Context: Recently, Rajasthan Platform Based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Bill, 2023 was passed by Rajasthan Assembly.

About Gig Economy:

• A gig economy is a labor market that relies on independent contractors and freelancers rather than full-time permanent employees.
• Classification of Gig Economy:
  • Platform-based: They use online apps or digital platforms to find and perform work, such as ride-hailing, food delivery, e-commerce, online freelancing, etc. 
  • Non-platform-based gig workers: They work outside the traditional employer-employee relationship, such as casual wage workers and own-account workers in sectors like construction, domestic work, agriculture, etc.
• Benefits of Gig Economy:
  • For Workers: Gig economy can provide more flexibility, autonomy, income opportunities, skill development, and inclusion. 
  • For Employers: It can enable access to a large and diverse pool of talent, lower fixed costs, higher scalability, and better customer satisfaction. 
  • For Customers: It can offer more choice, convenience, quality, and affordability.

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Gig Economy in India:

• Prospect: According to a report by NITI Aayog, the platform-based gig economy in India has grown rapidly in recent years, driven by factors such as demographic dividend, urbanisation, digitalisation, and consumer demand. 

• Platform Based: There are about 24 million platform-based gig workers in India as of 2020-21, accounting for about 6.5% of the non-agricultural workforce or 4% of the total workforce in India. 
  • The report also projects that the platform-based gig economy in India can create up to 56 million new jobs by 2029-30, adding up to 1.3% to India’s GDP in the long run.
• Non-Platform Based: According to Invest India, there are about 120 million non-platform-based gig workers in India as of 2019-20, accounting for about 32% of the non-agricultural workforce or 20% of the total workforce in India. 
  • The report suggests that the non-platform-based gig economy in India can create up to 34 million new jobs by 2029-30.
• Economic Contribution: In 2020, ASSOCHAM projected that India’s gig economy would rise at a compound annual growth rate of 17% to $455 billion by 2023.
  • According to a report by Nasscom, the gig economy is expected to contribute around 1.25% to India’s GDP by 2025, with the potential to create 90 million jobs.
• Pillar of Strength: Gig economy has proven its resilience and potential in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, by continuing to unlock jobs in the millions and keeping communities connected.

Need of Gig Economy in India:

• Employment Opportunity: India as a developing country is faced with the challenge of providing employment opportunities to all. Gig economy has expanded the availability of jobs and improved labour force participation. 
• Catering demand of low Skilled: At present, about 47 per cent of the gig work is in medium-skilled jobs, about 22 per cent in high skilled, and about 31 per cent in low-skilled jobs. 
• Young demographic dividend: India has a large and growing population of young people who are well-educated and tech-savvy. 
  • Many millennials value flexibility and work-life balance and are drawn to the gig economy because of the opportunities it provides.
  •  Youth participation in the Gig economy has seen an 8-fold increase between 2019-2022.
• Female Labour Force: Female gig workers benefit from the income-generating potential, choice and the flexible work modalities of the gig economy. 
  • Women’s participation in the gig economy has increased from 18% to 36%.
• Catering to Retired Persons: Due to the flexibility that contract work offers, many people after retirement start working for themselves. 
• Democratization of Jobs: The gig and platform sector has low-entry barriers and hence holds enormous potential for job creation in India. 
• Technological Disruption: Tech advancements, particularly in AI, robotics, and data analytics, have eliminated workplace limitations. Tech integration in the gig economy can boost productivity and improve gig workers’ living standards.
• Last Mile Delivery:  It has revolutionized the last-mile delivery industry, making it more accessible, affordable, and efficient. 
• Remote Working: Telecommunications have made work more dynamic, allowing individuals to collaborate regardless of where they are geographically located.
• Start-Up Culture: Gig workers can be a cost-effective alternative to traditional employees, as they can be hired on a project-by-project basis, without the need to provide benefits or other forms of compensation. 

