Polity, Economy, CSAT & Essay by Madhusudan Sir

India is relatively affordable country

India Doesn’t Need a 90-Hour Work Week, It Needs Fair Work Policies

Recently, the CEO of L&T suggested employees work 90 hours a week, including Sundays. People used to work on Sundays, but in the 19th century. In fact, Mr. Subrahmanyan is advocating for an idea that was discarded even by the colonizer Britishers in India. Various management studies have since empirically proven the benefits of weekend offs.

Why does anyone work?
Mr. CEO earns ₹51 crore annually, and for him, work might be an end in itself. However, for most employees, a job is a means to an end—to afford a home, quality education for children, vacations, and time with family. A 90-hour work week leaves no time for these activities, defeating the purpose of work itself.

The Myth of Overwork and Nation-Building
Earlier Narayana Murthy had argued that 70 hours' week would contribute to nation-building. But India is a country facing disguised unemployment and underemployment. Here such an approach will worsen job scarcity and fuel inequality.

Inequality would put us in 'Middle Income Trap'
Overwork can also lead to more disparity in income between top officials of a company and the average employee. This concentration of wealth risks pushing India into the middle-income trap, as seen in Brazil.

Economic Benefits of Work-Life Balance:
When employees have time to spend their earnings, it boosts demand and drives economic growth. There have to be consumers of the goods and services these employees are gonna produce. Precisely, these were the factors that had pushed the world to the Great Depression in 1929.

Possible Motive behind such statements:
The CEOs want to exploit India’s weak job market. They want to squeeze the desperate job seekers and, in the process maximize their own salaries.

But it is not in the interest of the nation. Balanced work hours and fair wages are key to sustainable growth.

Different types of Hydrogen fuel, depending on the type of fuel and process used in production.
Vvimp for Prelims

Distribution of per capita GDP in India. There is a clear cut North South divide in terms of prosperity. Among the North and South, there is also East to West gradient of increasing income.

Today's newspaper's have discussed the impact of US FED's Hawkish Monetary Policy stance in detail. Let's understand it in simple terms.

Hawkish: (Hawk = बाज, it flies high and it is aggressive.)
Higher interest rates.
Focus on controlling inflation
Reduces liquidity in the market.
Typically strengthens the domestic currency.

Dovish: (Dove = कबूतर, flies low, symbol of peace)
Lower interest rates.
Focus on promoting growth.
Increases liquidity in the market.
Typically weakens the domestic currency.

India's tax to GDP ratio at around 17% is much less than the average of the OECD at 33.9%. What do you think are the reasons for this low tax to GDP ratio?

Data on Inequality
1. Top 1% on income ladder earn 22% of the national Income
2. Top 5% earn 40% of national income
Source: Oxfam Report

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One of my colleagues has started this mapping program. In case you are having trouble in mapping, you should join it.

"If you can’t sleep, then get up and do something instead of lying there worrying. It’s the worry that gets you, not the lack of sleep."

Very helpful tip for those who might be experiencing sleepless nights due to exam pressure. "Do Something". I have tried it myself and it works.

Some Important Facts/ Data about Agriculture Finance:
1. the share of non-institutional credit has reduced from 90 per cent in 1950 to 23.40 per cent in 2021-22.
2. The Gross Capital Formation = 19.9% of agri GVA, For overall Economy GCF is 32.2%
3. KCC - 7.5crore cards issued.
4. Joint Liability Groups (JLG) - Growing @44% annually in last 5 yrs, mainly benefitting tenant farmers.
5. Agri Infrastructure Fund - 1 lakh crore finance b/w 2020-21 to 2025-26

"Do the thing you fear to do and keep on doing it; that is the quickest and surest way ever yet discovered to conquer fear."

So, if you're afraid of writing an answer, do write it now and keep writing everyday, irrespective of the quality of your answer. Once the fear of writing is gone, the quality will automatically improve.

So, write the answer and submit in comment section. I shall give feedback to all the answer submitted in next 24 hours.

Please take care everyone!

Summary of the Right to Privacy Judgment (Puttaswamy vs UOI case, 2017)
1. Privacy is a Fundamental Right:
2. Based on Article 21:
which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty.
3. Overruling Past Judgments:
Previous cases (M.P. Sharma and Kharak Singh) had stated that privacy was not a fundamental right. T
4. Integral to Dignity and Liberty:
Privacy is essential for individual dignity, autonomy, and the free development of one's personality.
5. Not an Absolute Right:
The Right to Privacy is not absolute. It can be restricted, but any limitation must meet certain criteria.
6. Three-Part Test for Restrictions:
i) Legality: There must be a law allowing the restriction.
ii) Legitimate Aim: The restriction must serve a legitimate purpose, like national security or public order.
iii) Proportionality: The restriction must be necessary and proportionate to the aim.
7. Impact on Laws and Policies:
Laws and policies involving personal data (like Aadhaar) must comply with the Right to Privacy.
8. Protection Against State Surveillance:
The state cannot infringe on privacy without following legal procedures and justifications.
9. Technological Advancements Considered:
The Court acknowledged challenges posed by technology, such as data collection and surveillance.
10. Global Perspectives Referenced:
International human rights laws and other countries' practices were considered to support recognizing privacy as a fundamental right.
11. Essential for Other Fundamental Rights:
Privacy supports other rights like freedom of speech and freedom of movement.
12. Autonomy in Personal Choices:
Individuals have the right to make personal decisions about their body, family, marriage, and relationships.
13. Directive for Data Protection Laws:
The judgment emphasized the need for comprehensive data protection legislation.
14. State's Responsibility:
o The government has a duty to protect citizens' privacy and regulate entities that handle personal data.

