Articles Covered

1. Empowering women is an investment in the present and future of our world, says VP
2. India at G20 2nd Employment Working Group Meeting at Brasilia
3. Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi sworn in as judicial member, Lokpal of India.
4. South China Sea dispute | India supports Philippines in upholding its sovereignty: Jaishankar in Manila
5. A record 8,500 migrants died in 2023, says UN
6. Sensing China threat, India joins race to mine new sea patch
7. Current account deficit narrows to 1.2% of GDP at $10.5 billion in Oct-Dec: RBI
8. India’s employment conditions continue to be poor: Report
9. India’s need to curb black carbon emissions

Empowering women is an investment in the present and future of our world, says VP

Gender equality and women-led development are fundamental principles of a just and progressive society, notes VP Increased women participation due to Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam to help change the “patriatical mindset”, stresses VP Women today are reclaiming their rightful place in society, emphasises VP Gender justice and women’s economic justice are key to achieving Sustainable Development-VP.

VP calls upon the women entrepreneurs to be ‘Vocal for Local’ and promote economic nationalism

The Vice-President, Jagdeep Dhankhar today stressed that “empowering women is an investment in the present and future of our world”.

1. While addressing members of FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO) at the culmination of 40 years of FLO in Bharat Mandapam today Shri Dhankhar indicated that “by promoting equal opportunities, breaking down barriers and amplifying the voices and achievements of women, we create a society that is not only fairer and more just, but also prosperous and sustainable”.
2. Acknowledging gender equality and women-led development as fundamental principles of a just and progressive society, the Vice-President lauded the enabling gender-neutral ecosystem in place and took note of series of recent affirmative initiatives like permanent commission for women in the Armed Forces and admission of girls in Sainik Schools.
3. Referring to the passage of ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ in parliament as game changer for gender equality and woman empowerment, Shri Dhankhar termed it a definitive milestone in Indian polity. More women in Parliament will help change that “patriarchal mindset”, he added.
4. Dismissing the apprehensions and stereotyping of women as ‘proxy candidates’, the Vice-President underlined the leadership role played by women scientists in our Chandrayan Mission and emphasised that women today are reclaiming their rightful place in society and are no longer controlled by their male family members.
5. Highlighting the inextricable link between gender justice and sustainable development, Shri Dhankhar opined that “gender justice and women’s economic justice are key to achieving Sustainable Development”. When more women work, economies grow, he added.
6. Calling women as natural ambassadors of economic nationalism, Shri Dhankhar exhorted all to follow economic nationalism. The Vice-President underscored “no nation can grow without steadfast commitment to its nationalism and culture in all its facets”. Economic nationalism is quintessentially fundamental to growth, he added

India at G20 2nd Employment Working Group Meeting at Brasilia

• The two-day 2^nd Employment Working Group (EWG) meeting under the Brazilian Presidency commenced today in Brasilia. The G20 EWG’s mandate is to address labour, employment and social issues for strong, sustainable, balanced and job-rich growth for all. As India is a member of the G20 Troika, represented by Ms. Sumita Dawra, Secretary, Labour & Employment, India is co-chairing the 2^ndEWG meeting, along with Brazil and South Africa. The Indian delegation also comprises Mr. Rupesh Kumar Thakur, Joint Secretary, and Mr. Rakesh Gaur, Deputy Director from the Ministry of Labour & Employment.
• The opening session began with speech of the Brazilian Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr Luiz Marinho. Following this, in her opening remarks, Ms Sumita Dawra, noted that the priority areas of the 2^ndEWG at Brasilia align with the priority areas and outcomes of previous G20 presidencies including Indian presidency, and commended the continuity in the multi-year agenda to creating lasting positive change in the world of work. This not only sustains but also elevates the work initiated by the EWG during the Indian Presidency.
• The focus areas for the 2^ndEWG meeting is on (i) creating quality employment and promoting decent labor; (ii) addressing a just transition amidst digital and energy transformations; (iii) leveraging technologies to enhance the quality of life for all; (iv) the emphasis on gender equity and promoting diversity in the world of employment for inclusivity, driving innovation and growth.

1. On the first day of the meeting, deliberations were held on the over-arching theme of promotion of gender equality and promoting diversityin the workplace. The Indian delegation emphasized the need for creating inclusive environments by ensuring equal representation and empowerment for all, irrespective of race, gender, ethnicity, or socio-economic background.
2. In this context, Indian delegation elucidated significant stridestaken by India in promotion of (i) gender equality in the workplace and beyond; (ii) steps taken for migrant workers; (iii) promoting reemployment of senior citizens, (iv) participation in work force of the differently abled and the marginalised. Some of these achievements showcased at day 1 of the 2^nd EWG are the following:
3. To increase female labour force participation, India has enacted Occupational Safety Health and Working ConditionsCode, 2020 which entitles women to be employed in all establishments for all types of work with their consent at night time. This provision has already been implemented in underground mines.
4. In 2017, the Government amended the Maternity Benefit Act of 1961, which increased the ‘maternity leave with pay protection’ from 12 weeks to 26 weeks for all women working in establishments employing 10 or more workers. This is expected to reduce the motherhood pay gap among the working mothers.
5. To aid migrant workers, India’s innovative policy ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ allows migrants to access their entitled food grains from anywhere in the Public Distribution System network in the country. We have also implemented multiple schemes to provide social security and welfare benefits while ensuring portability across states. These schemes provide for affordable housing, enhanced employability through skill development and old-age pension to such workers.
6. A landmark step in fostering inclusion in the workforce is the e-Shram portal,launched to create a national database of unorganized workers, especially migrant and construction workers. This initiative, providing the e-Shram card, enables access to benefits under various social security schemes. The portal allows an unorganised worker to register himself or herself on the portal on self-declaration basis, under 400 occupations in 30 broad occupation sectors. More than 290 million unorganised workers have been registered on this portal so far.
7. India has also taken several steps to promote the participation of aged persons in the labour market; for the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities, including vocational training, skill development, and job placement services; & for traditionally marginalized and vulnerable groups.

Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi sworn in as judicial member, Lokpal of India.

• Shri Pankaj Kumar and Shri Ajay Tirkey took oath of office as member, Lokpal.
• Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi sworn in as judicial member, Lokpal. The oath was administered by Justice A. M. Khanwilkar, Chairperson, Lokpal of India.
• Shri Pankaj Kumar and Shri Ajay Tirkey took oath as member, Lokpal.The oath ceremony was organised today at Lokpal of India office in New Delhi.

1. The new appointments took place as two existing Judicial Members namely Justice P. K. Mohanty and Justice Abhilasha Kumari and three Members namely Shri D. K. Jain, Smt. Archana Ramasundaram and Shri Mahender Singh have completed their tenure in Lokpal on 26^thMarch 2024.
2. Shri Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, before joining as Judicial Member, Lokpal of India, was serving as the Chairperson of 22^ndLaw Commission of India. Before that, he was Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court.
3. Shri Pankaj Kumar is a 1986 batch IAS officer from Gujarat cadre. Before joining as Member of Lokpal of India, he was serving as Chief Secretary of Gujarat.
4. Shri Ajay Tirkey is a 1987 batch IAS officer from Madhya Pradesh cadre. Before joining as Member of Lokpal of India, he was serving as Secretary of Department of Land Resources, Government of India.
5. Shri Praveen Kumar Srivastava, Central Vigilance Commissioner and other senior officials of CBI and ED also attended the ceremony.

Lokpal and Lokayukta

Lokpal and Lokayukta are public institutions established in India to investigate and prosecute corruption among public officials. 

1. Recommendation of ARC:In the 1960s, the Administrative Reforms Commission of India suggested the creation of two specialized authorities, the Lokpal and Lokayukta, to address citizens’ complaints and grievances pertaining to corruption.
2. Role of Ombudsman: Lokpal and Lokayukta perform the function and role of an “Ombudsman”. They inquire into allegations of corruption against certain public bodies/organizations and for other related matters.
3. National and state level:The Lokpal is a national-level institution, while the Lokayukta is a state-level institution. Both have the power to investigate and prosecute corruption cases, and both are headed by a panel of judges or retired judges.
4. Jurisdiction: The Lokpal and Lokayukta handle complaints against ministers and top government officials.

BACKGROUND AND GENESIS OF LOKPAL AND LOKAYUKTA IN INDIA

1. The concept of ombudsman originated in 1809in Sweden.
2. In India, the former law minister Ashok Kumar Sen became the first Indian to propose the concept of a constitutional Ombudsman in Parliamentin the early 1960s.
3. Further,  L. M. Singhvi coined the term Lokpal and Lokayuktain 1963. Later in the year 1966, the First Administrative Reform Commission passed recommendations regarding the setting up of two independent authorities at the central and at the state level.
4. After the recommendations from the First Administrative Reform Commission, the Lokpal bill was passed in Lok Sabha in 1968 but lapsed due to the dissolution of Lok Sabha. Since then, the bill was introduced many times in Lok Sabha but has lapsed.
5. Later, in 2002, the National Commission for Review of the Working of the Constitution (NCRWC) recommended the appointment of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas. In 2005, the 2nd Administrative Reform Commission (ARC) also recommended the same.
6. The Anna Hazare movement, also known as India Against Corruption (IAC) movement, was led by social activist Anna Hazare, who began a hunger strike in April 2011 to demand the creation of an independent, effective anti-corruption body known as the Lokpal.
7. As a result of the movement, the Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill was introduced in the Indian parliament and passed into law in 2013.

provisions of the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act 2013 Key provisions of the Act include Selection Committee: which includes the Prime Minister as Chairperson, Speaker of Lok Sabha, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Chief Justice of India or a Judge nominated by him/ her and one eminent jurist appointed by President. Jurisdiction: Jurisdiction includes the Prime Minister, Ministers, Members of Parliament, and group A, B, C, and D of government employees. Composition: It is composed of a chairperson and a maximum of eight members, with half of them being judicial members. 50% of members belong to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, minorities, and women. Superintendence: It has the power of superintendence and directs any investigative agency, including the Central Bureau of Investigation, for cases referred to it by the Lokpal. Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 (FCRA): Jurisdiction includes foreign donations in excess of Rs 10 Lakhs per year under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act. The Act provides a requirement for establishing Lokayukta institutions through state legislation within 365 days of the Act coming into effect.

limitations of the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act 2013 The Lokpal and Lokayukta Act 2013 has several drawbacks that have been criticized by experts and activists. Some of these include Lack of independence: The act allows the government to have a significant influence over the appointment and functioning of the Lokpal, which may compromise its independence. Anonymous complaints not allowed: The act does not permit anonymous complaints, which may deter potential whistleblowers from coming forward. Limitation of 7 years: The act sets a 7-year limitation period to file a complaint, which may not be sufficient for some cases. Heavy punishment for false complaints: The act provides for severe punishment for false or frivolous complaints, which may deter people from coming forward with valid complaints. Lack of transparency: The act provides for a non-transparent process for dealing with complaints against the Prime Minister. The Lokpal cannot initiate an investigation on its own against any public servant. The form of the complaint is given more importance than the content of it.

