Current Affairs 05 November 2024

CONTENTS

1. ED Charges Eight in Cyber Scam Involving Fake IPOs; New Advisory Issued Against Digital Frauds
2. ILO Report Stresses Impact of Care Responsibilities on Women’s Workforce Participation in India
3. Exploring the Stagnation of Rural Wages Amidst India’s Economic Growth
4. Kodo millet
5. First in the World Challenge Initiative
6. Gastrodia lohitensis

 ED Charges Eight in Cyber Scam Involving Fake IPOs; New Advisory Issued Against Digital Frauds

Context:

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken a very serious legal step by filing a prosecution complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against eight people connected with a complex cyber scam. These people have been accused of scamming other people through fake IPOs and stock investment mainly through social media like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Telegram. At the same time, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre has issued a new advisory warning the public to be aware of digital fraud, seeking greater awareness on cyber fraud over financial transactions.

Relevance:

GS III: Security Challenges

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C)
2. Major Initiatives by I4C
3. Digital Arrest

Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C)

• The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) is a pivotal initiative by the Ministry of Home Affairs, inaugurated in January 2020 to tackle cybercrime across India comprehensively and collaboratively.
• It serves as a national nerve center for addressing various cybercrime issues, enhancing coordination among law enforcement agencies, and improving India’s capability to combat cyber threats.

Key Objectives:

• I4C aims to centralize efforts to combat cybercrime, particularly those that affect vulnerable populations like women and children.
• It enhances the ability of citizens to register cybercrime complaints easily and helps in analyzing cybercrime trends for proactive measures.
• The center is also focused on educating the public on cybercrime prevention.

Major Initiatives by I4C

Cybercrime Reporting and Response:

• National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP): Accessible at www.cybercrime.gov.in, this portal facilitates 24/7 reporting of cybercrimes.
• Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting System: This system allows for the immediate reporting of financial cyber frauds to mitigate damages.
• National Toll-free Helpline (‘1930’): Operates round the clock to assist citizens in filing online cyber complaints.

Training and Resources:

• National Cyber Forensic Laboratory (NCFL): A state-of-the-art facility providing essential training and support to state and UT law enforcement officers.
• CyTrain Portal: Available at ” https://cytrain.ncrb.gov.in“, this MOOC platform offers specialized online courses on cybercrime investigation, forensics, and prosecution to police and judicial officers.

Awareness and Outreach:

• CyberDost: This social media handle promotes cyber safety awareness among the general populace, helping them stay informed about preventive measures against cyber threats.

Digital Arrest:

• Digital arrest is an emerging cybercrime tactic utilized by fraudsters to deceive unsuspecting individuals and extort money through digital means.

Modus Operandi:

• Cybercriminals impersonate law enforcement officials, such as police, Enforcement Directorate, or CBI, tricking victims into believing they have committed a serious offense.
• Victims are coerced into believing they are under “digital arrest” and must remain visible on platforms like Skype until demands are met.
• Fraudsters threaten prosecution unless victims pay a significant sum of money.
• Victims may be manipulated into self-arrest or self-quarantine, believing they cannot leave their homes without paying.

Preventive Measures:

• Cyber Hygiene: Change passwords and update the software, and two-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized access.
• Avoid Phishing: Never click on unknown links or download attachments from unknown sources. Verify authenticity before sharing any personal information in emails and messages.
• Secure Devices: Install trusted antivirus and anti-malware products, and update the operating system and applications with latest security protocols.
  • Use VPNs to encrypt Internet connections for increased privacy and security. Avoid free VPNs, and seek good and reliable ones.
  • Employ encryption to protect sensitive information communicated over the internet. Protect yourself against sharing passwords or your passwords or other information especially publicly or through public forums.
• Public Awareness: Educate people with preventive measures and awareness raising regarding digital arrest and any cyber threats.