Steps taken to Promote Gig Economy in India:

• Central Legislation: Code on Wages, 2019, a universal minimum wage and floor wage should be provided to all organized and unorganized sectors, including gig workers.
  • Code on Social Security, 2020, the gig workers are provided with recognition as a new occupational category.
  • Dedicated Social Security Fund to extend Social Security benefits to gig workers.
• State Government Initiatives: Karnataka government has announced for gig workers an accident and life insurance cover of Rs 4 lakh for which it will entirely bear the cost of the annual premium. 
• Rajasthan Platform Based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Bill, 2023 
  • Defines Gig Worker:  Person who performs work or participates in a work arrangement and earns from such activities outside of the traditional employer-employee relationship and who works on a contract that results in a given rate of payment, based on terms and conditions laid down in such contract and includes all piece-rate work.
  • Registration: It seek to register all gig workers and aggregators in the state, facilitate guarantee of social security to gig workers, and give them an opportunity to air any grievances.
  • State government will maintain a database of the gig workers and generate a unique ID for every one of them.
  • Rajasthan Platform Based Gig Workers Welfare Board: It will have two members each from gig workers and aggregators to be nominated by the state government besides two civil servants. 
  • Rajasthan Platform Based Gig Workers Social Security and Welfare Fund: For the benefit of registered gig workers. Welfare fees will be charged from aggregators.
  • Penalties on Aggregators: State government may impose a fine which may extend up to Rs 5 lakh for the first contravention and up to Rs 50 lakh for subsequent contraventions.

Concern Associated with Gig Economy:

• Increase in Voluntary Unemployment:  It has led to an increase in voluntary unemployment as some workers prefer the flexibility and autonomy of gig work over traditional employment.
• Disrupting Work-Life Balance: Flexibility of working gigs can actually disrupt the work-life balance, sleep patterns, and activities of daily life. 
  • It often means that workers have to make themselves available any time gigs come up, regardless of their other needs, and must always be on the hunt for the next gig.
• Job insecurity: Gig workers in India often lack job security, as they are typically engaged on a project or assignment basis, rather than as permanent employees.
• Income instability: Gig workers in India may experience fluctuations in income due to the irregular and unpredictable nature of gig work. 
• Lack of formalization: Many gig workers in India operate in the informal sector, which can limit their ability to access credit, government support programs, and other resources.
• Lack of legal protection & social security: Gig workers are not covered under India’s labor laws and do not have legal protection in case of workplace harassment, discrimination, or unfair termination. 
  • Gig workers do not have access to social security benefits such as health insurance, retirement benefits, and paid leave.
• Unequal bargaining power: Gig workers in India may lack the bargaining power to negotiate fair compensation and working conditions, particularly when they are competing against a large pool of other workers on digital platforms.
• Training and upskilling: Many gig workers lack the necessary skills to perform their work effectively. Gig workers often have limited opportunities for upskilling and career advancement.
• Social stigma: Gig work is still viewed by some in India as a temporary or low-paying option, which can result in social stigma and lack of recognition for the work done by gig workers.
• Payments, Incentives, and Growth Models: Absence of a minimum wage guarantee makes workers susceptible to financial vagaries during crises/disasters
• Workplace Conditions & Interaction: Lack of appropriate forums that capture concerns of gig-workers and help platforms to understand the challenges and problem-solve

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Way Forward:

• Health Benefits and Leaves: Gig economy platforms can provide health insurance benefits to their workers to ensure their well-being and safety. 
  • These include coverage for medical costs, hospitalization, preventive care services such as regular health check-ups and vaccinations, as well as paid leaves for workers. 
• Skill Development for Informal Gig Employees: Platform-led upskilling initiatives are essential for enabling workers in the informal sector, such as driving or masonry, to take up jobs in the gig sector. 
  • Platform businesses can provide certifications, allowing workers to progress better in their careers.
• Adequate Protection: Although gig workers get minimum wages, they need certain legal protection, policies, and opportunities like other employees protected under labour laws. 
  • This can protect the rights of gig workers and help curb labour disputes. 
• Addressing Gender Bias: Incentivise more women to take up the role, enabling platforms to expand markets and attract more women customers.
  • Adopt gender-inclusive language and imagery to normalize participation of women platform gig-workers enabling platforms to expand markets and attract more women customers.
• NITI aayog recommended five-pronged RAISE approach to ensure realization of full access to social security for all gig and platform workers: 
  • Recognise the varied nature of platform work to design equitable schemes. 
  • Allow augmentation of social security through innovative financing mechanisms. 
  • Incorporate, while designing schemes, the specific interests of platforms, factoring the impact on job creation, platform businesses and workers. 
  • Support workers to subscribe to government schemes and welfare programmes through widespread awareness campaigns. 
  • Ensure benefits are readily accessible to workers.
• Incentivising ‘platformization’: To accelerate ‘platformisation’ i.e., give impetus for more platform businesses by starting a program called ‘Platform India’ along the lines of the government’s earlier Start Up India initiative.

