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DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

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22nd FEBRUARY, 2025

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12th April 2025

 12th April 2025
Mains Manthan Prelims Saarthi

➢ The Beijing India Report as milestone and ➢ Index of Industrial Production (IIP)
opportunity (Page No – 8) ➢ India-EU Agreements
➢ Karnataka clears gig workers bill (Page No – 6)

The Beijing India Report as milestone and opportunity

Why in News?

▪ Social issues related to Women + Gender Equality Polices

Syllabus

▪ GS Paper 1 – Indian Society

▪ GS Paper 2 – Governance & Social Justice

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 Key Takeaways from the Article
● 30th Anniversary of the Beijing Declaration (1995):
◆ The Beijing Platform for Action outlined an agenda for gender
equality across 12 dimensions, such as education, health, and
economics.
◆ While India made progress (e.g., Protection of Women from
Domestic Violence Act, POSH Act), the implementation remains
weak, and there is a disconnect between women’s rights on paper
and their lived experiences
● Inadequate Focus on Climate and Gender Integration:
◆ The Beijing India Report 2024 (India’s report on Beijing+30) reveals a significant gap in
integrating gender and climate action.
◆ Climate change, especially in rural communities, disproportionately affects women, yet climate
policies often lack a gender lens.

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● Climate Crisis and Gender Inequality:
◆ Rural women in India are increasingly vulnerable to
the impacts of climate change due to:
◆ Heat stress and extreme weather (droughts, floods).
◆ Increased rates of malnutrition, infertility,
hysterectomies, and menstrual health issues.
◆ Distress migration leads to higher rates of sexual
violence and gender-based violence.
◆ The economic cost of climate change, particularly in
agriculture, is staggering: up to 33% loss in income,
especially in non-farm livelihood sectors.
● Link Between Food Insecurity and Women’s Health:
◆ 50% of pregnant women in India are anaemic, with
food insecurity significantly exacerbating the condition.
◆ Women in food-insecure households are 1.6 times
more likely to suffer from anaemia compared to food-
secure women.
● Climate-Induced Gendered Violence:
◆ Intimate partner violence has a direct correlation
with rising temperatures. For every 1°C increase in
temperature, physical violence rises by 8%, and
sexual violence by 7.3%.
● Women’s Role in Climate Adaptation:
◆ Women, particularly in rural areas, possess crucial
traditional knowledge for sustainable agriculture and
natural resource management.
◆ Indigenous women are the primary custodians of climate-
resilient seeds, playing an essential role in safeguarding
ecosystem health.
● Lack of Gender-Responsive Climate Policies:
◆ 6% of climate policies mention women, but these policies
rarely address gender equality directly.
◆ This discrepancy indicates a critical policy gap in
gender-inclusive climate action.
● Need for Gender-Responsive Climate Budgeting:
◆ The existing climate budgets often lead to greenwashing
and fail to prioritize gender equity.
◆ Gender-audited climate budgets are essential to ensure
that women are not left out of the green transition.

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 ● Way Forward:
◆ The private sector can play a pivotal role by fostering women-led climate innovations and green
businesses.
◆ Women’s involvement in the green economy is vital for ensuring climate resilience and
sustainable development.
◆ There is a need for more robust data and research on the gendered impacts of climate change
to better understand the challenges women face and design effective solutions.
Karnataka clears gig workers Bil

Why in News?

◆ The Karnataka Platform-based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Bill, 2024 has
been cleared by the Karnataka Cabinet.
Syllabus

◆ GS Paper 3 – Indian Economy

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 Key Takeaways from the Article
● Who are Gig Workers?
◆ Gig workers are individuals working in the gig economy, engaging in temporary or flexible jobs
instead of traditional full-time roles.
◆ NITI Aayog’s 2022 Report classifies gig workers into:
◆ Platform workers: Those using online platforms like Uber, Amazon, etc., to connect with
customers.
◆ Non-platform workers: Those in sectors like construction, day jobs, and other technology-
independent temporary work.
◆ India is the 5th largest population of gig workers globally, and by 2030, this is expected to rise to
3rd place.
● Opportunities for Gig Workers in India
◆ Market Growth:
◆ The gig economy in India is valued at approximately USD 20 billion and is expected to grow 17%
annually until 2027.
◆ By 2029-30, gig workers will form 6.7% of the non-agricultural workforce and 4.1% of thetotal
workforce.
◆ Diverse Opportunities:
◆ Companies like Uber, Ola, Zomato, Swiggy are expanding their services, creating more gig jobs.
◆ Platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, Fiverr allow Indian professionals to offer services globally.

