UPSC Daily Current Affairs: 28 July 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

GS3/Defence & Security

Panel finds cracks that help hackers target jobseekers

Source: Indian Express

Why in news?

The Centre’s high-level interministerial panel has identified loopholes in banking, immigration, and telecom sectors that enable cyber scams originating from Southeast Asian countries.

Trading scams

• The alleged fraudsters issued ads on social media offering free trading tips, often using pictures of well-known stock market experts and fake news articles.
• The victims would be asked to install some specific trading applications and start investing on the apps.
• The victims deposited money in particular bank accounts to buy shares, and were shown some fake profits in their digital wallets. But when they tried to withdraw this money, they were unable to do so.
• Between January and April this year, Indians lost Rs 222 crore to 20,043 trading scams.

Digital arrest:

• A caller would inform potential victims that they had either sent or were the intended recipients of a package containing contraband, illegal products, drugs, forged passports, etc.
• Once they had the target, the criminals would contact them over Skype or another video calling platform.
• They would pose as law enforcement officials and demand money for a compromise and closure of the case.
• The victims were digitally arrested, which meant they were forced to stay visible to the criminals until their demands had been met.
• Between January and April this year, Indians lost Rs 120 crore to 4,600 digital arrest scams.

Investment/task-based scams:

• Scammers target victims through WhatsApp, promising money for boosting social media ratings of some entities.
• They are then asked for bank details, receive a small sum, and are lured into larger investments with promised returns.
• Profits never materialize, leaving victims trapped in a fraudulent scheme, highlighting the exploitation of trust for financial gain.
• Between January and April this year, Indians lost Rs 1,420 crore to 62,587 investment scams.

Dating scams:

• The male victims were seduced by individuals they mistook for foreign women.
• These "women" would make preparations to meet in person after making marriage or relationship proposals.
• The victim would receive a call from the "woman" explaining that she had been held at the airport and needed money to be released.
• Between January and April this year, Indians lost Rs 13 crore to 1,725 romance/dating scams.

The high-level inter-ministerial panel has identified three shortcomings in the system:

• Involvement of the senior bank managers of two nationalized banks to open mule accounts;
• It was found that maximum accounts were allegedly opened with the connivance of senior bank managers/staffers in several branches of State Bank of India and Punjab National Bank;
• Around 30,000 unreturned passengers traveling on visitor visa to Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Vietnam from January 2022-May 2024;
• Misuse of bulk SIM cards.

GS3/Economy

Are Enough Formal Jobs Being Created?

Source: The Hindu

Why in  News?

The Union Budget for 2024-25 emphasized the importance of job creation, evident as it was mentioned 23 times in the budget speech by the finance minister. Prime Minister Modi has backed a series of employment-focused schemes.

Current State of Employment in India:

• India's workforce in 2022-23 totaled around 56.5 crore individuals:
• 45% were employed in agriculture,
• 11.4% in manufacturing,
• 28.9% in services, and
• 13% in construction.
• The official unemployment rate was 3.2%, but underemployment and informal work are prevalent.
• Many job seekers are involved in farming, casual labor, or unorganized retail, and a significant number of workers, especially women, remain unpaid in household enterprises.
• Urban unemployment as of March 2024 was at 6.7%, with youth unemployment at 10% in 2022-23.
• The proportion of regular salaried workers decreased from 22.8% in 2017-18 to 20.9% over the next five years.
• Several salaried employees lack contracts or social security benefits, key elements of formal employment.

Employment Schemes Announced in the Budget:

• First-time Employee Subsidy: This scheme offers a wage subsidy of up to ₹15,000 for hiring first-time employees, targeting around one crore individuals.
• Manufacturing Sector Subsidy: Providing wage subsidies for new employees in manufacturing, with incentives up to 24% of a ₹25,000 monthly wage for four years.
• New Worker Incentive: Reimbursing up to ₹3,000 of the employer's monthly EPFO contribution for recruiting new workers.
• Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) Upgrade: Improving ITI facilities to enhance skills, benefiting 20 lakh students.
• Internship Program: Offering on-the-job skilling to one crore youth through internships in top companies, with a monthly allowance of ₹5,000 for a year.

Challenges in Implementation of Such Schemes:

• Economists and small industrialists have pointed out potential hurdles in these initiatives.
• For instance, the first-time employee subsidy requires the completion of an online financial literacy course for the second installment, which may be impractical across various sectors.
• Employers are obligated to repay the subsidy if an employee departs within 12 months, dissuading small employers due to the associated financial risks.
• The manufacturing job creation scheme necessitates hiring at least 50 people or 25% of the existing workforce, posing a significant burden for small firms with minimal benefits.

Effectiveness of the Schemes:

• While these schemes aim to reduce the cost of hiring new employees, economists argue that wage costs are not the primary constraint.
• The real challenges lie in inadequate demand, low consumption, and a dearth of private investment.
• Although skilling is crucial, it is not the primary barrier to hiring.

Additional Measures Needed:

• To foster substantial employment, focus should be on the MSME sector and labor-intensive industries, especially in smaller towns.
• Raising wages in these sectors and injecting capital into MSMEs can have a ripple effect on the economy.
• Enhancing wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and launching a similar scheme for urban workers can directly boost consumption and demand.

