What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News?
• Fast Track Immigration – Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP) 
• Global Fast-Track Immigration Programmes

Why in News?

Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Fast Track Immigration – Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP) at seven airports: Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, and Ahmedabad, on January 16 from Ahmedabad. 

Initially launched at Delhi’s IGI Airport seven months ago, FTI-TTP aims to simplify and secure international travel. 

The programme will provide world-class immigration facilities with accelerated pathways, including automated gates for faster screening of international travellers.

Fast Track Immigration – Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP)

• FTI-TTP and 'Viksit Bharat @2047' Vision
  • The FTI-TTP aligns with the Centre's agenda for 'Viksit Bharat @2047,' aiming for India to become a developed nation by its independence centenary.
• Launch and Objectives
  • It was First introduced in June 2024 at IGI Airport Terminal 3.
  • The programme facilitates faster, smoother, and secure immigration clearance for Indian Nationals and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) passengers arriving from abroad.
• Key Features
  • Initially offered free of cost (gratis basis) for Indian nationals and OCI cardholders.
  • Focus on enhancing international mobility with automated, streamlined immigration processes.
• Implementation
  • The Bureau of Immigration, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, is the nodal agency responsible for implementing the programme.
• Working
  • FTI-TTP Enrollment Process
    • Applicants register online via the portal (https://ftittp.mha.gov.in).
    • Required details and documents are uploaded for verification.
    • Approved applicants are added to the ‘Trusted Travellers’ whitelist for implementation through e-gates.
  • Biometric Verification
    • Biometrics are captured at the Foreigners Registration Office (FRRO) or during airport passage.
    • Registration is valid until the passport’s expiry or five years, whichever comes first, with an option for renewal.
  • Immigration Clearance Process
    • Boarding Pass Scan: Registered travellers scan their boarding pass at the e-gates to retrieve flight details.
    • Passport Scan: The passport is scanned to confirm the traveller’s identity.
    • Biometric Authentication: Biometrics are authenticated at the e-gates.
    • Automated Clearance: Once verified, the e-gate opens, completing the immigration process automatically.
• Implementation Phases
  • Phase 1:
    • Covers Indian citizens and OCI cardholders.
    • Initially implemented at 7 airports, including Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, and Ahmedabad.
  • Phase 2:
    • Expands coverage to foreign travellers.
    • Total implementation across 21 major airports nationwide.

Global Fast-Track Immigration Programmes

• United States: Global Entry Programme (2008)
  • Offers expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travellers.
  • Self-service kiosks for passport and fingerprint scans at designated airports.
  • Includes citizens from select countries, including India.
  • Approval requires a detailed background check and in-person interview.
• United Kingdom: Registered Traveller Service (2015)
  • Targets frequent visitors from specific countries, including India.
  • Enables use of eGates or fast-track channels at major UK airports.
  • Eligibility criteria: valid visa or frequent visits to the UK within a set timeframe.
• European Union: Smart Borders Initiative (2016)
  • Modernises border checks for non-EU nationals entering the Schengen Area.
  • Uses the Entry/Exit System (EES) to pre-register traveller data, including biometrics.
  • Enhances security and efficiency, especially with rising international travel demands.
• Australia: SmartGate System (2007)
  • Streamlines immigration for eligible travellers, initially Australian and New Zealand passport holders.
  • Expanded to include select foreign citizens.
  • Automated kiosks verify identity through passport scans and photographs.
• Saudi Arabia: Smart Travel System (2019)
  • Utilises automated e-gates for faster immigration clearance.
  • Covers Saudi nationals and select foreign travellers with pre-verified documents.
  • Biometric verification, including facial recognition and fingerprints, ensures security.
  • Expanded under the Vision 2030 initiative to accommodate rising international visitors, especially during peak seasons like the Hajj pilgrimage.

Q.1. What is the Fast Track Immigration – Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP)?

FTI-TTP is a programme introduced to simplify and secure international travel. It provides expedited immigration clearance through automated e-gates for Indian nationals and OCI cardholders, with plans to expand coverage to foreign travellers.

Q.2. How does FTI-TTP compare with global fast-track immigration systems?

Similar to the U.S. Global Entry or the UK's Registered Traveller Service, FTI-TTP offers faster immigration clearance through advanced technologies like biometrics, ensuring secure and streamlined travel for pre-verified passengers.