Existing governance framework to check corruption in India

1. Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988: It is the main law for addressing corruption in India. It provides for the punishment of public servants who engage in corrupt practices.
2. Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI):Main agency responsible for investigating corruption cases involving public servants.
3. Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)and State Vigilance Commission: Handle citizens’ grievances related to corruption.
4. (NHRC):Citizens can file complaints if they feel that their rights have been violated.
5. The All-India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968 prohibit government employees from engaging in any activities that may compromise their integrity or impartiality, such as accepting gifts or bribes, engaging in partisan political activities, or disclosing confidential information.
6. The Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964prohibit central government employees from engaging in activities that may compromise their integrity or impartiality.
7. Ex:-Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT)are specialized courts that hear and decide disputes related to the administrative actions of government agencies related to matters of corruption.

Lokpal and Lokayukta (Amendment) Act 2016 The amendment changes the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act 2013 with regard to the reporting of assets and liabilities by public officials. Allows the leader of the largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha, in the absence of a recognized Leader of Opposition, to be a member of the selection committee that chooses the ombudsman. The bill modifies section 44 of the Act, which originally dealt with the requirement for public officials to report their assets and liabilities within 30 days of starting their government service. The amendment eliminates the 30-day time frame in section 44, and public officials will report their assets and liabilities as outlined by the government. Changes with respect to the functions of the CVC The enactment of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act will help the Central Vigilance Commission work in an independent and assertive manner: Sections 8A and 8B were added in CVC Act, 2003 empowering the commission to enquire into references made by the Lokpal in respect of members of Group ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘D’ services of the central government and such level of officials or staff of the corporations, companies, societies and local authorities owned by the central government. The CVC also has been bestowed with the powers of superintendence over the CBI in so far as it relates to the investigation of offenses alleged to have been committed under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, to ensure greater objectivity and accountability in its functioning.

South China Sea dispute | India supports Philippines in upholding its sovereignty: Jaishankar in Manila

Any third party is not in a position to interfere in maritime disputes, says Beijing.

1. Amid Manila’s dispute with Beijing over the South China Sea, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said Tuesday that India firmly supports the Philippines in upholding its national sovereignty and wants to explore new areas of cooperation, including in defence and security.
2. At a joint press conference in Manila after bilateral talks with Philippines Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo, Jaishankar said: “I take this opportunity to firmly reiterate India’s support to the Philippines for upholding its national sovereignty.” As the world changes, it is essential that countries like India and the Philippines cooperate more closely to shape the emerging order, he said. Every country has the right to uphold and enforce its national sovereignty, he said in response to a question. “That is something that we have also discussed,” he said.

Philippines removes South China Sea ‘floating barrier’ installed by China

• The Philippine coastguard has removed a floating barrier installed by China in a disputed area in the South China Sea. As per the Philippines, barrier posed a hazard to navigation, a clear violation of international law.

Background:

Barrier installed by China near Shoal

1. Earlier, the Philippine coastguard and fisheries bureau personnel discovered the floating barrier, on a routine patrol near the shoal.
2. According to Filipino fishermen, the Chinese coastguard usually installs such barriers when it monitors a large number of fishermen in the area and then removes it later.

Scarborough Shoal claimed by the Philippines

1. The Philippines described the shoal as an integral part of the Philippine national territory.
2. Scarborough Shoal is within the 200-nautical-mile EEZ of the Philippines as defined by international maritime law.
3. It was affirmed by a ruling of The Hague’s International Court of Arbitration.

Claim of China

1. Beijing claims the area as part of its territory and refers to Scarborough Shoal as Huangyan Island.
2. In 2012, Beijing seized control of Scarborough Shoal from the Philippines and forced Filipino fishermen to travel farther for smaller catches.

South China Sea Dispute

1. The South China Sea is situated just south of the Chinese mainland and is bordered by the countries of Brunei, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
2. The countries have bickered over territorial control in the sea for centuries, but in recent years tensions have soared to new heights.

Reason behind the rise

1. The South China Sea is one of the most strategically critical maritime areas and China eyes its control to assert more power over the region.
2. Due to its economic and geostrategic importance, the South China Sea becomes a venue of several complex territorial disputes that have been the cause of political as well as military conflict and tension within the region and throughout the Indo-Pacific.

Nine-Dash Line

1. In 1947, the country, under the rule of the nationalist Kuomintang party, issued a map with the so-called “nine-dash line”.
2. The line essentially encircles Beijing’s claimed waters and islands of the South China Sea— as much as 90% of the sea has been claimed by China.
3. The line continued to appear in the official maps even after the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) came to power.
4. The line runs as far as 2,000 km from the Chinese mainland to within a few hundred kilometers of the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam.
5. In the past few years, China has also tried to stop other nations from conducting any military or economic operation without its consent, saying the sea falls under its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Response of Neighbouring Countries and China’s repurcussions

1. China’s sweeping claims, however, have been widely contested by other countries. In response, China has physically increased the size of islands or created new islands altogether in the sea, according to the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR).
2. China has also constructed ports, military installations, and airstrips—particularly in the Paracel and Spratly Islands, where it has twenty and seven outposts, respectively.
3. China has militarised Woody Island by deploying fighter jets, cruise missiles, and a radar system.
4. To challenge China’s assertive territorial claims and protect its own political and economic interests, the US has intervened in the matters.
5. It has not only increased its military activity and naval presence in South Asia but also provided weapons and aid to China’s opponents.

