Why in the News?

India has one of the lowest female labour force participation rates (LFPR) in the world which is disheartening as the International Day of Rural Women is approaching.

The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data:

1. It indicates that LFPR (women in the working age group of 15-59 years) is only 35.6% in India.
2. The LFPR of India is lower than other South Asian countries except Afghanistan and Pakistan.
3.  LFPR stands at 39.3% and 26.5%, respectively, in rural and urban areas in 2021-22.
4. The women’s LFPR has increased relative to men, from 2017 to 2021.
5. The recent increase in rural women’s LFPR is due to:
   1. Increase in self-employment
   2. Larger engagement of rural women in agriculture and allied activities (nearly 3/4^th of rural working women).
   3. More than 50% worked as unpaid family helpers (in household business without getting any payment) during 2021-22.
   4. The role of unpaid family helpers or engaging in domestic chores are played by married women. 
6. Higher gender wage gap in rural areas:
   1. Rural women working as regular and casual wage workers earn less than compared to urban women.
   2. Self-employed women received less than half of men’s earnings compared to other categories of workers in rural areas. 
7. Unpaid labour not considered within the labour force:
   1. The proportion of women involved in unpaid but essential activities not considered within the labour force has declined from 60% in 2017-18 to 46% in 2021-22. This is due to decline in women’s engagement in only domestic chores, in rural areas
   2. However, 1/3^rd of women remained engaged in unpaid domestic chores in 2021-22. 
8. Time Use Survey (2019):

1. On average, women spend over 5 hours every day in unpaid domestic services.
2. Women spend >2 hours in unpaid caregiving services in rural areas which is substantially more than men.
3. Rural women spend over 7 hours every day growing crops for the market and household use in 2019.
4. Gender disparity in ownership of landholdings in agriculture.
   1. The agriculture census (2015-16) reported that only 14.7% of the operational landholdings were owned by women, reflecting the gender disparity in landholdings.
   2. There is also a concentration of operational holdings (57%) by women in the marginal and small holding categories.
   3. Only 15% women farmers received financial support from Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) in 2023.
   4. Only 25% women farmers received financial benefit under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN).

The unpaid, unaccounted and underpaid contribution of rural women in the overall economy have to be accounted and the landless, marginal women farmers have to be included in government agricultural schemes to combat gender inequality in rural India.

SOURCE URL: Counting Rural women’s labor|The Indian Express|

Transformative reforms undertaken:

1. Consolidation in the public sector banking space
2. Emergence of private banks
3. Specialised non-banking financial companies (NBFCs)
4. Emerging fintech ecosystem have increased the diversity quotient of the financial sector and made it inclusive.
5. The legacy issues of non-performing assets (NPAs) have been left behind by banks.
6. Internal accruals have become a source of growth capital. 
7. The loan growth is expected to be healthy as the credit costs are bottoming out.
8. Transformed finance through universal coverage of banking through Jan Dhan Yojana and products like mobile banking applications, retail electronic fund transfers, UPI, Aadhaar e-KYC, Bharat Bill Payment system, scan and pay and digital pre-paid instruments.

Challenges:

1. New channels of delivering financial services have led to several concerns such as mushrooming of unregulated digital lending apps, crypto-currencies and cyber-attacks.
2. Climate change as a major challenge for banks.
   1. With the effort of “equal but differentiated responsibility” and initiatives for decarbonisation efforts has led to opening up of new business opportunities in renewables, city gas distribution, green hydrogen, etc.,
   2. Since banks are expected to become major financiers in the fight against climate change, risk management practices of banks have to account for this new risk.
3. Quality of human resources.
   1. With a dynamic and rapidly changing environment, the skill gap is widening which requires banks and financial institutions to attract, train and retain talent.
   2. The need for employees to be flexible, agile, open to new technologies and proactively pick up new skills to remain useful has become imperative. 
   3. Thus, capacity building upskilling and reskilling of human resources will be a sine qua non to face the emerging challenges.
4. Need of financial services sector to invest in research.
   1. The financial services sector has to develop out-of-box ideas for seamless service delivery and hyper-personalisation of products.
   2. In-house data science labs or sandbox environments have to be developed to test out innovative ideas.

SOURCE URL: SBI chairman writes: The banking sector is leading the journey towards an Atmanirbhar Bharat|The Indian Express|

Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and India

Why in the News?

The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh is called one of the “frozen conflicts” of the world.

