The Alliance for Global Good – Gender Equity and Equality

Recently, India had launched the ‘Alliance for Global Good- Gender Equity and Equality’ at the annual World Economic Forum held in January, 2024

• A step towards enabling ‘equity’ and ‘equality’.

• Objectives – To drive collective actions to augment women empowerment globally

• Anchored by – CII Centre for Women Leadership

• Guided by – Minister of Women and Child Development

• Supported by – Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

• Multi-stakeholder initiative – It will have a global network of experts, think-tanks, industries and country leadership.

• World Economic Forum is one among the network partner.

• Women empowerment – An opportunity for industry across the globe to advance the entry & growth of women in workspace by

• Sharing best practices

• Making inclusion a business conversation.

• Developing solutions through increased access to health care, education opportunities and economic opportunities.

• India as a ‘Global Leader’ – India to provide shared direction to stakeholders globally for accelerating the socio-economic cause as it will have a sustained global impact.

• Mainstreaming gender equality & equity has been a key development area for India for over a decade now.
  

NATO & its Funding

Former US President Donald Trump has once again attacked NATO with respect to member nation’s lack of funding to the organisation.

• NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, was conceived to provide collective security against the erstwhile USSR.

• Launched in – 1949, with the passage of Washington Treaty.

• Headquarters – In Brussels, Belgium since 1967.

• Aim – To guarantee the freedom and security of its members through political and military means.

• Political – To solve problems, build trust and, in the long run, prevent conflict in defence & security-related issues.

•  Military – For peaceful resolution of disputes, if failed then using military power for crisis-management operations.

• Membership – 31 (most of European nations, US and Canada).

• It is open to any other European state that accepts this Treaty and accepts to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area.

• Decision making – It is by consensus.

• Collective defence – An attack on 1 member is considered an attack on all of them as per Article 5 of the treaty.

• Limitation - Article 5 failed to commit automatic military response to help an ally under attack.

• It depends on clear statements from political leaders that it will be backed up by action.

NATO’s Funding Mechanism: -

• It has some common funds, to which all members contribute.

• But it majorly depends on members’ own national defence spending to maintain forces and buy arms that can also be used by NATO.

• Funding commitment – To spend at least 2% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) every year on defence.
  

BAPS Swaminarayan Temple

Prime Minister of India to inaugurate the BAPS Swaminarayan temple in Abu Dhabi in UAE, the 1st Hindu temple in the Gulf nation.

• A traditional 108 feet high Hindu temple.

• Built by – BAPS.

• Style – Nagara style.

• Construction material – Its external facade uses pink sandstone from Rajasthan, while the interior uses Italian marbles.

• 2 central domes – Dome of Harmony and Dome of Peace, emphasising human coexistence.

• A Wall of Harmony – 3D-printed wall, features a video showcasing key milestones of the temple’s construction.

• 7 shikhars (spires) – It represents of the 7 Emirates of the UAE.

• It also includes an assembly hall, a community centre, exhibitions, classrooms, and a majlis venue.

• Inter-faith harmony – It is open to everyone.

• A Muslim king donated land and it has participation of personalities from Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, Parsi and from Jainism.

• Temple’s front panel depicts universal values, stories of harmony from different cultures, Hindu spiritual leaders and avatars.

EDITORIAL of the Day Challenges with India’s service-driven growth – Why India needs deep industrialization

News: The article discusses India’s struggle with industrial growth and high unemployment. It critiques the focus on high-skill, service-based growth, arguing it increases inequality and neglects mass education, which is essential for successful industrialization and overall economic development.

What are The Factors Affecting India’s Industrial Growth?

Stagnant Manufacturing Sector: Manufacturing has consistently been below 20% in output and employment for 75 years.

Ineffective 1991 Reforms: These reforms, aimed at labor-intensive industrialization, failed to significantly boost the manufacturing sector.

High Unemployment: Persistent unemployment issues, including chronic disguised unemployment, reflect industrial challenges.

Widening Trade Deficit: Driven by an increase in imported goods, indicating a lack of domestic manufacturing capacity.

Shift to Service-Based Growth: Since the late 1980s, the focus has been on high-skill, service-driven growth, which hasn’t absorbed labor from agriculture effectively.

Neglect of Mass Education: Emphasis on higher education at the expense of mass schooling has led to a workforce not adequately equipped for industrial jobs.