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 ● Flexible Work Arrangements:
◆ Gig work offers flexibility in terms of hours, project
selection, and location, making it attractive to younger
generations (millennials and Gen Z).
● Technological Advancement:
◆ The rise of digital platforms and mobile applications
has streamlined the gig process, enabling easier job
finding and hiring.
◆ India’s start-up ecosystem is evolving, with many
start-ups opting to hire freelancers for non-core
activities.
● Major Challenges Faced by Gig Workers in India
◆ Ambiguous Employment Relations
◆ Social Security Gaps
◆ Precarious Employment and Income Insecurity
◆ Exploitation and Unfair Treatment
◆ Lack of Collective Bargaining Power
● Government Initiatives to Protect Gig Workers:
◆ Code on Social Security, 2020
◆ NITI Aayog Report (2022):
◆ Recommends promoting platform-led skilling initiatives and improving social security
measures for gig workers.
◆ Emphasizes the need for data collection and better enumeration of the gig workforce.
◆ e-Shram Portal
◆ Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PMSYM)
◆ Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY)
Prelims PYQs (2021)
Q With reference to casual workers employed in India, consider the following statements: (2021)
1. All casual workers are entitled for Employees Provident Fund coverage.
2. All casual workers are entitled for regular working hours and overtime payment.
3. The government can by a notification specify that an establishment or industry shall pay wages only
through its bank account.
Which of the above statements are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

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 Mains PYQs (2021)
Q. Examine the role of ‘Gig Economy’ in the process of empowerment of women in India. (2021)
Index of Industrial Production (IIP)
● About IIP:
◆ IIP is an indicator that measures the changes in the volume of productionof industrial products
during a given period.
◆ NSO, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
◆ Base Year for IIP is 2011-2012.
● About Eight Core Sectors:
◆ These comprise 40.27% of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
◆ The eight core sector industries in decreasing order of their weightage: Refinery Products>
Electricity>Steel> Coal> Crude Oil> Natural Gas> Cement> Fertilizers.

Prelims Practice Question

Question: The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is an important indicator used to measure the growth
of the industrial sector in India. Which of the following statements regarding IIP is/are correct?
1. IIP measures the growth of the industrial sector in India on a monthly basis.
2. The index is calculated by the Ministry of Finance.
3. IIP is composed of three broad sectors: mining, manufacturing, and electricity.
4. IIP is calculated based on data collected from only the formal sector industries.
Select the correct answer using the codes below:
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 1, 3, and 4 only
(c) 2 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, and 3 only

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 India – EU Agreement
◆ Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) - ?
◆ Global Gateway Initiative - ?
◆ Haifa Port - ?
◆ Trieste Port - ?

Prelims PYQs (2017

Question: ‘Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA)’ is sometimes seen in the news in the
context of negotiations held between India and (2017)
(a) European Union
(b) Gulf Cooperation Council
(c) Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
(d) Shanghai Cooperation Organization
Prelims Practice Question

Question: The Global Gateway Initiative aims to enhance global infrastructure development. Which of the
following statements about the Global Gateway Initiative is/are
correct?
1. The initiative aims to promote sustainable infrastructure development in emerging economies.

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2. It is a collaboration primarily between the EU and the U.S. to counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative
(BRI).
3. The initiative focuses on digital infrastructure, clean energy, and health systems.
4. It aims to invest exclusively in the African continent.
Select the correct answer using the codes below:
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 1, 2, and 3 only
(c) 2 and 4 only
(d) 1, 3, and 4 only

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