The Campi Flegrei supervolcano area near Naples, Italy, recently encountered a magnitude 4.4 earthquake, the most powerful in decades.

Campi Flegrei Supervolcano Near Naples Hit by Strongest Earthquake in Decades

The earthquake was part of a series of seismic events called a “seismic storm,” with over a dozen earthquakes of magnitude 2.0 or higher in recent days. 

• In April 2024, the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) recorded over 1,000 earthquakes in the area, but most were very mild, with a magnitude of less than 1.0.

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Campi Flegrei 

Campi Flegrei, also referred to as the Phlegrean Fields, is a volcanic region in  Italy.

• Characteristics: It has a complicated volcanic system with many volcanic centers inside a large caldera. 
• Formation: It was formed 39,000 years ago when an eruption released its magma. A hypothesis  suggests that this eruption could have contributed to the decline of the Neanderthals.
• Concerns of Bradyseism: Since 1950, Campi Flegrei has remained in a state of unrest, attributed to a phenomenon termed bradyseism. 
  • This phenomenon, understood by scientists as the gradual shifting of Earth’s surface, arises from the filling or depletion of an underground magma chamber or due to hydrothermal activity.

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Recently, NASA’s Magellan mission has discovered continuous volcanic activity on Venus, the second direct indication of such activity on the planet’s surface.

Volcanic Activity on Venus, Key Findings of the Research

• Findings of Radar Image Analysis: 
  • During the observations, scientists spotted significant lava flows in two areas of Venus’s northern hemisphere. 
  • These discoveries, combined with earlier research, indicate that Venus’s volcanic activity resembles that of Earth. 
  • Recent improvements in computing have made it easier to analyze data collected by Magellan’s radar.

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• Sites of Volcanic Activity: One of the recently discovered volcanic areas is Sif Mons, situated in the Eistla Regio region, spanning approximately 300 kilometers in width. 
• • Radar imagery revealed a lava flow covering an area of around 30 square kilometers of terrain.
  • Another site, a vast volcanic plain located in Niobe Planitia, generated a lava flow covering approximately 45 square kilometers of land.
• Features of Volcanoes: Sif Mons and the volcanoes in Niobe Planitia are classified as shield volcanoes, known for their wide, gentle slopes resulting from the flow of low-viscosity lava. 
  • The recently formed rock at both sites was estimated to have an average thickness ranging from three to 20 meters.
• Observations of Lava Flows: At Sif Mons, the lava flows display linear characteristics with sinuous patterns, aligning with the maximum slope and generally flowing westward. 
  • In Niobe Planitia, the lava flows seem to start near small shield volcanoes and extend northeastward, following the slope’s direction.

Previous Studies

The recent study expands upon earlier discoveries regarding continuous volcanic activity on Venus.

• Changes in Volcanic Vent:  A study from 2023 revealed changes in the shape and expansion of a volcanic vent located on Maat Mons in the region known as Atla Regio, near the planet’s equator, observed during the Magellan mission.
• Magellan Mission: This recent study marks the initial evidence of lava flows directly observed during the Magellan mission era.

Magellan Mission

• About: NASA launched a deep space mission on May 4, 1989.
• Objective: To utilize radar imaging to map the surface of Venus. 

Different NASA Space Missions to Venus

• DAVINCI Mission: The DAVINCI (Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging) mission is designed to explore Venus’s atmosphere and climate system, providing insight into the planet’s potentially habitable history.
• VERITAS Mission: The VERITAS mission, which stands for ‘Venus Emissivity, Radio Science, InSAR, Topography, and Spectroscopy’, is set to orbit Venus equipped with radar technology. 
  • Launching: Scheduled as part of NASA’s Discovery Program, VERITAS is slated for launch no earlier than 2031.

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A new tool to detect viral infections in cells using light has been developed by researchers. The tool has been developed by researchers from Harvard University, Cambridge, and Jiangsu University, Zhenjian.

• Published In: The paper was published in the journal Science Advances.

New Light-Based Tool Detects Viral Infections – Study

• Objective: To develop a tool to identify the fingerprints of cellular viral infection in a body for early detection. 

