UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 30 March 2024

InstaLinks : help you think beyond the issue but relevant to the issue from UPSC prelims and Mains exam point of view. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions ina your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background. This helps you study a topic holistically and add new dimensions to every current event to help you think analytically

InstaLinks : help you think beyond the issue but relevant to the issue from UPSC prelims and Mains exam point of view. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions ina your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background. This helps you study a topic holistically and add new dimensions to every current event to help you think analytically

Table of Contents:

GS Paper 2:

• Assessing India’s Social Security Programs: Progress and Challenges

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

• Recent Reports in News

• Group of Friends (GOF)

• Rice with low methane emission

• CoViNet

• White Rabbit Collaboration

• Kalam-250

• UNESCO Global Geoparks network

Mapping

• Moyar Valley (Tamil Nadu)

Assessing India’s Social Security Programs: Progress and Challenges

#### GS2/ GS3 Paper

Syllabus: Government Policies and Interventions

Source: IE

Context: The article evaluates welfare and social protection programs in India, noting progress but also highlighting shortcomings

What is Social Security?

Social security is a system implemented by societies/governments to provide individuals and households with financial assistance and support during times of need or vulnerability. It ensures access to healthcare and guarantees income security, especially in situations such as old age, unemployment, sickness, disability, maternity, or loss of a breadwinner.

Status of Social Security:

• Global: Almost 53% of the population in the world has no social protection (56% in the Asia-Pacific) (as per ILO: World Social Protection Report 2020-22)

• India: In India over 76% have no social protection (Bangladesh has a higher % of people under social protection than India)

• Spending on social protection: The world average is about 13%, while that in India is just 8.6%(eight points six) (Economic Survey 2021-22)

• India’s social security spending: Lower than 5% of GDP per capita

• Around 53% of all of the salaried workforce does not have any social security benefits in India, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2021-22

• Only about 2% of the poorest 20% of India’s workforce have access to social security benefits

Issues with the Social Security in India:

Issues | Description

Lack of adequate budgetary allocation | The National Social Security Fund and other schemes suffer from insufficient initial allocations, leading to a lack of resources to meet the needs of vulnerable populations.

Policy Issues | E.g., The Social Security Code 2020 remains unimplemented even today

Lack of Competition | Monopolies like EPFO and ESI in work-related social security payments breed issues like high costs for employers, mistreatment of employees, and incentivize informality over formality.

Poor Fund Utilization and Management | E.g., The CAG audit found that ₹1,927 crore in the National Social Security Fund remained unused, while about 94% of the cess collected for construction workers’ social security in Delhi went unspent.

Corruption and Leakage | E.g., In Haryana, the CAG found about ₹99 crore transferred to accounts of deceased beneficiaries, indicating loopholes in beneficiary identification and delivery mechanisms for social security benefits.

Inadequate Coverage and Benefits | E.g., The Centre’s contribution to old-age pension schemes has remained stagnant at ₹200 per month since 2006, falling below the daily minimum wage.

Restrictive eligibility criteria exclude many deserving beneficiaries, leaving out elderly individuals facing economic hardship

Budgetary Cuts | E.g., Reductions in budget allocations for programs like MGNREGA

Digital Divide | As of recent data, around 50% of India’s population still does not have access to the internet

Informal Labour Sector | Over 90% of India’s workforce works in the informal sector

Steps taken by India

Schemes/ Policies | Details

Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan Yojana (PM-SYM) | Voluntary and contributory pension schemes; 50% monthly contribution by beneficiary, equal matching contribution by Central Government

Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) | Coverage of Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization

Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G) | Aim to construct about 3 crore pucca houses with basic amenities by March 2024; Assistance of 1.2 Lakhs in plain areas, 1.3 Lakhs in Hilly Areas

Public Distribution System (PDS) | Provides 35 kg of rice or wheat monthly for households below the poverty line; Entitlements adjusted under ONORC for migrant workers

Atal Pension Yojana | Pension scheme offering Rs. 1000-5000 or accumulated sum after death

Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) | Rs. 2 lakh coverage for accidental death and full disability; Premium at Rs. 20 per year

Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Yojana (PMJJBY) | Rs. 2 lakh coverage on death due to any cause; Premium at Rs. 436 per year

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) | Allocation of Rs. 60,000 crores in Budget Estimate 2023-24; Recently notified new wage rates for unskilled manual workers for FY 2024-2025

Code on Social Security, 2020 | Consolidates and simplifies nine previous laws related to social security; Covers employees in both organized and unorganized sectors

Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) | Administers Employees’ Provident Fund Scheme, Employees’ Pension Scheme, Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme; Provides retirement pension, provident fund, and life and disability insurance

Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) | Self-financing social security scheme providing medical care and cash benefits; Covers employees in organized sector earning below a certain threshold

National Pension System (NPS) | Voluntary, defined contribution pension scheme for retirement savings; Open to all citizens of India, including those in the unorganized sector

National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) | Provides support to aged persons, widows, disabled persons, and bereaved families; Belonging to below-poverty-line households

Steps for Social Security in India:

• Universal Coverage: Implement universal social security to cover the entire labour force, consolidating existing schemes and ad hoc measures.

• Linking EPFO contributions to Aadhaar numbers enhances effectiveness by enabling traceability, portability, and accessibility.

• Expand EPFO Contributions: Increase contributions to the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) for formal workers, involving both employers and employees.

• Offering EPFO products to self-employed and gig workers, addressing challenges of contractual employment.

• Government Support: Provide subsidies or social assistance to vulnerable workers unable to contribute due to unemployment, underemployment, or low earnings.

• Digitization and e-Shram Platform: Invest in digital platforms for streamlined registration, verification, and delivery of social security services, extending coverage and efficiency.

• Mandatory Social Security for Employers: Enforce mandatory social security entitlements for employees by their employers to foster formalization esp. for Gig Workers.

• Pan-India Labour Force Card: Introduce a nationwide labour force card for simplified registration and expanded coverage beyond specific sectors.

• Administrative Simplification: Simplify the administrative framework of social security programs to reduce complexity and ensure better implementation.

• Raising Awareness: Conduct awareness campaigns to inform more workers about available social security benefits, leveraging organizations like the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) for outreach.

States Experience: The Madhya Pradesh Unorganised Workers Welfare Act offers a model for raising resources while strengthening existing schemes like EPF, ESI, and NSAP is vital.

International Experience:

• Brazil: Brazil’s extensive social security system, covering over 90% of the population, offers valuable lessons for India. Brazil’s General Social Security Scheme is contribution-based, providing income replacement for workers and their families in partial or full loss situations. It includes unemployment insurance funded by worker support funds and health care through the Unified Health System.

• Germany: Germany’s robust social security system, founded on social insurance principles with contributions from both workers and employers, offers pensions, healthcare, unemployment benefits, long-term care, and family allowances. India can benefit from emulating Germany’s social insurance model.

• Singapore: Singapore’s unique social security system promotes personal savings through a central provident fund for retirement, housing, healthcare, and education. India could adopt this approach to foster personal responsibility and flexibility for workers.

Conclusion:

To accelerate the formalization of social security in India, reforms are essential. Advocacy for competition, championed by former finance minister Arun Jaitley, suggests allowing employee choice in contributing to either EPFO or NPS. Migrant data collection and the proposed Social Security Fund under the Social Security Code, 2020, would further bolster efforts towards universal social security.

Insta Links:

• ILO–UNICEF joint report on social protection for children

• Programmes for Social Security Cover

Prelims Links:

What is/are the facility/facilities the beneficiaries can get from the services of Business Correspondent (Bank Saathi) in branchless areas? (UPSC 2014)

• It enables the beneficiaries to draw their subsidies and social security benefits in their villages.

• It enables the beneficiaries in rural areas to make deposits and withdrawals.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C

Both statements are correct

Recent Reports in News

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: Multiple

Reports | Description

India Gaming Report 2024 | Released by Interactive Entertainment and Innovation Council (IEIC) and WinZO

Key findings: India is the largest gaming market with 568 million users, accounting for 1 in 5 online gamers globally. The Indian gaming market is expected to reach $6 Billion by 2028. The number of Indian gaming companies surged from 25 in 2015 to over 1400 in 2023

Regulations: MeitY acts as the nodal agency for online gaming regulations and development; Draft National AVGC Policy, and National AVGC Centre of Excellence; 100% FDI allowed in the gaming sector utilizing automatic route within Electronic System and IT & BPM sectors

Food Waste Index (FWI) Report 2024 | Released by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The report co-authored with WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) was published ahead of International Day of Zero Waste (observed annually on 30 March)

Key Findings: Households across all continents wasted over 1 billion meals a day in 2022, while 783 million people were affected by hunger and a third of humanity faced food insecurity. Food Waste generates an estimated 8–10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Issues: Due to the lack of robust cold chains, hotter countries generate more food waste per capita in households; Fragmented food system.

