comprising Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes to focus on 11 critical interventions through 9 Ministries including Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
Interventions are: provision of pucca houses, road and telecom connectivity, drinking water and sanitation, access to education and health, construction of Anganwadi Centers and Multipurpose Centers.
The Ministry of Ayush will set up Ayush Wellness Centre to PVTG habitations through mobile medical units.
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship will facilitate skill and vocational training in PVTG habitations, multi-purpose centres and hostels as per suitable skills of these communities.

About PVTG:

It is a classification used in India to identify certain tribes or communities that are considered to be at a particularly high risk of extinction or facing extreme socio-economic marginalization
Tribal communities are often identified by some specific signs such as primitive traits, distinctive culture, geographical isolation, shyness to contact with the community at large and backwardness.
In 1973, the Dhebar Commission created Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) as a separate category, which are less developed among the tribal groups.
In 2006, the Government of India renamed the PTGs as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)

Criteria for identification of PVTGs :

Pre-agricultural level of technology
Low level of literacy
Economic backwardness
A declining or stagnant population accordingly.

India has ST population of 10.45 crore as per 2011 census, out of which 75 communities located in 18 States and the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been categorized as PVTGs.
Among the 75 listed PVTGs the highest number are found in Odisha (13), followed by Andhra Pradesh (12).

World Malaria Report 2023

Context: In India there was an estimated 30 per cent decline in cases and 34 per cent decline in deaths compared to 2021 according to WHO’s World Malaria Report 2023.

Key findings of the report:

Globally around 5 million additional cases were recorded in 2022 compared to the 249 million cases in 2021.
The number of malaria deaths globally also remained higher than the pre-pandemic levels 608,000 deaths were reported in 2022 compared to 576,000 cases in 2019.
India accounted for 1.4 per cent of the global malaria cases and just 0.9 per cent of deaths.
Vivax malaria accounts for over 40 per cent of malaria cases in India.
Apart from India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Nepal, Thailand and Timor-Leste also managed to reduce their malaria incidence by 55 per cent or more since 2015.
Africa was the worst-hit, with 94 per cent of all malaria cases and 95 per cent global malaria deaths in 2022.
Pakistan saw the largest increase, with about 2.6 million cases in 2022 compared to 500 000 in 2021. Significant increases were also observed in Ethiopia, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea and Uganda.
Climate change exaggerates the spread of malaria because the parasite is extremely sensitive to temperature, humidity, and rainfall.

About Malaria

About: It is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. It is preventable and curable.
Transmission: Through blood transfusion, organ transplant, or the shared use of needles or syringes contaminated with blood because the malaria parasite is found in red blood cells of an infected person.
Types: There are 5 parasite species that cause malaria in humans, and 2 of these species: Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax pose the greatest threat.
- The vivax plasmodium is known to hide in the liver and cause recurrent infections.
Symptoms: Fever, chills, sweats, headaches, muscle aches, and fatigue. In severe cases, it can lead to complications such as organ failure and death.
Diagnosis: Through blood tests.
Antimalarial medications: Chloroquine, artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), and others are commonly used, but drug resistance is a growing concern.
Prevention: To control the vector, insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) are used by endemic countries.
Vaccine: RTS,S/AS01 (brand name Mosquirix) and R21/Matrix M.
Path to malaria eradication: By WHO: Reducing case incidence and mortality rates by 75 per cent in 2025 and 90 per cent in 2030.
- By India: Malaria-free by 2027 and to eliminate the disease by 2030.

X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat)

Context: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced that India is set to launch its first X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) onboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) scheduled to be launched in December 2023.

X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite:

XPoSat is India’s first dedicated polarimetry mission to study the polarisation of cosmic X-rays and various dynamics of bright astronomical X-ray sources under extreme conditions.
The spacecraft is designated for observation from Low Earth Orbit (non-sun synchronous orbit of ~650 km altitude, low inclination of ~6 degree).
XPoSat is the world’s second polarimetry mission using X-Ray. NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) Mission is the first satellite mission dedicated to measuring the polarisation of X-Rays from different cosmic sources.
The lifespan of the mission is 5 years.