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• Experiment:
  • Sample: Researchers infected cells from a pig’s testicles with pseudorabies virus, shone light on them through a microscope, and tracked how changes in the cells distorted the light.
    • A viral infection can stress cells and change their shapes, sizes, and features with the changes becoming more pronounced as the infection spreads and the body becomes diseased.
  • These distortions were recorded at different points of time so that the light data mimicked a progressing viral infection.
    • Distortion of Light: This distortion was due to the pattern made by the Diffraction Process of alternating light and dark rings or stripes around a dark centre once it reaches, say, a wall.
  • Comparison: These distortions of light  were compared between the infected and the healthy cells and the difference reported  between the two light patterns. 
  • Fingerprint  of virus-infected cells: The cellular changes were then translated into patterns that could be used to say if a cell had been infected. 
    • Parameters: The fingerprint was based on two parameters, 
      • The contrast between the light and dark stripes
      • The inverse differential moment (a mathematical value defining how textured the diffraction pattern was)
  • Finding: The method can differentiate between uninfected, virus-infected, and dead cells. 
    • Virus-infected cells: They were elongated and had more clear boundaries than uninfected cells, changing  the contrast between light and dark stripes of the diffraction fingerprint, and increasing the differences in light intensity.

Advantages of New Light-Based Tool Detects Viral Infections

• Accuracy: The light based method was found to  detect viral infections as accurately or even more accurately than the standard method.
• Cheap: The new method is  cheaper with the cost being  one tenth of the standard method whose equipment cost  using chemical reagents is about Rs 2.5 lakh
• Independent of supply chain issues:  Many research facilities around the world  procure reagents from other places, adding potential time delays and vulnerability of their research to supply-chain inefficiencies.
• Fast:  The  new method reportedly takes only about two hours to detect virus infected cells, against the 40 hours the current standard required.
• Livestock management: The new tool can help spot viral infections in the bodies of  livestock as well as for the selection and breeding of excellent livestock and poultry species at the cellular level.
• Early detection: The new method could help catch viral infections early and can help detect viral infections in general helping the  stakeholders take preventive measures in time to avoid significant losses.
• Identify a new Virus: The  tool’s generic nature could also be an advantage by catching a viral infection that is not due to existing pathogens,  perhaps even a new virus.
•  Surveillance: A rapid and cost-effective way to detect viral infections could help improve surveillance and reduce the cost of selecting healthy animals or birds for breeding.
  • The existing methods to select animals for breeding require expensive DNA-sequencing tools.
• Capacity building: The light based tool could also help low- and middle income countries to realize the WHO’s recommendation of, rapid  detection, reporting and responding to animal outbreaks as the first line of defence” against the spread of viruses.

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Recently, Mauxi village in Sattari taluka of Goa has become a hotbed of neolithic discoveries with ancient rock carvings being  discovered  on the Zarme riverbed. 

Discovery of Neolithic Age Rock Carvings

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) confirmed that ancient rock carvings found on the meta basalt rock along the dry riverbed of the Zarme river belong to the Neolithic period. The Rock Carvings were discovered by local residents 20 years ago, these carvings provide insight into the region’s early inhabitants.

Key Findings about the Rock carvings

• Depictions: The carvings depict animals like zebus, bulls, and antelopes, as well as footprints and cupules.
  • The circular cavities on the rock surface indicate the community’s role in discovering historical artifacts.
• Significance of Rock Etchings: Around 20 rock carvings with bruising techniques and contemporary tools recovered from the riverbed confirm the historical importance of the site.
• Mysterious Cupules: One notable feature is a rock with cupules found outside the Puravati Temple, initially interpreted as representing a star constellation with 27 cupules but later found to have 31 cupules, raising curiosity about their significance.
  • The exact purpose of the cupules remains unknown.

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Significance of the Findings

• Neolithic Origins: The Archeological Survey of India has confirmed the Neolithic origins of the site, as this era marks a significant milestone in human history when the domestication of cattle began.
• Trident Carving: A trident carving, symbolizing the Iron Age, implies the enduring importance of the site across different historical periods.
• Early Settlers: The existence of the Dhawad community, among the early settlers and skilled ironsmiths, contributes an additional dimension to the historical tale, despite later displacement by new settlers.

