Skill Development for International Mobility
Government initiatives, primarily by MSDE, to equip Indian workers with skills, language proficiency, and cultural orientation required for international emp...
International Mobility of Skilled Workers
The article highlights a NITI Aayog working paper on strengthening India's international mobility for skilled workers, noting India's 18.5 million overseas migrant population. It details measures by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to align Indian skills with global labor demand. These include signing MoUs with 8 countries for technical exchanges, implementing collaborative training programs like TITP with Japan and IGGSP with Germany, and establishing 7 Skill India International Centres (SIICs) for pre-departure orientation and language training.
Syllabus mapping
Mains syllabus topics
World History
Women Population Urbanization
Globalization Indian Society
World Physical Geography
Development Processes Ngos
Prelims takeaways
- NITI Aayog's working paper "States' Framework: Advancing International Mobility for Skilled Workers".
- India has the world's largest overseas migrant population (18.5 million).
- Key ministries involved MSDE and MEA.
- MSDE has signed MoUs with 8 countries (Australia, Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, Qatar, Singapore, UAE) for technical exchanges and training.
- Specific training programs Technical Intern Training Programme (TITP) with Japan, Indo-German Green Skills Programme (IGGSP) with Germany.
- Skill India International Centres (SIICs) 7 operational centres (Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kanpur, Ludhiana, Varanasi) for pre-departure training.
- MEA has signed 22 Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreements/Labour Mobility Agreements, with 9 including skill development provisions.
Elimination traps
- Distinguishing the specific roles of MSDE and MEA in skill development vs. migration agreements.
- Specific names of programs (TITP, IGGSP) and their associated partner countries.
- The exact number of MoUs/agreements or operational SIICs.
Static concepts
- International migration
- Skilled labor
- Bilateral agreements
- Vocational training
- Pre-departure orientation
- Global labor market
Probable question areas
Question areas
- Which body released the "States' Framework Advancing International Mobility for Skilled Workers" paper?
Question areas
- Key government initiatives (TITP, IGGSP, SIICs) related to skilled worker migration and their objectives.
Question areas
- Countries with which India has specific skill development MoUs/agreements.
Question areas
- India's position regarding the global overseas migrant population.
Question areas
- The purpose and locations of Skill India International Centres.
UPSC concepts in this story
Durable syllabus ideas for revision — not article memory.
International Labour Mobility
India's strategy to leverage its demographic dividend by facilitating international mobility of skilled workers through institutional mechanisms, bilateral a...
Previous year Prelims questions on overlapping themes and topics.
Consider the following in respect of ‘National Career Service’:
1. National Career Service is an initiative of the Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India.
2. National Career Service has been launched in a Mission Mode to improve the employment opportunities to uneducated youth of the country.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Explanation
Correct answer
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Statement 1 is incorrect. The National Career Service is not an initiative of the Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India. It is actually implemented by the Directorate General of Employment, Ministry of Labour & Employment. Statement 2 is incorrect. The National Career Service has indeed been launched in a Mission Mode, but it is not specifically targeted at improving the employment opportunities for uneducated youth of the country. It is a comprehensive platform providing a wide array of employment and career related services to all citizens of India, aiming to bridge the gap between jobseekers and employers, candidates seeking training and career guidance, and agencies providing training and career counselling.
Indian Economy
Social Justice & Development
Welfare Schemes & Social Policies
Labor & Demographic Economics
To obtain full benefits of demographic dividend, what should India do?
Explanation
Correct answer
A. Promoting skill development
To rip the maximum demographic dividend, India has to promote skill development. This is what the Economic Survey and 12th FYP have been advocating.
Indian Economy
Social Justice & Development
Labor & Demographic Economics
Welfare Schemes & Social Policies
Consider the following statements: Human capital formation as a concept is better explained in terms of a process, which enables
1. individuals of a country to accumulate more capital.
2. increasing the knowledge, skill levels and capacities of the people of the country.
3. accumulation of tangible wealth.
4. accumulation of intangible wealth.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Correct answer
B. 2 and 4 only
Human capital formation refers to the process of increasing the stock of knowledge, skills, and experiences that people in a country possess. This intangible wealth is what makes a workforce productive and adaptable.
Therefore, statement 2 and 4 are correct.
Indian Economy
Labor & Demographic Economics
In India, which one of the following compiles information on industrial disputes, closures, retrenchments and lay-offs in factories employing workers?
Explanation
Correct answer
C. Labour Bureau
In India, the primary agency responsible for compiling information on industrial disputes, closures, retrenchments, and lay-offs in factories employing workers is the Labour Bureau The Labour Bureau is an attached office of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India. It plays a crucial role in collecting, compiling, and disseminating labor statistics across various aspects, including industrial relations.
