Current Affairs 08 April 2025
Content : Shaping a future-ready workforce How the police view custodial torture in India NCDs can strike early; health risks rise post-menopause, says report China’s unfair trade practices behind global turmoil: Goyal It’s clear now: iron inside the sun is more opaque than expected Shaping a future-ready workforce Context :As global job markets undergo rapid transformation driven by technology, climate goals, and economic shifts, preparing a future-ready workforce has become essential. India stands at a critical juncture to bridge skill gaps through educational reforms and industry-academia collaboration. Relevance : GS 2 ( Governance, Education, Government Policies) , GS 3 ( Economy, Employment, Inclusive Growth) Key Drivers of Labour Market Transformation (WEF Report 2025) Technological advancements and digital access identified as top drivers by 60% of employers. Other critical forces: demographic shifts, geo-economic fragmentation, economic uncertainties, and green transition. Climate change mitigation is both a job creator (e.g., renewable energy) and a disruptor due to business model adaptations. Dynamic labour market outlook: 170 million new jobs projected globally. 92 million roles at risk of becoming obsolete. Employer Priorities & Workforce Demands Employers are focusing on: Workforce training Wage increases Employee well-being 59% of workforce needs reskilling in: Analytical thinking Resilience Technological literacy High-growth roles include: Big Data specialists AI engineers Rising emphasis on soft skills: Emotional intelligence Adaptability Leadership Insights from QS World Future Skills Index India ranks 2nd globally in preparedness for AI and green skills. High score in ‘Future of Work’ (99.1) indicates strong demand-side readiness. Skill Fit gap: Low score of 59.1, highlighting supply-side deficiencies. Poor performance in: ‘Academic Readiness’ (Rank: 26) Innovation & sustainability (Score: 15.6/100) Entrepreneurial mindset and R&D investments Opportunities for Reform Need for curriculum transformation: Integrate critical thinking, resilience, entrepreneurial skills Use of experiential and interdisciplinary learning Encourage initiatives like: Hackathons Startup incubators Design-thinking workshops Green curriculum imperative: Establish sustainability research centres Promote green technologies Support student-led community environmental initiatives Strengthen academia-industry collaboration: Co-create curricula Provide internships and mentorships Develop job-ready graduates Institutional and Governmental Action Points Faculty development through: Training, certifications, global exposure Government must focus on: Investing in research, innovation, skill development Expanding digital infrastructure, especially in rural/semi-urban areas Call for a paradigm shift in higher education: Make the system agile, innovative, and aligned with global workforce demands How the police view custodial torture in India The findings from a recent study on the ‘Status of Policing in India Report’ conducted by Lokniti-Centre for the Study of Developing Societies in collaboration with Common Cause shed light on this grim reality.The study, which analysed responses from 8,276 police personnel across 82 locations in 17 States including Delhi . Relevance : GS 2 (Governance, Constitution, Polity) General Acceptance of Violence 63% of police personnel believe it’s acceptable to use violenceagainstsuspects of seriousoffences for societal good. 22% strongly agreed. 41% moderately agreed. Only 35% opposed the idea of using violence, showing systemic approval across ranks. Support for Torture Across Crime Types 42% strongly supported torture in national security/terrorism cases. 34% strongly supported torture in rape, sexual assault, and murder cases. 28% strongly supported using torture against history sheeters. Acceptance of Coercive Tactics In minor offences (like theft): 49% justify verbal abuse/threats. 32% justify slapping. 9% justify third-degree methods. In serious crimes (like rape/murder): 55% justify verbal abuse/threats. 50% justify slapping. 30% justify third-degree methods. Frequency of Coercive Practices Threats: 26% say suspects are often threatened. 34% say it happens sometimes. Slapping/light force: 18% say it is common. 28% say it happens occasionally. Third-degree methods: 10% say it occurs often. 16% say it happens sometimes. 1 in 3 officers report frequent use of coercive tactics in investigations. Views on Mandatory Reporting ~40% support mandatory reporting of custodial torture. Another ~40% support mandatory reporting only in some cases. ~10% say it should never be mandatory. Lower-rank officers are more supportive of mandatory reporting than senior officers. Willingness to Report Senior Officers Over 40% of police strongly agreed that juniors would report seniors if given legal protection. 