• Azerbaijan launched an offensive on Sep 19 and within 24 hours, declared victory over the separatist province of Nagorno-Karabakh.
• The ethnic Armenian enclave is said to dissolve on January 1, 2024.

The Conflict over the decades:

1. Nagorno-Karabakh is a mountainous region officially recognised as part of Azerbaijan, but has 1.2 lakh population who are predominantly ethnic Armenian, having close cultural, social, and historical ties with Armenia.
2. Basically, Nagorno-Karabakh is an ethnic Armenian enclave in Azerbaijan. 
3. The Armenians are Christians, while Azeris are Muslims.
4. The conclave is connected to Armenia through the 5-km Lachin Corridor.
5. When Czarist Russia became the Soviet Union in 1921, Nagorno-Karabakh was part of the Azerbaijan SSR (Soviet Socialist Republic).
6. In 1923, USSR established the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast which is home to a 95% ethnically Armenian population, within the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic.
7. Tensions in the region began first in 1998 when Nagorno-Karabakh’s regional legislature passed a resolution declaring its intention to join Armenia, despite being geographically located within Azerbaijan.
8. When the Soviet Union was dissolved in 1991 and Armenia and Azerbaijan achieved statehood, Nagorno-Karabakh officially declared independence.
9. However, war broke out and by 1993, Armenia had captured Nagorno-Karabakh, and additionally, occupied 20% of Azerbaijan’s geographic area.
10. In 1994, Russia brokered a ceasefire known as the Bishkek Protocol which made Nagorno-Karabakh de facto independent with a self-proclaimed government in Stepanakert, but still heavily reliant on close economic, political, and military ties with Armenia.
11. In September 2020, Azerbaijan and Armenia went to war again and Azerbaijan managed to wrest control of the territory around Nagorno-Karabakh.
12. In December 2022, the Lachin Corridor was blockaded by Azerbaijan causing severe shortages of essential goods including food, fuel and water in Nagorno-Karabakh.
13. In September 2023, an agreement to reopen the Lachin Corridor was agreed to, and later Azerbaijan launched an “anti-terrorist” offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh and claimed to have regained full control over the region.

India’s position:

1. India has ties with both Armenia and Azerbaijan and has not picked sides in the conflict.
2. India believes in diplomatic negotiations as lasting resolution for the conflict and supports the efforts of OSCE Minsk Group’s continued efforts for a peaceful resolution of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
3. India-Armenia ties:
   1. Historical ties:
      1. Indian settlements in Armenia were established by two princes (Krishna and Ganesh escaping from Kannauj) in 149 BC.
      2. Emperor Akbar, who is believed to have an Armenian wife Mariam Zamani Begum, granted Armenian traders who visited India with privileges and considerable religious freedom.
   2. Armenia publicly endorses India’s position on the resolution of the Kashmir issue on a bilateral basis.
   3. It supports India’s aspiration for a permanent seat in the expanded UN Security Council.
   4. India-Armenia deal (2022) was agreed to supply Armenian armed forces with PINAKA multi-barrel rocket launchers (MBRL), anti-tank munitions, and ammunitions and warlike stores worth US $250 million.
4. Historical ties between India and Azerbaijan:
   1. the ‘Ateshgah’ fire temple in the vicinity of Baku is an 18th-century monument has wall inscriptions in Devanagari and Gurmukhi.
   2. Indian merchants travelled on the Silk Route to Europe enjoyed in Azerbaijani cities such as Baku and Ganja.
5. Azerbaijan’s proximity to Pakistan has been perceived as an irritant in the ties by India
6. India’s interest lies in the region which is central to its plans of connectivity through the south Caucasus region.

1. 1. The region shall act as a viable corridor for India’s connectivity with Russia and Europe through Central Asia and Iran.
   2. Armenia and Azerbaijan are members of the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC), which India is keen to develop.
   3. India supports Armenia’s proposal to include Iran’s Chabahar port in INSTC.

Internet Shutdowns in Manipur

Why in the News?

Recently, full internet access was restored in Manipur attributing it to the “improved” law and order in the state.

• The announcement comes after 143 days (since May 3) registering India’s second-longest internet blackout (after 552-day shutdown in Jammu and Kashmir).

The pattern of Internet ban:

Legality of Internet ban in India:

1. Section 144 of CrPC

It permits the Magistrates to direct properties i.e. cell phones, towers,etc to be used in certain ways. This has been resorted to by magistrates to prevent or cease the internet services in certain areas for certain durations, ordinarily 48-72 hours.

2. Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017
   1. Efficient authority to issue orders
      1. The Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs (Central Government)
      2. The Secretary of the Home Department to the concerned State Government
   2. The Review Committee has to meet within the next 5 working days of the issuance of order to ensure that the order conforms to provisions under Sec 5(2) of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885.

Why is the Internet banned during violence?

1. Prevent free flow of negative information
2. Prevent terror, militant or anti-national networks to have situational awareness access on a real-time basis.

Concerns of Internet ban:

1. Disproportionate infringement of the Right to speech and the Right to know.
2. It may lead to spread of misinformation which can trigger further violence.

• In Manipur, reports say that a disinformation served as a pretext for advancing sexual violence against Kuki-Zo women.

3. Unwarranted usage of complete ban on internet when Internet censorship (blocking individual websites) or partial prohibition of internet was itself sufficient.
4. Ceiling of information to the outside world.

• The Indian population is unaware of the scale of violence in Manipur because of the internet shutdowns and media censorship.

5. Against democratic norms of a free state where access to the internet is protected under Article 19 of Part III Fundamental Rights of the constitution.

• Anuradha Basin Vs Union of India- Internet shutdowns were declared a violation of the freedom of expression by the Supreme Court.

6. Internet ban being used as an indefinite solution.
   1. Internet ban is a temporary solution to curb violence, but in Manipur the ban has been extended with passage each deadline.
   2. Supreme Court in 2020 ruling on Jammu and Kashmir Internet shutdown: Indefinite internet shutdowns by the State is not permissible under Indian Constitution and it is an abuse of power.
7. It affects the essential functioning of the entire state in the present technological era - access to hospital, government, e-banking, education and other essential services.
8. Maintenance of a centralised database has been refused by the Department of Telecom and it has proposed a Telecom Bill that retains unchecked power to implement internet shutdowns. 

India- the Diabetic capital of the world

Why in the News?

A recent study conducted by the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research and the Union Health Ministry has revealed that 11.4% of India’s population or 10.13 crore people are living with diabetes.

• 15.3% of the population or an additional 13.6 crore people are pre-diabetic.
• 28.6% of the population would be considered to be obese as per the BMI measure.

Consumption of ultra-processed foods:

1. The WHO reports that consumption of unhealthy ultra-processed foods and beverages which are aggressively marketed displacing traditional diets is a major reason for the rising trend.
2. Such food includes carbonated drinks, instant cereals, chips, fruit-flavoured drinks, instant noodles, cookies, ice cream, etc.,
3. A 10% increase in the consumption of ultra-processed food per day can come with 15% higher risk of type-2 diabetes among adults. 
4. Ultra-processed food can lead people eat more, gain weight, and heightens the risk of diabetes and other chronic diseases. 
5. Intake of ultra-processed food for more than four servings increases the risk of cardiovascular mortality compared to those who took less than two servings a day.

A playground for the food industry

1. 1. 1. 1. A report reveals that the sale of sugar-sweetened beverages has fallen in the last 20 years in many high-income countries, pushing those companies to focus on low- and middle-income countries.
         2. Marketing targets vulnerable populations such as younger generations and the growing middle class making it harder for an individual to choose healthy food options.
         3. Children exposed to cartoon characters and given incentives and gifts and Celebrity endorsements have strongly influenced consumption decisions.
         4. False promises such as participation in programmes like ‘Eat Right’ and absence of any restrictions on marketing have provided wide arena for the food industry to further its profits without due regard to the mounting public health crisis.

What has to be done?

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI) recommendation of front-of-package labelling has to be implemented along with providing warning labels on junk food and beverages.
                  2. A legal framework or an ordinance (Article 123 of the Constitution) can be used to reduce/halt the consumption of ultra-processed foods and safeguard people from the manipulative strategies of the food industry. It can include,
                     1. Defining what constitutes ‘healthy food’
                     2. A warning label on unhealthy food
                     3. Restrictions on the promotion and marketing tactics of unhealthy food and beverages. 

The infant milk substitutes, feeding bottles and infant foods (regulation of production, supply and distribution) Act, 1992 helped India to curb the growth of commercial baby food. Enactment of legislations on such lines can be made applicable to unhealthy foods and beverages.