Conclusion:

While the government's employment schemes mark a positive step, addressing fundamental issues like low demand, inadequate investment, and the necessity for formal job creation in labor-intensive sectors is vital for sustainable employment growth in India.

GS3/Economy

Pros and Cons of Natural Farming in India

Source: The Hindu

Why in news?

In her Budget proposals for 2024-25, the Union Finance Minister announced that in the next two years, one crore farmers across the country will be initiated into natural farming supported by certification and branding.

What is Natural, Organic and Zero-Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF)

• Natural farming and organic farming, both come under agroecological practices and are terms used interchangeably in India.
• Natural farming focuses on the use of bio inputs prepared from farm and local ecosystems instead of purchasing those from outside.
• Zero-Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) is one of the many methods of natural farming, popularized by agriculturist Subash Palekar.
• It involves a mixture of natural inputs like cow urine and dung, jaggery, lime, neem, etc., to improve soil health, nutrients, and reduce input costs.

Government Initiatives to Promote Natural Farming in India

• Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY): Launched in 2015, PKVY aims at supporting and promoting organic farming, leading to improved soil health.
• Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati (BPKP)/ZBNF: A sub-scheme of PKVY, promoting traditional indigenous practices, with a vision to cover 12 lakh ha in 600 major blocks of 2000 hectares in different states.
• National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF): Aimed at motivating farmers to adopt chemical-free farming and shift to natural farming willingly.

Challenges and Concerns Regarding Natural Farming

• Reduction in yields: Concerns exist regarding the sustainability and yield potential of natural farming, with instances of yield decline compared to conventional methods.
• Impact on food supply: Transitioning to natural farming on a large scale may pose challenges in meeting the food demands of a populous country like India.
• Lessons from Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka's experience with a complete organic shift resulted in challenges related to reduced yields, impacting food security and causing price escalations.

Union Budget 2024-25 Announcements wrt Natural Farming

• In the next two years, implementation will involve scientific institutions and willing gram panchayats, with the establishment of 10,000 need-based bio-input resource centers.
• The focus shifts from area coverage to the number of farmers, aiming to ensure sustained adoption of natural farming practices.

Way Forward Ensuring Gradual Adoption of Natural Farming in India

• Rigorous scientific tests should precede nationwide implementation to address concerns regarding crop yields and potential risks to national food security.
• Localized adoption before scaling up: Initial focus on growing supplementary foodstuffs before transitioning staples like wheat and rice to natural farming practices.

GS3/Economy

Budget 2024-25 and Infrastructure

Why in news?

In the 2024-25 Budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has allocated ₹11 lakh crore for capital expenditure, representing 3.4% of the GDP. To encourage states to invest in infrastructure, ₹1.5 lakh crore will be provided to them as long-term interest-free loans.

Target Sectors

• Performance on road, railways, shipping, and airports
• Attracting private investments

Target sectors of Budget 2024-25

Overall expenditure remains steady. The government's expenditure on infrastructure as a share of the total budget remains steady at 13.9%, slightly down from 14.3% in FY2024.

Transport sector

• The transport sector constitutes the largest portion of infrastructure spending, at 11.29% of the budget, though its share has decreased by 0.4 percentage points from last year.

Power sector

• The allocation for the power sector has seen a slight increase.

Roads, Transport, and Highways

• The Ministry of Roads, Transport, and Highways has been allocated ₹2.78 lakh crore for 2024-25.

Railways outlay

• The Railway outlay remains above 5%, with a record allocation of over ₹2.55 lakh crore.
• Funding for signaling and telecom work, including the KAVACH automatic train protection system, has increased compared to FY2024.

Civil aviation and shipping

• The Ministry of Civil Aviation's allocation decreased by 20% to ₹2,357 crore.
• The outlay for shipping remains unchanged at ₹2,377 crore.

Regional Connectivity Scheme

• The regional connectivity scheme is set to receive ₹502 crore.

National highways expansion

• National highways have expanded by 1.6 times from 2014 to 2024.
• Bharatmala Pariyojana has significantly contributed to this growth, increasing high-speed corridors by 12 times and 4-lane roads by 2.6 times during the same period.

Private Investment Initiatives

• To attract private investment, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has revised the model concession agreement for Build-Operate-Transfer projects, including offering construction support for timely completion.
• The industry is cautious about the profitability of the new agreements and emphasizes the need to shift focus from asset creation to asset management, maintenance, and safety as many projects near completion.

Challenges in Infrastructure

• The capital expenditure for Indian Railways has increased by 77% over the past five years, reaching ₹2.62 lakh crore in FY24, with investments in new lines, gauge conversion, and doubling.
• Despite this growth, challenges remain. As per the experts, there is a need to adjust the freight movement share, which currently favors roads.
• Improving the smooth entry and exit of freight vehicles is necessary for efficient loading and unloading operations.

Shipping and Airports Development

• Since its launch in 2015, the Sagarmala national program has initiated 839 projects valued at ₹5.8 lakh crore across five key areas, including new development projects. To date, 262 projects worth ₹1.4 lakh crore have been completed.
• Regarding airports, under the second phase of privatization in 2019, six AAI airports were privatized, with plans to privatize 25 more airports.