Conclusion:

• The increasing demand for gig workers and the rise in participation of gig workers, especially the youth and women indicate that the gig economy in India is gaining popularity.
• According to a report by the International Labour Organization (ILO), India is the second-largest gig economy in the world, with around 56% of all gig workers in the Asia-Pacific region working in India.
• The gig economy is predicted to be a significant building block in achieving India’s aim to become a $5 trillion economy by 2025. This would help in bridging the income and unemployment gap. 
• Greater collaboration between the government, employers, and workers’ organizations is needed to ensure that gig workers are able to enjoy their rights and access the benefits they are entitled to.

News Source: The Hindu

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Context:

Recently, the United States handed over 105 trafficked antiquities to India.

More on News:

• The artifacts represent a wide geographical spread in terms of their origin in India – with 47 from Eastern India, 27 from Southern India, 22 from Central India, 6  from Northern India, and 3 from Western India.
• These antiques are made of terracotta, stone, metal, and wood – spanning a period from the 2nd-3rd century CE to the 18th-19th century CE.
  • For example:  Terracotta Yakshi plaque belonging to the 1st century BC; a red sandstone Dancing Ganesha from the 9th century; and a 10th century Kubera.

Image Credits: mysteryofindia.com

What are Antiquities?

• Antiquity refers to any object or work of art that reflects science, art, literature, religion, customs, morals, or politics from a bygone era. 
• This can include coins, sculptures, paintings, epigraphs, detached articles.
• As per, the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972(AATA), an “antiquity” is an article or object that is at least 100 years old. 
  • If it is a manuscript or record of any scientific, historical, literary or aesthetic value, it should be at least 75 years old. 

Art Treasure:

• An art treasure is a human work of art, other than antiquity, declared to be a treasure by the Centre for its artistic value after the artist’s death.
  • For Example: Chola Bronzes

What is the ‘Provenance’ of antiquity?

• Provenance includes the list of all owners from the time the object left its maker’s possession to the time it was acquired by the current owner.
  • For Example:  Tracing the  ‘Provenance’ of Kohinoor Diamond: 
    • 1306: The diamond – not yet christened Kohinoor – is mentioned for the first time in some historical texts as belonging to the Rajas of Malwa around this time.
    • 1526: the diamond passed to Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb, before coming into the possession of his grandson, Sultan Mahamad.
    • 1739:Persian general Nadir Shah defeated Mahamad to conquer Delhi – and the diamond — in 1739 and gave it its now-famous name- Kohinoor.
    • 1813:The diamond returns to India when Shah Shuja Durrani, brings it to Punjab and gives it to Maharaja Ranjit Singh 
    • 1849:The British win the second Anglo-Sikh War  and Duleep Singh signs over the kingdom and the diamond  to the British.
    • 1852:The kohinoor diamond is taken to England.
    • Current ownership: Despite claims of ownership by three countries — India, Pakistan, Afghanistan  — the United Kingdom has maintained its ownership over the gem.

Magnitude of Missing Antiquities:

According to the ASI list, 322 of the 486 antiquities were reported missing since 1976.

• The ASI’s list of missing antiquities covers 17 states and two Union Territories which includes: Uttarakhand (33), Tamil Nadu (30), Bihar (22), Andhra Pradesh (18), Karnataka (15), Maharashtra (12), Chhattisgarh (8), Odisha (5), Telangana (5)
• As per UNESCO estimates that “more than 50,000 art objects have been smuggled out of India till 1989”.
• The National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities has so far registered 3.52 lakh antiquities from the 16.70 lakh it has documented for an “effective check” on illegal activities.

