CLIMATE EVENTS AND INDIA’S ECONOMIC OUTLOOK
TOPIC: (GS3) ECONOMY: INDIAN EXPRESS
India lately confronted excessive meals inflation and poor crop yields as a result of extended El Niño occasion (2023–24). With the emergence of La Niña-like circumstances in 2024, there are indicators of restoration in agriculture and inflation management.
El Niño Triggered Climate Disruptions
- The El Niño from 2023 to early 2024 was unusually robust and lasted longer than common.
- Sea floor temperatures close to the Pacific coast of South America rose about 2°C above regular, far exceeding the 0.5°C El Niño threshold.
- This warming modified international climate, together with India’s rainfall and temperature cycles.
Monsoon Failure and Crop Loss
- India noticed weaker monsoon, post-monsoon, and winter rains throughout this El Niño interval.
- Delayed winters and early heatwaves (March 2024) harmed each kharif and rabi crops.
- Poor rainfall and warmth stress induced low agricultural output, particularly in main meals crops.
Rising Meals Costs and Decrease Demand
- Meals inflation stayed above 8.5% from July 2023 to December 2024 — one of many longest high-inflation intervals lately.
- Households spent extra on necessities, chopping down on non-essential spending.
- FMCG sector development slowed, reflecting decreased rural and concrete consumption.
La Niña Brings Reduction
- By early 2024, Pacific Ocean temperatures started to chill, pointing in the direction of delicate La Niña circumstances.
- This led to improved rains, serving to the 2024 rabi harvest and easing meals inflation to 2.7% in March 2025 — the bottom in years.
Wheat Output Recovers
- Wheat inventory ranges had dropped to a 16-year low earlier than 2024.
- Beneficial climate and higher seeds led to a bumper wheat harvest, particularly in central India.
- This helped stabilize market provide and strengthen meals safety.
Hopeful Outlook for 2025 Monsoon
- The IMD forecast suggests a 105% above-normal monsoon for June–September 2025.
- With ENSO-neutral circumstances, secure international oil costs, and a weaker greenback, India might even see improved phrases of commerce, aiding development.
Conclusion:
India’s economic system confronted stress resulting from El Niño’s excessive climate, however enhancing local weather tendencies, robust farming responses, and supportive international elements now provide an opportunity for restoration in inflation and development.
WORK IN THE MACHINE AGE – INDIA’S YOUTH AND THE FUTURE OF EMPLOYMENT
TOPIC: (GS3) ECONOMY: INDIAN EXPRESS
India is going through a significant employment problem pushed by youth joblessness and fast-paced technological change. As AI and automation unfold, the character of labor is remodeling throughout all sectors.
Seen Job Disaster: Concentrate on Youth Unemployment
- India is presently coping with a severe employment disaster, particularly among the many youthful inhabitants.
- Over 80% of unemployed individuals are youth, most with secondary or larger schooling.
- Shockingly, one in three younger individuals is neither working nor finding out.
- India must create round 90 million new jobs by 2030, a lot of which don’t but exist.
Invisible Disaster: Altering Nature of Work
- Past job numbers, a deeper situation is rising — how expertise is reshaping work itself.
- Automation, AI, and information techniques are changing jobs in each low-skill and high-skill professions.
- Not like previous industrial shifts, this wave impacts everybody — from manufacturing facility employees to analysts and designers.
Tech Disruption: Impacting All Ranges
- Instruments like Generative AI now influence not simply handbook duties but in addition roles needing creativity and evaluation.
- This creates a scenario the place no job is absolutely secure, forcing individuals to continuously adapt and upskill.
Significance of Fundamental Tech and Information Expertise
- Know-how literacy is vital to understanding and utilizing digital instruments.
- Information literacy helps people make selections utilizing information insights.
- These expertise are the bottom of “AI literacy”, which is crucial for future careers.
- They should be taught from faculty to larger schooling throughout all topics.
Joseph Aoun’s Humanics Framework for Future Studying
- Tech Expertise – Figuring out find out how to use and work with machines.
- Information Expertise – Utilizing information to suppose critically and resolve issues.
- Human Expertise – Creativity, empathy, and moral reasoning that machines can’t replicate.
Position of Micro-Credentials in Lifelong Studying
- Micro-credentials are quick, particular programs that assist employees shortly achieve new expertise.
- Many international universities are including them to common programs — in STEM, enterprise, and humanities.
- India should shift from degree-only fashions to versatile studying pathways.
