UPSC Daily Current Affairs| Prelimbits 16-07-2025

Zographetus mathewi – Butterfly Species

Why in News?

Recently, a team from the Travancore Nature History Society, the Institute of Tropical Research, Ecology and Conservation, and the Zoological Survey of India has identified a new butterfly species.

• Location - A new butterfly species, Zographetus mathewi, has been discovered in the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot.

Western Ghats is one of the world’s 8 “hottest hotspots” of biological diversity.

• Discovered by – A team of lepidopterists (a person who studies or collects butterflies and moths).
• Nomenclature - The butterfly is named in honour of George Mathew, a prominent Indian entomologist and former head of the Kerala Forest Research Institute’s Entomology Division.
• Family – Hesperiidae.
• Common name - Sahyadri Spotted Flitter, referencing the local name for the Western Ghats.
• Genus - It is the 15^th species in the genus Zographetus and the 5^th recorded in India.
  • It belongs to the Zographetus satwa species group.
• Appearance - Yellow-ochre scaling on the underside of the hindwing, hairy forewings with a basal hair tuft, and swollen forewing veins in males, which serve as secondary sexual characteristics.

• Distinct Features - It is noted for its unique wing venation (the pattern of veins on an insect's wing) and secondary sexual traits such as swollen forewing veins in males.
• It also exhibits distinct genital structures in both males and females, key features that distinguish it from similar species such as Zographetus ogygia.
• Diet - The larvae feed on Aganope thyrsiflora, a native leguminous vine from the Fabaceae family.
• Conservation Significance - The discovery highlights the rich, unexplored biodiversity of the Western Ghats.
• It also emphasizes the need to conserve low-elevation forests that harbour such rare, endemic butterflies.

Reference

The Hindu| Zographetus Mathewi

Exemption of Installation of Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD) systems

Why in the news?

Recently, the Environment Ministry has exempted the majority of India’s coal-fired plants from mandatorily installing Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) systems, which are designed to cut sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions.

• Original Mandate, 2017 – The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) mandated that Required all coal-fired plants to install FGD systems by 2017 to reduce sulphur dioxide (SO₂) emissions.
• Limited Compliance - As of July 2025, only a small percentage of power plants (approximately 8%) have installed FGD systems, with most installations by public sector companies like NTPC.
• Reasons for Delays - Challenges such as high capital costs, limited vendor availability, space constraints, and the COVID-19 pandemic have contributed to delays in implementation.
• Recent Policy Changes - The Environment Ministry has exempted 79% of India’s coal-fired power plants from the mandatory installation of Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD) systems.
• A recent gazette notification restricted the mandatory installation of FGD systems to plants located within 10 kilometres of cities with a population exceeding one million.
• Exemptions - Plants located beyond this 10km radius are now largely exempt from the mandatory FGD installation.
• Case-by-Case Evaluation - Plants in critically polluted areas or "non-attainment cities" (cities exceeding air quality standards for five consecutive years) will be evaluated individually for FGD requirements.
• Impact of Relaxation - This policy shift is expected to reduce electricity costs.
• Continuing Debate - There is ongoing discussion regarding the necessity and effectiveness of FGD systems, with some studies suggesting Indian coal has a lower sulphur content and that SO₂ levels near plants are already within permissible limits.
• Alternative Perspectives - Some researchers argue for a more focused approach, recommending that FGD systems be mandatory only for plants using imported or high-sulphur coal.
• They emphasize prioritizing other measures like controlling particulate matter pollution.

Reference

The Hindu| Exemption of Installation of Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD) systems

Employment Landscape in India

Why in News?

Recently, according to various employment reports, there is a changing landscape of employment in India.

India Employment Report, 2024

• Published by -The International Labour Organization and the Institute for Human Development.
• Findings of the report - The youth account for 83% of India’s unemployed population.
• The share of unemployed individuals with secondary or higher education has nearly doubled over two decades.
• Large portion in informal sector – 90% of employment is informal, with the proportion of salaried, regular jobs declining since 2018.
• Rise in contractual employment – While contractual employment has grown, concerns about job security and social welfare remain unresolved.
• Lack of technical skills – Many young Indians struggle with technical skills.
• 75% of young people struggle with basic digital tasks such as sending an email with an attachment.
• Over 60% cannot perform simple file operations such as copy-pasting.
• 90% lack fundamental spreadsheet skills such as working with formulas.