Importance of the South China Sea

1. There are 11 billion barrels of oil and 190 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in deposits under the South China Sea, according to the estimates of the United States Energy Information Agency.
2. Moreover, the sea is home to rich fishing grounds — a major source of income for millions of people across the region. The BBC reported that more than half of the world’s fishing vessels operate in this area.
3. Most significantly, the sea is a crucial trade route. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development estimates that over 21% of global trade, amounting to $3.37 trillion, transited through these waters in 2016.

Shipping

1. Spreading over the 3.5 million square kilometers, nearly one-third of the world’s shipping, estimated $11.3 billion worth of trade annually pass through this waterway according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
2. Japan and South Korea heavily rely on the South China Sea as an export route and for their supply of fuels and raw materials.
3. Around $5.3 trillion worth of trade cruise through the South China Sea annually, with $1.2 trillion of that total accounting for trade with the U.S., said the Washington-based think tank in a report, “How Much Trade Transits the South China Sea?”, published in 2017.

Fisheries

The South China Sea also contains rich, though, unregulated and over-exploited fishing grounds, containing an estimated 10% of the world’s fisheries, the report said.

Natural resources

1. The South China Sea holds significant reserves of undiscovered oil and gas, which is an aggravating factor in maritime and territorial disputes, it said.
2. It covers an estimated 11 billion barrels of oil, plus an estimated 190 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, according to the Energy Information Administration.
3. The major island and reef formations in the South China Sea are the Spratly Islands, Paracel Islands, Pratas, the Natuna Islands and Scarborough Shoal.

DISPUTES

China claims nearly all of the 3.5-million-square-kilometer South China Sea, which is one of the fiercely contested regions in the world.

Dash-line

1. Beijing claims roughly 90% of the total area defined by a map with an ambiguous “dash-line” — a U-shaped demarcation line — published in 1947.
2. The Paracel Islands, along with the Spratly group to the south, are located within China’s so-called nine or ten “dash-line”.

Spratly Islands

1. China, Taiwan and Vietnam, each claims sovereignty over all the Spartly’s some 230 features, according to Lowy Institute, an Australia-based think-tank.
2. However, the Philippines claims 53 features and Malaysia claims 12. Vietnam occupies 27 features, followed by China with eight, the Philippines with seven, Malaysia with five, and Taiwan with one, said the institute.
3. China has been building artificial islands, containing port facilities, military buildings and an airstrip in the Spratly archipelago, a disputed scattering of reefs and islands.

Paracel Islands

• The Paracel Islands are the subject of overlapping claims by China, Vietnam and Taiwan. But the group of islands is completely controlled by Beijing since 1974, the institute said.

Scarborough Shoal

1. Both the Philippines and China have competing for claims over the Scarborough Shoal, while Malaysia and Brunei laying claim to maritime territory in the sea to assert their sovereignty. The Scarborough Shoal is the scene of ongoing tensions between Beijing and Manila. Since a standoff in 2012, Chinese vessels have de facto controlled the waters around the reef, according to the Australian think-tank.
2. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague concluded that Beijing’s claims to areas of the resource-rich sea have no legal basis. The arbitration was launched by the Philippines, while China rejected the ruling.

UN law and Exclusive Economic Zone

1. As the disputes over the South China Sea escalated day by day, the global community took several steps to reach a settlement. The UN concluded a law in 1982 due to establish a legal framework to balance the economic and security interest of coastal states.
2. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which came into force in 1994, enshrines a 200-nautical mile area to extend sole exploitation rights to coastal nations over marine resources.
3. However, the area, officially called as the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), was never intended to serve as a security zone, and UNCLOS also guarantees wide-ranging passage rights for naval vessels and military aircraft.
4. Despite being signed and ratified by all concerned countries in the region, the interpretation of UNCLOS in the South China Sea is still fiercely disputed.

Likely Solution

1. Each claimant keeps what it currently occupies and drops its claims to the other features. There is a legal name for this principle: uti possidetis, ita possideatis– what you have is what you keep.
2. No state would have to suffer the indignity or strategic disadvantage of withdrawing from any feature that they currently occupy. Each state would simply have to acknowledge reality – that they are never going to acquire all the rocks and reefs they rhetorically claim. This is already implicit in the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (the DoC) adopted by ASEAN and the PRC in 2002.
3. Under Article 5,all the signatories are committed to “self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability including, among others, refraining from action of inhabiting on the presently uninhabited islands, reefs, shoals, cays, and other features and to handle their differences in a constructive manner.
4. This would be a price worth paying if the quid pro quo is regional stability. For Vietnam, recognition of Chinese possession of the Paracels would be painful but it could unlock an agreement between Vietnam and China over the maritime boundary at the mouth of the Gulf of Tonkin and areas further south. This would, in effect, end China’s U-shaped line claim and open areas of the sea for Vietnamese energy exploration and fisheries.

A record 8,500 migrants died in 2023, says UN

The total number of deaths among migrants in 2023 was nearly 20% more than in 2022

• A total of 8,565 migrants died on land and sea routes worldwide last year, the U.N. migration agency said March 6, a record high since it began tallying deaths a decade ago.
• The International Organisation for Migration said the biggest increase in deaths last year was on the treacherous Mediterranean Sea crossing, to 3,129 from 2,411 in 2022. However, that was well below the record 5,136 deaths recorded in the Mediterranean in 2016 as huge numbers of Syrians, Afghans and others fled conflicts toward Europe.

