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India’s political landscape is increasingly being defined by the troubling nexus between crime and politics. A study has highlighted a startling correlation: the election of politicians with criminal records is directly linked to a rise in crime across the country, particularly in states with weaker institutional frameworks. As India's political system continues to grapple with this issue, the societal consequences are becoming clear. <h2>A history of <keyword id="23341122" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="criminal-politicians" source="keywords">criminal politicians</keyword></h2><keyword id="21026899" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pappu-Yadav" source="keywords">Pappu Yadav</keyword>, a veteran politician from Bihar, serves as a prime example of this disturbing trend. Having represented his constituency for nearly 25 years, Yadav has faced 41 criminal cases, including serious accusations of murder and kidnapping. Despite his conviction in 2008, Yadav was acquitted in 2013, and he continues to hold political influence. His case is not unique; the political scene in states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh is littered with politicians facing multiple criminal charges. Anant Singh, another prominent figure from Bihar, holds a political career shadowed by 38 criminal cases, including murder, kidnapping, and attempts to murder. These individuals represent a broader pattern where politicians accused of serious crimes continue to serve in public office despite their criminal backgrounds. "They are getting elected, and over time the number has only been going up," remarks lead author Nishith Prakash. "In some states, it could be as high as almost 40% of people who are representing the state have some kind of a criminal accusation." <h2>Crime begets crime</h2>The research delves into the ramifications of electing criminally accused politicians. The study found that states with a higher number of such politicians also experienced increased <keyword id="22044507" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="crime-rates" source="keywords">crime rates</keyword>. For example, states like Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh, known for their historically weak institutions, have seen crime rise by 4.3% annually with the election of criminal politicians. The number increases to 5.8% when the politicians are accused of serious crimes like murder and kidnapping. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="113692670" title="What will it take for Kangana Ranaut’s &amp;#39;Emergency&amp;#39; to finally hit theatres?" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Prakash notes that weak rule of law and institutional failure create fertile ground for such politicians to not only rise to power but also exacerbate the deteriorating law-and-order situation. When politicians themselves are involved in criminal activities, they often manipulate legal and administrative systems, further weakening law enforcement and emboldening criminal networks. The reign of <keyword id="20122630" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lalu-prasad-yadav" source="keywords">Lalu Prasad Yadav</keyword>, president of the Rashtriya Janata Dal political party in Bihar, illustrates the adverse impact criminal politicians can have. Under his leadership, Bihar’s political environment devolved into what is now infamously known as "Jungle Raj," a period marked by rampant kidnappings for ransom, particularly targeting affluent individuals like doctors and schoolchildren. The researchers note that during this time, the kidnapping industry flourished as criminals enjoyed either direct or indirect support from the state. <h2><keyword id="22404298" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="impact-on-women" source="keywords">Impact on women</keyword> and <keyword id="19900794" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="economic-growth" source="keywords">economic growth</keyword></h2>Beyond the immediate rise in general crime rates, the study revealed alarming statistics regarding crimes against women. Electing criminally accused politicians was found to increase crimes against women by 12.6%. In states where such politicians held office, female labour force participation dropped by 10-11%, as women felt unsafe and chose not to engage in work outside their homes. The research also highlighted the economic toll criminal politicians take on their constituencies. Areas represented by politicians accused of serious crimes saw economic growth lag between 2.3% and 6.5% per year compared to other regions. These leaders often misappropriate public funds, divert resources for personal gain, and enable criminal enterprises, all of which stifle local development. <h2>Legal measures taken</h2>India has made strides in identifying and tracking criminally accused politicians. A landmark 2003 ruling by the <keyword id="19895345" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Supreme-Court" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Supreme Court" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Supreme Court">Supreme Court</keyword> mandated that candidates for political office must disclose their criminal records, making it easier for voters and institutions to scrutinise their backgrounds. However, the law only disqualifies convicted individuals from running for office, allowing accused politicians to continue their political careers while facing serious charges. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="113446721" title="It&amp;#39;s not just the rhetoric — apathy and jokes could be fueling a spiral of retaliatory political violence, expert warns" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>The research conducted by Prakash and his team has caught the attention of Indian courts and the Election Commission. While reform is slow, there is growing recognition that the quality of political leadership has a profound impact on societal outcomes, from crime rates to economic performance. "The quality of politicians matters," Prakash notes. "Who you elect has implications on outcomes that we care about. It could be economic growth, it could be crime against women, it could be labour force participation. These are very important outcomes for society and the economy." The findings of this research have been published in Journal of Law Economics and Organization and can be accessed <a href="https://docs.iza.org/dp15259.pdf">here</a>.

