Local Reservations in Employment, BioE3 Policy, Anosmia

(General Studies III – Economy Section – Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Growth, Development and Employment. Inclusive Growth and issues arising from it.)

• Local reservation policies in India have emerged as a contentious issue, reflecting the complex interplay between regional aspirations, economic disparities, and national unity.
• Aimed at addressing unemployment among locals, these policies have sparked debates about their constitutionality, economic impact, and social cohesion. This note examines the landscape of local reservation laws across Indian states.

Local Reservations in Indian States –

Karnataka State Employment of Local Candidates in the Industries, Factories, and Other Establishments Bill, 2024:

• 50% reservation for locals in management positions
• 70% reservation for locals in non-management roles
• Kannada proficiency requirement (secondary school certificate or proficiency test)
• Mandates training for local candidates if qualified locals are unavailable, with a three-year training window in collaboration with the government
• Allows for relaxation of rules if sufficient local candidates are unavailable, with specific relaxation limits
• Establishments must report compliance to a nodal agency

Haryana State Employment of Local Candidates Act (2020):

• Required 75% reservation for locals in private jobs with monthly salaries under ₹30,000
• Outcome: Struck down by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2023 for violating Articles 14 and 19 of the Constitution (equality and freedom), exceeding state authority, and potentially hindering economic growth

Andhra Pradesh Employment of Local Candidates in Industries/Factories Act (2019):

• Mandated 75% reservation for locals in private sector jobs
• Outcome: Faced criticism for potentially deterring investment, and the Andhra Pradesh High Court suggested it “may be unconstitutional”

 Key Issues and Concerns –

1. Constitutional Challenges: Potential violation of fundamental rights (equality and freedom). Questions about state authority to impose restrictions on private businesses
2. Economic Impact: Concerns about deterring investment and business growth. Potential relocation of companies to states with more flexible labor laws
3. Skill Mismatch and Labor Market Efficiency: Availability of qualified local candidates for various job roles. Need for extensive training and skill development programs
4. Migration and National Unity: Tension between local aspirations and national unity. Impact on inter-state migration and labor mobility
5. Underlying Socio-economic Factors: India’s persistent job crisis and widening regional disparities. Political accountability for lack of development in some states
6. Industry Preferences and Labor Dynamics: Tendency of industries to prefer migrant workers for unskilled jobs. Concerns about union formation and wage depression among local workers
7. Implementation Challenges: Defining “local” candidates (birth, domicile, or residence duration). Monitoring and enforcing compliance in the private sector

 Proposed Solutions and Considerations –

1. National Debate: Engage political leaders, corporate sector, and civil society in addressing India’s job crisis and creating an inclusive economic growth model.
2. Enhanced Political Accountability: Address root causes of distress migration and regional imbalances at both state and national levels.
3. National Development Council: Revive to provide a platform for addressing inter-state disparities and facilitate center-state coordination on development issues.
4. Balancing Federalism and National Unity: Develop institutional mechanisms to address regional aspirations and promote political maturity in center-state relations.
5. Corporate Sector Accountability: Ensure fair working standards for all workers, including migrants, and prevent exploitation.
6. Rethinking Policies: Evaluate and improve skilling initiatives and reassess production-linked incentive schemes for job creation.
7. Focused Regional Development: Invest in infrastructure and education in less developed regions to promote balanced industrial growth across states.

While local reservation bills aim to address unemployment and regional disparities, they raise complex constitutional, economic, and social questions. These issues reflect deeper structural problems in India’s economy and governance. A comprehensive approach addressing the root causes of unemployment, regional imbalances, and distress migration may be more effective than reservation policies alone. Balancing local aspirations with national economic goals remains a significant challenge for policymakers.

• The NDA government has replaced the 21-year-old pension reform by introducing the new Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), which resembles the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), offering a lifelong pension of 50% of the last drawn salary.