Reimagining India’s Schooling System
- India ought to construct an schooling system that promotes adaptability, innovation, and inclusion.
- Actions wanted:
- Embed tech and information expertise early in schooling.
- Practice academics to help future-ready studying.
- Help modular, skill-based credentials.
- Encourage interdisciplinary studying and important considering.
Conclusion
India’s twin employment challenges — lack of jobs and the evolving nature of labor — demand a whole rethink of schooling and skilling. By constructing tech-savvy, inventive, and lifelong learners, India can put together its youth for a future crammed with uncertainty and alternative.
TACKLE HEATWAVES WITH SHORT- AND LONG-TERM MEASURES
TOPIC: (GS3) ENVIRONMENT: THE HINDU
India noticed its first main heatwave of 2025 on March 15 — 20 days sooner than in 2024 — underlining the pressing want for robust heatwave response plans and long-term local weather adaptation. These excessive warmth circumstances pose severe dangers to human well being, financial productiveness, and expose deep social inequalities.
Well being and Environmental Affect:
- When the air temperature nears 37°C, the physique can not quiet down successfully, inflicting warmth stress.
- Warmth stress could result in kidney failure, liver injury, mind damage, and even dying.
- Instance: In Telangana (2023), a number of individuals had been hospitalised resulting from heatstroke throughout excessive temperatures above 45°C.
- Humidity and low wind velocity worsen the scenario.
Socio-Financial Challenges:
- Farmers can not work throughout excessive warmth, inflicting crop losses and low productiveness.
- Instance: Punjab and Haryana noticed decreased wheat yields in 2022 resulting from excessive warmth.
- Livestock deaths influence the agricultural economic system.
- About 75% of India’s workforce works in heat-exposed sectors like development and farming.
- In 2023, India misplaced practically 6% of labor hours resulting from warmth stress.
Inequity and Susceptible Teams:
- Poor individuals, slum dwellers, migrants, aged, and girls are extra weak.
- Girls working in kitchens or with cultural clothes norms face better warmth publicity.
- Instance: In Delhi’s city slums, households face extra warmth indoors than open air resulting from poor air flow.
Gaps in Warmth Motion Plans (HAPs):
- India’s first HAP was launched in Ahmedabad (2013).
- Over 140 cities have HAPs, however most lack correct implementation and coordination.
- Plans should embrace humidity, evening temperatures, and native warmth information.
- Instance: The UK’s Warmth Well being Alert system elements in each day and evening temperature for higher prediction.
Lengthy-Time period and Sensible Measures:
- Promote cool roofs like white paint on rooftops to replicate warmth. Instance: Telangana launched a Cool Roof Coverage in 2023.
- Develop inexperienced parks, tree planting, and higher constructing supplies.
- Present ingesting water factors, ORS sachets, and encourage staggered work hours.
- Instance: Odisha suggested development websites to work solely in early morning and late night throughout warmth alerts.
Conclusion:
With heatwaves rising yearly, India should undertake each emergency and long-term measures which might be people-centric, location-specific, and equity-focused to cut back well being dangers and financial losses.
CALLING OUT AMERICAN TRADE ILLEGALITY
TOPIC: (GS2) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: THE HINDU
The U.S. lately introduced tariffs that go in opposition to World Commerce Group (WTO) guidelines. Whereas many nations have brazenly opposed this, India has chosen to not communicate out, doubtless resulting from ongoing commerce talks with the U.S. This raises considerations about India’s dedication to a rule-based international commerce system.
International Response to U.S. Tariffs
Criticism from Main International locations:
- Singapore known as the tariffs a rejection of the Most-Favoured Nation (MFN) precept.
- Brazil and China stated the U.S. violated its WTO obligations.
- China additionally imposed counter-tariffs and initiated a WTO dispute.
- Japan and Canada challenged the U.S. legally and thru counter-measures.
Gentle Opposition:
- International locations like Fiji and Italy known as the tariffs “unfair” and a “mistake.”
Full Silence:
- Some nations, together with India, have neither criticized nor challenged the U.S. transfer.
Why India Stays Silent
Ongoing Bilateral Commerce Talks:
- India is negotiating a commerce settlement with the U.S.
- Worry of harming talks could clarify the silence, although this argument is weak.
- The U.S. continues to criticize India’s tariffs even whereas negotiating.
WTO Dispute Physique Dysfunction:
- Because the WTO’s dispute decision system is just not working correctly, some argue there’s no level in submitting a case.