Not only does electing “criminal” politicians often lead to an increase in crime in India, it can also be terrible for the economy: study

India's economic engine is roaring, and the job market reflects that optimism. The latest <keyword id="20613906" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Economic-Survey" source="keywords">Economic Survey</keyword> 2023-2024 paints a picture of a growing economy brimming with opportunities, but also cautions of potential roadblocks on the road to success. <h2>Cause for celebration</h2>The good news is plentiful, if the recent Economic Survey tabled by <keyword id="20426375" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Finance-Minister-Nirmala-Sitharaman" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman">Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> is to be believed. The <keyword id="20054242" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="unemployment-rate" source="keywords">unemployment rate</keyword> has dipped to an impressive 3.2% in 2022-23, signifying a more vibrant job market. Increased participation of young people and women in the workforce presents a golden opportunity to leverage India's demographic dividend and achieve greater gender equality. Additionally, a surge in net payroll additions under the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) indicates a healthy rise in formal jobs, offering much-needed security for workers. The government's "Skill India" initiative is gaining traction, with a significant rise in the number of people undergoing skill development programs, the Economic Survey highlighted. This is crucial, as India's burgeoning tech scene, with its skyrocketing number of startups, is creating a wealth of new opportunities that demand a skilled workforce. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111920956" title="FM Nirmala Sitharaman tables Economic Survey 2023-24 in Lok Sabha" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> <h2>Challenges on the horizon </h2>However, amidst the optimism, there are challenges to navigate. While <keyword id="107950" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="artificial-intelligence" source="Orion">Artificial Intelligence</keyword> (AI) promises to revolutionise industries, it also poses a threat to some existing jobs. The Economic Survey emphasises the need to use technology for collective benefit, advocating against over-reliance on automation. Another significant hurdle is the widening <keyword id="21466653" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="skills-gap" source="keywords">skills gap</keyword>. The rapid transformation of the <keyword id="20001119" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="services-sector" source="keywords">services sector</keyword>, marked by the rise of domestic service delivery powered by technology (think online food delivery and home automation) and the diversification of India's services exports beyond traditional sectors like IT, demands a workforce equipped with specialised skills. Areas like Blockchain, Machine Learning, <keyword id="19906883" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cybersecurity" source="keywords">Cybersecurity</keyword>, <keyword id="19960489" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cloud-computing" source="keywords">Cloud Computing</keyword>, and Web and Mobile Development are becoming increasingly important. Outdated regulations, particularly those related to land use and restrictions on women's working hours, are further hindering job creation and female labour force participation. Deregulation in these areas is crucial to unlock India's full growth potential, according to the Economic Survey. The report also highlights the need for industry to take the lead in fostering innovation and skill development. Collaboration with academia and revamped vocational education programs are key to bridge the current skill gap. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111922453" title="AI casts huge pall of uncertainty over impact on workers across skill levels: Economic Survey" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> <h2>Opportunities beyond tech</h2>The Economic Survey identifies promising sectors with the potential to create a significant number of jobs: <ul><li>Agro-processing: This sector can be a major job generator, especially in rural areas.</li><li>Care Economy: The growing demand for elder care and childcare services presents an opportunity for skilled professionals.</li><li>Tourism: While AI might moderate India's services export growth, the report emphasises the importance of the <keyword id="20260982" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tourism-sector" source="keywords">tourism sector</keyword>, which is relatively less skill-dependent, for employment generation. To capitalise on this opportunity, public policy should focus on enhancing the tourism sector's infrastructure and services.</li></ul><h2>Upskilling for the future</h2>India's job market is on an exciting trajectory. But addressing the skills gap, adapting to technological advancements and promoting innovation is crucial. By upskilling the workforce through government and industry collaboration, India can become a high-value partner in areas like cybersecurity and enterprise management. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111923191" title="Economic Survey 2024 – industries grow by 9.5%, fueling economic growth to 8.2%" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

Economic Survey 2023-2024 highlights emerging job trends in AI, Cybersecurity, 3D Printing and Web Development