A table summarising the key differences between the National Pension System (NPS), Old Pension Scheme (OPS), and Unified Pension Scheme (UPS):

Dig Deeper: Read about India’s Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority.

• The wave of Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon, followed by the hundreds of drones and rockets launched by Hezbollah, marked the largest exchange of hostilities across Israel’s northern border since the Hamas attacks on October 7^th.
• Hezbollah holds substantial influence in Lebanon, functioning as both a Shiite Muslim political party and a militant group.
• It opposes Israel and Western presence in the Middle East and acts as a proxy for Iran, its primary supporter.
• Amid Lebanon’s political and economic crisis, the group has come under unprecedented scrutiny from the Lebanese public.
• Hezbollah is often described as the world’s most heavily armed non-state actor.

Dig Deeper: Read about terror groups like the Muslim Brotherhood.

• The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) completed polygraph tests on seven people in connection with the rape and murder of a resident doctor at the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
• A polygraph test–popularly known as a lie detector test–is a machine that measures a person’s physiological responses when they respond to questions.
• According to the American Psychological Association (APA), polygraph tests measure a person’s “heart rate/blood pressure, respiration, and skin conductivity.”
• A numerical value is then assigned to each response to determine whether the person is truthful, deceptive, or uncertain.
• The test’s origins trace back to the 19th century when Italian criminologist Cesare Lombroso used a machine to measure changes in blood pressure during interrogations.
• On the contrary, the Narco test also known as a narco-analysis test involves injecting the subject with sodium pentothal, also known as “truth serum”, to induce a hypnotic or sedated state. The theory is that in this state, the subject’s imagination is neutralized and they will speak the truth. 
• Despite their use in investigations, polygraph tests, like Narco tests, have not been scientifically proven to have a 100% success rate and remain controversial in the medical field.

Dig Deeper: Read about NHRC guidelines for conducting a Polygraph Test.

• A new study highlights the increasing frequency of mass-wasting events in the Sedongpu Gully of the Tibetan Plateau since 2017, linked to rapid warming in the region, which could have significant implications for India’s northeast.
• Mass wasting, the gravity-driven movement of rock and soil down a slope, has been exacerbated by long-term warming and earthquakes in the area.
• The Sedongpu Gully, located in the catchment of the Sedongpu glacier, drains into the Yarlung Zangbo (Tsangpo) River near the Great Bend, close to the Tibet-Arunachal Pradesh border.

• This river flows as the Siang in Arunachal Pradesh and eventually becomes the Brahmaputra in Assam.
• The Brahmaputra River, being one of the most sediment-laden rivers globally, increased sedimentation could lead to more intense braiding, bank erosion, elevated river beds, and flood hazards in Assam, along with navigation difficulties during the lean season.

Dig Deeper: Locate on the map various tributaries of the Brahmaputra in India.

• The Union Cabinet has approved the BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment) Policy to boost biotechnology-based manufacturing in India.
• This initiative, led by the Department of Biotechnology, aims to spark a technological revolution similar to the IT industry’s impact in the 1990s.
• The BioE3 Policy focuses on 6 strategic sectors:
• Bio-based chemicals and enzymes
• Functional foods and smart proteins
• Precision biotherapeutics
• Climate-resilient agriculture
• Carbon capture and utilization
• Advanced marine and space research

Dig Deeper: Read about various schemes of the Ministry of Science and Technology.

• Studies have shown that even mild COVID-19 can impact the brain, with one of the most common symptoms being the loss of smell i.e. anosmia.
• While most people regain their sense of smell within weeks or months, some continue to experience neurological and cognitive effects long after recovery.
• Those who experienced anosmia showed behavioural, functional, and structural brain changes.
• They displayed more impulsive decision-making and had alterations in cortical thickness and white matter integrity.
• The study suggests that anosmia could be a marker for identifying individuals at risk of brain alterations and prioritizing follow-up care.

Dig Deeper: Read about various functions of the human brain and associated parts of the brain.