Context: After 3 years of India’s innovative education policy “National Education Policy 2020”, an assessment is desired.  

About National Education Policy 2020

• National Education Policy 2020 is the education policy of the 21st century that envisions a massive transformation in education through the 5 foundational pillars: Access, Equity, Quality, Affordability, and Accountability.
• The National Education Policy 2020 was proposed by a committee headed under Dr. K Kasturirangan. 
• The National Education Policy 2020 proposes various reforms including reforms in school and higher education, technical education, vocational education and global standards that are suited to 21st-century needs. 
• It is aimed at making India into a vibrant knowledge society and global knowledge superpower. 

National Education Policy 2020: Objectives

• Fostering a holistic education: A holistic and multidisciplinary education would develop intellectual, social, physical, emotional, and moral capacities of human beings 
• Providing quality education to all: Enable an individual to study one or more specialized areas of interest at a deep level, and also develop character, ethics and moral values. 
• Higher Education: Increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education to 50% by 2035. 
• Internationalization: Improve the numbers of international students studying in India, and provide greater mobility to students in India to study or carry out research at institutions.
• Funding: Increase the public funding for education to 6% of GDP by 2030. 
• Vocational Learning: Provide at least 50% of learners exposure to vocational education by 2025 through school and higher education system.

National Education Policy 2020: Performance

1. Holistic Education: 
   1. Various initiatives like DIKSHA (Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing) as and National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage (NCF-FS) provide a integrated platform for holistic education. 
   2. National Assessment Centre and PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development) aims to improve the  standards of education through quality student assessment.
2. Quality Education: 
   1. Literacy: National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN Bharat)
   2. QUality Schools: Initiatives like PM SHRI (PM Schools for Rising India) for upgradation of schools have been implemented in about 6,500 schools. 
   3. Teacher Training: NISHTHA (National Initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement) 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 is an Integrated Teacher Training Programme for different stages of school education. 
3. Higher Education: 
   1. Learner Centric Education: National Credit Framework (NCrF), National Higher Education Qualification Framework and Academic Bank of Credit (ABC) with multiple entry/exit have been introduced.  
   2. Status: So far 1667 Universities/INIs/HEIs are onboarded on ABC portal & 2.75 Crore students are registered.
   3. Equity: Many professional courses are being offered in Indian Languages and entrance exams such as JEE, NEET, CUET are conducted in 13 Indian languages
4. Internationalization: 
   1. Policy Action: Framed regulation on setting up and operation of campuses of foreign Higher Education Institutions in India.
   2. MOUs have been signed for setting up of the campus of IIT Madras in Zanzibar- Tanzania and IIT Delhi in Abu Dhabi.
5. Vocational Learning: 
   1. Scheme: ‘Samagra Shiksha’ scheme aims at integrating Vocational Education with general academic education.
   2. Framed National Council for Vocational Education & Training (NCVET), a framework to enable vocational education in the education. 
   3. For Class XI and XII, vocational courses are being offered as compulsory (elective) subjects. 
6. Funding: 
   1. According to Economic Survey 2022-23, total education outlay, (Centre & State), added up to 2.9 per cent of the country’s 2022 GDP. 
   2. The funding has remained constant at 2.9 percent of the GDP for the last four years. 

Continue Reading: National Education Policy NEP 2020, Comprehensive Guide

Source: PIB

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Context: Rajya Sabha passed the bill to increase the age limit of the President and members of the GST Appellate Tribunals.

Bill on GST Appellate Tribunals: Key Features

• Objective: The Bill increases the age limit of the President and members of the GST Appellate Tribunals from 67 to 70 years and 65 to 67 years, respectively, in alignment with the age limits of other tribunals.
• Other Bills: The Rajya Sabha also passed the Provisional Collection of Taxes Bill, 2023 that replaces the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act, 1931.
  • Both the bills were passed by Lok Sabha recently. 