-Source: The Hindu

ILO Report Stresses Impact of Care Responsibilities on Women’s Workforce Participation in India

Context:

A recent report by the International Labour Organisation, titled “The Impact of Care Responsibilities on Women’s Labour Participation,” identifies low female labor force participation in India as a major challenge, primarily because women shoulder the extensive caregiving responsibilities. The report suggests that more investment in early childhood care and education is required to enable gender equality at work, which could prove helpful in lightening the burden of care that so often weighs down women’s economic engagement.

Relevance:

GS III: Indian Economy

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Women’s Labor Force Participation in India
2. International Perspectives on Care Duties and Workforce Activity
3. Barriers to Women’s Workforce Inclusion
4. Way ahead

Women’s Labor Force Participation in India

• Labor Force Participation:
  • India has a huge labor force gap: 53 percent of women are out of the labor force, primarily because of unpaid care work. For men, the figure is 1.1 percent out of the labor force for the same reasons.
• Unpaid Domestic Work:
  • According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey of 2023-24, 36.7 percent of women worked and engaged in unpaid household activities, which was equivalent to about 19.4 percent of the total workforce.
• Domestic Work Variation:
  • 81 percent of Indian females 6 years and above spend more than five hours daily on unpaid domestic work. This has been indicated in the National Statistical Office Time Use Survey of 2019.
• Caregiving Burden:
  • In the population aged 6 years and above in India, while 26.2 percent of females take more than two hours of their daily time for caregiving reasons, males are only 12.4 percent, indicating the gender difference in care.

International Perspectives on Care Duties and Workforce Activity

Global Summary:

• According to the international level, a total of 748 million people do not work for the reason that they have to care for another. Among them, 708 million are women; this is a substantial indication of the global gender gap on care.

Regional View:

• Regions like North Africa, Arab states and the Asia-Pacific region show that women have the largest percent not in the workforce primarily due to care giving functions with differences in culture as well as structure.

Comparative Analysis:

• In contrast, countries such as Belarus, Bulgaria, and Sweden report significantly lower percentages of women outside the workforce. These nations invest approximately 1% of their GDP in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), facilitating higher female workforce participation.

Barriers to Women’s Workforce Inclusion

• Low educational achievements, limited job opportunities, and poor infrastructure remain the most significant factors which keep women away from working, according to ILO report.
• Cultural norms on caring activities strongly limit access for women to the labor market, especially in the countryside; gender inequalities are thus reproduced

Way ahead:

• A lot of investment in the care economy will be required to reduce the share of women outside India’s workforce that is assigned to care responsibility, such as early childhood and childcare education
• These are initiatives that would promote gender equality but can also unlock economic potential in the form of increased engagement and productivity in the workplace from larger numbers of women.

-Source: Indian Express

Exploring the Stagnation of Rural Wages Amidst India’s Economic Growth

Context:

Despite India’s impressive economic growth in recent years, rural wages have remained stagnant, particularly in real terms. This situation calls for a deeper examination of the dichotomy between macroeconomic expansion and the subdued increase in rural incomes.

Relevance:

GS III: Indian Economy

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Rural Wages Versus Economic Growth in India
2. Factors Contributing to the Lagging Rural Wages:
3. Steps the Central Government Undertakes to Fight Low Wages in Villages
4. Conclusion on Rural Wages vs. Economic Growth in India

Rural Wages Versus Economic Growth in India

Overview of Economic Progress:

• India’s GDP has shown an average growth rate of 4.6% from 2019-20 to 2023-24, with a notable increase to 7.8% during the last three fiscal years.
• Agricultural Sector Performance: This sector recorded growth rates of 4.2% and 3.6% respectively over the same periods, indicating consistent economic expansion within agriculture.

