Kalam IAS Academy was founded by a team of committed individuals who believe that the traditional way of UPSC preparation needs to be changed.
Current Edge Daily Brief 11th October 2025
Quote of the Day
“Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.” – ALBERT EINSTEIN
What the Others Say
“The temptation for Israel’s allies now may be to ease off, acting as if this short-term fix were a solution. They must instead intensified effort to produce the strong and durable peace of which Mr Trump spoke – Which will only be feasible if it is founded on justice.” – THE GUARDIAN
Table of Contents
THE BIG PICTURE
- IE Opinion: India is staring at one of its biggest crises: Unemployment of the educated (Derek O’Brien)
- TH Ground Zero: Killer cough syrup (Bindu P)
The Big Picture
IE Opinion: India is staring at one of its biggest crises: Unemployment of the educated
Syllabus: Pre/Mains – Economy
Why in News?
Surge in educated unemployment across India, with graduates vying for low-skill jobs (e.g., sanitation, peon posts).
Scale of the Crisis
- 2024 → 46,000 grads/postgrads applied for sanitation jobs (Haryana)
- 2017 → 12,000 applicants for 18 peon posts (Rajasthan)
- IITs 2024 → 2/5 students unplaced; similar trend in NITs, IIITs
- Govt data → >1 in 10 grads/postgrads jobless; women worse (1 in 5)
- Workforce inflow → 70–80 lakh youth/yr → limited white-collar absorption
Corporate & Sectoral Trends
- Corporate profits ↑ (15-yr high) → yet job cuts ↑
- 3 major IT firms → cut ~64,000 jobs (FY24)
- Net white-collar job growth ↓ 50% (2023 vs 5 yrs ago)
- PM Internship Scheme → Target: 1 cr; Reality: <5% placed
- 4/5 engg grads & ½ B-school grads → no internship
Data Discrepancies & Real Unemployment
- Govt est. → 4–6% unemployment
- ⅔ of unemployed = educated youth
- Economists (Reuters survey) → 70% say data underestimates true rate
- PLFS flaw → “1 hr/week work = employed” → distorts actual joblessness
Wage Stagnation & Economic Distress
- Fresh grad salaries → stagnant at ₹3–4 lakh/yr
- Avg engg pay (2020) → ₹33k/month
- Economic Survey 2025 → real wages: men ₹395/day; women ₹295/day
- Wage CAGR (2019–23): IT 4%, BFSI 2.8%, Engg 0.8%
- Inflation ↑ 18% (2020–23) → real income erosion
Social Consequences
- NCRB 2023 → 14,000 unemployed & 12,000 private employees died by suicide
- → 39 unemployed & 34 private sector suicides per day
- Reflects despair amid educated underemployment
Core Issue
→ Mismatch between education output & job creation
→ Economic growth not translating into employment growth
→ Educated youth frustration → socio-political implications
Conclusion →
India’s job market faces a structural imbalance: rising education levels, shrinking formal employment, and stagnant wages — turning “educated unemployment” into a national emergency.
Test Your Knowledge 01
Q. Which of the following indicators best captures underemployment in official statistics?
(a) Worker Participation Rate (WPR)
(b) Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR)
(c) Usual Principal Status (UPS) measure of employment
(d) Weekly Status Employment in PLFS
Hint: Underemployment = short-duration or partial work captured better by weekly activity data in PLFS.
Q. Which of the following pairs is correctly matched?
- PM Daksh – Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship
- NAPS (Apprenticeship Scheme) – Ministry of Education
- STRIVE – Ministry of Labour & Employment
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1 and 2 only
Hint: All 3 schemes (PM Daksh, NAPS, STRIVE) fall under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship
TH Ground Zero: Killer cough syrup
Syllabus: Pre/Mains – Science & Tech
Why in News?
27 children (24 dead, 3 critical) in Madhya Pradesh after consuming adulterated cough syrup Coldrif containing diethylene glycol (DEG) — exposes India’s weak drug regulation.
The Incident
The Incident- Coldrif syrup (Sresan Pharma, Tamil Nadu) → prescribed to children for cold & fever in Parasia, MP.
- Symptoms after use → vomiting, stomach pain, drowsiness → kidney failure (Acute Tubular Necrosis).
- Deaths: Aug–Sept 2025 → mostly <6 yrs old → 24 dead, 3 critical (Nagpur).
- 600+ bottles dispatched → 543 seized; door-to-door search ongoing (ASHA & health workers).
Toxic Findings
Toxic Findings- Lab test (TN govt): DEG contamination ↑ 48.6% w/v in Coldrif.
- DEG → industrial solvent (antifreeze, cosmetics) → nephrotoxic, non-medical use banned.
- 3 tainted syrups identified:
→ Coldrif (Sresan Pharma, TN) – 48.6% DEG
→ Respifresh TR (Rednex, Gujarat) – 1.34%
→ ReLife (Shape Pharma, Gujarat) – 0.62% - Cause → non-pharmacopoeial Propylene Glycol contaminated with DEG/EG.
Regulatory & Administrative Failures
Regulatory & Administrative Failures- Split control → CDSCO (Central) + State Drug Controllers → weak coordination.
- Manufacturing license: TN govt (2011, renewed 2016) → no recent central inspection (last in 2019).
- MPFDA failed random batch testing; poor sale records.
- Tamil Nadu → 2 drug inspectors suspended; 39 critical & 325 major violations found at plant.
- CDSCO ordered production halt & license cancellation.
Accountability & Legal Action
Accountability & Legal Action- Arrest: G. Ranganathan (Sresan Pharma owner) – booked under BNS §§105, 276 + Drugs & Cosmetics Act §27A.
- Dr. Praveen Soni (paediatrician) booked → IMA protests “not doctor’s fault.”
- 3 MP FDA officials suspended for negligence.
- SIT & Health Ministry probe underway; WHO notified.
Systemic Issues
Systemic Issues- Repeated DEG tragedies →
→ 1986: 14 deaths (Mumbai J.J. Hospital)
→ 2022: 300+ child deaths (Gambia, Indonesia, Uzbekistan) via Indian-made syrups. - Loopholes → ↓ inspection frequency, poor inter-State data sharing, substandard excipients use.
- Cost-cutting → DEG substituted for glycerin/propylene glycol.
- State-wise drug licensing → inconsistent enforcement & weak national oversight.
Aftermath & Reforms
Aftermath & Reforms- CDSCO directive → list all cough syrup manufacturers, joint national audit.
- WHO informed → global alert, recall of 3 contaminated brands.
- Stop-production orders issued; none exported.
- Renewed call for stronger pharma surveillance, unified licensing, stricter excipient sourcing.
Core Takeaway:
Coldrif tragedy = symptom of India’s fragmented, under-enforced drug regulatory system → urgent need for unified, transparent, and science-based pharmaceutical oversight.
Test Your Knowledge 02
Q. Consider the following statements regarding Diethylene Glycol (DEG):
- It is pharmacologically active as a cough suppressant.
- It is commonly used in antifreeze and as an industrial solvent.
- Even small quantities can cause acute renal failure.
- It is legally permitted in limited concentrations in oral medicines under Indian law.
Which of the above are correct?
(a) 2 and 3 only
(b) 1 and 4 only
(c) 2, 3, and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, and 3 only
Hint: DEG → industrial solvent, nephrotoxic; not permitted in medicines; replaced glycerin/propylene glycol illegally to cut costs
