चाण य मंडल प रवार… िजथे लोकसेवा ह च दे शसेवा

UPSC COMPREHENSIVE COURSE

2023-2024

CURRENT AFFAIRS
24 December To 31 December 2023
By, Ketan Sande Sir

Guidance: Shri. Avinash Dharmadhikari Sir (Ex. IAS)

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GS - 1
1. IONOSPHERE
Scientists from the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG) have conducted decade-long ionospheric
observations at Bharati station in Antarctica, revealing significant seasonal variations in ionospheric
density.

 Despite the region experiencing 24 hours of sunlight in summer and complete darkness in
winter, day-night ionospheric density variations were observed.
 The researchers found the peak ionospheric density near local noon during the winter
months, attributing it to particle precipitation and the transportation of convectional
plasma from high latitudes.
 These long-term studies aim to enhance understanding of ionospheric effects on satellite-
based navigation and communication systems.
The ionosphere is a layer of the Earth’s atmosphere that is made up of charged atoms, molecules, and
electrons. It stretches from 50 kilometers (30 miles) to over 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) above the
Earth.

2. PALNA SCHEME
The Union Women and Child Development Ministry plans to set up 17,000 creches within Anganwadi
centers across India under the 'Palna' scheme.
 This initiative aims to provide safe day-care facilities, enhancing the cognitive,
nutritional, and health development of children.
 With an increased participation rate of women in the workforce, reaching 37% in 2022, this
expansion of creches signifies a concerted effort to support women while nurturing the
development of future generations.

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 In July 2022, the Ministry of Women and Child Development revamped the National
Creche Scheme into the Palna Scheme under 'Mission Shakti.'
o This transformation brought about Anganwadi cum Creches and reclassified
existing creches from the old scheme as Stand Alone Creches.

GS - 2
1. FOREIGN MINISTER VISIT TO RUSSIA: INDIA-RUSSIA
RELATION
The recent External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s recent visit to Russia holds significance amid
efforts to renew ties between India and Russia.

Key Highlights of the visit:

Highlights Details

Emphasis on strategic collaboration in defence, space exploration,

Economic nuclear energy, and technology sharing.
Collaboration
Agreement on the expansion of Russian hydrocarbon exports to India

Program of
Cooperation Finalization of the program of cooperation in the Far East. The decision to
in the Far hold an early meeting of EaEU-India FTA negotiations.
East

India and Russia signed a Protocol on Consultations for 2024-2028, aiming

to advance military and economic cooperation, energy trade, connectivity,
and people-to-people exchanges.

India and Russia signed agreements for future units of the Kudankulam
nuclear power project in Tamil Nadu.
Agreement
on Nuclear India operates two Russian-built nuclear plants, with four more under
Power Plants construction in Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu. The Kudankulam nuclear power
plant, India’s largest, began construction in March 2002 with Russian
technical assistance. The first unit has operated at its 1,000 MW design
capacity since February 2016, with full capacity expected by 2027.

Diplomatic Discussion on multilateral forums and international organizations: BRICS,

Initiatives SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization), and UN affairs.
Timeline of the Relationship:

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Important Dimensions of India-Russia Relations:

Dimensions Details

The Annual Summit meeting between the PM of India and the

Russian President is the highest institutionalized
dialogue mechanism in the strategic partnership.
Political Relations
The Strategic Partnership between the two countries was elevated
to the level of “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” in
2010.

International/Multilateral
BRICS, SCO, G20, International North-South Transport
Organisations and
Corridor (INSTC)
Connectivity Projects

Evolution of India-Russia military-technical cooperation from

a buyer-seller framework to joint research, development, and
Defence and Security production of advanced defence technologies
Cooperation
Russia is India’s top military supplier accounting for 45% of total
defense imports.

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Examples include the BrahMos Missile System, licensed

production of SU-30 aircraft, and T-90 tanks. Deal for five S-400
batteries in 2018, and supply of MiG-29-K aircraft and Kamov-
31

Cooperation is guided by the Agreement on the Programme for

Military-Technical Cooperation for 2021-2031

Revised targets of increasing bilateral investment to US $50

billion and bilateral trade to US $30 billion by 2025.
Trade and Economic
Relations
Bilateral investments surpassed the previous target of $30 billion
in 2018, leading to a revised target of $50 billion by 2025.

2014 Strategic Vision for strengthening cooperation in peaceful

Nuclear Energy uses of atomic energy. Kudankulam Nuclear Power
Plant (KKNPP) is being built in India with Russian cooperation.

Cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space. MoU

Space Cooperation between ISRO and ROSCOSMOS on Joint Activities in the
field of Human Spaceflight Programme (Gaganyaan).

Working Group on S&T under IRIGC-TEC.

Institutional mechanisms: Integrated Long Term Programme

Science & Technology (ILTP) and Basic Science Cooperation Programme.

Initiatives: Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL),

GIAN, and Russia-India Network (RIN) of Universities.

A strong tradition of Indian studies in Russia. Strong Russian

Cultural Cooperation
interest in Indian dance, music, yoga, and Ayurveda.

Challenges faced by India India-Russia relationship.

 Issues related to Defence – There has been a gradual decline in the orders of India from
Russia because of India’s desire to diversify its defence imports from other countries like
Saudi Arabia, the USA, and Israel.
 Russia’s apprehensions over India’s foreign policy – Russian officials have repeatedly
criticized the idea of the Indo-Pacific and the Quad, arguing that it is meant to contain
China. Russia believes that India is currently an object of the Western countries.
 The USA factor – The source of divergence between Indian and Russian interests lies in
the continuing problems that Russia faces in its relations with the US. The consequence of
this confrontation is that Moscow has increasingly leaned on China both for support as well
as a way to undermine American power.
 Further, India also signed all the Foundational agreements with the US. Such as LEMOA,
COMCASA, and BECA.
 Due to these developments, Russia changed their decades-old policy and started supplying
China with weapon systems like the Sukhoi 35 and the S-400 missile defence system.