Prehistoric Rock Paintings of India

• Upper Paleolithic Period: In the Upper Palaeolithic Period, people made some of the earliest paintings. These artworks showed simple drawings of animals like bison, elephants, and tigers, as well as basic human figures.
  • They were found at places like Bhimbetka and Jwalapuram.
• Mesolithic period: During the Mesolithic period, India witnessed an abundance of rock paintings, with human activities taking center stage. Scenes depicted include group hunting and communal dances. Animals were portrayed realistically, while humans were stylized. 
  • Notable sites from this era include the Pachmarhi and Adamgarh Hills in Madhya Pradesh.
• Neolithic-Chalcolithic period: In the Neolithic-Chalcolithic period, rock art started featuring pottery and metal tools. These paintings were vibrant and lively, often using white and red colors, possibly from ground haematite and limestone.
  • Human figures were portrayed as adventurous, while animals appeared youthful and majestic.
  • Important locations from this time include the Chambal region and Daimabad in Maharashtra.

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Recently, The Supreme Court Agreed with the Election Commission‘s view that Article 329(b) restricts judicial interference.

• Therefore, adjourned ADR’s request for the Election Commission to release voter turnout data.

Article 329(b) invoked by EC in SC that restricts judicial intervention in poll process

• Earlier, Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), an NGO, sought directions to the Election Commission (EC)cto publish booth-wise voter turnout figures and to make the Form 17C vote tally records available online within 48 hours of polling for each phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha polls.

About Article 329

• Enshrined in Part XV of the Constitution (Articles 324-329 specifically discuss elections). 
• Article 329, which has two clauses, concerns itself with the role of the judiciary in electoral matters.
  • Article 329 (a) says the “Judiciary is not allowed to challenge the constitutionality of laws relating to the boundaries of electoral districts or the allocation of seats”.
  • Article 329 (b) says that “Any challenges to the conduct or results of elections to the Houses of Parliament or state legislatures must be made through a designated legal process that is referred to as an “election petition”. 
    • The 19th Amendment Act of 1966 refined clause (b) of Article 329, stipulating that election-related inquiries are exclusively addressed through election petitions presented to the authority designated by that law. 
    • The Representation of the People Act, 1951, furthers this clause as it empowers the high courts to hear and decide election petitions. 
    • A decision in such petitions can be challenged in the Supreme Court.

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Several Judicial Pronouncements Outlined the Contours of Article 329(b) 

• Ponnuswamy (AIR 1952 SC 64) : In a Ponnuswami v. Returning Officer, Namakkal Constituency, SC has emphasized what is implicit in Art. 329 (b) that once the process of election has started, it should not be interrupted since the tempo may slow down and the early constitution of an elected parliament may be halted. 
  • Therefore, think twice before obligating a hearing at a critical stage when a quick repoll is the call.
• K. Venkatachalam vs A.Swamickan Case ( 1999) :  The Supreme Court in that case determined that Article 329(b) is inapplicable if the matter pertains to Articles 191 and 193, which deal with disqualifications and penalties related to parliamentary and legislative assembly membership, respectively. 
  • The judgment further held that the word “election” would include every process of proceedings after the issuance of election notification.
• Inderjit Barua vs Election Commission of India (1985) : In that case, the Supreme Court excluded electoral roll preparation from the definition of “election.”
  • It further said that no election could be challenged on the grounds of defects in electoral rolls. 
• Gujarat High Court judgment in N.C. Patel vs State of Gujarat(2007) : The HC affirmed that election petitions can only be filed under the Representation of People’s Act, 1951, and not by way of a writ petition. 
• Allahabad High Court  in Hari Krishna Lal vs Atal Bihari Bajpai(n 2002) : clarified that only candidates officially recognised by the Election Commission are eligible to file election petitions. 
  • By merely filing a nomination paper, a person does not become a duly nominated candidate. 
  • A candidate becomes a nominated candidate when the EC recognises him to be a valid candidate fulfilling all the statutory obligations.

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Recently, President Alexander Lukashenko has signed a decree suspending Belarus’ participation in a treaty that limits the deployment of conventional forces in Europe. 

• The decree was published on an official government website of the ex-Soviet state that borders both Russia and Ukraine.

The Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE)

The Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) is often called the “cornerstone of European security,”. It was negotiated at the end of the Cold War and signed on November 19, 1990.

• Objectives of CFE Treaty

  • Establishing Military Balance: It aimed to balance military power between NATO and the Warsaw Pact countries.
  • To stop Cold War rivals from building up forces that could be used in a swift assault.

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Provisions and Monitoring

• Confidence-Building Measures: Included provisions to build trust and stabilize the region, monitored by a joint review mechanism.
• Transparency: The treaty’s limits and inspection regime provided transparency on military holdings, which was highly valued even after the Cold War ended.