Suggestions: Systemic action through the Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) model. Example, Courtauld Commitment 2030 (UK), Australian Food Pact etc; Establish a roadmap or delivery plan, targeting priority areas or “hotspots” of waste

The report aligns with SDG 12.3, aiming to reduce food loss and waste by 2030. This includes reducing post-harvest losses (measured by the Food Loss Index (FLI) and managed by FAO) and halving per capita global food waste (measured by the Food Waste Index (FWI) and managed by UNEP)

About WRAP: It is a climate action NGO (established in the UK in 2000) working to tackle the causes of the climate crisis and give the planet a sustainable future

World Energy Transitions Outlook Brief 2024: Tracking CoP 28 outcomes | Released by IRENA ((founded 2009; HQ: UAE): The International Renewable Energy Agency is an intergovernmental organization mandated to facilitate cooperation, advance knowledge, and promote the adoption and sustainable use of renewable energy.

Key Findings: 2023 added 473 GW (73% contributed by Solar energy) additional Renewable to the global energy mix; However, annual additions are still insufficient and must reach almost 1100 GW to meet the tripling target; Asia was the leader in renewable deployment with a growth of over 20%, driven by China.

New EV models, financial incentives and improving charging infrastructure are key drivers for this

Challenges: Rising financing costs; Supply chain issues

Recommendations to achieve tripling targets include reforming multilateral finance mechanisms, supporting infrastructure, and robust policy frameworks.

International Finance Corporation (IFC) Green and Social Bond Impact Report 2023 | About IFC: IFC (founded 1956; HQ: Washington DC, USA) is an international financial institution (part of the World Bank) that offers investment, advisory, and asset-management services to encourage private-sector development in less developed countries.

Key Findings: $2 billion raised through green bonds is expected to reduce over 3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year; Over $1 billion raised through social bonds will cater for sectors like Agribusiness, Gender finance, Education, etc.

About Green Bonds: Debt securities designated to finance environment-friendly projects like Sustainable Water and Waste Management, Green Buildings, Pollution control etc. In 2022, the Ministry of Finance approved India’s First Sovereign Green Bonds (SGBs) Framework.

India’s First Green Bond was issued by Yes Bank Ltd in 2015. In 2023, India issued the first tranche of its first SGBs worth Rs. 80 billion

About Social Bonds: Financial instruments issued by governments; and corporations to raise funds for projects to address social issues like affordable housing, healthcare etc.

In 2023, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) raised more than Rs. 1000 crore via social bonds.

Western Ghat Regions (WGR) Soil Erosion Study by IIT-Bombay | Key findings: Portions of WGR in Tamil Nadu and Gujarat registered 121% and 119% increase in soil erosion respectively. Across the whole of WGR, the increase in erosion rate was 94%. In absolute terms, Maharashtra had the highest 79 tons per hectare per year soil loss in 2020, while Kerala had the lowest loss.

Protection Measures: Gadgil committee and Dr. K. Kasturirangan committee to assess WG’s ecology; Western Ghats Natural Heritage Management Committee under Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Group of Friends (GOF)

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: DD NEWS

Context: India, leading the Group of Friends (GOF) comprising 40 member states, convened a meeting to discuss strategies for strengthening legal frameworks against crimes targeting peacekeepers.

• India launched a new database hosted on the Unite Aware platform to record crimes against peacekeepers and monitor accountability efforts.

• The meeting underscores member states’ commitment, led by India, to uphold the safety and dignity of peacekeepers worldwide.

The GOF was launched by India in 2022 to promote accountability for crimes against the Blue Helmets during its presidency of the UN Security Council.

India, Bangladesh, Egypt, France, Morocco and Nepal are co-chairs of the GOF, which comprises 40 member states.

Rice with low methane emission

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: TOI

Context: The IRRI-South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC) aims to develop rice varieties with low methane emissions and improve the productivity of nutritious rice.

• ISARC is promoting agronomic practices like Dry Seeded Rice (DSR) and Alternate Wet and Drying (AWD) to achieve these goals.

• The focus was discussed during the 7th ISARC Coordination Committee meeting, attended by officials from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: DTE

Context: The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a global network of laboratories named CoViNet, aimed at identifying and monitoring potential novel coronaviruses.

• CoViNet will not only focus on SARS-CoV-2 but also assess other coronaviruses like MERS-CoV, enhancing laboratory capabilities.

• The network will include animal health and environmental surveillance to enable timely risk assessment, informing WHO policies and protective measures.