Indias urban unemployment rate improved remarkably in the April-June quarter, revealed the <keyword id="7734679" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="national-statistical-office" source="Orion">National Statistical Office</keyword>. It dipped to 7.6 per cent during the April-June quarter from 12.6 per cent during the corresponding quarter a year ago. It is a clear indication that the country's economy is coming out the grip of Covid-induced slowdown. India's urban unemployment rate improved across genders and age groups to its best-ever level in the quarter ending June 2022.India's headline urban unemployment rate was 7.6 per cent in the quarter ending June, compared to 8.2 per cent in the quarter ending March, 12.7 per cent in the June quarter of 2021-22, and 8.9 per cent in the June quarter of 2019-20. Joblessness was high in April-June 2021 mainly due to the staggering impact of Covid-related restrictions in the country. The 15th <keyword id="3429286" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="periodic-labour-force-survey" source="Orion">Periodic Labour Force Survey</keyword> (<keyword id="1697741" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="plfs" source="Orion">PLFS</keyword>) showed that the unemployment rate among females (aged 15 years and above) in urban areas declined to 9.5 per cent in April-June, 2022 from 14.3 per cent a year ago. It was 10.1 per cent in January-March, 2022.Among males, the unemployment rate in urban areas dipped to 7.1 per cent in April-June 2022 compared to 12.2 per cent a year ago. It was 7.7 per cent in January-March 2022. Since some kinds of jobs, like those in agriculture, are seasonal in nature, unemployment rate comparisons are best made for the same quarter across years. However, the remarkable improvement in this rate can be seen from the fact that it is the lowest rate since the quarter ending June 2018, the first quarter for which the quarterly bulletins have data, revealed media reports. That the improvement in unemployment rate was not lopsided can be seen from the fact that it improved across groups. The quarterly bulletin gives a breakup of unemployment rate by gender and by three age groups: all ages, 15-29 years, and 15 years and above. Unemployment rates for all these groups was the best in the quarter ending June, media reports said. Similarly, at 37.2 per cent, the labour force participation rate (<keyword id="4279410" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="lfpr" source="Orion">LFPR</keyword>) - or the share of population working or seeking work - in the first quarter of the current financial year was the highest for this quarter for any year since 2018-19 and 10 basis points (100th of a percentage point) higher than in the first quarter of last year. While LFPR was not at its best level in the quarterly bulletin's history like the unemployment rate, it is enough for it to be best for the June quarter because of the seasonality factor. The broad industry-wise breakup of workers further showed that employment prospects also improved. The share of workers in agriculture, secondary sector (which includes sectors like manufacturing and mining), and tertiary sector (comprises services) was 5.7 per cent, 34 per cent and 60.3 per cent, respectively. The share in agriculture is an improvement over the June quarters of FY 2021-22 and FY 2020-21, both affected by lockdowns, but not over FY 2019-20, when only 4.9 per cent were in agriculture. The share in tertiary sector was similarly a higher 62 per cent in FY 2019-20, a clear sign that though people are seeking and finding jobs with the pandemic under control, they may not be earning as much as they did before the pandemic. These signs will be confirmed or rejected when the unit-level data becomes available, the report stated. Labour force refers to the part of the population which supplies or offers to supply labour for pursuing economic activities for the production of goods and services and, therefore, includes both employed and unemployed persons. The NSO launched PLFS in April 2017. On the basis of PLFS, a quarterly bulletin is brought out giving estimates of labour force indicators namely unemployment rate, worker population ratio (<keyword id="1966243" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="wpr" source="Orion">WPR</keyword>), labour force participation rate (LFPR), distribution of workers by broad status in employment and industry of work in Current Weekly Status. SEE ALSO : <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/gromo-raises-11-million-plans-to-double-headcount-in-6-12-months/articleshow/94031705.cms">GroMo raises $11 million, plans to double headcount in 6-12 months</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/dreamfolks-services-beats-grey-market-expectations-lists-at-a-55-premium/articleshow/94017839.cms">DreamFolks Services stock slips 8% from its listing price</a>