India’s Anti-terrorism Structure

Why in the News?

The Union Home Minister suggested at the Anti-Terror Conference that along with a ruthless approach, an uniform anti-terrorism structure should be established under the purview of National Investigation Agency (NIA) in all the States.

Definition of Terrorism:

The new criminal law bill (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita), 2023 has defined as follows:

A person is said to have committed a terrorist act if he commits any act in India or in any foreign country with the intention to

• threaten the unity, integrity and security of India
• to intimidate the general public or a segment thereof,
• to disturb public order by doing an act, using
  • bombs, dynamite or any other explosive substance
  • inflammable material or firearms or other lethal weapons or
  • poison or noxious gases or other chemicals or any other substance (whether biological or otherwise) hazardous in nature in such a manner so as to create an atmosphere or spread a message of fear,
  • to cause death or serious bodily harm to any person, or endangers a person’s life.

India as a victim of terrorism: Recent attacks

1. J&K Anantnag encounter: led to killing of two army officers and a deputy superintendent of police.
2. 2023 Poonch -Rajouri attack
3. In 2021, 153 terrorist attacks were reported in India's Jammu and Kashmir which led to 274 deaths which included 45 security personnel, 36 civilians, and 193 terrorists.

The model of anti-terrorism structure:

1. Uniformity at the levels of hierarchy, structure, and standard operating procedure of investigation should be deployed in all anti-terrorism agencies in all States.
2. Such uniformity shall facilitate better coordination between Central and State agencies. 
3. The anti-terrorism structure should be established under the purview of NIA.

Need for a uniform approach:

0. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Evolving forms of terrorism with rapid improvement of technology
1. For instance, the transformation of terrorism from "Dynamite to Metaverse" and "AK-47 to Virtual Assets"
2. Increased use of Dark net.
   1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 2. Looming challenges:
                     1. Illegal trade of narcotics, and the challenge of narco-terror, which is a new dimension to terror financing.

India's strategy against the financing of terrorism is based on these 6 pillars:

1. Strengthening the Legislative and Technological Framework
2. Creation of a Comprehensive Monitoring Framework
3. Actionable intelligence sharing mechanism and strengthening of the investigation and police operations
4. Provision for confiscation of property
5. Prevent misuse of legal entities and new technologies, and,
6. Establishing international cooperation and coordination
7. Other steps include, amendment of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and strengthening the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Other strategies include:

1. 1. 1. 1. Sharing intelligence by expanding the number of State-level Multi-Agency Centres among State and federal agencies.  
         2. Capacity building for effective border control
            • India implemented UNSCR 2396 by using watch lists, implementing biographic and biometric screening at ports of entry, and prioritizing information sharing. 
            • Dual-screen X-raying for cargo screening at airport locations. 
         3. Preventing misuse of modern technologies
         4. Monitoring and preventing illicit financial flows
         5. Cooperating in investigative and judicial processes.
         6. Stringent law enforcement actions.
            • For instance, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Special Court sentenced 3 LeT terrorists to 10 years imprisonment for weapons smuggling, 8JeM Bangladesh terrorists were convicted for attacks with explosives in Bodh Gaya in 2012.

Elder Mental healthcare

Why in the News?

The World Elders Day (1st) and Mental Health Day (10th) has been observed in the month of October, which is significant given the increasingly greying population of India.

Increasing old-age population:

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. In the history of humanity, there are more older people on the globe now than ever before. 
                  2. In 2022, the no. of people >60 years was 1.1 billion, comprising 13.9 % of the population, which is expected to increase to 2.1 billion, constituting 22% by 2050.
                  3. A similar trend can be observed in India with 149 million older adults (10.5%) in 2022, which is expected to grow to 347 million (20.8%) by 2050.

Significant social challenges faced by elders:

1. 1. 1. 1. Increased dependency
         2. Social isolation
         3. Poverty
         4. Ageism
         5. Pessimism and nihilism 
         6. Vulnerable to emotional, physical, sexual, and financial abuse by others.
         7. Many towns and cities in India are not “elder-friendly” such as public buildings are inaccessible without ramps or handrails, pavements are non-existent, uneven, or used for parking, and public transport is limited.

Psychological challenges:

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Feel lost and becoming unproductive after retirement leads to depression.
                  2. Indulging in other interests in life, be it music, sports, social work, domestic responsibilities etc. from a young age can helps mitigate such situations.