Infrastructure Investments

• From FY2019 to 2023, the Central Government contributed 49% of total infrastructure investments, state governments contributed 29%, and the remaining investments were expected from the private sector.
• Experts highlight that the private sector is hesitant to invest due to market risks associated with project delays, which affect returns.

Policy Recommendations

• To address policy and regulatory challenges, as mentioned by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the government should implement the recommendations of the Kelkar Committee report of 2015.

GS1/History and Culture

Tell Umm Amer Heritage site

Source: Indian Express

Why in News?

The World Heritage Committee (WHC) decided to include the Palestinian site of Tell Umm Amer in both the UNESCO World Heritage Site List and the Lost of World Heritage in Danger during its 46th session in New Delhi.

About Tell Umm Amer Heritage site:

•  It is located on the sandy shores of the Nuseirat Municipality, just 10 km south of Gaza city.
• Established in the fourth century by Hilarion the Great (291-371 CE), this is an old Christian monastery.
• Also known as the 'Monastery of Saint Hilarion', it was the first monastic community in the Holy Land.
• This monastery played a key role in introducing monastic practices to the region, paving the way for their spread.
• Situated at a vital intersection of major trade and communication paths linking Asia and Africa.

Key facts about UNESCO

• UNESCO stands for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. - It is a specialized agency of the 
• UNESCO stands for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
• It is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN).
• Established in 1946, UNESCO aims to promote global cooperation in education, science, and culture.
• The organization's headquarters are in Paris, France.
• UNESCO operates under the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
• Its main objectives include fostering peace and security through international collaboration in education, science, and culture, and advocating for sustainable development and intercultural dialogue.
• UNESCO believes these efforts are essential for creating a fair, peaceful, and inclusive world.

GS2/Polity and Governance

Notified Disaster

Source: DTE 

Why in News?

Recently, the Minister of state for Union ministry of science and technology informed Lok Sabha that 15th Finance Commission declined to include heatwaves on the notified disaster list.

About Notified Disaster: 

• In India, the Disaster Management Act of 2005 describes a disaster as a significant event caused by nature or humans, leading to loss of life, property destruction, or environmental damage.
• There are currently 12 types of disasters that are officially recognized, such as cyclones, droughts, earthquakes, fires, floods, tsunamis, hailstorms, landslides, avalanches, cloud bursts, pest attacks, and frost and cold waves.
• These disasters are included in the list eligible for assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund or State Disaster Response Fund.

What are Heat waves?

• The IMD declares a heatwave when a place's temperature goes over 40°C in the plains, 37°C in coastal areas, and 30°C in the hills. These temperature levels are what the IMD uses to announce heatwaves in India.

Key facts about National Disaster Management Authority 

• The National Disaster Management Authority in India is very important. It makes rules and plans for handling disasters.
• Its goal is to get everyone in the country to work together to reduce the harm from disasters caused by nature or people.

GS2/Polity and Governance

E-Upahaar Portal

Why in News?

Rashtrapati Bhavan will auction selected gift items, presented to the President and former Presidents on various occasions, through an online portal called E-Upahaar.

About E-Upahaar Portal:

• It is an auction portal of the President's Secretariat (office of the President of India), Rashtrapati Bhavan for auctioning of gift items presented to Hon'ble President and former Presidents of India.
• The portal was launched by the President of India, on July 25, 2024.
• It is conceptualized, designed, developed and hosted by National Informatics Centre (NIC), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
• The aim of this initiative is not only to increase citizen engagement but also to support noble causes. All proceeds from the auction will be donated to help children in need.

Key facts about the National Informatics Centre

•  Established in 1976 to offer tech solutions to Central and State Governments.
• Operates under the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
• Focuses on providing e-Government solutions and aid to various government departments.
• Through its ICT Network called NICNET, NIC is connected with all Central Government Ministries/Departments and 36 State Governments/Union Territories in India.
• Main activities include: 
  • Establishing ICT Infrastructure
  • Executing National and State Level e-Governance Projects/Products
  • Offering consultancy to Government departments
  • Engaging in Research & Development

GS2/International Relations

Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre

Source: PIB

Why in News?

Recently, India has taken over as the Chair of Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC) for 2024-25.

About Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre:

• An autonomous international organization was founded in 1986.
• It focuses on working together for disaster risk reduction and enhancing climate resilience in Asia and the Pacific.
• Vision: Creating safer communities and promoting sustainable development through reducing disaster risks.
• Geographical Focus: Asia and the Pacific region.
• Member Countries: The initial members include India, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
• Governance: ADPC is governed by the Board of Trustees, the Executive Committee, the Advisory Council, and the Regional Consultative Committee (RCC).
• The international Charter of ADPC was signed by nine founding member countries and became effective in 2018 after ratification by all members.
• Since January 2020, ADPC has been operating as an independent international organization under the oversight of the Board of Trustees.
• Headquarter: Located in Bangkok, Thailand, with operational sub-centers in the countries where ADPC functions.