36% moderately agreed—indicating that protection and institutional backing are key factors. Key Takeaways There is deep-rooted normalization of custodial torture and coercive methods in Indian policing. Even in minor cases, a significant share of personnel justify violent tactics. Systemic and cultural factors, like rank hierarchy and peer support, play a role in discouraging accountability. Structural reforms and legal safeguards are essential to change these entrenched attitudes. NCDs can strike early; health risks rise post-menopause, says report Early Onset of NCDs NCDs are increasingly affecting individuals from childhood and adolescence, not just in adulthood. Screening of 2.85 lakh students (ages 3–17 and college) across 6 States revealed: Obesity rises with age: 8% (primary school) → 28% (college students). Pre-hypertension: 9% (high school) and 19% (college). High blood glucose: Found in 2% of college students. Indicates lifetime progression of NCDs if unmanaged. Relevance : GS 2(Health ,Governance ) Increased Risks in Women Post-Menopause Significant metabolic deterioration seen post-menopause: Diabetes: 14% (pre-menopause) → 40% (post-menopause). Obesity: 76% → 86%. Fatty liver: 54% → 70%. Hypertension: 15% → 40%. Highlights clustering of metabolic and cardiovascular disorders after menopause. Emphasises need for targeted health management for menopausal women. Fatty Liver Burden Rising Among 2.5 lakh individuals screened: 65% had fatty liver, of which 85% were non-alcoholic. Caused primarily by obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Now classified as Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD). Key Takeaways NCDs are no longer adult-onset alone — urgent interventions needed from early age. Menopause is a major turning point in women’s health, requiring focused attention. Rising prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver indicates broader lifestyle and dietary risks in the population. China’s unfair trade practices behind global turmoil: Goyal Context :China’s Role in Global Economic Turmoil Piyush Goyal blames China’s unfair trade practices as a root cause of current global economic turbulence. He traced the issue back to China’s admission into the WTO, around early 2000s. Global community expected transparency and fairness, but instead saw: Predatory pricing, Dumping of goods, Unfair labour practices, and Supply chain manipulation. Relevance : GS 2(International Relations ) Strategic Caution by India India is being strategically cautious about allowing investments from China, especially in sensitive sectors. Example: Denial of entry to Chinese EV giant BYD, citing security and strategic concerns. Emphasis on protecting national interests while encouraging rule-based trade. India’s Response and Position India aims to convert the challenge into opportunity by adhering to fair global trade rules. Advocates for rule-based economic growth unlike China’s alleged unfair strategies. Highlighted India’s low applied tariffs, especially toward U.S. (around 7–8%), implying openness to trade reciprocity. Concerns Over U.S.-China Trade War Spillover Possibility of China increasing dumping in markets like India after U.S. tariffs. Goyal urged Indian industry to be vigilant and responsive to such developments. Key Takeaways India is re-evaluating foreign investment policies with a national security lens. Global trade landscape is shifting amid U.S.-China tensions, and India seeks to assert itself as a fair, rule-abiding player. Growing consensus on reforming global trade rules to prevent manipulation. It’s clear now: iron inside the sun is more opaque than expected Context Opacity refers to how much light an object absorbs — higher opacity means more absorption and less transmission. Iron, while common on Earth, behaves differently under the extreme conditions inside the Sun. Opacity plays a crucial role in determining the Sun’s temperature profile and energy transfer. Relevance : GS 3(Science and Technology) Why the Sun’s Iron Opacity Matters The Sun is the most studied star and serves as the basis for models of other stars in the universe. Accurate models of the Sun are essential for understanding stellar evolution, galaxy formation, and even the structure of the universe. Opacity of elements like iron directly influences how heat moves from the Sun’s core to its surface. Key Discoveries Earlier models underestimated iron’s opacity in the Sun’s radiation-convection zone. 2015 study: Iron’s opacity was found to be 30–400% higher than what models had predicted. Recent studies (2024–2025) support this finding and confirm the discrepancy lies in the theoretical models, not the observed data. Latest Experimental Evidence Sandia National Labs (USA) used ultrafast X-ray cameras and spectrometers to measure opacity. A thin iron sample was bombarded with high-energy X-rays to mimic Sun-like conditions. Result: Stronger absorption (darker shadow), proving higher-than-expected opacity. Temporal evolution (changes over time) was ruled out as the cause of error. Impact on Solar Models Standard solar models had matched some observations (like neutrino count) but failed on element abundance predictions. New findings demand revisions in solar and stellar models to reflect actual opacity values. Remaining Challenges Measuring absolute opacity over time with accurate error margins is still an ongoing process. Current models need to integrate real-time opacity variations under sun-like plasma conditions. Broader Implications It also enhances the accuracy of helioseismology (study of solar interior using sound waves). Understanding iron’s behavior in the Sun improves our grasp of: Star formation and death Supernova physics and metal dispersion Climate and solar activity effects on Earth