General Studies Paper-2 Context The issue of sexual violence against women is deeply concerning, and it’s essential to explore why our legal framework sometimes falls short in addressing this pervasive problem. About the Sexual Violence According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), it is any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, or other act directed against a person’s sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim, in any setting. It includes rape, defined as the physically forced or otherwise coerced penetration of the vulva or anus with a penis, other body part or....Read More

General Studies Paper -1 Context: The Supreme Court making it mandatory for employers to grant menstrual leave could be counter-productive on women’s participation in the workforce, but asked Centre to consider framing a model policy on the issue after consulting states and stakeholders. What is Menstrual Leave? Menstrual leave or period leave refers to all policies that allow employees to take time off when they are experiencing menstrual pain or discomfort. In the Lok Sabha, at least three attempts were made in recent years to bring in private member Bills to propose menstrual leave. Menstrual Leave in the Light of....Read More

General Studies Paper-2 Context: Recent paper leak incidents and nationwide protests gave the impetus and topic of discussion to bring back Education in India under the State List of the Indian Constitution. Historical Background During British rule, the Government of India Act, 1935 established a Federal Structure in our polity, distributing legislative subjects between the Federal Legislature (now the Union) and the Provinces (now the States). Education, being an essential public good, was initially placed under the Provincial List. After independence, this arrangement continued, with education falling under the ‘State List’ in the distribution of powers. However, during the Emergency,....Read More

General Studies Paper-2 Context: Technology has always played an important role in education but its current use is more prevalent than ever thanks to the increased availability of smart devices and web-based curriculum. About A new dimension has been added with advances in the field of Artificial Intelligence. The National Education Policy of 2020 (NEP 2020) recognized the immense potential of AI and recommended its integration into the education system. To increase technology integration in schools, the CBSE in October last year introduced Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) in the school curriculum from classes VI to....Read More

General Studies Paper -2 Context: A record 120 million people were living in a forcibly displaced status globally from the beginning of 2023 through May 2024, according to the Global Trends report by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR). Key Findings Record Displacement: The number of forcibly displaced individuals rose to 120 million by May 2024, a nearly 10% increase from 2022, representing about 1.5% of the global population. Notable Statistics: At the end of 2023, 117.3 million people were forcibly displaced. Fighting in Sudan caused over 6 million people to flee by December 2023. In Gaza, up to 1.7....Read More

General Studies Paper-3 Context: UNICEF has released a report Titled “Child Food Poverty: Nutrition Deprivation in Early Childhood”. About the Report It analyses the impacts and causes of dietary deprivation among the world’s youngest people in nearly 100 countries, and across income groups. The report focuses on low- and middle-income countries, where most children living in child food poverty reside, and on the implications of child food poverty for undernutrition and poor development. It examines the status, trends, inequities and drivers of child food poverty in early childhood. Key findings include Globally, one in four children are living in severe....Read More

General Studies Paper -2 Context: Recent LinkedIn’s Economic Graph data show that representation of women across the workforce has declined. Shrinking Workforce India’s female workforce participation rate has been steadily declining over the years. In 2004, the women’s employment rate peaked at 35%, but by 2022, it had fallen to around 25%. It remained stable in 2023 but declined to 26.8% in 2024 (based on January data). The Center for Monitoring the Indian Economy (CMIE) uses a more restrictive definition of employment and found that only 10% of working-age Indian women in 2022 were either employed or actively seeking jobs.....Read More

General Studies Paper-2 Context: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has recently unveiled regulations to facilitate the entry of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions (FHEIs) in India. About India has surpassed China with a greater number of universities featured in the prestigious QS World University Rankings. FHEIs’ entry can be likened to India’s 1991 market reforms, when the government dismantled barriers to trade and foreign investment and promised a level-playing field for all players. Technically, universities like Oxford, Cambridge, or Harvard can now open campuses in India. But it will ultimately depend on whether those universities find the Indian market attractive enough....Read More

General Studies Paper -2 Context: The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) recently asked its regional offices to ensure that “all public buildings are accessible to people with disabilities”. Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) As perUnited Nations Conventions on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities PWDs include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. As per National Family Health Survey, India’s population of people with a disability has reduced to 1% between 2019 and 2021, from the 2.2% (26.8 million) estimated by....Read More

General Studies Paper -2 Context: Recently, the urban employment landscape in India for women has been a topic of concern these days, and it is found that there is a high unmet demand for employment among urban women. About The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)indicates that there has been an increase in women’s workforce participation from 22% in 2017-18 to 35.9% in 2022-23. However, this rate is still lower than the global average of 47% and significantly lower than some other countries like China, which has a female LFPR of 60%. Despite the increase, the female LFPR in India is still....Read More