Context

• India is increasingly grappling with the early onset and escalating intensity of heatwaves, a phenomenon that has become more pronounced over the past two decades.
• In 2025, several Indian states and cities experienced their first severe heatwave in March, 15-20 days earlier than in 2024, highlighting the growing immediacy of this environmental crisis.
• With 2024 recorded as the hottest year globally since the pre-industrial era, India stands at a critical juncture, facing both the direct health impacts of extreme heat and its wider socio-economic repercussions.

The Health Impact of Rising Temperatures

• As temperatures inch closer to the human body’s average of 37°C, the body’s ability to regulate heat diminishes, leading to heat stress.
• This condition is not just about discomfort; it affects major organs including the kidneys, liver, and brain, and can result in severe illness or death.
• Humidity and wind speed further exacerbate this impact. While the health consequences are grave, they only scratch the surface of the heatwave crisis in India.

Socio-Economic Ramifications and Inequity

• India’s heatwaves affect the nation's socio-economic structure deeply.
• Agriculture, one of the most heat-exposed sectors, suffers due to reduced productivity, crop failures, and livestock deaths.
• This disproportionally affects farmers and the rural poor, who are heavily reliant on daily physical labour.
• With 75% of India’s workforce, about 380 million people, engaged in heat-exposed labour, heat stress leads to significant job and income losses.
• Estimates suggest India loses between 3% to 5% of its GDP due to this, and in 2023 alone, about 6% of total work hours were lost because of heat stress.
• Furthermore, the most marginalised communities, women, migrants, elderly people, and subsistence workers, bear the brunt of this crisis.
• Gender norms exacerbate the burden on women, who are expected to work in poorly ventilated kitchens and wear culturally appropriate, often heat-retaining clothing.
• The spatial and social layout of urban slums often traps heat, making indoor conditions worse than outside.
• Thus, heatwaves are not just a meteorological issue but a profound matter of social inequity.

Policy Response and the Evolution of Heat Action Plans (HAPs)

• The recognition of heat as a serious public health threat began relatively late.
• Although scientists observed urban heat phenomena as early as the 19th century, it wasn’t until the early 2000s that European nations began implementing Heat and Health Action Plans (HHAPs).
• India joined this movement in 2013, when Ahmedabad became the first city in Asia to launch a heat action plan.
• Since then, over 140 Indian cities and more than 23 states have developed HAPs.
• These plans generally include five components: early warning systems, public awareness campaigns, preparation of health systems, long-term heat reduction strategies such as urban greening and cool roofs, and data-driven monitoring of health impacts.
• However, the implementation of these HAPs has been uneven, and often only partially effective.
• Success stories emerge mainly when local governments collaborate actively with public health experts, NGOs, and community-based organizations.

The Need for Improved and Inclusive Heat Action Planning

• Localized and Data-Driven Planning
  • HAPs must incorporate local vulnerability assessments, accounting for both temperature and humidity.
  • Comprehensive data collection on heat-related mortality and morbidity is essential for targeted interventions.
• Sophisticated Alert Systems: Inspired by countries like the UK, Indian cities should adopt Heat Health Alert systems that consider both daytime and nighttime temperatures and provide detailed guidance on thermal comfort levels and safer activity windows.
• Infrastructure and Urban Design
  • Building codes must promote heat-resilient infrastructure using reflective materials and designs that enhance ventilation.
  • Public spaces should be adapted with more shaded areas, parks, and accessible water points.
• Support for Informal Workers
  • Governments must consider financial aid for informal sector workers during extreme heat events.
  • Universal advisories to stay indoors may not be effective for the urban poor living in crowded, heat-trapping environments. Policies must be context-specific.
• Public Health and Workplace Adaptations
  • Municipalities should ensure the availability of drinking water and oral rehydration solutions.
  • Workplaces should implement staggered shifts and provide flexibility for early morning or late evening work to avoid peak heat hours.
• Cooling Infrastructure and Innovation
  • More cities should introduce summer shelters, akin to winter shelters, especially for the homeless and outdoor workers.
  • Initiatives like the cool roof policy being developed by some states should be scaled up nationwide.

The Way Forward: A Call for People-Centric and Equitable Approaches

• The evidence is clear, investments in heat adaptation are not only life-saving but also economically sound.
• To mitigate the impacts of rising temperatures, Indian policy must pivot towards a holistic, long-term strategy that integrates inter-agency coordination, insurance coverage for lost wages, and innovations rooted in scientific evidence.
• Above all, these efforts must be people-centric, acknowledging the disproportionate burdens on vulnerable populations and working toward equitable solutions.

Conclusion

• Heatwaves in India are not merely a seasonal inconvenience but a growing humanitarian and economic emergency.
• With average global temperatures continuing to climb, the urgency for adaptive action is greater than ever.
• Recognising the issue as one of equity and resilience will be key to protecting lives and livelihoods in the years to come.

Q1. When did India experience its first severe heatwave in 2025?
Ans. India experienced its first severe heatwave of 2025 on March 15, which was 20 days earlier than the first heatwave in 2024.