India's urban unemployment rate dips to 7.6% in the April-June quarter

<ul><li>As education level rises, the rate of unemployment also increases, shows data by Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE). </li><li>Unemployment rate among the highly educated stood at 13.2% during September-December 2018. </li><li>People with bachelor’s degrees and above account for only 10% of India’s total working age population.</li><li>Rate of unemployment among women — with bachelor’s and master’s degrees — has been higher than men, at 35%. </li></ul>Unemployment has emerged as a key challenge for the Indian government as it heads into the general elections. A recent <a href="https://www.cmie.com/kommon/bin/sr.php?kall=warticle&amp;dt=2019-03-19%2009:46:12&amp;msec=486">analysis </a>by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) has shown that the rate of unemployment among qualified youth — those with bachelor degrees and higher — has seen a sharp increase from mid 2017. The report has highlighted that the unemployment rate for the given group was projected at 13.2% during September - December period in 2018. While in 2017, the number stood at 12.1% for the qualified Indians. The highly educated set of individuals — those with bachelor’s degrees and above — faced the <a href="https://www.businesstoday.in/current/economy-politics/unemployment-rate-among-graduates-touched-13pct-during-sep-dec-2018-cmie/story/329572.html">maximum unemployment </a>while the students who passed high school stood at 10.6%, in terms of unemployment numbers. The CMIE’s Consumer Pyramids Household Survey bifurcated the unemployment numbers according to the levels of education. People who have completed a bachelor’s degree or any other higher level of education account for only 10% of the working age population of India. While over 100 million had a bachelor’s degree or higher as of 2018. Out of these, nearly 53 million of those were employed. While eight million were looking for jobs. Post graduates (master’s or higher) in India have been facing the biggest challenge to fetch jobs. The unemployment rate among those with a master’s degree is twice the unemployment among the entire labour force, according to the report. India has a labour participation rate of 61% — for the graduation and above group, which was below 60% mark, a year ago. Labour participation rate is the number of employed people or the ones seeking employment. Unemployment among women While the overall labour participation rate — employed and seeking jobs — in the country has improved from the past few years, the female participation was still significantly low at 11.1% during September-December 2018. However, for the females with higher educational qualifications, the numbers hit 22.6%, which is more than twice compared to the average female participation. Unemployment rate among women in this segment stood at 35% during the same period. In contrast, the rate of unemployment for men stood at 10%. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indians-will-prefer-to-learn-a-new-skill-if-they-have-a-four-days-work-week-survey/articleshow/68516702.cms">Indians were asked what they would do in their free time if they could work for four days a week — and their answers are unexpected</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/male-workforce-is-reportedly-shrinking-in-india-reveals-job-survey-by-nsso/articleshow/68498030.cms">Male workforce is reportedly shrinking in India, reveals job survey by NSSO</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indias-unemployment-crisis-is-hurting-women-more-than-the-men/articleshow/68403129.cms">India’s unemployment crisis is hurting women more than the men</a>

Fewer jobs for better educated: India’s unemployment rate stands at 13.2% among the highly educated segment

<ul><li>The benchmark <keyword id="136862" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="us-central-bank" source="Orion">US Central bank</keyword> rate now ranges from 5.25% to 5.50%, reaching its highest level since 2001. </li><li>Since this has not come as a surprise, the markets have already factored it in, and hence it is less likely to affect <keyword id="30067" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rbi" source="Orion">RBI</keyword>’s monetary policy decisions, say analysts.</li><li>If the inflation turns around, it may challenge the ‘Goldilocks scenario’ and it will translate into high market volatility.