Suggestions for Parliamentary Committees:

1. Mandatory reference of all bills: In the last Lok Sabha, only 16% bills were referred.

2. Faster Responses: Government should respond to committee recommendations within 60 days instead of six months. (UK)

3. Longer MP Tenures: Extend MPs' tenure in committees to 30 months, from one year, for stability and expertise. (USA)

4. National Economy Committee: Form a committee to annually assess the economy and review public borrowing.

5. Constitution Amendment Scrutiny: Establish a Constitution Committee to review amendment bills for compliance to Basic Structure.

6. Pre-Budget Scrutiny: Ensure proper examination of Demands for Grants (DFGs) even during election years.

We must suffer either of the two things, Self-discipline or regret! The choice is yours.

If you have any doubt regarding currency swap agreement, then let me know.

https://youtube.com/shorts/NxXZPgwGd9Q?si=hsaewge47kbnJmow

Why are Gold Prices rising?

Dear Students,
Inflation has been a very dear topic for UPSC. And Gold prices have risen sharply, going from ₹58,000 per 10 grams a year ago to nearly ₹77,000 today.

Factors Driving the Rise in Gold Prices
1. Weakening US Dollar: Gold is priced in US dollars globally. When the dollar weakens, gold becomes more affordable for investors that are using other currencies, increasing demand for gold.

2. US Federal Reserve Interest Rate Cuts: Lower interest rates make bonds less attractive to investors, leading them to prefer gold, which is seen as a stable store of value.

3. Global Inflation: Rising inflation across the world is reducing the value of currencies. Investors turn to gold, which is a traditional hedge against inflation, as it holds its value when currencies lose purchasing power.

4. Central Bank Gold Buying: Central banks are purchasing large amounts of gold to protect themselves from inflation and potential currency crises. This massive demand from central banks is driving gold prices higher.

5. Increasing Money Supply (M2): The money supply, especially in the US, has grown significantly. As more money floods into the economy, people lose faith in paper currency, turning to gold as a safer asset.

6. Rising US National Debt: The US national debt has surged from $5.77 trillion in 2000 to $35 trillion in 2024, creating fears of economic instability. This encourages more investors to buy gold to hedge against potential financial risks.

DEMOGRAPHIC WINTERS, and TWISTERS are movies!

How interesting! UPSC Mains GS PAPER 1.
UPSC paper setter seems a binge watcher!

The Essay topics asked in today's exam. Which of these topics would you have attempted?

The cabinet has cleared the proposal for implementation of One Nation One Election. Watch this video to understand the concept holistically.

https://youtu.be/I3sGt1-FOuk?si=r_scwTo-xcMSBdlr

There are 100 closed doors. A cage holding 100 monkeys is placed nearby.

Every monkey that visits a door will open it, if it's closed and will close it if it's open.

The first monkey that is let out of the cage visits and opens all the hundred doors. The second monkey that is released visits doors of the order 2, 4, 6, 8, 10…. . The third monkey released visits doors 3, 6, 9,12, 15……, and so on.

After all the monkeys from the cage are released and have opened or closed their relevant doors, how many doors are left open?

Dear Students,

In today's the Hindu, there is a very good article on employment. It suggests 12 policy initiatives. I have summarise (and also simplified) them as follows:
1. Decentralized Skill Gap Identification: Create a register for all those wanting employment/ self-employment. Identify skilling needs through community involvement.
2. Converge Initiatives: Integrate education, health, skills, nutrition, and employment at the local level.
3. Vocational Courses: Introduce vocational courses alongside undergraduate programs.
4. Standardize Health-Care Courses: Align nursing and allied health-care courses with international standards. It would also felicitate international employment.
5. Community Care-Givers: Create cadres of care-givers for crèches. It would improve female labour force participation rate.
6. Invest in ITIs and Polytechnics: Improve infrastructure and autonomy for skill development.
7. Enterprise Skills in Schools: Introduce technology and enterprise subjects in high schools.
8. Co-Sharing Apprenticeships: Govt should share skilling costs with industry.
9. Working Capital Loans: Streamline loans enterprises, especially women-led and first generation enterprises.
10. Skill Accreditation: Implement a universal skill accreditation program.
11. MGNREGA Funds: Use funds for livelihood security in water-scarce and deprived areas.
12. Scale Apprenticeships: Increase the scale and focus on skill acquisition.

🚀 Unlock the Secrets of Toppers' Copies! 🚀

Dear Students,
Toppers' answer copies can be a goldmine of insights. Here’s what you can learn from them:

1. Master the Art of Structuring
2. Notice their use of diagrams and visual aids
3. Discover how anecdotes, examples, and case studies can enrich your answers.
4. Creative Introductions and Conclusions, especially in Essay.

🔍 But a Word of Caution... 🔍

Remember, the copy you’re looking at isn’t the one the topper submitted to the UPSC. There might be mistakes or outdated approaches that were corrected later. So,

💡 Be Smart, Be Selective: Choose techniques and strategies that make sense for you. Don't follow blindly—adopt what’s logical and effective.

✍️ Practice Makes Perfect: It’s not just about reading toppers' copies. The key to becoming a topper yourself lies in action. The reason you have these copies is that the toppers wrote numerous answers to reach where they are. To follow in their footsteps, you need to do the same.

So, pick up your pen, start writing, and make your own path to success! ✨📝

According to United Nations - Women’s empowerment has five components:
✅ Women’s sense of self-worth;
✅ Their right to have and to determine choices;
✅ Their right to have access to opportunities and resources;
✅ Their right to have power to control their own lives, both within and outside the home; and
✅ Their ability to influence the direction of social change to create a more just social and economic order, nationally and internationally.

It can be used to structure any answer about women empowerment.

Anti- Defection Law Summarised!

You should focus on executing your plans