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Journalism of Courage
UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative for the practice of Mains answer writing. It covers essential topics of static and dynamic parts of the UPSC Civil Services syllabus covered under various GS papers. This answer-writing practice is designed to help you as a value addition to your UPSC CSE Mains. Attempt today’s answer writing on questions related to topics of GS-2 to check your progress.
The QS World Future Skills Index 2025 ranks India second in job market readiness for future skills, but last out of 30 nations in ‘Skills Fit’. Critically examine the reasons that contribute to this difference and propose solutions to match India’s educational performance with employer demands.
Discuss the objectives and processes for implementing the SVAMITVA scheme in India. Assess its potential impact on rural development, as well as the constraints connected with its implementation.
Introduction
— The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction.
— It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts.
Body
— It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content.
— The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points.
— Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse.
— Underlining keywords gives you an edge over other candidates and enhances presentation of the answer.
— Using flowcharts/tree-diagram in the answers saves much time and boosts your score. However, it should be used logically and only where it is required.
Way forward/ conclusion
— The ending of the answer should be on a positive note and it should have a forward-looking approach. However, if you feel that an important problem must be highlighted, you may add it in your conclusion. Try not to repeat any point from body or introduction.
— You may use the findings of reports or surveys conducted at national and international levels, quotes etc. in your answers.
Self Evaluation
— It is the most important part of our Mains answer writing practice. UPSC Essentials will provide some guiding points or ideas as a thought process that will help you to evaluate your answers.
QUESTION 1: The QS World Future Skills Index 2025 ranks India second in job market readiness for future skills, but last out of 30 nations in ‘Skills Fit’. Critically examine the reasons that contribute to this difference and propose solutions to match India’s educational performance with employer demands.
Introduction:
— The QS World Future Skills Index 2025 ranks India second in terms of preparedness for future jobs such as artificial intelligence (AI) and green skills., trailing only the United States. However, India is ranked 40th in terms of economic transformation and 37th in terms of workforce readiness for future jobs in the report.
— Overall, India scored 25th in all metrics, which include skill congruence with employer needs, academic preparation, and economic development.
Body:
— The survey evaluated four broad indicators identified by QS:
— SKILLS FIT: This measures how well countries are equipping graduates with the skills that employers desire.
— FUTURE OF WORK: This evaluates a country’s readiness to recruit for the skills needed in the jobs of tomorrow.
— ACADEMIC READINESS: This dimension measures how well a country is prepared for the future of work.
— ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION: This uses a weighted formula to assess a country’s readiness to support the growth and future of work and skills by examining various key indicators.
Performance of India
— India has ranked second in the ‘Future of Work’ indicator, behind only the United States, and ahead of countries such as Germany and Canada. This indicator measures how well the job market is prepared to meet the growing demand for digital, AI, and green skills, critical as economies transition towards technology-driven and sustainable industries.
— India scored 59.1 on the ‘Skills Fit’ scale, ranking last among the top 30 countries worldwide. “Employers across India are highlighting a critical gap in the workforce’s ability to meet the demands of a rapidly changing economic landscape,” according to the survey.
— While the analysis offers India 100 points for economic capacity, it scores the lowest on the criteria of future-oriented innovation in sustainability, both of which are sub-parameters under the wider umbrella of ‘economic transformation’.
— Overall, India got 58.3 on the ‘economic transformation’ criteria, ranking 40th. “India’s economic revolution is fuelled by development, workforce efficiency, and the changing role of higher education… However, disparities in investment and innovation capabilities present difficulties that may hinder long-term progress. “To fully realise its potential, India must align economic momentum with robust higher education reforms and skills development, ensuring a dynamic and competitive position in the global economy,” the report states.
— India ranks 26th for the ‘academic preparation’ criteria, with a score of 89.9.
Conclusion:
— “India’s overall ‘skills fit’ score is lower than counterparts in APAC (Asia-Pacific), with a particularly large skills gap in ‘entrepreneurial and innovative mindset'” , according to the report.
— According to the report’s India spotlight section, “employers across India are highlighting a critical gap in the workforce’s ability to meet the demands of a rapidly changing economic landscape”.
— This lack of supply “underscores a broader challenge for India’s higher education system, which is struggling to keep pace with evolving employer needs” , according to the report.
— According to the report, government policy and higher education “will require a focused strategy to re-engage workers in continuous and lifelong reskilling programmes to ensure skilled workers remain relevant and productivity contributors”.
Points to Ponder
What has the report said about India’s education system and policymaking?
What indicators did the QS survey measure?
Related Previous Year Questions
Skill development programmes have succeeded in increasing human resources supply to various sectors. In the context of the statement analyse the linkages between education, skill and employment. (2023)
The quality of higher education in India requires major improvements to make it internationally competitive. Do you think that the entry of foreign educational institutions would help improve the quality of technical and higher education in the country? Discuss. (2015)
QUESTION 2: Discuss the objectives and processes for implementing the SVAMITVA scheme in India. Assess its potential impact on rural development, as well as the constraints connected with its implementation.
Introduction:
— The abbreviation SVAMITVA stands for Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas. It intends to provide a ‘record of rights’ to persons who own houses in villages, as well as a property card.
— The Prime Minister was speaking at a video conferencing event to distribute over 65 lakh property cards to property owners in more than 50,000 communities. He stated that 2.25 crore individuals in villages have already received legal documentation for their homes under the plan.
Body:
Benefit of a SVAMITVA property card
— According to the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, the scheme benefits rural residents in many ways. It enables rural households to use their property as a financial asset for taking loans and other financial benefits.
— With this money, they have started their small business in the village. Many of these are small and medium farmer families. For them, these property cards have become a big guarantee of economic security.
— It aids in the determination of property tax, which goes straight to Gramme Panchayats in states where they are authorised to collect such taxes. The cards serve to boost the market liquidity of land parcels as well as the village’s access to financial financing.
— The system also enables the production of precise land records for rural planning. All property records and maps are available at the Gramme Panchayat level, which aids in village taxation, development permits, encroachment removal, and other activities.
Implementation process
— The framework for implementing the SVAMITVA plan outlines a multi-stage process for generating a property card, beginning with the signing of a memorandum of agreement between the Survey of India (SoI) and the different state governments. The SoI is in charge of creating the National Topographic Database on all scales, using technology for topographical mapping at various scales such as airborne photography drones, satellite imagery, and Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV) or drone platforms.
— A Continuously Operated Reference System (CORS) is established. It is a network of reference stations that serve as a virtual base station, allowing access to long-range, high-accuracy Network RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) corrections. “The CORS network helps to construct ground control points, which is a key activity for precise georeferencing, ground truthing, and demarcation of lands.”
— The next phase is to identify the communities that will be surveyed and to inform people about the property mapping process.
— These pictures are used to create a 1:500 scale GIS database and village maps known as Gram Manchitra. Following the production of maps, drone survey crews do ground verification, after which any necessary changes are made. At this point, the inquiry/objection procedure – conflict/dispute resolution – is complete.
— Following that, final Property Cards/Title Deeds or “Sampatti Patrak” are created. These cards are made available to village household owners both digitally and in paper copy.
Conclusion:
— The plan was established as a pilot project in around 1 lakh villages throughout nine states: Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh.
— According to the ministry, 67,000 square kilometres of rural Abadi land have been surveyed, valued at Rs.132 lakh crore, highlighting the initiative’s economic significance.
Points to Ponder
When this scheme was launched?
What are the problems that can be encountered during the implementation of the scheme?
Related Previous Year Question
The Gati-Shakti Yojana needs meticulous co-ordination between the government and the private sector to achieve the goal of connectivity. Discuss. (2022)
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