</li></ul>The United States Federal Reserve raised its benchmark <keyword id="37018" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="interest-rate" source="Orion">interest rate</keyword> by 25 <keyword id="6374715" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="basis-points" source="Orion">basis points</keyword> on Wednesday night, marking the highest increase in the last 22 years. The benchmark federal funds rate now ranges from 5.25% to 5.5%, reaching its highest level since 2001. This move further tightens economic activity as borrowing costs for homes, cars, and other goods increase. This rate hike is the 11th since the Federal Reserve began its fight against inflation in March 2022. Interestingly, it comes just one month after the central bank decided to pause rate increases in order to evaluate the state of the economy following the failures of three regional banks recently. Says Abhishek Bisen, Head of Fixed Income &amp; Fund Manager, Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Company, “The <keyword id="136502" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fomc" source="Orion">FOMC</keyword> hiked rates by 25 bps taking the fed fund rate to 5.25-5.50% on expected lines. In order to ensure financial conditions do not ease prematurely, the Federal Reserve continues to guide that further monetary actions will be data dependent. In our assessment, falling core inflation in the month ahead will headline inflation at ~ 3% handle, and will give comfort to the FOMC to stay on hold for the rest of calendar year 2023.” <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="The India impact" comment="Subhead" text="The India impact">The India impact</cmsannotation> The question is how the US <keyword id="1873897" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fed-rate" source="Orion">Fed rate</keyword> hike is likely to affect the Reserve Bank of India (RBIs) monetary policy decisions. “I do not think it is going to impact RBI’s monetary policy stance because the impact typically happens when something unexpected happens. I think this was pretty much factored in by all market participants, and I am sure that the regulators also have baked it in. Fed has already communicated that they will have two more rate hikes and they have left room for one more rate hike,” says D K Joshi, Chief Economist, Crisil. India does not necessarily need to increase rates because the Fed has raised rates. While the Fed has raised rates by 500 basis points in the last one year, the RBI has raised rates by only 250 basis points. However, Sinha has a word of caution. “The market has been pricing in a Goldilocks scenario and the assumption is that we have rate cuts and quantitative easing is coming back. All kinds of assumptions have been priced in as far as the valuations are concerned. There may be an inflation surprise on the upside, because in the US consumer confidence and housing prices have rebounded.” He adds that if inflation turns around, that will challenge the Goldilocks scenario and that will translate into high volatility in the markets. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Eye on global macro readings" comment="subhead" text="Eye on global macro readings">Eye on global macro readings</cmsannotation> The US inflation data is scheduled to come out next week and the street expects a softening in headline reading because of the relaxation in the goods markets, the resolution of supply chain bottlenecks, and the alleviation of the impact caused by the Russian-Ukraine war. “In deciding whether to hike once more in September 2023 the Fed would critically examine the data on labour market conditions and the non-housing services inflation. At this juncture, it expresses a reasonable chance of one more hike,” says Dhanjay Sinha, Dhananjay Sinha, Head of Strategy Research and Chief Economist, Systematix Group. Agrees Pankaj Pathak, Fund Manager- Fixed Income, Quantum Mutual Fund. “The rate hike suggests that future actions will be data dependent. If inflation moves above the Fed’s expectation, they will hike rates. If it remains on the expected declining path, the Fed will pause.” According to US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, the tightening of monetary policy has had some disinflationary effects so far, but it has not resulted in a loss of employment. The unemployment rate remains at a historically low level of 3.6%. While the current tightening measures will need to continue, and additional rate hikes might be necessary, there is a low likelihood that achieving the inflation target will require a significant increase in the unemployment rate or disruptions in the labour market. Therefore, it is unlikely that the economy will experience a significant contraction beyond the normal slowdown, leading to the base case assumption that the United States will avoid a recession. Market participants are optimistic about a "Goldilocks" scenario, wherein policymakers successfully control inflation without significantly hampering economic growth. This approach also aims to maintain long-term interest rates at relatively low levels compared to historical standards, fostering a favourable and balanced economic environment.