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 The China Factor – Russia’s increasing bond with China also to some extent brings strain
to Indo-Russia relations.
 Failure of RIC — Russia already proposed a Russia-India-China (RIC) forum of foreign
ministers. However, there has been no major diplomatic success for RIC due to India’s
unresolved issues with China.
 China-Russian ties are growing due to their shared interest in opposing the US. The
intense geostrategic rivalry between China and the US in the region. Russia which opposes
the US joined hands with China. This is evident as Russia joined the Chinese One Belt One
Road initiative.

Way forward

 India has to rebuild on its strengths and common concerns with the Russians.
 Both India and Russia have to identify their strengths and common concerns
like developing joint projects in third countries. Such as the involvement of India and Russia
in the Rooppur nuclear plant project in Bangladesh.
 India needs to deepen its scientific and technological relations with Russia since a base for
this already exists.
 India can use some creative means to build a Russia-India-China (RIC) alliance.
 India needs to balance its relationship between Russia, China and the US. This is
essential after the US conducted a Freedom of Navigation operation(FONOP) in India’s
Exclusive Economic Zone.

Conclusion
On the whole, Both India and Russia will have to learn to navigate their relationship amidst challenges
emerging not just from bilateral factors but also regional and global ones, as both countries seek to
strengthen their position at a time of flux in the international order.

2. DUAL CITIZENSHIP
External Affairs Minister acknowledged the challenges of providing dual citizenship to Indians
residing abroad, citing economic and security concerns.

 While countries like the United States, Finland, and Israel allow dual citizenship, India
prohibits it for its nationals.

Dual or multiple citizenship allows individuals to hold legal status as citizens of two or more countries
simultaneously, with benefits such as passport issuance, political participation, visa exemptions, and
employment opportunities.

Alternative of Dual Citizenship: Overseas Citizen of India OCI program

 The OCI program offers benefits like a lifelong visa, exemption from reporting to police
authorities, and parity with Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in various fields, excluding
property acquisition.
 Eligibility for OCI includes being a former Indian citizen or a descendant, and the
application process is available online through the official website.

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3. EXTENTION OF MISSION KARMYOGI

On Good Governance Day, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh launched the Extended Version of Mission
Karmayogi in New Delhi.

Feature Description

Delivers targeted training courses on the home page of individual officers,

addressing their unique capacity-building needs as identified in the
Capacity-Building Plan for their Ministries/Departments.
My iGOT
This ensures a highly personalized, focused, and targeted capacity-
building experience, aligning individual and organizational learning needs.

Facilitates equitable access to training methodologies across all levels,

meeting dynamic training needs.
Blended
Programs Integrates traditional offline (in-person) classroom courses with online
learning components, allowing officers and faculty to benefit from
the flexibility and convenience of online courses while retaining the
invaluable benefits of face-to-face classroom interactions.

Designed to cater to diverse learning needs of Ministries/Departments

and Training Institutions.
Curated
Programs Course Providers can curate relevant content, resources, and assessments
from the iGOT repository with a Programmatic approach, providing a
tailored learning journey.

12 Domain- Developed in two months as part of the Annual Capacity Building Plan
Specific (ACBP) of the DOPT by Karmayogi Digital Learning Lab (KDLL) of
Capacity DoPT. These 12 courses directly address the domain competency
Building E- requirements of Civil Servants working in DoPT and assist other
learning Government organizations in handling functional matters effectively on a
Courses day-to-day basis.

VIKAS A new blended learning program for capacity-building of middle

(Variable & management civil servants in the Central Secretariat. VIKAS is a blended
Immersive program with iGOT, consisting of 33 hours complemented by 30 hours of
Karmayogi offline training at ISTM. It focuses on the development of functional,
Advanced behavioral, and technological competencies required in the Central
Support) Government.

What is “Mission Karmayogi”- National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building
(NPCSCB)?
It is a mission moded programme aimed to transition civil services from ‘Rules based’ to ‘Roles based’
Human Resource (HR) Management by aligning work allocation of civil servants by matching their

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competencies to the requirements of the post, thereby leading to “an effective citizen-centric civil
service”

Purpose of the mission

 Revival of bureaucracy:
o The bureaucracy is instrumental in the growth and progress of the country.
o However, it is often said that the recruitment and post-recruitment ecosystem of
civil servants in India is outdated.
o So, the mission aims at a revival of the Indian bureaucratic nature through the civil
servants.
o In this line, the mission addresses the changing needs and aspirations of the
citizens in their interaction with the bureaucracy.
 Competent civil servants:
o Central to the programme is the recognition that a suitable government workforce
requires a competency driven capacity building approach.
o The workforce will focus on imparting competencies critical to discharge its roles.
o This will be achieved through a Competency Framework for Civil Services that
will be totally indigenous to India.

