26 September 2024 : Indian Express Editorial Analysis

1. Democracy’s blind eye 

(Source: Indian Express; Section: The Editorial Page; Page: 12)

Topic: GS2– International Relations

Context:

The article criticizes the international community’s complicity in enabling Israel’s disproportionate military actions in Gaza and Lebanon, warning of moral, strategic, and geopolitical consequences.

The International System’s License to Israel

• The international community, particularly powerful states, has given Israel the freedom to act with impunity in Gaza and Lebanon.
• While Israel has a right to self-defense, the extent of the military actions it has unleashed in these regions is both disproportionate and catastrophic.
• Lebanon is enduring its worst bombardment in fifty years, leading to the displacement of tens of thousands of people and the deaths of innocent children.
• This tragedy is being enabled by the complicity of global powers, including countries like India.
• Despite Israel’s military strength, its wars since 1967, often framed as efforts to create “safe zones,” have laid the groundwork for more hostile enemies.
• These wars, including the recent operations in Gaza and Lebanon, are often expansionist, further destabilizing the region rather than achieving genuine security.

Israel’s Strategic Myopia

• Israel’s military strategy in Gaza and Lebanon, driven by overwhelming force, reflects a strategic blindness. Rather than creating long-term safety, these actions destroy infrastructure, displace civilians, and deepen ideological hostilities.
• Both Hamas and Hezbollah, while brutal actors, have also served as quasi-state entities, providing political and social services.
• Israel’s destruction of functioning states and societies only worsens the situation, as it fills the vacuum with chaos rather than stability.
• The country’s actions, often seemingly apocalyptic, do not align with any coherent diplomatic strategy, and instead sabotage possibilities for peace.

The Role of Iran and Regional Complicity

• Israel’s approach towards Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah appears to provoke rather than resolve tensions.
• The political cover Israel enjoys from states like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, who view Iran as a common enemy, gives it a free hand in the current crisis.
• However, this view ignores the long-term instability created by Saudi and Emirati actions in places like Yemen.
• Diplomatic resolutions, particularly involving Iran, are essential to ending the ongoing violence, but Israel’s strategies, which exclude Iran from any meaningful negotiation, make peace increasingly elusive.

The Moral and Strategic Costs to Israel and the US

• The violence in Gaza and Lebanon has eroded Israel’s moral standing. As the level of dehumanization and aggression rises, Israeli democracy is corroded.
• This echoes the concerns of figures like Amos Oz, who worried that wars like the 1982 Lebanon invasion would lead Israel away from its moral center.
• The United States, by providing unwavering support to Israel, is complicit in this brutality, weakening its own democratic ideals.
• Every war the U.S. has engaged in, from Iraq to the present conflict, has produced blowback, polarizing its society and undermining its international standing.

India’s Role and Complicity

• India’s abstention on a United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for a ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal underscores its evasive approach to the crisis.
• Despite positioning itself as a global peacemaker, India has avoided meaningful engagement, leaving it derided across the Global South.
• As the international order continues to unravel, India’s inaction further aligns it with countries enabling violence and conflict, rather than promoting peace.

Conclusion: Democracy and the Descent into Conflict

• The actions of Israel, the United States, and India—three of the world’s largest democracies—are hastening the collapse of the international order.
• Israel’s brutal military campaigns, the U.S.’s complicity, and India’s evasions contribute to a deepening global crisis.
• The failure of these democracies to protect peace and uphold humanitarian values raises profound questions about their moral and strategic futures in a world increasingly shaped by conflict.

Concerns for India

Threat to Indian Community:  There are about 18,000 Indians in Israel and about 5,000-10,000 Indians in Iran, about 90 lakh people are living and working in the Gulf and West Asia region. Any conflict that expands will end up posing a risk to the Indian community that is based in the region. Energy Security:  The West Asia region contributes to India’s 80 percent of oil supplies, which a potential conflict will impact. India has been able to minimise the impact of oil prices due to the Russia-Ukraine war by buying Russian oil at discounted prices, but this conflict will have an adverse impact on energy prices. Investment and Strategic Importance: India has invested in a strategic relationship with major Arab countries, Iran, and Israel. India sees the region as its extended neighbourhood, and it has been pushing for the India-Middle-East-Europe Economic corridor, which has strategic as well as economic benefits.  Chabahar in Iran is another strategic economic project, which acts as a gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia — since Pakistan denies land transit to Indian goods. Any conflict in the region, and the implementation of any US sanctions will also impact India’s plans for Chabahar port.   In addition, the India-Israel-UAE-US I2U2 initiative and plans to connect Indian cargo routes through the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC) to Russia could be affected. Defence Relations with Israel:  India has a very deep strategic relationship with Israel, especially in the context of defence and security partnership.

PYQ: ‘India’s relations with Israel have, of late, acquired a depth and diversity, which cannot be rolled back.” Discuss. (150 words/10m) (UPSC CSE (M) GS-2 2018)

Practice Question:  How does the international community’s complicity in Israel’s military actions in Gaza and Lebanon impact global stability, moral authority, and the prospects for diplomatic resolution in the region? (250 words/15 m)

2. The job lags and gaps   

(Source: Indian Express; Section: The Ideas Page; Page: 13)

Topic: GS3– Indian Economy – Issues relating to development and employment.