Trends in Rural Wages:

• Wage Data Collection: The Labour Bureau monitors daily wage rates for 25 agricultural and non-agricultural occupations, utilizing data from 600 villages across 20 states.
• Wage Growth Dynamics: Although nominal rural wage growth averaged 5.2% annually from 2019 to 2024, real wage growth, when adjusted for inflation, experienced a slight decline of -0.4%.
• Current Fiscal Year Trends: Despite robust GDP growth rates, the current year continues to show minimal real wage growth in rural areas, suggesting a significant disparity between general economic growth and actual improvements in rural wage conditions.

Disconnect Between GDP and Wage Growth:

• This gap underscores potential issues in wealth distribution and the effectiveness of economic growth in enhancing the standard of living for rural workers. The data points to a need for more targeted policies to ensure that economic gains translate more directly into wage improvements for rural populations.

Factors Contributing to the Lagging Rural Wages:

Increasing female labour force participation (LFPR):

• The female LFPR has risen substantially, from 24.5% in 2018-19 to 41.7% in 2023-24. The rural female LFPR is now at 47.6%. Economic Survey 2023-24 reports that programmes like Ujjwala, Har Ghar Jal, and Swachh Bharat have freed time for rural women, which made them enter the workforce.
• Increased participation of labor force, especially rural women in the labor force increases the labor force size with an imbalance supply-demand.

Shift in demand for labor:

• All the increased female entry in the labor force are not being channeled to capital-intensive industrial employment that would pay well
• Capital-intensity type of growth was India’s focus in building the industry, which led towards less employment, therefore wages remained under pressure in rural areas.
• Labor in agriculture, whose level of productive effectiveness per worker is already very low, only increases the decline of wages.

Steps the Central Government Undertakes to Fight Low Wages in Villages

Transfer Income schemes

• State specific: Multiple state governments of the nation have brought direct income transfer schemes especially on woman, approximately Rs 2 lakh crore each year.
• Transfer effects: Transfers, such as those for women under Maharashtra’s Ladki Bahin Yojana, are very high support, topping up very meager earnings and serving to cushion in bad times.

Centre sector schemes:

Income transfer schemes from Centre, including

• Rs 6,000 per year supporting farmer households (PM-KISAN) and
• free grain supporting all poor households during pandemics (PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana [PMGKAY])

Also act as an important support for poverty and low rural incomes.

Conclusion on Rural Wages vs. Economic Growth in India

• Subdued Wage Growth: Despite India’s substantial economic growth, real wage growth in rural areas remains sluggish, with minimal improvements over the years.
• Economic Disparities: The persistent issue of subdued wage growth highlights significant economic disparities, where GDP increases have not proportionally benefited rural workers.
• Need for Targeted Policies: To bridge the gap between economic growth and wage improvement, it is crucial to address fundamental issues such as the limited demand for labor in higher-wage sectors and the surplus of labor in rural areas.
• Path to Inclusive Growth: Government interventions have offered some relief, but comprehensive strategies targeting the root causes of wage stagnation are essential. Enhancing labor market dynamics and creating opportunities in higher-paying industries are vital steps toward achieving inclusive economic prosperity in India.

-Source: The Hindu

Kodo millet

Context:

Recently, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) said that the deaths of elephants in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve could have been caused by “mycotoxins associated with kodo millet”.

Relevance:

Facts for prelims

About Kodo millet:

• Kodo millet Paspalum scrobiculatum is often called Kodra and Varagu in India.
• It is one of the “hardiest crops, drought tolerant with high yield potential and excellent storage properties,” It contains vitamins and minerals.
• It is being a staple food for lots of tribal and economically weak sections in India.

