22 July 2024 : The Hindu Editorial Analysis
1. Shock-proof state: On an outage and a democratic digital infrastructure
(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 8)
| Topic: GS2 – Governance |
| Context |
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Overview of the July 19 Glitch
- On July 19, a widespread technological glitch affected supermarkets, banks, hospitals, airports, and various other services, highlighting the world’s reliance on information technologies.
- The incident involved a common software solution that experienced a malfunction, leading to simultaneous service outages across different sectors.
- The news of the problem and resulting downtime rapidly spread through the same communication networks that connect these systems.
Impact of Technological Glitches
- The outage demonstrated the critical role of failsafes and emergency protocols in technology, which are often overlooked in favour of more glamorous aspects of technological advancement.
- The extent of the impact varied by sector. For instance, while an airline operator faced significant financial losses, the effect on a cardiac facility or a computer accessing a thermal power plant during peak demand was more severe and life-threatening.
- Such glitches are often the result of trivial process or business-level failures, underscoring the need to focus on network interconnections and implement life-saving redundancies.
Challenges in Information Technology
- Information technologies have not yet fully developed a mature self-awareness of their broad social impact. The responsibility to address these issues falls largely on the state.
- The concept of a ‘Digital India’ must account for software solutions’ interplay with digital privacy and data sovereignty. It also needs to address challenges posed by income inequality and political marginalisation.
- For example, public distrust in electronic voting machines, driven by incomplete understanding of software security, could have been mitigated with open-source software and integrity testing methods that respect property rights.
Opportunities for Improvement
- The July 19 outage presents an opportunity to reevaluate and improve the software infrastructure used by public sector institutions.
- There is a need to incorporate redundancies and move away from single-vendor policies to maintain service continuity during network-level outages.
- Ensuring that digital infrastructure is robust and shock-proof is a key responsibility of the state. This involves developing a democratic digital infrastructure that integrates social, economic, and cultural realities.
Conclusion
- The glitch on July 19 highlighted the vulnerabilities in our reliance on information technologies and the need for a more resilient infrastructure.
- By addressing these vulnerabilities through improved software solutions and better redundancy planning, the state can enhance the reliability and security of essential services and protect communities from future disruptions.
| PYQ: What are the different elements of cyber security? Keeping in view the challenges in cyber security, examine the extent to which India has successfully developed a comprehensive National Cyber Security Strategy. (250 Words /15 marks)(UPSC CSE (M) GS-3 2022) |
| Practice Question: Discuss the implications of the global software glitches on the resilience of critical information technology infrastructure. How should the state address vulnerabilities and enhance digital infrastructure to mitigate such risks? (250 Words /15 marks) |
2. Focus on female employment to counter unemployment
(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 8)
| Topic: GS3 – Indian Economy – Issues relating to development and employment. |
| Context |
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Introduction
- The difficulty in getting jobs and inflation were significant issues affecting the results of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024.
- The Lokniti-CSDS pre-poll survey highlighted these concerns. (The Hindu, April 11, 2024).
- The India Employment Report (IER) 2024, published by the Institute for Human Development and the International Labour Organization, provided detailed employment statistics.
Unemployment Trends
- Unemployment rose from a little over 2% in 2000 and 2012 to 5.8% in 2019.
- It slightly decreased to 4.1% in 2022, though time-related underemployment was high at 7.5%.
- The labour force participation rate (LFPR) fell from 61.6% in 2000 to 49.8% in 2018 but recovered halfway to 55.2% in 2022.
Female Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR)
- Despite the overall gloomy picture, female LFPR showed a positive trend.
- In rural India, female LFPR increased from 24.6% in 2018 to 36.6% in 2022.
- In urban areas, female LFPR rose by around 3.5% from 20.4% in 2018.
- Male LFPR, however, showed marginal growth of 2% in rural areas and stagnation in urban areas.
Gendered Employment Preferences
- Female LFPR in India remains low compared to the world average of 53.4% (2019).
- The current increase, especially in rural India, indicates an untapped opportunity for employment generation.
- Women often engage in unpaid family labour, with 36.5% of females and only 9.3% of males employed in this capacity in 2022.
Barriers to Female Employment
- Women’s employment choices are often gendered, favouring traditional home-based activities.
- A study in Bhuj, Gujarat, found women prefer traditional activities like bandhani and embroidery due to flexibility, despite low income.
- The lack of appropriate and gainful opportunities in urban areas contributes to lower female LFPR growth.
Strategies for Female Employment Generation
- Developing strategies for female employment, especially in rural areas, is crucial.
- Self-help groups (SHGs) and federations can help women in traditional occupations gain market access and improve returns.