Indian Economy
Social Justice & Development
Labor & Demographic Economics
With reference to the casual workers employed in India, consider the following statements:
1. All casual workers are entitled for Employees Provident Fund coverage.
2. All casual workers are entitled for regular working hours and overtime payment.
3. The government can by a notification specify that an establishment or industry shall pay wages only through its bank account.
Which of the above statements are correct?
Explanation
Correct answer
C. 2 and 3 only
Statement 1 is not correct: The Government had launched a scheme viz Casual Labourers (Grant of Temporary Status and Regularization) Scheme of Government of India, 1993. As per the scheme, Temporary status would be conferred on all casual labourers who were in employment and who have rendered a continuous service of at least one year, which means that they must have been engaged for at least 240 days (206 days in case of offices observing 5 days week). Statement 2 is correct: The Supreme Court has decreed that casual workers are also entitled to social security benefits as stipulated in the Employees Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act. The Court's ruling stemmed from its interpretation of Section 2(f) of the EPF Act, wherein the definition of an "employee" encompasses a broad scope, including any individual engaged directly or indirectly in connection with an establishment's work and receiving wages. A bench of the Supreme Court affirmed this viewpoint. Statement 3 is correct: The government has the authority to specify through a notification that an establishment or industry is obligated to disburse wages exclusively via its bank account.
Indian Economy
Social Justice & Development
Indian Polity & Governance
Welfare Schemes & Social Policies
Labor & Demographic Economics
Judiciary & Judicial Review
With reference of the Indian economy after the 1991 economic liberalization, consider the following statements:
1. Worker productivity (per worker at 2004-05 prices) increased in urban areas while it decreased in rural areas.
2. The percentage share of rural areas in the workforce steadily increased.
3. In rural areas, the growth in non-farm economy increased.
4. The growth rate in rural employment decreased.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Correct answer
B. 3 and 4 only
Statement 1 is incorrect. After the 1991 economic liberalization, worker productivity increased both in urban and rural areas. While urban areas experienced higher growth, rural areas also saw improvements, especially with the rise in non-farm activities. Statement 2 is incorrect. The percentage share of rural areas in the workforce has steadily decreased since liberalization. This is because more people have moved to urban areas for employment in the industrial and service sectors, contributing to the growing urban workforce. Statement 3 is correct. In rural areas, the growth of the non-farm economy increased significantly. With liberalization, the diversification of rural economies into sectors like manufacturing, construction, and services grew, reducing the dependency on agriculture. Statement 4 is correct. The growth rate in rural employment decreased after 1991. While the rural economy diversified, the agricultural sector did not provide enough employment opportunities to absorb all the labor, leading to lower growth in rural employment. Hence, option B is the correct answer.
Indian Economy
Social Justice & Development
Labor & Demographic Economics
The total fertility rate in an economy is defined as:
Explanation
Correct answer
D. the average number of live births a woman would have by the end of her child-bearing age.
* The number of children born per 1000 people in the population in a year. This describes the crude birth rate, not the total fertility rate. * The number of children born to a couple in their lifetime in a given population. This is close but not quite accurate. The total fertility rate is calculated for women, not couples. * The birth rate minus death rate. This defines the rate of natural increase, which indicates population growth, not fertility. * The average number of live births a woman would have by the end of her child-bearing age. This is the correct definition of Total Fertility Rate (TFR). It's a hypothetical measure assuming a woman lives through her childbearing years and experiences the age-specific fertility rates of a given period. * In simple terms, TFR tells us the average number of children a woman would have if current birth trends continued.
Indian Economy
Social Justice & Development
Labor & Demographic Economics
Disguised unemployment generally means
Explanation
Correct answer
C. Marginal productivity of labour is zero
Disguised unemployment, means that more people are engaged in a job that can be done with fewer people, normally seen in agriculture where the whole family is involved. It means extra people can be removed without affecting the productivity, i.e. their marginal productivity is zero.
Indian Economy
Social Justice & Development
Agriculture
Labor & Demographic Economics
Who among the following were the founders of the "Hind Mazdoor Sabha" established in 1948?
Explanation
Correct answer
D. Ashok Mehta, T.S. Ramanujam and G.G. Mehta
The Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) wasn't founded by a single person, but by a group of socialists, Forward Bloc followers, and independent unionists in 1948. Here's a list of some key figures involved
- Basawon Singh (Sinha)
- Ashok Mehta
- R.S. Ruikar
- Maniben Kara
- Shibnath Banerjee
- R.A. Khedgikar
- T.S. Ramanujam
- V.S. Mathur
- G.G. Mehta It's important to note that R.S. Ruikar was elected as the first President and Ashok Mehta became the General Secretary of the HMS.
