Current Affairs 04 February 2025

Content:

1. Eliminating elitism in mental health
2. Delhi’s gender budget: its decline and impact
3. How will the govt. produce the required fuel ethanol?
4. Maharashtra makes Marathi compulsory in all official dealings
5. Do not reduce forest land for linear projects, says SC
6. Agriculture finds special mention in Budget 2025-26, six dedicated missions announced

Eliminating elitism in mental health

Context & Key Developments

• The Ministry of Labour and Employment aims to harmonize Labour Code rules across all States/UTs by March 31, 2025.
• The 2024 Economic Survey recognized mental health as a significant factor in national development, highlighting a 10.6% prevalence of mental disorders among adults.
• The treatment gap in India ranges from 70% to 92% (National Mental Health Survey 2015-16).
• WHO’s report on mental health at work identifies risks such as long hours, unsafe conditions, and job insecurity, disproportionately affecting blue-collar workers.

Relevance : GS 2(Social Justice)

Challenges in Existing Labour Codes

Occupational Safety, Health, and Working Conditions Code (OSHWC), 2020

• Mental health is not explicitly covered under ‘occupational safety.’
  • Vague terminology (‘as far as reasonably practicable’) gives discretion to the Central government.

Code on Social Security (CSC), 2020

• Mental stress-related diseases are not recognized as occupational injuries.
  • Legal burden on employees to prove a direct link between work and mental illness.

Corporate Initiatives vs. Government Programs

• Companies like Infosys (HALE), Wipro (Mitra), and TCS (EAP) provide mental health support—but mainly for white-collar workers.
  • Government’s Tele Manas initiative exists but lacks awareness and accessibility for blue-collar workers.

Way Forward

Legislative Reforms

• A rights and duty-based framework balancing employer expectations with worker mental well-being.
  • Expand ‘occupational diseases’ list to include mental health conditions in CSC, 2020.

Workplace Mental Health Integration

• Introduce a tripartite system (employer, worker, mental health expert).
  • Regulate work hours to prevent over-exploitation (especially after recent CEO comments on 90-hour workweeks).

Awareness & Accessibility

• Mandate employer awareness programs on mental health.
  • Acknowledge blue-collar workers as key stakeholders in mental health policies.

Conclusion

A mental health-inclusive framework is essential to bridge the gap between white-collar and blue-collar workers. The upcoming Labour Code reforms provide a crucial opportunity to eliminate elitism in mental health and ensure holistic worker well-being.

Delhi’s gender budget: its decline and impact

• Delhi has 71 lakh women voters, nearly half of the total electorate, with a high turnout rate.
• Political parties target women voters with incentives, reflected in budget allocations.
• Delhi’s overall budget has increased from ₹271 billion (2011-12) to ₹760 billion (2024-25).
• The gender budget has seen a seven-fold increase from ₹10 billion (2011-12) to ₹71 billion (2024-25).

Relevance: GS 2(Governance )

Shift in Gender Budget Priorities

• While financial assistance and welfare schemes are crucial, long-term empowerment requires investment in education and health.
• The allocation for women’s education peaked at₹24 billion in 2017-18 but has declined since.
• In 2017-18, education comprised 54% of the gender budget but has dropped to 27% in 2024-25.
• A sharp 9% decline in the education budget was recorded in just the past year.

Consequences of Declining Education Investment

• Impact on Labour Force Participation
  • Delhi’s female labour force participation is 21%, the lowest in India (PLFS, 2023-24).
  • Women are mostly employed as house helps and cleaners, indicating low skill levels.
  • The gender gap in labour force participation is 51.6 percentage points.

• Gender Inequality in High-Skilled Jobs
  • 94% of top roles (legislators, senior managers, CEOs) are occupied by men.
  • Only 3.8% of women are in high-skilled jobs like technicians, compared to 10.34% of men.
  • Lack of investment in education limits women’s access to high-paying careers.

• Sectoral Concentration of Women
  • Most women professionals work in teaching and healthcare.
  • Limited access to technical education restricts their presence in diverse fields.

The Need for a Balanced Approach

• While cash transfers provide short-term relief, long-term empowerment requires education and skill development.
• Increased investment in technical and professional education can bridge the gender gap in high-skilled jobs.
• A well-structured gender budget must balance welfare schemes with sustainable growth strategies for women.

Conclusion

• The decline in Delhi’s gender budget allocation for education is a major concern.
• Without substantial investment in education and skill-building, women’s economic and social empowerment will remain limited.
• Policymakers must prioritize education and training to ensure gender parity in the workforce.

How Will The Govt. Produce The Required Fuel Ethanol?

Context : Government’s Plan for Ethanol Production

• India aims to achieve 20% ethanol blending with petrol in the next two months, a year ahead of schedule.
• This requires the production of 1,100 crore litres of fuel ethanol in one year.

Relevance : GS 3(Environment , Energy Security)

• Key raw materials for ethanol production:
  • Sugar & high-grade molasses (~400 crore litres).
  • FCI rice & broken rice (~110 crore litres).
  • Maize (~400 crore litres).

India’s Ethanol Distillery Capacity

• Current ethanol distillery capacity: 1,600 crore litres.
• Growth driven by government incentives and a stable market.
• Shift towards grain-based ethanol production to reduce dependency on sugar.

Role of Maize in Ethanol Production

• India’s maize production is traditionally used for poultry, livestock feed, starch, and human consumption.
• Increase in maize imports since April 2024 due to restrictions on sugar-based ethanol.
  • April–June 2024: ₹100 crore worth of maize imported.
  • April–November 2024: $188 million worth of maize imported.
• Ethanol demand has encouraged more maize cultivation in major states like Karnataka, MP, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, and UP.
• 2024-25 maize production: Estimated at 42 million tonnes, with 9 million tonnes allocated for ethanol production.