Constitutional, Legislative and International  Provisions Related to Indian Heritage:

• Constitutional:
  • Classification of subjects: In India, Schedule seven of the Constitution contains the following provisions relating to Indian heritage :

• • Directive Principles of State Policy: Article 49 puts obligation on the State to protect every monument or place or object of artistic or historic interest, declared by or under law made by Parliament to be of national importance.
  • Fundamental Duty: Article 51A of Constitution states that it shall be the duty of every citizen of India to value and preserve the rich heritage of our culture.
• Legislative:
  • 1947: The Antiquities (Export Control) Act was passed to prevent antiquities from being exported without a license.
  • 1958: The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act was enacted to safeguard ancient monuments and archaeological sites from destruction and misuse. 
  • 1972: The Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972 (AATA), implemented from April 1, 1976.
  • This license is granted by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

• India’s Obligations towards International Conventions related to Heritage:
  • Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, 1977
  • Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, 2005
  • Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, 2006
  • United Nations World Heritage Committee: India has been elected as a member of the committee for the term 2021-25.

Mechanism of Bringing Back Antiquities to India:

There are three categories of antiquities which has been moved out of India:

• • Antiquities taken out of India pre-independence; 
  • Those which were taken out since independence until March 1976, i.e. before the implementation of AATA; 
  • Antiquities taken out of the country since April 1976.
• For items in the first two categories, requests have to be raised bilaterally or on international fora.
  • For Example, the Maharashtra government in 2022 announced it was working to bring back the sword of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj from London. 
• Antiquities in the second and third categories can be retrieved easily by raising an issue bilaterally with proof of ownership and with the help of the UNESCO convention. 

What do international conventions say?

• The 1970 UNESCO Convention aims to prevent the illicit import, export, and transfer of cultural property, and the United Nations Security Council has passed resolutions to protect cultural heritage sites in conflict zones.
• It emphasized that illegal trade of cultural property diminishes the heritage of countries of origin and that international co-operation constitutes one of the most efficient means of protecting each country’s cultural property.

Challenges in Conservation of antiquities:

• Lack of Strategy: As per CAG report, ASI lacks strategy or road-map (long term/medium term) to fulfill its mandate. The conservation activities were being undertaken on an ad-hoc/annual basis.
• Repatriation issues: Retrieving stolen antiquities from foreign countries can be a lengthy and complex process, involving diplomatic negotiations and legal challenges.
• Illegal trafficking and looting: India is rich in cultural heritage, making it a target for illegal trafficking and looting of antiquities. 
  • Global Financial Integrity estimates that illegal trade in paintings, sculptures, and other artifacts generates $6 billion annually.
• Inadequate law enforcement: Limited resources and lack of strict enforcement make it challenging to effectively monitor and prevent the illicit trade of antiquities.
  • The National Crime Records Bureau reported that between 2008 and 2012, 4,408 items were stolen from 3,676 ASI-protected monuments nationwide, but only 1,493 could be intercepted by police.
• Red Tapism: Lengthy and complex bureaucratic processes can hinder the proper documentation, conservation, and preservation of antiquities.
• Encroachment and urbanization: Historical sites and archaeological sites are sometimes encroached upon or destroyed due to rapid urbanization and development projects.
• Underfunding and resource constraints: The conservation and management of antiquities require significant financial resources and skilled personnel, which may not always be available.
  • After 2017-18, increase in ASI’s overall expenditure and its expenditure on heritage protection activities (40 percent of total expenditure) was moderate. 
  • As per CAG,  ASI’s expenditure on excavation and exploration activities was still less than one per cent.  
• Climate and environmental factors: Natural elements, such as weather and pollution, can pose threats to the preservation of antiquities.

Way Forward:

• Strengthening Legal Framework: Enact and enforce robust laws to combat the illegal trafficking and export of antiquities. 
• Improved Law Enforcement: Invest in specialized training for law enforcement officers to identify and combat antiquities smuggling. 
• Digital Documentation: Utilize modern technology like 3D scanning and digital documentation to create detailed records of antiquities. This aids in research, conservation, and repatriation efforts.
• Improved Archaeological Surveys: Conduct systematic and regular archaeological surveys to identify and document sites, which can be vulnerable to looting or encroachment.
• Heritage Conservation Zones: Establish specific zones around important heritage sites where development and construction are strictly regulated to protect the cultural heritage.