- Nevertheless, nations like Canada and China nonetheless filed circumstances to focus on the illegality, even with out anticipating instant outcomes.
Want for India to Communicate Up
- Management Position for International South:
-
- India usually helps multilateralism and WTO guidelines.
- By not becoming a member of the 40-member assertion supporting WTO guidelines, India missed an opportunity to guide.
- Ethical and Strategic Responsibility:
-
- Talking up reveals dedication to honest commerce.
- Silent diplomacy weakens India’s place as a worldwide rule-based commerce advocate.
Conclusion
India should stability its nationwide pursuits with international management. Publicly supporting commerce guidelines is essential, particularly when highly effective nations violate them.
MURSHIDABAD VIOLENCE AND NCW’S RESPONSE
TOPIC: (GS2) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: THE HINDU
Communal violence broke out in Murshidabad, West Bengal, leaving a number of useless. The Nationwide Fee for Girls (NCW) reported that ladies had been probably the most affected and urged the State to revive peace and help the victims.
Background of the Violence
- Communal clashes occurred in Dhulian and Samserganj on April 11–12.
- The unrest reportedly began over the Waqf (Modification) Act and shortly become non secular violence.
- Three individuals had been killed, together with a father-son duo, and 289 arrests have been made up to now.
Girls: Worst Affected
- NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar visited the affected areas and stated girls misplaced houses, safety, and peace.
- Many ladies had been compelled to flee, together with one who gave beginning simply days earlier.
- The NCW is getting ready an in depth report on the problem.
Political and Administrative Response
- West Bengal Governor and NHRC additionally visited the affected households.
- Trinamool Congress leaders visited victims, however their late response was criticised.
- The household of the deceased rejected compensation introduced by CM Mamata Banerjee.
Nationwide Fee for Girls (NCW)
- Established: 1992 underneath the Nationwide Fee for Girls Act, 1990.
- Standing: Statutory physique, not a constitutional physique.
- Mandate: To guard and promote the rights of ladies and advise the federal government on associated coverage issues.
Conclusion
The Murshidabad violence highlights rising communal tensions and the pressing want for gender-sensitive aid efforts. The NCW’s position underscores the significance of defending girls throughout conflicts and guaranteeing accountability.
ARTICLE 142 OF THE CONSTITUTION – POWER AND CONCERNS
TOPIC: (GS2) INDIAN POLITY: THE HINDU
The Vice-President lately referred to Article 142 as a “nuclear missile in opposition to democratic forces,” following its use in a case involving the Tamil Nadu Governor, elevating debates on judicial overreach.
What’s Article 142?
- Article 142(1) empowers the Supreme Court docket to move any order essential to do “full justice” in any case earlier than it.
- That is an extraordinary energy that goes past common legal guidelines and procedures.
Function and Imaginative and prescient
- Meant to make sure honest outcomes even when legal guidelines or procedures fall quick.
- The supply was launched by the Structure’s framers, particularly Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, with the concept of creating justice extra significant.
- It permits the Court docket to fill authorized gaps, interpret legal guidelines, and even override them for the sake of justice.
Significance and Affect
- Utilized in public curiosity circumstances, human rights points, and conditions of democratic failure.
- Helps the Court docket act when the government or legislature fails to behave.
- Typically utilized in circumstances involving minority rights, equality, and environmental safety.
- Has helped the judiciary innovate by laying down tips in areas like police reforms or setting conservation.
Considerations and Criticism
- The time period “full justice” is undefined, resulting in subjective interpretations.
- Critics argue it provides the Court docket unchecked energy, presumably violating the separation of powers precept.
- There’s a worry that such extensive discretion could result in inconsistent selections and judicial overreach.
Conclusion
Article 142 stays a robust instrument for justice supply however should be used with warning. Whereas it empowers the judiciary to behave in extraordinary conditions, its use ought to all the time respect the stability between the three branches of presidency.
ENSURING A FAIR FEDERAL BALANCE
TOPIC: (GS2) INDIAN POLITY: THE HINDU
India’s federal construction, as outlined within the Structure, is being more and more challenged resulting from rising interference by the Union authorities in State issues. The Tamil Nadu authorities is taking proactive steps to guard States’ rights and revive true cooperative federalism.
Want for a Federal Evaluate
- The Dravidian motion has all the time emphasised decentralization for balanced improvement.
- Tamil Nadu has now shaped a 3-member panel to evaluate constitutional and coverage provisions on Centre-State energy sharing.
- The objective is to push again in opposition to rising central management and safeguard State autonomy.