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Recently, Srinivas R Kulkarni, an Indian-origin US scientist has been awarded the prestigious Shaw Prize in Astronomy for 2024.

Scientist Srinivas R Kulkarni Honoured with Prestigious Shaw Prize in Astronomy

• He has been awarded for his ground-breaking discoveries about millisecond pulsars, gamma-ray bursts, supernovae, & other variable or transient astronomical objects.

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Astronomical Transients

• Transients are astrophysical phenomena that change their brightness over a relatively short time. 
• These can be caused by a number of different astrophysical sources, and each of these transient events has particular characteristics.
• There are many kinds of astronomical transients, all of them united by phenomena that are violent in some measure. 
• Significance : Astronomers study transients to understand where their violence comes from and what that can tell us about non-transient events.

Kinds of Transients

• Supernovae :  when the outer layers of large stars blow up while their cores implode because the stars have run out of elements to fuse. 
  • Many a supernova has been known to become so bright that it emits light more intensely than the stars in the rest of its host galaxy combined. 
• Active galactic nucleus (AGN) :  The centers of massive galaxies host supermassive black holes. Sometimes, these black holes actively feast on matter in their orbit. 
  • Interactions between the black holes and the matter in this process cause the latter to acquire energy and glow with a changing brightness. 
• Fast radio burst (FRB) : FRBs are very energetic sources 10-times as much energy as the Sun,which usually only last on the order of milliseconds.

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A seven-member Council was established to restore order in Haiti after Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s resignation on April 24.  

Political Crisis in Haiti

• The Council is responsible for forming a new Cabinet, creating a national security council, and organizing an electoral commission for upcoming polls. 
• This move has support from Caribbean countries and the U.S., with the Caribbean trade bloc Caricom endorsing the Council as a hopeful new beginning for Haiti.

Geographical Features Haiti

• Haiti is a large mountainous country. 
• Location: It is situated between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean.
  • It is positioned in the Northern and Western Hemisphere of the earth.
• Capital: Port-au-Prince.
• Bordering Regions: Haiti is bordered by:
  • East: The Dominican Republic on the island of Hispaniola, Cuba
  • West: Caribbean Sea, Jamaica
  • North: Atlantic Ocean.
  • South:  Caribbean Sea.

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Important Points to be Remembered

• Longest river: Artibonite River
• Largest lake: Lake Azuéi
  • It is also known as “Étang Saumâtre”.
• Haiti’s valley (crops):  Plaine de l’Artibonite.
• Climatic condition:  predominantly tropical
• Highest point: Chaine de la Selle, at 2,680 meters.
• Major mountain ranges: The Massif de la Selle and the Massif de la Hotte. 
• Largest Gulf of the country:  The Gulf of Gonâve is situated  between the Northern and Southern Peninsulas of Haiti.

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Recently, the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight-tested the RudraM-II air-to-surface missile from Su-30 MK-I platform of the Indian Air Force (IAF) off the Odisha coast. 

DRDO Successfully Flight-Tests RudraM-II Air-to-Surface Missile from Su-30 MK-I Platform

• The flight-test met all the trial objectives, validating the propulsion system and control & guidance algorithm. 
• The successful test has consolidated the role of the RudraM-II system as a force multiplier to the Armed Forces.

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About RudraM-II

• An Indigenous Missile System: RudraM-II is an indigenously-developed solid-propelled air-launched missile system.
• Task: It is meant for Air-to-Surface role to neutralize many types of enemy assets. 

Rudram Missile – A Game Changer in Air-to-Surface Missiles

Rudram, India’s first anti-radiation missile (ARM), is an Air-to-Surface missile developed by DRDO. 

• Comprises: 
  • Navigation System: The missile uses a navigation mechanism consisting of a satellite-based Global Positioning System (GPS) and an inertial navigation system. 
  • Passive Homing Head: It employs a “passive homing head” for guidance, enabling it to accurately strike targets even if the radiation source switches off during the engagement. 
• Mandate: To detect, track, and neutralize the enemy’s radio frequency sources, including radar, communication assets, and other radio frequency sources. 
• Future Developments and Advanced Versions:
  • RudraM-1: It primarily aims at Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD).
  • RudraM-2 and RudraM-3: These are under development with ranges of 350 and 550 km, respectively. 
• Significance: The development of these missiles began around eight years ago, with plans for future tests and inductions to enhance the IAF’s air superiority tactical capability.