Q2. What are two major organs affected by heat stress?
Ans. Heat stress can affect several organs, including the kidneys and the brain.

Q3. What percentage of India’s workforce is heat-exposed?
Ans. Approximately 75% of India's workforce, which is about 380 million people, is exposed to heat during their work.

Q4. Which Indian city first implemented a Heat Action Plan (HAP)?
Ans. Ahmedabad, a city in Gujarat, was the first in India to implement a Heat Action Plan in 2013.

Q5. Why is the impact of heatwaves considered an equity issue?
Ans. The impact of heatwaves is considered an equity issue because it disproportionately affects the poor, women, the elderly, migrants, and other marginalized communities. 

Source:The Hindu

Context

• The global trade order has been jolted by the United States’ unilateral decision to impose reciprocal tariffs, announced on April 2, 2025.
• Not only is this move widely viewed as a violation of World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, it also exemplifies the growing disregard for multilateral norms under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.
• Countries around the world have responded in markedly different ways, revealing diverging approaches to the defence of international law and trade principles.
• In this context, India’s conspicuous silence stands in stark contrast to the vocal opposition expressed by other nations, raising important questions about its commitment to a rule-based global trading system. 

Global Condemnation of U.S. Tariffs

• Many countries have not hesitated to call out the United States for its breach of international trade law.
• Prominent among them is Singapore, whose Prime Minister Lawrence Wong declared that the tariffs represent a complete repudiation of the MFN principle, a foundational tenet of the WTO. Brazil similarly decried the tariffs as a clear violation of U.S. obligations.
• China, a direct target of these tariffs, has taken both rhetorical and legal action, launching a WTO dispute and retaliating with its own tariffs.
• Japan and Canada have echoed similar sentiments, with the latter even filing a legal case at the WTO concerning tariffs on Canadian automobiles and parts.
• These responses underscore a shared recognition that the rules-based trading system must be defended, especially when challenged by one of its most powerful members.
• These countries demonstrate that upholding multilateral norms is not incompatible with pursuing national interest; rather, the two are often intertwined.
• Even countries not explicitly accusing the U.S. of legal violations, such as Fiji and Italy have nonetheless expressed disapproval, labelling the tariffs unfair and a mistake,

India’s Conspicuous Silence

• In contrast, India’s tepid response has been characterised by ambiguity and diplomatic evasion.
• While many of its peers have taken a clear stance, India has issued no formal condemnation or legal challenge.
• This silence is especially notable given India’s longstanding advocacy for a rules-based international order, particularly in trade forums like the WTO.
• Two main justifications are offered for India’s non-response.

The Reason Behind India’s Silence

• Ongoing Trade Talks with the US
  • First, India is currently negotiating a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) with the U.S., and public criticism might endanger these talks.
  • However, this rationale does not hold up under scrutiny.
  • The U.S. has openly criticised India’s own tariff structures, even while engaged in negotiations, and this has not precluded continued dialogue.
  • Moreover, other countries in similar bilateral discussions have not refrained from condemning U.S. actions.
  • Expressing discontent with an unlawful move does not equate to abandoning diplomacy; rather, it reflects a principled stand on international norms.
• Ineffective State of WTO
  • Second, some argue that the WTO’s dispute settlement mechanism is currently dysfunctional, rendering legal action ineffective.
  • This view, however, misconstrues the broader role of international law. Legal norms are not merely tools for enforcement, they are moral and rhetorical instruments that help distinguish legitimate governance from the raw exercise of power.
  • Countries like China and Canada understand this dynamic; their legal filings against the U.S., even in the absence of effective adjudication, signal a commitment to legitimacy and international order.

India’s Missed Leadership Opportunity

• India’s silence is particularly disappointing given its historical position as a champion of the Global South and an advocate for equitable international frameworks.
• Its absence from a recent statement, signed by over 40 WTO members in support of trade multilateralism, further highlights its retreat from global leadership.
• At a time when developing countries look for direction in navigating an increasingly fragmented trade landscape, India could have stepped up to lead a coalition against unilateralism.
• By remaining passive, India risks undermining its own credibility.
• If it aspires to be a global leader and a defender of fair trade practices, then silence in the face of blatant rule-breaking sends the wrong message.
• Upholding the principles of the WTO, even symbolically, would not only bolster India’s standing on the world stage but also reaffirm its own strategic interest in a stable, rules-based trading environment.

Conclusion

• The imposition of reciprocal tariffs by the United States has triggered a global reckoning with the principles of international trade.
• While several nations have taken bold steps to defend the multilateral system, India has chosen silence over solidarity.
• This moment offers a critical test of India's foreign policy priorities: will it remain constrained by narrow transactionalism, or will it rise to defend the broader values it claims to uphold?
• History may not look kindly on India’s decision to stay silent when the very foundations of global trade were under threat.

Q1.  What triggered global concern in April 2025?
Ans. The global concern was triggered by the United States' announcement of reciprocal tariffs, which were widely viewed as a violation of World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.

Q2. How did countries like China and Canada respond to the U.S. tariffs?
Ans.  China and Canada responded by filing legal disputes at the WTO and imposing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports to defend the rules-based trading system.

Q3. Why has India remained silent on the issue of U.S. tariffs?
Ans. India has remained silent mainly because it is negotiating a bilateral trade agreement with the U.S. and views public criticism as potentially harmful to those talks.

Q4. Why is India’s silence considered problematic in the international context?
Ans.  India’s silence is considered problematic because it contradicts its long-standing support for multilateralism and a rules-based global trading order.

Q5. What leadership role could India have played in response to the U.S. actions?

Ans. India could have led the Global South in defending WTO principles and taken a firm stand against unilateral trade measures to promote fair and just international trade. 

Source:The Hindu

Context:

• In the past, waves of innovation, such as assembly lines or steam engines, have mostly affected low-skilled, blue-collar jobs.
• Later, the digital revolution affected white-collar jobs through software and outsourcing.
• The AI era, however, is distinct. India is facing a multidimensional employment crisis - one that is both visible and invisible.

A Dual Employment Crisis:

• Visible crisis:
  • Youth unemployment: Over 80% of unemployed Indians are youth, many with secondary or higher education.
  • Disengagement: 1 in 3 young Indians is disengaged from both work and learning.
  • Job creation needs: India must create over 90 million new jobs by 2030, many in yet-to-emerge fields.
• Invisible crisis:
  • Changing nature of work: Rise of AI, automation, and data-driven systems is reshaping work across sectors.
  • Key concern: Every worker must ask - “How replaceable is my job with technology?”

AI Era - A Paradigm Shift in Job Disruption:

• The AI age disrupts all levels - from low-wage laborers to high-skill professionals (e.g., programmers, designers, artists).
• Creative and analytical jobs are increasingly at risk due to generative AI.

The Core Competency - Adaptability through Learning:

• Job security matrix:
  • Low-skill, low-replaceability jobs may survive
  • High-skill or low-skill but high-replaceability roles are most vulnerable.
  • Reskilling and lifelong learning emerge as the only durable edge.
• Essential skills:
  • Tech literacy: Understanding digital systems, AI, automation.
  • Data literacy: Ability to interpret and act on large volumes of information.

Education for the Future - A Humanistic Approach:

• Joseph Aoun’s “Humanics” framework:
  • Technical ability: Skills to work with machines and augment productivity.
  • Data discipline: Strategic thinking using algorithmic and analytical tools.
  • Human discipline: Creativity, empathy, contextual reasoning — uniquely human capabilities.
• Shift required: Move from rote learning to experiential, interdisciplinary, and lifelong learning models.

Micro-Credentials - Modular Learning for a Modular Future:

• Definition and importance:
  • Micro-credentials are short, focused certifications offering stackable learning experiences.
  • Already being embedded in global universities across disciplines.
• Application in India:
  • Could reform India’s rigid, degree-centric higher education system.
  • Encourage interdisciplinary learning - e.g., data visualisation for political science or AI tools in historical research.

Strategic Imperatives for India:

• Embed literacy in education:
  • Integrate tech and data literacy from school to college.
  • Train educators to become facilitators of future-ready skills.
• Promote lifelong learning:
  • Encourage accessible, modular upskilling over traditional degree paths.
  • Support micro-credential ecosystems aligned with evolving job markets.
• Foster cross-sectoral tech integration:
  • Apply AI and data tools across arts, agriculture, healthcare, and policy-making.
  • Enable personalised learning pathways to prepare for jobs that don't yet exist.

Conclusion - Shaping the Future of Work:

• The future of work is uncertain but within control.
• India must cultivate problem-solvers, creators, and adaptive thinkers.
• Focus should not just be on AI engineers, but on empowered individuals across sectors who can lead in a tech-driven global economy.

Q1. Discuss the visible and invisible dimensions of India’s current employment crisis.

Ans. The visible crisis includes high youth unemployment and disengagement from work and learning, while the invisible crisis stems from the changing nature of work due to AI and automation, threatening jobs across all skill levels.

Q2. How is the nature of technological disruption in the AI era different from previous industrial revolutions?

Ans. Unlike earlier disruptions that primarily affected low-skill or specific sectors, the AI era impacts a broad spectrum of jobs, including high-skilled, creative, and analytical roles, making no profession immune.

Q3. What is the significance of “Humanics” in preparing a future-ready workforce?

Ans. "Humanics," proposed by Joseph Aoun, emphasizes a triad of technical ability, data discipline, and human-centric skills like empathy and creativity to equip individuals for a world driven by intelligent machines.

Q4. Examine the role of micro-credentials in reshaping India’s higher education and workforce development.

Ans. Micro-credentials offer flexible, modular learning that enables continuous upskilling and interdisciplinary competence, making them vital for adapting to evolving job roles and bridging the skills-employability gap.

Q5. Why are tech and data literacy considered foundational capabilities in the context of future employment?

Ans. Tech and data literacy empower individuals to understand and adapt to AI-driven systems, enabling informed decision-making and enhancing employability across diverse sectors. 

Source:IE