Payloads:

The spacecraft will carry two scientific payloads – an X-Ray Polarimeter (POLIX) and X-ray SPECtroscopy and Timing (XSPECT).
- POLIX: The primary payload, POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays), is designed to measure polarimetry parameters, specifically the degree and angle of polarisation, in the medium X-ray energy range of 8-30 keV photons originating from astronomical sources. The payload is developed by the Raman Research Institute, Bengaluru.
- XSPECT: The payload will provide spectroscopic information within the energy range of 0.8-15 keV. The payload is developed by the U.R. Rao Satellite Centre, ISRO. It would observe several types of sources viz. X-ray pulsars, blackhole binaries, low-magnetic field neutron stars in low-mass X-ray binaries, Active galactic nuclei and Magnetars.

Polarisation of light:

Light travels in the form of transverse electromagnetic waves. The light emitted by sources like the sun, bulb, candle etc. has vibrations in several planes (oscillates in all directions), and it is called unpolarised light.
Polarisation is the phenomenon of restricting the vibration of light waves to one specific direction/plane. E.g., Polarised sunglasses have a special filter that allows only light with a specific polarisation direction to pass through, which helps to reduce glare and improve visibility by blocking unwanted polarisations.

Polarimetry:

Polarimetry is a technique to measure the polarisation of light. Polarimetry allows astronomers to observe and measure characteristics of objects, which include:
- Size, shape and orientation of dust particles, such as those surrounding comets or in planet-forming discs around stars.
- Light from faint sources, such as exoplanets or hidden galactic nuclei.
- Scattering properties of light-reflecting bodies (such as planetary atmospheres and the surfaces of rocky bodies).
- Three-dimensional shapes of objects, such as supernovae.
- Magnetic fields around stars and other objects, such as black holes.

Why X-rays?

X-rays are high-frequency and high-energyelectromagnetic radiation and have much shorter wavelengths (ranging from 0.01 to 10 nanometres). X-rays come from objects that are millions of degrees Celsius—such as pulsars, galactic supernovae remnants, and the accretion disk of black holes.
- Since the physical temperature of an object determines the wavelength of the radiation it emits, so the hotter the object, the shorter the wavelength of peak emission.
Since X-rays have very short wavelengths and high energies, so they can penetrate most materials, including the mirrors in telescopes. Hence, scientists use this data collected by X-ray detectors on satellites in orbit around the Earth to see and record the energy flows within the celestial sources.
- From space, X-ray telescopes collect photons from a given region of the sky.
- The photons are directed onto the detector where they are absorbed, and the energy, time, and direction of individual photons are recorded.
- Such measurements can provide clues about the composition, temperature, and density of distant celestial environments.

Significance of the mission:

By measuring the polarisation of X-rays, astronomers can better understand the geometry, composition and physical processes responsible for X-ray emission/production in a variety of astrophysical sources to gain insight into their inner dynamics (like emission mechanisms of celestial objects). It can also shed light on the structure and dynamics of compact objects, such as black holes and neutron stars.
- Astronomical sources, including black holes, neutron stars, active galactic nuclei, and pulsar wind nebulae, have extremely strong gravitational fields and emit X-rays as matter accretes onto them or as they interact with surrounding material. They present complex emission mechanisms that challenge their present scientific understanding.
- By combining polarimetric observations along with spectroscopic and timing measurements, researchers can overcome the limitations of the present understanding of astronomical emission processes.
Measuring X-ray polarisation helps in deducing the orientation and strength of magnetic fields in celestial objects.
- Magnetic fields play a crucial role in many astrophysical processes, including the generation and acceleration of charged particles and the formation of energetic jets and outflows.
X-ray polarisation measurements can help scientists understand the behaviour of high-energy particles in extreme environments.
- X-rays are produced in regions with extreme conditions, such as supernova remnants, active galactic nuclei, and gamma-ray bursts.
- By analysing the polarisation of X-rays from these sources, scientists can gain insights into the mechanisms responsible for particle acceleration, energy transfer, and radiation processes in these energetic phenomena.

Quantum Superposition and Entanglement

Quantum mechanics is a field of physics that describes the behaviour of matter and energy at the smallest scales, typically at the level of atoms and subatomic particles. Thus, it describes the behaviour and significance of small particles like atoms, electrons, and photons.

Quantum computing is a rapidly-emerging technology that harnesses the laws of quantum mechanics, such as entanglement and superposition, to perform computation or solve problems.

Quantum Superposition:

Superposition is a phenomenon in quantum computing that allows quantum objects to simultaneously exist in more than one state or location. This means that an object can be in two states at one time while remaining a single object.
Superposition enables the qubits of the quantum computer to perform multiple operations simultaneously, making them faster than conventional computers.