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Recently, the Indian Staffing Federation (ISF), said that India with almost 85% informal labor, generating more than half of the country’s GDP, requires a structural shift towards structured and formal employment.

Indian Staffing Federation’s ‘India@Work: Vision Next Decade’ Blueprint Aims to Formalize Informal Workforce and Implement Labor Codes

• The ISF also unveiled “India@Work: Vision Next Decade,” a blueprint for formalization of the informal workforce and implementation of labor codes in the country.
• According to the e-Shram portal, over 94% of the informal sector workers enrolled on the e-Shram platform earn less than Rs 10,000 per month. 
  • Agriculture ranks first, accounting for 52.11% of all enrolments, followed by domestic and household employees and construction workers.

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Insights on the Indian Staffing Federation (ISF)

Indian Staffing Federation (ISF), known as the apex body for flexi staffing, is a platform which provides employment, work choice, compensation, social security and health benefits even for the temporary workforce.

• Purpose: To enhance long-term growth and ensure its continued ability to make positive contributions to the economy as well as the society through the services of the Staffing Industry. 
• Focus: The principal focus of the Federation’s activities shall be triangular employment relationships, in which the staffing company is the employer of the temporary worker, who works under the supervision of the user company.
• Concerns Raised: 
  • Income inequality and poverty levels are rising.
  • The plight of lower-income and semi-skilled workers are concerning and underscores the pressing need for concerted action. 
• Aspects Considered: The ISF would be looking majorly into three crucial aspects to address the challenges posed: increasing the social security ambit; improving the concept of in-hand wage; implementation of labor codes; to minimize any obstacle to a favorable working condition.
• Actions Taken: As per the document, while the government is trying to address issues for the migrant workers, ISF was going beyond stop-gap solutions, inviting inclusion through formalization in the labor market. 
  • A noticeable distinction was seen during the pandemic, where the formal workforce, comprising less than 15%, had access to their social security, which aided them in overcoming the challenges.

The Informal Economy

• Refers: It is the diversified set of economic activities, enterprises, jobs, and workers that are not regulated or protected by the state. 
• Activities Involved: The informal economy consists of activities that have market value but are not formally registered. Ex, domestic workers, waste pickers etc.
• Difficult to Measure: This is because activities within it cannot be directly observed and most of the participants in the informal economy do not want to be accounted for.
• Need for a Balanced Approach: It is crucial in addressing the informal economy, as it currently represents the only source of income and a critical safety net for millions of people.

Distinction between Formal and Informal Economy

Classification of Indian Workforce

The workforce can be classified into two categories: workers in the formal sector (organized sector) and workers in the informal sector (unorganized sector).

• Formal Sector:  It includes public sector establishments and private sector establishments with 10 or more hired workers. 
  • The workers enjoy social security benefits and generally earn higher wages.
• Informal Sector: This Informal Sector in India encompasses a wide range of workers, including farmers, agricultural laborers, owners of small enterprises, self-employed individuals without hired workers, and non-farm casual wage laborers who work for multiple employers. 
  • Workers in the informal sector do not enjoy the same level of social security, and their income can be irregular.
  • As per the Economic Survey, 2021-22, total number of people working in the unorganized sector is around 43.99 crores during 2019-20.

Problems Associated with the Informal Sector in India

• Low Wages and Exploitation: Informal employment lacks a written contract, paid leave, social security such as healthcare, pensions, and unemployment insurance, provision of minimum wages and appropriate working conditions.
  • Working hours generally exceed the labor standards. 
  • Poor quality of life of unorganized sector workers than their organised sector counterparts also impact on the nutrition intake and resulting in severe health problems.
  • Also, agricultural laborers and street vendors face seasonal unemployment and low wages, leading to income inequality and increased poverty.
• Impact on Women: Women are major informal participants but receive the fewest benefits and face lower salary, income volatility, and a lack of a strong social safety net, which in turn, impacts the women’s labor-force participation.
  • According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey statistics, female labor force participation fell to 21.2% in March 2021, down from 21.9% the previous year.
• Tax Evasion: Informal economy’s firms are not directly regulated and they typically evade one or more taxes by concealing revenue and expenses from the legal system. 
  • It is a concerning issue for the government because a large portion of the economy is not taxed.
• Stunted Middle Class: Informal sector destroys workers’ effort to get ahead and become middle class regardless of the capability for hard work and a highly entrepreneurial spirit. 
  • They often struggle to access formal financial services such as bank loans and credit, in turn hindering their ability to improve their living standards.
• Lack of Policy Making: As there are no official statistics available, it is difficult for the government to formulate policies affecting the informal sector.
• Occupational Hazards: Waste pickers and recyclers face health risks due to poor working conditions and inadequate safety measures. 
  • Child labour is also prevalent in this sector.

