- ECONOMICS
INDIA NEEDS TO LIFT JOB GROWTH VIA REFORMS – IMF GOPINATH
- List of Reforms Suggested by IMF’s Gita Gopinath
- Education System: Improve the depth and quality of education to create an employable workforce.
- Invest in education to ensure that people have more years of, and better quality of, education.
- Labour Market Reforms: Implement reforms in land and labour markets to enhance employability.
- The Labour Codes proposed reforms to facilitate hiring and support development.
- Women’s Labour Force Participation: Increase the participation rate of women in the workforce, currently at 35% in India, to reach high-income status.
- Tariff Policy: Reduce tariffs to remain competitive in the global economy.
- Keep trade integration open to avoid penalizing firms that hire workers.
- Corporate Investment: Enhance corporate investment, which is currently lagging compared to public investment.
- Encourage private sector investment, especially in areas like technology and automation.
- General and Private Investment: Increase both general and private investments to ensure workforce adaptability.
- Complement existing public investments with stronger corporate investments.
- Automation and AI Adaptation: Policies should not “tilt the field” unfairly in favor of automation.
- Countries need to have social security nets and reskilling programs to prepare workers for the future.
- Job Creation: Create 60 million to 148 million additional jobs by 2030 to match the needs of the growing workforce.
2. ENVIRONMENT
INDIA’S MONKEYPOX PREPAREDNESS
- India’s Monkeypox Preparedness
- WHO Declaration:
- Event: Monkeypox declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by WHO.
- Context: India responds with increased vigilance despite no reported cases as of the latest update.
- Government Response:
- Key Figure: Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda chaired a meeting with senior officials to review preparedness.
- Current Status: No monkeypox cases reported in India.
- Precautionary Measures: Sensitization of health units across airports, seaports, and ground crossings.
- Readying testing laboratories (32 labs mentioned).
- Gearing up health facilities for detection, isolation, and management of any potential cases.
- Nature of Monkeypox:
- Infection Characteristics: Generally self-limiting, lasting 2-4 weeks.
- Requires prolonged contact for transmission, primarily through sexual routes, direct contact with bodily fluids, or contaminated items.
- Global Scenario: Statistics: WHO reported 99,176 cases globally since 2022, with 208 deaths.
- Transmission: Sustained transmission risk is low in India as of now.
- Ongoing Monitoring: A joint monitoring group led by the Director-General of Health Services is overseeing the situation, with participation from various expert bodies like NCDC, WHO, ICMR, and others.
- Risk Assessment: The risk of a large outbreak in India is considered low at present, but monitoring will continue, especially considering possible imported cases in the coming weeks.
3. STATES
KERALA DELAYS RELEASE OF HEMA PANEL REPORT ON WORKING CONDITIONS IN FLIM INDUSTRY
- Hema Committee Report Formation: Established by the Kerala government in 2017 after a highprofile case of sexual assault in the Malayalam film industry.
- Purpose: To investigate issues of sexual harassment and gender inequality in the Malayalam film industry.
- Chairperson: Led by Justice K. Hema, a retired judge of the Kerala High Court.
- Report Submission: Submitted to the Kerala Chief Minister on December 31, 2019.
- Content: The report includes testimonies regarding harassment, privacy concerns, and gender inequality faced by women in the industry.
- Delay in Release: The release has been delayed multiple times; most recently, the Kerala government decided to postpone its release until a court ruling on a petition regarding privacy concerns.
- Public Interest: The State Information Commission has ordered the report to be released to the public, emphasizing transparency. The report remains a significant document for addressing systemic issues within the film industry
4. DEFENCE
RISE IN MILITARY IN J&K CASTS SHADOW ON BORDER TOURISM
- Issue — Rising militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in areas near the Line of Control (LoC), and its impact on border tourism
- Increased Militancy: Militant Activity: There has been a surge in militant activities in the upper reaches of Jammu and Kashmir, especially near the LoC in areas like Kupwara.
- Infiltration: Security forces have reported increased infiltration attempts by militants, particularly in the Pir Panjal Valley and Chenab Valley.
- Impact on Border Tourism: Restrictions on Tourism: Due to security concerns, the process for obtaining passes to visit areas close to the LoC has been made more stringent.
- No-Go Zones: Many areas in North Kashmir are now listed as no-go zones for tourists.
- Suspended Promotions: The J&K administration’s plan to promote areas like Keran as border tourist destinations has been halted due to security threats.
- Online Permission System: Tourists must now apply for permission to visit certain areas seven days in advance, with no guarantee of approval.
- Security Measures: Increased Vigilance: Security forces have intensified their presence and vigilance in response to the rising threat, particularly in forests and other high-risk areas.
- Pakistani Military Actions: The Pakistani Army has reportedly increased its activities along the LoC, adding to the tension in the region.
- Impact on Local Economy: Tourism Decline: The restriction on tourist activities due to security concerns impacts the local economy, which had seen growth due to increased tourist interest following the 2021 ceasefire agreement.
5. NATIONAL
GOVERNOR GIVES APPROVAL FOR KARNATAKA CM’s PROSECUTION
- Governor’s Role and Powers:
- Sanction for Prosecution: The Governor’s power to grant sanction for the prosecution of a sitting Chief Minister, especially under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, raises questions about the discretionary powers of the Governor and the potential for misuse.
- Constitutional Position: The role of the Governor in relation to the state government — Article 163 and 164.
- Federalism:
- State vs. Central Authority: The incident highlights tensions between state governments and the central authority, especially when a Governor, appointed by the central government, takes actions that are perceived as politically motivated.
- Impact on State Autonomy: The exercise of the Governor’s powers in sanctioning prosecution can be seen as an infringement on the autonomy of the state government.
- Separation of Powers: Judiciary vs. Executive: The involvement of the judiciary in cases against elected officials and the executive’s role in managing such situations is critical. The issue touches upon the balance of power between different branches of government.
- Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988: Legal Framework: The provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and how they are applied to sitting government officials, including the requirement for sanction to prosecute, are significant for understanding anti-corruption measures in India.
- Section 218 of the Act: The specific sections under which prosecution is sanctioned and their implications for serving officials need to be understood.
- Political Implications: Partisan Use of Governor’s Office: The potential use of the Governor’s office for political purposes, such as targeting opposition leaders, can have broader implications for democratic governance and the neutrality of constitutional offices.
ONE LINER
- The largest floating solar project in Central and North India is commissioned at Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh
- Indian Government and the World Bank have made an agreement for the consruction of the Green National Highway Corridors Project (GNHCP)