Quantum Entanglement:

When two or more particles become entangled, the state of one particle becomes linked with the state of the other(s), regardless of the distance between them. Changes to the state of one particle instantaneously affect the state of the other.
Quantum entanglement is a crucial element in quantum computing algorithms. Entangled qubits in a quantum computer can be manipulated collectively, allowing for the parallel processing of information in a way that classical bits cannot achieve.

Occupational Safety & Health

Context: In the wake of the incident Silkyara Tunnel collapse , the Central Trade Unions have urged the Union government to ratify the labour conventions.

About Occupational Health & safety:

It is also known as workplace health and safety (WHS) or occupational safety and health (OSH), is a multidisciplinary field concerned with the well-being, health, and safety of people at work.
The primary goal of occupational health and safety is to create and maintain a safe and healthy work environment, preventing accidents, injuries, and illnesses related to work activities.

Key components of occupational health and safety:

Provisions for ensuring occupational safety in India:

Constitutional provision:

Article 39(e): The health of men, women and children should be protected, and children should be given opportunity and facility for healthy development.
Article 42: States that humane conditions at work and maternity relief should be provided.

International Labour Organization (ILO):

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947: To promote and improve labour inspection in various countries.
Labour Statistics Convention, 1985: On the standardization and improvement of labour statistics to facilitate international comparisons and promote informed decision-making in the field of labour.
World Day for Safety and Health at Work: It observed annually on April 28^th for promoting safe, healthy, and decent working environments and raising awareness.
Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020: To ensure that the workplace is free from hazards and provide free annual health examinations or tests, free of cost to certain classes of employees.
The Directorate General of Factory Advisory Services & Labour Institutes (DGFASLI): It serves as a technical arm of the ministry and assists in formulating national policies on occupational safety and health in factories and docks. It also advises factories on problems concerning safety, health, efficiency and well-being of every employee.

Challenges related to occupational health and safety:

Inadequate safety measures: Instances like Silkyara Tunnel collapse underscore the risks they face, including building collapses and industrial accidents due to inadequate safety measures.
Lack of doctors: On the various occupational diseases and workplace hazards and risks.
Data related to few sector: Labour Bureau compiles and publishes data on industrial injuries relating only to a few sectors, viz. factories, mines, railways, docks and ports.
Lack of regulatory compliance : For registered factories nationwide decreased from 36.23% in the period of 2008-11 to 24.76% in the fiscal year 2019-20.
Inadequate human resource: For effective monitoring like in Major States such as Maharashtra (38.93%), Gujarat (57.52%), Tamil Nadu (58.33%), and Bihar (47.62%) had poor employment rates of inspectors.

Way forward to strengthen occupational health and safety:

India should ratified ILO Occupational Safety and Health Convention to promote and ensure the safety and health of workers in the workplace.
Setting up emergency standards for hazardous company in India under Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code.
Establishment of Occupational Safety, Health (OSH)committees and involve workers for identifying hazards and improving OSH.
The labour codes, especially the OSH Code, the inspection and the labour statistical systems need to be reviewed as the Government is in the process of framing theVision@2047 document for the Labour Ministry.

Key findings of ‘A Call for Safer and Healthier Working Environments’ report by the International Labour Organization (ILO):

Over 63% of fatalities occur in the Asia-Pacific region, primarily attributed to the absence of a robust safety net.
Threats to workers: Long working hours, exposure to particulate matter, gases, and fumes, and occupational injuries are major causes. Mining, construction, and utilities are the most hazardous sectors.
The health of the workers has several determinants, including risk factors at the workplace leading to cancers, accidents, musculoskeletal diseases, respiratory diseases, hearing loss, circulatory diseases, stress related disorders, communicable diseases and others.

Migrant Workers

Context: The migrant labor force plays vital role in nation's growth and development, but they are often disregarded and considered forgotten citizens. Moreover, the state mechanisms show lack of care and attention towards the migrant workers.

About migrant workers

According to the Census, a person is considered a migrant if his/her place of birth is different from the place where he is enumerated. It also uses place of last residence or if the place in which he is enumerated during the census is other than his place of immediate last residence.
Migration is the geographic movement of people across a specified boundary various reasons especially social, economic, political reasons. Along with fertility and mortality, migration is a component of the population change.
The term “in migration” and “out migration” are used for migration within a country and are comparable to the terms “immigration” and “emigration” used in international migration.

Factors for migration:

Status of Migration in India

As per the census 2011, the total number of internal migrants in India is 46 crore or 37% of the country’s population.

As per NSS 2020-21 Survey: One in three Urban Indians is a ‘migrant’ but mostly intra-state. Among migrants, 55% have moved between villages mostly women moving after marriage.

