Current Context : Recently, Azerbaijan announces a climate finance action fund at COP29 to support green projects and help member nations reach the 1.5C target.

• Azerbaijan, which will host the 29th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change summit in November.
• The fund is called the ‘Climate Finance Action Fund’.
• The Climate Finance Action Fund will take financial contributions from fossil-fuel-producing countries and companies and use the money to invest in projects in the developing world that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help build resilience to the impacts of extreme weather.

ABOUT CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES (COP)

• COP is the annual United Nations (UN) climate meeting.
• In 1992, at the Rio Earth Summit, 154 nations signed a multilateral treaty known as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
• It aimed to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations at a stage that might prevent risky anthropogenic (human-prompted) interference with the climate gadget.

Current Context : Recently,  PM Narendra Modi receives Russia’s highest civilian honour from President Vladimir Putin for strengthening strategic partnership.

ABOUT RUSSIA’S HIGHEST CIVILIAN HONOUR – ORDER OF ST. ANDREW THE APOSTLE.

• Established in 1698 by Tsar Peter the Great, the Order of St. Andrew is the highest order of chivalry in Russia.
• It holds deep historical and cultural significance as a symbol of honour and achievement.
• The order is bestowed upon distinguished leaders in government, military, science, culture, and the economy for exceptional contributions to Russia’s prosperity, security, and sovereignty.

Current Context : Recently, Nita Ambani, has been re-elected unanimously as the IOC from India at the 142nd session.

• She is the founder of Reliance Foundation and won unanimously with 100 per cent of the vote.
• She is committed to enhancing the Olympic Movement in India and worldwide.
• Nita Ambani was first appointed to join the prestigious body in 2016, at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.
• She is the India’s first woman to join the IOC.
• The Olympic Games Paris 2024 will be held in the capital city of France from July 26 to August 11 this year.

General Studies Paper -3 

Context: The Karnataka government plans to introduce legislation for gig workers, seen as a necessary and positive step.

About

• The Karnataka Bill aims to make platforms accountable by mandating transparency about algorithmic parameters and worker data usage, thereby reducing algorithmic control.
• Karnataka’s draft Bill mandates fair contracts, income security, and the right to refuse work without penalties, aiming to balance worker rights against platform control.
• The Karnataka Bill acknowledges the full-time nature of gig work by introducing mandatory social security provisions.

About the Gig Workers

• The gig economy in India is experiencing rapid growth, driven by technological advancements, urbanization, and a young, dynamic workforce.
• The gig economy encompasses a wide range of jobs, from high-skilled roles in IT and finance to low-skilled tasks like delivery and ride-sharing services.
• Gig workers, who engage in temporary, flexible jobs often facilitated by digital platforms, are becoming a significant part of the labour market.

Present Status

• According to NITI Aayog’s indicative estimates based on national labour force survey data, in 2020–21, 77 lakh (7.7 million) workers were engaged in the gig economy .
• As per the Economic Survey 2023-24, the gig workforce is expected to expand to 2.35 crore (23.5 million) and form 6.7 per cent per cent of the non-agricultural workforce or 4.1 per cent of the total livelihood in India by 2029–30.

Opportunities

• Flexibility: Gig workers enjoy the flexibility to choose their working hours and projects, which can lead to a better work-life balance.
• Additional Income: For many, gig work provides an additional source of income or a primary livelihood, especially in urban areas where traditional job opportunities may be limited.
• Skill Development: Gig work often requires workers to develop new skills and adapt to different roles, enhancing their employability in the long run.

Challenges

• Lack of Social Security: Gig workers often lack access to social security benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and paid leave.
  • This makes them vulnerable to economic uncertainties.
• Income Instability: The income of gig workers can be highly variable, depending on the availability of work and the rates offered by platforms.
• Regulatory Issues: The legal and regulatory framework for gig work is still evolving.
  • Workers are subject to algorithms dictating hours, tasks, and performance metrics, leaving them feeling controlled rather than autonomous.

Government Initiatives and Recommendations

• The Indian government has recognized the importance of the gig economy and is taking steps to support it.
• The Code on Social Security (2020) marks a significant advancement by expanding the scope of social security benefits to encompass gig and platform workers
• The NITI Aayog report recommends several measures to harness the potential of the gig sector:
  • Access to Finance: Developing financial products tailored for gig workers to help them manage their income and investments.
  • Skill Development: Implementing platform-led, outcome-based skilling programs to enhance the capabilities of gig workers.
  • Social Inclusion: Promoting gender sensitization and accessibility awareness programs to ensure inclusivity in the gig workforce.
  • Social Security: Extending social security measures in partnership with platforms, as envisaged in the Code on Social Security 2020.
• States like Rajasthan and Karnataka are leading with legislation for gig worker rights, emphasizing state roles in ensuring worker protections.

Suggestions and Way Forward

• The gig economy in India is poised for significant growth, offering numerous opportunities for workers and businesses alike.
• However, addressing the challenges related to social security, income stability, and regulatory frameworks is crucial for the sustainable development of this sector.
• With the right policies and support, the gig economy can become a cornerstone of India’s future labor market, driving innovation and economic growth.
  • There is a need for policies that ensure fair contracts, income security, and transparency in algorithms used by digital platforms

Current Context :An early-warning system alerting the local communities about the presence of an elephant within 100 metre range will soon be set up by the Paonta Sahib forest division.

