- DEFENCE
INDIA NEEDS A NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY
- A National Security Strategy (NSS) is a comprehensive framework that outlines a nation’s strategic objectives, priorities, and the means to achieve them in the realm of national security. It serves as a guiding document for decision-making and policy formulation
- Currently, India does not have a formal NSS, which leaves a gap in its strategic planning and coordination.
- India needs a National Security Strategy for several reasons: Clear Framework for Decision-Making: An NSS provides a structured approach to address security challenges, ensuring that decisions are made based on a coherent strategy rather than ad-hoc responses.
- Integration of Security Aspects: It ensures the integration of various dimensions of security, including military, economic, cyber, and environmental security, fostering a holistic approach.
- Accountability and Transparency: A well-defined NSS promotes accountability among different agencies and departments, ensuring that they work towards common objectives.
- Resource Allocation and Planning: It guides the allocation of resources, ensuring that they are used efficiently to address the most critical security threats.
- Adaptation to Changing Threats: An NSS allows for regular updates and adaptations to emerging threats, ensuring that the country remains prepared for new challenges.
2. ECONOMY
GST COUNCIL IS LOOKING AT TAX RATES ITEM BY ITEM FOR RATIONALISATION
- The concept of “Item-by-Item Rationalisation” in the context of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) refers to the systematic review and adjustment of tax rates for individual goods and services. This process is aimed at simplifying the tax structure, eliminating anomalies, and ensuring that the tax rates are aligned with the current economic realities and policy objectives.
- Process: The GST Council, which is the apex decision-making body for GST, has constituted a Group of Ministers (GoM) to undertake this rationalisation. The GoM is tasked with examining the existing tax rates and making recommendations for changes.
- Implications: For Businesses: A rationalised GST structure can reduce compliance costs and uncertainties, making it easier for businesses to operate.
- For Consumers: It can lead to more predictable pricing of goods and services.
- For States: While some states have been advocating for the continuation of GST compensation, the rationalisation process aims to create a more self-sustaining revenue model for states.
3. BILATERAL
QUAD LAUNCHES MARITIME, HEALTH INITIATIVES, CONDEMNS AGGRESSION IN DISPUTED REGIONS
- New Coast Guard Exercise: Launch of a new coast guard exercise to enhance maritime safety and interoperability among Quad countries.
- Logistics Network: Introduction of a logistics network pilot project for sharing airlift capacity to support disaster response.
- Maritime Surveillance Expansion: Expansion of maritime surveillance capabilities to monitor and secure waters, enforce laws, and deter unlawful behavior.
- Quad Cancer Moonshot: Initiative to combat cervical cancer with contributions from all four countries. India commits $10 million towards screening, and Serum Institute of India and Gavi to provide up to 40 million vaccines for the region.
- Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission: Announcement of the Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission in 2025 to improve maritime safety.
- MAITRI Workshop: Launch of the Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific (MAITRI) to train Quad partners. India will host the first workshop in 2025.
- Maritime Legal Dialogue: Establishment of a maritime legal dialogue to uphold the rules-based order.
- Condemnation of Maritime Aggression: Strong condemnation of aggression in the East and South China Seas, with specific references to China’s actions.
- Support for Ukraine: Expression of deep concern for the war in Ukraine and its consequences, with a call for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace.
- Quad Fellowship Expansion: Expansion of the Quad fellowship to include 50 scholarships worth $500,000 for students from the region to study at government-funded technical institutions in India.
4. SOCIAL ISSUES
PROFESSIONAL INDIAN WOMEN WORK THE MOST HOURS GLOBALLY
- Indian women in IT/media work 56.5 hours weekly, the highest globally. Women in professional, scientific, and technical fields work 53.2 hours weekly.
- Younger professionals (aged 15-24) in IT/media work 57 hours weekly; in professional fields, they work 55 hours.
- Global Comparison: In Germany, women in IT/media work 32 hours weekly; in Russia, 40 hours.
- Gender Imbalance: Only 8.5% of the workforce in professional scientific and technical jobs in India are women.
- 20% of the workforce in information and communication jobs in India are women.
- India ranks 15th from the bottom in women’s share in professional scientific and technical jobs among 145 countries.
- Impact: The incident highlights the extreme workload and gender imbalance in male-dominated environments, affecting young women professionals significantly.
5. SOCAIL ISSUES
U.P, RAJASTHAN, M.P TOP IN CASES OF ATROCITIES ON DALITS
- Out of 498 districts in 14 states, only 194 had established special courts to expedite trials in these cases.
- Districts Prone to Atrocities: Only 10 states and Union Territories have declared specific districts particularly prone to atrocities.
- SC/ST Protection Cells: Established in states including Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, NCT of Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and Puducherry.
- Special Police Stations: Set up by Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Kerala, and Madhya Pradesh for registration of complaints of offences against SCs and STs
ONE LINER
- The Indian government will host the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) from February 5 to 9 2025
- The World Health Organisation (WHO) has officially recognized Jordan as the first country in the world to eliminate leprosy