Marriage is a larger driver of migration than jobs for women. Jobs are the biggest reason of migration from men.
Himachal Pradesh and Telangana have the highest share of job-related migrants in their total urban male population.
Delhi has the highest share of persons (21.3%) who have come from outside its territory.

Challenges faced by migrant workers:

Discrimination: Migrant workers may face discrimination based on language, ethnicity, or cultural differences, that can leads to social isolation and access essential services.
Health issues : Workers often live in overcrowded and substandard housing conditions with limited access to sanitation facilities contributes to health issues, like stagnant water around the settlement becomes a breeding ground for vector borne disease.
Lack of social safety: Many migrant workers lack of social safety nets such as healthcare, insurance, and retirement plans during economic shocks and health crises .E.g.: During Covid-19 pandemic, more than 80 percent workers in the informal sector lost employment in India and about 75 percent of these workers were small traders & daily wage-labourers, according to Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy.
Education exclusion: Frequent relocations of migrant families often face difficulties in ensuring access to education for their children.
Low wage: Migrant workers often engage in unorganized and informal sectors where they receive wages below the minimum standard and lack job security, rendering them vulnerable to exploitation.
Lack of realistic data: The current data structure lacks a realistic statistical account of the number of migrant workers and a comprehensive understanding of the nature of their mobility.
Political exclusion: Migrants do not usually have voting rights in their destination states, which leaves migrants unable to make political demands for entitlements and seek reforms.
Risk of exclusion: This Public Distribution System (PDS), may face risk of exclusion because many sections of society who still don’t have Aadhar Cards, consequently depriving them of food security.

A roadmap to improve the conditions of migrant workers:

Promote social integration by creating programs that facilitate cultural exchange and understanding between migrant workers and local communities that help migrants adapt to their new environments.
Establish a system for regular updates to keep the database current and reflective of the changing circumstances of migrant workers.
Recommendations of Niti Aayog:
- Enabling the political inclusion of migrant workers so they can demand their entitlements. This will enhance the accountability of political leadership towards the welfare of migrant workers in their respective states.
- Setting up inter-state coordination mechanisms between source states and destination states to work with each other.
- The Ministry of Labour and Employment should set up a special unit for migrant workers, that manages migration resource centres in high migration zones.
- A national labour helpline should be established.
- Embedding a migration wing in each state’s labour department. Creation of night shelters, short-stay homes and seasonal accommodations for migrants in cities.

Government intervention for migrant workers

e-SHRAM portal: To create a national database of unorganised workers seeded with Aadhaar. It is also to facilitate delivery of Social Security and welfare Schemes to such workers.
One Nation One Ration Card: To create a technology systems that will be used for enabling migrants to access Ration from any Fair Price Shop in India.
Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHC) for Migrant Workers/Urban Poor (under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban ): To caters to the housing needs to eligible beneficiaries.
Code on Social Security, 2020: The code broadens the definition of an employee to encompass informal workers to extend the existing social security net. Under this central government will establish social security funds for informal workers, gig workers, and platform workers.
Prime Minister Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM-SVANidhi): To offer affordable working capital loans to street vendors, enabling them to restart their livelihoods adversely affected by the Covid-19 lockdown.
State migrant cell: Established to develop a database of migrant workers in various states, along with comprehensive mapping.
Election Commission's remote voting plan for migrants: That would allow domestic migrants to vote in national and regional elections for enabling political inclusion of migrant workers so they can demand their entitlements.

Six years: Debate over minimum age for Class 1 admission

Context: Schools in Delhi this year will continue to admit students to Class 1 below the age of 6 years. There were 14 States and Union Territories, as of March 2022, that allow Class 1 admission for children who have not completed six years.

Minimum Age to admit students in Class 1

National Education Policy 2020: It say about the minimum age to admit students in Class 1.
- The new NEP pitches for a “5+3+3+4” design for formal schooling corresponding to:
  - the age groups 3-8 years (foundational stage),
  - 8-11 years (preparatory stage),
  - 11-14 years (middle stage), and
  - 14-18 years (secondary stage).
- This brings early childhood education (also known as pre-school education for children of ages 3 to 5 years) under the ambit of formal schooling.
- This effectively means that a child should be 6 years old to be eligible for admission into Class 1, after completing three years of early childhood education.
- In 2022, Kendriya Vidyalaya increased the age of admission from five to six years for Class 1 in an effort to sync with the recommendations of the NEP 2020.
Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009: The RTE Act guarantees education from the age of 6 years to 14 years. This means that a child is expected to begin elementary education (i.e., Class 1) at the age of 6 years.
- The Act had to specify the entry age for enforcement of formal compulsory education.
- The age 6, which the RTE says is the age to begin Class 1, is simply a reiteration of Constitution (Article 21A).
This was also the same in Gandhi’s idea of basic education, that 6 years of primary education,3 yrs. of lower secondary education and 3 years of upper secondary education.
Report of the Sargent Commission (on post-war education development in India), which goes back to the 1940s: It recommended the introduction of free and compulsory education for all Indian children in the 6-11 years age groups.