Report of EPFO

• Decline in net enrolments – The decline in net new EPFO enrolments post-2019 reflected the pandemic effect on formal employment.
• Increase in formal workforce – The March 2025 data show a steady increase in formal workforce participation.
• New enrolments – Young professionals, particularly fresh graduates, constitute a significant portion of new enrolments.

The 18-25 age group consistently represents a large share, with the 18-21 subgroup alone accounting for around 18%- 22% of the total new subscribers in the recent months.

• Towards formalisation – The trend signals a push towards formalisation.

Findings of Economic survey 2023-24

• Crisis of employability – The issue goes beyond unemployment; this is a crisis of unemployability.
• Job ready graduates – only about half of India’s youth are deemed job-ready after graduation.
• Lack of skills – One in two lacks the digital and professional skills employers’ demand, particularly in an economy undergoing rapid technological transformation.
• Influence of AI – The looming influence of AI threatens India’s tech sector, putting several traditional job roles at the risk of displacement.

The Future of Jobs Report 2025

• Published by – the World Economic Forum forecasts major shifts in employment dynamics.
• Creation of new jobs – By 2030, an estimated 170 million new jobs will be created representing 14% of total employment.
• Displacement of jobs – 92 million existing jobs (8% of total employment) will be displaced.
• New growth of jobs – There will knew growth of 78 million jobs, or a 7% increase in total employment.

Measures to be taken

• Bridging the skill gap to ensure that India’s workforce is adequately prepared for the evolving job landscape.
• Increasing investments – Investing in education, vocational training, and digital literacy is essential for aligning the workforce with future job demands.
• Clear analysis – A deeper analysis of job stability, wages, and long-term financial security.
• Collaborations – There should be stronger collaboration between industry and academia, if necessary, by law.
• Each higher education institution must ideally have at least one formal partnership with industry partners.
• Accountability for jobs – Educational institutions need to be held accountable for placements and not just educational degrees.
• Accreditation system – To create accreditation systems for educational institutions aligned with job placements for the outgoing students.
• Idea Labs and Tinker Labs – It should be made mandatory components of every high school and higher education institution.
• Integration of subjects – The integration of the humanities, foreign language learning, and soft skills should be made mandatory across all levels of education.
• Indian Education service – An Indian Education Services, similar in stature to the Indian Administrative Services, should be established.
• It would attract the best minds into the education sector.
• Open to professionals - The education system should open its doors to professionals from the industry.
• This would help bridge the gap between theory and application.
• Redesigning of training programs – Skilling and training programs should be designed to meet the needs of ageing societies in many Western nations, where the demand for young professionals is expected to increase.
• This approach aligns with the Indian government’s strategy for enhancing the international mobility of skilled workers.
• Link4Skills project - The Project of the European Union, which utilises the migration corridor framework to evaluate the skill demands and labour shortages in various European countries and beyond.
• The International Institute of Migration and Development is currently working as the Indian partner in the

Reference

The Hindu| Changing landscape of employment in India

ADEETIE Scheme

Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Government policies and interventions

Why in News?

The Union Ministry of Power, through the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), is set to launch a first-of-its-kind scheme—ADEETIE (Assistance in Deploying Energy Efficient Technologies in Industries & Establishments.

• Focus - Accelerating the adoption of cutting-edge energy-efficient technologies across the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector while also supporting India's climate objectives.
• Eligibility - The scheme targets Udyam-registered MSMEs in identified energy-intensive clusters across various sectors like Brass, Bricks, Ceramics, Food Processing, Leather, Pharma, and Textiles.
  • It should be operated in one of the 60 identified clusters, and implement technologies capable of achieving at least 10% energy savings.
• Financial Support - Provides interest subvention on loans for implementing energy-efficient technologies (5% for Micro and Small, 3% for Medium Enterprises).
• Loan amounts can range from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 15 crore.
• Technical Assistance - Offers support for Investment Grade Energy Audits (IGEA), Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), and monitoring energy savings.
• Capacity Building - BEE facilitates financing through an online platform.
• It provides technical handholding, interest subvention on loans, and policy support, enabling industries to lower energy costs, enhance productivity, and strengthen role in India’s clean energy transition.
• The scheme aligns with India’s broader climate goals, including reducing emissions intensity by 45% by 2030 and achieving Net Zero by 2070.

Reference

Deccan Chronicle | ADEETIE Scheme