• CoViNet aims to support the establishment of more laboratories in low- and middle-income countries to monitor MERS-CoV and other significant coronaviruses.

• CoViNet comprises 36 laboratories from 21 countries across all six WHO regions, including three from India.

Coronaviruses, being RNA viruses, are a significant concern in this context, with some causing mild illnesses like the common cold while others, such as SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2, have led to severe outbreaks and pandemics.

White Rabbit Collaboration

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: CERN

Context: CERN has introduced the White Rabbit Collaboration to promote the adoption of its White Rabbit (WR) technology, initially developed to synchronize devices in particle accelerators with sub-nanosecond precision.

• This technology has applications beyond particle physics and has been incorporated into the Precision Time Protocol (PTP) standard.

• Unlike other technologies, WR is open-source and based on standards, allowing companies and institutes to adapt it to their needs.

White Rabbit (WR) is a technology developed at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, to provide time synchronization and data transfer for the LHC accelerator chain.

WR is a deterministic Ethernet-based network that provides sub-nanosecond accuracy and picosecond precision of synchronization.

It uses the Precision Time Protocol to achieve sub-nanosecond accuracy, which allows for precise adjustment of clock phase and offset.

WR also provides the flexibility and modularity of real-time Ethernet networks.

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: TH

Context: Skyroot Aerospace successfully conducted a test firing of the Stage-2 propulsion system, named Kalam-250, of the Vikram-1 space launch vehicle.

• Stage 2 is crucial for propelling the launch vehicle from the atmospheric phase to outer space.

• The Kalam-250 utilizes high-strength carbon composite materials and a solid fuel system with an Ethylene-Propylene-Diene terpolymers (EPDM) Thermal Protection System (TPS).

• It also features a carbon ablative flex nozzle and high-precision electro-mechanical actuators for thrust vector control.

Moyar Valley (Tamil Nadu)

#### Mapping

Source: TNIE

Context: Recent surveys show an increase in vulture numbers, highlighting the Moyar Valley’s importance as a nesting site for critically endangered Gyps vultures

About Moyar Valley:

It is located in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve and is the only region with the largest nesting colony of Gyps vultures in the wild. This entire stretch is an important biome in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

About Gyps indicus (also known as the Indian vulture or White-backed vulture)

They are characterized by whitish feathers on a dark head and neck, with a pale collar. They are colonial nesters and often found in flocks. However, their population is declining rapidly. They primarily inhabit open grasslands in states like Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Classified as critically endangered by the IUCN and listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act-1972, conservation efforts include banning non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like diclofenac and Ketoprofen for veterinary use, along with the implementation of the Vulture Action Plan 2020-25.

About Vultures:

It is one of the 22 species of large carrion-eating birds that live predominantly in the tropics and subtropics. They act an important function as nature’s garbage collectors and help to keep the environment clean of waste. India is home to 9 species of Vulture namely the Oriental white-backed (Indian Vulture), Long-billed, Slender-billed, Himalayan, Red-headed, Egyptian, Bearded, Cinereous and the Eurasian Griffon.

Bearded, Long-billed, Slender-billed, and Oriental white-backed are protected in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. Rest are protected under ‘Schedule IV’.

Vulture Species | Conservation Status

White-rumped vulture (Indian Vulture) | Critically Endangered

Slender-billed vulture | Critically Endangered

Long-billed vulture | Critically Endangered

Red-headed vulture | Critically Endangered

Egyptian vulture | Endangered

Himalayan Griffon | Near Threatened

Cinereous vulture | Near Threatened

Bearded vulture | Near Threatened

Griffon vulture | Least Concern

UNESCO Global Geoparks network

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: UNESCO

Context: UNESCO has added 18 new sites to its Global Geoparks network, bringing the total to 213 across 48 countries.

• These new geoparks are located in Belgium, the Netherlands, Brazil, China, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, and Spain.

• Each geopark showcases unique geological features and cultural heritage, contributing to sustainable development and promoting local communities

UNESCO’s Global Geoparks (UGGPs) emerged in 2015, building upon the geopark concept that originated in the mid-1990s

UGGPs are unified geographical areas recognized for their international geological significance and managed with a holistic approach encompassing protection, education, and sustainable development.

They are governed by a body with legal recognition under national legislation. Designation as a UGGP is not permanent; it is reassessed every four years.

Additionally, membership in the Global Geoparks Network (GGN) is mandatory for UGGPs, promoting collaboration and networking among geoparks worldwide.