About GST Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT)

• Objective: Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal is the forum of second appeal in GST laws and the first common forum of dispute resolution between Centre and States. 
  • First Appellate Body: Appellate Authorities provided under the Central and State GST Acts. 
  • GST Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) will ensure that there is uniformity in the dispute resolution and implementation of GST across the country. 
• History: GSTAT was established earlier, but struck down in 2019 by the Madras High Court. Since then the burden of High Courts have increased due to GST related litigation. 
• Re-introduced: A bill was introduced recently to re-establish the GSTAT earlier, and the bodies were notified in September this year. 
• Age Incongruence: However, SC pointed out the anomaly related to age in the GSTAT, which was not in consonance with the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021, which sets age limits as 70 and 67 for Presidents and members of tribunals.
  • Bill to correct the anomaly was passed by Lok Sabha, and has been passed by Rajya Sabha too. 

What Happens when a bill passed by Lok Sabha, is returned by Rajya Sabha without passing?

• Ordinary Bill: If there is a deadlock over an ordinary bill, the speaker of Lok Sabha can decide to call for a Joint Sitting of both the houses, under Article 108. 
  • If the Second House rejects the bill altogether or does not take any action for six months, a deadlock is deemed to have taken place.  
• Money Bill: In case of Money Bill, the Rajya Sabha can not reject the bill. It should be returned back to Lok Sabha with or without recommendations from Rajya Sabha within 14 days. 
• Constitutional Bill: In case of Constitutional Amendment bill, if a bill is rejected by Rajya Sabha, the bill ends there. 

Source: Indian Express

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Context: The India cyber threat report 2023  is released by the Data Security Council of India (DSCI) and Quick heal.

About Indian Cyber Threat Report 2023

• Purpose: To empower businesses to fortify their cybersecurity posture by presenting a  thorough analysis of cyber threats in the Indian landscape, drawing on a wealth of data, statistics, and telemetry from approximately 8.5 million endpoints.

Indian Cyber Threat Report 2023: Key Findings

• Total Detections: Over 400 million detections across approximately 8.5 million Endpoints.
• Detection Rate: Averaging 761 detections per minute.
• Behaviour-Based Detections: Approximately 49 million detections(12.5%) stem from behaviour-based analysis.
• Ransomware incident ratio:  1 per 650 detections
• Malware incident ratio:  1 per 38,000 detections · 
• Cryptojacking (Emerging Threat) It is a type of cybercrime that involves the unauthorized use of people’s devices (computers, smartphones, tablets, or even servers) by cybercriminals to mine for cryptocurrency.
• A significant increase in Adware and Potentially Unwanted Applications (PUAs).

Must Read: NCRB Data On Cyber Crime In India

News source: Business Standard

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Context: The European Union and Member states have reached an agreement to reform the bloc’s migration policy through ‘New Pact on Migration and Asylum’.

New Pact on Migration and Asylum – European Commission

• The reform includes speedier vetting of irregular arrivals, creating border detention centers, and accelerated deportation for rejected asylum applicants.
• The pact still needs to be formally approved by the European Council, representing the 27 member nations, and the European Parliament, before it enters the bloc’s law books, likely in 2024.

What’s in the New Pact on Migration and Asylum deal?

• Screening Regulation: It envisions a pre-entry procedure to swiftly examine an asylum seeker’s profile and collect basic information such as nationality, age, fingerprints and facial image.
• Eurodac Regulation: It is a large-scale database that will store the biometric evidence collected during the screening process. 
• Asylum Procedures Regulation: It sets two possible steps for migrants: the traditional asylum procedure, which usually takes several months to complete, and a fast-tracked border procedure, meant to last a maximum of 12 weeks. 
• Asylum and Migration Management Regulation: It establishes a system of “mandatory solidarity” that will offer countries three options to manage migration flows: 
  • relocate a certain number of asylum seekers,
  • pay a contribution for each claimant they refuse to relocate,
  • finance operational support. 
• Crisis Regulation: It foresees exceptional rules that will apply when the bloc’s asylum system is threatened by a sudden and massive arrival of refugees, as was the case during  COVID-19 pandemic. 
• • In these circumstances, national authorities will be allowed to apply tougher measures, including longer detention periods.