Source:IE | PIB | BS

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Understanding Exchange Rate Regimes
• India’s Exchange Rate Policy
• Implications of Rupee Devaluation
• Structural Constraints in the Indian Economy
• Policy Questions and Challenges
• Conclusion

Why in News?

• The Indian rupee recently witnessed a sharp devaluation against the dollar after a period of relative stability post-COVID.
• This article examines India’s exchange rate policies, structural constraints in the economy, and the broader implications of rupee depreciation.

Understanding Exchange Rate Regimes:

• Nominal and Real Exchange Rates: The nominal exchange rate is the official exchange rate that doesn't account for inflation, while the real exchange rate is the nominal exchange rate adjusted for inflation.
• Determinants of Exchange Rates:
  • Current Account: Influenced by net exports.
  • Capital Account: Driven by foreign investment flows.
  • Impact: Demand for foreign currency increases with a higher current account deficit and capital outflow.
• Types of Exchange Rate regimes:
  • Fixed Exchange Rate: Central bank maintains a constant exchange rate by managing reserves.
  • Floating Exchange Rate: Market-driven exchange rate with no central bank intervention.
  • Managed-Floating Exchange Rate: A mix of market forces and central bank intervention.

India’s Exchange Rate Policy:

• Past trends:
  • India has primarily followed a managed-float regime for three decades.
  • From 2010, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) managed the rupee asymmetrically:
    • Under excess demand: Depreciated the rupee and sold foreign reserves.
    • Under excess supply: Accumulated reserves to avoid appreciation.
• Post-COVID shifts:
  • Between 2022 and late 2024, the RBI temporarily adopted a fixed exchange rate-like regime to stabilize the rupee.
  • Recent sharp devaluation suggests a return to the managed-float approach, driven by:
    • Capital outflows.
    • Rising import costs amid high crude oil prices.

Implications of Rupee Devaluation:

• Positive effects:
  • Boosting exports: Depreciation can make domestic goods cheaper, enhancing export competitiveness if:
    • Net exports respond positively to a weaker real exchange rate.
    • Nominal depreciation leads to real depreciation.
• Adverse effects:
  • Inflationary pressures: Increased import costs raise domestic prices.
  • Reduced purchasing power: Firms pass on higher costs to consumers, squeezing real incomes.

Structural Constraints in the Indian Economy:

• Divergence between NEER and REER:
  • These indices reflect the weighted average exchange rate of India with respect to its multiple trade partners.
  • According to the definitions of these indices, any increase or positive change indicates appreciation, whereas any drop or negative change indicates depreciation.
  • Since the mid-2010s, the nominal effective exchange rate (NEER) has depreciated, while the real effective exchange rate (REER) has appreciated.
  • This divergence undermines export competitiveness, as higher domestic prices offset the benefits of nominal depreciation.
• Rising markups:
  • Non-financial firms have increased markups (ratio of output price to variable costs), contributing to domestic price inflation.
  • Key cost drivers include raw materials, labor, fuel, and indirect taxes.

Policy Questions and Challenges:

• Policy dilemmas:
  • Should India revert to the managed-float regime of the 2010s or adopt a new framework?
  • How can policy address inflationary pressures while maintaining export competitiveness?
• RBI’s role:
  • The RBI’s recent ad hoc policy shifts highlight the need for a systematic exchange rate strategy.
  • Clearer objectives and consistent communication are essential for addressing current challenges.

Conclusion:

• The devaluation of the rupee underscores structural vulnerabilities in the Indian economy and raises critical questions about the future of exchange rate policy.
• A nuanced approach that balances inflation control with export growth is vital for sustainable economic recovery.

Q.1. What do you mean by currency depreciation?

Currency depreciation is when a currency's value decreases in relation to another currency. This happens in a floating exchange rate system, where the value of a currency is determined by supply and demand in the forex market.

Q.2. What is the difference between currency depreciation and currency devaluation?

Currency depreciation is a natural decrease in a currency's value, while devaluation is a deliberate government action to reduce the value of a currency.

Source: TH

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News?
• India Meteorological Department (IMD)
• Improvements in Forecasting by IMD
• Towards Zero-Error Forecasting by IMD
• From Forecasting to Weather Management

Why in News?

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) celebrated its 150th anniversary on January 15, 2025.