Global practice

Six is the standard age for starting primary school across East Asia, not just in Japan. This age is also common in most European countries. It is usual (though not compulsory) for younger children in these societies to attend some sort of preschool.
In the USA and the UK children generally start school at 5.

Potential benefits associated with this age requirement:

School environments involve a significant amount of social interaction. A child entering school at the age of six is likely to have had more opportunities for socialization in pre-school or informal settings, helping them adapt to the social dynamics of a classroom.
Ability to manage emotions, work collaboratively with peers, and follow instructions.
They may have early developed basic numeracy and literacy skills, as well as problem-solving abilities that are foundational for early learning.
Enrolling children in school when they are developmentally ready can help reduce stress and anxiety associated with the academic environment. This can contribute to a more positive attitude towards learning.

Potential challenges associated with this age requirement:

Children develop at different rates, and a strict age requirement may not account for individual differences in readiness for formal education. Some children may be developmentally advanced and ready for school before the age of six, while others may need more time.
A fixed minimum age for admission can lead to academic pressure for children who are not developmentally ready.
The rigid age requirement may not consider late bloomers who might thrive with a slightly later start.
A fixed minimum age might lead to labelling children as "too young" or "not ready" based solely on their age, potentially affecting their self-esteem and confidence

Research on the entry age for formal education

The early introduction of formal learning approaches to literacy does not improve children’s reading development, and may be damaging.
By the age of 11, there was no difference in reading ability level between the two age groups.
But the children who started at 5 developed less positive attitudes to reading and showed poorer text comprehension than those children who had started later.
In a separate study of reading achievement in 15-year-olds across 55 countries, researchers showed that there was no significant association between reading achievement and school entry age.

Drones to women self-help groups

Context: Recently, Union Cabinet approved a scheme as part of PM Modi's 'lakhpati didi' initiative under which the central government will provide drones to as many as 15,000 Women's Self-Help Groups over the next four years. The scheme would have a financial outlay of ₹1,261 crore for two years beginning 2024-25.

Highlights of this scheme are:

Coordinated Approach: The scheme approves holistic interventions by converging the resources and efforts of Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), Department of Rural development (DoRD) and Department of Fertilizers (DoF), Women SHGs and Lead Fertilizer Companies (LFCs).
Objective: It is envisaged that the approved initiatives under the scheme will provide sustainable business and livelihood support to 15,000 SHGs and they would be able to earn additional income of at least Rs.One lakh per annum.
Identification of SHGs: The self-help groups would be identified from the total 89 lakh SHGs formed under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana. The appropriate clusters where usage of drones is economically feasible will be identified following which the SHGs will be selected for providing drones. The SHGs would be able to provide those drones as rental services to farmers for agricultural uses.
Financial assistance : It will be provided by the Centre to each SHG at 80 per cent of the cost of drone, including accessories/ancillary charges but up to a maximum of ₹8 lakh. As one drone costs around ₹10 lakh, the government has allowed SHGs to take loan from banks under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) at lower interest rate since the Centre bears 3 per cent interest costs through subsidy.
Training of Human Resource: The representatives of women SHGs, qualified and elected by the State Rural Livelihood Mission (SRLM) and lead fertilizer companies (LFCs) will have to undertake a 15-day training that includes 5-day mandatory drone pilot training and 10 days on nutrient and pesticide application.

Members of the SHGs with inclination to take up repairs of electrical goods, fitting and mechanical works will be selected by the SRLM and LFC and will be trained as drone technician/assistant. The government guidelines have also made LFCs to act as a link between drone suppliers and SHGs in purchase of drones as well as their repair and maintenance.

Key Role Played by Drones:

The drone services are envisaged to be used by the farmers for Nano fertilizer and pesticide applications. Drones will improve efficiency in spraying fertilisers and pesticides which will help to improve agriculture efficiency, enhance crop yield and reduced cost of operation for the benefit of farmers.