Key Features of Missions Karmayogi

 Capacity building:
o The mission aims at comprehensive reform of the capacity building apparatus.
o It will hence pay attention at individual, institutional and process levels for
efficient public service delivery
 g., Under the Mission, nearly 95,000 Railway staff, including all ticket
conductors, reservation and freight clerks and station masters are being
trained in better service delivery.
o Capacity Building Commission:will assist the PM Public Human Resources
Council in approving the Annual Capacity Building Plans
 g. Cross immersive learning for the ministry staff in the Civil Aviation
Ministry’s Annual Capacity Building Plan. Public officials were sent to
private airlines/airports to observe their managerial practices.
o Shift from Rules to Roles:
 The programme will support a transition from “rules-based to roles-based”
Human Resource Management (HRM) practices among the officers.
 It will focus more on role-based management, and so, will aim to allocate
roles and jobs bases on competencies of the officers.
o Training:
 For training purposes, the mission has created an online platform called
as iGOT-Karmayogi. iGOT stands for Integrated Government Online
Training.
 It will provide ‘anytime-anywhere-any device’ learning to train
around 2.0 crores users which was so far unachievable through
traditional measures.
 Using the “70-20-10” formula: Seventy per cent of adult learning
comes from job experience, 20 per cent is a result of peer-to-peer
sharing, and only 10 per cent comes from classroom teaching.

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 It will provide content to learn from global best practices rooted in
“Indian ethos.”
 Apart from domain knowledge training, the scheme will focus
on “functional and behavioural competencies” as well.
 Civil servants will have to undertake courses on this platform on which the
officers’ performance will also be evaluated.
o Efficient, effective and empathetic civil services: For instance, Inspector Inian, an
SHO from Puducherry, after undergoing soft skills training under mission karmyogi,
said that after receiving a mother’s complaint, he used his professional skills to find
her lost child.
 This, he remarked. gave him far more joy compared to promotions or salary
hikes.
o “Whole Government” approach: Training resources are being shared across
departments and silos are being broken.
Conclusion:
Mahatma Gandhi likened public service to being a trustee of public resources. Civil servants are
uniquely positioned to play a role in lifting more than 170 million out of poverty into prosperity. What is
needed is professional bureaucracy i.e. bureaucratic in form and structure and non-bureaucratic in attitude
and spirit.

4. Good Governance Day

According to the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Good
Governance comprises eight characteristics:
a) Participation
b) Rule of law
c) Transparency
d) Responsiveness
e) Consensus oriented
f) Equity and Inclusiveness
g) Effectiveness and Efficiency
h) Accountability

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GS - 3
1. RECENT DRONE ATTACK AND MARITIME SECURITY IN
INDIA
India has issued a stern warning against recent drone attacks on India-bound merchant ships (near
Porabander Port)

What was the issue?

Two merchant vessels, MV Chem Pluto and a Gabon-flagged crude oil tanker, were targeted in drone
attacks in the Arabian Sea, raising concerns amid reports of Houthi militants targeting commercial
vessels. The US attributed the drone attack on MV Chem Pluto to Iran. The incidents highlight heightened
tensions in the region and the need for enhanced maritime security measures.

What is maritime security?

Maritime security refers to measures and strategies implemented to safeguard the seas, oceans, and
maritime activities from various threats, including piracy, terrorism, environmental damage, and other
illicit activities.

Importance of Maritime Security in India

Importance Description

India’s long coastline of 7,516 km and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of

Geographical
approximately 2 million square km make maritime security a critical
importance
concern.

90% of India’s international trade by volume and 70% by value occurs

Economic
through sea routes; any disruption due to maritime security threats can
significance
severely impact the economy.

India’s vulnerability to security threats like piracy, terrorism, smuggling,

National
and illegal fishing, was exemplified by the 26/11 terrorist attack in
security
Mumbai using the sea route.

Strategic India’s strategic position in the Indo-Pacific, intersecting major global

location shipping lanes, plays a crucial role in regional and global maritime security.

Protection of Major ports, nuclear power facilities (Tarapur, Kalpakkam), and the
vital satellite launch facility (Satish Dhawan Space Centre) require maritime
infrastructure security for protection.

Disaster Maritime security is vital in responding to natural disasters like tsunamis

response and cyclones, as seen in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

Ensuring maritime security is essential to prevent activities like illegal

Environmental
fishing, smuggling, and hazardous waste dumping that can cause severe
protection
environmental damage.

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India’s long coastline attracts tourism; maritime security is crucial for the
Tourism
safety and functioning of the tourism industry.

Scientific Seas and oceans are critical for scientific research; maritime security
research facilitates oceanography, marine biology, and climate studies.

International India’s efforts to enhance maritime security, as seen in the SAGAR vision,
cooperation contribute to global initiatives for the safety and security of seas and oceans.

Challenges to the maritime security of India

 Systemic weakness: Inadequate surveillance and monitoring, lack of coordination

among various agencies, insufficient training for personnel and manpower
shortage restrict our ability to protect our coasts.
 Piracy and maritime terrorism: Piracy and maritime terrorism pose a significant risk
to India’s economic and strategic interests.
o g., Recent incidents of Houthi rebels attacking ships bound for Israeli or from
Israel with ballistic missiles raise concern
 Illegal fishing: Illegal fishing remains a major issue in India’s maritime security, with
foreign vessels operating in Indian waters.
 Maritime boundary disputes: India has several maritime boundary disputes with its
neighbouring countries, which have the potential to escalate into conflicts.
o Ex- Sir creek dispute with Pakistan.
 Environmental threats: India’s maritime security is also threatened by environmental
issues such as oil spills and pollution, which can have a significant impact on marine life
and the livelihoods of coastal communities.

