Oct 7th 2024 Current Affairs

Index:

1. Maldives-India Relations and Economic Cooperation

Background:

Visit of Maldivian President: Mohamed Muizzu, the newly elected President of the Maldives, is on a four-day state visit to India starting from Sunday. The key agenda of his visit includes discussions on the Maldives’ economic crisis and seeking financial assistance from India.
Meetings Scheduled: Muizzu is expected to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Additionally, he will hold bilateral talks at Hyderabad House.

Economic Concerns:

Looming Economic Crisis in the Maldives: The Maldives is facing a severe economic crisis with a rising external debt. The situation has led Muizzu to seek a currency swap arrangement and debt support from India.
Debt Repayment Issues: A failure to meet the repayment obligations could push the Maldives into a situation similar to Sri Lanka’s financial crisis in 2022.
Debt Relief Request: The Maldives seeks relief on its sovereign debt bonds, including sukuk bonds worth $500 million, out of a total $1.4 billion sovereign debt. This is critical for the Maldives, where external debt has risen to 110% of its GDP.

Strategic Importance:

India-Maldives Bilateral Relations: Muizzu’s visit is seen as an effort to further enhance India-Maldives ties. Both sides are expected to discuss strengthening cooperation in various sectors such a s infrastructure, security, and economic collaboration.
New Foreign Minister Appointment: The new Foreign Minister, Abdullah Khaleel, will play a role in these negotiations, and bilateral MoUs in infrastructure and security cooperation are anticipated.
Geopolitical Concerns: Muizzu’s second visit to India (his first was during Modi’s swearing-in ceremony) underscores a desire for continuity in strong relations. There is also a shift from previous policies under Muizzu, especially with the “India Out” campaign.

Geopolitical Tensions and Shifts:

Boycott Movement: Muizzu had previously supported the “India Out” campaign, which criticized the growing presence of Indian troops in the Maldives. However, his current visit signals a change in stance.
China Factor: The visit to India is significant as it was the first overseas destination after Muizzu’s election, bypassing China, which was a key player during the tenure of former President Abdulla Yameen.
Shift in Government Strategy: Muizzu has reshuffled his government, notably sacking the Finance Minister. Delayed appointments in the new administration had earlier affected diplomatic communications, but there are now signs of stability.

Future Outlook:

India’s Role in Regional Stability: India’s assistance will be crucial for the Maldives to avoid an economic collapse, similar to what Sri Lanka experienced. The focus will be on balancing economic and strategic interests.

2. PM Internship Scheme and Its Challenges

Background:

Launch of the PM Internship Scheme Portal: On October 3, the Centre launched an online portal for the implementation of the PM Internship Scheme, aimed at tackling unemployment in India, especially targeting youth.
Scope of the Scheme: The scheme is part of a five-scheme package that plans to offer internships to 1 crore youth over five years. It focuses on imparting skills and providing job opportunities through year-long on-the-job training.

Key Features:

Matching Youth with Employers: The portal will match young job seekers with companies offering internships to help them transition into the job market.
Certifications by Employers: Well-known firms may offer certifications post-internship, providing credibility to interns and increasing their chances of securing full-time employment.

Pilot Project Details:

First Batch of Interns: A pilot project will launch with 25 lakh interns on December 2, with companies voluntarily participating. The scheme will eventually aim to create 1 crore internships by March 2029.
Insights from Pilot: The pilot project will offer insights into the scheme’s operation, particularly in terms of matching interns to companies and interns’ performance when re-entering the job market after December 2025.

Challenges and Monitoring:

Dropout Rates and Grievances: The scheme’s success depends on closely monitoring dropout rates, grievances, and the overall internship experience.
Geographical Concerns: The plan to place interns within their districts poses challenges, particularly in less industrialized states like Bihar, which have limited business opportunities.
Skilling Gaps: Besides job-specific skills, digital and soft skills will be essential for interns to succeed in the modern workplace.

Need for Careful Evaluation:

Comprehensive Monitoring: The scheme requires diligent evaluation to ensure that it meets its objectives without self-congratulatory approaches.

Addressing Structural Unemployment: A key focus of the scheme will be to address gaps between education and employment, particularly in states with lower industrial and business activity.

3. Classical Language Status in India

CONTEXT: The Union Government added five new languages—Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali—to the list of classical languages on October 3, 2024

Criteria for Classical Language Status

The eligibility criteria for classical language status, as revised in 2024, include:

Antiquity: A recorded history of at least 1500-2000 years.
Ancient literature: A body of valuable ancient texts considered a cultural heritage by generations of speakers.
Original literary tradition: The language’s literature must be distinct, not borrowed from another language.
Discontinuity: The language’s classical form should be distinct from its modern form, with a gap between classical and modern usage.

Benefits of Classical Language Status

Financial support to establish Centres of Excellence for research and study.
Funding for the promotion of ancient texts, scholarships, and educational initiatives.
Awards and recognition for scholars contributing to the language’s study.
Creation of specialized university departments dedicated to classical languages.

List of Classical Languages in India (2024)

India now has 11 classical languages, with the most recent additions made in 2024. Here is the updated list:

Tamil (2004): Rich literary tradition with ancient works such as Sangam literature and epics like Silappatikaram.
Sanskrit (2005): The foundational language of Indian philosophy and religious texts like the Vedas, Upanishads, and Mahabharata.
Kannada (2008): Classical works like Kavirajamarga (9th century) and ancient inscriptions highlight Kannada’s literary history.
Telugu (2008): Earliest literature includes Nannaya’s Mahabharatam and other significant works from the 11th century.
Malayalam (2013): Dravidian language with rich classical texts like Ramacharitam (12th century).
Odia (2014): Known for works like Sarala Mahabharata and Charyapadas, Odia’s literary history dates back centuries.

Newly Added Classical Languages (2024)

Marathi (2024): Known for ancient literary works such as Dnyaneshwari by Saint Dnyaneshwar and contributions to Bhakti literature.
Pali (2024): The language of the Buddhist Canon (Tripitaka) and associated with early Buddhist philosophy and teachings.
Prakrit (2024): An ancient language that influenced many vernacular Indian languages, used in Jain and Buddhist texts.
Assamese (2024): The language of Srimanta Sankardev, contributing significantly to India’s cultural and literary history in the northeast.

Bengali (2024): Associated with ancient texts, the Charyapadas, and the rich literary contributions of figures like Rabindranath Tagore.