Must Read: International Migration Outlook 2023

News Source: Euronews

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Context: Reduced human activities  in Bihar’s Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR)  has resulted in an increase in Tiger population.

• Valmiki Tiger Reserve has witnessed a 75 per cent increase in tiger number to 54 this year, up from 31 in 2018 as per the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). 

Reasons for Increase in Tiger Numbers in Valmiki Tiger Reserve

• Increase in grassland cover due to total ban on sand and stone mining inside VTR, and strict restrictions on mining in its eco-sensitive zone.
• Rise in prey population ie. the herbivores who depend on the grasslands resulting in a better chance of survival for tigers.
• Minimize human-wildlife conflict  by creating awareness among local residents and keeping a check on illegal  mining in and around the reserve.

About Valmiki Tiger Reserve

• Valmiki Tiger Reserve is part of the Valmiki-Chitwan- Parsa Terai Arch Tiger Conservation Landscape. 
• Location: West Champaran, Bihar.
• Major Flowing Rivers:  Gandak, Pandai, Manor, Harha, Masan and Bhapsa flow through various parts of the reserve
• Flora: Moist mixed deciduous, Open-land vegetation, Sub-mountainous semi-evergreen formation, Freshwater swamps, Riparian fringes, Alluvial grasslands, high hill savannah and Wetlands.
• Fauna: Rhesus macaque and common Langur
• The Reserve has also been designated as Important Bird Area (IBA) by the Indian Bird Conservation Network.

Also Read: 50th Anniversary Of Project Tiger

News source: Down to Earth

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Context: Recently, a development plan for Goddess Sita’s birthplace at Punaura Dham in Sitamarhi was launched by the Bihar Government.

• Sitamarhi features in the Centre’s list of 15 tourism-cum-religious places on the Ramayana Circuit.

About Punaura Dham Development Plan

• Punaura Dham:  Located three miles south-west of Sitamarhi district in the Mithila region of Bihar,  it has a 100-year-old Janaki  temple along with Sitakund, Sita Vatika and Luv Kush Vatika.
• It  includes renovation of the temple, parikrama path (a path to circumambulate the temple) and developing the Luv Kush Vatika, Sita Vatika, and Sita Kund. 
• A meditation mandap will also come up, and a 3-D film screened to show Goddess Sita’s life journey.
• Budgetary Outlay: 72-crore (approx)

Ramayana Circuit

• It is  one of the fifteen thematic circuits identified for development under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.

• Destinations  under the Ramayana Circuit theme: 
  • Uttar Pradesh: Ayodhya, Nandigram, Shringverpur & Chitrakoot.
  • Bihar:  Sitamarhi, Buxar & Darbhanga
  • Madhya Pradesh:  Chitrakoot
  • Odisha:  Mahendragiri 
  • Chattisgarh: Jagdalpur 
  • Maharashtra: Nashik & Nagpur
  • Telangana: Bhadrachalam 
  • Karnataka:  Hampi
  • Tamil Nadu:  Rameshwaram 

News Source: Indian express

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Context: The Ministry of Railways directed the National Academy of Indian Railways (NAIR), Vadodara, to transfer all its assets to Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV).

Transfer of Assets to Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya from the NAIR

• Infrastructure of NAIR under GSV: The Railway Board has decided to place all infrastructural facilities on the campus of NAIR under GSV.
  • This will include classrooms, faculty offices, labs, hostels, guest houses, auditoriums, security, sports facilities, etc.

About National Academy of Indian Railways (NAIR) 

• Establishment:  Formerly Railway Staff College, now NAIR, was founded in 1952.
• Training Academy for Railway Officers: It delivers foundational and introductory training initiatives for Group-A  railway officers.
  • NAIR also offers foundational programs for Group-B officers and organizes refresher courses, skill enhancement, and other mid-career training sessions for railway personnel.