Government measures undertaken

 SAGAR Doctrine: India’s SAGAR Doctrine (Security and Growth for All in the Region)
underscores India’s commitment to fostering a secure and prosperous maritime
neighbourhood.
 Strengthening infrastructure: The Sagarmala program aims to develop ports, harbours,
and coastal security installations.
 Improving coastal security: The Indian Coast Guard has launched a coastal security
scheme called “Sagar Kavach” which involves the deployment of patrol vessels, UAVs,
and maritime surveillance systems to monitor the coastline.
o In the present case of drone attack, the Indian Navy has deployed INS Mormugao,
INS Kochi, and INS Kolkata to maintain a deterrent presence.
 Countering piracy and maritime terrorism: The Indian Navy has deployed warships to
the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea to counter piracy and maritime terrorism. The Navy
has also conducted joint exercises with the navies of other countries, including the United
States, Japan, and Australia, to enhance coordination and cooperation.
 Combating illegal fishing: The Indian Coast Guard has launched Operation Olivia to
combat illegal fishing in Indian waters. The operation involves the deployment of
specialized patrol vessels to monitor and intercept foreign vessels engaged in illegal
fishing.

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 Enhancing cybersecurity: The Indian government has launched a national cybersecurity
strategy, which aims to enhance the cybersecurity of critical infrastructure, including
ports and maritime transportation systems.
 Technology: A vessel traffic management system (VTMS) and national command
control communication and intelligence network (NC3I) have been established to
improve maritime security.
 Regional cooperation: India has prioritized regional cooperation in the Indian Ocean
through initiatives like the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and the Indian Ocean
Naval Symposium (IONS).
 HADR capabilities: Prompt Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR)
responses like Operation Sahayata in Mozambique to natural disasters, such as cyclones
and tsunamis, have earned India the reputation of a reliable partner in times of
crisis. ‘Vaccine Maitri’ has further elevated the status of India.
 Capacity building: It provides training (ITEC), conducts joint and passage exercises,
and shares expertise to enhance the prosperity and maritime security capacities of its
neighbours.

Global Response:

 Operation Prosperity Guardian:Initiated by the US with allies like the UK, Bahrain, and
Canada to protect maritime traffic from drone threats.

Way forward

 Enhancing surveillance and monitoring: This can be achieved by deploying advanced

technology such as drones, radars, and other maritime surveillance systems to monitor
the coastline and detect suspicious activity.
 Improving coordination and cooperation: The government should establish a mechanism
to facilitate information sharing and coordination among various agencies involved in
maritime security, such as the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, and law enforcement agencies.
 Strengthening coastal security infrastructure: By deploying more patrol vessels,
installing CCTV cameras and other security systems, and improving the physical
security of ports and other maritime installations.
 Enhancing the capabilities of law enforcement agencies: By providing them with
the necessary training, equipment, and resources.
 Promoting international cooperation: This can be achieved by establishing partnerships
with neighbouring countries, UNCLOS, sharing intelligence and information and
conducting joint exercises with foreign navies and coast guards.

Conclusion:
Improving maritime security in India will require a sustained effort from all stakeholders, including
the government, navy, coast guard, and law enforcement agencies. By implementing these steps, India
can enhance its maritime security, protect its economic, political, and strategic interests, and become
an important player in the Indian Ocean region.

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2. INDIAN LABOUR DEMAND IN FOREIGN COUNTRY

Recent Developments Regarding Rising Demand for Indian Labour:
Rising
Demand for
Developed countries face labour shortages due to rising costs and inflation.
Indian
Labour

Countries
Greece (for seasonal agricultural workers), Italy (for municipal bodies), Israel
Seeking
(42,000 workers, potential expansion), France (agreement in 2018), and a
Indian
recent partnership with Italy.
Workers

Greece facing a shortage of 70,000 workers for agricultural production. Italy

Reasons for
needs workers for municipal roles in depopulated towns. Israel seeking
Demand
foreign workers to fill 90,000 jobs previously held by Palestinians.

Status:
As per recent government data, there are around 13 million Indian nationals abroad including labourers,
professionals, and experts. The highest being in UAE (around 35 lakhs)
Government Steps:
Steps

Pravasi
Skill development initiative by the Ministry of External Affairs in partnership
Kaushal
with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. Focuses on
Vikas Yojana
training and certifying the Indian workforce for overseas employment.
(PKVY)

Skill India The government announced 30 SIICS in the 2023-24 Budget.

International Provides destination-based skilling, re-skilling, immigration assistance,
Centres and post-placement support. Offers domain skills training on international
(SIICS) standards and pre-departure orientation training (PDOT).

Labour India has signed 17 agreements with various countries between 2015 and
Agreements 2023 to facilitate the movement of labour

Benefits of Sending Indian Labor Overseas:

Benefits
for India

Experience Overseas labour migration provides international experience to labourers

Workers in developed countries earn higher wages, returning with savings that
Incomes can be utilized to build assets in India (Remittances). The vast labour
surplus minimizes the impact of shortages.

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Goodwill Skilled Migrant labourers act as informal ambassadors of India

However, sending Indian labour overseas is not a comprehensive solution to India’s unemployment
problem. The current composition of the workforce, with over 57% being self-employed, highlights
the necessity for creating more gainful employment opportunities. What is needed is for India to take
action by concurrently concentrating on job creation domestically and bolstering diplomatic efforts to
promptly address challenges encountered by Indian workers abroad.

3. A NEW ECONOMICS FOR INCLUSIVE GROWTH

The article is based on the book “Breaking the Mould: Reimagining India’s Economic Future” and
recommends departing from manufacturing and prioritizing the export of high-end services, challenging
conventional economic approaches.

What is Inclusive growth?

Inclusive growth, as defined by OECD and UNDP, refers to fair economic growth that involves and
benefits all segments of society, ensuring equal opportunities and outcomes irrespective of socio-
economic factors.

India’s post-reform era, characterized by economic liberalization and globalization, has seen
significant economic growth. However, this growth has not always translated into robust employment
generation.