- Organisations like Kutch Mahila Vikas Sangathan (KMVS) work towards empowering women through SHGs.
Market Access and Women’s Empowerment
- Market access is essential for empowering women and supporting their economic activities.
- Studies show that expanding non-conventional irrigation benefits women by providing farming, pisciculture, and other opportunities near home.
- In West Bengal, women’s involvement in irrigation projects reduced migration and increased family welfare.
Enhancing Women’s Work Environment
- Participation in work outside the home should be encouraged for direct empowerment.
- A long-term strategy should focus on improving workplace safety and facilities like toilets and crèches.
- Public policy should mandate these facilities in small- and medium-manufacturing or business units.
Policy Recommendations
- To enhance female LFPR, public policies should provide better access to resources and markets in rural areas.
- In urban areas, better workplace facilities should be mandated.
- Collectivising women under planned economic activities, like the Lakhpati Didi programme, can significantly improve women’s income and employment.
Conclusion
- A focused strategy on improving female LFPR can enhance overall employment and family income.
- Empowering women through better access to resources, markets, and improved work environments is essential.
- Policies should support both rural and urban women by addressing specific needs and promoting economic activities through SHGs and federations.
| PYQ: Economic growth in the recent past has been led by increase in labour productivity. Explain this statement. Suggest the growth pattern that will lead to creation of more jobs without compromising labour productivity. (250 Words /15 marks) (UPSC CSE (M) GS-3 2022) |
| Practice Question: Discuss the implications of rising female labour force participation rates (LFPR) in rural and urban India as indicated by recent employment reports. How can this trend be leveraged to address unemployment and underemployment issues in the country? (250 Words /15 marks) |
3. Reasonable accommodations and disability rights
(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 8)
| Topic: GS2 – Social Justice |
| Context |
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Background and Legal Framework
- The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, defines reasonable accommodations (RAs) as adjustments ensuring that Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) can exercise their rights equally.
- RAs include measures such as building ramps, providing assistive technologies, and modifying workplace policies.
- Public and private institutions are exempt from providing RAs if they can prove it would cause them an undue burden.
Reluctance of Indian Institutions
- The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) provides factors to help determine undue burden objectively.
- Indian institutions are often reluctant to bear the costs of RAs, focusing on efficiency and utilitarian approaches rather than welfare-based approaches.
- Institutions may misuse the undue burden defence due to prejudices against the productivity of PwDs and the perceived high costs of RAs.
- A uniform legal standard to determine undue burden is necessary to prevent misuse and ensure compliance.
Role of the State
- The Constitution of India obligates the state to create conditions for individuals to exercise their right to equality effectively.
- The state should create ecosystems that mandate and encourage institutions to accommodate PwDs.
- Sensitising institutions about the affordability of RAs and providing targeted incentives, such as deductions, subsidies, or tax credits, can help.
- The state should share the costs of RAs with institutions that genuinely demonstrate hardship.
Implementable Model for Providing RAs
- The RPwD Act’s Section 86 highlights the creation of a National Fund for PwDs, funded by contributions from banks and financial institutions.
- Rule 42 of the RPwD Rules, 2017, mandates that the National Fund’s corpus should be used to implement the objectives of the RPwD Act.
- Despite provisions, the National Fund remains underutilised and its scope limited.
- Ensuring a continuous flow of funds and optimal utilisation is essential. This can be done by designating the National Fund as a separate line item in the annual budget.
Operationalizing the Model
- Institutions should first assess their resource deficit that precludes them from providing RAs, considering existing incentives.
- Institutions can then request compensation for the shortfall from the National Fund’s governing body.
- The National Fund’s governing body should require institutions to state their financial resources, access to external funding, and lack of alternative RAs.
- A fact-finding inquiry can assess the veracity of resource-deficit claims.
- The National Fund’s governing body should consult the Office of Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities to assess the proportionality of requested RAs before sanctioning funds.
Ensuring a Welfare Approach
- Borrowing from the Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990, standards, institutions should be required to provide detailed financial information and demonstrate genuine need.
- This approach eliminates deliberate cost avoidance and ensures proportionality analysis guided by welfare considerations.
Achieving Objectives
The Incentive and Cost-Sharing Model aims to:
- Reduce institutional reluctance to accommodate PwDs.
- Provide positive market outcomes to new and upcoming institutions.
- Ensure institutions meet a uniform legal threshold of ‘undue burden’ before avoiding RA costs.
Conclusion
- This detailed approach, involving sensitization, incentives, cost-sharing, and strict scrutiny, can significantly improve the provision of reasonable accommodations for PwDs.
