General Studies Paper -3  Context: Recent Budget has recognised cities as the growth hubs and offered many options and opportunities for the planned development and the growth of cities, as the ever-growing pace of urbanisation in India calls for sustained investments, with a vision and determination. Recognizing the Urban Imperative India’s urban landscape is undergoing a profound shift. With approximately 50 crore people residing in cities — accounting for about 36% of the country’s population — the need for thoughtful planning, investment, and vision has never been more critical. Challenges and Related Solutions in Urban Transformation Strategies in India Rapid....Read More

General Studies Paper -3  Context: Recent Union Budget for 2024-25 aims to provide ₹1.48 lakh crore for education, employment and skilling in the country. Budget Allocations (Overall Vision) The budget’s emphasis on education, employment, and skilling reflects the government’s commitment to building a robust and inclusive economy. It aims to lead India toward strong development and all-round prosperity. Budget Estimates(2024-25) 1.      Total receipts (excluding borrowings): ₹32.07 lakh crore. 2.      Total expenditure: ₹48.21 lakh crore. 3.      Net tax receipts: ₹25.83 lakh crore. 4.      Fiscal deficit: 4.9% of GDP. The government aims to reduce it further to below 4.5% next year Education....Read More

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....Read More

General Studies Paper -3  Context: The Finance minister tabled the Economy survey in the Parliament, a day ahead of the Budget presentation. About Economic Survey It is prepared by the Economic Division of the Department of Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Finance. It is formulated under the supervision of the chief economic adviser. The Economic Survey was first introduced in 1950-51 as part of the Budget documents. It was separated in the 1960s and is now presented a day before the Union Budget. The Economic Survey comprises two parts. The document’s first part includes the country’s economic developments and....Read More

General Studies Paper -3  Context: The Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2024-25 in Parliament. About Budget Estimates of 2024-25 are Total receipts other than borrowings: `32.07 lakh crore. Total expenditure: `48.21 lakh crore. Net tax receipt: `25.83 lakh crore. Fiscal deficit: 4.9 percent of GDP. Government aims to reach a deficit below 4.5 percent next year. Inflation continues to be low, stable and moving towards the 4% target; Core inflation (non-food, non-fuel) at 3.1%. The focus of the budget is on Employment, Skilling, MSMEs, and the Middle Package of PM’s five....Read More

General Studies Paper-3 Context: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a loan of USD 240.5 million to finance rooftop solar systems in India. About This financing will support tranches 2 and 3 of the Multitranche Financing Facility (MFF) Solar Rooftop Investment Program, initially approved by ADB in 2016. In 2023, the program was restructured to focus specifically on deploying residential solar rooftop systems. The approved financing will be allocated to the State Bank of India (SBI) and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). These institutions will provide loans to developers and end-users throughout India for the....Read More

General Studies Paper-3 Context: The sixteenth Finance Commission headed by Arvind Panagariya has begun its work by inviting suggestions from the public on the mandate set for it by the Centre. What is the Finance Commission? The Finance Commission is a constitutional body constituted by the President of India under Article 280, that recommends how tax revenues collected by the Central government should be distributed among the Centre and various States in the country. The Commission is reconstituted every five years and usually takes a couple of years to make its recommendations to the Centre. The Centre is not legally....Read More

General Studies Paper- 3 Context: With the recent announcement of India’s goal to become a developed country by 2047, the debate turns to what is a developed country, and what are the key parameters needed to focus on. About the Developed Country The term ‘Developed Country’ (aka Advanced Country) doesn’t have a single accepted definition. It stands out for its high quality of life, robust economy, and advanced technological infrastructure. These nations have typically surpassed the initial stages of industrialization and agrarian economies. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has a threshold of the 75th percentile in Human Development Index....Read More

General Studies Paper -3 Context: The new government’s top priority is to increase the rate of creating productive and quality jobs within the economy, and aiming to reduce the reliance on populist schemes that are resulting in severe fiscal stress. About Unemployment is a critical issue that continues to challenge the economic landscape of India. As one of the world’s most populous nations with a diverse workforce, fluctuations in the unemployment rate have far-reaching implications for the country’s growth and development. Unemployment Rate in India Current Unemployment Rate: According to data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), India’s....Read More

General Studies Paper-3 Context: Recently, NITI Aayog released SDG India Index 2023-24. About SDG India Index 2023-24 SDG India Index 2023-24, the fourth edition of the country’s principal tool for measuring national and subnational progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) It measures and tracks national progress of all States and UTs on 113 indicators aligned to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation’s (MoSPI) National Indicator Framework (NIF). v  The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):   They were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by....Read More