Factors that hindered India’s employment growth during the post-reform era:

 Structural issues: India’s economy continues to be characterized by a large informal sector

with limited job security and social benefits. This has hindered inclusive employment
growth as a significant portion of the workforce remains vulnerable.

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o g. 80 % workforce is employed in the informal sector.
 Skill mismatch: The skill gap between the education system and industry requirements has
led to unemployment among the youth. India’s education system often fails to equip
students with the practical skills demanded by the job market.
 g. Only 2.5% of engineers in India possess artificial intelligence skills while only
5.5% are qualified with basic programming abilities.
 Labour market regulations: Labour market regulations and inflexibilities have impeded
employment growth. Stringent labour laws, although intended to protect workers, can
discourage formal job creation, making employers hesitant to hire.
o Example: The Industrial Disputes Act and other labour laws.
 Technological disruption: The job market in India is outgrowing traditional job roles with
the advent of new-age tech and in the next five years, 40% of Indian employees will
need reskilling and 60% will need to upskill to be market-ready.
 Gender Disparities: Gender disparities in employment persisted, with women often facing
limited access to job opportunities, wage gaps, and social barriers to workforce
participation.
o g. decline in female labour force participation rate from 34.8% in 1990 to 20.3%
in 2020.
 Public Sector Employment: The expansion of public sector employment, a traditional
source of stable jobs, slowed down due to fiscal constraints, reducing opportunities for
government jobs. E.g. Increased disinvestment and Privatisations of PSUs.
 Slow Industrialization: The pace of industrialization and the growth of labour-
intensive manufacturing industries, crucial for absorbing a sizable workforce, lagged
behind the demand.
o Although the service sector expanded, it mainly generated employment in
specialized fields like IT and business process outsourcing (BPO), excluding a
significant portion of the workforce.

Measures to be taken:
Measures Description

Consider reevaluating the traditional industry-led

Rethinking of Developmental Models growth model and exploring an agri-centric model to
create more employment in agriculture.

Move away from policies solely focused on building

Shift Focus the manufacturing sector and instead
prioritize exporting high-end services.

Promote economic activity in rural areas and around

Localized Economic Activity farms through small, labour-intensive enterprises for
processing agricultural produce.

Promote the decentralization of industries to ensure

Decentralization of Industries rural areas benefit from development and reduce
migration pressure on urban jobs.

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Provide education that aligns with market demand,

Equipping Education Required by
emphasizing vocational and technical education to
Industry
improve employability.

Invest in infrastructure development, which can serve

Investment in Infrastructure
as an engine for job creation.

Avoid neglecting the small-scale and informal

Support Small-Scale Manufacturing manufacturing sector, recognizing its importance in
providing employment opportunities.

Encourage cluster development to support job creation

Cluster Development of MSMEs in micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs)
concentrated in specific geographic areas.

The World Economic Forum suggests boosting social inclusion and economic growth through three
practical ways:

1. Increase investment in citizens’ capabilities to lift productivity growth.

2. Upgrade national rules and institutions related to work, in collaboration with
governments, employers’ organizations, and workers’ organizations.
3. Increase investment in labour-intensive economic sectors with broader societal benefits,
including sustainable infrastructure, care sectors, rural economy, and education.

Conclusion
The government has taken various steps to tackle the issue of unemployment. Schemes like Pradhan
Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, Apprentice Protsahan Yojana, The National Career Service etc. are
welcome steps in this regard

4. FORMALDEHYDE ADULTRATION
A team of researchers from Guwahati University, Assam, has developed a new sensor made of a metal
oxide-reduced graphene oxide(metal oxide- rGO) composite that can detect formalin adulteration in
fishes at room temperature in a non-invasive way.

Note

 Food adulteration is the practice of adding illegal or harmful substances to food to make
it appear more appealing or to increase its shelf life.
 Formaldehyde is a colourless, pungent gas that is used in a variety of industrial processes,
including as a preservative in some foods, commonly in fish in developing countries.
o However, the use of formaldehyde in food is illegal in many countries, as it is a
known carcinogen.

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What are the Key Facts of the Metal oxide- rGO Sensor?

 About:
o The sensor used Graphene(material that is extracted from graphite) oxide (GO)
and tin oxide-reduced graphene oxide composite (rGO-SnO2) to detect formalin
in adulterated fishes.
o The sensor is low-cost, non-invasive, and selective, and can be used to prevent
food adulteration and protect consumers.
 Need:
o Traditional formalin sensors for fish are either expensive electrochemical-
based or less costly but invasive colorimetric-based methods.
 Both face issues of low-level and selective detection.

5. TOKENISATION
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has expanded the scope of card-on-file tokenisation (CoFT) to
include card issuing banks and institutions directly, moving beyond services provided through
merchants.

 CoFT is a security measure for users opting for digital payments, replacing the practice
of merchants storing card details with specially created tokens.
 RBI’s recent notification outlines the requirements for enabling CoFT through card
issuers, allowing customers to generate tokens through mobile and internet banking
channels with explicit consent and additional validation.

Tokenization is the process of replacing sensitive data with a non-sensitive equivalent, called a
token. Tokens are random strings of characters that have no meaningful value if breached. They serve as
a reference to the original data, but cannot be used to guess those values.

