India, its SDG pledge goal, and the strategy to apply.

Topic: GS3 – sustainable development and environmental concerns.

Previous year Questions on Environment

1. “Access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy is the sine qua non to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”. Comment on the progress made in India in this regard. (UPSC CSE (M) 2018)

Context:

• The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, expressed concern about the slowing progress of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) during the first meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors under India’s G20 Presidency on February 24-25, 2023.
• India is expected to become the third-largest economy in the world over the next decade, but this growth must also translate into progress in social and human development.
• The Prime Minister’s concern about the slow progress of SDGs deserves immediate attention.

India’s progress is mixed:

• The SDGs framework includes 231 unique indicators across 17 goals to be met by 2030, covering economic development, social welfare, and environmental sustainability.
• A recent study assessed India’s progress on 33 welfare indicators covering 9 SDGs, providing a mixed picture of positive and concerning trends.
• India is on target to meet 14 of the 33 SDGs – including neonatal and under-five mortality, complete vaccination, improved sanitation, and electricity access, which have improved significantly in the past five years.
• However, the “on-target” designation does not apply to all districts, with some falling behind.
• For 19 of the 33 SDG indicators, the current pace of improvement needs to be increased to meet SDG targets, particularly in areas such as clean fuel, water, and cleanliness
• There is heightened concern regarding SDG indicators related to women’s well-being and gender inequality, such as girl child marriage and teenage pregnancy.
• The study suggests that India’s mobilisation for COVID-19 could provide insights for achieving SDGs – but further efforts are needed.

Lessons from COVID-19 approach:

• Lessons from India’s response to COVID-19 can be applied to the country’s SDG targets.
• These include the need for robust and sustained political leadership supported by a responsive administrative structure and a collaborative public data platform for population health management.
• A targeted SDG strategy must be executed with the same timeliness and urgency as India’s COVID-19 relief package.
• By taking these lessons into account and applying them to its SDG efforts, India can work towards meeting its targets and improving the well-being of its population.

A Decadal plan:

• India needs to innovate and adopt a new policy path to achieve its SDG targets sustainably and healthily.
• The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that India can deliver at scale ambitiously and comprehensively, and this approach can be extended to achieve the SDGs.
• India’s unique challenges require innovative solutions considering its diverse population, geography, and socioeconomic disparities.
• Achieving the SDGs requires a multi-sectoral approach to critical health and well-being, basic quality infrastructure, and gender equality.
• Innovative policies and programmes must be implemented at the national, state, and local levels to ensure progress across all these areas.
• Monitoring and evaluation mechanisms must also be implemented to track progress and course-correct in real time.

Conclusion:

• India has the potential to be a global leader in sustainable and equitable development, but this will require sustained political will, responsive administration, adequate resources, and valuable data.
• By building on the lessons learned from its successful response to the COVID-19 pandemic, India can develop a new policy path that meets its people’s aspirations in a healthy, sustainable, and inclusive manner.
  

  ---

Tread a new path, one that prioritises social justice.

Topic: GS3 – Workers’ rights.

Previous year Questions on Social Justice: How globalization has led to the reduction of employment in the formal sector of the Indian economy? Is increased informalization detrimental to the development of the country? (UPSC CSE (M) 2016)

Introduction:

• May 1 is celebrated as Labour Day worldwide to honour workers’ contributions.
• Three years after the COVID-19 crisis, the world must renew its promises of ‘building back better’.
• The promises made during the pandemic have yet to be delivered for most workers worldwide.
• The world is facing inflation, conflict, and food and fuel supply shocks, affecting the workers badly.

Reverse the reality and mistrust:

• Real wages have fallen globally, poverty is on the rise, and inequality is more entrenched than ever.
• Enterprises, especially MSMEs – have been hard hit by recent unexpected events, and many have ceased operations.
• People feel their sacrifices during COVID-19 have not been recognised or rewarded, creating a disturbing mistrust and a lack of opportunities.
• We must prioritise social justice to shape a new, more stable, and equitable world.
• Policies and actions must allow people to pursue both material well-being and spiritual development in conditions of freedom, dignity, economic security, and equal opportunity.
• The approach of prioritising social justice is familiar and was set out in the Declaration of Philadelphia in 1944, signed by the International Labour Organisation’s international membership after the Second World War.

Cussing on ‘decent work’:

• The focus should be on addressing inequality, poverty alleviation, and core social protection – focusing on providing quality jobs (Decent Work for All).
• Long-term structural transformations must be addressed to ensure new technology creates and supports employment.
• Policies and programmes must be planned, considering climate change challenges and treating demographic changes as dividends.
• The structure of social and economic systems needs to be reassessed to support a change of course towards social justice; labour institutions need to be rejuvenated.
• Laws and regulations affecting the world of work need to be reviewed and updated.

Creating a Global Platform:

• International cooperation and solidarity must be strengthened for a more stable and equitable world.
• Greater policy coherence is needed, particularly within the multilateral system.
• A Global Coalition for Social Justice is needed to unite international bodies and stakeholders.
• The coalition will prioritise social justice in policies and actions on national, regional, and global levels.
• This coalition can help in resolving various issues related to – economic, social, and environmental.
• Equitable and resilient societies are needed to underpin lasting peace and social justice.
  

  ---

The erosion of hard-won labour rights.

Topic: GS3 – Workers right, ILO

Previous year Questions on Labour rights:

1. How globalization has led to the reduction of employment in the formal sector of the Indian economy? Is increased informalization detrimental to the development of the country? (UPSC CSE (M) 2016)

Introduction:

• In 1886, labour unions held a demonstration in Chicago, USA, demanding an eight-hour workday – due to several other associated incidents – this demonstration became a symbol of the international struggle for workers’ rights.
• In 1889, the International Socialist Conference declared May 1 as an international labour holiday to commemorate the Haymarket Square affair.
• In 1919, the International Labour Organisation adopted the Hours of Work (Industry) Convention, which limited the number of working hours to eight a day and 48 hours a week.
• British India ratified the Convention on July 14, 1921.
• In the subsequent decades, the working class in various countries agitated for the right to an eight-hour working day.
• Today, affluent European countries, such as Switzerland, Denmark, and the Netherlands, have reduced working hours.

Regulating work hours:

• Economic development theory predicted increased leisure time with prosperity.
• However, there is a persistent desire to increase working hours.
• Some Indian states have amended the Factories Act to increase working hours.
• For export orders, employers in industries like garments and electronics want flexible work hours.
• Mainstream economists prioritise increasing exports over labour and human rights.
• Countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam, which they are trying to emulate, need better records on labour rights.
• Global companies demand subsidies and weak unions, leading to a race to the bottom.
• Companies want to maximise workers’ time in factories to enhance production.
• Increasing working hours can lead to fatigue, accidents, and decreased productivity.

Challenges associated:

• Extending work hours and job insecurity is setting back progress.
• Lack of political unity and trade union cooperation enables easy changes to labour laws.
• The Karnataka government’s recent move was disappointing
• Companies promote work-life balance but don’t stand up for workers’ rights.
• Delay in implementing new labour codes is not a concern for the Union government.