Also Read;

• Railway Safety
• Gajraj System

News Source: The Hindu

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Context: Recently, the Supreme Court in Colorado ruled that the former US President, Donald Trump, is “disqualified from holding the office of President under Section Three of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution”. 

Colorado Supreme Court disqualifies Trump from 2024 ballot

• The judgment was related to Trump’s alleged role in the January 6, 2021 attacks on the US Capitol – the seat of the country’s government. 
• Trump supporters were protesting the election victory of Democratic candidate Joe Biden in 2020, claiming the polls were rigged. 
  • They rioted and entered the premises of government offices in Washington DC

About 14th Amendment to the US Constitution

• Background: The Amendment was passed in 1866 and ratified in 1868 by the US Congress [brought in after the end of the Civil War (1861-65)]. 
• Key Feature: All persons born or naturalized in the United States were granted citizenship, including the formerly enslaved people.
• Significance: It extended liberties and rights granted by the Bill of Rights to formerly enslaved people.

What is Section Three of the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution?

• Bar on Holding Office: It states that if any person previously elected to any government office took part in an insurrection or rebellion, they could not hold office again.
  • But Congress may, by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
• Underlying Principle: In a democracy, people cannot substitute force, violence or intimidation for persuasion, coalition building and voting. If an elected official has rebelled against the constitution itself, then it is a threat to that system of constitutional politics. 

News Source: The Indian Express

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Context: Sahitya Akademi has recently announced its annual Sahitya Akademi Award 2023 in 24 languages.

Sahitya Akademi Award 2023

• Awards: 9 books of poetry, 6 novels, 5 short story collections, 3 essays and 1 literary study have won the Sahitya Akademi Awards this year.
• Process: The awards recommended by distinguished jury members were approved by the Executive Board of the Sahitya Akademi under the Chairmanship of the President of the Akademi. 

Sahitya Akademi Award 2023 Winners List

Enroll now for UPSC Online Course

About Sahitya Akademi (India’s National Academy of Letters)

• It was founded in 1954 as an autonomous body under the Union Culture Ministry and is dedicated to promoting literature in Indian languages.
• It is the central institution for literary dialogue, publication and promotion in the country and the only institution that undertakes literary activities in 24 Indian languages.
• It was registered as a society in 1956 under the Societies Registration Act of 1860.
• Functions: 
  • Work actively to develop Indian letters. 
  • Set high literary standards to foster and coordinate literary activities in all the Indian languages. 
  • Promote the cultural unity of the country through literary activities. 
• Awards: The first Awards were given in 1955. The award is in the form of a casket containing an engraved copper plaque, a shawl, and ₹1,00,000.
  • Literary Works: Akademi gives 24 awards annually to literary works in the languages it has recognized.
  • Literary Translation:  24 awards are given annually to literary translations from and into the languages of India.
  • Bhasha Samman: It also gives special awards for significant contributions to the languages not formally recognized by the Akademi and for contributions to classical and medieval literature.
• Languages Recognised: Besides the 22 languages enumerated in the Constitution of India, the Akademi has recognised English and Rajasthani as languages in which its programme may be implemented.

News Source: TH

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Context: This article is based on the news “141 Opposition MPs suspended so far: Are they allowed to enter Parliament? Check list of restrictions” which was published in the Live Mint. The recent suspension of MPs, especially when crucial bills were introduced and passed with limited discussion, raises concerns about legislative decline.