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6. INDIA’S JOBS CRISIS

Unemployment:

 National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) defines employment and unemployment

on the following activity statuses of an individual:
o Working (engaged in an economic activity) i.e. ‘Employed’.
o Seeking or available for work i.e. ‘Unemployed’.
o Neither seeking nor available for work.
o The first two constitute the labour force and unemployment rate is the percent of the
labour force that is without work.
 Unemployment rate = (Unemployed Workers / Total labour force) × 100
 Unemployment occurs when a person who is actively searching for employment is unable
to find work.
 Unemployment is often used as a measure of the health of the economy.
 The most frequent measure of unemployment is the unemployment rate, which is
the number of unemployed people divided by the number of people in the labour force.
Types of Unemployment in India:

Types of employment that prevail in an economy(such as India):

 Wage employment which is a result of labor demanded by employers in their pursuit of

profits.
 Self-employment where labor supply and labor demand are identical, i.e The worker
employs herself.
o All jobs are wage labor, but all wage labor cannot be called jobs.
Indian economy:

 The Indian economy is characterized by the presence of both open unemployment (out of
work job-seekers) as well as high levels of informal employment
 It consists of the self-employed as well as casual wage workers.
o The last is also called “disguised unemployment”
 Being similar to open unemployment: It indicates a lack of adequate
employment opportunities in the formal sector.
o The lack of opportunities is reflected by a more or less stagnant employment
growth rate of salaried workers in the non-agricultural sector in the last four decades.
Reason for constraints in the labor demand of the formal sector?

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 The labor demand in the formal non-agricultural sector is determined by:
o Firms in the formal sector hire workers to produce output for profit, labor demand
depends on the amount of output that firms are able to sell.
o Under any given level of technological development, labor demand in the formal
sector rises when demand for output rises.
o Labor demand depends on the state of technology that dictates the number of
workers that firms need to hire to produce one unit of output.
o Introduction of labor-saving technologies enables firms to produce the same
amount of output by hiring a lower number of workers.
Employment growth rate:

 It is determined by the relative strength of two factors:

o The output growth rate
o The labor productivity growth rate (growth rate of output per worker).
o If labour productivity growth rate does not change, higher output growth rate
increases employment growth rate.
 Policies that promote higher economic growth would also achieve higher employment
growth.
o If the labor productivity growth rate rises, employment growth rate falls for a
given output growth rate.
 In India, the employment growth rate of the formal and non-agricultural
sector remained unresponsive despite a significant rise
o In the GDP growth rate
o The value added growth rate during the 2000s as compared to the decade of the
1980s and 1990s.
 The lack of responsiveness of employment growth rate to changes in output growth rate
reflects a phenomenon of jobless growth.
 It indicates a strong connection between labor productivity growth rate and output growth
rate.
Jobless growth:

 It is based on:
o The tightness of the connection between output growth
o The labor productivity growth.

1. The tightness of the connection between output growth:

o The responsiveness of labor productivity growth rate to output growth rate
is weak.
o Jobless growth emerges exclusively on account of automation and the introduction
of labor-saving technology.

 Employment growth rate would necessarily increase if output growth rate happens to
increase.
 Under weak responsiveness of labor productivity, the positive effect of GDP growth rate
on employment would dominate over the adverse effect of labor-saving technologies.

2. The labor productivity growth(case of India):

 The responsiveness of labor productivity growth rate to output growth rate is high.

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 The positive effect of output growth rate on employment fails to counteract the adverse
effect of labor-saving technologies.
o Employment growth rate cannot be increased simply by increasing GDP growth
rate.
Kaldor-Verdoorn coefficient:

 It reflects the extent to which labor productivity growth rate responds to output growth
rate.
 India’s non-agricultural sector is characterized by a higher than average Kaldor-
Verdoorn coefficient, as compared to other developing countries.
 It is this distinct form of jobless growth that makes India’s macroeconomic policy
challenge qualitatively different from other countries.
Keynesian revolution in macroeconomics:

 It highlighted the role of aggregate demand as the binding constraint on employment.

 Fiscal policy was perceived to increase labor demand by stimulating output.
 The developing countries that inherited a dual economy structure during their
independence, confronted additional constraints on output.
The Mahalanobis strategy:

 It identified the availability of capital goods as the binding constraint on output and
employment
o putting forward the policy for heavy industrialisation.

Government Initiatives:

Way Forward

 The employment challenge can no longer be met only through more rapid GDP growth.
o A separate policy focus is needed on employment in addition to the focus on GDP
growth.
 Employment policies will need both demand side and supply side components.
o For example: In India firms find it easier to automate due to a lack of adequate
skilled labor
 Increasing the quality of the workforce through better public provisioning of education
and health care, as well as bridging the skills gap, are important.
o On the demand side, direct public job creation will be needed.

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 Financing expenditures while maintaining debt-stability requires the reorienting of the
current macroeconomic framework in a significant way
o including increasing the direct tax to GDP ratio by reducing exemptions and
improving compliance
 A more imaginative use of macro-policy to pursue a constructive employment agenda.

7. COLOMBO SECURITY CONCLAVE

A successful joint expedition of ocean scientists from India, Bangladesh, and Mauritius, organized
under the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) framework.

 The expedition onboard ORV Sagar Nidhi was the first of its kind under the CSC
framework,

Objective:

 To enhance ocean observation and data collection to predict and manage changes in the
Indian Ocean’s regional environment.
 Fostering collaboration in measuring and modelling ocean parameters for better
forecasting and services in the region.

About CSC
Aspect Details

What is The CSC is a trilateral maritime security grouping formed in

Colombo 2011, consisting of India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. Mauritius is the
Security fourth member, and Bangladesh and Seychelles attended as observers with
Conclave? invitations to join the group.

The CSC focuses on enhancing and strengthening regional security in five

pillars:
1. Maritime Safety and Security
Envisaged
2. Countering Terrorism and Radicalization
Goal
3. Combating Trafficking and Transnational Organized Crime
4. Cyber Security and Protection of Critical Infrastructure and Technology
5. Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief

It serves as India’s outreach to the Indian Ocean (in alignment with India’s
vision of “SAGAR” vision), emphasizing regional cooperation and shared
Significance
security objectives. It also aims to counter China’s influence in the region
and reduce the Chinese footprint in member countries.

