Unacademy IAS - The Hindu News Analysis (22nd July 4)

Overview

• Date: 22nd July 2024
• Host: [Name not mentioned]
• Platform: Unacademy IAS
• Focus: Analysis of articles from The Hindu (International Edition) and Indian Express, among other sources.

List of Articles Covered

1. Bangladesh Job Quota Reduced by Supreme Court

   • Discussion on implications for India
   • Additional related articles from The Hindu and Indian Express

2. Focus on Female Employment

   • Editorial in The Hindu
   • Analysis of female labor force participation rates in India
   • Solutions to improve female employment

3. Nipah Virus

   • Increasing cases in Kerala

4. Kerala's SOP for Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM)

   • First state in India to introduce SOP for PAM

5. Supreme Court Judgment on Bail

   • Recent rulings and their implications

6. India’s Garment Export Issues

   • Self-inflicted issues affecting garment exports

7. World Heritage Committee – 46th Session

   • Overview and India’s involvement

Important Announcements

• Launch of 15-month UPSC subscription course (English medium)
  • Pricing: ₹23,999
  • Includes: Classes, one-to-one mentorship, free books, test series for prelims & mains

In-depth Article Analysis

1. Bangladesh Job Quota Issue

• Court Actions:

  • Bangladesh High Court struck down job quotas for children & grandchildren of freedom fighters
  • 56% government job quota overall (30% freedom fighters, 10% women, 10% backward districts, 5% tribal populations, 1% physically disabled)

• Historical Context:

  • Quotas initiated in 1972 by Mujibur Rahman
  • 2018: Protests led to government announcing quota cancellation

• Current Scenario:

  • Supreme Court ruling reduced quota from 56% to 7% (5% for freedom fighters’ descendants, 1% each for transgenders & tribal populations)
  • Student protests demanding complete abolition of quotas
  • Constitution of Bangladesh (Article 29): Equal job opportunity, provision for positive discrimination

2. Focus on Female Employment

• Labor Force Participation:

  • Men: ~78.5%
  • Women: ~37%

• Global Comparison:

  • Global female LFPR: ~53%

• Rural vs Urban

  • Post-2000 decline due to societal pressures, job safety/security, job flexibility, etc.

• Solutions:

  • Skill development for women in SHGs
  • Improve work environment (creches, security, toilets, flexible hours)
  • Government policy support

3. Nipah Virus Cases in Kerala

• Zoonotic Disease (transmitted from animals to humans)
• Carriers: Fruit bats, pigs
• Origins: First identified in Malaysia (1998)
• Prevention: Hygiene, social distancing, cooking meat properly

4. SOP for PAM (Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis)

• Pathogen: Naegleria fowleri (brain-eating ameba)
• Transmission: Warm, fresh water bodies
• Impact: High fatality rate
• Kerala: First state to issue SOP for PAM

5. Supreme Court Judgment on Bail

• Recent Rulings:

  • Bail shouldn’t be denied due to serious charges alone
  • Reference to 2012 SC ruling

• Key Arguments:

  • Delay by the state in ongoing trials can’t justify holding under-trials indefinitely
  • Conditions for bail shouldn’t violate personal rights

6. India’s Garment Export Issues

• Current Statistics:

  • Exports stagnated at ~$14.5B (2023-24)
  • Comparison with Vietnam (~$33B), Bangladesh (~$38B), China ($100B+)

• Government Initiatives:

  • PL scheme (2021) with ₹10,683 crores budget
  • Focused on man-made fibers and technical textiles

• Challenges:

  • Strict investment and turnover conditions
  • Quality Control Orders (QCO) affecting raw material import
  • Complex export documentation

7. World Heritage Committee – 46th Session

• Structure:

  • 21 member countries, India included
  • Meetings: Annually

• Mandate:

  • Identify/monitor cultural and natural properties of outstanding value
  • Fund allocation from World Heritage Fund

• India’s Involvement:

  • Current term: 2021-2025
  • Total of 43 World Heritage Sites, first from North-Eastern region: Moidams (burial mounds from Ahom dynasty)

Miscellaneous Announcements

• Upcoming Economic Survey & Union Budget 2024:

  • Expectations video at 5 PM
  • Initial budget reactions on next day at 1 PM
  • Detailed budget discussion at 8 PM

• Ongoing Initiatives:

  • “Economy for Beginners” - Class 6 at 12 PM
  • “NCERT Fundamentals” - Daily at 6 PM on YouTube

• Telegram Channel: Join for class notes, practice questions, and more.

• Mains Answer Writing Assignment:

  • Question: Discuss methods used under disinvestment and recent issues faced by the government.

Key Terminologies

• LFPR: Labor Force Participation Rate
• QCO: Quality Control Orders
• PAM: Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis