10 percent richest in UK extracted wealth from India worth $33.8 trillion between 1765-1900: Oxfam

• Between 1765 and 1900, the richest 10 per cent in the UK extracted wealth from India alone worth US$33.8 trillion in today’s money — enough to carpet the surface area of London in the 50-pound notes almost four times over, an Oxfam global report said on Monday.
• According to authors Utsa Patnaik and Prabha Patnaik, of the US$64.82 trillion extracted from India by the UK over a century of colonialism, US$33.8 trillion went to the richest 10 per cent.
• In the UK, a significant number of the richest people today can trace their family wealth back to slavery and colonialism, specifically the compensation paid to rich enslavers when slavery was abolished, the report stressed.
• “The modern multinational corporation is a creation of colonialism. It was pioneered by such corporations as the East India Company, which became a law unto itself and was responsible for many colonial crimes,” said the Oxfam report.
• In 1750, the Indian subcontinent accounted for approximately 25 per cent of global industrial output. However, by 1900, this figure had precipitously declined to a mere 2 per cent.
• “This dramatic reduction can be attributed to Britain’s implementation of stringent protectionist policies against Asian textiles, which systematically undermined India’s industrial growth potential. US$64.82 trillion was drained from India by Britain over 200 years,” the report’s findings showed.
• In 2024, globally total billionaire wealth increased by $2 trillion, with 204 new billionaires created. This is an average of almost four new billionaires per week.
• “Total billionaire wealth grew three times faster in 2024 than in 2023. Each billionaire saw their fortunes grow by $ 2 million a day on average. For the richest 10 billionaires their fortunes grew by US$100 million a day on average,” the report showed.
• Last year, Oxfam forecasted a trillionaire within a decade. If current trends continue, there will now be five trillionaires within a decade, it added.

Centre launches ‘Entity Locker’ for efficient business document management

•  Building on the success of DigiLocker, the government has introduced ‘Entity Locker,’ a new digital platform aimed at streamlining the management and verification of business and organizational documents.
• Developed by the National eGovernance Division (NeGD) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), this secure, cloud-based platform caters to a diverse range of entities, including corporations, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), trusts, startups, and societies.
• Entity Locker leverages advanced technology to seamlessly integrate with various government and regulatory systems.
• Key features include real-time access to government databases, consent-based mechanisms for secure information sharing, Aadhaar-authenticated role-based access, and legally valid digital signatures. Users are also provided with 10 GB of encrypted cloud storage for secure document handling.
• As part of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), the platform aligns with the Union Budget 2024-25 goals of improving digital governance and facilitating ease of doing business.
•  The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology highlighted its potential to reduce administrative tasks, cut processing times, and boost operational efficiency for businesses.
• Entity Locker connects seamlessly with systems like the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), the Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN), and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), offering instant access to essential documents. It also ensures transparency and accountability by tracking document-related activities, enhancing document security, and eliminating processing delays.
• The platform supports multiple applications, such as vendor verification on procurement portals, speeding up MSME loan approvals, facilitating FSSAI compliance, and streamlining registrations with GSTN, MCA, and tendering processes. Additionally, it simplifies corporate annual filings, ensuring a smoother process for businesses of all sizes.

India and Japan strengthen bilateral ties in Washington DC meeting

•  India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, met with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya on January 19, in Washington, DC. This meeting was their second in-person interaction, following their previous discussion during the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Italy in November 2024.
• Minister Jaishankar shared the update  saying, “Good to meet with FM Takeshi Iwaya of Japan. Reviewed the progress in our bilateral cooperation. Also discussed developments pertaining to Quad.”
• The two Ministers discussed various aspects of bilateral collaboration, covering political, security, economic, technological, and cultural areas. They expressed satisfaction with the ongoing cooperation and underlined the need to maintain regular strategic communication through frameworks like the Strategic Dialogue and the 2+2 Dialogue of Foreign and Defence Ministers.
• To strengthen the partnership, Jaishankar extended an invitation to Iwaya to visit India.
• A key outcome of the meeting was the announcement of the India-Japan Year of Science, Technology, and Innovation, commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Science and Technology Memorandum of Understanding signed in 1985. Both leaders described this milestone as an opportunity to deepen collaborative efforts in research and development.
• The talks highlighted the importance of fostering people-to-people exchanges, particularly in education, skill development, and technology. These efforts aim to reinforce ties between the two nations while enhancing opportunities for professionals and students.
• The meeting also recognized the deep-rooted cultural and spiritual connections between India and Japan, tracing back to ancient times.
•  Notable historical figures such as Swami Vivekananda, Rabindranath Tagore, and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose have been instrumental in strengthening this bond.
• Japan’s connection with India includes events like the consecration of the Buddha statue in Nara by Indian monk Bodhisena in 752 AD.
• Today, the relationship is further enriched by the Indian community in Japan, which has grown to over 40,000, including a significant number of students pursuing higher education.
• Tokyo’s Nishikasai area has become a hub for the Indian diaspora, reflecting the increased demand for Indian cultural and educational institutions

