1. Inclusion in Public Spaces – From Fear to Freedom

2. An Equitable Future for Women in Science, in India

3. Diversify Now: India Needs to Expand Its Trading Base to Overcome Global Headwinds

4. Himalayan Tragedy: Impact of Natural Disasters and Need for Better Disaster Management

5. Govt. Places Emphasis on Bilateral Trade Talks, Not Reciprocal Tariffs by U.S.

6. Boost Value Addition in Spices to Achieve $10-Bn Export Target by 2030: WSO

7. EVs Display Resilience in February

8. Empower Women by Strictly Implementing the Law, Says SC Judge

9. EC to Fix Duplicate Voter ID Numbers Issue in 3 Months

10. Rajnath Singh Interacts with Women Crew of INSV Tarini

Mains-GS-I: Role of women and women’s organizations, Social empowerment, Effects of globalization on Indian society.

Public spaces are fundamental to democracy and social life. They foster inclusivity, economic participation, and personal freedom. However, for women in India, public spaces are often sites of harassment, restriction, and gender-based discrimination. The 2023 Women, Peace, and Security Index ranked India 128 out of 177 countries, highlighting the gender-based inequalities in safety and accessibility.

1. Economic Participation: Women’s ability to access public areas freely enhances workforce participation and economic productivity.

2. Social Inclusion: It fosters diversity, social networking, and mobility for education, employment, and recreation.

3. Psychological Well-being: Secure public spaces instill confidence and independence in women.

4. Gender Parity and Sustainable Development: Inclusive urban planning contributes to SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Historically, Indian public spaces have been structured around gendered power dynamics, with men dominating streets, markets, and workplaces, while women were confined to private spaces.

• Colonial Era: Women’s presence in public was largely restricted to markets, religious gatherings, and festivals. Colonial urban planning did not accommodate gender-sensitive needs.

   o 1950s-70s: Women’s participation in education and employment increased, but urban planning remained male-centric.

   o 1980s-2000s: Economic liberalization saw more women in workplaces but not in public leisure spaces.

   o 2000s-Present: Awareness campaigns, policy interventions, and feminist movements have pushed for gender-inclusive spaces, yet significant gaps remain.

• Public spaces serve as pathways to employment, education, and entrepreneurship.

• Women in informal economies (e.g., street vendors, small businesses) rely on public spaces for livelihood. However, safety concerns and harassment hinder their full participation.

Example: In urban India, female street vendors face frequent evictions, abuse, and lack of designated safe zones, limiting their economic potential.

• Women’s ability to move freely without fear improves mental health, self-confidence, and independence.

• Restricted mobility reinforces patriarchal norms, leading to lower female workforce participation and public engagement.

• Public spaces promote social interaction, civic participation, and cultural engagement.

• Women’s active participation in sports, parks, community spaces, and recreational centers remains low due to safety concerns.

• Freedom of movement is a constitutional right, yet societal restrictions and inadequate infrastructure make public spaces unequal.

• The presence of women in public spaces challenges patriarchal power structures and normalizes gender equality.

o 80% of Indian women have faced some form of harassment in public places (ActionAid, 2019).

o Fear of harassment forces women to avoid parks, transport, and public events.

o High crime rates discourage women’s mobility.

o NCRB data indicates that over 39% of sexual assault cases occur in public places.

   o Women are often held responsible for their own safety, reinforcing the idea that they should avoid public spaces at night or dress conservatively.

   o Families often discourage women from traveling alone, using public transport, or engaging in nightlife.

   o Women face harassment in buses, trains, and autos, leading to restricted mobility and economic exclusion.

   o Poorly lit areas increase crime rates and deter women from venturing out alone.

   o Women often avoid staying outdoors for long hours due to inadequate toilet facilities, especially in rural and semi-urban areas.

   o Schemes like the Nirbhaya Fund have been underutilized, with poor execution in many states.

   o Many cases of public harassment go unreported due to lack of faith in law enforcement.