Required climatic condition

• Tropical and subtropical regions are the most suitable for Kodo millet.
• It is grown in poor soils and is found widely in arid and semi-arid regions.
• Origin: India and Madhya Pradesh is the largest producer of this crop according to a research paper in 2020. Except MP, the millet is cultivated in Gujarat, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, and parts of Tamil Nadu.
• The crop is cultivated in India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and West Africa.
• According to the research paper, “CPA (Cyclopiazonic acid) is one of the major mycotoxins associated with the kodo millet seeds causing kodo poisoning which was first recognised during the mid-eighties”.
• Kodo poisoning occurs primarily through the ingestion of kodo grains, when “maturing and harvesting if the grains had exposed to rain, which caused a fungal infection that resulted in ‘poisoned kodo’ locally known as ‘Matawna Kodoo’ or ‘Matona Kodo’ in northern India.”
• Kodo poisoning generally targets the nervous and cardiovascular system, and major signs and symptoms are “vomiting, giddiness and unconsciousness, small and rapid pulse, cold extremities, shaking of limbs and tremors”.

-Source: The Hindu

First in the World Challenge Initiative

Context:

Aimed at encouraging Indian scientists to come up with innovative ideas for finding solutions to difficult health problems, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has announced a new initiative called “First in the World Challenge”.

Relevance:

GS II: Health

About the “First in the World Challenge” Initiative:

• “The “First in the World” Challenge, following the success of Chandrayaan-3, is an Indian Council of Medical Research’s flagship initiative that would strive to promote the development of innovative health technologies.
• The scheme shall support innovative, out-of-the box, futuristic ideas that would lead to new knowledge generation, discovery/development of breakthrough health technologies such as vaccines, drugs/therapeutics, diagnostics, and interventions that have never been thought of, tested, or tried in the world till date.
• This high-risk, high-reward program will fund projects at all stages from proof-of-concept to prototype and final product development.
• Must have bold research ideas which would have wide-ranging importance and, if successful should have the potential for “first of its kind “biomedical and technological novelties that would usher better health outcomes in global contexts
• Proposals targeting “incremental knowledge” or “process innovations” are not eligible to be supported under this call.
• Proposals may be from a single researcher or several researchers who submit together: the latter case can arise either from one institute submitting the proposal, or with contributions from two or more institutes.
• All team proposals must indicate one Principal Investigator nominated from the team to deal with technical, administrative and financial deliverables.
• Selection: A selection committee of high repute experts, innovators, policymakers and scientists with outstanding record of conducting research and innovation in the biomedical domain will be constituted.
• This will encourage our scientists to come up with innovative ideas for finding solutions to difficult health problems.

-Source: The Hindu

Gastrodia lohitensis

Context:

A team of Indian botanists has identified a new leafless orchid species, Gastrodia lohitensis, in Arunachal Pradesh’s Lohit district.

Relevance:

Facts for Prelims

Gastrodia lohitensis: A Rare Orchid from Arunachal Pradesh

• Origin and Habitat: Gastrodia lohitensis is a unique, leafless orchid species named after its discovery location in Lohit district, Arunachal Pradesh. It thrives in the dense, shaded undergrowth of bamboo thickets around Tezu.
• Adaptations and Features:
  • Sunlight Independence: Unlike typical orchids, Gastrodia lohitensis does not rely on sunlight. It derives its nutrients from fungi that decompose leaf litter, showcasing a myco-heterotrophic mode of nutrition.
  • Distinct Morphology: The orchid grows to a height of 50-110 cm. It features distinct linear calli and ridges on the flower lip, which differentiate it from similar species found in Southeast Asia.
  • Ecological Specificity: This orchid flourishes exclusively under dense bamboo canopies, indicating a highly specialized ecological preference.
• Conservation Challenges:
  • Threats to Survival: The limited distribution of Gastrodia lohitensis within Lohit district makes it vulnerable to local environmental changes. The primary threats include bamboo harvesting and expanding agricultural practices, which disrupt its natural habitat.
  • Need for Protection: Conservationists emphasize the critical need to preserve the specific bamboo habitats that support the survival of this rare orchid. Protecting these areas is essential for maintaining the biodiversity of Arunachal Pradesh’s unique ecosystems.
• Conservation Importance: The preservation of Gastrodia lohitensis not only protects a rare species but also contributes to the broader efforts of maintaining ecological balance and biodiversity in one of India’s most biodiverse regions.

-Source: The Hindu