As Fed resumes rate hike, market watchers say RBI policy unlikely to be affected

I take the Delhi Metro to work every morning. The subway system allocates one out of six or eight carriages exclusively for the use of <keyword id="624" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Women">women</keyword>, in the interest of safety. The remaining carriages are mostly occupied by men - I would venture to say anywhere between 80% and 90%, based on rudimentary calculations. This is usually the case all the time. It’s a stark and daily reminder of just how far India has to go in terms of solving its gender inequality problem. A recent<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/McKinsey/Global%20Themes/Gender%20Equality/The%20power%20of%20parity%20Advancing%20womens%20equality%20in%20Asia%20Pacific/MGI_Power-of-Parity-Asia-Pacific_Report_April-2018.ashx"> report on gender equality </a>by the Mckinsey Global Institute (MGI), the consultancy’s research division, shows that India is one of the lowest-ranked countries in the Asia-Pacific in terms of labour force participation by females and the contribution of women to GDP, based on figures from 2016. Around 18% of India’s GDP is accounted for by women, while the share of females in the country’s labour force is 25%. Only Pakistan ranks lower than India on both counts- with women contributing a mere 11% to GDP and comprising 22% of its labour force. It has a lot to gain by unleashing the productive potential of its women- who have, up until this point, been a underused resource. MGI estimates that India’s GDP, if everything were to carry on as usual, could increase by $770 billion, or 18%, by 2025 by giving women access to equal work opportunities as men. Around $550bn, or 70% of this increase, would come by just increasing the share of females in the workforce by 10%. The remaining portion of the increase in GDP would be achieved by improving the quality of work given to women and the hours worked. Too often, the report notes, women are engaged in unpaid care work or low-quality, low-paying work like cleaning. A staggering 97% of all female workers are engaged in informal sector work that isn’t regulated and doesn’t offer adequate remuneration based on hours put in. Additionally, the amount of time spent doing unpaid, household chores is lengthened by a lack of easy access to amenities such as cooking fuel and clean water. A lot of women find themselves unable to enter the formal sector due to a low level of <keyword id="6355445" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="education">education</keyword>. A <a href="https://thewire.in/economy/ten-charts-gender-inequality">report last year in the Wire</a> showed that despite achieving strong enrolment rates for females in primary schools, as a result of the Right to Education Act, the government was not able to translate this into improved rates for secondary and tertiary enrolment. A girl’s higher education is looked at as an opportunity cost. Why send her to school when she can start helping her mother take care of the house or drawing an income from manual work? Inequality in formal sector The lack of female representation in the formal sector also has a lot to do with how upper classes in Indian society function. The MGI report explained that women’s workforce participation follows a “U-shaped curve”. While women from low-income families are forced to work out of necessity, the level of female employment gets progressively lower the wealthier a family gets, owing to the fact that there is a lower need for a woman to work for pay. MGI says that this effect can be reversed if companies step up their hiring of women and give women more leadership opportunities. In most cases, the hiring practices of Indian companies reinforce the <keyword id="6484133" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="labour-participation">labour participation</keyword> gap. According to <a href="http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/548581522089881652/pdf/WPS8379.pdf">a working paper by the World Bank, </a>an analysis of over 800,000 Indian job postings showed that there was an explicit bias towards men, especially in blue-collar sectors. Further still, professions that have greater representation by women - such as teaching, health and business process outsourcing - actually paid men significantly more. A lack of legal protection and political representation India does not have any laws in place to ensure equal pay for men and women. While the government passed a law mandating 26 months paid maternity leave in April last year, it made no provision for financial support to small-and-medium sized businesses. At the time, experts felt that the law would only serve to exacerbate <a href="https://qz.com/943639/proof-that-indias-new-maternity-leave-law-could-make-it-even-harder-for-women-to-get-a-job/">discriminatory hiring practices against women.</a> The government also excluded the unorganised sector from the purview of the law, thereby offering no protection to women in temporary, self-employed or contractual roles. Worse still, the law did not make any mention of paternity leave, deciding once and for all that child-rearing was the sole responsibility of the mother. The percentage of women in India’s lower house of Parliament is tragically low, at 11%. The Women’s Reservation Bill, which reserves 33% of the seats in both houses of Parliament and state legislatures for women, has been languishing for 22 years, despite being passed in the upper house in 2010. No surprise there. Why would the leaders of a male-dominated legislature be okay with ceding their seat to a woman? The Northern states fare a lot worse There seems to be a regional aspect to India’s <keyword id="6372584" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="gender-equality">gender equality</keyword> problem. While states in the northeast and south of India, like Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Sikkim, report strong female workforce participation rates, Northern states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jammu &amp; Kashmir, fall significantly behind. Unsurprisingly, the level of female workforce participation was lowest in states with lower levels of adult literacy. This highlights the problem as primarily one of access to good education. In mapping out a strategy to improve gender equality in India, the government would do well to focus on states in the North first. Some progress has been made, however This is not to say that India hasn’t made any progress in curbing gender inequality. Over the past decade, it has reduced maternal mortality rates from 280 for every 100,000 births to 174. The female-to-male adult literacy ratio has also increased by 0.10 points to 0.87 while the prevalence of child marriage has declined. Financial inclusion is also being achieved, gradually, through the Jan Dhan Yojana Scheme, which has given around 300 million women access to bank accounts and savings schemes, and the Mudra Yojana microcredit programme, under which more than 6 million female entrepreneurs have received loans. But a lot more needs to be done So what does that India needs to do to unlock the potential of its women and achieve the aforementioned increase in GDP? Firstly, according to the MGI, the government needs to leverage the digital inclusion and internet penetration wave. Greater access to computer skilling and by extension, to the internet means greater access to information - educational courses, learning resources, job postings and networking opportunities. It also means access to online banking, which in turn, means access to credit and savings instruments. Secondly, there need to be skilling and vocational training programmes tailored to industries where women have the highest potential for greater participation- healthcare, hospitality, textiles and electronics assembly. Thirdly, the government needs to encourage gender diversity-focused hiring policies in the companies. Fourth, given that women do ten times more unpaid work than men, the government can help reduce the time spent on unpaid work by providing households in rural area with electricity, closer access to clean water and subsidised childcare services. Fifth, increasing the level of women in legislative bodies in India will set a good example for other industries and could kickstart a shift in societal norms. Women are an <a href="https://www.livemint.com/Politics/PyQ7hlxIkiyXlsUqq7JbOL/The-growing-importance-of-women-as-an-electoral-constituency.html">increasingly influential electoral group</a> and deserve adequate representation. Last, but most important, it needs to stimulate private investment and create enough jobs in the economy to accommodate the increase in female workers - an issue that merits its own feature story. The increase in the female labour participation rate is not low-hanging fruit that the government can pluck and qualify as a win. It transcends election cycles and requires long-term, structural reform and a broad shift in societal attitudes. It’s a massive undertaking, but with a worthy payoff. Wouldn’t it be great if there were two compartments for women in the Delhi subway? Or better yet, each compartment was equally comprised of men and women?

India would be US$550 billion richer if it just increased its share of women in the labor force by 10%