Constitutional Framework
- India is described as a “Union of States” within the Structure’s preamble.
- Powers are divided among the many Union, State, and Concurrent Lists within the Seventh Schedule.
- Regardless of this, many State Listing topics are being more and more dealt with by the Union authorities.
Central Overreach and Points
- The Union authorities, led by the BJP, is accused of:
- Curbing State powers by enacting legal guidelines on State topics.
- Misusing the places of work of the Governor and the President to delay or block State laws.
- Examples embrace:
- Delay in granting assent to Tamil Nadu’s NEET exemption Invoice.
- Withholding ₹2,500 crore in schooling funds resulting from Tamil Nadu rejecting the Nationwide Schooling Coverage (NEP).
Battle Over Schooling Coverage
- Tamil Nadu’s State Schooling Coverage focuses on social fairness and entry.
- The NEP is seen as selling elitism and not directly imposing Hindi by way of the three-language components.
- The State has opposed these modifications, leading to funding cuts.
Delimitation Considerations
- The State warns in opposition to a future delimitation train that might scale back illustration for performing States.
- Such steps could reward underperforming States and punish profitable ones, affecting Southern States probably the most.
Tamil Nadu’s Broader Combat
- The State is rallying help from like-minded States to counter the rising centralisation.
- The objective is to protect the federal spirit and India’s linguistic and cultural range.
- Tamil Nadu believes robust States make a powerful India.
Federal
- Federal refers to a system of presidency wherein energy is divided between a central (nationwide) authorities and regional (state) governments.
- Each ranges of presidency operate independently inside their areas of jurisdiction, and their powers are often outlined by a structure.
Instance: India, the US, and Australia are examples of nations with a federal construction.
Federalism
- Federalism is the precept or ideology that helps a federal system of governance.
- It refers to a political system wherein two or extra ranges of presidency share energy and authority over the identical geographical space and inhabitants.
- The primary intention of federalism is to stability unity and variety, giving autonomy to totally different areas whereas sustaining nationwide integrity.
Key Options of Federalism:
- Twin authorities (central and state)
- Division of powers by the Structure
- Written and inflexible Structure
- Impartial judiciary to resolve disputes
Bicameral legislature (in lots of federations)
Conclusion
Tamil Nadu’s transfer to safeguard State powers is not only a regional concern however a nationwide name to uphold federal values. A balanced Centre-State relationship is crucial for true cooperative federalism and inclusive nationwide development.
COLOSSAL SQUID DISCOVERY – INSIGHTS INTO A DEEP-SEA MYSTERY
TOPIC: (GS3) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: THE HINDU
Scientists have, for the primary time, captured video footage of a juvenile colossal squid within the deep sea. This uncommon remark presents priceless details about one of many ocean’s most mysterious creatures.
Fable and Actuality: Kraken Origins
- Historical sailors feared an enormous sea monster known as the Kraken, usually depicted with large tentacles.
- The parable was doubtless impressed by actual sightings of enormous sea creatures like big and colossal squids.
- The legend was popularized in literature, like Tennyson’s 1830 poem “The Kraken”.
Why the Colossal Squid is Mysterious
- Though large in measurement, it’s hardly ever seen alive.
- Scientists primarily studied it by stays present in whale stomachs or caught by chance in fishing nets.
- These squids reside within the deep Southern Ocean, making them exhausting to look at resulting from their delicate eyes and avoidance of sunshine and noise.
Breakthrough Sighting in 2024
- In April 2024, researchers filmed a juvenile colossal squid at 2,000 toes close to the South Sandwich Islands.
- It was the first time the species was seen alive in its pure habitat, providing clues about its youth and habits.
Bodily Options and Progress
- Colossal squids develop as much as 23 toes lengthy and might weigh 500 kg.
- They’ve thicker our bodies and shorter arms in comparison with big squids, that are longer however lighter.
- Each species develop slowly, in contrast to typical squid species, and will reside as much as a decade or extra.
Significance of the Discovery
- Helps perceive how colossal squids develop, hunt, and reproduce.
- Fills gaps between the juvenile and grownup phases of this species.
- Helps marine conservation efforts, particularly with threats like deep-sea mining.
Conclusion:
This uncommon sighting is a scientific milestone that deepens our understanding of deep-sea life and highlights the necessity to defend these distinctive creatures from human threats.
The publish Every day Present Affairs 21-April-2025 first appeared on Finest UPSC Academy in Hyderabad.