Legislative Decline in India: The Rising Trend of MP Suspensions

• Suspension of MPs: The record suspension of 143 MPs seems the largest in India’s history. 
  • Of these, 95 are from the Lok Sabha and 46 from the Rajya Sabha. 
  • The previous suspension was on March 15, 1989, when 63 Lok Sabha members from Opposition parties were suspended after a dispute regarding the tabling of the report of the Justice Thakkar Commission on the assassination of Indira Gandhi in 1984. 
• Reason for Suspension: The MPs in both Houses were suspended for disrupting Parliamentary proceedings while protesting a recent Parliament security breach.
• Legislative Decline: The suspension of MPs denies them the right to participate in Legislative debate and discussion, a fundamental feature of parliamentary democracy.

To read more on the Suspension of MPs click here

Legislative Decline in India Recent Trends

• Decrease in Number of Sitting Days: The 17th Lok Sabha met for only 230 sitting days, the shortest full-term Lok Sabha since 1952.
• Reduced Budget Deliberations: The 17th Lok Sabha’s Budget session was one of the shortest since 1952. 
  • The Budget Session 2023 of Parliament was adjourned sine die recording the lowest productivity of a Budget Session in five years.
  • The short time to address financial issues raises concerns about the depth of investigation and deliberation on crucial fiscal issues.
• Limited Debates on Public Issues: The number of debates held in the Lok Sabha during the 17th Lok Sabha’s duration has been low. 
  • There have only been 11 short-term debates and one half-hour discussion, showing a limited parliamentary debate on issues of public interest.
  • The farm laws and the labor codes were passed without discussion despite protests by the opposition.

Reasons Behind Legislative Decline

• Executive Dominance: With the increasing executive dominance, it has an overpowering role over parliamentary legislation, leading to a decline in the legislature’s authority.
  • Strong ruling party majorities often lead to hasty passage of bills without adequate debate or amendments, undermining the principle of checks and balances.
• Party Discipline: Strict party discipline often requires members of parliament (MPs) to vote along party lines, reducing their ability to exercise independent judgment and scrutinize the executive effectively.
  • For instance, in India, the anti-defection law, which disqualifies MPs for defying the party whip, has been criticized for undermining the independence of MPs.
• Bypassing Legislature: The increasing use of executive orders, ordinances, and delegated legislation has contributed to the decline of parliamentary authority.
  • Ex- Passing of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the National Register of Citizens (NRC), and farm legislation. 
• Declining Decorum: Increased disruptions, protests, and unruly behavior in the Parliament hamper productive debate and deliberation, diminishing the public’s perception of its effectiveness.
• Criminalization of Politics: The increasing presence of criminal elements in the legislature undermines public trust and hinders effective lawmaking.
  • In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, 159 MPs had declared serious criminal cases against them, including those of rape, murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, crimes against women.
• Other Reasons for disorder in legislatures:
  • The lack of time available to MPs for raising important matters
  • The unresponsive attitude of the government 
  • Deliberate disruption by parties for political or publicity purposes
  • The absence of prompt action against MPs disrupting Parliamentary proceedings.

Challenges Concerning Legislative Decline

• Undermining the Constitutional Obligations: A decline in the productivity of Parliament impairs its ability to perform the duties entrusted to it by the Constitution effectively. 
  • The constitution gives Parliament the mandate to keep the government accountable by scrutinizing the working of ministries.
• Selective Suspension to Curb Dissent: Earlier, during the two Lok Sabhas (2004-14), even ruling party legislators, including rebels, were suspended for unruliness.
  • Now,  only opposition members have been subject to suspension, which includes those for far less severe offenses since 2014.
• Lack of Adequate Deliberations on Bills: The hallmark of a functioning democracy is deliberation, wherein elected legislators debate and discuss issues of public import and seek solutions to issues that affect citizens. 
  • While bills have to be passed following a discussion in parliament, they are now being passed without any discussion and without amendments on merit.
• Quality of Legislation: The decline in the referral of bills to Parliamentary Standing Committees raises concerns about the full examination and evaluation of proposed legislation.
  • The percentage of bills referred to parliamentary committees has reduced from 71% in the 15th Lok Sabha (2009-14) to 27% in the 16th Lok Sabha (2014-19), and to only around 13% since 2019. 
  • Even the bill revoking Article 370 was not referred to a parliamentary committee.
• Limited Parliamentary Business: This has led to an increasing recourse to ordinances that circumvent parliament, and the bypassing of the parliament on several important initiatives.
  • Due to such actions,  a global democracy report by V-Dem Institute has characterised India’s democracy as an “electoral autocracy”.
• Erosion of Democracy: The dissent has been equated with terror. Ex-the usage of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act to target protestors, including the demonstrators who tossed canisters and held signs in Parliament recently.
  • As a result, India has been deemed “partially free” by the Freedom House, which assesses civil and political liberties.

