- Indian Heritage
- Culture
- Modern Indian history
- The Freedom Struggle
- Post-independence
- Indian Society
A. population and associated issues
B. poverty and developmental issues
C.urbanization
7. Geographical features
8.Indian Constitution
9. Polity
10. Governance
A. institutions
B. regulatory
C. Government policies
D. role of NGOs
E. measures
11. Social Justice
A. Welfare schemes
B Health
C. Education
D. Human Resources
On unemployment in Indian States
A Recent report released by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Institute for Human Development (IHD) revealed that two out of every three unemployed individuals was a young graduate, highlighting the need for urgent policy intervention. Little is understood about the causes of unemployment in India, a knowledge gap that requires urgent redressal.
This analysis looks at unemployment in the major States of India — excluding the Union Territories —among individuals aged 15 and above as measured by the Usual Principal and Subsidiary Status (UPSS), utilising data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) of 202223. (Manipur is not included here since field work was not completed owing to the conflict). Since the coverage of smaller States in the overall sample is less compared to larger States, these estimates should not be taken as definitive measurements but as indicators of the important factors driving unemployment.
An analysis of unemployment
Figure 1 outlines the unemployment rates across Indian States in 202223 from the highest to the lowest. At almost 10%,
Goa’s unemployment rate —more than three times the national average (3.17%) — is the highest. Interestingly, 4 of the top 5 States — Goa, Kerala, Haryana and Punjab — are comparatively richer states. The rich States of western India —
Maharashtra and Gujarat — experience unemployment rates far less than the national average. All northern States — Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh — have unemployment rates higher than the national average, as do all southern States with the exception of Karnataka.
Out of the 27 States considered, 12 States have unemployment rates less than the national average. Low rates in larger States — 3% in Maharashtra, 2.4% in Uttar Pradesh and 1.6% in Madhya Pradesh — bring down the national average. But this presents a conundrum: barring Maharashtra and Gujarat, much of the States with unemployment rates lower than the national average also have per capita incomes lesser than the national average.
The determinants of unemployment
Figure 2 depicts the relationship between unemployment rates and the share of the labour force in self employment. The trend line drawn through the data is downward sloping, indicating that there exists a negative relationship between the two; in States where a large proportion of the labour force is engaged in self employment, the unemployment rate is low. Since a bulk of the self employment in India is of the informal variety, States with a large proportion of informal work would find it easy to absorb a large number of jobseekers. Yet it is unclear whether this relationship is cause or effect. Does a lack of self employment opportunities result in high unemployment? Or is it that in States with high unemployment, individuals do not wish to engage in self employment?
A large proportion of informal self employment is accounted for by agriculture and the rural economy. A useful proxy, therefore, is to examine the size of the labour force engaged in the urban sector. Figure 3 outlines the relationship between the urban share of the labour force and the unemployment rate. There is a clear positive relation, indicating an increase in unemployment rates in highly urbanised States. This explains the high degree of unemployment in States like Goa and Kerala — both highly urbanised — and low unemployment in States like U.P., Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh. Urbanised States have smaller agrarian and agrarian dependent sectors and hence have a relatively smaller source of informal jobs available. While informal sectors do exist — and thrive — in urban settings, the scope for the absorption of jobseekers is limited as compared to rural agriculture, which often acts as a ‘reserve’ absorbing surplus labour.
On education and em
E. poverty and hunger
12. International relations
A. India and its neighbourhood
B. groupings and agreements
India concerned over sanctions on diamond
Faced with mounting losses and consignment delays due to new European UnionG7 sanctions, Indian diamond exporters are calling for a separate screening process to be set up in India, so that the newly mandated procedures for exports to Western countries can be processed smoothly.
The issue, which could prove as protracted as discussions over sanctions on Russian oil have been, was raised with a delegation from Belgium, one of the main sources of India’s diamond imports, during the visit of the Belgian Foreign Secretary Theodora Gentzis (April 910), who met with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday, held talks at the Joint Economic Council with Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal, and held the second IndiaBelgian Foreign Office Consultations (FoC) cochaired by the MEA Secretary (West) Pavan Kapoor in Delhi on Wednesday.
“The G7 diamond file was discussed with our Indian interlocutors. Our cooperation around diamonds is an important theme in our economic relations, about which we continue to discuss regularly,” the Belgium Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said in response to queries from The Hindu.
While the official readout of the meeting released by the MEA on Wednesday did not specifically mention the problems being faced over diamond processing, where India holds 95% of the market, sources told The Hindu “Indian exporters’ concerns were raised during the visit”.
“The discussions encompassed key areas of bilateral cooperation including trade and economic cooperation, semiconductors, cyber and digital, Science and Tech, UNSC reforms and multilateral cooperation and institutional dialogue mechanisms,” the MEA said, adding that the dialogue had “extended to global and regional affairs” including an exchange on “key global challenges”.
7th round of the India-Peru Trade Agreement Negotiations concludes in New Delhi
The seventh round of negotiations for the India-Peru Trade Agreement took place in New Delhi, India from April 8 to April 11, 2024. The discussions involved understanding priorities and concerns of each other and ensuring that the negotiations are rooted in mutual respect and benefit.
At the start of the seventh-round negotiations, Mr. Sunil Barthwal, Commerce Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, said that the history of India-Peru diplomatic relations dates back to the 1960s. He referred to the visit of H.E. Ms. Teresa Stella Mera Gomez, Vice Minister of Foreign Trade, Peru to India and the bilateral discussions held during the sidelines of the 9th CII India-LAC Conclave in August, 2023, which played a key role in resuming of the negotiations.
