National Education Policy (NEP 2020) and NIPUN Bharat Mission

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• Mission goals:

a. Develop a framework for the foundational stage of education.

b. Implement teacher training aligned with new educational goals.

c. Specially designed teaching-learning materials for early grade classrooms

d. Focus on the role of mothers in supporting children's learning journey.

Demographic Trends

1. School Enrolment Levels

 a. Significant increase in school enrollment levels (ages 6-14) since Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (2001).

b. Over 90% enrolled in rural India by the early 2000s.

2. Educational Attainment of Mothers

a. Substantial rise in education levels of mothers with children ages 4-8.

b. ASER surveys show an increase from 35% (2010) to nearly 60% (2022) of mothers studied beyond Grade 5.

c. Notable increases in high school education levels of mothers in various states (e.g., Kerala at 72%).

3. Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR)

a. Low female LFPR in India (37% overall, 24.5% for ages 15-29).

b. Economic implications and scope for improvement in LFPR.

Female Labor Force Participation

1.Overall female LFPR: 37% (41.5% rural, 25.4% urban)

2. LFPR for women aged 15-29: 24.5% (25.8% rural, 20.8% urban)

•Leveraging Educated Mothers

 

1. Unique resource for supporting children's learning

2. More available than fathers (65.5% of young rural men in workforce)

3. Pandemic increased parental involvement in education.

Recommendations

1. Encourage active participation of families, especially mothers

2. Foster collaboration between teachers and mothers

 

Kerala jewish coexistence

1. Historical Presence: Kerala was home to two main Jewish communities: Malabar Jews, who trace their origins to the time of King Solomon, and Paradesi Jews, who arrived.

2. Population Decline: Once thriving, Kerala’s Jewish community has nearly disappeared, with only a handful of Jews remaining today.

3. Population Peak: India’s Jewish population peaked at 20,000-50,000 in the 1940s. Currently, it is estimated to be around 4,000-5,000, mainly consisting of Marathi-speaking Bene Israel on the Konkan coast.

4. Cultural Adaptation: The Paradesi Jews, distinct from the Malabar Jews, adopted many local customs but eventually separated themselves from the older Malabar Jewish community.

5. Economic Contributions: Paradesi Jews were notably active in Kerala’s spice trade, contributing significantly to the region’s economy.

6. Coexistence and Prosperity: Unlike many Jewish communities elsewhere, Kerala’s Jews rarely faced persecution and often thrived under Dutch, Hindu, and later British rule.

7. Migration to Israel: Since the 1950s, the majority of Kerala’s Jewish population has migrated to Israel, leading to a sharp decline in their numbers in India.

8. Cultural Legacy: Despite their small numbers, the Jewish communities of Kerala left a lasting cultural and architectural legacy, including synagogues and unique traditions.

9. Significant Event: The recent death of the last Paradesi Jewish woman in Kerala marks the end of an era for this community.

 10. Current Status: Today, only a few Malabar and Paradesi Jews remain in Kerala, symbolizing the near extinction of this once vibrant community.

India's informal economy

Employment Trends Over 12 Years

1. 2010-2016 Growth:

a. Manufacturing: Units grew by 14.3%, and workers by 3.3%.

b. Trade: Units increased by 11%, and workers by 13.5%.

 c. Services: Workers declined by 6.4%.

2. 2016-2023 Trends: 

a. Manufacturing and Trade: Slower growth in enterprises and workers.

b. Services: Significant increase in both units and workers.

Headline Trends from Data

1. Employment Decrease: Overall employment in the informal sector declined, though the number of enterprises increased.

 2. Shift to Self-Owned Units: Indicates a move towards more self-owned units, affecting labor-intensive manufacturing.

 Major Economic Shocks

1. Demonetisation (November 2016): Sudden withdrawal of cash from the economy.

2. GST Rollout (July 2017): Inclusion of informal enterprises in the tax net.

3. COVID-19 Pandemic (Beginning March 2020): National lockdown severely impacted the informal sector.

Sector-wise Analysis

1. Manufacturing: Worst hit. Units contracted by 9.3% to 1.78 crore.

2. Trade: Marginal Impact: Units declined by 2%, but workers increased by 0.8%.

3. Services: Growth: Both units and workers increased significantly, by 19.1% and 9.5%, respectively.

 

 

Economic Output

1. GVA per enterprise increased to Rs 2.38 lakh (2022-23) from Rs 1.82 lakh (2015-16)

2. GVA per worker rose to Rs 1.42 lakh from Rs 1.04 lakh

3. Real GVA growth slower:

 a. 6.9% growth in 2022-23 (below pre-pandemic levels)

 b. CAGR contracted by 0.2% between 2015-16 and 2022-23 compared to a 7.4% growth between 2010-2016.

State-wise Informal Employment Patterns

1. Decline in Informal Employment: 16 out of 34 states/UTs recorded a decline in informal sector workers.

2. Post-Pandemic Shift: Increase in informal sector employment in most states after the pandemic, indicating economic distress and a move away from the formal sector.