Way Forward

• Greater Role for Opposition: Greater participation of the opposition groups in allocating business of the House would serve as a measure of limiting the executive role and ensure greater accountability of the ruling government.
  • Dedicating one day per week, preferably Mondays, for discussions led by Opposition members will reduce disruptions.
• Code of Conduct for Parliamentarians: Code of conduct for members of the Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha, State Assemblies, and Councils is needed to minimize disruptions in the House.
• Questioning the Prime Minister: In the Indian Parliament, Question Hour and Zero Hour often lead to disruptions instead of fostering debate.
  • In the UK,  the Prime Minister responds to MPs’ questions weekly, leading to fewer disruptions and more spirited debates.
  • Thus, the UK practice of posing questions to the Prime Minister within the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha rules can be adopted.
• Parliamentary Disruptions Index (PDI): It can be used for a “naming and shaming” approach aligning with norms prevalent in the UK Parliament. .
• The names of MPs with the highest PDI values can be shared weekly in the media. 
  • The widespread dissemination of such information could negatively impact MPs’ public image, potentially restraining them from further disruptions.
• Productivity Meter: It should be created to account for the number of hours wasted on disruptions and adjournments and monitor the productivity of the day-to-day working of both Houses of Parliament. 
• Inner Party Democracy:  The parties need to be held accountable for their obligations under various laws, rules, as well as their own constitutions, including incorporating natural justice rules in the process of expulsion of party members. 

Conclusion:

• The legislative decline not only undermines constitutional obligations but also poses a threat to democratic structures and values.

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Context: This article is based on the news “Parliamentary panel recommends stricter action to end child labour in India” which was published in the Economic Times. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour has recently tabled a detailed report titled ‘National Policy on Child Labour – An Assessment’ in Parliament on the implementation of the Centre’s policy on child labour in India. 

CENSUS & Survey DATA on Child Labour in India

• State of Working Children: The number of working children has decreased from 1.26 crore (as per 2001 census) to 1.01 crore (as per 2011 census).
  • The number of working children in the age group of 5-14 years has also decreased from 57.79 lakh (as per 2001 census) to 43.53 lakh (as per 2011 census).
• Survey on Child Labour in India: According to the committee, the Ministry of Labour does not conduct any survey to ascertain the number of child labourers across the country.
  • The Ministry have stated that no proposal is under their consideration to develop a mechanism to maintain child labour data except depending on census data. 
• Eliminate Child Labour in India by 2025: Considering the prevalence of child labour at present, it is practically not possible to meet the international commitment to eliminate child labour by 2025.
  • For complete elimination of child labour in India by 2025, the decline in number of child labour has to increase from 1.9 lakh per annum to 12.4 lakh per annum. 

About Child Labour

• Definition: According to the International Labour Organisation, child labour is often defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development. 
  • It refers to work that is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children. 
  • It refers to work that interferes with their schooling by depriving them of the opportunity to attend school.
• Worst Forms of Child Labour: It involves children being enslaved, separated from their families, exposed to serious hazards and illnesses and/or left to fend for themselves on the streets of large cities, often at a very early age.

Must Read: Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Annual Report 2022

Parliamentary Standing Committee: Recommendations to End Child Labour In India?