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8. SELF-POLLINATION
In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have observed rapid evolution in a flowering plant, Viola
arvensis (field pansy), in Paris, France. The plant is producing less nectar and smaller flowers to attract
fewer pollinators, displaying signs of self-pollination.

What are the reason for the evolution?

Changes in the environment especially due to anthropogenic activities have limited the population
of pollinators (such as Bees). In such a situation, plants evolve to self-pollinate itself.

What is Self-pollination?
It is a reproductive process in plants where pollen from a flower’s male reproductive organs (anther)
fertilizes the female reproductive organs (stigma) of the same flower or another flower on the same plant.

 The mechanism ensures the plant’s ability to reproduce without relying on external
pollinators like insects or wind.

Mechanism of the Self-Pollination:

1. Anther and Stigma Proximity: In self-pollinating plants, the anther (producing pollen) is
close to the stigma (receiving pollen) within the same flower.
2. Pollen Transfer: Pollen grains are transferred from the anther to the stigma, either by
physical contact or through the plant’s internal mechanisms.
3. Fertilization: The pollen tube grows down the style to the ovary, where fertilization takes
place, resulting in the formation of seeds.
4. Genetic Similarity: Since both the pollen and the ovule come from the same plant, the
offspring are genetically identical to the parent, leading to limited genetic diversity.
Self-pollination ensures reproductive success, especially in environments with limited pollinators, but it
can also reduce genetic variability in plant populations and risk to the plant-pollinator interaction system.

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PRELIMS SPECIFIC

1. NEW DESIGN OF ADMIRALS’ EPAULETTES

The Indian Navy has unveiled new epaulettes for Admirals, inspired by the naval ensign and
Chhatrapati Shivaji’s rajmudra, as part of an initiative to reflect India’s rich maritime heritage and
move away from British nomenclature.

 The design features an octagon, a golden navy button top, an Indian sword, a crossed
telescope, and stars denoting ranks.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s Rajmudra is a royal seal and symbol of his dream of a Maratha
Swarajya.

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The seal includes Sanskrit inscriptions that express Shivaji’s gratitude to his father and his commitment
to ruling his land independently and the welfare of his subjects.

The Rajmudra’s text is in Sanskrit, unlike other royal seals from the time, which were usually carved in
Persian. The Rajmudra’s meaning is “The glory of this Mudra of Shahaji’s son Shivaji (Maharaj) will
grow like the first-day moon. It will be worshipped by the world and it will shine only for well well-
being of people”.

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2. ARGENTINA REJECTS BRICS MEMBERSHIP

New Argentinian President Milei, during his election campaign, Milei had expressed a geopolitical
alignment with the United States and Israel, emphasizing a reluctance to ally with communists. The
decision aligns with his campaign promises and reflects a shift in foreign policy from the previous
administration.

3. DOMESTIC SYSTEMICALLY IMPORTANT BANKS

Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and
employment.

Context:
Reserve Bank of India has released its list of Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs) in 2021.

 It has identified the state-owned lender State Bank Of India and the private lenders ICICI
Bank and HDFC Bank as systemically important banks, which are perceived as banks, ‘too
big to fail’.

What are D-SIBs?

The system of D-SIBs was adopted in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis where the collapse of many
systematically important banks across various regions further fueled the financial downturn.

 D-SIBs are important for the country’s economy. In events of distress, the government
supports such banks and if such a bank fails, it would lead to disruption of the country’s
overall economy.

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 RBI finalizes such banks after considering factors like size, complexity, lack of
substitutability and interconnectedness of the banks, state reports.

How are D-SIBs determined?

Since 2015, the RBI has been releasing the list of all D-SIBs. They are classified into five buckets,
according to their importance to the national economy.

 In order to be listed as a D-SIB, a bank needs to have assets that exceed 2 percent of the
national GDP. The banks are then further classified on the level of their importance across
the five buckets.

What regulations do these banks need to follow?

Due to their economic and national importance, the banks need to maintain a higher share of risk-weighted
assets as tier-I equity. SBI, since it is placed in bucket three of D-SIBs, has to maintain Additional
Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) at 0.60 percent of its Risk-Weighted Assets (RWAs).

Need for:

 Should such a bank fail, there would be significant disruption to the essential services they
provide to the banking system and the overall economy.
 The too-big-to-fail tag also indicates that in case of distress, the government is expected to
support these banks.
 Due to this perception, these banks enjoy certain advantages in funding. It also means that
these banks have a different set of policy measures regarding systemic risks and moral
hazard issues.

4. INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION (ISS)

Russian and U.S. space agencies, Roscosmos and NASA, have agreed to extend their collaboration
on delivering crews to the International Space Station (ISS) until at least 2025, as announced by
Roscosmos.

 This decision is aimed at maintaining the reliability of the ISS and ensuring
the continued presence of representatives from both agencies on the Russian and
American segments of the space station.
 The ISS, launched in 1998 during a period of increased U.S.-Russia cooperation post-
Cold War, has been a rare area of collaboration between the two countries.

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5. NEORA VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

A recent image captured by trap cameras in the Neora Valley National Park in the hills of West
Bengal has confirmed the presence of Royal Bengal Tigers at an altitude of 10,509 feet above sea level.

 The survey indicates the presence of more than 10 tigers in the area, with recent
camera trap images consistently featuring at least one Royal Bengal Tiger.

Neora Valley National Park in the Kalimpong district of West Bengal was established in 1986, it’s
a rich biological zone with diverse flora and fauna.
The park is home to the red panda and is known for its rugged, inaccessible terrain.