- Ensuring accessibility and equality for PwDs not only fulfils legal mandates but also generates business benefits and promotes an inclusive society.
| Practice Question: Discuss the significance of the principle of reasonable accommodations (RAs) under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, and suggest measures to effectively implement RAs while addressing the undue burden on institutions. (150 Words /10 marks) |
4. The importance of both Quad and BRICS
(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 9)
| Topic: GS2 – International Relations |
| Context |
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Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Context
- The Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Japan in end-July comes after a 10-month gap amidst a paralyzed United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and international law violations in Ukraine and Gaza.
- In recent times an axis of Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran is gaining traction, while Chinese influence is growing globally, not just in the Indo-Pacific.
U.S. Realisation and Strategic Shifts
- Need for Partners: The U.S. has recognized the necessity of credible partners, not just allies, in its security architecture, especially in the Indo-Pacific.
- Engagement with India: The U.S. has reached out to “non-ally” countries like India for partnerships in smaller pluri-lateral groupings and joint security initiatives.
- ASEAN Vulnerability: ASEAN countries are increasingly vulnerable, with the South China Sea remaining a significant flashpoint.
India’s Dual Engagement: Quad and BRICS
- Membership in Pluri-lateral Groups: India is a member of many pluri-lateral groups on both sides of the geo-strategic “divide,” engaging in Quad and BRICS, presenting interesting and sometimes contrasting dilemmas.
India’s Role in Quad
- Strategic Objectives: India has enthusiastically embraced Quad and its strategic objectives, with U.S. President Joe Biden’s belief in the Quad providing significant support since 2021.
- Maritime Security: During its presidency of the UNSC in August 2021, India held a high-level virtual event on ‘Enhancing Maritime Security,’ emphasising its commitment to strengthening maritime security in the Indo-Pacific.
Broader Vision for Quad
- Beyond Geopolitical Security: While Quad focuses on countering China, India’s vision extends to a broader redrawing of the security and techno-economic architecture of the Indo-Pacific.
- Global Supply Chains: Quad is working on reorienting global supply chains of critical technologies and addressing strategic areas such as digital, telecom, health, power, and semiconductors, highlighting the inseparability of development and security.
- India has benefited from enhanced bilateral relations with Quad partners, particularly the U.S.
Formation of AUKUS
- Military Capabilities: AUKUS, formed by the U.S., Australia, and the U.K., aims to enhance military capabilities, focusing on deterrence against China, especially through nuclear submarines for Australia.
- Asia Through a Military Lens: The Ukraine war and NATO’s focus have prompted the West to view Asia through a military perspective, aligning with India’s geo-strategic interests.
India’s Reluctance in Securitization
- Reluctance for a Purely Security Vision: India’s reluctance to fully embrace a purely security vision for Quad is seen as a dampener, despite clarifications that Quad is not an Asian NATO and India is not a treaty ally.
- India’s unique value in Quad lies in its independent viewpoint, which, if ignored, would waste the opportunity to make Quad more inclusive and impactful, considering the differing compulsions of developing countries.
Independent Policy on Russia
- India maintains close relations with Russia and calls for a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine war, positions frowned upon by the West but not distracting India from strengthening Quad.
- Bilateral Engagements with China: Some Quad members and European countries are enhancing their bilateral engagements with China, indicating differing bilateral and regional compulsions.
Engagement with BRICS
- Founding Member: India was an enthusiastic founder of BRICS, promoting “reformed multilateralism” at the 10th annual summit in 2018.
- BRICS’ initiatives like the New Development Bank and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement have been pioneering.
- China’s attempt to use BRICS to push its world view on the Global South and push back the West has made India wary.
BRICS Expansion
- India was initially reluctant to expand BRICS, with similar reluctance from Russia in 2018.
- Post-Quad and Ukraine, Russia aligned with China, recognizing BRICS’ potential to push back the West.
- A reluctant India accepted BRICS’ expansion, ensuring it supports India’s interests within BRICS.
Balancing Quad and BRICS
- Common Membership: India is the only country common to both Quad and BRICS, necessitating a balanced approach.
- To counter moves within BRICS that India opposes, it must be more engaged, not less, ensuring neither Quad nor BRICS is downplayed.
Conclusion
- India’s strategic engagement with both Quad and BRICS requires careful balancing, leveraging its unique position to enhance its influence and address differing geo-strategic compulsions effectively.
| PYQ: ‘Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad)’ is transforming itself into a trade bloc from a military alliance, in present Smes – Discuss. (250 words/15m) (UPSC CSE (M) GS-2 2020) |
| Practice Question: Discuss the implications of India’s dual engagement with Quad and BRICS on its strategic autonomy and foreign policy objectives amidst current global geopolitical dynamics. (150 Words /10 marks) |