• The system will be set up in two villages of the Majra and Girinagar forest ranges as part of the Project Elephant.
• Aimed at protecting elephants coming to the Col Sher Jung National Park at Simbalbara in Paonta Sahib and the forest areas of Nahan from neighbouring Uttarakhand.

ABOUT SIMBALBARA NATIONAL PARK

• Located in the Paonta Valley of Sirmour District, Himachal Pradesh.
• It is also known as Sher Jung National Park.
• Area covers 27.88 sq. km,

The vegetation consists of dense Sal forests with grassy glades.

Current Context : Recently, Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has recognised the Indian Kalarippayattu Federation as the Regional Sports Federation to promote ‘Kalarippayattu’ in the country.

About Kalarippayattu

• It is considered one of the most ancient martial arts in the world.
• Developed and popularly practiced in
• It is composed of two words, kalari means “place of exercise” and payattu means “fighting” in Malayalam.
• There are mainly two main styles of Kalarippayattu:
  • Vadakkan or Nothern style – practiced in the Malabar region of Kerala.
  • Thekken or Southern Style – practiced mainly in the Travancore region.
• The practice of Kalaripayattu is divided mainly into four stages;
  • Maithari – Body Control Exercises
  • Kolthari – Practise of wooden weapons
  • Ankathari- Practice of metal weapons
  • Verumkai – Bare hand fighting techniques

Current Context : The government of India under Ministry of Culture has initiated the National Mission on Cultural Mapping (NMCM).

OBJECTIVES OF NMCM:

• To raise awareness about the strengths of cultural heritage and its role in development and cultural identity.
• Cultural Mapping of5 Lakh villages including their geographical, demographic profiles, and cultural capitals.
• Creation of National Registers of Artists and Art practices.
• Development of a web portal and mobile app to function as a National Cultural Work Place (NCWP).
• Aim : to cover all the inhabited villages of India which is marked as ‘village’, in the Census List, 2011 published by the Registrar General and Census.

Current Context : Recently, PM Modi Pays Tribute to Chandra Shekhar Azad on His Birth Anniversary on 23 July.

ABOUT

• He was a great Indian freedom fighter. He was known for his unwavering resolve and extraordinary bravery.
• He was born on July 23, 1906, in the small village of Bhavra in Madhya Pradesh.
• His resolve to fight for India’s independence was ignited early, and by the age of 15, he had already joined the Non-Cooperation Movement initiated by Mahatma Gandhi.
• In 1920, he became an active member of the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA).
• Azad was disappointed by Gandhi’s suspension of the noncooperation movement in February 1922, after several policemen had been murdered by a revolutionary mob at Chauri Chaura.
• By 1928, he had played a crucial role in transforming the HRA into the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA), which aimed to establish a socialist republic in India.
• He worked closely with other notable revolutionaries, including the legendary Bhagat Singh.

Current Context : Twelve investment-ready “plug and play” Industrial parks to be created under national industrial corridor development programme.

• Government will also facilitate development of investment-ready plug and play industrial parks with complete infrastructure in or near 100 cities, in partnership with states and private sector, by better using town planning schemes.

ABOUT INDUSTRIAL PARKS

• An industrial park, also known as industrial estate, is an area zoned and planned for the purpose of industrial development. E.g. Andhra Pradesh’s Sri City Special Economic Zone.
• Industrial parks may contain oil refineries, ports, warehouses, distribution center, and factories.

SIGNIFICANCE:

• Creation of employment opportunities.
• Fosters sharing of common infrastructure, collaborate and enhance productivity and competitiveness.
• Attracts Foreign Direct Investment and expands manufacturing activity.

National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP)

• It is India’s most ambitious infrastructure programme aiming to develop futuristic industrial cities in India.
• Aim: to develop new industrial cities as “Smart Cities” and converging next generation technologies across infrastructure sectors which can compete with the best manufacturing and investment destinations in the world.
• Projects: 11 industrial corridors are envisaged consisting of 32 projects to be developed in 4 phases.

11 Industrial corridors are :

• Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC)
• Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC)
• Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC)
• Vizag-Chennai Industrial Corridor (VCIC)
• Bengaluru-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (BMIC)
• Odisha Economic Corridor (OEC)
• Hyderabad Nagpur Industrial Corridor (HNIC)
• Hyderabad Warangal Industrial Corridor (HWIC)
• Hyderabad Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (HBIC)
• Extension of CBIC to Kochi via Coimbatore
• Delhi Nagpur Industrial Corridor (DNIC)

Current Context : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during budget presentation, announced to launch a new scheme named Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan.

• Aim is to bring improvement in the socio-economic condition of tribal communities.
• Goal : to provide saturation coverage for tribal families in tribal-majority villages and aspirational districts, covering 63,000 villages and benefiting 5 crore tribal people.
• The Ministry of Tribal Affairs serves as the nodal Ministry.