1. As per the UN’s International Organization for Migration the 2023 death count represents a tragic increase of 20 percent compared to 2022, highlighting the urgent need for action to prevent further loss of life. At least 8,565 people died on migration routes worldwide in 2023, making it the deadliest year since records began a decade ago
2. The IOM said that because safe and regular migration pathways remain limited, hundreds of thousands of people attempt to migrate every year via irregular routes in unsafe conditions.

The most unsafe migration route

1. The Mediterranean Sea, where many migrants try to reach southern Europe from northern Africa, continues to be the deadliest route for migrants, with at least 3,129 deaths and disappearances registered last year.
2. It is the highest number of deaths on the Mediterranean migration routes since 2017.
3. In one incident alone an overcrowded trawler, the Adriana, sank off the coast of Greece in on June 14 last year, with the loss of more than 600 lives.
4. Unprecedented numbers of migrant deaths were recorded last year across Africa (1,866) and Asia (2,138).
5. In Africa, most of the deaths occurred in the Sahara Desert and the sea route to Spain’s Canary Islands.
6. In Asia, hundreds of deaths of Afghan and Rohingya refugees were recorded last year.
7. Slightly more than half of the total migrant deaths in 2023 came as a result of drowning, with nine percent caused by vehicle accidents, and seven percent in violence

Overview of labour deaths in Gulf region

1. Mortality data:According to an article published in The Guardian, over 10,000 migrant workers from south and Southeast Asia die annually in the Gulf countries.
2. Recent deaths: As per The Guardian reports published about 6,500 migrant workers from South Asia have died in Qatar in the last 10 years, mainly after the commencement of construction projects in 2010 for the upcoming World Cup.
3. The highest death count was of Indians (2,711 workers),followed by migrants from Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
4. With over 35 lakhs, the UAEhas the highest Indian expat community, recorded at least five deaths every day between 2017- 2021. The number of deaths spiked from 2454 in 2020 to 2714 in 2021.

Prevailing discrimination in Gulf

1. Lack social security:Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have been accused of not providing healthcare services, employment and social protection for workers during Covid-19.
2. Wage theft: The Return Migration Surveyconducted among 2,000 Vande Bharat returnees to Kerala revealed that among 47 per cent who lost their jobs, 39 per cent have reported non-payment of wages and reduction in wages.
3. Labour rights violations: More recently, the media offered wide coverage of labour rights violations at three events, the Dubai Expo, the construction of stadiums for the Qatar world cup and the Covid pandemic. e.g. contract violations and intimidation of workers etc.
4. Lack of healthy workplace: The testimonials from returning migrants underline the deaths that take place due to the lack of occupational safety and health measures.

• According to a study published in the International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Healthin 2018, the common cause of their death is cardiac arrest, heart-related problems, road traffic accidents, fall from height, drowning, suicide, stroke and infectious diseases.
• Also, long hours of manual labour in high temperaturescould lead to heat stress and eventually organ damage.
• Kafala system: The policymakers have been concerned about the ills of the infamous “Kafala” or sponsorship system in the Gulf that enables employers to wield significant power over the lives of migrant workers.
• About Kafala system: Under the system, a migrant worker’s immigration status is legally bound to an individual employer or sponsor (‘kafeel’) during the contract period.

 Steps taken for labour welfare

• Abu Dhabi Dialogue (ADD): It was established in 2008 as a forum for dialogue and cooperation between Asian countries of labour origin and destination to discuss the management of temporary contractual labour mobility in Asia.
• The forum is keen on developing information orientation programmes for workers, promoting technology platforms, and reforms in domestic workers’ laws.
• First International Migration Review Forum (IMRF):The International Migration Review Forum shall take place every four years beginning in 2022.
• It will serve as the primary intergovernmental global platformto review the progress made at the local, national, regional and global levels in implementing the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM).
• GCM isthe first-ever UN agreement on a common approachto managing international migration.
• The GCM covers all aspects of migration (“360-degree” approach) with an array of possible actions, drawn from best practice that States may choose to utilise to implement their national migration policies.
• Labour reform by GCC countries: Due to the massive reporting of labour rights violations and criticism of the Kafala system, GCC countries are trying to reform labour laws which is mostly to project the region as migrant-labour friendly.
• However, the changes should be seen as a positive signon the road to abolishing Kafala and other anti-labour laws.

Efforts taken by India Government portal: The e-portal named “Madad” has enabled migrant workers from the country to file their grievances. According to the Ministry of External Affairs website, about 95 per cent of the registered grievances were resolved. Earlier legislation: The Emigration Act, 1983 provides the regulatory framework for emigration of Indian workers for contractual overseas employment and seeks to safeguard their interests and ensure their welfare.  India’s limitations Crises induced actions: Till now, India’s efforts for migrant welfare are often limited to “repatriation exercises” during the crisis. Delayed legislation: The lethargy in tabling the draft Emigration Bill of 2021 (indicates the approach towards migrant workers, especially low-skilled workers). Emigration bill 2021: It envisages comprehensive emigration management; institutes regulatory mechanisms governing overseas employment of Indian nationals and establishes a framework for the protection and promotion of the welfare of emigrants. Little MoU impact: The existing MoUs with GCC countries on domestic workers’ recruitment and prevention of irregular recruitment have had very little impact for Indian labour welfare.