Context:

The article discusses India’s employment challenges, highlighting conflicting job growth data, skill gaps, technological disruptions, and the need for comprehensive reforms to balance economic and employment growth.

Discrepancies in Employment Data

• India’s employment growth shows conflicting trends, as different agencies report varying figures.
• According to the Reserve Bank of India’s KLEMS data, job growth in FY24 rose by 6%, a significant increase compared to 3.2% in FY23.
• However, the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) provides a more pessimistic view, with unemployment rising from 7% in May 2024 to 9.2% in June 2024.
• Citigroup Research also notes a gap between the country’s employment needs and job creation, highlighting the challenge of creating 1.2 crore jobs annually to absorb new labor market entrants, while current economic growth only allows for 80–90 lakh jobs.
• This mismatch points to structural issues in India’s labor market that require addressing.

Skill Gaps and Labor Market Rigidities

• One of the key reasons for India’s employment deficit is the persistent skill gap in the labor market.
• This gap manifests in two ways: a lack of proper skill training for job seekers, even those with formal qualifications, and a complete absence of skill development for many workers.
• These skill gaps are compounded by the aspirational gap, where job seekers’ expectations are mismatched with available employment, as seen in sectors like IT or with migrant labor in southern states.
• Addressing both skill and aspirational gaps is crucial to improving labor market flexibility and absorbing the growing workforce.

Decline in Employment Elasticity Due to Technological Changes

• Another significant factor affecting employment is the incongruence between economic growth and job creation due to technological advancements.
• Historically, innovation increased both output and employment by mechanizing physical labor. However, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, or “mechanical minds,” threatens the demand for cognitive labor.
• While idea creators and highly skilled professionals will thrive, there is a risk of downsizing middle management, creating a growing need for workforce adaptation to technological changes.
• Without appropriate measures, this could lead to a significant reduction in labor demand across various sectors.

Education and Skilling Reforms

• The growing employment crisis in India is closely tied to the inadequacies of the country’s education system, which struggles to meet the evolving needs of industry.
• As a result, young graduates often pursue multiple degrees from lower-quality institutions, leading to high unemployment among educated youth.
• This highlights the need for substantial reforms in education and skill development programs, ensuring that students acquire the competencies required for the modern workforce.
• Enhancing the quality of education and aligning it with industry demands is essential for improving employability and addressing the employment deficit.

Balancing Economic and Employment Growth

• A comprehensive strategy to balance economic growth with employment generation is essential.
• One approach is to promote industrialization in labor-intensive sectors such as food processing, textiles, and apparel, which have strong inter-sectoral linkages and cater to domestic markets. These sectors can absorb more labor but may struggle with international competitiveness.
• On the other hand, improving global competitiveness in technology-intensive sectors, such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and electronics, will also drive employment growth.
• A sector-specific approach, with differentiated incentives for job creation and capital investment, is crucial for sustainable employment generation.

Need for a Comprehensive Policy Framework

• To address India’s employment challenges, a holistic policy framework must focus on both labor-intensive and technology-driven sectors.
• While newer technologies tend to be less labor-intensive, a balance must be struck between sectors that can absorb large numbers of workers and those requiring advanced technologies.
• Smart factories and automated production are becoming the norm, further limiting labor absorption.
• A combination of sectoral strategies, incentives, and investments, alongside policies that enhance growth, will be essential to generating the required number of jobs.
• Growth itself is crucial, as higher growth rates directly contribute to employment generation.

What Steps Should Be Taken to Improve Youth Employment?

Expansion of Public Employment Opportunities: Develop urban-specific public employment schemes similar to MGNREGA (as it is limited to rural areas only), targeting infrastructure and service sectors. Consider strategies to revive and expand public sector job opportunities, ensuring better job security.   Remote Work Opportunities: Encourage companies to leverage technology and offer remote work arrangements. This expands job opportunities for individuals living outside major cities and promotes a better work-life balance.   Inclusion Growth and Gender Equality: Implement policies promoting gender equality and empowerment, ensuring equal access to education and employment. According to International Labour Organization estimates, only 24% of women were participating in the workforce in 2022, so getting more women to enter the workforce will be pivotal for future growth.   Enhanced Skill Matching: Revise educational curricula and vocational training programs to better match industry needs. Foster collaborations between educational institutions and industry to ensure training programs are relevant.   Promotion of Entrepreneurship and Infrastructure Investment: Provide tax breaks, subsidies, and access to funding for young entrepreneurs.   Youth Outreach Programs: Develop specialized outreach programs to inspire and support young entrepreneurs. These should include mentorship, access to capital, and business development services tailored to the needs of young entrepreneurs.   Youth-Focused Social Security: Develop social security safety nets specifically for young people to ensure financial stability during job transitions. Make in India, Digital India, and Skill India: Continue to support and scale up successful initiatives like Make in India, Digital India, and Skill India, which are aimed at boosting employment and skill development among youth.

PYQ: Most of the unemployment in India is structural in nature. Examine the methodology adopted to compute unemployment in the country and suggest improvements. (250 words/15m) (UPSC CSE (M) GS-3 2023)

Practice Question:  What are the key factors contributing to India’s employment challenges, and how can policy reforms address the discrepancies in job growth, skill gaps, and the impact of technological changes on labor absorption?(250 words/15 m)