• Recommendations of Parliamentary Panel: The report touches upon almost all aspects of the issue, and recommends various Ministries of the Centre and the States take coordinated steps to address it.
• Clearing Ambiguity for Determination of Age: The committee has recommended that discrepancies in the criteria for determination of the age of the child in various Acts, as well as the provisions of offence being cognisable/non-cognisable under the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, and Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 be examined to ensure they did not lead to any ambiguity or delay in securing justice for aggrieved children.
• Zero Tolerance on Child Labour in India: The committee has also recommended that, in addition to the three-four times increase in the amount of fine, stricter punishment in the form of cancellation of license, attachment of property, etc., needed to be incorporated to protect the interests of children. 
  • Union Labour Ministry should pursue this in order to have zero tolerance on child labour in India.
• Maintain Child Labour Data: Committee urged the Ministry of Labour to take up collecting data on children between 14 to 18 years during the next Census exercise with the Ministry of Home Affairs so as to have reliable data on children and adolescents.
  • The Committee impress upon the Ministry to conduct periodic survey particularly in urban areas to identify child labours. 
  • The panel also asked the Centre to direct States conduct surveys to identify child labour in India, collect and furnish enforcement data, along with their suggestions to address the problem.
• Devise Action Plan: The Committee impress upon the Ministry to take up the issue in a mission mode and devise a systematic action plan based policy to meet international commitments, which are not only relevant for economic development of the country but will also brighten the image of the country in the international forum.
• Fixing Accountability: According to the committee, in addition to the employer, the accountability of the principal employer and traffickers should be fixed.

Child Labour in India: Challenges

• Poverty: Many families living in poverty are compelled to send their children to work in order to supplement the family income. In India, not putting a child to work could means the family would not make enough income to sustain their living.
  • This forced child labor is unethical because it is against the autonomy of the children while the consent of the working child is mostly manipulated by the parents. 
• Lack of Education: Limited access to quality education, especially in rural areas, contributes to child labor. When children do not have access to proper schooling, they are more likely to engage in labor at an early age.
  • Government has taken measures to keep children out of factories, and put them in schools hoping it will empower children with skills that can help boost their incomes in the future. But, quite often, the standard of public schooling is abysmal as they fail in imparting useful skills.
• Risks Faced by Child Workers: They are exposed to the risks of contracting occupational diseases like skin diseases, diseases of the lungs, weak eyesight, TB etc. Further, they are vulnerability to sexual exploitation at the workplace.
• Social and Cultural Factors: Some cultural norms and traditions may perpetuate child labor, as certain communities may view it as acceptable for children to work from a young age. Social attitudes towards child labor can influence its prevalence. 
  • Sociocultural aspects such as the caste system, discrimination, and cultural biases against girls contribute to child labour.
• Inadequate Implementation of Laws: Limited resources and corruption can hamper the effectiveness of the available legal measures. 
  • Despite the fact that more than 1 crore children were identified as labourers during 2011 Census, not much efforts have since been made to withdraw them from the labour situation. For instance, as per the National Crime Records Bureau Report 2022, in 2021, around 982 cases were registered under the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, (CLPRA) 1986.
  • There is no Vigilance and Monitoring Committee under CLPR Act for identification, rescue and rehabilitation on the lines of Bonded Labour Abolition Act. 
  • The CLPR Act allows children below the age of 14 years to work in non-hazardous, family enterprises and entertainment industry and sports industry after school hours. This casts an additional burden on the child and deprives the child the right to development
• Informal Economy: A significant portion of child labor occurs in the informal economy, where regulations are often lax. Children may work in agriculture, small-scale industries, or as domestic helpers, making it challenging to monitor and regulate their working conditions.
• Inadequate Rehabilitation and Social Support: It has been found that there is lack of coordination among the law enforcement agencies dealing with issues relating to rehabilitation of children rescued from labour. As a result their rehabilitation continues to suffer. 