The Road to Affordable Green Hydrogen: A Path to Clean Energy

•  Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal outlined six broad principles for building a mutually beneficial partnership between India and the European Union at a high-level meeting with Maros Sefcovic, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security on January 18-19.
• The talks were aimed at setting up a new framework for an India-European Union strategic agenda in the area of trade and investment.
• Piyush Goyal said that India would first work together with the European Union, a relationship based on common values of democracy, rule of law and independent judiciary, as a trusted partner for developing an economic relationship which integrates the combined market currently estimated at over $24 trillion, bringing unprecedented opportunities for the 2 billion people of India and the European Union.
• Second, India would build a commercially meaningful trade agenda with the EU, which is fair and equitable, addressing the tariff and non-tariff barriers through simplification and cost competitiveness for benefits of businesses on both sides, especially small and medium enterprises, farmers and fishermen.
• Third, in the endeavour to build India as a high-quality product market in terms of Prime Minister’s clarion call for a “zero defect” and “zero effect” production capability, it would engage with the European Union for exchange of best practices, harmonize standards and build mutual processes to achieve these objectives.
• Fourth, India would work together with the European Union to develop cutting edge technologies, secure critical raw material supply chains and build resilient supply chains-reducing dependencies on non-market economies and developing closer economic ties between India and the EU.
• Fifth, cooperation in the area of trade and sustainable development in a fair manner, keeping in mind the respective level of developments and the principle of common but differentiated responsibility.
• Sixth, as a leader in harnessing technologies at scale and a nation home to young, aspirational and highly talented people, India would explore becoming a living bridge with the European Union to partner in mutual growth and development.
• This was the first in-person meeting between the two leaders, subsequent to the introductory video conference held in December 2024.
• With a view to building a new India-EU strategic agenda, the two leaders outlined political directions to both teams to develop a mutually beneficial agenda for trade and investment and a robust FTA in an expedited manner to meet global challenges, according to an official statement issued after the meeting.
• The two leaders reviewed progress in the trade and investment group of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC), agreed to address legacy issues and laid a roadmap for continuous consultations between senior officials from both sides and at ministerial level.

Hindenburg Research Announces Closure After Impactful Investigations

• Hindenburg Research, a prominent US-based short-selling firm, has announced its closure as of January 16, 2025.
• Known for sending shivers down corporate giants to their core and claiming to uncover billions in alleged frauds, Nate Anderson, the man behind Hindenburg Research, has decided to close the curtains on his short-selling saga.
• From triggering a $150 billion storm in Adani Group shares to taking down titans like Nikola and Eros International, Hindenburg was synonymous with financial accountability or controversy, depending on which side you’re on.
• The firm gained notoriety in India in 2023 after alleging stock manipulation and accounting fraud against the Adani Group. Founder Nate Anderson stated that the decision to dissolve the company follows the completion of their investigative pipeline. Hindenburg‘s work has led to legal actions against numerous individuals, including billionaires and corporate leaders.
• Founded in 2017, Hindenburg Research focuses on forensic financial investigations. The firm aims to uncover hidden information about companies, particularly regarding accounting irregularities and undisclosed transactions.
• Their methodology involves rigorous analysis and sourcing information from atypical channels. By identifying bad actors in management, they strive to expose unethical practices in the corporate world.
• In January 2023, just before a $2.5 billion share offering, Hindenburg released a report alleging that the Adani Group engaged in extensive stock manipulation and accounting fraud over several decades.
• The report claimed that key companies within the group were burdened with substantial debt, jeopardising their financial stability. This led to drop in Adani stock prices, although they later recovered. The Adani Group’s CFO dismissed the allegations as “malicious misinformation.”
• Short selling is an investment strategy where an investor borrows shares and sells them, anticipating a price drop. Once the price falls, the investor repurchases the shares at a lower price, returning them to the lender and pocketing the difference. This strategy is contrary to traditional investing, where the goal is to buy low and sell high. Hindenburg leveraged this approach against Adani Group companies, using US-traded bonds and derivatives.
• Nate Anderson cited personal reasons for the closure of Hindenburg Research. He expressed that the intensity of their work led to a neglect of personal relationships and other interests.
•  Anderson views the firm as a chapter in his life rather than a defining aspect. He plans to share insights and methodologies from their investigations in the coming months.
• Hindenburg Research has conducted several high-profile investigations. One case involved Lordstown Motors, where they questioned the legitimacy of pre-orders for its electric truck. This scrutiny resulted in a management shakeup and the sale of an assembly plant. Another notable investigation was into Nikola Corporation, where misleading claims led to a $125 million settlement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
• Despite the closure of Hindenburg Research, Anderson intends to release materials and videos about their investigative processes. This open-source approach aims to share knowledge about financial scrutiny and promote transparency in corporate governance.