(Photo Credit : Ruthson Zimmerman) <ul><li><keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword>’s <keyword id="93845" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="unemployment-rate">unemployment rate</keyword> rose to 6.9%, which is highest in the last two years, according to a report by Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy, a prominent research institution. </li><li>As of October 2018, only 42.6% of the adult population was willing to work. </li><li>In the last one year, the number of job seekers went from 14 million to 29.5 million. </li></ul>India’s unemployment rate jumped to a two-year high to 6.9% in October 2018, according to a <a href="https://www.cmie.com/kommon/bin/sr.php?kall=warticle&amp;dt=2018-11-06%2010:28:10&amp;msec=810">report </a>by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy, showing a worrying trend in the labour market. The study comes at the heels of the two-year anniversary of India’s <keyword id="3315394" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="demonetisation">demonetisation</keyword> exercise which banned higher-denomination notes in a bid to crack down on black money and push the economy towards using less cash. Only 39.5% of the Indian adult population was employed as of October, the lowest employment percentage, said the report. An estimated 397 million people were employed in October 2018, down 2.4% compared to last year. According to the report, India’s unemployment rate has been rising steadily since July last year spiking recently in October. As of October, about 29.5 million unemployed people were actively seeking jobs compared to 21.6 million in the same period last year. The news is likely to be a setback for the Indian government, which is still struggling to keep up its promise of creating 10 million jobs every year. Labour participation continues to be a challenge for India as only 42.5% of India’s adult population was willing to join active workforce, highlighted the report. Rise in job seekers The <a href="https://www.cmie.com/kommon/bin/sr.php?kall=warticle&amp;dt=2018-11-06%2010:28:10&amp;msec=810">report </a>emphasises that following demonetisation, many exited the labour market as it became harder to find jobs. However, in the last one year, the number of job seekers have doubled from 14 million in July 2017 to 29.5 million in October 2018. The sudden surge can be because of labour returning back to the market to look for jobs after demonetisation. That was also partly due to few large openings being advertised by the government. Meanwhile, private enterprises didn’t adequately invest towards creating more jobs, added the report.

India records the highest unemployment rate in two years, says study

<keyword id="163437" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="US-employers">US employers</keyword> added 379,000 <keyword id="11018" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jobs">jobs</keyword> in February, with the <keyword id="6358907" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="unemployment">unemployment</keyword> rate little changed at 6.2 per cent, the <keyword id="57432" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Labour-department">Labour Department</keyword> reported. In February, most of the job gains occurred in leisure and hospitality, with smaller gains in temporary help services, health care and social assistance, retail trade, and manufacturing, according to the monthly report released on Friday by the Department's Bureau of Labour Statistics. Employment fell in state and local government education, construction and mining, Xinhua news agency reported citing the report as saying. The unemployment rate, meanwhile, edged down by 0.1 <keyword id="1624988" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Percentage-Point">percentage point</keyword> to 6.2 per cent in February, but still well above the pre-pandemic level of 3.5 per cent in February 2020. Despite the improvement in the pandemic-ravaged labour market, some 10 million people remained unemployed in February, well above the pre-pandemic level of 5.7 million, the report showed. The number of permanent job losers, at 3.5 million, was essentially unchanged in February, but is 2.2 million higher than a year earlier, according to the report. The labour force participation rate remained at 61.4 per cent in February, according to the report, and this measure is 1.9 percentage points lower than a year earlier. Amid widespread Covid-19 shutdowns in March and April last year, 22 million Americans lost their jobs. Despite improvement in the pandemic-ravaged labour market, the recovery has been stalled in recent months amid surging Covid-19 cases. The weekly jobless claims report released on Thursday showed that the total number of people claiming benefits in all programs, state and federal combined, for the week ending February 13 decreased by 1 million, but remained elevated at 18 million. Lawmakers are debating a $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief package in the Senate, as Democrats highlighted the urgency to rein in the surging pandemic, and to bolster the ravaged economy. Republicans have however, called it a Democratic wish list, arguing that the plan includes provisions unrelated to the crisis, and the high price tag could result in unsustainable debt for future generations. Democrats hope to send the bill to President Joe Biden's desk before unemployment benefits expire in mid-March. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/apple-find-my-stalking-airtags-item-safety-alerts/articleshow/81342449.cms">Apple’s new Find My feature updated to prevent stalking as launch of the rumoured AirTags nears</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/regulating-digital-news-is-important-but-freedom-of-press-is-precious/articleshow/81341289.cms">OPINION: Regulating digital news is important but freedom of press is precious</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/heranba-industries-ipo-makes-a-bumper-debut-on-stock-exchanges/articleshow/81342578.cms?upcaceh=2">Heranba Industries makes a bumper debut on stock exchanges — shares soar 44% over the issue price band</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/ignore-low-cibil-score-for-street-vendor-loans-work-on-holidays-and-other-diktats-from-indian-government-to-banks-rushing-to-meet-march-target/articleshow/81223572.cms">EXCLUSIVE: Bankers may be working all 31 days of March with the government looking to double the loans doled out under the PM SVANidhi scheme</a>