1. Better Street Lighting, Safe Public Transport, and Well-Maintained Parks

2. Designated Safe Spaces for Women in Markets and Bus Stands

1. Fast-Track Courts for Public Harassment Cases

2. Mandatory Gender-Sensitivity Training for Law Enforcement

1. Women-Led Initiatives to Reclaim Public Spaces

o Programs like "Women Walk at Midnight" challenge societal restrictions.

2. Public Awareness Campaigns

o Media campaigns should emphasize women’s right to public spaces.

1. Safety Apps & Helplines

   o Apps like Safetipin and My Safetip help women map safe routes and report unsafe areas.

2. Real-Time Surveillance & Quick Response Teams

1. The Pink Bus Initiative (Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore)

• Special buses for women with CCTV cameras and panic buttons.

• Increased women’s confidence in using public transport.

2. Vienna, Austria - Gender-Sensitive Urban Planning

• Redesign of sidewalks, parks, and transport stations with women’s needs in mind.

• Higher female participation in recreational activities.

Mains-GS- I: Role of women and women’s organizations, Social empowerment.

Women’s participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) has seen significant growth over the years. However, despite their contributions, gender biases, societal expectations, and workplace challenges continue to hinder their full participation.

In India, only 17% of science faculty positions are held by women, and the percentage is even lower in higher academic and research institutions. A "leaky pipeline" exists, where women drop out of STEM careers due to systemic barriers such as lack of funding, work-life balance struggles, and gender discrimination.

• Limited encouragement for girls in STEM subjects during school years.

• Family pressures and societal expectations often push women towards more traditional career roles.

• Lack of female role models in science, discouraging young girls from aspiring to STEM careers.

• Women face biases in hiring, promotions, and research grants.

• Lower representation in leadership positions, leading to lack of mentorship.

• Harassment and hostile work environments discourage long-term career progression.

• Women often take career breaks for family and childcare responsibilities, making re-entry into research challenging.

• Rigid work structures with long hours and high expectations make it difficult for women to balance family and career.

1. Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI)

o Aims to create inclusive environments in scientific institutions.

2. Women Scientists Scheme (WOS)

o Provides funding for women scientists returning after career breaks.

3. Biotechnology Career Advancement and Re-orientation (BioCARe)

o Supports women researchers in biotechnology and life sciences.

1. Flexible Work Policies

o Work-from-home options and family-friendly policies in research institutions.

2. Mentorship and Leadership Programs

o More women in decision-making roles and scientific committees.

3. Gender-Neutral Funding and Evaluation

o Ensuring equal opportunities for research grants and fellowships.

Mains-GS- III: Indian Economy, Growth and Development, Effects of Liberalization on the Economy, International Trade.

• Services PMI increased from 56.5 to 59, indicating strong economic momentum.

• Manufacturing and Services together contribute 80% of India's GDP.

• Stock market performance (Sensex benchmark index) shows strong corporate earnings.

• Manufacturing PMI dropped to a 14-month low of 56.3, signaling concerns in the sector.

• Potential U.S. tariffs (announced by Donald Trump) from April 2, 2025, could impact Indian exports.

• IT sector growth slowdown (expected at 5.1% in FY25 from 3.8% in FY24) due to AI disruptions.

• Tariff barriers and trade restrictions from the U.S. and other countries impact Indian exports.

• Rising geopolitical tensions (e.g., China-U.S. trade war, conflicts in Europe) influence global trade patterns.

• AI-driven automation in the services sector is reshaping hiring and earnings models.

• India’s IT industry, which has grown at 16% annually for 25 years, faces structural changes due to AI integration.

• India remains heavily dependent on the U.S. and European markets for trade.

• Lack of a diversified export base makes India vulnerable to economic slowdowns in key trading partners.

• Expanding trade agreements with ASEAN, Africa, and Latin America.

• Strengthening economic relations with Middle Eastern and BRICS nations.

• Leveraging the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme to enhance exports.

• Encouraging domestic R&D and high-value manufacturing.

• Upskilling the workforce to align with AI-driven transformations.

• Fostering innovation in IT and automation industries to maintain competitiveness.