Widely used animal painkiller nimesulide banned over toxicity threat to vultures

• India has banned the popular painkiller nimesulide after scientific studies confirmed that the drug had a toxic impact on vultures, an endangered species.
• Nimesulide is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) widely used to relieve pain and inflammation across the globe and in India. According to research, it not only impacts vultures but is also not suitable for humans.
• In a gazette notification, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) - India''s official drug authority - stated that the central government has prohibited the use, manufacture, sale and distribution of all drug formulations containing nimesulide, which are likely to involve risk to animals.
• The ban was declared under section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and after consultation with the Drugs Technical Advisory Board and the Central Government.
• Instead, CDSCO urged to use safer alternatives to the nimesulide drugs, which are widely available in the country.
• Researchers from the Indian Veterinary Research Institute conducted an experiment on Gypsy vultures by administering small doses of nimesulide. The study found that veterinary use of nimesulide resulted in severe health issues including kidney toxicity, and a decline in the population of vultures.
• To protect vultures and other wildlife, authorities in India started restricting the use of nimesulide, especially in veterinary medicine. This has eventually led to the drug being banned in the country.
• Nimesulide is a type of pain-relief and anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that targets specific enzymes (COX-2). It is often used to treat pain and inflammation in dogs with osteoarthritis.
• Besides reducing pain, it also helps control inflammation by blocking certain immune responses and platelet activation. However, it should be used carefully in animals with liver or kidney problems and avoided in animals with low blood pressure.
• In India, dead vultures with signs of visceral gout have been linked to nimesulide, which was later confirmed to be toxic to vultures in experiments with captive birds.
• Only two drugs, meloxicam and tolfenamic acid, have been proven safe for vultures at doses they might encounter in the wild.
• A drug called diclofenac, similar to nimesulide, which was banned earlier, led to several livestock ailments like mastitis. Diclofenac caused kidney failure and death in vultures within days, with severe organ damage observed after death.
• The drug was banned for veterinary use in India, Pakistan, and Nepal in 2006, and in Bangladesh in 2010. These bans helped slow vulture declines and support partial recovery in Nepal

Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal Khattar launches the toolkit for 9th edition of Swachh Survekshan today

• The Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Shri Manohar Lal Khattar, today launched the toolkit for 9th edition of Swachh Survekshan (SS), the world’s largest urban cleanliness survey, in its new avatar–simpler, sharper, systematic and all-inclusive. 
• This new version aims to simplify and streamline the assessment process. It reflects a commitment to enhancing urban sanitation through citizen involvement and third-party validation.
• Initially launched by MoHUA in 2016, Swachh Survekshan drives urban sanitation improvement through citizen participation and third-party validation.
• For the year 2024, a special category - Super Swachh League has been introduced creating a separate league of cities excelling in cleanliness. The cities who have been in top 3 in at least 2 years in the last 3 years (2021-2023) have made the cut.
•  There are 12 cities in the Super Swachh League. Moving ahead, top 3 ranking cities in each population category will move into the league for the subsequent years.
• ULBs in this league will be assessed on additional aspirational indicators and must maintain a score of 85% or higher to retain their position.
• An addition for 2024 is the Super Swachh League. This new category recognises cities that have consistently performed well in cleanliness rankings.
• Cities that ranked in the top three at least twice from 2021 to 2023 qualify for this league. There are 12 cities in this category, promoting a competitive spirit among urban local bodies.
• For the first time, cities are classified into five population categories – Very Small, Small, Medium, Big, and Million-Plus. This classification allows for tailored assessments based on specific needs. Each category will have its own set of evaluation parameters, making the survey more inclusive
• The assessment focuses on ten key parameters. These include visible cleanliness, waste management, sanitation access, and citizen feedback.
• The toolkit aims to simplify these indicators, making them easier for urban local bodies to understand and implement
• This year, Cleanliness Target Units (CTUs) and adopting Swabhav Swachhata Sanskaar Swachhata – behaviour change in daily lives, have been included in the assessment. The evaluation will focus on key parameters such as eliminating difficult and dark spots, visible cleanliness, establishing Reduce Reuse Recycle Centres, and more.
•  To foster the integration of swachhata values in educational institutions and inspire young minds to adopt cleanliness and sustainability, school assessments have been introduced this year as part of SS. Special focus has been laid on visible cleanliness and waste management at high foot fall tourist spots.
• Packaged in a new framework, all indicators in the new SS toolkit have been organized into 10 buckets, with assessment parameters simplified for better understanding by the ULBs. These are: – i) Visible Cleanliness ii) Segregation, collection & transportation of waste iii) Solid waste management iv) Access to sanitation v) Used water management vi) Mechanization of desludging services vii) Advocacy for Swachhata viii) Strengthening of Eco-system & institutional parameters ix) Overall welfare of sanitation workers x) Citizen feedback and grievance redressal.
• This year’s survey includes school assessments to encourage cleanliness values among young people. Schools are encouraged to adopt practices that promote sustainability and cleanliness.
• This initiative aims to instil a sense of responsibility in the next generation.
• MoHUA has established rigorous monitoring measures. These include training for assessors, surprise field visits, and GPS tracking. Data accuracy is vital, and discrepancies will result in penalties. The Swachhatam Portal will facilitate data management and transparency.
• The field assessment phase for the 9th edition will begin on 15th February 2025 and conclude by the end of March 2025. This timeline ensures that the evaluation process is thorough and timely
• The focus remains on continuous improvement in urban cleanliness. The approach is designed to encourage all cities, regardless of size, to strive for excellence in sanitation.

AI’s rise:  Progress?  ethical peril ?

• The global discourse surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) has largely been dominated by an obsession with technological achievement. Conversations brim with excitement about creating smarter systems, optimising computational efficiencies, and redefining innovation’s boundaries. Yet, a troubling silence looms large — one that sidesteps the profound ethical and social questions AI raises.
• Are we, as a global society, so captivated by the “can we?” that we’ve lost sight of the equally important “should we?”.
• Science and technology have undeniably propelled humanity forward, yet the rise of AI poses challenges that transcend their domains. At its core, AI forces us to grapple with questions about trust, justice, and fairness.
• Can an algorithm genuinely understand morality, or does it simply simulate ethical reasoning through statistical models? After all, as human society with centuries of ex istence, we still have not understood morality as binary. These are not technical conundrums, for they are deeply human dilemmas. Yet, they are too often sidelined, overshadowed by metrics of policy optimisation and regulatory scale.
• The technologists and policymakers shaping AI frequently operate within a framework of accuracy and performance. But this focus begs critical questions: Accuracy for whom? Performance to what end? The assumption that technological progress automatically translates into societal advancement is dangerously naive.
• When algorithms determine access to healthcare, credit, or even justice, they wield moral authority far beyond their intended design. The societal consequences of these decisions demand scrutiny — scrutiny that technologists are neither trained nor equipped to provide.
• Globally, attempts to regulate AI reveal a fragmented landscape. The European Union’s AI Act is among the most comprehensive efforts, categorising AI systems by risk and enforcing strict requirements on high-risk applications.
• The US has taken a more sector-specific approach, while China, with its vast data resources, has embedded AI deeply into surveillance and state control. India, meanwhile, stands at a crossroads, attempting to balance aspirations for technological leadership with the need to address its unique challenges of data sovereignty.
• In a country defined by its sheer size and complexity, how do we ensure fairness in AI systems when digital literacy and access are still uneven?
•  How do we protect individual consent in a socio-economic environment where power dynamics are deeply entrenched? These are questions that must inform India’s regulatory frameworks.
• Adding to this complexity is the glaring absence of diverse voices in the AI debate. Industry leaders and governments often reduce AI to a geopolitical chess piece, touting it as a tool for economic dominance or national pride.
• Consider how harm and benefit are often assessed in AI. Utilitarian principles dominate, measuring outcomes by the greatest good for the greatest number. But is this approach sufficient when fundamental rights are at stake? If an AI system benefits 99% of users but discriminates against 1%, can its existence be justified? 
• Moreover, the ethical challenges of AI are evolving at a pace that far exceeds our ability to regulate them. Autonomous weapons, deepfake technologies, and pervasive surveillance are realities.
• AI implications extend beyond governance to consumerism itself. AI is already reshaping how we consume, with algorithms subtly influencing the products we buy, the news we read, and even the values we hold. This transformation is especially significant for India, where more than half the 1.4 billion population is under 30. As digital natives, this demographic will drive consumption patterns.
• AI systems can nudge preferences, shape aspirations, and manipulate choices, often in ways that serve corporate profits over individual well-being. For a young India, this raises troubling questions about agency and freedom.
• The impact of AI on labour markets further complicates the picture. Automation will challenge traditional job structures, creating a dual imperative for upskilling and redefining work itself. India’s demographic dividend could quickly become a liability if its workforce is not prepared for an AI-dominated future. This preparation must go beyond technical skills, fostering critical thinking, ethical awareness, and adaptability.
• The rise of AI also forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about ourselves. Are we so enamoured with our technological prowess that we overlook its limits? In our quest for efficiency, are we neglecting the larger societal challenges AI creates? It is not enough to regulate AI after its deployment or rely on superficial ethical guidelines. Ethical considerations must be embedded into every stage of AI development.
• This shift demands a multidisciplinary approach. Philosophers must grapple with questions of machine morality.
• Anthropologists must study how AI reshapes cultures and social norms. Artists and writers must imagine alternative futures, envisioning technologies that prioritise humanity over efficiency.
• The way AI will shape up, and probably even steer humanity, will not be merely a reflection of our technological capabilities. It would be the ultimate litmus test for our moral courage. India faces a delicate balancing act: crafting stabilising AI regulations while avoiding the trap of ceding emerging technology leadership to entrenched Western dominance, as happened with Web1 and Web2. 