Cultural Impact on Industrial Growth: Cultural factors, such as the undervaluing of certain vocational skills (like electrical and welding work), have hindered the development of the manufacturing sector.

Why is Deep Industrialisation Important for India?

Broad-based Employment: Deep industrialization offers more employment opportunities, absorbing labor from sectors like agriculture, unlike the limited absorption capacity of service-driven growth.

Economic Stability: A strong industrial base can lead to more stable economic growth and reduce dependence on imports, addressing India’s widening trade deficit.

Skill Development: Industrial growth encourages the development of a wide range of skills, benefiting from a focus on both vocational and higher education.

Innovation and Efficiency: Deep industrialization fosters innovation, leading to increased efficiency and competitiveness in the global market.

What are The Challenges with India’s Service-Driven Growth?

Limited Employment Absorption: Service-driven growth since the late 1980s couldn’t adequately absorb labor exiting agriculture, unlike manufacturing.

Requirement for High Skills: The service sector demands a highly skilled workforce, which India struggles to supply due to educational inequalities.

Increased Inequality: Service sector growth leads to higher inequality. The Gini index for regular wages in services is 44, compared to 35 in manufacturing.

Neglect of Mass Education: A focus on higher education over mass schooling contributed to a workforce ill-equipped for service sector jobs.

Elite Dominance: Higher education institutions fostered elites who advanced in the IT sector but contributed to stagnation in broader industrial areas.

Limited Rural Entrepreneurship: Compared to countries like China, India’s poor human capital endowment in rural areas hampers entrepreneurship, crucial for service sector growth.

IIT Madras Zanzibar

1. It is the first overseas campus of an IIT.

2. It is located on Zanzibar Island in Tanzania (an East African nation).

Note– The K. Radhakrishnan Committee has proposed establishing IIT campuses abroad.

Bor Tiger Reserve

Why in the news?

The Bor Tiger Reserve (BTR)  has recently sought Rs 1 crore for various works to start wildlife safaris in the Bangdapur and Hingni forest ranges.

Revised guidelines for Community radio stations

1. Increase in the number of stations for an entity– The updated guidelines now permit one institution to establish up to six stations across various operational districts. Previously it was restricted to one station.

2. Increase in advertising time and advertisement rates– The advertising time for community radio stations has been raised from 7 minutes per hour to 12 minutes per hour. Also, the advertisement rate has been increased from Rs 52 to Rs 74 per 10 seconds.

3. Fixing the validity of Letter of Intent (LOI) – The policy now sets the validity of the letter of intent issued to an organization to one year, with an additional three-month buffer for unforeseen circumstances.

4. Establishment of Advisory and content committee– The guidelines require the licensee to establish an advisory and content committee with members from the local community. It must also be ensured that 50 percent of the committee consists of women.

What are community radio stations and their significance in India?

1. About– Community radio stations (CRSs) are low-power radio stations with a coverage area of approximately 10-15 km radius, depending on the area’s geography. They are intended to be established and managed by local communities.

2. History in India– India’s first community radio station (CRS) opened at Anna University’s campus in 2004. Presently, there are 481 CRSs across India, with over 133 becoming operational in the last two years.

‘Specific duration’ clause in India-EFTA pact

What does the draft say?

1. Specific duration– It states that within six months of the agreement being signed, signatories should include a “specific duration” during which drug applicants cannot use “undisclosed test data” to obtain market approval for at least six years. Note– The “signatories” are countries, and the “applicants” are pharmaceutical companies. The “undisclosed test data” refers to information about the drug’s effectiveness and its effects on people.

2. Extension of Drug Coverage: a. This specific duration rule should cover not just new chemical drugs but also a group known as biologics drugs, such as monoclonal antibodies and vaccine formulas. b. These involve complicated combinations of organic and inorganic substances and are difficult to replicate.

What are the implications of this clause on India?

Make essential drugs unaffordable: a. It will promote monopolization for foreign pharmaceutical companies as Patented drugs give the first inventor exclusive marketing rights for 20 years. It will make essential drugs more expensive in many countries, including India. b. It would be a setback for the Indian generic industry, which is the third largest in the world and has resisted attempts by foreign pharmaceutical companies to extend patent monopolies.

Note- However, Indian law permits drug makers to produce and sell generic versions through compulsory licensing after just three years of patent issuance in India.

Thanks for reading 14 February 2024 Daily Current Affairs

14 February 2024 Daily Current Affairs