Impact of Maize-Based Ethanol Production

• Potential Benefits:
  • Boost for farmers: Higher earnings due to ethanol market.
  • Oil import savings: 100 crore litres of ethanol = ₹6,000 crore saved on oil imports.
  • Increased domestic ethanol production reduces reliance on fossil fuels.

• Potential Challenges:
  • Food security concerns: Shift in maize usage may impact food grain availability.
  • Market disruption: Poultry and livestock feed sectors may face price hikes.
  • Sustainability concerns: Long-term viability depends on balanced crop allocation.

• Possible Mitigation Strategy:
  • DDGS (Distiller’s Dried Grains with Solubles), a byproduct of ethanol, can replace maize in poultry feed, reducing disruption.

Conclusion

• India’s ethanol push is on track ahead of schedule, aided by government policies and expanding distillery capacity.
• Maize has emerged as a key feedstock for ethanol, but reliance on imports raises concerns.

Maharashtra makes Marathi compulsory in all official dealings

Context : The Maharashtra government has made it compulsory for officials in government, semi-government, local self-government, and government-aided offices to communicate only in Marathi.

Relevance : GS 2(Governance )

• Marathi Devanagari keyboards are now mandatory alongside Roman alphabet keyboards in all government offices.
• Non-compliance will attract disciplinary action.
• Offices must display boards enforcing the use of Marathi for official communication.
• All original proposals, correspondence, orders, messages, presentations, and websites at the office level must be in Marathi.
• The rule extends to Central government offices and banks in Maharashtra, requiring Marathi name boards, notice boards, and application forms.
• The policy was approved by the Maharashtra Cabinet in 2023, aiming to promote and preserve the Marathi language.

Rationale & Objectives

• Strengthens linguistic identity and cultural preservation.
• Aligns with regional language promotion policies seen in other states.
• Ensures accessibility of government services to Marathi-speaking citizens.

Challenges & Concerns

• Possible administrative hurdles in implementation, especially in Central government offices.
• Impact on non-Marathi-speaking officials and citizens, particularly in urban centers like Mumbai and Pune.
• Potential legal scrutiny over language imposition in a multilingual state.

Broader Implications

• May fuel debates on linguistic nationalism vs. inclusivity.
• Could set a precedent for other states to enforce stricter regional language policies.
• Requires robust capacity-building measures, such as Marathi language training for officials.

Do not reduce forest land for linear projects, says SC

Background & Issue

• The Supreme Court (SC) reaffirmed that no forest land should be reduced for linear projects unless compensatory afforestation is ensured.
• The case pertains to petitions challenging the 2023 amendments to the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
• The amendments allegedly diluted the definition of ‘forest’, restricting it to declared forests and post-1980 government-recorded forests.

Relevance : GS 3(Environment)

SC’s Observations & Directives

• No Reduction of Forest Land: SC explicitly stated that the government and states cannot use forest land for linear projects unless an equivalent area is afforested.
• Definition of ‘Forest’: Reiterated that the term ‘forest’ should retain its broad meaning, covering all undeclared forest land (~1.97 lakh sq. km).
• Reference to Godavarman Case (1996): SC upheld the dictionary meaning of ‘forest’, which includes all lands exhibiting forest characteristics, regardless of ownership or classification.
• Clarification on Government’s Stance: The Centre claimed the amendments do not reduce forest cover, arguing that the expanded definition includes lands recognized by states, local bodies, or communities.
• Directive to States & UTs: Ordered the preparation of a consolidated record of all forest lands, including community and unclassified forests, in line with Rule 16 of the MoEFCC’s Nov 29, 2023, notification (to be completed within a year).

Implications & Relevance

• Ecological Protection: Prevents unchecked deforestation that could lead to environmental degradation.
• Legislative Scrutiny: Ensures that the 2023 amendments do not weaken forest conservation measures.
• Federal Accountability: Puts the onus on both the Centre and States to maintain green cover.
• Legal Precedent: Reinforces the 1996 SC ruling on forests, ensuring that legal interpretations favor conservation.

Agriculture finds special mention in Budget 2025-26, six dedicated missions announced

• Agriculture was highlighted as the first engine of development in Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s budget speech.

Relevance : GS 3(Agriculture)

• Six dedicated missions/programmes for agriculture were announced:
  • Prime Minister Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana – Targets 100 districts with low crop productivity to improve output.
  • Six-Year Mission for Atmanirbharta in Pulses – Aims for self-sufficiency in pulses production to reduce import dependence.
  • National Mission on High-Yielding Seeds – Focuses on developing and distributing superior-quality seeds for better productivity.
  • Mission for Cotton Productivity – Targets higher cotton yields through improved seeds and farming techniques.
  • Programme for Vegetables and Fruits – Aims to boost horticulture production to enhance nutrition and farmer incomes.
  • Mission on Promotion of Natural Farming & Soil Health – Focuses on sustainable agriculture by encouraging organic farming and improving soil fertility.

Budgetary Allocation

• Reduction in Allocation: The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare saw a 3% decrease in allocation compared to revised estimates of 2024-25.
• Despite agriculture’s stable growth, the cut in funding raises concerns about its impact on farmer support measures.

Implications & Challenges

• Agrarian Distress: The budget acknowledges farmers’ struggles, but its effectiveness depends on implementation & fund utilization.
• Focus on Productivity: Missions emphasize yield improvement, which aligns with the goal of increasing farm income.
• Long-Term Growth vs. Immediate Relief: While productivity-focused schemes are beneficial in the long run, immediate concerns like MSP, input costs, and debt relief remain unaddressed.