BRICS+: A New Global Power Center?

• 2025 begins with the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) undergoing significant expansion, having fully integrated four new members in 2024: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates.
• The status of Saudi Arabia remains uncertain, as the country has put its membership on hold. Meanwhile, several rising regional powers have expressed interest in joining the group, including Türkiye, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. It is worth noting that Argentina declined the invitation it had previously accepted, following Javier Milei’s presidential inauguration in 2023.
• Although BRICS+ remains a relatively diffuse cooperative space marked by internal contradictions and divergent agendas—exemplified by the paradigm of China and India—it is impossible to overlook the bloc’s growing significance in the current international context.
• BRICS+ already represents 47% of the world’s population and 41% of global GDP. Should the countries on the waiting list—led by Türkiye and most ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) members—join, the group would comfortably surpass the 50% threshold in both indicators. Furthermore, at least eight additional countries have shown varying levels of interest in joining.
• At the heart of the debate lies the question of whether BRICS+ can establish itself as a new center of power representing the “Global South” (a term itself contested and ambiguous), positioning itself as a counterweight to the G7. It is worth mentioning that the G7 also faces internal contradictions and conflicting interests among some of its members, a dynamic mirrored in defense issues within NATO.
• Undoubtedly, the rise of BRICS+ is tied to strategic interests and complementary agendas among its primary members. However, the highly fragmented international landscape, shaped by the rivalry between China and the United States, has played a decisive role in driving this development.
• When Jim O’Neill, then chief economist at Goldman Sachs, coined the term “BRIC” in 2001, his intention was merely to identify the four emerging economies (excluding South Africa) that market projections suggested would dominate global economic growth by 2050.
•  Over time, this label gained geopolitical weight and institutional significance, culminating in the current phase of membership expansion and an increasingly diverse agenda that now includes topics such as international security and the reform of the financial system.
• Despite undeniable internal contradictions among its members, each power within BRICS has successfully leveraged its individual interests while maintaining the integrity of the bloc. So far, this dynamic has worked effectively, but the future remains uncertain, particularly with the inclusion of disruptive players like Iran.
• BRICS+ is now preparing for a new summit in Brazil, following the successful gathering held in Russia in October of the previous year.

