Current Affairs 04-JAN-2024 (The Hindu)

Upskilling of Rural Youth

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Upskilling of Rural Youth

About the Article:

• Life Skills Collaborative institute Survey.
  • Finding - Rural youth preferred staying in their villages.
  • Factors - Low income, cost of living, attachment towards village etc.
• Increasing trend of urbanization in India.
  • UN projection - Almost 50% of the Indian population will be living in urban areas by 2047.
• Need for upskilling Rural youths.

Main Source of Rural Income:

• Farming is the main source of rural livelihood.
• Major agrarian crisis in the country.
  • NSSO data - 34 million farmers leaving their farms & went to other sectors like construction during 2004-05 and 2011-12.
• Inference - 2 objectives.
  • Making agriculture an aspiring vocation among rural youth.
  • Creating alternative employment opportunities in villages.

Current State of Opportunity:

• Base is Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).
• Issue - Providing little (or) No placement opportunities to villagers.

Measures to Improve Skill Development:

• Effective rural education - to provide technical & life skills.
• Two Case studies.
  • Mexico’s tele-schools.
  • Bhutan’s well-being-infused curriculum.
• Indian Case studies.
  • Delhi government’s ‘Skills On Wheel’ initiative.
    • Aim - Providing skill training at the doorsteps of Students’.
  • Hybrid life skilling program - NIIT & UNICEF.
  • Pratham courses.
    • Industry-specific skills (such as healthcare, electrical, construction).
    • Life skills to rural youth.

PYQ 2018 – Prelims

With reference to Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, consider the following statements: (2018)

1. It is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Labor and Employment.

2. It, among other things, will also impart training in soft skills, entrepreneurship, and financial and digital literacy.

3. It aims to align the competencies of the unregulated workforce of the country to the National Skill Qualification Framework.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2, and 3

National Highways Authority of India

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National Highways Authority of India

About:

• 1995 - Statutory body.
• National Highways Authority of India Act 1988.
• Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
• Headquarters - New Delhi.

Composition:

• Chairman + not more than 5 full-time Members.
  • Appointment - by Central Government.
• Four part-time Members
  • Secretary of Road Transport & Highways,
  • Secretary of Expenditure,
  • Secretary of Planning,
  • Director General of Road Development.

Functions:

• Development, maintenance, and management of NH.
• Advises the GOI - matters relating to highways.
• Regulate and control the plying of vehicles - proper management of highways.
• Provides consultancy and construction services in India & abroad.
• Provide facilities and amenities for the users of the highways.
• Establishes & maintains hotels, motels, restaurants, and rest-rooms.

Practice Question – Prelims

With reference to the National Highways in India, consider the following statements:

1. The NH 44 is the longest National Highway In India connecting Srinagar and Kanyakumari.

2. The NH 966B is the shortest National Highway In India connecting Kundannoor and Willingdon Island in Kochi.

3. Uttar Pradesh boasts the longest expanse of National Highways among all Indian states, while Goa possesses the shortest expanse of National Highways.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only Two

(c) All three

(d) None

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)

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SEBI

About:

• 1988 – establishment as a non-statutory body.
• 1992 – statutory body
• Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992

Objectives:

• Development of transparency
• Protection of the interest of investors, issuers of securities.

Composition:

• 9 members
  • Chairman – selection by Union
  • 2 – Finance Ministry
  • 1 – RBI
  • 5 – selection by GoI

Powers:

• Quasi-Judicial body
  • Delivery of judgments for fraud & unfair practices
• Quasi Executive body
  • Execution of rules & regulations to safeguard the interest of investors.
• Quasi Legislative body
  • Framing of guidelines - trade guidelines, disclosure requirements, listing obligations, etc.

Functions:

• Development of the stock market + control of market activities.
• Offering of platform.
• Regulation of working of depositories & FPI.
• Prevention of insider trading + unfair trade practices.
• Prohibition of price manipulation in the securities market
• Providing education to investors about market insights, cautions
• Regulation of merger & acquisition