India Meteorological Department (IMD)

• About
  • The IMD is a government agency that is responsible for weather forecasting, seismology, and meteorological observations. 
  • It was established in 1875 and is headquartered in New Delhi. 
  • The IMD has hundreds of observation stations across India and is the country's National Meteorological Service.
• Madate
  • The IMD's mandate includes:
    • Observations: Taking meteorological observations
    • Forecasting: Providing current and forecast information for weather-dependent activities
    • Warnings: Giving warnings against severe weather phenomena
    • Statistics: Providing met-related statistics
    • Research: Engaging in research 
• Nodal Ministry 
  • Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Indian Government

Improvements in Forecasting by IMD

• Enhanced Observation Network
  • Doppler Weather Radars: Increased from 15 in 2014 to 39 in 2024.
  • Automatic Weather Stations: Increased from 675 to 1,208.
  • High Wind Speed Recorders: Increased from 19 to 37.
  • Rainfall Monitoring Stations: Increased from 3,995 to 6,095.
• Introduction of New Systems:
  • Seven automated weather observing systems.
  • Heliport weather observing systems.
• Satellite Monitoring:
  • Two geostationary satellites, INSAT 3DR and 3DS, monitor weather round-the-clock (replacing INSAT 3D in 2014).
• Improved Weather Model Resolution
  • Medium-range forecast resolution improved from 25 km to 12 km.
  • Better resolution enables forecasting for smaller areas with greater accuracy (12 km x 12 km grids).
• Significant Gains in Forecast Accuracy
  • Heatwave Prediction: 95% accuracy up to two days in advance (compared to 50% in 2014).
  • Thunderstorm Detection: Hourly detection accuracy improved to 86% (from 50% in 2017).
  • Heavy Rainfall Prediction: Accuracy up to three days in advance increased to 78% (from 50% a decade ago).
  • Cyclone Track Prediction: Accuracy improved by 35-40%, leading to zero loss of human lives.

Towards Zero-Error Forecasting by IMD

• Vision Document 2047
  • Objective: To make India climate-smart and weather-ready by 2047, the centenary year of independence.
  • Roadmap: Upgradation of IMD’s capabilities over the next two, five, 10, and 22 years.
• Forecast Accuracy Goals
  • Zero-Error Block-Level Forecasts:
    • Aim: Accurate severe weather predictions up to three days in advance by 2047.
  • Accuracy Targets for Extended Forecasts:
    • Five-day advance forecasts: 90% accuracy.
    • Weekly forecasts: 80% accuracy.
    • 10-day advance forecasts: 70% accuracy.
• Enhanced Monitoring and Warnings
  • Goal: Eliminate human fatalities from severe weather events within 20 years.
  • Improved Weather Model Resolution
  • Current resolution: 12 km.
  • Target resolution: 5-6 km for hyper-localised weather forecasts at the village panchayat level.

From Forecasting to Weather Management

• Transitioning to Weather Management
  • IMD aims to evolve from a weather forecaster to a weather manager, focusing on managing rain, hail, and fog, which cause significant disruptions.
  • Mission Mausam, inaugurated by PM Modi, lays the foundation for weather modification and management.
• Key Initiatives under Mission Mausam
  • Cloud Chamber at IITM, Pune:
    • First-of-its-kind in India.
    • Aims to enhance understanding of cloud physics.
    • Focus on perfecting cloud seeding to modify precipitation through human interventions.
  • Advanced Observation Systems
  • Technological Innovations:
    • Use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), automated weather stations, and IoT-based sensors for data collection in remote areas.
    • Establishment of regional climate reference stations and smaller Meteorological (Met) centres.
  • Upper Atmosphere Monitoring:
    • Round-the-clock monitoring at 100 km x 100 km grids using satellites, aircraft-based profilers, radars, and wind profilers.
  • Enhanced Forecasting Accuracy
  • Goal: 100% detection capabilities for all weather phenomena.
  • Improved data collection and analysis to minimise forecasting errors and enhance weather model performance.

Q.1. What are the key advancements made by IMD in weather forecasting over the last decade?

Over the last decade, IMD has improved forecast accuracy by 40%, increased Doppler weather radars to 39, and reduced weather model resolution to 12 km. This has enhanced prediction accuracy for severe weather events like heatwaves, thunderstorms, and cyclones.

Q.2. How does Vision 2047 aim to transform IMD's forecasting capabilities?

Vision 2047 aims for zero-error forecasts for severe weather up to three days in advance, accuracy of 90% for five-day forecasts, and hyper-localised predictions with a resolution of 5-6 km at the village level.