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION

• IOM is an intergovernmental organization that provides services and advice concerning migration to governments and migrants, including refugees, internally displaced persons and migrant workers.
• IOM was established in 1951 as Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration (ICEM) to help resettle people displaced by World War II.
• It was granted Permanent Observer status to UN General Assembly in 1992.
• Cooperation agreement between IOM and the UN was signed in 1996.
• World Migration Report is published every year by International Organization for Migration (IOM) of the UN.
• IOM works in four broad areas of migration management:

1. Migration and development,
2. Facilitating migration,
3. Regulating migration and
4. Forced migration.

• It has 166 member states, a further 8 states holding observer status and offices in over 100 countries.
• India is a member of IOM.

Missing Migrants Project

• Missing Migrants Projectrecords since 2014 people who die in the process of migration towards an international destination, regardless of their legal status. As collecting information is challenging, all figures remain undercounts. The locations in most cases are approximate. Each number represents a person, as well as the family and community that they leave behind.

Sensing China threat, India joins race to mine new sea patch

Files application with the International Seabed Authority for rights to explore two vast tracts in Indian Ocean seabed that aren’t part of its jurisdiction

• Earlier this month, India applied to the International Seabed Authority (ISBA), Jamaica, for rights to explore two vast tracts in the Indian Ocean seabed that aren’t part of its jurisdiction. The application to explore one of these regions, a cobalt-rich crust long known as the Afanasy Nikitin Seamount (AN Seamount), is a gambit by India. Rights to the region have already been claimed by Sri Lanka under a separate set of laws, The Hinduhas learnt, but India’s application is part-motivated by reports of vessels by China undertaking reconnaissance in the same region, a highly placed official, who declined to be identified, confirmed to The Hindu.
• The AN Seamount is a structural feature (400 km-long and 150 km-wide) in the Central Indian Basin, located about 3,000 km away from India’s coast. From an oceanic depth of about 4,800 km it rises to about 1,200 metre and — as surveys from about two decades establish — rich in deposits of cobalt, nickel, manganese and copper. For any actual extraction to happen, interested explorers — in this case, countries — must apply first for an exploration licence to the ISBA, an autonomous international organisation established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

International Seabed

• The international seabed, also known as the Area, refers to the seabed and ocean floor and its subsoil beyond the limits of national jurisdiction.
• It is a vast area of the ocean that encompasses about 54 per cent of the total area of the world’s oceans.
• UNCLOS recognizes that these resources are the common heritage of mankind and should be managed for the benefit of all countries.

Deep Sea Mining

Deep sea mining involves removing mineral deposits and metals from the ocean’s seabed.

There are three types of such mining: 

• taking deposit-rich polymetallic nodules off the ocean floor,
• mining massive seafloor sulphide deposits and
• stripping cobalt crusts from rock.
• These nodules, deposits and crusts contain materials, such as nickel, rare earths, cobalt and more.
• These minerals are needed for batteries and other materials used in tapping renewable energy and also for everyday technology like cellphones and computers.

Deep sea mining regulated now

1. The high seas and the international ocean floor are governed by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas.
2. Water beyond 200 nautical miles from the coast of a country is known as high sea.
3. High seas are the areas of the ocean for which no one nation has sole responsibility for management.
4. It is considered to apply to states regardless of whether or not they have signed or ratified it.
5. Under the treaty, the seabed and its mineral resources are considered the common heritage of mankind.
6. As per the treaty, this heritage must be managed in a way that protects the interests of humanity through the sharing of economic benefits, support for marine scientific research, and protecting marine environments.

pressure on the isa to establish regulations now

1. In 2021 the Pacific Island nation of Nauru — in partnership with mining company Nauru Ocean Resources Inc — applied to the ISA to exploit minerals in a specified deep-sea area.
2. According to the United Nations treaty, this application triggered a clause that requires the ISA to finalize regulations for deep sea mining by July 2023.
3. If the regulations are not completed by then, Nauru has the right to submit an application for mining without any specific rules and regulations governing the process.
4. If the ISA fails to approve the regulations by July 9, other countries and private companies can start applying for temporary licenses to engage in deep sea mining.

 Environmental concerns

1. Conservationists worry that ecosystems will be damaged by mining, especially without any environmental protocols.
2. Damage from mining can include noise, vibration and light pollution, as well as possible leaks and spills of fuels and other chemicals used in the mining process.
3. Sediment plumesfrom some mining processes are a major concern.

• Once valuable materials are taken extracted, slurry sediment plumes are sometimes pumped back into the sea.
• That can harm filter feeding species like corals and sponges, and could smother or otherwise interfere with some creatures.

Demand for a ban, pause or moratorium on deep sea mining

1. Some companies — such as Google, Samsung, BMW and others — have backed the World Wildlife Fund’s call to pledge to avoid using minerals that have been mined from the planet’s oceans.
2. More than a dozen countries—including France, Germany and several Pacific Island nations— have officially called for a ban, pause or moratorium on deep sea mining at least until environmental safeguards are in place.

INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY (ISA) It is an autonomous international organization established in 1994 to regulate mining and related activities in the international seabed beyond national jurisdiction, an area that includes most of the world’s oceans. The ISA came into existence upon the entry into force of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which codified international law regarding territorial waters, sea lanes, and ocean resources. ISA is the organization through which states parties to UNCLOSorganize and control all mineral-resources-related activities in the Area (the seabed and ocean floor and the subsoil thereof, beyond the limits of national jurisdiction) for the benefit of humankind as a whole. In so doing, ISA has the mandate to ensure the effective protection of the marine environment from harmful effects that may arise from deep-seabed-related activities. Headquarters: Kingston, Jamaica Members: As of May 2023, ISA has 169 Members, including 168 Member States and the European Union. Functions: The ISA is responsible for granting licenses and regulating activities related to the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources in the international seabed. It ensures that these activities are carried out in a manner that protects the marine environment and promotes the equitable and efficient utilization of resources. Structure: The supreme authority of the ISA is the assembly, in which all ISA members are represented. The assembly sets general policies, establishes budgets, and elects a 36-member council, which serves as the ISA’s executive authority. The council approves contracts with private corporationsand government entities for exploration and mining in specified areas of the international seabed. The council oversees implementation of the seabed provisions of the UNCLOS and establishes provisional rules and procedures (subject to approval by the assembly) by which the ISA exercises its regulatory authority. The secretary-general of the ISA is nominated by the council and is elected by the assembly to a four-year term.

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) UNCLOS, also called the Law of the Sea Convention or the Law of the Sea Treaty, is an international agreement that establishes a legal framework for all marine and maritime activities. It lays down a comprehensive regime of law and order in the world’s oceans and seas, establishing rules governing all uses of the oceans and their resources. UNCLOS became effective on 16th November 1982. UNCLOS covers a wide range of issues, including: The definition of maritime zones, such as the territorial sea, the contiguous zone, the exclusive economic zone, and the continental shelf. The rights and responsibilities of coastal states and flag states. The conservation and management of marine resources. The protection of the marine environment. The peaceful settlement of disputes.

Current account deficit narrows to 1.2% of GDP at $10.5 billion in Oct-Dec: RBI

Current account deficit is the difference between exports and imports of goods and services. It is a key indicator of the country’s external sector.

Current account deficit (CAD) is when the value of a country’s imports of goods and services is greater than its exports. CAD and fiscal deficit together make up twin deficits that can impact the stock market and investors. Fiscal Deficit is the gap between the government’s expenditure requirements and its receipts.

1. India’s current account deficit (CAD) narrowed to $10.5 billion, or 1.2 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), in the third quarter (October-December) of FY2024 from $16.8 billion, or 2 per cent of GDP, in the year-ago quarter.
2. In the second quarter of FY2024, the country CAD stood at $11.4 billion, or 1.3 per cent GDP.

significance of CAD

• CAD and the fiscal deficit together make up the twin deficits – the enemies of the stock market and investors.
• If the current account shows surplus, that indicates money is flowing into the country, boosting the foreign exchange reserves and the value of rupee against the dollar.
• While an existing deficit can imply that a country is spending beyond its means, having a current account deficit is not inherently disadvantageous.

1. If a country uses external debt to finance investments that have higher returns than the interest rate on the debt, the country can remain solvent while running a current account deficit.
2. If a country is unlikely to cover current debt levels with future revenue streams, however, it may become insolvent.

level of CAD in India

1. According to the RBI, the CAD was at $36.4 billion for the quarter ending September 2022 and is expected to moderate in the second half of 2022-23.
2. CAD for the first half of 2022-23 stood at 3.3% of GDP.
3. The situation has shown improvement in Q3:2022-23 as imports moderated in the wake of lower commodity prices, resulting in narrowing of the merchandise trade deficit.

factors responsible for moderating CAD

The moderation in CAD was aided by:

1. the fall in commodity prices,
2. rising workers remittances and services exports, and
3. abatement of selling pressure by foreign investors.

Recently, there has been sharp drop in imports which also led to the moderation of CAD. This sharp decline in imports was due to:

1. Non-oil imports falling, mainly due to a price impact;
2. Softening in domestic demand post the festive season;
3. Seasonal impact of the Chinese New Year holidays.

moderating CAD impact the market

1. While rising CAD raises concerns among investors as it hurts the currency and thereby the inflow of funds into the markets, a notable decline in CAD in January has improved market sentiments.
2. Experts say that CAD is very important for the currency.
3. The value of an economy hinges a lot on the value of its currency and thereby, it also supports the equity markets by keeping the fund flow intact.

The growth outlook of Indian economy

Capital inflows are expected to increase

1. There is a perception in the markets that capital flows could come under some pressure with China’s reopening.
2. However, inflows are expected to increase to the economy on the whole as India is expected to witness one of the highest growth rates among large economies.
3. At a time when the economies of many developed markets are expected to take a hit, the RBI has projected the GDP growth for the next fiscal (FY2024) at 6.4%.
4. The Union Budget has indicated a capital expenditure of Rs 10 lakh crore (over $ 120 billion).
5. Moreover, with the rise in interest rates in India after the RBI hiked the repo rate by 250 basis points to 6.50%, non-resident Indian deposits, remittances, and FPI investment in debt are expected to rise further.
6. NRI deposits had increased by $3.62 billion to $134.49 billion in the April-November period of 2022.

There is optimism among global investors about India

1. The fundamentals around growth are significant – young population, 100s of millions of people speaking English and India has more engineers than anywhere else in the world.
2. India has a government now that is oriented towards growth. As more infrastructure comes into the country, it will continue to grow at a much faster rate than the rest of the world.
3. Hence, global investors see tremendous opportunity in India.

India’s employment conditions continue to be poor: Report

Releasing the report, Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran said it is not correct to think that for every social or economic problem, there needs to be a government intervention, adding that industry needs to hire more.

India’s Unemployment Rate:India’s unemployment rate for individuals aged 15 and above has dropped to 3.1% in 2023, marking the lowest in the past three years. The unemployment rate was at 3.6% in 2022 and 4.2% in 2021.

