The COVID-19 pandemic led to the closure of schools across India in March 2020, which significantly disrupted education, particularly in rural areas. According to the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) from October 2021, these closures had a profound impact on students' learning and access to education.
Increase in Smartphone Ownership: One notable change during this period was the significant rise in smartphone ownership among children enrolled in government and private schools in rural India. The ownership jumped from 36.3% in 2018 to 61.8% in 2021. This increase presents a potential positive outcome if effectively utilized:
Government Initiatives to Enhance Accessibility: To capitalize on the increase in smartphone ownership and mitigate the impact of the pandemic on education, the Government has implemented several initiatives as highlighted in the Economic Survey 2021-22:
DIKSHA (Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing) is a national platform for school education available for teachers and learners across India. DIKSHA serves as an educational hub that provides teachers, students, and parents with engaging learning material relevant to the prescribed school curriculum.
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2. Vidya Daan Portal on DIKSHA for National Content Contribution
Vidya Daan is an initiative that leverages the DIKSHA platform to crowdsource educational content from teachers and educators nationwide. The portal allows educators to contribute digital resources that can be accessed by students across the country.
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Swayam Prabha is a group of 34 DTH channels devoted to telecasting educational programs on a 24/7 basis. Each channel is dedicated to a specific class or subject, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the school curriculum.
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Gyan Vani and community radio stations have been extensively used to reach students in remote and rural areas where internet connectivity is limited.
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The Government has launched dedicated DTH channels to cater specifically to differently-abled students, ensuring inclusive education for all.
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SWAYAM
NROER (National Repository of Open Educational Resources)
PRAGYAT
MANODARPAN
NDEAR (National Digital Education Architecture) (July 2021)
Vidyanjali (September 2021)
The National Education Policy 2020, announced by the Government in July, marks a significant overhaul of India's education system. Here are its major highlights:
The National Education Policy 2020 aims to transform India's education system by focusing on inclusivity, flexibility, quality, and multidisciplinary learning. It has been formulated through extensive consultations and deliberations, aiming to equip the country with the necessary skills and knowledge for the future.
Generating sufficient wage and self-employment opportunities is a prime goal of the Government for inclusive growth.
Concerns over "jobless growth" have led to increased debate, attributed to a lack of quality data on employment and unemployment.
The Government launched the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) in 2017-18 to address the challenges of gathering reliable employment data.
The Economic Survey 2022-23 indicates positive trends in the employment scenario in the country post-COVID-19.
Manufacturing Sector
The evolution of new economic activities, innovation in organizational structures, and changes in the nature of work have been influenced by technological advancements.
Digital platforms serve as enablers for various business models, providing opportunities for both job seekers and providers.
The emergence of two-sided markets facilitated by digital technology has led to the rise of commerce platforms such as Amazon, Ola, Uber, etc.
The gig economy, characterized by flexible work arrangements, has become prevalent in India, with the labor force engaging in gig work under platforms like Uber, Ola, Swiggy, and others.
Gig Economy
During the COVID-19 lockdown, there was a significant growth observed in the online retail business, and a shift towards remote work resulted in increased freelancing, outsourcing, and hiring of skilled services.
The gig economy offers flexibility in job contracts, with shorter and more specific labor contracts compared to traditional employment.
Employment types in the gig economy are typically temporary or contractual, not regular, and the nature of payment is often piece-rate, negotiable, or a combination of wage and profit/reward.
Gig workers have the flexibility to decide when and where to work, providing a unique aspect to employer-employee relationships.
Initially not considered workers or employees under labor laws in India, gig workers lacked legal protections and social security benefits.
The Code on Social Security, 2020, marked a significant change by defining gig workers as unorganized workers, thereby extending social security benefits to this class of workers.
Amended the Apprenticeship Act in December 2014 for responsiveness to industry and youth.
Launched the Shram Suvidha Portal for grievance redressal and creating a conducive environment for industrial development.
Implemented ESIC Project Panchdeep for the digitization of internal and external processes under the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) for operational efficiency which focuses on services to employers and insured persons.
Initiated EPF digitization, including a complete database of EPF subscribers.
Executed Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) under the Unorganized Workers' Social Security Act, 2008.
Developed the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT-MIS) Portal for streamlining the functioning of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and managing apprenticeship schemes.
Launched the National Career Services (NCS) Portal to provide a nationwide online platform for job seekers and employers, facilitating dynamic and efficient job matching.
Passed the Payment of Bonus (Amendment) Act, 2015, in December.
Implemented recent labor code reforms in 2019 and 2020, amalgamating, rationalizing, and simplifying 29 existing central labor codes into four labor codes:
Introduction of Universal Health Care in 2002 through the draft approach paper for the 12th Plan but it initial funding challenges and postponement due to various factors.
Government's commitment to providing accessible, affordable, and equitable quality health care.
National Health Policy 2017 aims for universal healthcare with 15% of GDP as the target funding.
Public sector health services delivered through a network of facilities, including ASHAs, health sub-centers, primary health centers, community health centers, district hospitals, and government medical college hospitals.
Health services focused on four critical areas: preventive healthcare, affordable healthcare, building medical infrastructure, and mission mode interventions.
Burden of Diseases Report (2017) reveals significant health status improvement in individuals from 1990 to 2016.
Shift in disease burden from communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional diseases (CMNNDs) to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and injuries. In 2016, NCDs contributed 55%, injuries 12%, and CMNNDs reduced to 33% of total disease burden.
Malnutrition
Malnutrition remains a significant risk factor (14.6%) despite a substantial decrease since 1990.
High levels of air pollution (9.8%) contribute to disease burden, impacting non-communicable and infectious diseases.
Rising burden of NCDs associated with behavioral and metabolic risk factors, including dietary risks, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar.
Unsafe water, sanitation, and handwashing (WaSH) drop from the second leading risk factor in 1990 to the seventh position in 2016.
Launch of National Health Policy 2017 and Ayushman Bharat with components:
Emphasis on four key areas in health care: preventive health care, affordable health care, building medical infrastructure, and mission mode interventions.
Medical Infrastructure
Swachh Bharat Mission
"Housing for All" is the government's slogan with a cut-off year of 2022. Two schemes, Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) and Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U), are implemented to achieve this goal. According to the NSO survey on 'Drinking Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Housing Condition in India 2018':
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