Cheetah
Why in News?
Cheetah Gamini has given birth to five cubs in Kuno National Park, Sheopur district, Madhya Pradesh. This brings the total number of cheetahs in India to 26, according to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav. The cubs were born to Gamini, a five-year-old female cheetah brought from Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, South Africa. With this litter, the total number of cheetah cubs born in India reaches 13. This marks the fourth cheetah litter on Indian soil and the first litter of cheetahs brought from South Africa.
Cheetah
- Prominent member of the cat family, subfamily Felinae.
- Scientific name: Acinonyx jubatus.
- Found across Africa and in some parts of Iran.
Habitat
- Prefer grassland habitats, savannas, and semi-arid regions.
- Prefer open landscapes for hunting but also inhabit lightly wooded areas, scrublands, and desert regions.
- In India, found in central and southern regions, including parts of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
Diet and Gestational Period
- Gestational period: around 90 to 95 days.
- Carnivorous animals, feeding on small to medium-sized ungulates like gazelles and impalas.
Conservation and Protection Status
- African Cheetah: Vulnerable species according to IUCN.
- Asiatic Cheetah: Critically endangered according to IUCN.
- Both African and Asiatic cheetahs are listed in Appendix I of the CITES list.
Threats
- Habitat loss due to human encroachment, fragmentation, and degradation.
- Poaching for skins and body parts.
- Low genetic diversity hampers its ability to adapt.
Practice Question – Prelims
With reference to Cheetah, Consider the following statements.
Which of the statements given below is correct?
a) Cheetahs primarily inhabit dense rainforests.
b) Their main threat is overpopulation in their habitats.
c) The gestation period of a cheetah is approximately 9 months.
d) Cheetahs are listed as "Vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List
India and EFTA
Why in News?
India signed a landmark free trade agreement (FTA) with four European countries — Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland — aiming to attract $100 billion in investments and create one million jobs within 15 years. The agreement includes tariff reduction, increased market access, and simplified customs procedures. Additionally, it incorporates commitments to human rights and sustainable development.
About FTA
- India & Intergovernmental grouping of European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
- Group consists of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
- Aim of the FTA: Bring USD 100 billion in investment over the next 15 years and diversify imports away from China.
Timing of FTA - Matters for India
- 2024 - an Election year for the world with more than 64 countries headed into elections.
- Long pause in free trade agreements (FTAs).
- Window to diversify the global supply chain away from China is narrowing down.
- Trade deal holds rich geopolitical and geo-economic significance.
Investment commitment in the EFTA deal
- India runs a trade deficit with most of its top trade partners.
- Inefficiency of India’s FTAs, for example, FTA with ASEAN nations.
- EFTA countries commit a $100 billion investment into India.
- India to generate economic activity & jobs in exchange for giving market access to EFTA.
Benefits of EFTA investment
- EFTA funds are vital for any developing nation.
- Example – Norway has a $1.6 trillion sovereign wealth fund, the world’s largest such ‘pension’ fund with a record profit of $213 billion in 2023.
- Investments in technology stocks, Pharma, chemical sectors, food processing, and engineering sectors.
- Joint ventures (JVs) in the above-mentioned sectors.
Economic Data
- India-EFTA two-way trade - USD 18.65 billion in 2022-23 & USD 27.23 billion in 2021-22.
- India has a trade deficit of USD 14.8 billion - Last fiscal.
- FTA could be a game-changer to narrow it down and may increase India’s capabilities in the technology sector.
Practice Question
Mains GS – III
What is a free trade agreement (FTA)? How are FTAs important for India? What are the various issues involved in FTA negotiation? How can these issues be resolved?
Gig Economy
Why in News?
A study of over 10,000 Indian gig and platform workers reveals alarming trends, with almost a third of app-based cab drivers working over 14 hours a day. Social disparities worsen the situation, with over 60% of drivers from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes working such long hours compared to only 16% from the unreserved category. The study recommends stronger social security measures and government oversight on fairness in platform algorithms.
Gig Economy
- Work model based on short-term contracts or freelance work.
- Individual tasks that fit your schedule and skills.
- Includes independent contractors, online platform workers, contract firm workers, on-call workers, or temporary workers.
Niti Aayog’s Report on Gig Economy
- About 7.7 million gig workers in India, projected to grow to 23.5 million in a few years, making up about 4% of all jobs in the country.
- Jobs categorized into three categories:
- Low-skilled work like driving cabs and delivering food makes up about 31%.
- Medium-skilled jobs like plumbing and beauty services are about 47%.
- High-skilled work like designing and tutoring is around 22%.
Government Steps for Gig Workers' Welfare
- Code on Social Security, 2020:
- Introduction of a social security fund.
- Employer contributions to support gig worker benefits.
- Universal Minimum Wage:
- Code on Wages, 2019 ensures a minimum wage for all workers, including gig workers.
- Formal Recognition:
- Legal definition for gig and platform workers, acknowledging their economic contributions and need for protection.
PYQ
With reference to casual workers employed in India, consider the following statements:
- All casual workers are entitled for Employees Provident Fund Coverage
- All casual workers are entitled for regular working hours and overtime payment.
- The government can by a notification specify that an establishment or industry shall pay wages only through its bank account.
Which of the above statements are correct?
[A] 1 and 2 only
[B] 2 and 3 only
[C] 1 and 3 only
[D] 1, 2 and 3
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