ECONOMICS

THE KARNATAKA BILL IS A SYMPTOM OF A LARGER PROBLEM

Source: THE HINDU

Introduction

• The article critically analyzes the Karnataka Reservation Bill, 2024, focusing on the broader socio-economic issues it represents, such as India’s employment crisis and regional economic disparities.

The Karnataka Reservation Bill

• Provisions: The Bill mandates 50% reservation for local candidates in management categories and 70% in non-management categories within industries, factories, and other establishments in Karnataka.
• Controversy: It has faced widespread criticism, causing the State government to pause its implementation and issue assurances.

Deeper Underlying Issues

India's Jobs Crisis and Economic Disparities:

• Exploding Jobs Crisis: India, despite being the fastest-growing large economy with the largest youth population, struggles to create enough jobs due to its high-end services-led growth model that separates economic growth from employment generation.
• Global Context: The issue is part of a global trend where globalization, financialization, and technological advancements benefit a small, highly-skilled group while eroding the earning potential of the working class. In developed countries, this leads to anti-immigration sentiments; in India, it manifests as regionalism and opposition to inter-state migration.

Regionalism vs. National Unity:

• Constitutional Guarantees: The Indian Constitution guarantees freedom of movement and the right to work anywhere in the country, making domicile requirements seem parochial and against national unity.
• Local Aspirations: However, local reservations are an attempt by State political leadership to respond to the needs of their electorate, creating a tension between local aspirations and national unity.

Political Accountability:

• Migration for Unskilled Jobs: The preference for local reservations highlights issues such as why large-scale unskilled migration occurs and why industries prefer migrant workers for unskilled jobs. Migration is often due to distress, reflecting the inability of certain State governments to develop their regions adequately.
• Exploitation of Migrant Workers: Industries prefer migrant workers for unskilled jobs because they are less likely to unionize and are easier to exploit, leading to job losses and wage depression for local workers.

Recommendations for Addressing the Issue

• Comprehensive Debate: There needs to be a national debate involving political leaders, the corporate sector, and civil society to address the jobs crisis. Current skilling and production-linked incentive programs are inadequate.
• Political Accountability: There must be greater political accountability for distress migration and regional underdevelopment, extending to both State and national leadership.
• Federalism and National Unity: Institutional responses, such as revitalizing the National Development Council, and political maturity are required to address federalism and unity issues.
• Corporate Responsibility: The corporate sector should improve working standards for unskilled labour instead of exploiting worker precarity for profit.

Conclusion

• The Karnataka Reservation Bill is a symptom of broader issues such as the jobs crisis and regional disparities. While the Bill can be revised or paused, the underlying problems need to be addressed in public discourse and politics. The response to this challenge will significantly impact India's economic growth, social cohesion, and political stability.

ECONOMICS

UN REPORT HIGHLIGHTING THE RISE AND DECLINE OF POPULATION IN THIS CENTURY

Source: TELEGRAPH

Introduction

• The editorial discusses the implications of the United Nations' "World Population Prospects 2024" report, focusing on global and national population trends, particularly in India.

Global Population Trends

• Population Projections:
  • The global population is projected to reach approximately 10.3 billion by 2084, up from 8.2 billion in 2024.
  • After this peak, the population is expected to decline and stabilize by the end of the century.
• Demographic Changes:
  • Peak Populations: The report highlights that 63 countries, including China, have already reached or are near their peak population. This means their populations are not growing further.
  • Upcoming Peaks: Another 48 countries are expected to reach their population peaks within the next three decades.
  • Stabilizing Populations: The remaining 126 countries, including India, will experience a stabilization of their populations within the next century.
• Timeline Adjustments:
  • The cut-off date for global population trends has been revised to earlier than previously predicted. The 1980s projections suggested that global population growth would continue into the 22nd century. The new timeline shows a significant shift, with the peak expected earlier in this century.
• Implications of Population Growth:
  • Short-Term Burden: The rapid growth to 10 billion people will create considerable strain on resources, infrastructure, and the environment.
  • Long-Term Stabilization: The eventual stabilization of population growth indicates a global trend towards lower birth rates and ageing populations. This shift will present challenges such as dealing with an ageing workforce and potential economic impacts due to the reduction in the working-age population.

Population Trends in India

• Current and Future Population Status:
  • India is projected to remain the most populous country until the end of the 21st century. However, the country's population is expected to decline by about 12% by the 2060s.
  • This indicates a slowing of population growth compared to earlier, more rapid increases.
• Current Fertility Rates:
  • A recent report by the Union Ministry of Health indicates that 31 out of 36 states and Union territories in India have achieved the replacement fertility level of 2.1. This rate is necessary to maintain a stable population size over the long term.
• Implications of Fertility Trends:
  • The achievement of replacement fertility rates suggests that fears of unchecked population growth and overpopulation are overstated.
  • There is a need to address political rhetoric around population control, which may be driven by misinformation or demographic biases rather than scientific evidence.

Policy Challenges and Opportunities

• Demographic Dividend:
  • India has the potential to benefit from a demographic dividend, which refers to the economic growth potential that can result from shifts in a population’s age structure, such as having a larger proportion of working-age individuals relative to dependents.
  • To capitalize on this dividend, India must focus on the effective utilization of its young population, improving education, employment opportunities, and economic growth strategies.
• Avoiding Misguided Policies:
  • The editorial argues against implementing draconian population control measures based on incorrect assumptions or political motivations.
  • The focus should be on leveraging the current demographic advantage and addressing genuine developmental challenges rather than succumbing to fears of population overload.

Conclusions

• The UN report’s findings highlight both challenges and opportunities. While the world faces the near-term pressure of a growing population, longer-term trends suggest a transition towards stabilization and ageing demographics.
• In India, the slowing population growth and achieving replacement fertility rates reflect positive demographic trends. However, policymakers must focus on harnessing the benefits of the demographic dividend and avoid unnecessary or politically motivated population control measures.