History Of India
Indian Economy
Labor & Demographic Economics
Consider the following statements :
As per the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Central (Amendment) Rules, 2018
1. if rules for fixed-term employment are implemented, it becomes easier for the firms/companies to lay off workers
2. no notice of termination of employment shall be necessary in the case of temporary workman
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Correct answer
C. Both 1 and 2
Statement 1 is correct: Fixed-term employment and ease of layoff. The amendment introduces the concept of "fixed-term employment" for the first place. While it doesn't automatically make layoffs easier, it allows companies to hire for specific projects or periods without them becoming permanent employees. This can potentially make restructuring or downsizing during economic downturns easier for companies with fixed-term employees compared to permanent ones (who have greater job security). Statement 2 is correct: Notice period for temporary workmen.
The amendment clarifies that no notice period is required to terminate the employment of a "temporary workman," which is someone hired for a specific, non-continuous job or for a short period.
Indian Economy
Current Affairs
Social Justice & Development
Labor & Demographic Economics
Previous year Mains questions mapped to overlapping GS syllabus topics.
Does tribal development in India centre around two axes, those of displacement and of rehabilitation? Give your opinion.
Salient features of Indian Society and Diversity
Women, population, poverty, urbanization and development
View Mains PYQ
Achieving sustainable growth with emphasis on environmental protection could come into conflict with poor people’s needs in a country like India – Comment.
Salient features of Indian Society and Diversity
Women, population, poverty, urbanization and development
View Mains PYQ
How do you account for the growing fast food industries given that there are increased health concerns in modern society? Illustrate your answer with the Indian experience.
Salient features of Indian Society and Diversity
Women, population, poverty, urbanization and development
Effects of globalization on Indian society
View Mains PYQ
Discuss the distribution and density of population in the Ganga River Basin with special reference to land, soil and water resources.
Salient features of world's physical geography
Distribution of natural resources and industrial location
Women, population, poverty, urbanization and development
View Mains PYQ
"In contemporary development models, decision-making and problem-solving responsibilities are not located close to the source of information and execution defeating the objectives of development." Critically evaluate.
Governance, transparency, accountability and e-governance
Government policies and interventions
Development processes, NGOs, SHGs and stakeholders
View Mains PYQ
Discuss how the changes in shape and sizes of continents and ocean basins take place due to tectonic movements of the crustal masses.
Salient features of world's physical geography
Geophysical phenomena and geographical features
View Mains PYQ
The NITI Aayog Working Paper "States' Framework: Advancing International Mobility for Skilled Workers" recently highlighted a significant aspect of India's global presence. Which of the following statements accurately reflects a key finding or recommendation of this paper mentioned in the article?
Explanation
The article explicitly states, 'NITI Aayog Working Paper...highlights that India has the world's largest overseas migrant population of 18.5 million and underlines the need to strengthen skilling and institutional mechanisms to meet global labour demand.'
With reference to the Skill India International Centres (SIICs) mentioned in the article, consider the following statements: 1. These centres are established by the Ministry of External Affairs. 2. They primarily offer pre-departure orientation, language training, and cultural/soft-skills orientation. 3. As per the article, 7 such centres have been operationalized across India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
The article states, 'MSDE has operationalised 7 Skill India International Centres so far... offering Pre-Departure Orientation Training, language training and cultural/soft-skills orientation'. Statement 1 is incorrect as MSDE operationalizes them, not MEA. Statements 2 and 3 are correct.
Which of the following pairs of collaborative training programs/agreements and their associated countries is/are correctly matched as per the article? 1. Technical Intern Training Programme (TITP) : Japan 2. Indo-German Green Skills Programme (IGGSP) : France 3. MoU for technical exchanges : Australia
Explanation
The article mentions 'Technical Intern Training Programme (TITP) with Japan' and 'Indo-German Green Skills Programme (IGGSP) with Germany'. It also lists Australia among the 8 countries with whom MSDE has signed MoUs for technical exchanges. Therefore, 1 and 3 are correct, while 2 is incorrect as IGGSP is with Germany, not France.
"India's large overseas migrant population presents both opportunities and challenges for its economic development and global standing." In light of this statement and the recent initiatives by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), discuss how India can effectively leverage its demographic dividend to meet global labor demand.
Approach: Introduce India's demographic dividend and migrant population. Detail government initiatives (skilling, MoUs, SIICs). Discuss opportunities (remittances, soft power, skill upgradation) and challenges (skill mismatch, brain drain, ethical recruitment). Conclude with recommendations for a comprehensive strategy.
Examine the institutional mechanisms and collaborative training programs being implemented by India to align its skilled workforce with country-specific overseas labor market requirements. What are the potential benefits and challenges in achieving this alignment?
Approach: Outline the institutional mechanisms (MSDE, MEA, MoUs, SIICs) and specific programs (TITP, IGGSP). Discuss benefits like increased remittances, enhanced global competitiveness, and skill upgradation. Address challenges such as skill mismatch, quality assurance, language barriers, and ensuring ethical recruitment.