Mr. Barthwal stated that the basic principle of negotiations should be understanding strengths and respecting sensitivities of each other. The modalities of negotiation may emerge from appropriate stakeholder consultations, feedback from the industry and the negotiating teams should engage in gainful and explorative approach.
Mr. Rajesh Agrawal, Chief Negotiator & Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, said that holding two rounds of negotiation within two months is itself a testimony to the willingness between both the countries to have a deeper economic cooperation. He emphasized the need for effective and fast track negotiations.
Ambassador of Peru in India HE Mr. Javier Manuel Paulinich Velarde mentioned that the recent negotiations have laid down the ground work for a substantial foundation and exhibited confidence on the outcomes of negotiations towards fostering partnership.
Additional Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Republic of India, Mr. G. V. Srinivas appreciated the idea of lessening the negotiation period.
Peruvian Chief Negotiator, Mr. Gerardo Antonio Meza Grillo, Director for Asia, Oceania and Africa, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Republic of Peru mentioned that resuming of negotiations after 2019 is significant and reflects commitment and interest of both the parties. He emphasized that the negotiating teams may show flexibility and pragmatism to reach mutual solutions.
In this round of negotiations, discussions encompassed across the chapters which included Trade in Goods, Trade in Services, Movement of Natural Persons, Rules of Origin, Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, Technical Barriers to Trade, Custom Procedures and Trade Facilitation, Initial Provisions and General Definitions, Legal and Institutional Provisions, Final Provisions, Trade Remedies, General and Security Exceptions, Dispute Settlement and Cooperation.
Around sixty delegates together from both sides participated in the negotiations. The Peruvian delegation comprised of representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru. The Indian delegates comprised the officials from the Department of Commerce, Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Department of Revenue, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade and the legal and economic resource persons. Substantial convergence in the text of the agreement was achieved during the round and detailed discussions were held on the aspirations and sensitivities between both parties.
Peru has emerged as the third-largest trading partner of India in Latin American & Caribbean Region. In the last two decades, the trade between India and Peru has increased from US$ 66 million in 2003 to around US$ 3.68 billion in 2023.The trade agreement under negotiations shall play a pivotal role in future collaboration in various sectors, creating avenues for mutual benefit and advancement.
C.Indian diaspora
13. Economic Development
A. Government Budgeting
B. industrial
E.issues
14. Technology
Hottest March in history was in 2024: EU climate body
The world experienced the warmest March ever due to a combined effect of El Niño and humancaused climate change, making it the 10th consecutive month since June last year to set a new temperature record, the European Union’s climate agency said on April 9.
The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) said the average temperature of 14.14 degrees C in March was 1.68 degrees C higher than the month’s average for 1850–1900, the designated preindustrial reference period. It is 0.10 degrees C above the previous high of March 2016.
C3S said the global average temperature breached the 1.5 degrees C threshold for an entire year for the first time in January.
A permanent breach of the 1.5 degrees C limit specified in the Paris Agreement, however, refers to longterm warming over many years. According to climate scientists, countries need to limit the global average temperature rise to 1.5
The rise in global average temperature is attributed to the rapidly increasing concentration of greenhouse gases, primarily carbon dioxide and methane, in the atmosphere
degrees C above the preindustrial period.
The earth’s global surface temperature has already increased by around 1.15 degrees C compared to the average in 1850–1900, a level that hasn’t been witnessed since 1.25 lakh years ago, before the most recent ice age.
The rise in global average temperature is attributed to the rapidly increasing concentration of greenhouse gases, primarily carbon dioxide and methane, in the atmosphere.
“March 2024 continues the sequence of climate records toppling in both air temperature and ocean surface temperatures, with the 10th consecutive record breaking month.
“The global average temperature is the highest recorded, with the past 12 months being 1.58 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. Stopping further warming requires rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions,” said
Samantha Burgess, deputy director of C3S.
Globally, 2023 was the warmest year in the 174year observational record, with the global average near surface temperature at 1.45 degrees C above the preindustrial baseline.
The warming may set a new record in 2024 as scientists say El Niño — periodic warming of the ocean surface in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean — typically has the greatest impact on global climate in the second year of its development.
The continuing, albeit weaker, El Niño and predicted above normal sea surface temperatures over much of the global oceans are expected to lead to above normal temperatures over almost all land areas until May, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said in a March update.
The India Meteorological Department has also warned of extreme heat during the April June period when around a billion people are expected to exercise their franchise during the sevenphase general elections, heightening concerns about vulnerability to heat waves.
15. Environment
16. Security
17. Disaster Management
PM reviews preparedness for heat wave related situation
Prime Minister was briefed about the temperature outlook for the period from April to June, 2024 including the forecasts for the upcoming hot weather season (April to June), the likelihood of above normal maximum temperatures over most parts of the country, especially with high probability over Central India and western peninsular India.
Preparedness in the health sector was reviewed in terms of essential medicines, intravenous fluids, ice packs, ORS and drinking water.
The timely dissemination of essential IEC / awareness material especially in regional languages through all platforms such as television, radio and social media was stressed upon. Since a hotter than normal summer is expected in 2024, which coincides with the General Elections, it was felt that the Advisories issued by MoHFW and NDMA be translated into regional languages and disseminated widely.
Prime Minister stressed upon the whole of Government approach. He said that all arms of the government at Central, State and District levels and various Ministries need to work on this in synergy. Prime Minister also stressed upon awareness creation along with adequate preparation in hospitals. He also highlighted the need for quick detection and putting out forest fires.
The Principal Secretary to PM, Home Secretary, officials from Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), and the National Disaster Management Authority participated in the meeting.