PLFS reflects positive employment trends

• In India, the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) captures employment trends across age, gender, education for rural and urban populations on quarterly and annual bases. Its launch in 2017 was a key government reform.
• Pre-2017, the National Sample Survey Office used to conduct employment and unemployment rounds quinquennially, leading to estimates with significant time lag. The PLFS offers more frequent and granular data, supporting evidence-based policy-making
• Broad employment trends: Based on PLFS data, employment in India broadly shows an improving trend 2017-18 onwards in indicators like labour force participation rate (LFPR), worker population ratio (WPR), and unemployment rate (UR) for people aged 15 years and above.
• For instance, the LFPR has increased from 49.8% in 2017-18 to 60.1% in 2023-24. Similarly, the WPR has increased from 46.8% in 2017-18 to 58.2% in 2023-24, and unemployment rate has declined from 6.0% to a low of 3.2%
• Rise of female workforce: The most important aspect of employment growth has been the rise of women workforce.
•  Facilitated by government schemes, women have taken up self-employment and entered the workforce in an impressive scale. Data shows female WPR almost doubled from 22% to over 40% and UR dropped from about 6% to around 3% between 2017-18 and 2023-24.
• We see an upward trend of educated women in the workforce. Around 40% of those with educational qualifications of post-graduate and above were working in 2023-24, compared to around 35% in 2017-18.
• About 24% of women with education up to higher secondary were in the workforce in 2023-24, compared to about 11% in 2017-18.
• Besides, around 50% of the women educated up to primary level were working in 2023-24, compared to about 25% in 2017-18.
• PLFS methodology: The methodology adopted for the PLFS is based on global best practices; the US uses a similar survey methodology for capturing employment trends. PLFS estimates are widely used by agencies like the World Bank database and ILOSTAT.
• Global comparisons: Based on ILOSTAT data, India’s UR is among the lowest compared to the average of 4.2% in 36 countries of Asia and the Pacific, 5.3% in 30 countries of Americas, and 5.7% in 51 countries of Europe and Central Asia.
• Upward shift in self-employed: A noticeable trend in the PLFS data from 2017-18 to 2023-24 is an upward shift in self-employment. Data shows a decline in casual labour by about 5%, accompanied by a decline in regular wage/salary jobs at about 1%, with an upward shift in self-employed by about 6%.
• The shift is therefore attributable more to an increase in the total workforce and decline in low-quality casual labour employment, rather than a decline in the regular wage salaried workforce per se.
• Self-employed are also employed: According to the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians, the International Labour Organization’s definition of employment is of people who “were engaged in any activity to produce goods or provide services for pay or profit”. This definition covers all forms of employment: employees, self-employed, family help (seen as contributing members), whether the employment is declared or not.
• On the other hand, PLFS data includes self-employed, regular wage/salaried and casual labour. In this context, the PLFS also covers “helpers in household enterprise” under the self-employed category, as they are engaged in economic activity. About 37% of the female workforce in India fall in this category, and are categorised as employed.
• Changing landscape: India has seen remarkable economic growth over the past decade, rising from the 10th largest economy in 2014 to the fifth largest in 2024, and transforming the employment landscape.
• Services, construction, trade, manufacturing and the micro, small and medium enterprise sector are the major drivers of employment growth, while the job market evolves rapidly. New roles are emerging in start-ups, gig economy, and key industries like healthcare, hospitality, and education. Both domestic and global markets are seeing a surge in opportunities, particularly in technology-driven roles. In this scenario, analytical thinking and creativity are among the most required skills.
• Trends in employability: Studies such as India Skills Report 2024 show that the skill sets of our graduates have been catching up with growth trends and employability. Among graduates, employability shot up from 33.95% in 2013 to 54.81% in 2024.
• The QS World Future Skills Index 2025 shows India’s favourable position especially with respect to the “ready-to-recruit” market in digital roles, integrating artificial intelligence into the workforce, and green jobs. Emerging roles in smart manufacturing, logistics, hospitality and tourism, and healthcare are giving a fillip to the female workforce too.
• Start-ups and GCCs: India has the world’s third-largest start-up ecosystem, with over 1.57 lakh department for promotion of industry and internal trade-registered firms directly employing 16.6 lakh people.
• India has become the GCC (global capability centre) capital of the world with the highest number of units after the US.
• Also, 17% of global technology capability centres have set up office in India. Around 1,700 GCCs operate in India, creating jobs particularly in healthcare and technology sectors. Nasscom, in its latest report, estimates that around 19 lakh jobs have been created in GCCs.
• Education, skills, and employment: With a 51.25% employability rate of India’s youth (Economic Survey 2023-24), the future looks promising, especially with government’s focus on aligning education and skills with industry needs.
• By prioritising ease of doing business through visionary policy reforms, the government has paved the way for India to emerge as a prominent global manufacturing hub.
• As India strides towards the vision of Viksit Bharat, empowering youth with the right skills and work experience, through schemes like the PM Internship and the employment-linked incentive, continues to be a priority.