US adds 379,000 jobs in February, say Labour Department report

<ul><li>India is the second largest market of freelance professionals in the world, after the United States. That accounts for nearly 15 million professionals in the country. </li><li>Despite the growth, women refrain from pursuing gig work. </li><li>That is majorly because of the gender disparity in terms of pay, flexibility and employment status. </li><li>There are at least two surveys that explain the lag in the labour reforms for women. </li></ul>India is the second largest market of freelance professionals in the world, after the United States. That accounts for nearly 15 million professionals in the country. In fact, as India Inc moves to evaluating an ‘alternative workforce model’ with <keyword id="7771650" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="gig-workers">gig workers</keyword> and freelancers, the demand is only going to rise. But despite the growth, women refrain from pursuing gig work. That is majorly because of the gender disparity in terms of pay, flexibility and employment status — that prevails in the <keyword id="3080230" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="gig-economy">gig economy</keyword> as well. This also reflects in the <keyword id="4476046" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="female-labour">Female Labour</keyword> Force Participation Rate (FLPR) in India, which has been falling for two decades now. There are at least two surveys that explain the lag in the labour reforms for women. In 2018, a survey said that a third of women were disinterested in joining the gig economy due to the lack of job security and uncertainty on employment status. Pay parity still a concern In addition to this, they are being paid less, widening the gender parity. A research by <a href="https://www.orfonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ORF_IssueBrief_359_GenderGig.pdf">Observer Research Foundation (ORF)</a> reiterates the data from TeamLease in India that said the gig economy added 40,000 women in 2019. But, they are making 10% less than men, especially the delivery executives. The same year, the <keyword id="119211" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ministry-of-labour">Ministry of Labour</keyword> and Employment proposed the Code on Social Security Bill, to offer social security benefits to gig workers. On those lines, Finance Minister <keyword id="129243" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> on May 14, said that social security schemes will now be extended to even gig and platform workers, the proposal is awaiting approval of the Parliament and the Standing Committees. It is important because food-tech and e-commerce players such as Uber, Ola, Zomato and Swiggy, account for nearly 90% of the total gig workers in India. On an average, women make an average of ₹15,000 to ₹30,000 per month in the emerging gig economy. “This could be attributed to their income being of the ‘distressed’ category. Consequently, as soon as conditions improve, women leave the workforce — this phenomenon is widely visible in India’s informal economy as well,” said the ORF report. Limited access to digital technologies That aside, the lag in the access to digital technologies is yet another hurdle to women’s participation in gig work. Despite the country’s push for digitisation, merely 16% women in India use mobile internet, as per the findings of the GSMA Mobile Gender Gap Report 2019. To overcome that, many companies offer their own devices to facilitate work. “The gig economy is here to stay and offers many ways for women to start and improve their careers. However, the problem in India is twofold: an inability to facilitate women’s movement into the workforce, and the perpetuation of structural and operational barriers promoting gendered division of gig work,” said the report. Future scope As per Deloitte data, nearly 80% of the organisations have less than 10% of their employees as gig workers, accounting majorly to <keyword id="2245174" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Contractual-staff">contractual staff</keyword>. India’s gig economy is projected at a market size of $455 billion over the next three years — which might increase even further with the new-found interest. “A large majority of this is expected to be contributed by the unorganised sector of the economy, as India Inc's adoption of gig workers remains nascent at best,” the Deloitte report said. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/more-employees-at-capgemini-infosys-and-wipro-are-being-brought-back-to-offices-while-tcs-is-still-in-wait-and-watch-mode/articleshow/75691940.cms">More employees at Capgemini, Infosys, and Wipro are being brought back to offices while TCS is still in wait and watch mode</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/from-minimum-wages-for-all-to-social-security-for-gig-workers-these-are-the-broad-outlines-of-upcoming-labour-reforms-in-india/articleshow/75733790.cms">From minimum wages for all to social security for gig workers ⁠— these are the broad outlines of upcoming ‘labour reforms’ in India</a>

You Searched For "labour participation rate" and got 9 results

Not only does electing “criminal” politicians often lead to an increase in crime in India, it can also be terrible for the economy: study

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Economic Survey 2023-2024 highlights emerging job trends in AI, Cybersecurity, 3D Printing and Web Development

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India's urban unemployment rate dips to 7.6% in the April-June quarter

IANS

Fewer jobs for better educated: India’s unemployment rate stands at 13.2% among the highly educated segment

BI India Bureau

As Fed resumes rate hike, market watchers say RBI policy unlikely to be affected

Anagh Pal

India would be US$550 billion richer if it just increased its share of women in the labor force by 10%

Dilsher Dhillon

India records the highest unemployment rate in two years, says study

BI India Bureau

US adds 379,000 jobs in February, say Labour Department report

IANS

Indian women don’t like being gig workers ⁠— the potentially $455 billion industry has to woo them with fair pay to start with

Prerna Sindwani

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