Source:IE | IMD

What’s in today’s article?

• Understanding the QS Index
• Key Highlights from the QS Index
• Challenges in Skill Development
• Opportunities for Growth
• Recommendations for Improvement
• Conclusion

Understanding the QS Index

• The QS World Future Skills Index, developed by London-based Quacquarelli Symonds (QS)—renowned for its university rankings—aims to assess how prepared countries are to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global job market.
• The index evaluates nations across four critical dimensions:
  • Skills Fit: Alignment between workforce skills and job market demands.
  • Academic Readiness: The capability of educational institutions to prepare graduates for the future.
  • Future of Work: Adoption of skills and technologies relevant to emerging industries.
  • Economic Transformation: The capacity of economies to adapt and thrive in new paradigms.
• The inaugural QS Future Skills Index 2025 provides insights into nations' readiness to embrace emerging job trends, including those in Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital transformation, and green technologies.

Key Highlights from the QS Index

• Rank and Classification: India is ranked 25th overall and categorized as a "contender" in the index, reflecting its ongoing progress in future skills readiness.
• Strengths:
  • Future of Work: Scored 99.1, the second-highest globally, demonstrating its preparedness to recruit talent for high-demand digital roles.
  • Youth Advantage: India’s large youth population and robust start-up ecosystem position it uniquely for sustained economic growth.
  • Digital Readiness: Alongside Mexico, India is one of the most ready nations to integrate talent into digital roles.
• Weaknesses:
  • Future-Oriented Innovation: Scored low on metrics for sustainability and forward-looking solutions.
  • Misalignment in Academia and Industry: Gaps in equipping graduates with AI, green, and digital skills remain significant.
  • Limited R&D Investment: India’s spending on research and development (0.6% of GDP) lags far behind the global average of 2.7%.

Challenges in Skill Development

• Skilled Workforce Gap:
  • A National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) study highlights a demand-supply gap of 29 million skilled workers, with demand at 103 million and supply at 74 million.
  • Key sectors like healthcare, semiconductor manufacturing, green jobs, AI, and food processing face acute shortages of skilled professionals.
• Low Employability Standards:
  • According to the World Economic Forum, only 25% of management professionals, 20% of engineers, and 10% of graduates meet employability benchmarks.
  • The International Labour Organization (ILO) reports that 47% of Indian workers, including 62% of women, are underqualified for their jobs.
• Limited Access to Higher Education:
  • India’s vast youth population faces challenges in accessing tertiary education, especially in skills-intensive fields.

Opportunities for Growth

• Harnessing Demographics: With a large and youthful population, India has the potential to emerge as a global leader in skill-based industries, while many nations grapple with ageing workforces.
• Policy Support:
  • National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: Focuses on modular education pathways and reskilling initiatives.
  • ULLAS (Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society): Aims to make education and skills training accessible across regions.
• Technological Integration:
  • Leveraging advancements in digital learning and AI to align academic curricula with industry demands.

Recommendations for Improvement

• Align Academia with Industry Needs:
  • Universities and training institutions must focus on delivering skills in AI, green technologies, and digital sectors to meet employer demands.
• Enhance R&D and Innovation:
  • Increasing R&D investment is critical to fostering forward-looking innovation and sustainable practices.
• Expand Access to Education:
  • Address regional disparities in tertiary education by creating modular and flexible learning pathways.
• Foster Collaboration:
  • Stronger partnerships between the government, private sector, and academia can drive targeted skilling and innovation.

Conclusion

• India’s performance in the QS World Future Skills Index showcases its potential to lead in the global job market for emerging skills.
• While the country’s youthful population, start-up ecosystem, and readiness for digital transformation are its strengths, bridging gaps in education, sustainability, and innovation is essential to unlocking its full potential.
• By addressing these challenges, India can ensure sustainable growth and establish itself as a global leader in future-ready skills.

Q1. What do you mean by Skill Matrix?

A skills matrix maps employee skills and proficiency levels. It takes the form of a visual framework that can help organisations make more strategic decisions on talent. In general, it provides a comprehensive grid that captures skills information for effective management, planning and monitoring across various levels.

Q2. When was the Ministry of Skill Development established?

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship is a ministry of the Government of India which came into existence on 9 November 2014 and gazetted on 8 December 2014.

Source :ET | BS