Mental health problems of Elders:

• 1. 1. 1. Roughly 15% of elders (22 million in India) have serious mental illness. 
        2. The common mental health problems faced by elders are depression, anxiety, dementia, and substance use disorders.
        3. The “treatment gap“due to elders with mental illness not seeking treatment stands at a staggering 90% in India. 
        4. Pessimistic attitude among many healthcare professionals about treatment of mental health problems in elders due to low understanding of treatment with cure.
• For instance, there is no cure for a neurodegenerative condition such as dementia, but there are treatments that can reduce their suffering, improve their quality of life, and reduce the burden on families.
  1. 1. 5. Double whammy of stigma: due to ageing and mental illness. Such stigma makes it difficult for families to admit the elder people’s mental illness and also creates reluctance to take them for treatment.
        6. The breakage of joint family system that had the advantages of multi-generational interactions and bonds which were crucial to the well-being of elders, can be one factor for increased mental health problems of elders.

Way forward:

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Creation of a network in the rural community to improve elders’ mental health by pooling in volunteers to create awareness about mental health problems elders face, seek help from service providers such as District Mental Health Programme. 
                  2. Provide better access to mental health services for elders by the co-ordinated actions of the individual, families, civic society, private organisations, non-governmental organisations, and government to achieve healthy ageing.
                  3. At the individual level, a plan for old age with financial savings and lifestyle changes to maintain good physical health and a satisfying social life has to be sorted.
                  4. Healthy ageing, as a concept, should be introduced in the school curriculum.
                  5. City and town planning should consider elder-friendly designs to improve mobility and reduce dependency. 

Sammakka Saralamma Jatara

1. The Union cabinet approved the Sarakka Central Tribal University in Telangana to be set up at a cost of Rs 889 crore.
2. The Mulugu district of Telangana holds the Sammakka Saralamma Jatara, a biennial festival.
3. The jatara is considered among the largest gatherings of tribal people in the world and also attracts the largest number of devotees in the country. 
4. It is often referred to as the Kumbh Mela of the tribals.
5. The festival is celebrated to commemorate the battle of the 13th-century mother-daughter duo (Sammakka & Saralamma) against the local rulers in protest against the imposition of taxes on the Koya people. 
6. It was was declared a state festival in 1996.
7. A Tribal Circuit under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme connecting Mulugu-Laknavaram-Medavaram-Tadvai-Damaravi-Mallur-Bogatha Waterfalls have been devised where the temple of Sammakka-Sarakka is located.

Bekal Fort

1. Bekal Fort is a medieval fort built by Shivappa Nayaka of Keladi in 1650 AD, at Bekal. 
2. It is the largest fort in Kerala.
3. The fort appears to emerge from the sea and about three-quarters of its exterior lies in contact with water.
4. The fort does not include any palaces or mansions as it was not an administrative centre.
5. The fort has a zigzag entrance and trenches surrounding it, revealing its defensive strategy. 
6. It served as an important military station for Tipu Sultan when he led a military expedition to capture Malabar. 

Green Drought

1. Green drought is when the vegetation may appear green on the top, but there is stunted growth and soil moisture stress for more than a month impacting yield drastically.
2. This phenomenon is particularly problematic because it can be challenging to detect and monitor.
3. Karnataka has urged to conduct an assessment on the ‘green drought’ prevailing in the state be made based on factors like crop growth and yield. 

Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI)

1. IRDAI cuts minimum capital requirement for foreign reinsurance branches from Rs 100 crore to Rs 50 crores with the provision to repatriate any excess assigned capital.
2. The move is intended to
   1. Increase the overall capacity of the reinsurance sector to accommodate growing demand and manage larger risks.
   2. broader goal of positioning India as a global reinsurance hub.
3. Enhance technical expertise within the industry, fostering an environment of excellence and innovation.
4. IRDAI:
   1. A statutory body formed under Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999.
   2. The body functions for overall supervision and development of the Insurance sector in India and ensuring the financial security of the Insurance market.
5. The Insurance Act, 1938 is the principal Act governing the Insurance sector in India.
6.  Entities regulated by IRDAI:
   1. 1. Life Insurance Companies - Both public and private sector Companies
      2. General Insurance Companies - Both public and private sector Companies.
      3. Re-Insurance Companies
      4. Agency Channel
      5. Intermediaries such as Corporate Agents, brokers, third-party administrators, Surveyors and loss assessors.