Constitutional & Government Measures Undertaken to Eradicate Child Labour in India

• Constitution of India: 
  • Article 21A: Makes free and compulsory education a Fundamental Right for all Children of the age of 6-14 years.
  • Article 23: Any type of forced labour is prohibited. 
  • Article 24: States that a child under 14 years cannot be employed to perform any hazardous work. 
  • Article 39: The health and strength of workers, men and women, and the tender age of children are not abused. 
• Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986: Based on the recommendations of Gurupadaswamy Committee, this act was enacted in 1986. It prohibits children under the age of 14 years to be working in hazardous industries and processes. 
  • Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Amendment Act 2016: It prohibits the employment of Children below 14 years in all employment and with the provisions for prohibition on employment of adolescents (14-18 Years) in the mines, inflammable substances (explosives) and in hazardous process.
• National Policy on Child Labour in India: Formulated in 1987, it seeks to adopt a gradual & sequential approach with a focus on rehabilitation of children and Adolescent.
• Other Measures: 
  • Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act 1976. 
  • SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989.
  • Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015.
• International Conventions: 
  • India has ratified the Minimum Age Convention (No.138) and Worst forms of Child Labour Convention (No.182) of ILO.
  • United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) Article 32 (Child Labour): The government should protect children from dangerous work harmful to health and business which is unsafe and unsuited for their development (physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social). 

Way Forward to stop Child Labour in India

• Poverty Alleviation: Creation of income generation opportunities, especially in rural areas, at a large scale so that poor households have the money and the purchasing power making it unnecessary for them to send their children to work. 
  • For instance, the skill development among the rural people and setting up of agro based industries as also other micro and small scale industries can help in reducing the complete dependence on agriculture. 
  • There is a need to launch skills development programmes in rural areas by establishment of vocational training institutions on a large scale such as Industrial Training Institutes, Polytechnic Institutes etc.
  • The idea of Universal Basic Income Scheme (UBIS) all households below a certain income may lead to  alleviation of rural  distress and is likely to disincentivise families from sending their children ones to work. 
• Awareness Generation And Education: Economic factors for perpetuation of child labour are further compounded by total ignorance in the rural areas about the ill effects of child labour. 

• • Launching awareness generation programmes on a large scale for making people aware of the value of education is an absolute necessity. 
  • Another important measure is extension of the entitlement of free and compulsory education up to higher secondary level which will enhance their enrolment rate and keep them away from labour or work.
• Rescue And Rehabilitation Of Existing Child Labour in India: It needs to be ensured that rescued child labour and their families get their entitlements as per the rehabilitation policy soon after their rescue. 
  • The rehabilitation process primarily focuses on socio-economic rehabilitation of the rescued child, however many children rescued from such situations need psychological support as well. Hence, it is necessary to modify the rehabilitation model from ‘socio-economic rehabilitation’ to ‘psycho-social and economic rehabilitation‘ model.
• Reducing Gaps between UNCRC and Indian Laws: CLPR Act should specifically provide for prevention, identification, rescue and rehabilitation of Child labour or adolescent on the lines of Bonded Labour System Abolition Act 1976.
  • Further, children below the age of 14 years may be allowed to work only in the nuclear family enterprises and entertainment industry in a manner conducive to their growth, development and safety and with all prescribed legal safeguards including Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009.
• Effective Implementation Of Laws And Programmes: Coordination between the law enforcement agencies, civil society organisations, academicians and researchers working in the field of child protection and child rights has to be strengthened through gap identification, formulation of effective mitigation plans and their implementation.
  • For instance, Kailash Satyarthi (founded Bachpan Bachao Andolan) recently appealed members of Parliament to support a Bill that extends the ban on child labour in India to include non-hazardous occupations like agriculture. 

Conclusion:

Addressing child labour in India requires a multifaceted approach, including strict enforcement of existing laws, comprehensive awareness programs, poverty alleviation measures, and effective rehabilitation strategies, emphasizing the need for coordinated efforts across government agencies and civil society to ensure the well-being and development of every child.

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