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Challenges associated with the Formalization of the Indian Informal Sector

• Goods And Services Tax (GST) and Associated Complications: It is assumed that the higher revenue collections mean a more formal economy and vice versa. However, in trying to maximize GST collection, policymakers have made the GST extremely complicated.
  • For instance, the productivity gains from the GST unifying the country into a single market have gone almost entirely to large businesses and digital startups whereas the compliance burden has put smaller firms at a disadvantage. 
• Lack of Yields from Industrial Policy: A five-year package of $24 billion in production-linked incentives is provided to those who are willing to put up factories. 
• High Uncertainty Regarding Job Security: The high insecurity due to a high degree of economic informality is making even some PhDs and engineers graduates to compete for a government office for stability of tenure and retirement benefits.
• Aging Population: By 2050, India’s elderly population would more than double to 350 million. This low-productivity work offers less chance to save for old age or medical emergencies. 
• Social Challenge: Social norms and safety concerns curbs physical mobility of women who make up the majority of informal participants, yet they face lower salary, income volatility, and a lack of a strong social safety net. 
  • Meanwhile, Dalits, the caste groups at the bottom of a repressive, hierarchical ladder, are stuck in casual, daily-wage work.
• Manufacturing and Service Sector: A significant proportion of the manufacturing sector is fragmented and carried out mostly by small and micro enterprises, which do not possess the competitive efficiency to grow and create formal jobs.
• Access to Financing: The domestic credit-to-GDP ratio compares credit to people and businesses to the economy.
  • The World Bank reports that India’s private sector domestic credit at 55% of GDP in 2020 is well below the global average (148%) and below China (182%), South Korea (165%), and Vietnam (148%).

Way Forward

• Creation of Database: There are no official statistics available that reflect the true state of the informal economy making it a sector with “invisible workforce”. 
  • As part of the National Data System, a comprehensive statistical base on many elements of the informal economy is required to enable policymakers to make informed decisions. 
• Equal Wages and Salaries: Equal compensation for equal effort is a directive principle of state policy (Article 39(d)), but women farm laborers typically earn less than their male colleagues. 
  • Through appropriate legislative support and its proper implementation, the government should enhance and enforce this DPSP.
• Rationalizing Regulations: There is a need to relax restrictions for formal business conduct in order to pull informal work into the fold of formality. 
  • There is also a need to simplify registration processes that can help integrate the informal sector into the formal sector.
  • A self-help group effort that gathers informal employees can help to foster self-sufficiency and address concerns linked to their working conditions.
• Collective Working: There is a need for workers to collaborate with others with complementary skills so that they can collectively perform and benefit from complex and high value-added tasks that none of them could do on their own. 
• Universal Coverage: Leverage the eShram portal and collaborate with industry associations to gradually enrol all informal workforce of over 400 million into social security schemes.
  • Schemes should be designed according to the needs of the informal workers.
  • There is also a need to extend maternity benefits, accident and death compensation, etc.
• Strict Implementation of Labour Codes: These are required to to address current challenges of the informal sector and their workers.
• Skill Development and Upgradation: The time has come to equip informal workers with relevant skills to enhance employability and potentially transition them into the formal sector.
• Grievance Redressal Mechanism: Grievances from informal workers should be heard and redressed periodically through an accessible and officially monitored mechanism.
• Follow Recommendations of the Indian Staffing Federation (ISF): 
  • Need to initiate a structural shift towards formalization of the country’s informal workforce of over 400 million to ensure equitable opportunities and sustainable livelihoods for all.
  • Need for removing employment bottlenecks
  • Urgent implementation of the four labor codes in India, policy changes and encouraging schemes.
  • Consideration of employment services as ‘merit services’, with lower GST slab tax rates at 5% with ICT benefits instead of the current 18% and linking of skilling initiatives to employment.

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