1. Even as overall labour force participation, workforce participation and employment rates improved in India in recent years after showing long-term deterioration during 2000-2019, the employment conditions remain poor, according to the ‘India Employment Report 2024’ released by the Institute for Human Development (IHD) and International Labour Organisation (ILO) on Tuesday.
2. The report said the slow transition to non-farm employment has reversed; women largely account for the increase in self-employment and unpaid family work; youth employment is of poorer quality than employment for adults, with a higher proportion of unpaid family work among youth than adults along with stagnant or declining wages and earnings.

India Employment Report 2024

1. The India Employment Report 2024 is the third in the series of regular publications by the Institute for Human Development on labour and employment issues.
2. It is undertaken in partnership with the ILO
3. The report examines the challenge of youth employment in the context of the emerging economic, labour market, educational and skills scenarios in India and the changes witnessed over the past two decades
4. The report highlights recent trends in the Indian labour market, which indicate improvements in some outcomes along with persisting and new challenges, including those generated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key Highlights of the India Employment Report 2024

1. The report is primarily based on analysis of data from the National Sample Surveys and the Periodic Labour Force Surveys between 2000 and 2022.
2. Employment Trends & Current Scenario:
3. The female labour market participation rate, after declining significantly in the earlier years, took to a faster upward trend as of 2019, particularly in rural areas.
4. One of the most significant features of the Indian labour market is a slow and steady transition of the workforce away from agriculture and into the non-farm sectors.
5. Employment in India is predominantly self-employment and casual employment.
6. Nearly 82 per cent of the workforce engages in the informal sector, and nearly 90 per cent is informally employed.
7. While wages of casual labourers maintained a modest upward trend during 2012–22, real wages of regular workers either remained stagnant or declined.
8. The migration levels in India are not adequately captured through official surveys.
9. The rates of urbanization and migration are expected to considerably increase in the future.
10. India is expected to have a migration rate of around 40 per cent in 2030 and will have an urban population of around 607 million.

Challenges of Youth Employment:

1. A large proportion of the population is of working age, and India is expected to be in the potential demographic dividend zone for at least another decade.
2. But the country is at an inflexion point because the youth population, at 27 per cent of the total population in 2021, is expected to decline to 23 per cent by 2036.
3. Each year, around 7–8 million youths are added to the labour force whose productive utilization could lead to India reaping a demographic dividend.
4. Youth participation in the labour market has been much lower than among adults and was on a long-term (2000–19) declining trend, primarily due to greater participation in education.
5. Youth unemployment increased nearly threefold, from 5.7 per cent in 2000 to 17.5 per cent in 2019 but declined to 12.1 per cent in 2022.
6. After the lockdowns, the youth labour market indicators recovered quite quickly.
7. But this movement was accompanied by additions to the labour force and workforce, primarily in poor-quality work.

Suggestions:

The report highlights five key policy areas for further action, which apply more generally and also specifically for youth in India:

1. promoting job creation;
2. improving employment quality;
3. addressing labour market inequalities;
4. strengthening skills and active labour market policies; and
5. bridging the knowledge deficits on labour market patterns and youth employment.

Institute of Human Development (IHD)

1. The Institute for Human Development (IHD) was established in the year 1998 under the aegis of the Indian Society of Labour Economics (ISLE).
2. It aims to contribute towards building a society that fosters and values an inclusive social, economic and political system that is free from poverty and deprivations.
3. It undertakes research in the areas of labour and employment, livelihood, gender, health, education and other aspects of human development.

India’s need to curb black carbon emissions

FOCUS ON: What is black carbon and why is it harmful for the environment? Which sector in India is the biggest contributor of black carbon? How has the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana helped in reducing the use of traditional cooking fuels?

• At the COP-26- GLASGOW SUMMIT in November 2021, India pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070, positioning itself as a frontrunner in the race to carbon neutrality. According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, India had installed a renewable energy capacity of over 180 GW by 2023 and is expected to meet its target of 500 GW by 2030. While carbon dioxide mitigation strategies will yield benefits in the long term, they need to go hand-in-hand with efforts that provide short-term relief.
• Black carbon is the dark, sooty material emitted alongside other pollutants when biomass and fossil fuels are not fully combusted. It contributes to global warming and poses severe risks. Studies have found a direct link between exposure to black carbon and a higher risk of heart disease, birth complications, and premature death. Most black carbon emissions in India arise from burning biomass, such as cow dung or straw, in traditional cookstoves.

Black Carbon

1. It is the dark, sooty material emitted alongside other pollutants when biomass and fossil fuels are not fully combusted.
2. It comprises a significant portion of particulate matter or PM, which is an air pollutant.
3. It is a short-lived climate pollutant with a lifetime of only days to weeks after release in the atmosphere.
4. It is an important contributor to warming because it is very effective at absorbing light and heating its surroundings. It contributes to warming by converting incoming solar radiation to heat.
5. It also influences cloud formation and impacts regional circulation and rainfall patterns.
6. When deposited on ice and snow, black carbon and co-emitted particles reduce surface albedo (the ability to reflect sunlight) and heat the surface.
7. Impacts:

• It contributes to global warming and poses severe risks. Studies have found a direct link between exposure to black carbon and a higher risk of heart disease, birth complications, and premature death.
• It has a warming impact on climate that is 460-1,500 times stronger than CO2.

Most black carbon emissions in India arise from burning biomass, such as cow dung or straw, in traditional cookstoves.