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6. HUNTINGTON’S DISEASE
Scientists have made progress in understanding Huntington’s disease by studying fruit flies
(Drosophila melanogaster).

About the study:

 Huntington’s disease patients carry a mutated version of the HTT gene, which codes for
a protein called huntingtin (Htt).
 The mutated gene encodes an abnormal Htt protein, leading to the destruction of
neurons regulating movement, thinking, and memory.
 The researchers genetically engineered fruit flies to express the polyglutamine tract of a
mutated human HTT gene in their nervous system.
 The study identified the Yod1 gene, whose overexpression removed disease-like effects in
the flies, suggesting a potential avenue for therapeutic intervention in humans.
Huntington’s disease (HD) is an inherited disorder that causes nerve cells (neurons) in parts of the brain
to gradually break down and die. The disease attacks areas of the brain that help to control voluntary
(intentional) movement, as well as other areas.

7. Ammonia
An ammonia gas leak from an underwater supply pipeline to an industrial unit in Chennai, caused
hundreds of residents to complain of difficulty in breathing and burning of eyes and faces.

 The leak originated from the Coromandel International Limited fertiliser manufacturing
facility, which receives ammonia shipments from Iran or Saudi Arabia.

About Ammonia:
Ammonia is a colourless, pungent gas with the chemical formula NH3. It’s made up of hydrogen and
nitrogen. In its aqueous form, it’s called ammonium hydroxide.
Ammonia is a natural byproduct and respiratory stimulant. It’s produced naturally in the human
body and in nature, including in water, soil, and air. In human health, ammonia and the ammonium ion
are important components of metabolic processes.
In its concentrated form, ammonia is dangerous and caustic.
Signs and symptoms of ammonia exposure include:

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 Nausea
 Vomiting
 Abdominal pain
 Burns of the mouth, throat, oesophagus, and stomach

8. SLIM SPACECRAFT
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) recently achieved a significant milestone as its "Smart
Lander for Investigating Moon" (SLIM) successfully entered lunar orbit, aiming to join the elite group of
countries capable of soft-landing probes on the Moon.

This mission marks Japan's second attempt at a soft Moon landing after the Hakuto-R mission, a private
commercial venture, met with failure earlier in 2023.
SLIM, having a dry weight of around 190 kilograms, stands as an example of precision technology, aiming
to touch down within 100 meters of its target site, the Shinoli crater in the equatorial region.

9. VEER BAL DIWAS

Veer Bal Diwas is observed on December 26 to honor the martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh’s youngest
sons Sahibzada Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Sahibzada Baba Fateh Singh Ji. They were only 7 and 9 years
old, respectively, at the time of their deaths.

How were the Sons of Guru Gobind Singh Martyred?

1) During the Battle of Chamkaur (1704) fought between the Sikhs and Mughals, Guru Gobind Singh’s
youngest sons, Sahibzada Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Sahibzada Baba Fateh Singh Ji were captured
by the Mughals.
2) Refusing to convert or to bow to Wazir Khan, the two were sentenced to death and were soon martyred
by execution.
3) The Guru’s mother Mata Gujari and his two elder sons, Sahibzaada Ajit Singh (18) and Sahibzaada
Jujhar Singh (14), were also killed within a week.
4) A few years later Baba Banda Singh Bahadur avenged the execution of the Sahibzade, by attacking,
capturing Sirhind and executing Wazir Khan.

10. ANGOLA LEAVES OPEC

Angola has decided to leave OPEC, a setback for the Saudi-led oil producer group.

Reason:
Angola argues that OPEC no longer serves its interests, following a dispute over its output quota.
Angola’s exit, joining Ecuador and Qatar as former members, further challenges OPEC’s market share,
which has been decreasing due to production cuts and rising output from non-OPEC countries.

About OPEC:
It was established in 1960 at the Baghdad Conference by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and
Venezuela, is an intergovernmental organization with key members including Algeria, Equatorial Guinea,
Gabon, Libya, Nigeria, the Republic of the Congo, and the United Arab Emirates.
The organization’s primary objective is to coordinate and unify petroleum policies among member
countries, ensuring fair and stable prices for petroleum producers and maintaining an efficient, economic,

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and regular supply of petroleum to consuming nations. With its headquarters in Vienna, Austria, OPEC
holds significant global influence, possessing over 80% of the world’s total crude oil reserves.
OPEC+ represents approximately 40% of world oil production, comprising OPEC and 10 other major
oil-exporting nations, including Russia. The organization regulates crude oil prices through mechanisms
like spot or future sales, using Brent Crude as a benchmark for quality, with WTI (West Texas
Intermediate) being another major Benchmark.

About Angola
It is a country on the west-central coast of Southern Africa. Bordered by Namibia to the south, the
Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Zambia to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.
The capital and largest city of Angola is Luanda.

11. MEDTECH MITRA

The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare in India, has launched the “MedTech Mitra”
initiative to empower innovators and advance healthcare solutions in the country.

 The initiative aims to support and collaborate with technology innovators and startups
in the medical technology sector.
 The goal is to harness innovation to enhance healthcare delivery and address
healthcare challenges.
 MedTech Mitra is a platform that will help young talents of country in shaping their
research and getting regulatory approval.
 It will facilitate indigenous development of affordable, quality MedTech devices and
diagnostics leading to reduction in import dependence (presently around 80%) in
MedTech.

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MedTech Mitra is part of the government’s efforts to promote innovation in the health sector and
improve healthcare services in the country.

Mapping:-

1. JAPAN’S KURIL ISLANDS

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2. NICARAGUA

3. PONG DAM ECO-SENSITIVE ZONE

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