News Source: The Indian Express

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Context: 

• The Batagaika crater, the world’s largest permafrost crater, is expanding at an alarming rate due to the thawing of the permafrost, a phenomenon catalysed by global warming.

About  Batagaika crater:

• Location: The crater is located in the Sakha Republic.
  • Sakha is the largest republic of Russia, located in the Russian Far East, along the Arctic Ocean
• It is a one-kilometre-long gash that reaches depths of up to 100 metres. 
• It began forming in the 1960s after deforestation led to the melting of the underground permafrost, causing the land to sink.

What is Permafrost?

• Frozen Region: Permafrost is a type of ground or soil that remains frozen at or below the freezing point (0 degrees Celsius or 32 degrees Fahrenheit) for two or more consecutive years. 
• High latitude regions: It is found in regions where the temperature remains consistently cold throughout the year, typically in high-latitude regions near the poles, such as in the Arctic and subarctic regions.

Impact of permafrost thawing:

• Infrastructure Damage: The thawing permafrost has had devastating effects on northern and northeastern Russia, causing infrastructure damage such as buckling roadways, splitting houses, and disrupting pipelines. 
• Release of greenhouse gases: The permafrost holds gigatonnes of methane and carbon dioxide in the subsoil.
  • Accelerating Warming: Their gradual release would lead to an acceleration of global warming which in turn would accelerate the melting of the remaining permafrost, a phenomenon known as the permafrost carbon feedback cycle.
• Release of viruses and bacteria: Scientists have found microbes that are over 400,000 years old in permafrost.Many of the viruses that have plagued humanity such as bubonic plague and smallpox are believed to lie dormant in this frozen stratum.
• Damage to ecosystems and their biodiversity: Melting Siberian permafrost is turning tundra into muddy landscapes, killing local flora and starving wildlife that feeds on it.
  • When permafrost beneath lakes melts, water seeps into the ground and disappears, causing droughts.
• Landslides and geological accidents: Cities built on permafrost can experience landslides as the cement-like ice melts. The Batagaika crater, caused by thawing permafrost and deforestation, best illustrates the problem.

News Source: India Today 

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Context: 

• The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has initiated discussions on the potential imposition of countervailing duty (CVD) on stainless steel.

What is Countervailing Duty?

• Countervailing duty (CVD): These are tariffs levied on imported goods to offset subsidies made to producers of these goods in the exporting country.
  • CVDs are meant to level the playing field between domestic producers of a product and foreign producers of the same product who can afford to sell it at a lower price because of the subsidy they receive from their government.
• Provision in WTO: The World Trade Organization (WTO) permits the imposition of countervailing duty by its member countries.
  • Supplementary duty: CVD is imposed as an additional duty besides customs on imported products when such products are given tax concession in the country of their origin.
• Recommendation: Countervailing measures in India are administered by the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), in the Department of Commerce , Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

• Imposition: The department of commerce suggests anti-dumping duties. However, it is the department of revenue in the finance ministry that acts on the suggestion within three months and puts the duties in place. 

News Source: Live Mint

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Context:

• The recent approval of the film “Oppenheimer” by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), which includes the recital of a spiritual verse during intimate scenes, has sparked controversy.

About the CBFC:

• It is a statutory body under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B), tasked with regulating the public exhibition of films under the provisions of the Cinematograph Act, 1952. 
• Prior Approval: Films can be shown in India only after they have been certified by the Board.
• Board Members: The Board consists of members and a Chairperson (all of whom are appointed by Central Government) and functions with headquarters at Mumbai. The chairperson and board members serve for three years. 

What is the film certification process?

• Examining Committee: After receiving all of the film’s materials, requisite fees and other matters required under the rules, the regional officer forms an Examining Committee to view the film. 
• Certification process: The Certification process is in accordance with The Cinematograph Act, 1952, The Cinematograph (certification) Rules, 1983, and the guidelines issued by the Central government under section 5 (B).

News Source: Indian Express 

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